Coupling apparatus

Abstract

A panel assembly comprising at least two SIP panels fixedly coupled together in a coplanar relationship by a coupling apparatus for fixedly coupling an edge surface of a first SIP panel to an edge surface of a second SIP panel in an abutting relationship so that the two SIP panels are coplanar. The coupling apparatus comprising at least one staple having a bridge and two embedding elements spaced apart along the length of the bridge. Each embedding element being adapted to embed into one of the two SIP panels so that the staple bridges the abutting edges and fixedly couples the two abutting SIP panels together in a coplanar relationship.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel assembly, comprising:
 at least two SIP panels fixedly coupled together in a coplanar relationship by a coupling means for fixedly coupling an edge surface of a first SIP panel to an edge surface of a second SIP panel in an abutting relationship so that the two SIP panels are coplanar,   the coupling means comprising at least one staple having a bridge and two embedding elements spaced apart along the length of the bridge,   each embedding element being adapted to embed into one of the two SIP panels so that the staple bridges abutting edges of the two SIP panels and fixedly couples the two abutting SIP panels together in a coplanar relationship.   
     
     
         2 . The panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one staple is embedded into both outside main planar surfaces of abutting oriented strand boards (OSBs) of the abutting SIP panels. 
     
     
         3 . The panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the staple bridges the abutting edges of the two abutting SIP panels on both outside main planar surfaces of the abutting SIP panels. 
     
     
         4 . The panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the staple is mechanically fixed to the two abutting SIP panels to fixedly couple the two SIP panels together in a coplanar arrangement in an absence of any additional modifications to the SIP panels. 
     
     
         5 . The panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein free ends of the embedding elements are adapted to embed into the two abutting SIP panels and to simultaneously bend towards each other as a result of an impact or drive force being applied to the bridge of the staple. 
     
     
         6 . The panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the staples are spaced apart along a longitudinal length of abutting edges of the SIP panels. 
     
     
         7 . The panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a width of the bridge of the coupling means is wide enough to bridge a joint between the first SIP panel and the second SIP panel. 
     
     
         8 . The panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the embedding elements are shorter in length than a width of the bridge. 
     
     
         9 . The panel assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the embedding elements are shorter in length in an embedded position than a depth of the OSBs. 
     
     
         10 . The panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a free end of each embedding element has a beveled surface commencing at a location along an outside of the embedding element and slicing through a body of the embedding element so that the embedding element is tapering to a point on an inside of the embedding element for embedding into an oriented strand board (OSB) of the SIP panels. 
     
     
         11 . A method of mechanically fixing a SIP panel assembly, comprising the steps of:
 abutting at least two SIP panels, comprising at least a first SIP panel and a second SIP panel, together in a coplanar relationship,   applying a coupling means for fixedly coupling an edge surface of the first SIP panel to an edge surface of the second SIP panel in an abutting relationship so that the two SIP panels are coplanar,   the coupling means comprising at least one staple having a bridge and two embedding elements spaced apart along a length of the bridge so that each embedding element is embedded into one of the at least two SIP panels so that the staple bridges abutting edges of the at least two SIP panels and fixedly couples the at least two abutting SIP panels together in a coplanar relationship.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a free end of each embedding element has a beveled surface commencing at a location along an outside of the embedding element and slicing through a body of the embedding element so that the embedding element is tapering to a point on an inside of the embedding element for embedding into an oriented strand board (OSB) of the SIP panels. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising mechanically fixing a plurality of staples along abutting edges of the abutting SIP panels so that each embedding element of each staple is embedded. 
     
     
         14 . A coupling means for fixedly coupling an edge surface of a first SIP panel to an edge surface of a second SIP panel in an abutting relationship so that the two SIP panels are coplanar, the coupling means comprising:
 at least one staple having a bridge and two embedding elements spaced apart along a length of the bridge,   each embedding element being adapted to embed into one of the two SIP panels so that the staple bridges abutting edges of the two SIP panels and fixedly couples the two abutting SIP panels together in a coplanar relationship.   
     
     
         15 . The coupling means as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one staple is embedded into both outside main planar surfaces of abutting oriented strand boards (OSBs) of the abutting SIP panels. 
     
     
         16 . The coupling means as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one staple bridges abutting edges of the two abutting SIP panels on both outside main planar surfaces of the abutting SIP panels. 
     
     
         17 . The coupling means of  claim 14 , wherein free ends of the embedding elements are adapted to embed into the two abutting SIP panels and to simultaneously bend towards each other as a result of an impact or drive force being applied to the bridge of the staple. 
     
     
         18 . The coupling means of  claim 14 , wherein a free end of each embedding element has a beveled surface commencing at a location along an outside of the embedding element and slicing through a body of the embedding element so that the embedding element is tapering to a point on an inside of the embedding element for embedding into an oriented strand board (OSB) of the SIP panels. 
     
     
         19 . The coupling means of  claim 14 , wherein two or more staples are spaced apart along a longitudinal length of abutting edges of the SIP panels.