Protective support structure for nailer

1 . A nailer assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a drive section at a forward portion of the nailer assembly, and a grip section at an upper portion of the nailer assembly;

a fastener magazine beneath the grip section and including a feed portion proximate the drive section and a distal portion located distally from the drive section; and

a sacrificial protective support structure positioned beneath the distal portion of the fastener magazine.

2 . The nailer assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the sacrificial protective support structure includes a first coupling portion; and

the fastener magazine includes a second coupling portion on a lower housing portion of the fastener magazine, the second coupling portion configured to couple with the first coupling portion.

3 . The nailer assembly of claim 2 , wherein the sacrificial protective support structure is configured to be removed by a user.

4 . The nailer assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sacrificial protective support structure is configured for tool-less removal by a user.

5 . The nailer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial protective support structure includes:

a first coupling portion; and

an energy absorbing portion, the energy absorbing portion configured to absorb impact forces by deforming prior to deformation of the first coupling portion.

6 . The nailer assembly of claim 5 , wherein the energy absorbing portion comprises:

a plurality of ribs extending downwardly from the first coupling portion.

7 . The nailer assembly of claim 6 , wherein:

the fastener magazine includes a second coupling portion on a lower housing portion of the fastener magazine, the second coupling portion configured to couple with the first coupling portion.

8 . The nailer assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first coupling portion includes:

an open end portion at a first side of the sacrificial protective support structure and configured to receive at least a portion of the second coupling portion therethrough;

a closed end portion at a second side of the sacrificial protective support structure opposite the open end portion; and

a slide arm extending along a top of the sacrificial protective support structure from the open end portion to the closed end portion.

9 . The nailer assembly of claim 8 , wherein:

the slide arm includes a retaining groove;

the second coupling portion includes a spring loaded button configured to engage the retaining groove; and

the second coupling portion includes a support arm configured to directly contact the slide arm.

10 . A method of replacing a first sacrificial protective support structure of a nailer assembly including a housing defining a drive section at a forward portion of the nailer assembly and a grip section at an upper portion of the nailer assembly, the nailer assembly further including a fastener magazine, beneath the grip section, which includes a feed portion proximate the drive section and a distal portion located distally from the drive section, comprising;

decoupling the first sacrificial protective support structure from the fastener magazine; and

coupling a second sacrificial protective support structure to the fastener magazine at a location beneath the distal portion of the fastener magazine;

wherein decoupling the first sacrificial protective support structure from the fastener magazine comprises: moving the first sacrificial protective support structure in a rearward direction by sliding a slide surface of a first coupling portion of the first sacrificial protective support structure along a support arm of a second coupling portion of the fastener magazine.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein decoupling the first sacrificial protective support structure from the fastener magazine further comprises:

forcing a spring biased button toward a lower housing portion of the fastener magazine with a wall of a retaining groove of a slide arm of the first coupling portion.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein coupling the second sacrificial protective support structure comprises:

moving the second sacrificial protective support structure in a forwardly direction with an open end portion of a third coupling portion of the second sacrificial protective support structure aligned with the support arm of the second coupling;

inserting the support arm of the second coupling portion into the open end portion of the third coupling portion; and

sliding a slide surface of a sliding arm of the third coupling portion along the support arm of the second coupling portion of the fastener magazine.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein coupling the second sacrificial protective support structure further comprises:

forcing a spring biased button toward a lower housing portion of the fastener magazine with a wall of a retaining groove of the sliding arm of the third coupling portion.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein coupling the second sacrificial protective support structure further comprises:

abutting the support arm of the second coupling portion of the fastener magazine against a closed end portion of the third coupling portion; and

inserting the spring biased button into the retaining groove of the sliding arm of the third coupling portion.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein decoupling the first sacrificial protective support structure from the fastener magazine comprises:

decoupling the first sacrificial protective support structure from the fastener magazine without the use of a tool.