Hidden fastener unit and related method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11261893-B2
Application number	US-201816011179-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2018
Priority date	Aug 15, 2017
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more resilient compression elements extending from the spacer block. The one or more resilient compression elements can be a joist leg configured to engage a joist, or it can be vertically compressible toward a first plane that is transverse to a vertical axis of the spacer block so that portions of it can compress from an open mode to a compressed mode and fit within, then forcibly expand within the groove, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. A related method of use also is provided.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A fastener unit adapted to secure at least one board to a support, the fastener unit comprising:
a spacer body defining a first fastener hole having an upper portion having a first dimension and a lower portion, the spacer body including a front surface and a rear surface with a spacer body thickness defined therebetween;
a threaded fastener disposed within the spacer body in the first fastener hole, the threaded fastener extending within the upper portion and the lower portion;
a first joist leg and a second joist leg extending downward from the spacer body and configured to straddle and clampingly engage a joist so that the first joist leg exerts a first lateral force on a first outer side wall of the joist that is distal from an upper surface of the joist, and so that the second joist leg exerts a second lateral force on an opposing second outer side wall of the joist that is distal from the upper surface of the joist to support the spacer body above the joist; and
a grip element joined with the spacer body, the grip element defining a second fastener hole aligned with the first fastener hole, the grip element being downwardly extending and configured to engage a groove of at least one board,
wherein the grip element is a channel that opens toward a lower surface of the spacer body,
wherein the spacer body defines a recess extending from the front surface to the rear surface of the spacer body,
wherein the grip element extends through the recess, forwardly from the front surface and rearwardly from the rear surface of the spacer body,
wherein the spacer body extends above an upper surface of the grip element.

2. The fastener unit of claim 1 ,
wherein the spacer body extends above the grip element and below the grip element while the grip element is in the recess.

3. The fastener unit of claim 1 comprising:
a stabilizer bar extending from the first joist leg a predetermined distance,
wherein the stabilizer bar includes an upper surface configured to engage a bottom surface of a board while the grip element is engaged with the groove of the at least one board,
wherein the stabilizer bar extends parallel to the grip element.

4. The fastener unit of claim 1 ,
wherein the grip element includes a first end distal from the front surface of the spacer body and a second end distal from the rear surface of the spacer body,
wherein the first end and the second end each include at least one pressure foot forming a lower surface of the grip element configured to engage a lower surface of the groove,
wherein the grip element includes an upwardly recessed surface between the at least one pressure foot and the spacer body, the upwardly recessed surface configured to be distal from the lower surface of the groove when the at least one pressure foot engages the lower surface of the groove.

5. The fastener unit of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener hole lower portion has a second diameter that is less than the first dimension, which is a first diameter, wherein the threaded fastener includes a tip disposed in the lower portion of the first fastener hole.

6. The fastener unit of claim 1 ,
wherein the first fastener hole is disposed directly vertically below the second fastener hole.

7. The fastener unit of claim 1 ,
wherein the spacer body thickness is configured so that the spacer body can establish a gap between the at least one board and a second board of at least 0.200 inches,
wherein the gap is equal to or greater than a diameter of a head of the fastener.

8. The fastener unit of claim 1 , wherein the grip element includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end projects forward of the front surface of the spacer body, wherein the second end projects rearward of the rear surface of the spacer body, wherein the grip element is a C-shaped channel, wherein the C-shaped channel includes first and second cleats adjacent the first end, wherein the C-shaped channel includes third and fourth cleats adjacent the second end.

9. The fastener unit of claim 1 ,
wherein the grip element includes a first cleat and a second cleat that form downwardly extending first and second pressure feet adjacent a first end,
wherein the first and second pressure feet form a lower surface of the grip element,
wherein the grip element includes a recessed surface that is disposed above the lower surface between the first and second pressure feet and the spacer body.

Assignees

• Nat Nail Corp

Inventors

• Vandenberg Roger A
• Hutchings Douglas F

Classifications

• E04F15/10

  of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite {tiles}, hardboard {, or with a top layer of other materials} · CPC title

• F16B12/2063 Primary

  with engaging screw threads as tightening means · CPC title

• E04F2015/02094

  Engaging side grooves running along the whole length of the flooring elements · CPC title

• E04F15/02044

  Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer (E04F15/02133, E04F15/0215 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16B12/26

  using snap-action elements · CPC title