Decking clip and decking attachment system

Abstract

A decking clip for attaching first and second adjacent decking boards to a decking support member. The decking clip includes a substantially planar base portion adapted to be attached to the decking support member. The base portion has a pair of opposing first and second clip members. Each clip member has a resiliently movable upright portion respectively extending from an upper surface of the base portion in a rest position. Each clip member has a protruding portion proximate its upper extremity which protrudes from the upright portion. In use, the protruding portion on the first clip member is adapted to engage with a side edge of the first decking board, and the protruding portion on the second clip member is adapted to engage with a side edge of the second decking board to retain the first and second decking boards on the decking support member.

The claims: 
     
         1 . An improved decking clip for attaching a decking board to a decking support member, the decking clip comprising:
 a substantially planar base portion adapted to be attached to the decking support member by suitable fastening means, the base portion having a clip member, the clip member having an upright portion extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from an upper surface of the base portion; and,   the clip member having a protruding portion proximate it's upper extremity which protrudes from one side of the upright portion wherein, in use, the protruding portion on the clip member is adapted to engage with a side edge of the decking board to retain the decking board on the decking support member.   
     
     
         2 . The improved decking clip as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion of the clip member has a planar surface extending substantially perpendicularly from the upright portion wherein, in use, the planar surface of the protruding portion engages with a planar surface of a groove provided in the side edge of the decking board. 
     
     
         3 . The improved decking clip as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the upright portion of the clip member is a resiliently movable upright portion extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from an upper surface of the base portion when in the rest position. 
     
     
         4 . The improved decking clip as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the base portion is provided with a rounded channel extending along a side of the upright portion where it is joined to the base portion to improve its flexibility during installation of a decking board. 
     
     
         5 . The improved decking clip as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the base portion is also provided with another rounded channel extending along the opposite of the upright portion where it is joined to the base portion. 
     
     
         6 . An improved decking clip for attaching first and second adjacent decking boards to a decking support member, the decking clip comprising:
 a substantially planar base portion adapted to be attached to the decking support member by suitable fastening means, the base portion having a pair of opposing first and second clip members, each clip member having a resiliently movable upright portion extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from an upper surface of the base portion in a rest position;   each clip member having a protruding portion proximate it's upper extremity which protrudes from the upright portion wherein, in use, the protruding portion on the first clip member is adapted to engage with a side edge of the first decking board and the protruding portion on the second clip member is adapted to engage with a side edge of the second decking board to retain the first and second decking boards on the decking support member.   
     
     
         7 . The improved decking clip as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the protruding portion of each clip member has a planar surface extending substantially perpendicularly from the upright portion wherein, in use, the respective planar surfaces of the protruding portions on the first and second clip members engage with a planar surface of a respective groove provided in the side edges of the respective first and second decking boards respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The improved decking clip as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the base portion is provided with a rounded channel extending along a respective side of each upright portion where it is joined to the base portion to improve its flexibility during installation of a decking board. 
     
     
         9 . The improved decking clip as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the base portion is also provided with a central rounded channel extending between the respective upright portions of the first and second clip members where they are joined to the base portion. 
     
     
         10 . The improved decking clip as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the base portion is provided with a second pair of opposing clip members, identical to and adjacent to the first pair of opposing clip members. 
     
     
         11 . An improved decking attachment system for attaching a plurality of decking boards to a decking support member, the decking attachment system comprising:
 a plurality of decking clips, each decking clip comprising a substantially planar base portion with at least one clip member having an upright portion and a protruding portion proximate it's upper extremity which protrudes from the upright portion wherein, in use, the protruding portion is adapted to engage with a side edge of a decking board; and,   an elongate spacing strip having a plurality of apertures at predefined uniform spacings throughout its length, a first set of apertures being adapted to receive one each of the plurality of decking clips therein.   
     
     
         12 . The improved decking attachment system as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a plurality of spike plates, each spike plate having at least one spike protruding upwards and adapted to penetrate an undersurface of a decking board; and,   the elongate spacing strip has a second set of apertures being adapted to receive one each of the plurality of spike plates therein.   
     
     
         13 . The improved decking attachment system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein each one of the second set of apertures in the elongate spacing strip has a central boss, and each spike plate is provided with a connection aperture provided centrally of the base plate, which is designed to align with the boss. 
     
     
         14 . An improved spike plate for a decking attachment system for attaching a plurality of decking boards to a decking support member, the spike plate comprising:
 at least one spike protruding upwards from a base plate and adapted to penetrate an undersurface of a decking board whereby, in use, the spike plate is designed to prevent the decking board from sliding longitudinally (perpendicular to the decking support member).   
     
     
         15 . The improved spike plate as defined in  claim 14 , wherein four spikes are formed on the base plate.