Hidden deck fastener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10605288-B2
Application number	US-201615337137-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2016
Priority date	Jun 25, 2010
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

A hidden fastener and associated method for attaching decking members with side grooves to a support member includes a cross member and an elongate anchoring member. The cross member has a body with a front and rear end and defines a hole. The front end has at least one prong and the rear end includes a bent wing. At least one leg extends downward from the body intermediate the front and rear ends. Each of the front and rear ends are configured to engage with the groove of adjacent decking members. The front end is inserted into the groove of a leading decking member and the anchoring member is driven through the hole into the support member. A trailing decking member is placed with the rear end in the groove adjacent the leading decking member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener for attaching decking members with side grooves to a support member, comprising:
a cross member with a body having a top and a bottom and opposite lateral edges extending between front and rear ends, the front end having at least two downwardly projecting prongs, the body defining an attachment hole extending from the top to the bottom;
a pair of legs intermediate the front end and rear end, each leg being bent downward from an opposite lateral edge;
an elongate anchoring member comprising a head and a shank, wherein
each end of the cross member is configured to engage the groove of an adjacent decking member and a portion of the anchoring member shank is configured to be driven through the cross member hole into the support member with the front end positioned within a leading decking member groove to form a fastener and rigidly attach the leading decking member to the support member by engagement between the cross member front end with the leading decking member groove, the legs being positioned between the adjacent decking members.

2. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the attachment hole is further defined by at least one surface that projects from the body.

3. The fastener of claim 2 , wherein the legs are substantially opposing one another on opposite lateral edges of the body.

4. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the at least one downwardly projecting prong is formed as a bend in a corner of the body at the front end.

5. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the rear end of the body terminates in a rear edge and includes a compound bend defining a lower vertex intermediate the attachment opening and rear edge.

6. The fastener of claim 5 , wherein a middle portion of the body is substantially flat and defines a longitudinal plane and the lower vertex lies below the plane.

7. The fastener of claim 6 , wherein the rear edge lies above the plane.

8. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the at least legs extend outward from the respective lateral edges of the body.

9. A fastener for attaching decking members with side grooves separating a top nub and a bottom nub to a support member, comprising:
a cross member with a body having a top and a bottom and opposite lateral edges extending between front and rear ends, the front end having at least one downwardly projecting prong, the body having a flat central section defining a plane with an attachment hole extending from the top to the bottom;
at least one leg projecting laterally out from the body and having a terminal edge that lies outside the plane defined by the flat central section of the body, the at least one leg defining a front abutment surface on the side of the leg that faces the direction of the body front end;
an elongate anchoring member comprising a head and a shank, wherein
each end of the cross member is configured to engage the groove of an adjacent decking member and a portion of the anchoring member shank is configured to be driven through the cross member hole into the support member to rigidly attach a leading decking member to the support member by engagement between the cross member front end with the leading decking member groove with the front abutment surface of the at least one leg against the lower nub.

10. The fastener of claim 9 , comprising two legs, each leg extending from an opposite lateral edge of the cross member body.

11. The fastener of claim 10 , wherein the legs oppose one another on opposite edges and are substantially equidistant from the front end, and the front abutment surface of both legs are against the lower nub.

12. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the attachment hole is further defined by at least one surface that projects from the body.

13. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the rear end of the body terminates in a rear edge, the rear end including a compound bend defining a lower vertex intermediate the attachment opening and rear edge.

14. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the rear edge lies above the plane defined by the flat central section of the body.

15. A method of constructing a decking structure by attaching laterally adjacent decking planks having side grooves separating an upper nub from a lower nub to a support member by engagement with hidden fasteners, comprising:
providing a cross member having a top and a bottom extending from a front end with at least two downwardly projecting prongs to a rear end, the cross member defining an attachment opening intermediate the front end and rear end extending from the top to the bottom, and at least one leg extending downwardly from the body;
positioning a leading decking plank substantially flat against the support member;
positioning the front end of the cross member within the groove of the leading decking plank;
driving an elongate anchoring member through the opening in the cross member into the support member with the at least one leg braced against the leading decking plank, the anchoring member and cross member collectively forming a hidden fastener; and
placing a trailing decking plank substantially flat against the support member adjacent the leading decking plank by inserting the trailing decking plank lower nub between the cross member and support member with the second end of the cross member within the groove of the trailing plank and the lower nub against the leg.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the cross member includes a leg extending from each lateral edge of the body.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein both legs are braced against the leading decking plank during the step of driving an elongate anchoring member.

18. A fastener for attaching decking members with side grooves to a support member, comprising:
a cross member with a body having a top and a bottom and opposite lateral edges extending between front and rear ends, the front end having two downwardly projecting prongs, the body defining an attachment hole extending from the top to the bottom;
a pair of legs intermediate the front end and rear end, each leg being bent downward from an opposite lateral edge;
an elongate anchoring member comprising a head and a shank, wherein
at least one of the legs extends outward from the respective lateral edge of the body, and
each end of the cross member is configured to engage the groove of an adjacent decking member and a portion of the anchoring member shank is configured to be driven through the cross member hole into the support member with the front end positioned within a leading decking member groove to form a fastener and rigidly attach the leading decking member to the support member by engagement between the cross member front end with the leading decking member groove, the legs being positioned between the adjacent decking members.

Assignees

• Omg Inc

Inventors

• Martel David
• Shadwell Peter J

Classifications

• E04F2015/02122

  with fastening elements engaging holes or grooves in the side faces of the flooring elements (E04F2015/02116 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04F13/0826

  engaging side grooves running along the whole length of the covering elements · CPC title

• E04F15/02183

  for outdoor use, e.g. in decks, patios, terraces, verandas or the like · CPC title

• F16B5/002

  both sheets, plates or panels having a groove, e.g. with strip-type connector · CPC title

• F16B12/00

  Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior (F16B2/00 - F16B11/00 take precedence; fastening means per se F16B13/00 - F16B47/00; wood-working B27) · CPC title