POSITIONING BRACKET DEVICE FOR A STAPLING APPARATUS, SYSTEM FOR A STAPLING APPARATUS, A STAPLING APPARATUS WITH SAID DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONNECTING OBJECTS BY MEANS OF A STAPLE

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for precisely and stably connecting objects to each other by means of a staple. More specifically, the present invention relates to a positioning bracket device for a stapling apparatus, a system for a stapling apparatus, a stapling apparatus with said device and a method of connecting objects by means of a staple.

Background of the Invention

[0002] In the field of assembly and construction works, various types of fasteners for connecting two or more objects to each other are widely used. Such fasteners may include screws, nails, staples and the like. In the past, screws and nails have been widely used to connect, for example, wooden elements to each other. Such wooden elements may form part of wooden terraces or house sidings, and may include wooden boards and battens, which constitute such terraces (in particular terrace decks) or house sidings. Typically, the boards have been nailed or screwed from above through the boards into the battens located below them.

[0003] This conventional approach however resulted in nail heads or screw heads being clearly visible from above, deteriorating the visual appearance of the terrace or house siding. The resulting depressions remaining from the nail or screw heads in the boards may also cause accumulation of water and/or dust, further deteriorating the visual appearance or even leading to damage of the boards or battens (e.g. increased risk of rotting of the wood due to ingress of water).

[0004] In the meantime, other approaches have been developed, in which screws or nails are introduced laterally into lateral surfaces of the boards. For this approach, specialized guide tools were developed, which assist the user when driving screws into the lateral surfaces. For example, one type of guide tools may be clamped onto the board and may provide guide holes, which are directed towards the lateral surfaces of the board. Screws may then be inserted into the guide holes and may be driven into lateral surfaces of the board while being guided by the guide holes. Another specialized guide tool known in the art includes a gun with a jig (or shoe) pivotably connected to the front end (nose part) of the gun, wherein the jig can perform a swing movement relative to the gun and can be positioned against the board so as to place the gun against the board in a position and posture adapted for firing a specially designed nail into the lateral surface of the board.

[0005] However, these conventional approaches for lateral insertion of fasteners typically require specialized tools and specialized fasteners, thereby increasing costs for manufacturing said tools and costs for the user due to higher costs for the consumed fasteners. Further, the connection process may be slow and tedious in the case of clamped guide tools, or require a complex mechanical moving mechanism in the case of the conventional gun with the pivotable jig. Such complex mechanical moving mechanism may also reduce the robustness and the reliability of the tool, in particular in the harsh environments (involving e.g. rain, dust, humidity and the like) which may frequently occur during assembly and construction works.

[0006] Another problem of the conventional approaches is the use of relatively large fasteners, such as screws or nails having a relative large diameter to achieve sufficient holding power. Such relatively large fasteners however have an increased risk of damaging/splitting the board, if the fastener is introduced laterally into the board (especially if the fastener is introduced too low on the lateral side of the board, i.e. too close to the batten, or too close to the longitudinal end of the board). This risk becomes even higher if the board is made of a high density material, such as heat treated wood. Furthermore, there remains a problem of accumulation of water in the relatively large depressions formed also in the lateral surfaces by the screw heads/nail heads despite of the lateral insertion of these fasteners.

[0007] The above problems in the art are not limited to terraces or house siding made up of wooden elements, but may occur also in other applications and/or with other materials.

[0008] There thus remains a need for a technology for precisely and stably connecting objects to each other while avoiding the above described problems of the conventional art. Summary

[0009] The present invention has been made in an attempt to solve the above described problems occurring in the conventional art. That is, the present invention provides a technology using staples for quickly and simply connecting two or more objects to each other with an effectively hidden fixation. To this end, the present invention may not require complex and expensive specialized tools or specialized fasteners, but may provide a positioning bracket device, which is robust and designed for easy manufacture, and may use inexpensive staples. The staples may be provided in collated (or coupled) form so as to allow loading of more fasteners in the tool, instead of front-loading only one fastener (such as a screw) at the time. Also, no predrilling is required, further simplifying and expediting the connection process.

[0010] The present invention achieves lateral insertion of the staple so as to effectively hide the staple and obtain a visually appealing appearance, while appropriately positioning the staple in the object to be stapled in such a manner so as to minimize the risk of damaging the object. In addition, the risk of accumulation and ingress of water may be effectively reduced since the staple does not form undesired large depressions in the lateral surface of the object.

[0011] Further, the present invention may be mounted on various standard stapling tools (e.g. standard staplers or stapling guns) in a fast and simple manner. Hence, the user may use his/her existing standard tool together with the present invention, and the user may not need to acquire a new and expensive tool. Once modified with the present invention, the tool (stapling apparatus) may also be easily changed back to its standard form by means of a removable coupling between the devices of the present invention and the tool.

[0012] For achieving the above objects and advantages, various embodiments of the present invention provide a positioning bracket device for a stapling apparatus, wherein the positioning bracket device may include: a main body, which extends along a main body longitudinal axis between a first main body longitudinal end and a second main body longitudinal end and which comprises an upper main body surface and a lower main body surface, the lower main body surface being configured for contacting (e.g. for being placed in contact with) an upper surface of a first object (e.g. a board) to be connected to a second object (e.g. a batten) via a staple; a connection portion, which is fixedly attached to the main body (e.g. formed integrally in one piece with main body, or welded, or adhered and the like to the main body) and is configured for connection to the stapling apparatus, wherein the connection portion extends along an extension axis away from the main body, said extension axis being inclined with respect to the main body longitudinal axis so as to form a fixed acute angle between the extension axis of the connection portion and the main body longitudinal axis (e.g. when viewed in cross- section cut along the main body longitudinal axis).

[0013] Accordingly, in the positioning bracket device according to the present invention, the connection portion is inclined with respect to the main body (i.e. its longitudinal axis) at the fixed acute angle so as to allow for an inclined connection of the stapling apparatus relative to the main body of the positioning bracket device by means of the inclined connection portion. Thus, during use of the positioning bracket device together with a stapling apparatus, an insertion of the staple into a lateral surface of the first object may be achieved.

[0014] The fixed acute angle may range between 20 and 70 degrees, preferably between 40 and 50 degrees, more preferably may be at least substantially (or approximately) 45 degree.

[0015] The main body may be formed in an elongated shape, and a fixed end of the connection portion, which is fixed to the main body, may be located closer to a center of the main body than a free end of the connection portion, which is located oppositely to the fixed end of the connection portion.

[0016] The connection portion may be configured to be removably (or releasably) coupled to the stapling apparatus for removably mounting the positioning bracket device to the stapling apparatus. The removable (or releasable) coupling between the positioning bracket device to the stapling apparatus may allow to use the stapling apparatus independently from the positioning bracket device for other purposes (e.g. as a standard tool for stapling purposes) or to mount the same positioning bracket device to different stapling apparatuses (i.e. to switch the positioning bracket device from one stapling apparatus to another stapling apparatus), for example for use with different staples (e.g. different in terms of dimensions or materials) or in case that a change of the stapling apparatus is necessary due to a malfunction or defect of the stapling apparatus

[0017] The main body may further include a stopper portion, which is formed on and extends from the main body in a direction at least substantially vertical to the main body longitudinal axis, and which is configured for abutting against a lateral surface of the first object. The stopper portion may further improve the positioning precision of the positioning bracket device.

[0018] The stopper portion may include: a first protruding flange and a second protruding flange, which are formed at the first main body longitudinal end, are spaced apart from each other in a main body width direction and are at least substantially aligned with each other (e.g. at least substantially aligned in the main body width direction); the first protruding flange and the second protruding flange extending from the first main body longitudinal end in a direction at least substantially vertical to the main body longitudinal axis and facing away from the connection portion; wherein the first protruding flange and the second protruding flange include first and second stopper surfaces, respectively.

[0019] The main body may further include a firing indicator configured to provide an indication associated with the final position of a fired staple in the first object and/or second object.

[0020] The firing indicator may be formed by at least one of: one or more grooves recessed from above into the upper main body surface and/or recessed laterally into second main body longitudinal end, one or more colored dots formed on the upper main body surface, one or more projections formed on the upper main body surface, and one or more depressions formed on the upper main body surface.

[0021] The firing indicator may be formed by an elongated groove recessed into the second main body longitudinal end with a longitudinal extension of the groove extending in the main body width direction. A length of the groove in the main body width direction may be at least substantially identical to the width of the staple. The groove-shaped firing indicator may allow the user to locate the final position of a fired staple in the second object (e.g. a batten) underneath the first object (e.g. a board for a terrace or house siding) and thereby adjust the fixation position accordingly.

