Hidden fastener unit and related method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12129663-B2
Application number	US-202117467870-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2021
Priority date	Aug 15, 2017
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

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 joined with the spacer block. The resilient compression elements can be vertically compressible so at least a portion of it can move from an open mode to a compression 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. Related methods of use also are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of using a fastener unit comprising:
providing a fastener unit including a spacer block, a grip element extending from front and rear surfaces of the spacer block, and a resilient compression element joined with the spacer block, the resilient compression element comprising a moveable wing disposed at an angle to a fixed wing extending from the front surface and extending rearwardly along a lateral side of the spacer block, the moveable wing comprising a first end joined with the fixed wing and a second end, opposite the first end, comprising a terminal edge of the moveable wing, the terminal edge being disposed a first distance under the fixed wing;
inserting the second end of the moveable wing into a first groove of a first board so that the terminal edge is adjacent a lower surface of the first groove;
pressing the moveable wing against the lower surface of the first groove while pivoting the fastener unit to compress the moveable wing toward the fixed wing; and
engaging an upper surface of the grip element against an upper surface of the first groove above the lower surface of the first groove,
wherein the moveable wing resiliently presses against the lower surface of the first groove and the upper surface of the grip element presses against the upper surface of the first groove, thereby holding the spacer block adjacent the first groove of the first board,
wherein the terminal edge moves closer to the fixed wing during the pressing so that the terminal edge is disposed a second distance under the fixed wing, the second distance being less than the first distance,
wherein the moveable wing extends beyond both the front surface and the rear surface of the spacer block, forward and rearward of the spacer block, while extending downward toward the terminal edge.

2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein inserting the second end of the moveable wing into the first groove comprises sliding the moveable wing in a direction generally parallel to the lower surface of the first groove,
wherein engaging the upper surface of the grip element against the upper surface of the first groove comprises sliding the fixed wing in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the first groove.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
pivoting the fastener unit upwardly to compress the moveable wing toward the fixed wing.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
sliding the moveable wing farther into the first groove while inserting the grip element into the first groove.

5. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein releasing the compression element comprises releasing the fixed wing into an orientation parallel to the upper surface of the first groove.

6. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the moveable wing extends alongside a first lateral side of the spacer block,
wherein another moveable wing extends alongside a second lateral side of the spacer block, opposite the moveable wing, so that the spacer block is centrally disposed between the moveable wing and the other moveable wing,
wherein the moveable wing and the other moveable wing insert into the first groove during said inserting step.

7. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the moveable wing extends alongside the spacer block,
wherein the moveable wing is resiliently compressible independent from the spacer block.

8. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the grip element engages the upper surface of the first groove but not the lower surface of the first groove as the terminal edge engages the lower surface of the first groove.

9. A method of using a fastener unit comprising:
providing a fastener unit including a spacer block, a grip element extending from front and rear surfaces of the spacer block, and a resilient compression element joined with the spacer block, the resilient compression element comprising a first moveable wing disposed at an angle to the grip element, the first moveable wing coupled to the spacer block and extending rearwardly along a lateral side of the spacer block, the first movable wing disposed laterally outward from and extending laterally alongside the lateral side of the spacer block below the grip element, the first moveable wing being disposed laterally farther from the grip element than the spacer block;
inserting the first moveable wing into a first groove of a first board so as to engage a lower surface of the first groove; and
engaging an upper surface of the grip element against an upper surface of the first groove above the lower surface of the first groove,
wherein the first moveable wing resiliently presses against the lower surface of the first groove and the upper surface of the grip element presses against the upper surface of the first groove, thereby holding the spacer block adjacent the first groove of the first board.

10. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein the resilient compression element includes a first fixed wing joined with the moveable wing at a junction, the first fixed wing extending away from the front surface of the spacer block and wrapping to the first moveable wing which is disposed along the lateral side surface of the spacer block,
wherein the first moveable wing bends during the inserting step alongside the lateral side surface of the spacer block.

11. The method of claim 9 comprising:
advancing a fastener through a fastener hole defined by the fastener unit including a first diameter and a second diameter,
wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.

12. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
bending the first moveable wing along a side surface of the spacer block so that the first moveable wing attains an arcuate contour while engaging the lower surface of the first groove.

13. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
moving a terminal edge of the first moveable wing upward toward a lower surface of the grip element during the inserting step; and
tilting the grip element into the first groove.

14. The method of claim 13 ,
wherein a fastener extends through the grip element and the spacer block,
wherein the fastener tilts toward a side surface of the first board as the grip element tilts into the first groove.

15. A fastener unit adapted to secure at least one board to a support, the fastener unit comprising:
a spacer block configured to at least partially receive a fastener therein, the spacer block comprising a front surface and an opposing rear surface defining a thickness therebetween corresponding to a preselected gap between a first board and a second board adjacent the first board;
a grip element extending outward from the front and rear surfaces of the spacer block, the grip element configured to engage a first groove of the first board, the grip element configured to at least partially receive the fastener therein, such that the fastener can simultaneously extend through both the spacer block and the grip element;
a fixed wing joined with the spacer block and extending rearwardly along a lateral side of the spacer block; and
a moveable wing disposed at an angle to the fixed wing, the moveable wing comprising:
a first end joined with the fixed wing; and
a second end, opposite the first end, comprising a terminal edge of the moveable wing,
wherein the moveable wing is resiliently compressible in a compression mode so that at least a portion of the moveable wing can fit within the first groove of the first board with the terminal edge being urged toward an open mode from the compression mode to forcibly expand within the first groove of the first board so that the spacer block can be secured in a position adjacent the first groove while the grip elem

Assignees

• Nat Nail Corp

Inventors

• Vandenberg Roger A
• Schwartzkopf Todd E A

Classifications

• F16B5/0088

  with locking means moving substantially perpendicular to the main plane, e.g. pins, screws · CPC title

• E04F15/183

  for areas prone to frost damage, e.g. for balconies or terraces · CPC title

• F16B5/002

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

• F16B5/0621

  in parallel relationship (fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/1081; fastened by a device locking by rotation F16B21/02) · CPC title

• E04F13/0801

  Separate fastening elements (E04F13/088, E04F13/0885 take precedence) · CPC title