Hidden deck fastener

Abstract

Deck clips for fastening surface structure boards which are adjacent and parallel to each other to a transverse underlying substructure have a top portion with two opposed wings, which are inserted into slots or grooves in the side of the surface structure boards. A center section has a vertical spine designed to be installed against the vertical plane of the substructure member, and a bottom section has a protruding attachment device and/or an opening to accommodate a fastener such as a screw or nail.

1 . A clip fastener for fastening surface structure boards which are adjacent and parallel to each other to a transverse underlying substructure, comprising:
 a top section having two opposed wings, which are inserted into grooves in the side of the surface structure boards,   the top section extending from a distal end of a center section,   the center section having at least one vertical spine designed to be installed against the vertical plane of the substructure member, and   a bottom section extending from the opposite distal end of the center section, the bottom section having or providing for insertion of an attachment device.   
   
   
       2 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the center section has a pair of spines, and the wings each have a first portion extending from respective ends of the center section spines, and second portions extending from the distal ends of the first portions at an angle to the first portions. 
   
   
       3 . The clip fastener of  claim 2 , wherein the first portions also extend toward the bottom section, and the second portions extend away from the bottom section. 
   
   
       4 . The clip fastener of  claim 2 , wherein a first wing includes a first portion that extends from a distal end of a first spine of the center section toward the bottom section, and a second portion that extends from the distal end of the first portion at an angle to the first portion and away from the bottom section, and
 a second wing on the opposite side of the clip fastener includes a third portion that extends away from a distal end of a second spine of the center section, and a fourth portion that extends from the distal end of the third portion at an angle to the third portion and towards the bottom section.   
   
   
       5 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , comprising at least one spike in the center section. 
   
   
       6 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , comprising at least one hole in the bottom section. 
   
   
       7 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first wing having a first portion extending away from the bottom section, and a second section extending back toward the bottom section, and   a second wing including a first section extending away from the center section, and a second section extending back towards the bottom section.   
   
   
       8 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first wing having a first portion extending perpendicularly away from the center section, and   a second section extending toward the bottom section and curved to then extend towards the first section, and   a second wing including a first section extending away from the center section in a generally perpendicular direction, and a second section extending toward the bottom section and curved to then extend back towards the first section.   
   
   
       9 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first wing extending outwardly from the center section and away from the first wing and the bottom section, and curving downwardly away from the center section but generally towards the bottom section, and   a second wing extending outwardly from the center section and away from the bottom section, and curving downwardly away from the center section and generally towards the bottom section.   
   
   
       10 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first wing extending away from the distal end of the center section generally downwards towards the bottom section, and then curving upwardly away from the bottom section while still extending away from the center section, and   a second wing extending away from the distal end of the center section and the first wing generally downwards towards the bottom section, and then curving upwardly away from the bottom section while still extending away from the center section.   
   
   
       11 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first wing having a first section that extends in a generally perpendicular direction away from the distal end of the center section,   a second section extending generally perpendicular to the first section, and   a third section extending generally perpendicular to the second section, towards a center axis of the center section, and   a second wing having a fourth section that extends in a generally perpendicular direction away from the distal end of the center section, and the first wing,   a fifth section extending generally perpendicular to the fourth section, and   a sixth section extending generally perpendicular to the fifth section, towards the center axis of the center section.   
   
   
       12 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , wherein
 the center section has a single spine, and the top portion is a continuous piece that forms the two wings,   the first wing having a first portion extending perpendicularly from the distal end of the center section in a first direction,   a second portion and a third portion extending back towards the spine,   a fourth portion extending away from the spine in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and   a sixth portion extending further away from the spine, and a seventh portion extending back towards the spine.   
   
   
       13 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the center section comprises a first and a second spine,
 the clip comprising a first wing having a first portion extending from the distal end of the first spine away from the center section generally perpendicular to the center section,   a second portion extending from the distal end of the first portion back towards the first spine, and   a third portion extending from the distal end of the second portion towards the first spine, at an angle with respect to the second portion, and   a second wing having a fourth portion extending from the distal end of the second spine away from the first wing and center section generally perpendicular to the center section, and   a fifth portion extending from the distal end of the fourth portion towards the second spine, at an angle with respect to the second portion, and   a sixth portion extending from the distal end of the fifth portion towards the second spine, at an angle with respect to the fifth portion.   
   
   
       14 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is formed of a single piece of material. 
   
   
       15 . The clip fastener of  claim 1  wherein the fastener is made of fire. 
   
   
       16 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the clip fastener is made of sheet metal. 
   
   
       17 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the wings are made of wires, and at least a portion of the center section and the bottom section are made of sheet metal. 
   
   
       18 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the center section is made of sheet metal running generally perpendicular to the wings. 
   
   
       19 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , comprising an opening in the bottom section. 
   
   
       20 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , comprising a spike in the bottom section. 
   
   
       21 . The clip fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom and center sections are made of plastic, and the wings are made of sheet metal, and are inserted in the plastic.