[0022] In one exemplary form, the connection portion may include a connection wall, which is formed integrally with the main body as a bent portion so as to extend in an inclined manner at the fixed acute angle along the extension axis with respect to the main body longitudinal axis. The connection wall may include a through-hole for allowing the insertion of a fastener (e.g. a screw) so as to removably couple the connection wall of the connection portion to the stapling apparatus. [0023] In another exemplary form, the connection portion may include first and second inclined walls, which are fixedly attached to the main body and are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other in a main body width direction and so as to extend along the extension axis in an inclined manner at the fixed acute angle with respect to the main body longitudinal axis; and a yoke body, formed by a yoke body basis, a first yoke leg and a second yoke leg, said first and second yoke legs extending at least substantially vertical from the yoke body basis towards the first and the second walls and connecting the yoke body basis to the first and second inclined walls, respectively. The yoke body may further include a coupling part extending from the yoke body basis, said coupling part further including a through-hole for removably coupling the connection portion to the stapling apparatus. The yoke body basis and the first and second legs may define a receiving space configured for receiving a portion of a nose part of the stapling apparatus.

[0024] The positioning bracket device may be configured to be coupled, via the coupling part of the yoke body, to a firing safety mechanism of the stapling apparatus, said firing safety mechanism being switchable between an unarmed state, in which a staple is not allowed to be fired from the stapling apparatus, and an armed state, in which a staple is allowed to be fired. The positioning bracket device may be configured to act, via the coupling part of the yoke body, on the firing safety mechanism so as to cause switching from the unarmed state to the armed state.

[0025] According to various further embodiments, the present invention also provides a system for a stapling apparatus, wherein the system may include: a positioning bracket device as described hereinabove; and a safety piece, which includes an inclined outer surface being inclined relative to a safety piece longitudinal axis at a surface inclination angle (e.g. when viewed in cross-section cut along the safety piece longitudinal axis), which at least substantially corresponds to the fixed acute angle in the positioning bracket device, wherein the safety piece is configured to be movably engaged with a nose part of the stapling apparatus and is configured to act on a firing safety mechanism of the stapling apparatus so as to cause switching from the unarmed state to the armed state.

[0026] In a state, where the positioning bracket device is mounted on the stapling apparatus and the safety piece is movably engaged with the nose part of the stapling apparatus, the inclined outer surface of the safety piece may extend at least substantially in parallel alignment with at least one of the upper main body surface and a lower main body surface. Optionally, the inclined outer surface of the safety piece may for example extend in at least substantially flush manner with at least one of the upper main body surface and the lower main body surface.

[0027] According to various further embodiments, the present invention also provides a stapling apparatus for connecting a first object to a second object by means of a staple, the stapling apparatus may include: a nose part, which is configured to guide and output the staple along a staple firing direction; and a positioning bracket device in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The positioning bracket device may be mounted (e.g. removably or fixedly mounted) on the nose part via the connection portion of the positioning bracket device. The staple firing direction may be inclined with respect to the main body longitudinal axis so as to form a firing angle between the staple firing direction and the main body longitudinal axis, wherein the firing angle may be at least substantially identical to the fixed acute angle.

[0028] In one form of a stapling apparatus according to the present invention, the positioning bracket device may be a positioning bracket device including a connection portion with first and second inclined walls and a yoke body as described herein, and the stapling apparatus may further include: a trigger being operable by a user of the stapling apparatus; and a firing safety mechanism, said firing safety mechanism being switchable between an unarmed state, in which a staple is not allowed to be fired from the stapling apparatus irrespective of an actuation of said trigger, and an armed state, in which a staple is allowed to be fired in response to an actuation of said trigger; and a safety actuation rod, which is coupled to the coupling part of the positioning bracket device via a c-clip and configured for acting on the firing safety mechanism so as to cause switching from the unarmed state to the armed state. The positioning bracket device may be configured to act, via the coupling part and the safety actuation rod, on the firing safety mechanism so as to cause switching from the unarmed state to the armed state. Accordingly, the positioning bracket device may have an integrated functionality of being coupled to and acting onto the firing safety mechanism of the stapling apparatus, when the positioning bracket device is mounted on the stapling apparatus.

[0029] In one form of a stapling apparatus according to the present invention, the positioning bracket device may be a positioning bracket device including a connection wall as described herein, and the stapling apparatus may further include: a trigger being operable by a user of the stapling apparatus; a firing safety mechanism, said firing safety mechanism being switchable between an unarmed state, in which a staple is not allowed to be fired from the stapling apparatus irrespective of an actuation of said trigger, and an armed state, in which a staple is allowed to be fired in response to an actuation of said trigger; and a safety piece, which is movably engaged with the nose part of the stapling apparatus and configured to act on a firing safety mechanism of the stapling apparatus so as to cause switching from the unarmed state to the armed state. The safety piece may comprise an inclined outer surface, which is inclined relative to a safety piece longitudinal axis (SLA) at a surface inclination angle, which at least substantially corresponds to the fixed acute angle in the positioning bracket device.

[0030] According to various further embodiments, the present invention also provides a method of connecting a first object to a second object by means of a staple, the method may include: mounting a positioning bracket device in accordance with the present invention as described herein on a stapling apparatus; placing the lower main body surface of the positioning bracket device into contact with the upper surface of the first object such that a staple firing direction is directed towards a lateral surface of the first object and is inclined with respect to the upper surface of the first object at a firing angle corresponding to a fixed acute angle defined in the positioning bracket device; firing a staple along the staple firing direction for penetrating, through the lateral surface of the first object, into the first object and into the second object, so as to connect the first object to the second object.

[0031] The method may further include: placing a stopper portion of the positioning bracket device into abutment against the lateral surface of the first object so as to maintain the positioning bracket device in a fixed position relative to the first object.

[0032] In one form of the method according to the present invention, firing the staple may include: causing a firing safety mechanism of the stapling apparatus to cause switching from an unarmed state to an armed state; and firing the staple along the staple firing direction upon actuation of a trigger of the stapling apparatus.

[0033] The present invention may be useful in various applications, among other during construction of terraces (e.g. terrace decks) and house siding, but other application are also possible. While an exemplary application to which the present invention may be applied is the connection of wooden boards to a wooden batten, the present invention may be used for connecting any kind of object of the same or of different materials and is not limited the aforementioned exemplary application. [0034] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention may have other or further features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035] Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of a positioning bracket device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0036] Fig. 2 is a perspective top view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Fig. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Fig. 4 is a top view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention cut along the line B-B’ of Fig. 4.

[0040] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention cut along the line A-A’ of Fig. 4. [0041] Fig. 7 is a side view of a mounted state, in which the positioning bracket device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a stapling apparatus.

[0042] Figs. 8 to 11 illustrate an operation principle of the present invention, in which a board is connected to a batten via staple by use of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Fig. 12 is a perspective side view of a positioning bracket device in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Fig. 13 is a perspective top view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the further embodiment of the present invention. [0045] Fig. 14 is a perspective bottom view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with further the embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Fig. 15 is a top view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the further embodiment of the present invention. [0047] Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the further embodiment of the present invention cut along the line B-B’ of Fig. 15.

[0048] Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the positioning bracket device in accordance with the further embodiment of the present invention cut along the line A-A’ of Fig. 15.

[0049] Fig. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the coupling between the positioning bracket device of the further embodiment of the present invention with a safety actuation rod of a stapling apparatus.

[0050] Fig. 19 is a side view of a mounted state, in which the positioning bracket device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention is mounted to a stapling apparatus.

[0051] Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a safety piece in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the safety piece in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention cut along the safety piece longitudinal axis.

[0053] Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the safety piece in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention cut along the line F-F’ of Fig. 20.

[0054] Fig. 23 illustrates a mounted state and a movement of the safety piece of the present invention relative to a nose part of a stapling apparatus. [0055] Fig. 24 further illustrates a nose part together with components of a safety firing mechanism and the safety piece of the present invention.

[0056] Fig. 25 further illustrates the interaction of the safety piece of the present invention with components of a firing safety mechanism. [0057] Fig. 26 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] It may be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the present invention. The specific design features of the present invention as included herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particularly intended application and use environment.

[0059] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Detailed Description

[0060] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the present invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the present invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0061] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another element, it may be directly coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, it may be understood that when an element is referred to as being “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other expressions that explain the relationship between elements, such as “between,” “directly between,” “adjacent to,” or “directly adjacent to,” may be construed in the same way.

[0062] Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the terms “at least substantially”, “about” or “approximately” are understood as including values lying within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean, from the stated value or range which follows said terms. For example, the terms “at least substantially”, “about” or “approximately” can be understood as including values lying within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%,

1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from the context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by these terms.

[0063] Throughout the description of the present invention and the claims, the “first object” and the “second object” to be stapled together may be exemplarily illustrated in the description of some embodiments by a board and a batten, which may be connected with each other via a staple by utilization of the present invention. The board and the batten may be a wooden board and a wooden batten or other elements, constituting a wooden terrace, but may also be formed of other terrace material suited to be stapled. The first and the second objects to be stapled together may also be a board and a batten or other elements, constituting a house siding. In the case of a house siding, the material(s) used for the board and/or batten may also be wood material(s), but may also be other materials, such as vinyl and the like. As for wood material, the present invention may be used together with various materials such as, but not limited to: pine wood, including pressure impregnated and/or heat treated pine wood, larch wood, thermowood and so on. It is to be understood that the applications and materials, to which the present invention may be applied, are not limited to the above example, and the present invention may be applied to various other applications and materials.

