Hidden fastener unit and related method of use
AssigneeNational Nail Corp.
InventorsRoger A. Vandenberg, Todd E.A. Schwartzkopf
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
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 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;
- 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 presses against the lower surface of the first groove and the upper surface of the grip element presses against the lower surface of the first groove, thereby holding the spacer block adjacent the first groove of the first board.
The method of claim 8,
- wherein the terminal edge slides along the lower surface of the first groove as the fastener head moves toward the first board.
The method of claim 11,
- wherein the moveable wing extends alongside the spacer block,
- 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 angling downward toward the terminal edge,
- wherein the moveable wing is resiliently compression independent from the spacer block.
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;
- 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 presses against the lower surface of the first groove and the upper surface of the grip element presses against the lower surface of the first groove, thereby holding the spacer block adjacent the first groove of the first board.
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 therefrom;
- 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 compression 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 element is disposed in the first groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.