Hidden fastener unit and related method of use

A fastener unit adapted to secure at least one board to a support, the fastener unit comprising:

• a spacer block including a lower portion bounded by a lower surface, the spacer block defining a first fastener hole receiving a fastener therein, the first fastener hole defining a longitudinal axis, the spacer block having a thickness corresponding to a preselected gap between a first board and an adjacent second board;
• a grip element extending outward from the spacer block on a first surface and an opposing second surface of the spacer block, the grip element configured to fit in a first groove defined by the first board;
• and
• a first resilient compression element extending away from the first surface and being bendable relative to a reference plane that is aligned with the grip element,
• wherein the first resilient compression element includes a wing that moves toward a reference plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and forcibly engages a groove surface of the first groove to suspend the spacer block adjacent the first groove, with the spacer block thereby secured to the first board, before the second adjacent board is moved adjacent the first board,
• wherein the first resilient compression element suspending the spacer block adjacent the first board establishes with the spacer block the preselected gap between the first board and the second adjacent board when the second adjacent board is moved adjacent the first board,
• wherein the lower portion extends directly downward under the grip element a distance to the lower surface located directly below the grip element,
• wherein a first fastener hole is defined through the distance and bounded by a sidewall for the distance to the lower surface,
• wherein the grip element includes a grip element length,
• wherein the grip element length is greater than the thickness,
• wherein the spacer block is in the form of a monolithic plastic block that extends directly downward under the grip element and includes the lower portion that extends to the lower surface,
• wherein the first fastener hole is defined through the lower portion of the monolithic plastic block to the lower surface and extends below the grip element.

A method of using a fastener unit, the method comprising:

• placing a spacer block adjacent a first board so that the spacer block engages a first side surface defining a first groove in the first board so that a thickness of the spacer block is positioned to establish a preselected gap between the first board and a later placed adjacent second board;
• inserting a grip element, which extends from the spacer block, into the first groove;
• inserting a first resilient compression element, which extends from the spacer block, into the first groove so that the first resilient compression element bends toward a reference plane that is aligned with the grip element, and forcibly engages a first groove surface of the first groove to suspend the spacer block adjacent the first board before the later placed second adjacent board is placed adjacent the first board;
• and
• advancing a fastener through the grip element and through the spacer block within a bore defined by the spacer block, the bore extending under a lower surface of the grip element and bounded by a bore sidewall extending under the lower surface of the grip element,
• wherein the spacer block is in the form of a monolithic plastic block that extends directly downward under the grip element and includes a lower portion that extends to a lower surface of the spacer block,
• wherein the first fastener hole is defined through the lower portion of the monolithic plastic block to the lower surface of the spacer block and extends below the grip element.

A method of using a fastener unit, the method comprising:

• placing a spacer block adjacent a first board so that the spacer block engages a first side surface defining a first groove in the first board so that a thickness of the spacer block is positioned to establish a preselected gap between the first board and a later placed adjacent second board;
• inserting a grip element, which extends from the spacer block, into the first groove;
• inserting a first resilient compression element, which extends from the spacer block, into the first groove so that the first resilient compression element bends toward a reference plane that is aligned with the grip element, and forcibly engages a first groove surface of the first groove to suspend the spacer block adjacent the first board before the later placed second adjacent board is placed adjacent the first board;
• providing a second resilient compression element distal from the first resilient compression element, the second resilient compression element extending from the spacer block, the first resilient compression element including a first wing extending to a first tip, the second resilient compression element including a second wing extending to a second tip distal from the first tip;
• and
• advancing a fastener through a first fastener hole defined by the spacer block and a second fastener hole defined by the grip element to engage a head of the fastener against the grip element disposed around the second fastener hole and pull the grip element downward to thereby move the grip element and the reference plane toward the first tip and the second tip;
• and
• bending the first tip and the second tip toward the reference plane while the grip element remains stationary relative to the reference plane.