[0064] Throughout the description of the present invention and the claims, a “staple” may refer to a two-pronged or two-legged fastener, which may include a so called staple crown with a staple leg on either end thereof. The skilled person will understand that a “staple” of the present invention is thus different from screws and nails in terms of structure and use. A staple applicable to the present invention may have various shapes, such as various lengths, widths, diameters and various cross-sectional shapes of the crown and/or legs of the staple and the like, and may have various features, such as pointed ends of the staple legs, barbs provided on the circumference or ends of the staple legs and the like. Staples as such are commonly known to the skilled person in the field of assembly or construction works and a detailed description will thus be omitted.

[0065] Throughout the description of the present invention and the claims, the term “stapling apparatus” may refer to any device capable of firing staples for connecting two or more objects to each other. A stapling apparatus of the present invention may for example be capable of firing a staple into two or more objects with straight staple legs so as to connect said two or more objects to each other. Various types of stapling apparatuses are known in the art and may be also referred to as a “stapler”, a “stapling gun”, a “staple gun”, a “tacker” or “tacking gun” or the like. Also, a combination tool, which may be capable of firing nails and staple, may also fall under the definition of a stapling apparatus of the present invention. The stapling apparatus of the present invention may be a pneumatically-powered stapling apparatus, electrically-powered stapling apparatuses, combustion-powered stapling apparatuses or the like. For example, pneumatically-powered stapling apparatuses may use pressurized air for driving and firing the staple, wherein said pressurized air may be provided from a pneumatic source, such as from an air compressor connected via a hose to the stapling apparatus or from a portable pressure canister containing a certain amount of pressurized air. Further, electrically-powered stapling apparatuses may use electricity for operating the stapling apparatus (e.g. an electric motor or solenoid therein, used as a driving source for driving the staple), said electricity may be provided via a cable, or in cordless manner, e.g. via a battery. Furthermore, combustion-powered stapling apparatuses may be powered by a fuel (e.g. propane gas or other suitable gases), which is stored in a fuel storage (also referred to as a “fuel cell”) and injected into a combustion chamber of a small cylinder in the stapling apparatuses, where the injected fuel is ignited via a spark (e.g. generated using electric energy from a small battery), thereby creating pressurized gas from the resulting explosion in the small cylinder and driving a piston of the stapling apparatuses so as to act on and accelerate a staple. Specific examples of stapling apparatuses, which can be used together with the bracket devices and safety pieces as described herein, include the TJEP PQZ-64 pneumatic stapling gun as a type of pneumatically-powered stapling apparatus, and the TJEP PQZ-75 gas stapling gun as a type of combustion-powered stapling apparatus. The person skilled in the art will understand that the above examples of various kinds of stapling apparatuses are only given for the purpose of describing the present invention and are not meant to limit the present invention. As long as an apparatus is capable of firing a staple for appropriately achieving a desired connection between two or more objects and is capable of interacting with the present invention, in particular with a positioning bracket device and/or a safety piece as described herein, said apparatus may be regarded as a “stapling apparatus” applicable in the present invention.

[0066] In the following, various exemplary embodiments of the present will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [0067] According to various embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a positioning bracket device 10, 100 for a stapling apparatus 200. In the various embodiments, the positioning bracket device 10, 100 may include: a main body 20, which extends along a main body longitudinal axis LA between a first main body longitudinal end 22 and a second main body longitudinal end 24 and which comprises an upper main body surface 26 and a lower main body surface 28, the lower main body surface 28 being configured for contacting an upper surface 3 of a first object 1 to be connected to a second object 5 via a staple S; and a connection portion 30, 130, which is fixedly attached to the main body 20 and is configured for connection to the stapling apparatus 200.

[0068] In various embodiments of the present invention, the main body 20 may extend in a main body length direction LD, in a main body width direction WD, which is perpendicular to the main body length direction LD, and in a main body height direction HD, which is perpendicular to both, the main body length direction LD and the main body width direction WD. In various embodiments of the present invention, the main body 20 may be of elongated shape. For example, the main body 20 may be an elongated plate-shaped body defining the main body longitudinal axis LA, which extends along the main body length direction LD. Other shapes of the main body 20 may also be possible, and the main body 20 is not limited to the shapes described and illustrated herein.

[0069] In various embodiments of the present invention, the main body 20 may have a rectangular or at least substantially rectangular shape (e.g. a substantially rectangular shape with rounded edges), when viewed in top view. In various embodiments of the present invention, the main body 20 may have a longitudinal length (e.g. between its first main body end 22 and second main body end 24) along the main body length direction LD, which is configured to be suitable for achieving large surface contact (e.g. for achieving a large contact surface area) between the lower main body surface 28 and the upper surface 3 of a first object 1. For example, the main body 20 may have a longitudinal length, which ranges between 50% and 100%, preferably between 75% and 95%, of the length (or width) of the first object 1 in the main body length direction LD. Said longitudinal length may for example range between approximately 5 cm to approximately 20 cm, but is not limited thereto. A large contact surface area between the lower main body surface 28 and the upper surface 3 of a first object 1 may more evenly distribute pressure applied, by the user during use of the stapling apparatus 200, to the upper surface 3 via the positioning bracket device of the present invention, thereby reducing the risk of damages (e.g. bruises, dents and/or pressure marks, etc.) to the upper surface 3 of a first object 1.

[0070] The connection portion 30, 130 may extend along an extension axis EA away from the main body 20. The extension axis EA is inclined with respect to the main body longitudinal axis LA so as to form a fixed acute angle a between the extension axis EA of the connection portion 30, 130 and the main body longitudinal axis LA (e.g. when viewed in cross-section cut along the main body longitudinal axis). In other words, the connection portion 30, 130 is inclined with respect to the main body 20 (i.e. its longitudinal axis LA) at the fixed acute angle a.

[0071] In various embodiments of the present invention, the fixed acute angle a between the extension axis EA of the connection portion 30, 130 and the main body longitudinal axis LA may range between 20 and 70 degrees. In some particular embodiments, the fixed acute angle a may preferably range between 40 and 50 degrees, and may even more preferably be at least substantially 45 degree. The person skilled in the art will understand that an fixed acute angle a of between 40 and 50 degrees, in particular of at least substantially 45 degree, may be advantageous for certain applications and use cases. With a fixed acute angle a between the extension axis EA of the connection portion 30, 130 of between 40 and 50 degrees, in particular of at least substantially 45 degree, the positioning bracket device of the present invention may allow to fire a staple S close to or just below an edge 2a formed between the upper surface 3 and the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1 (see for example Fig. 10). For example, an angle a of at least substantially 45 degree has been found to form an advantageous value for achieving an appropriate fixation angle for connecting a wooden board (corresponding to the first object) to a wooden batten (corresponding to a second object) via a staple S and to thereby achieve appropriate holding power between said a wooden board and wooden batten. For other materials or elements, a different angle a may be found more optimal. In general, the skilled person will understand that, if the fixed acute angle a is set to a too high value (i.e. made too steep), the staple S may be positioned lower on the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1 , thereby risking to damage the first object (in the case of a wooden board, a split of said wooden board may occur). On the other hand, if you the fixed acute angle a is set to a too low value (i.e. made too flat), the staple S may be position higher on the first object, possibly even directly at the edge 2a instead of just below the edge, and may thus be exposed and more easily visible from above. For the typical applications of the present invention, a fixed acute angle a of between 40 and 50 degrees, in particular at least substantially 45 degree, may be considered optimal with regard to holding power and minimized risk of damages to the first and second objects. However, the present invention is not restricted to said value for the fixed acute angle a, and the fixed acute angle a may have other values depending on the particular application and use case as well as the materials and shapes of the first and second objects.

[0072] In various embodiments of the present invention, the connection portion 30,

130 includes a fixed end 32, 132 and a free end 34, 134. The fixed end 32, 132 may be fixed to the main body 10, and the free end 34, 134 of the connection portion 30, 130 may be located oppositely to the fixed end 32, 132 of the connection portion 30, 130. Through the inclined arrangement of the connection portion 30, 130 relative to the main body 20, the fixed end 32, 132 may be located closer to a center C of the main body 20 than the free end 34, 134 of the connection portion 30, 130. In other words, the connection portion 30, 130 may be inclined with respect to the main body 20 at the fixed acute angle a such that the free end 34, 134 of the connection portion 30, 130 is located further away from the center C of the main body 20 than the fixed end 32, 132 of the connection portion 30, 130. Further, the fixed end 32 of the connection portion 30, 130 may be located closer to the first main body longitudinal end 22 than to the second main body longitudinal end 24, and may additionally be located closer to the first main body longitudinal end 22 than to the center C of the main body 20.

