<p num="1"><br/><br/><br/>A stapler (1) includes a body (3) and a strike plate (7) movably mounted to <br/>the body (3) between a rest position and a loaded position. The strike plate <br/>(7) is adapted to drive a staple into a target object. The strike plate (7) <br/>may be moved from the rest position to the loaded position by a loading <br/>mechanism (6) against the bias of a power spring (8), whereupon the energy <br/>stored in the power spring (8) is applied to the strike plate (7) to drive the <br/>staple. A stapler (1) may include a lockout (14) which inhibits movement of <br/>the strike plate (7) toward the loaded position unless a work piece is beneath <br/>the stapler body (3).<br/></p>
