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US 12,612,790 B2Granted
Hidden fastener for abutting boards
AssigneeTrex Company, Inc.
InventorJacob Hurst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, a hidden fastener may include a constraining member configured to support a plurality of boards, and a base member extending below the constraining member. The base member includes a pair of leg portions, each leg portion includes an opening at an inclined angle for receiving a fastener at an inclined position. The pair of leg portions is attached to a structural member via a spacing formed between the pair of leg portions, the spacing corresponding to a size of a top surface of a structural element.
Claims20
A hidden fastener, comprising:
- a constraining member configured to support a plurality of boards, the constraining member being elongated along a longitudinal axis and comprising a top surface, a first side edge located on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a first tab member extending from the first side edge of the constraining member, and a second side edge located on a second side of the longitudinal axis and a second tab member extending from the second side edge of the constraining member, the constraining member having a first width measured between the first and second side edges in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the top surface of the constraining member is configured to support a portion of at least one of the plurality of boards;
- a base member extending below the constraining member, the base member including a base portion and a pair of leg portions that includes a first leg portion located at a first end of the base member and a second leg portion located at a second end of the base member, each of the first and second leg portions comprising an opening extending at an inclined angle relative to the longitudinal axis for receiving a fastener at an inclined position;
- wherein the pair of leg portions is configured to be attached to a structural member via a spacing formed between the pair of leg portions, the spacing corresponding to a size of a top surface of the structural member;
- and
- wherein the first and second leg portions each have a second width measured in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the constraining member, the second width being greater than the first width such that each of the first and second leg portions extends beyond the first and second side edges of the constraining member in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
2 more elements
A hidden fastener, comprising:
- a constraining member configured to support a plurality of boards, the constraining member comprising a top surface, a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis that extends from the first end to the second end;
- a base member extending below the constraining member, the base member including a base portion, a first leg portion, and a second leg portion, the first leg portion comprising a first angled screw hole and the second leg portion comprising a second angled screw hole, the first and second angled screw holes configured to receive a fastener at an inclined position;
- wherein the first and second leg portions are configured to attach to a structural member via a spacing formed between the first and second leg portions, the spacing corresponding to a size of a top surface of the structural member;
- wherein each of the first and second leg portions comprises a platform that is configured to support a bottom surface of one of the plurality of boards, and wherein a first portion of the platform of each of the first and second leg portions extends beyond one of the first and second ends of the constraining member in a direction of the longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein any plane perpendicular to the top surface of the constraining member and parallel to the longitudinal axis intersects the constraining member and each of the first and second leg portions.
3 more elements
A method of installing a hidden fastener to a butt end of a board, comprising:
- attaching a first hidden fastener to a structural member, the first hidden fastener including a pair of leg portions that correspondingly engage with a top side surfaces of the structural member, a constraining member, and a first tab;
- engaging a first side of a first board with a first side edge of the constraining member of the first hidden fastener so that a first end of the first board engages a first side of the first tab that is integral with and extends from the first side edge of the constraining member of the first hidden fastener;
- engaging a first side of a second board with the first hidden fastener so that a second end of the second board engages a second side of the first tab of the first hidden fastener, the second end of the second board facing the first end of the first board and being spaced apart from the first end of the first board by the first tab;
- attaching a second hidden fastener to the structural member opposite to the first hidden fastener so that a second side of the first board engages the second hidden fastener and a second side of the second board engages the second hidden fastener.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.