[0073] In various embodiments of the present invention, the connection portion 30,

130 may be configured to be removably coupled to the stapling apparatus 200 for removably mounting the positioning bracket device 10, 100 to the stapling apparatus 200. The removable coupling between the connection portion 30, 130 and the stapling apparatus 200 may be realized in various manners, such as a screw connection, a hook connection, a snap-on (or latching) connection, a form-fit (or positive fit) connection, a frictional or friction-fit connection and the like. In various embodiments of the present invention illustrated and described herein, a screw connection (see. Fig. 7) and a type of form-fit connection (see Figs. 18 and 19) may be exemplified and illustrated. The present invention is however not limited to these manners of coupling/mounting the positioning bracket device 10, 100 to the stapling apparatus 200. Further, the person skilled in the art will understand that a positioning bracket device according to the present invention may also be fixedly attached to and/or integrated into a stapling apparatus, for example a nose part of a stapling apparatus. A nose part (herein referred to by reference sign 210) of a stapling apparatus 200 may be a part of the stapling apparatus, which is configured to guide and then output the staple along a staple firing direction through an opening in the nose part. The nose part is typically located at the front end of the machine (i.e. the end facing away from the user when the user holds the stapling apparatus) and extends away from the user when the user holds the stapling apparatus.

[0074] In various embodiments of the present invention, the connection portion 30,

130 and the main body 20 may be formed integrally with each other or the connection portion 30, 130 may be formed as a separate part, which is fixedly connected, for example by welding or adhering, to the main body 20.

[0075] In various embodiments of the present invention, the main body 20 may further include a firing indicator (also called targeting indicator or aiming indicator) 40 configured to provide an indication associated with the final position of a fired staple S in the first object 1 and/or second object 5. The firing indicator 40 may be formed by at least one of: one or more grooves recessed from above into the upper main body surface 26 and/or recessed laterally into the second main body longitudinal end 24, one or more colored dots formed on the upper main body surface 26, one or more projections formed on the upper main body surface 26, and one or more depressions formed on the upper main body surface 26, and the like. The firing indicator 40 may be advantageous in estimating the final position of a staple S in the first object 1 and/or second object 5. In particular, in a situation, where a staple has to be fired with high precision, the firing indicator 40 may help the user to identify the final position of the staple S after firing and thus effectively aim with the stapling apparatus towards the intended final position of the staple inside the objects.

[0076] In some embodiments of the present invention as described and illustrated herein, the firing indicator 40 may be formed by an elongated groove 42 recessed laterally into the second main body longitudinal end 24 with an longitudinal extension of the groove extending along the main body width direction WD. The groove-shaped firing indicator may allow the user to locate the final position of a fired staple in the second object (e.g. a batten) underneath the first object (e.g. a board for a terrace or house siding). Further, a length LG of the groove in the main body width direction may be at least substantially identical to the width of a staple S to be fired into and used for connecting the first and second objects. If the length of the groove 42 and the width of the staple S are substantially identical, the user is able to identify the final position of the staple S after firing with high precision. While knowledge of the final position of the fired staple may be generally useful, there are specific situations, in which precise knowledge of the final position is of even higher importance so as to appropriately cope with these specific situations. For example, such a specific situation may occur in the case where two boards need to be attached end-to-end to the same batten. Each of these boards requires a staple to be fired into its receptive lateral surface so as to connect the respective board with the batten. However, the available space for introducing the staple into both, the respective board and the batten is limited by the width of the batten and by the necessary distance from the longitudinal end of the respective board, wherein said necessary distance needs to be secured in order to avoid splitting of the board when the staple is introduced therein. By using the length of the groove 42 as an indication for the width of the staple, the user is thus able to insert the staple while (a) securing that the two staples for the two boards are appropriately inserted into the batten without missing the batten, and (b) securing the necessary distance from the end of the respective board to avoid splitting of the board.

[0077] In various embodiments of the present invention, the main body 20 may further include a stopper portion 50, which may be formed on and may extend from the main body 20 in a direction at least substantially vertical to the main body longitudinal axis LA. The stopper portion 50 may be configured for abutting against the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1. The stopper portion 50 and the main body 20 may be connected with each other at the first main body longitudinal end 22. For example, the stopper portion 50 and the main body 20 may be formed integrally with each other or the stopper portion 50 may be formed as a separate part, which is fixedly connected, for example by welding or adhering, to the main body 20.

[0078] The provision of a stopper portion 50 in the positioning bracket device 10, 100 according to the present invention allows to further improve the positioning precision and simplify the process of correctly placing of the positioning bracket device 10, 100 relative to the first object 1. For example, the user may simply move (e.g. push) the positioning bracket device 10, 100 until the abutment of the stopper portion 50 against the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1 , thereby making it more easier for the user to properly place and align the positioning bracket device 10, 100 against the first object 1 at high precision without the necessity for readjustments. Further, since the abutment of the stopper portion 50 against the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1 also provides a type of haptic feedback for the user, the user may easily and quickly identify that the positioning bracket device 10, 100 is properly placed and aligned against the first object 1 without the need for visual inspection.

[0079] Referring now to Figs. 1 to 11 , the positioning bracket device 10 according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail.

[0080] Generally, the positioning bracket device 10 according to this exemplary embodiment includes an elongated main body 20, a connection portion 30, a firing indicator 40 and a stopper portion 50 in accordance with the above description.

[0081] In the positioning bracket device 10 according to this exemplary embodiment, the connection portion 30 is inclined with respect to the main body longitudinal axis LA so as to form a fixed acute angle a (here, for example at least substantially 45 degree, but not limited thereto) between the extension axis EA of the connection portion 30 and the main body longitudinal axis LA (as best seen in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 cut along the main body longitudinal axis LA). Further, the free end 34 of the connection portion 30 is located further away from the center C of the main body 20 than the fixed end 32 of the connection portion 30. In this embodiment, the fixed end 32 may also be located closer to the center C of the main body 20 than the first main body longitudinal end 22, and a recessed portion 21 in the main body 20 may be formed along the main body longitudinal axis LA between the fixed end 32 and the first main body longitudinal end 22.

[0082] Further, the connection portion 30 of the positioning bracket device 10 according to this exemplary embodiment includes a connection wall 36. The connection wall 36 is formed integrally with the main body 20 as a bent portion and is formed so as to extend in an inclined manner at the fixed acute angle a (here, at least substantially 45 degree) along the extension axis EA with respect to the main body longitudinal axis LA. The extension axis EA may extend through or run along the connection wall 36 when viewing the positioning bracket device 10 in cross-section cut along the main body longitudinal axis LA (see Fig. 5).

[0083] For example, the connection wall 36 of the connection portion 30 is formed integrally (e.g. formed monolithically from the same material) with the main body 20 as a bent portion thereof. For example, a middle portion of the main body 20 in the main body width direction WD near the first main body longitudinal end 22, corresponding to the desired size of the connection wall 36 of the connection portion 30, may be bent upwards along a main body height direction HD up to the desired inclination relative to the main body longitudinal axis LA so as form a tongue-like or lug-like portion, which will serve as the connection portion 30. The present invention is however not limited hereto, and the connection wall of the connection portion may also be initially formed as a separated part and then welded to the main body 20 at the desired inclination relative to the main body longitudinal axis LA. The connection wall 36 may be formed in the shape of a single wall or single plate, extending from the main body 20. For example, a single bent portion may form the connection wall 36, thereby providing a coupling interface with a stapling apparatus 200 in a simple shape, which is also easy to manufacture at less costs. Accordingly, the connection wall 36 may (e.g. with its plate-like shape) extend (e.g. partially or fully) within a plane, which is inclined at the fixed acute angle a relative to the plane, in which the main body 20 at least substantially extends (e.g. in which at least the main body longitudinal axis LA extends).

[0084] Further the connection portion 30 (in particular the connection wall 36 thereof) according to this exemplary embodiment is configured to be removably coupled to the stapling apparatus 200 for removably mounting the positioning bracket device 10 to the stapling apparatus 200. To this end, the connection wall 36 of the connection portion 30 includes a through-hole 38 for allowing the insertion of a fastener (e.g. a screw 80 in Fig. 7) therethrough for removably coupling the connection wall 36 of the connection portion 30 to the stapling apparatus 200, in particular to the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200 (see Fig. 7). The through-hole 38 may optionally be threaded so as to interact with the fastener, but may also be formed without threads.

[0085] In this exemplary embodiment, the firing indicator 40 is formed by the elongated groove 42 recessed laterally into the second main body longitudinal end 24. The groove 42 extends with its length LG (i.e. its longitudinal extension) in the main body width direction WD. The length LG of the groove 42 in the main body width direction WD may be at least substantially identical to the width of the staple S to be fired into and used for connecting the first and second objects 1 and 5.

