Decking assembly and decking kit with hold-down clip

Abstract

A decking assembly and decking kit with hold-down clip are disclosed. The decking assembly includes a supporting substructure, first and second lengthwise extending boards with lips extending outwardly and upwardly away from a side thereof and at least one hold-down clip having two downwardly extending tabs which engage the lips of adjacent boards to fix the boards to the substructure. The decking kit includes at least two such boards and at least one such clip, and may additionally include a fastener, such as a screw, and a screwdriver bit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A decking assembly comprising: 
 a supporting substructure;    a first lengthwise extending board, comprising a lengthwise extending first lip extending    outwardly and upwardly away from a side of said first board;    a second lengthwise extending board, comprising a lengthwise extending first lip    extending outwardly and upwardly away from a side of said second board;    said first board and said second board extending on said supporting substructure with said first lip of said first board and said first lip of said second board each extending upwardly and adjacent to each other;    at least one hold down clip, affixed to said supporting substructure, comprising 
 a top portion;  
 two downwardly extending tabs extending downwardly from said top portion defining a medial region between said downwardly extending tabs, said downwardly extending tabs pressing on said adjacent first lip of said first board and first lip of said second board, thereby pulling said first and second boards inwardly toward said medial region to secure said first and second boards to said substructure.  
   
     
     
         2 . The decking assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer extending downward from said center of said top portion, between said two downwardly extending tabs, said spacer spacing said boards.  
     
     
         3 . The decking assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said spacer comprises a downwardly extending spacer tab on said hold-down clip.  
     
     
         4 . The decking assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said spacer comprises a screw extending through said hold-down clip.  
     
     
         5 . The decking assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each of said downwardly extending tabs forms a channel with said spacer, and wherein an edge of one of said first lip and said second lip is received in said channel.  
     
     
         6 . The decking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second boards is formed of extruded composite wood.  
     
     
         7 . The decking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second boards each comprises a plurality of ribs extending lengthwise along a length of each of said first and second boards, and vertically between a top and bottom of each of said first and second boards.  
     
     
         8 . The decking assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said ribs are equally spaced apart.  
     
     
         9 . The decking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said boards are formed with a plurality of ribs extending arcuately between two flat surfaces.  
     
     
         10 . The decking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said hold-down clip is formed from one of plastic, steel and aluminum.  
     
     
         11 . The decking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said hold-down clip is fastened to said substructure by a screw.  
     
     
         12 . The decking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein first board comprises a lengthwise extending second lip extending outwardly from said side beside said first lip.  
     
     
         13 . The decking assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said lengthwise extending second lip extends downwardly, whereby said first and second lips of said first board define a dovetailed groove between said first and second lips of said first board.  
     
     
         14 . The decking assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said second board comprises a lengthwise extending second lip, extending outwardly and downwardly from said side beside said first lip of said second board whereby said first and second lips of said second board define a dovetailed groove between said first and second lips of said second board.  
     
     
         15 . The decking assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said first board comprises: 
 a third lengthwise extending lip extending upwardly from a second side of said board;    a fourth lengthwise extending lip, extending downwardly beside said third lip on said second side    said first, second, third and fourth lips allowing said board to be reversed with said fourth lip taking the place of said first lip, and the top surface of said board taking the place of a bottom surface of said board.    
     
     
         16 . A decking kit comprising: 
 at least two lengthwise extending boards, each comprising a lengthwise extending lip extending outwardly and upwardly away from a side of said board;    at least one hold-down clip, to be affixed to a supporting substructure, said hold-down clip comprising 
 a top portion;  
 two downwardly extending tabs extending downwardly from said top portion, defining a medial portion therebetween, said tabs for pressing downwardly on adjacent lips of said two boards placed on said substructure, thereby pulling said boards inwardly toward said medial portion to secure said first and second boards to said substructure.  
   
     
     
         17 . The decking kit of  claim 16  wherein said boards are formed from extruded composite wood.  
     
     
         18 . The decking kit of  claim 16 , further comprising a screw to fasten said at least one clip to said substructure.  
     
     
         19 . The decking kit of  claim 18 , further comprising a screwdriver bit for fastening said screw.  
     
     
         20 . The decking kit of  claim 19 , wherein said screwdriver bit is longer than a thickness of at least one of said boards.  
     
     
         21 . The decking kit of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one clip comprises a downwardly extending spacer tab on said hold-down clip, to laterally space said two boards on said substructure.  
     
     
         22 . The decking kit of  claim 21 , wherein said screwdriver bit has a diameter less than a thickness of said spacer tab.  
     
     
         23 . A hold-down clip comprising: 
 a top portion;    two downwardly extending tabs extending downwardly from said top portion, defining a medial portion therebetween, said tabs for pressing downwardly on adjacent lips of two boards placed on a substructure, thereby pulling said boards inwardly toward said medial portion to secure said first and second boards to said substructure.    
     
     
         24 . The hold-down clip of  claim 23 , further comprising a spacer tab extending downwardly between said two downwardly extending tabs.