Title of Invention	LEVER OPERATED PUNCH WITH PUNCH HEAD ADJUSTMENT ARRANGEMENT
Abstract	A hand-operated punch with adjustable assembly punch units and a slipper to receive punched out discs in which the assembly units are adjustable from the bottom through an opening in the slipper. The punch includes a strengthening flap configuration and the assembly units slide but do not turn during adjustment.

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LEVER OPERATED PUNCH WITH STRENGTHENED FLAP AND PUNCH HEAD ADJUSTMENT ARRANGEMENT Background of the Invention Punches with slidable slippers are old. Slippered unches with adjustable punch stations are also old but emoval of the slipper is required to accomplish adjustment. Summary of the Invention Broadly, the present invention is a slippered adjustable and-operated punch with adjustment accomplished from the bottom of the punch without slipper removal. The flap handle is configured for added strength. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the punch of the present invention having a handle and a lever; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. L showing the flap handle's reverse curl; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the punch with lever removed; Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the punch with slipper removed; Fig. 6 is a partial perspective bottom view of the punch with the slipper installed; Fig. 7 is a top perspective view of the base with the slipper extended for emptying; Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the slipper; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the flap handle; and Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the handle viewed from the reverse curl edge. escription of the Preferred Embodiment In Figs. 1-4, punch 10 includes base 11, end uprights 2a, 12b, handle 14 including upper planar surface 13, handle epressions 13a, 13b, 13c mounted for pivoting around pins 6a, 16b on uprights 12a, 12b. Lever 17 is pivotally mounted n brackets 18a, 18b. Also shown are punch assembly heads la, 21b, 21c and slipper 23 mounted on base rails 11a, lib. [eads 21a-c include groove curls 34a-c which reside in groove 0 to prevent turning of heads 21a-c as they are translated see also Fig. 7). Turning in particular to Fig. 2, handle 14 is formed of sheet metal and comprises remote flange end 14a substantially perpendicular to plcinar surface 13, (remote' from pivot pin 16b); remote planar portion 14b, depression portion 13a, near planar portion 14c; near verticcil flange portion 14d perpendicular to planar surface 13 and reverse curl portion 15. Reverse curl portion 15 functions to stiffen and otherwise strengthen handle 14 and includes arc portion 15a and upright lip portion 15b. The sheet metal of handle 14 has thickness T. Table 1 below outlines ranges of handle 14 portions in relationship to thickness T. Table 1 Portion(s) Dimension Range 1. Near flange a 6T - 8T 2. Curl width b 2.5T - 4T 3. Curl depth c 2.5T - 4T 4. Near flange plus depth of curl d 9T - IIT Turning to Figs. 4-8, it is seen that punch assembly Leads 21a, 21b and 2lc are adjustable using retaining screws !6a, 26b and 26c which travel in adjustment slots 27, 28 Fig. 5) while head groove projections 34a-c travel in congitudinal frame groove 40. Groove 40 is a longitudinal area below frame upper surface llu and a lower frame surface .11. Groove projections 34a-c extend beyond and below frame surface llu which permits curl projections 34a-c to move back and forth in groove 40 during head adjustment and while preventing rotation of head 21a-c during the loosening of reads, their movement to adjust punch hole spacing and their retightening. If a head 21a-c attempts to rotate its curl projection 34a-c will engage frame edge lie to prevent such rotation. Curl projections 34a-c may be of other shapes but curved curled shape is preferred. Adjustment screws are chreadedly engaged in threaded housing openings 31a, 31b and 81c (Fig. 4). Punch pin P is shown in Fig. 4. Base bottom 11b is shown in Fig. 5. Slipper 23 has center opening 29 to permit access to adjustment screws 26a-c without removing' slipper 23. Fig. 7 shows slipper 23 slid open for e^aptying and further shows base rail 11a, lib, uprights 12a, 12b, slots 17, 28 and adjustment screws 26a-c and groove 40. In Fig. 8, slipper center opening 29 is boarded by cowling 36 having ends 29a, 29b which cowling 36 has a height 36h sufficient to nearly abut base bottom lib to prevent whips from escaping and exiting through center opening 28. also shown are slipper flanges 23a, 23b and slipper slotted and 23c, and slipper closed end 23d. Slots 37a, 37b permit slipper 23 to be slid open without removal from base flanges 1la, lib. When slipper 23 is slid open cowling end 29a engages retains screw 26c to limit its travel. Center opening 29 is longer than the distance (D) between outside adjustment screws 26a and 26c to permit sliding of slipper 23 relative to base 11. The length of opening 29 is less than the overall length of slipper 23 so that paper punch outs which are all deposited on one side of cowling 36 can migrate past cowling ends 29a, 29b to the other side as punch 10 is handled and manipulated. Finally in Figs. 9 and 10, the structural curl 15 of handle 14 has a length B which is less than the overall length A of handle 14. Preferably, length B is at least 60% of length A. CLAIMS 1. A punch comprising: a) a base having an outer periphery and an upper base surface with a frame edge extending along a predetermined direction; b) a plurality of punch assembly heads adjustably mounted on said upper base surface of said base for movement along a path extending parallel to said predetermined direction and to selected locations on said base; c) a curl projection on each of said punch assembly heads disposed adjacent said frame edge and projecting below said upper base surface; d) a groove positioned below said upper base surface, with the curl projection of each of said punch assembly heads received in said groove; and e) the curl projection of each of said punch assembly heads, and said groove being shaped to engage each other and prevent turning of said punch assembly heads as said punch assembly heads are moved along said path. 2. The punch of claim 1, wherein: a) said base includes a lower base surface spaced below said upper base surface to define an area therebetween; and b) said groove is defined by said area. 3. The punch of claim 2, wherein: a) said frame edge has a curved shape; and b) each said curl projections has a curved shape complimentary to and engaging against said frame edge. 4. The punch of claim 1, wherein the punch assembly heads are slidably mounted on said upper surface of said base. 5. A punch substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 1st day of October 2003

Documents:

800-che-2003-abstract.pdf

800-che-2003-claims duplicate.pdf

800-che-2003-claims original.pdf

800-che-2003-correspondnece-others.pdf

800-che-2003-correspondnece-po.pdf

800-che-2003-description(complete) duplicate.pdf

800-che-2003-description(complete) original.pdf

800-che-2003-drawings.pdf

800-che-2003-form 1.pdf

800-che-2003-form 19.pdf

800-che-2003-form 26.pdf

800-che-2003-form 3.pdf

800-che-2003-form 5.pdf