[0086] Further, in the positioning bracket device 10 according to this exemplary embodiment, the stopper portion 50 includes a first protruding flange 52 and a second protruding flange 54. Here, the first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54 are formed at the first main body longitudinal end 22. The first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54 are spaced apart from each other in the main body width direction by a distance D. As particularly shown in Fig. 6, the distance D between the first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54 may correspond to the width of the connection portion 30 in the main body width direction. The first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54 are at least substantially aligned with each other in the main body width direction WD. The first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54 extend from the first main body longitudinal end 22 in a direction at least substantially vertical to the main body longitudinal axis LA and face away from the connection portion 30. In other words, the first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54 extend from the first main body longitudinal end 22 in the main body height direction HD and away from the connection portion 30.

[0087] In the present embodiment, the first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54 are formed integrally (e.g. monolithically from the same material) with the main body 20 as respective bent portions thereof. For example, lateral portions of the main body 20 in the main body width direction WD near the first main body longitudinal end 22, each of said lateral portions corresponding to one of the first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54, may be bent downwards (e.g. bent downwards by 90 degrees relative to the main body longitudinal axis LA) so as form tongue-like portions, which will serve as the first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54. The present invention is however not limited hereto, and the first and second protruding flanges of the stopper portion may also be initially formed as separate parts and then welded to the main body 20.

[0088] The first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54 include first and second stopper surfaces 52a and 54a, respectively. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the first and second stopper surfaces 52a and 54a are in connection with the lower main body surface 28 at the first main body longitudinal end 22. The first and second stopper surfaces 52a and 54a are configured for contacting and abutting against the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1. For example, when the lower main body surface 28 is in contact with the upper surface 3 of a first object 1 , the positioning bracket device 10 may be pushed such that the first and second stopper surfaces 52a and 54a move towards the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1 and finally contact and abut against the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1 , thereby further improving the positioning precision.

[0089] With particular reference to Fig. 7, a mounted state of the positioning bracket device 10 according to this exemplary embodiment is shown. The positioning bracket device 10 is removably connected to the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200 by means of a screw 80. In the mounted state of the positioning bracket device 10, as can be seen from Fig. 7, the firing direction FD, along which the staple S is fired from the stapling apparatus 200, (herein also called “staple firing direction”) is at least substantially parallel to the extension axis EA of the connection portion 30, resulting in an (fixed) inclined relationship between the firing direction FD and the main body longitudinal axis LA at a firing angle b, said firing angle b being least substantially identical to the fixed acute angle a.

[0090] With reference now to Figs. 8 to 11 , the application of the positioning bracket device 10 in the mounted state of Fig. 7 during a connection process of connecting a first object 1 to a second object 5 via a staple S is explained for illustrative purposes. In the exemplary connection process of Figs. 8 to 12, the first object 1 is a board, and the second object 5 is a batten, the board and the batten forming part of a terrace of a house. As will be illustrated below, the present invention is particularly useful during assembly of such a terrace from multiple boards and battens since the present invention allows to connect the boards and battens in a quick and reliable manner with reduced costs for consumables due to the use of simple and inexpensive fasteners, e.g. commonly available staples, while allowing to provide an appealing appearance of the finished terrace since the staples are substantially hidden from view in the lateral sides of the boards at the gaps between boards.

[0091] First, the stapling apparatus is held and positioned, with the positioning bracket device 10 according to the present invention mounted thereon, by a user so as to place the lower main body surface 28 of the positioning bracket device 10 into contact with the upper surface 3 of the board 1. Then, the stopper portion 50 is brought into contact and abutment against the lateral surface 2 of the board 1. Accordingly, the positioning bracket device 10 engages both the upper surface 3 and the lateral surface 2 of the board 1 , such that the position of the positioning bracket device 10 and thus of the stapling apparatus 200 is substantially fixed relative to the board 1. Accordingly, the firing direction FD of the staple S is inclined with respect to the upper surface 3 of the board 1 at the firing angle b, which corresponds to the fixed acute angle a (here at least substantially 45 degree), and the firing direction FD is directed towards the lateral surface 2 of the board 1. During said process of placing the positioning bracket device 10, the firing indicator 40 of the positioning bracket device 10 supports the user in aligning the firing direction FD of the staple S with the desired final location of the staple S inside board 1 and batten 5 after firing. [0092] Further, as shown through Figs. 8 to 10, the staple S is fired along the (inclined) firing direction FD so as to penetrate, through the lateral surface 3 of the board 1 , into the board 1 (Figs. 8 and 9) and then further into the batten 5 (Fig. 10), so as to connect the board 1 and the batten 5 with each other. The firing of the staple S may occur upon actuating a trigger 205 of the staple apparatus 200 and, if necessary and depending on the used type of staple apparatus 200, after deactivating a safety mechanism (i.e. switching the safety mechanism from an unarmed state into an armed state as will be further explained below).

[0093] As can be seen from Figs. 10 and 11 , the application of the positioning bracket device 10 during a connection process of the board 1 and the batten 5 via the staple S results in that the staple S penetrates the lateral surface 2 of the board 1 just below the edge 2a formed between the upper surface 3 and the lateral surface 2 of the board 1 , thereby effectively hiding the staple S from view (in particular from above) and reducing the risk of damaging/splitting the board 1. Accordingly, a more appealing appearance may be achieved at high assembling speed and at reduced costs. With particular reference to Fig. 11 , a final situation of assembling the terrace in accordance with the connection process of Figs. 8 to 10 is shown, in which multiple boards 1 are attached to the batten 5 via multiple staples S fired into the boards at an inclined firing direction achieved with the support of the positioning bracket device of the present invention, wherein the staples are accordingly hidden from view in the lateral side of the boards at the gaps between the boards. After introduction of the staple S into the board 1, only relatively small and shallow depressions may remain in the lateral surface 2 of the board 1. Said relatively small and shallow depressions may only allow minimal amounts of water to be accumulated, wherein said accumulated water may easily dry and may not persist, thereby reducing the accumulation of water and risk of water ingress, which may damage the board and batten and deteriorate the connection between the board and the batten.

[0094] In the above, the connection process for a single board to a batten by applying the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes. During the assembly of an entire terrace, multiple boards need to be respectively connected to multiple battens by means of respective connection points, each connection point typically requiring a staple. The person skilled in the art will understand that each of said connection points can be realized via respective staples connecting the board to the batten at the respective connection point. Each of the respective staples may be driven into the board and the batten by applying the above described operation principle of the present invention. In this regard, it may be advantageous to secure sufficient clearance between neighboring boards for properly disposing the positioning bracket device of the present invention on and against the board to be stapled, in particular for inserting the protruding flanges into the clearance between neighboring boards. For such purposes, a clearance of at least or more than the material thickness of the protruding flanges may be secured. The person skilled in the art will however appreciate that, depending on the actual application and used materials, smaller or larger clearances between neighboring boards may be used (for example in the case of house sidings, the boards may even be positioned above each other in overlapping manner).

[0095] Meanwhile, the foregoing description of the connection process/operation principle of the present invention is of illustrative nature and has been exemplarily provided with respect to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to said illustrative description and that various variations are possible. While the above description refers to an exemplary application of the present invention for connecting a board to a batten, for example during assembly of a wooden terrace (or terrace deck), the above operation principle of the present invention may also be applied to other kinds of flooring/decks or to the assembly of house sidings as mentioned herein further above, but is also not limited thereto. In general, the present invention may be applied to any application, in which two or more objects might be connected via a staple and in which sufficient clearance is provided for the positioning and using the positioning bracket device of the present invention.

[0096] Referring now to Figs. 12 to 19, the positioning bracket device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail.

[0097] The positioning bracket device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 20, a connection portion 130, a firing indicator 40 and a stopper portion 50 in accordance with the above description. More specifically, the main body 20, firing indicator 40 and stopper portion 50 of the positioning bracket device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be at least substantially identical or similar to the main body 20, firing indicator 40 and stopper portion 50 of the positioning bracket device 10 according to the previously described embodiment. For specific details on the main body 20, firing indicator 40 and stopper portion 50, it is thus referred to the above description, and said description of the main body 20, firing indicator 40 and stopper portion 50 will not be repeated. In the description of the positioning bracket device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the same reference signs as those used in the above description and/or previously described embodiment will designate the identical or at least equivalent elements.

[0098] In this exemplary embodiment, the connection portion 130 is designed differently from the connection portion 30 of the positioning bracket device 10 of Figs. 1 to 11 so as to be adapted for connection and use with various other types of stapling apparatuses.

[0099] In the positioning bracket device 100 according to this exemplary embodiment, the connection portion 130 includes first and second inclined walls 136, 138, which are fixedly attached to the main body 20, in particular to the first main body longitudinal end 22 of the main body 20. For example, the first and second inclined walls 136, 138 may be fixedly attached to the main body 20 by welding the first and second inclined walls 136, 138 to the first main body longitudinal end 22 of the main body 20. The first and second inclined walls 136, 138 are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other in a main body width direction WD. For example, the first and second inclined walls 136, 138 may be spaced apart from each other in the main body width direction WD by a distance E. Said distance E between the first and second inclined walls 136, 138 may be at least substantially identical to the distance D between the first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54. The distance E between the first and second inclined walls 136, 138 may however also be smaller or greater than the distance D between the first protruding flange 52 and the second protruding flange 54. The first and second inclined walls 136, 138 are formed so as to extend along (or at least in alignment with) the extension axis EA in an inclined manner at the fixed acute angle a (here, for example at least substantially 45 degree, but not limited thereto) with respect to the main body longitudinal axis LA (as best seen in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 16). For example, the extension axis EA may run along (e.g. in alignment with) the first and second inclined walls 136, 138 when viewing the positioning bracket device 100 in cross-section cut along the main body longitudinal axis LA (see Fig. 5).

