Hidden clip and fastening system for decking

Abstract

One or more hidden clips can be efficiently fastened and mounted to decking planks, e.g., with a tool or manually. A plurality of hidden clips can be included with a strip of clips and separated by a frangible section or tab located between adjacent clips. Each hidden clip can include a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The leading edge can be beveled or tapered across an entirety thereof. At least one connecting tab spans between a respective leading edge and trailing edge of adjacent decking clips in the clip strip. Each of the decking clips can include an aperture configured to receive a fastener. A fastener can be disposed in the aperture in each clip such that each fastener extends partially above a top surface of the decking clip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A deck fixation system, comprising:
 a deck board, comprising: 
 a top surface, 
 a bottom surface, 
 a first horizontal side spanning between the top surface and the bottom surface, 
 a second horizontal side, opposite the first horizontal side, spanning between the top surface and the bottom surface, and 
 a groove defined in at least one of the first horizontal side and the second horizontal side, the groove extending an entire length of the deck board; and 
   a first deck fixation clip, comprising: 
 a top portion adapted to extend into the groove, 
 a body portion, and 
 one or bottom projections extending below the body to contact a decking frame member when the top portion extends into the groove of the deck board. 
   
     
     
         2 . The deck fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more bottom projections comprise a first extending element, a second extending element having a length shorter than the first extending member, and an angled cross member extending transversely between the first and second extending elements. 
     
     
         3 . The deck fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the first deck fixation clip is joined to a second deck fixation clip to form a strip of deck fixation clips, and wherein the second deck fixation clip has an identical configuration to the first deck fixation clip. 
     
     
         4 . The deck fixation system of  claim 3 , wherein the first deck fixation clip is joined to the second deck fixation clip via a frangible section spanning between the top portion of first deck fixation clip and a top portion of the second deck fixation clip. 
     
     
         5 . The deck fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the first deck fixation clip comprises a planar top surface. 
     
     
         6 . The deck fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the first deck fixation clip comprises a bottom surface with plurality of anti-slip ribs defined on the bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The deck fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the first deck fixation clip comprises a tapered leading end that extends into the groove. 
     
     
         8 . A decking clip assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of connected decking clips defining a clip strip, each of the plurality of decking clips including one or more connecting tabs configured to frangibly connect to an adjacent one of the plurality of decking clips, and an aperture configured to receive a fastener,   wherein each of the decking clips comprises: 
 a planar top portion, the planar top portion defining a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge are each beveled across an entirety thereof, 
 at least one connecting tab spanning between a respective leading edge and trailing edge of adjacent decking clips in the clip strip; and 
 a vertically extending body portion that extends downward from a bottom surface of the planar top portion, 
 wherein the aperture configured to receive the fastener extends vertically from the planar top portion though the vertically extending body portion. 
   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each of the decking clips comprises a plurality of downward-extending projections from the vertically extending body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of decking clips each include , wherein the top portion of each of the plurality of decking clips comprises a bottom surface with plurality of anti-slip ribs defined on the bottom surface. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of decking clips are formed entirely of a plastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further including a dummy clip located at one end of the clip strip, the dummy clip attached to one of the decking clips via a connecting tab, wherein the dummy clip lacks the aperture configured to receive a fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a fastener disposed in each aperture configured to receive the fastener, wherein each fastener extends partially above the planar top portion. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the fastener is a screw. 
     
     
         15 . A decking clip assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of operatively connected decking clips defining a clip strip, each of the decking clips defining a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, wherein the leading edge is tapered across an entirety thereof, wherein at least one connecting tab spans between a respective leading edge and trailing edge of adjacent decking clips in the clip strip, and wherein each of the decking clips defines an aperture configured to receive a fastener; and   a plurality of fasteners, wherein one of the fasteners is disposed in each of the apertures configured to receive the fastener for each of the decking clips such that each fastener extends partially above a top surface of the decking clip.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each of the decking clips comprises:
 a planar top portion;   a vertically extending body portion that extends vertically downward from a bottom surface of the planar top portion,   wherein one or more projections extend vertically downward below a bottom surface of the vertically-extending portion.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the top portion of each of the decking clips comprises a bottom surface with plurality of ribs defined on the bottom surface. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the trailing edge is tapered across an entirety thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each decking clip is formed entirely of a plastic material. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a pair of connecting tabs span between each adjacent respective leading edge and trailing edge of adjacent decking clips in the clip strip.