Deck board fastener

Abstract

According to the present invention, a fastener for securing a first board to an underlying supporting member and to at least one other board running adjacent and parallel to the first board. The fastener includes a body portion, at least one first prong, at least one second prong, and a flange. The at least one first prong extends outwardly from the body portion for driving into a first board. The at least one second prong extends outwardly from the body portion for penetrating a second board. The body portion of the fastener includes an opening for receiving a connector. When installed, the connector passes through the opening in the body portion and into the supporting member, which supports and underlies the first and second boards. The flange extends outwardly from the body portion in order to maintain a desired gap between the first and second boards.

1 . A fastener usable with a connector for securing a first board to an underlying supporting member and to at least a second board running adjacent and parallel to the first board, said fastener being made entirely of a single piece of cut and bent sheet metal and comprising: 
 a flat body portion having front and rear faces and top and bottom edges, said top and bottom edges defining vertical limits of the body portion and the body portion extending vertically between said top and bottom edges;    a first prong extending outwardly from said front face of said body portion for driving into a first board;    a second prong extending outwardly from the rear face of said body portion for penetrating a second board, said second prong running adjacent and parallel to and in a direction opposite from that of said first prong;    said body portion having an opening capable of receiving an elongated connector inserted through said opening with said connector being inclined to and passing through said body portion for fastening said body portion to a supporting member supporting and underlying the first and second boards; and    a flange extending outwardly from said rear face of said body portion, said flange creating a gap between the first and second boards when secured together.    
   
   
       2 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said first prong includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is generally rectangular and the second portion is wedge-shaped.  
   
   
       3 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said first prong extends perpendicular to said body portion.  
   
   
       4 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said first prong is one of two such first prongs spaced horizontally from one another.  
   
   
       5 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said second prong extends perpendicular to said body portion.  
   
   
       6 . The fastener of  claim 5 , wherein said second prong includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being generally rectangular in shape and the second portion being wedge-shaped.  
   
   
       7 . The fastener of  claim 4 , wherein said second prong includes a tab that extends outwardly from the rear face of said body portion.  
   
   
       8 . The fastener of  claim 7 , wherein said tab of said second prong extends outwardly from the rear face of said body portion approximately same distance as the flange.  
   
   
       9 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said second prong is one of two such second prongs spaced horizontally from one another.  
   
   
       10 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said sheet metal of which said fastener is made is steel.  
   
   
       11 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said connector includes a head and a shank; and    said opening is elongated in order to allow movement of the connector relative to the fastener due to expansion and contraction of the first and second deck boards.    
   
   
       12 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said connector is a screw with a threaded shank and a head.  
   
   
       13 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said two first prongs are located between said two second prongs.