[00100] The main body 20 in this embodiment may also include a recessed portion 121 in the main body 20, which may be formed between the first and second inclined walls 136, 138 and recessed from the first main body longitudinal end 22 into the main body 20 along the main body longitudinal axis LA at least by a predetermined recess length. The predetermined recess length may depend on the exact value of the fixed acute angle a and may be appropriately selected so as to avoid interference between the main body 20 and the staple fired from the stapling apparatus 200.

[00101] The connection portion 130 further includes a yoke body 140, formed by a yoke body basis 142, a first yoke leg 144 and a second yoke leg 146. The first and second yoke legs 144, 146 may extend at least substantially vertical from the yoke body basis 142 towards the first and the second inclined walls 136, 138 and may connect the yoke body basis 142 to the first and second inclined walls 136, 138, respectively. That is, the first yoke leg 144 may extend at least substantially vertical (e.g. in an at least substantially right angle) from a first end of the yoke body basis 142 towards the first inclined wall 136 and connect said first end of the yoke body basis 142 to the first inclined wall 136 (e.g. at an at least substantially right angle). The second yoke leg 146 may extend at least substantially vertical (e.g. in an at least substantially right angle) from a second end of the yoke body basis 142 towards the second inclined wall 138 and connect said second end of the yoke body basis 142 to the second inclined wall 138 (e.g. at an at least substantially right angle). The yoke body basis 142 and the first and second legs 144, 146 may define a receiving space 148 configured for receiving a portion of a nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200.

[00102] The yoke body 140 may optionally include additional guide flanges 154, 156 formed along the edge, at which the first and second yoke legs 144, 146 and the first and second inclined walls 136, 138 are connected to each other. The guide flanges 154 may interact with the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200 so as to additionally guide the yoke body 140 of the connection portion 130 with respect to the nose part 210 (e.g. guide a relative movement of the positioning bracket device 100 along the nose part 210). The guide flanges 154 may further support the yoke body 140 against the nose part 210.

[00103] The yoke body 140 further may include a coupling part 150, which is configured for coupling the connection portion 130 to the stapling apparatus 200. The coupling part 150 may extend from the yoke body basis 142. For example, in this embodiment, the coupling part 150 may extend from the yoke body basis 142 in an at least substantially L-shaped form (e.g. when viewed in cross-section cut along the main body longitudinal axis LA - see Fig. 16) from a portion of the yoke body basis 142 between the first and second legs 144, 146. The coupling part 150 may further include a through-hole 152 for removably coupling the connection portion 130 to the stapling apparatus 200. The through-hole 152 may extend along a through-hole axis, said through-hole axis being at least substantially parallel to the extension axis EA of the connection portion 130. The present invention is however not limited hereto, and the coupling part may also be fixedly attached to a corresponding part of the stapling apparatus 200.

[00104] As illustrated in Fig. 18, the coupling part 150 of the connection portion 130 may be removably coupled to the stapling apparatus 200 through a connection involving the coupling part 150 and its through-hole 152, a safety actuation rod 230 and a c-clip 240. The safety actuation rod 230 may include a rod element 232, which is movable at least partially within the stapling apparatus 200 and configured for interaction with a firing safety mechanism (to be described later), a circumferential stopping projection 234 fixedly attached to a first rod end portion 233 to which the coupling part 150 is to be connected, and a wheel portion 236 fixedly attached to the rod element 232 at a predefined distance from the circumferential stopping projection 234. For removably coupling the positioning bracket device 100 to the stapling apparatus 200, nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200 is inserted into the receiving space 148. During this process, first rod end portion 233 is aligned with the through-hole 152 of the coupling part 150, and the first rod end portion 233 passes with its circumferential stopping projection 234 through the through-hole 152, until the coupling part 150 engages on one side (e.g. abuts against) the side of the wheel portion 236. Then, the c-clip 240 is fitted over the first rod end portion 233 between the other side of the coupling part 150 and the circumferential stopping projection 234 so as to block axial movement of the coupling part 150 relative to the rod element 232. Accordingly, the coupling part 150 is coupled to the safety actuation rod 230. As a result, the coupling part 150 couples the positioning bracket device 100 to the safety actuation rod 230 so that the positioning bracket device 100 and the safety actuation rod 230 move together.

[00105] With particular reference to Fig. 19, a mounted state of the positioning bracket device 100 according to this exemplary embodiment is shown. The positioning bracket device 100 is removably coupled to the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200 by means of the above described connection involving the coupling part 150, the safety actuation rod 230 and the c-clip 240. In the mounted state of the positioning bracket device 100, as can be seen from Fig. 19, the firing direction FD, along which the staple S is fired from the stapling apparatus 200, is at least substantially parallel to the extension axis EA of the connection portion 130, resulting in an (fixed) inclined relationship between the firing direction FD and the main body longitudinal axis LA at the firing angle b, said firing angle b being least substantially identical to the fixed acute angle a.

[00106] As can been seen from Fig. 18 and from the mounted state of Fig. 19, the positioning bracket device 100 of this embodiment is coupled to the safety actuation rod 230 of the stapling apparatus 200. The safety actuation rod 230 is coupled to a firing safety mechanism 250 (schematically shown in Fig. 19) of the stapling apparatus 200. The operational coupling between the safety actuation rod 230 and the firing safety mechanism 250 is schematically illustrated in Fig. 19 by the dashed double-arrow. The firing safety mechanism 250 can switch, by interaction with the safety actuation rod 230, between an unarmed state, in which a staple is not allowed to be fired from the stapling apparatus 200, and an armed state, in which a staple is allowed to be fired. In the exemplary embodiment of Figs. 12 to 19, the positioning bracket device 100 is accordingly configured to be coupled, via the coupling part 150 and its coupling with the safety actuation rod 230, to the firing safety mechanism 250 of the stapling apparatus 200, wherein the positioning bracket device 100 is thus configured to act, via the coupling part 150 and the safety actuation rod 230, on the firing safety mechanism 250 so as to cause switching from the unarmed state into the armed state.

[00107] In said exemplary embodiment, an operation for acting on the firing safety mechanism (and thus switching from the unarmed state into the armed state) may be as follows: Before firing a staple, the user may have to additionally push the stapling apparatus 200 with the positioning bracket device 100 mounted thereon towards and against the first object 1 (target object), resulting in a axial movement of the nose part 210 in the firing direction FD within the receiving space 148 (e.g. guided by the yoke body 140). At this time, since the positioning bracket device 100 is in engagement with the first object 1 (as shown in Figs. 8 to 10), a relative movement between the positioning bracket device 100 and the stapling apparatus 200 is generated, which is transferred to the safety actuation rod 230 via the coupling portion 150. The safety actuation rod 230 thus axially moves at least partially within the stapling apparatus 200 and acts on the firing safety mechanism 250, thereby causing a switching from the unarmed state into the armed state. For example, the safety firing mechanism 250 in this embodiment may include mechanical elements and links (not shown), which are configured to block the actuation (e.g. pushing) of the trigger 205 or to allow the user to push the trigger 205, after the safety actuation rod 230 has been axially moved and the safety firing mechanism 250 has been switched from the unarmed state, in which the trigger 205 cannot be properly pushed, to the armed state, in which the trigger 205 can be properly pushed. Further, the mechanical elements and links of the safety firing mechanism 250 in this embodiment, which are connected to the safety actuation rod 230, may also act on movable parts of the cylinder such that, in the unarmed state, the combustion chamber in the cylinder is not sealed and no sufficient pressure for driving a staple can be generated, and, in the armed state, the combustion chamber in the cylinder is sealed and sufficient pressure for driving a staple can be generated. Such a mechanism is commonly known to the skilled person (e.g. from the TJEP PQZ-75 gas stapling gun) and a detailed description is therefore omitted. The present invention is however not limited to this mechanism and its details. Accordingly, in the state in which the stapling apparatus 200 with the positioning bracket device 100 mounted thereon is additionally pushed by the user towards and against the first object 1 , a staple is allowed to be fired upon actuation of the trigger 205 by the user.

[00108] Firing safety mechanisms for stapling apparatus 200 are generally known to the skilled person in the art, and the firing safety mechanism described herein is not intended to limit the present invention. Various ways of realizing a firing safety mechanism applicable to the present invention are possible. For example, in the unarmed state, the firing safety mechanism may mechanically block the trigger 205 or may block an electric signal sent from the trigger 205 such that an operation of the trigger by the user may not result in a firing action of a staple. In other examples, the firing safety mechanism may mechanically block a staple driving mechanism used for accelerating the staple (e.g. mechanically block movement a piston or mechanically block rotation an electric motor). The firing safety mechanism may switch from the unarmed state to the armed state in various manners. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of Figs. 12 to 19, the safety actuation rod 230 may mechanically interact with mechanical elements of the firing safety mechanism so as to release a mechanical lock on the trigger.. The safety actuation rod 230 may also act on a pressure switch for sending an electrical signal to the firing safety mechanism, thus effectuating the switching from the unarmed state to the armed state. The firing safety mechanism is however not limited to the above examples and various different implementations of a firing safety mechanism in a stapling apparatus are possible.

[00109] In the positioning bracket device 100 according to this embodiment, the functionality of acting onto the firing safety mechanism 250 is integrated into the positioning bracket device 100, thereby allowing easy and simple coupling of the positioning bracket device 100 to the stapling apparatus 200 while at the same time securing the function of the firing safety mechanism without the need of installing additional elements (e.g. without needing a separate safety piece to be installed independently in the positioning bracket device 100).

[00110] The application of the positioning bracket device 100 during a connection process of connecting a first object 1 to a second object 5 via a staple S is at least substantially identical to the application of the positioning bracket device 10 as explained with reference to Figs. 8 to 11 hereinabove. A repeated description will thus be omitted and reference is made to Figs. 8 to 11 for the details for said application of the positioning bracket device 100.

[00111] Further, the present invention also provides a system for a stapling apparatus, which will be described in the following.

[00112] As will be understood from the foregoing, the positioning bracket device 100 of Figs. 12 to 19 is designed for use with various types of stapling apparatuses, in which an safety actuation rod 230 is present and in which the firing safety mechanism 250 can be actuated (e.g. switched from the unarmed state to the armed state) due to the above described connection between the coupling part 150 and the safety actuation rod 230. On the other hand, the positioning bracket device 10 of Figs. 1 to 11 can be used with other types of stapling apparatuses, which may require, by default, a different actuation of the firing safety mechanism by means of a separate safety piece for acting on the firing safety mechanism. To this end, the stapling apparatuses may already be equipped with a standard safety piece for acting on the firing safety mechanism. Flowever, standard safety pieces may not be able to cooperate with the positioning bracket device 10 of the present invention due to their inappropriate shapes or dimension, which may interfere with the positioning bracket device and may not allow to properly place the positioning bracket device on and against the first object 1.

[00113] Therefore, the present invention further provides a system, including a positioning bracket device in accordance with the present invention (in particular the positioning bracket device 10 in accordance with the embodiment shown and described with respect to Figs. 1 to 11 ) and a safety piece 300, which is configured for use with the positioning bracket device of the present invention. The system of the present invention may form a tool kit, which can be commercially provided to users together with a stapling apparatus or separately from a stapling apparatus (i.e. for use with/modifying a stapling apparatus already in possession of a user).

[00114] As shown in Figs. 20 to 23, the safety piece 300 may include a safety piece body 302, which extends along a safety piece longitudinal axis SLA and which has a substantially U-shaped form, when viewed in cross-section in the direction of the safety piece longitudinal axis SLA (i.e. cut orthogonally to the safety piece longitudinal axis SLA - see Fig. 22). The safety piece body 302 may include a base portion 304, a first side wall portion 306 and a second side wall portion 308. The base portion 304 may have an elongated shape along the safety piece longitudinal axis SLA. One end (e.g. a connected end) of the first side wall portion 306 may be connected to the base portion 304 such that the first side wall portion 306 extends at least substantially vertical to the base portion 304 from a first end 304a of the base portion 304. One end (e.g. a connected end) of the second side wall portion 308 may be connected one end thereof to the base portion 304 such that the second side wall portion 308 extends at least substantially vertical to the base portion 304 from a second end 304b of the base portion 304. Guide lips 310a, 310b may laterally protrude from the other ends (e.g. upper ends) of the first and second side wall portions 306, 308 and may be configured for guiding the safety piece 300 along the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus(e.g. by interaction with a safety actuation arm 252 to be described below). A stopper lip 312 may be formed along the front edge of the base portion 304 and partially along front edges of the first and second side wall portions 306, 308. The stopper lip 312 may be configured for stopping an axial (relative) movement of the safety piece 300 along the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus, when the safety piece 300 is attached to the nose part 210 and moves relative to the nose part along an outer surface of the nose part 210.

[00115] One or more inclined outer surfaces 314 may be formed to the safety piece body 302. For example, the first and second side wall portions 306, 308 may each include an inclined outer surface 314a and 314b. For example, one inclined outer surface 314a may be included in the first side wall portions 306 and may extend from the other end (e.g. the upper end) of the first side wall portion 306, at which the corresponding guide lip 310a extends, in inclined manner towards the front edge of the first side wall portion 306, at which the stopper lip 312 extends. For example, the other inclined outer surface 314b may be included in the second side wall portions 308 and may extend from the other end (e.g. the upper end) of the second side wall portion 308, at which the corresponding guide lip 310b extends, in inclined manner towards the front edge of the second side wall portion 308, at which the stopper lip 312 extends. The inclined outer surfaces 314 may be inclined relative to the safety piece longitudinal axis SLA at a surface inclination angle y. For example, the inclined outer surface 314 may be inclined relative to the safety piece longitudinal axis SLA at the surface inclination angle Y when viewed along the viewed in cross-section cut along the safety piece longitudinal axis SLA (see Fig. 21). In a system of the present invention, the surface inclination angle g of the inclined outer surface 314 relative to the safety piece longitudinal axis SLA may be at least substantially equal to the fixed acute angle a in the positioning bracket device of the system. For example, the surface inclination angle g may range between 20 and 70 degrees. In some particular embodiments, the surface inclination angle g may preferably range between 40 and 50 degrees, and may even more preferably be at least substantially 45 degree. By including the inclined outer surface 314, the safety piece 300 may be configured as an appropriate safety piece for use with the positioning bracket device 10 of the present invention

[00116] In a state, in which the positioning bracket device 10 is mounted on the stapling apparatus 200 and the safety piece 300 is movably engaged with the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200, the inclined outer surface 314 of the safety piece 300 may extend at least substantially in parallel alignment with at least one of the upper main body surface 26 and the lower main body surface 28. For example, the inclined outer surface 314 of the safety piece 300 may extend in at least substantially flush manner with at least one of the upper main body surface 26 and the lower main body surface 28.

[00117] As can be seen from Figs. 23, the safety piece 300 is movably engaged with the nose part 210 (e.g. along an outside surface of nose part 210) of the stapling apparatus 200 so as to be axially moveable along the nose part 210 (e.g. at least substantially along the firing direction FD) in the axial movement direction(s) indicated by double-arrow AM. Accordingly, the safety piece 300 is configured for movement relative to the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200 (e.g. along the outside surface of the nose part 210). Similar to the safety actuation rod 230 described above, the safety piece 300 may thus act through said relative movement along nose part 210 on a firing safety mechanism 250 of the stapling apparatus 200 so as to cause a switching from the unarmed state into the armed state. For example, before firing a staple, the user may have to additionally push the stapling apparatus 200 (with the positioning bracket device 10 mounted thereon and the safety piece 300 installed at the front of the nose part 210) towards and against the first object 1 (target object), resulting in a pushing force against the safety piece 300 and a movement of the safety piece 300 along the nose part 210. At this time, the safety piece 300, through its movement along the nose part 210, may act on the firing safety mechanism 250, e.g. push/move mechanical links of the firing safety mechanism 250, thereby causing a switching from the unarmed state into the armed state. As shown in Figs. 24 and 25, the firing safety mechanism 250 may include a movable safety actuation arm 252, one end of which is engaged with the safety piece 300 for movement together with the safety piece 300 and along the nose part 210 (see Fig. 24) and the other end being located at and being configured to come into engagement with the trigger 205 (or at least a part of the trigger 205). The other end of the safety actuation arm 252 is connected with the trigger 205 and is configured so as to switch the trigger from the unarmed state, in which the actuation of the trigger 205 by the user is not able to cause a staple to be fired, (see illustration on the left side of Fig. 25) and the armed state, in which the actuation of the trigger 205 by the user causes a staple to be fired (see illustration on the right side of Fig. 25). For example, when the safety piece 300 moves relative to (e.g. axially along) the nose piece 210 in the opposite direction to the firing direction FD, the safety actuation arm 252 is moved together with the safety piece 300 (e.g. by engagement of the guide lips 310a, 310b and the stopper lip 312 with the safety actuation arm 252) and then switches the trigger 205 from the unarmed state to the armed state (see arrow and dashed lines, which indicate said movement, between the left and right illustrations in Fig. 25). Such a mechanism is commonly known to the skilled person (e.g. from the TJEP PQZ-64 pneumatic stapling gun) and a detailed description is therefore omitted. The present invention is however not limited to this mechanism and its details. Accordingly, movement of the safety piece 300 along the nose part 210 may cause switching from the unarmed state into the armed state. In the resulting state, in which the stapling apparatus 200 with the positioning bracket device 100 mounted thereon is additionally pushed by the user towards and against the first object 1 and the safety piece 300 is further moved along the nose part 210, a staple is accordingly allowed to be fired upon actuation of the trigger 205 by the user.

[00118] For movably attaching the safety piece 300 to the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200, the safety piece 300 may further include an attachment block 316, formed on the base portion 304 and including a threaded through-hole 318 extending through the attachment block 316 and the base portion 304. The threaded through-hole 318 may be engaged with the screw 80, which may also serve for attaching the positioning bracket device 10 to the nose part 210 and/or to the safety actuation arm 252, but may also be engaged with a separate fastener/screw. In this regard, the nose part 210 and/or the safety actuation arm 252 may include an oblong groove (not shown) through which the screw 80 extends for engagement with the threaded through-hole 318. Further, the safety piece 300 may also include guide fins 320a and 320b, which are located on the first and second side wall portions 306, 308, respectively, and which laterally protrude from the first and second side wall portions 306, 308 towards each other into a nose part receiving space 322 for receiving the nose part. The nose part receiving space 322 may be defined by the u-shaped safety piece body 302. The guide fins 320a and 320b may be configured for interacting (e.g. engaging) with guide grooves 212 formed in the nose part 210 such that the movement of the safety piece 300 along the nose part 210 is guided by said interaction (e.g. engagement) between the guide fins 320a and 320b and the guide grooves 212.

[00119] In further embodiments, the present invention also provides a stapling apparatus 200 for connecting the first object 1 to the second object 5 by means of a staple S, which may already include the positioning bracket device and/or safety piece as described herein. Said stapling apparatus 200 of the present invention may include: the trigger 205, which is operable by a user of the stapling apparatus 200; the firing safety mechanism 250, which can be switched between the unarmed state, in which the staple S is not allowed to be fired from the stapling apparatus 200 irrespective of an actuation of said trigger 205, and the armed state, in which a staple S is allowed to be fired in response to the actuation of said trigger 205; the nose part 210, which is configured to guide and output the staple S along the staple firing direction FD, and a positioning bracket device according to various embodiments of the present invention, in particular one of the positioning bracket device 10 described with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 and the positioning bracket device 100 described with reference to Figs. 12 to 19. The positioning bracket device may be removably mounted or fixedly mounted on the nose part 210 via the connection portion of the positioning bracket device, in particular by means of the connection portions 30 and 130 as described hereinabove. The staple firing direction FD may be inclined with respect to the main body longitudinal axis LA so as to form the firing angle b between the staple firing direction FD and the main body longitudinal axis LA, wherein the firing angle b may be at least substantially identical to the fixed acute angle a of the positioning bracket device mounted on the nose part 210. [00120] With reference again to Figs. 1 to 11 and Figs. 20 to 23, a stapling apparatus 200 in one particular embodiment may further include a safety piece, preferably the safety piece 300 as described herein, which is movably engaged with the nose part 210 of the stapling apparatus 200 and configured to act on the firing safety mechanism 250 of the stapling apparatus 200 so as to cause switching from the unarmed state to the armed state. In this particular embodiment of a stapling apparatus, the safety piece 300 may include the inclined outer surface 314 which extends at least substantially in parallel alignment with at least one of the upper main body surface 26 and the lower main body surface 28 of the positioning bracket device mounted on the stapling apparatus 200.

[00121] With reference again to Figs. 12 to 19, in a stapling apparatus 200 in another particular embodiment, the positioning bracket device itself may be coupled to the firing safety mechanism 250 through a coupling portion (e.g. coupling portion 150) of the connection portion of the positioning bracket device. The stapling apparatus 200 in this particular embodiment may thus additionally include a safety actuation rod 230 and a c- clip 240 for coupling to the coupling portion of the connection portion of the positioning bracket device. Accordingly, in this particular embodiment of a stapling apparatus 200 according to the invention, the positioning bracket device mounted on the stapling apparatus 200 is on its own be configured to act, for example by means of the coupling portion 150 of the connection portion 130, on the firing safety mechanism 250 so as to cause switching from the unarmed state to the armed state. Such a stapling apparatus may not require a separate safety piece.

[00122] Further to the above, the stapling apparatuses according to the various embodiments of the present invention may generally include further elements, such as: an elongated housing body 260, in which a further elements of a staple driving mechanism (not shown) used for accelerating the staple may be included; a grip portion 270 extending from the housing body 260 and including the trigger 205; a magazine 280 being configured for storing one or more staples and for feeding the one or more staples to the nose part 210. The nose part 210 may extend from a front end (i.e. the end facing away from the user when the user holds the stapling apparatus) of the elongated housing body 260.

[00123] With reference to Fig. 26, the present invention also provides a method of connecting a first object 1 to a second object 5 by means of a staple S. The first object 1 and the second object 5 may be objects as described hereinabove, for example a board and a batten, which are required to be connected together during the assembly of a terrace.

[00124] The method of the present invention may include at least the steps of: mounting (S100) a positioning bracket device of the present invention (e.g. a positioning bracket device 10, 100) on a stapling apparatus 200; placing (S200) the lower main body surface 28 of the positioning bracket device into contact with the upper surface 3 of the first object 1 such that a staple firing direction FD is directed towards a lateral surface 2 of the first object 1 and is inclined with respect to the upper surface 3 of the first object at a firing angle b corresponding to a fixed acute angle a defined in the positioning bracket device; and firing (S300) the staple S along the staple firing direction FD for penetrating, through the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1 , into the first object 1 and into the second object 3, so as to connect the first object 1 to the second object 3.

[00125] The method may further include, after placing the lower main body surface 28 of the positioning bracket device into contact with the upper surface 3 of the first object 1 and before firing the staple, a step of placing a stopper portion (e.g. stopper portion 50) of the positioning bracket device into abutment against the lateral surface 2 of the first object 1 so as to maintain the positioning bracket device in fixed position relative to the first object 1. In addition, depending on whether the used type of stapling apparatus comprises a firing safety mechanism, the step of firing the staple S may further include the steps of causing a firing safety mechanism of the stapling apparatus to cause switching from an unarmed state to an armed state; and firing the staple S along the staple firing direction upon actuation of the trigger of the stapling apparatus.

[00126] The positioning bracket device and/or safety piece according to various embodiments of the present invention as described hereinabove may be formed from any suitable material. Such materials may include metal materials, for example steel materials or iron materials, but are not limited to metal materials and may also include other materials, such as plastics. Some or all components may be formed from the same materials, but the positioning bracket device and/or safety piece according to various embodiments of the present invention may also be formed from a combination of different materials. The person skilled in the art will understand that, depending on the intended application and use, one or more suitable materials may be used and/or combined so as to manufacture the positioning bracket device and/or safety piece according to various embodiments of the present invention. [00127] In accordance with the embodiments as described herein, the present invention provides various devices, systems and methods for connecting a first object to a second object by means of a staple in a quick and reliable manner while effectively hiding the staple S from view. Accordingly, a more appealing appearance may be achieved at high assembling speed and at reduced costs due to the use of simple and inexpensive fasteners (e.g. commonly available staples), unlike the related art and known approaches, which typically require special tools and/or special fasteners. In particular, the use of specially designed fasteners, which are typically more expensive to manufacture, in the related art results in high costs (especially when taking into account the number of these consumables necessary for building a terrace deck). Hence, the use of inexpensive and commonly available fasteners, such as staples, is highly desired.

[00128] Further, the present invention may not require a complex and expensive specialized tool, but may provide a positioning bracket device, which is robust and designed so as to be easy to manufacture. The staples may be provided in collated (or coupled) form so as to allow loading of more fasteners in the tool, instead of front loading one screw at the time, and no predrilling is required.

[00129] The present invention may further allow to appropriately position the staple just below the edge between upper and lateral surface of the first object so as to minimize the risk of damaging the object. In addition, the risk of accumulation and ingress of water may be effectively reduced since the staple may only form relatively small and shallow depressions in the lateral surface of the object.

[00130] Further, the embodiments of the present invention may be mounted on various standard stapling apparatuses in a fast and simple manner. In the foregoing, various embodiments have been described, which may cooperate with different types of stapling apparatuses. Hence, the user may use his/her existing stapling apparatus together with the present invention. There may thus be no need to acquire a new and specialized (thus expensive) tool. Once a positioning bracket device of the present invention is attached to the stapling apparatus by means of a removable coupling as described hereinabove, the stapling apparatus may also be easily changed back to its standard form by simply removing the mounted positioning bracket device.

[00131] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “up”, “down”, “upwards”, “downwards”, “front”, “rear”, “back”, “inside”, “outside”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “interior”, “exterior”, “internal”, “external”, “inner”, “outer”, “forwards”, and “backwards” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will be further understood that the term “connect” or its derivatives refer both to direct and indirect connection.

[00132] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the present invention and their practical application, to enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.