Hidden deck fastener and method of use

Abstract

A hidden deck fastener for joining adjacent deck boards and securing the boards to an underlying joist includes a biscuit core having an upper face and a lower face, two supporting leg members attached to the lower face, arranged on opposite sides of a central region of the biscuit core and extending downwardly, a screw well located in the central region, the screw well having a central cavity within the upper face and a controlled flash continuous with the lower face, the controlled flash defining the bottom of the well, a ridge defining a central beam extending through a least a lower portion of the screw well, the central beam extending between the leg members through the central region of the biscuit core, and foot members connected to the lower end of the legs, defined by a living hinge groove at the lower end of the legs.

1 . A fastening device, comprising:
 a) a biscuit core having an upper face and a lower face;   b) two supporting leg members extending downwardly from the lower face, arranged on opposite sides of a central region of the biscuit core;   c) a screw well located in the central region, the screw well comprising a central cavity within the upper face and a controlled flash continuous with the lower face, the controlled flash defining the bottom of the well.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) a ridge defining a central beam extending through a least a lower portion of the screw well, the central beam extending between the leg members through the central region of the biscuit core.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 e) a foot member connected to a lower end of at least one of the leg members, the foot member being defined by a living hinge groove formed within the lower end of the leg member.   
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the central cavity of the screw well has a beveled edge. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the central cavity of the screw well is non-circular and elongated. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the biscuit core and the supporting leg members are unitarily formed. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the device comprises a polyolefin or a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the material is polypropylene, polyethylene or high density polyethylene. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device is manufactured by injection molding. 
   
   
       10 . A fastening device, comprising:
 a) a biscuit core having an upper face and a lower face;   b) two supporting leg members extending downwardly from the lower face, arranged on opposite sides of a central region of the biscuit core;   c) a screw well located in the central region, the screw well comprising a central cavity within the upper face and a controlled flash continuous with the lower face, the controlled flash defining the bottom of the well;   d) a ridge defining a central beam extending through a least a lower portion of the screw well, the central beam extending between the leg members through the central region of the biscuit core; and   e) a foot member connected to a lower end of at least one of the leg members, the foot member being defined by a living hinge groove formed within the lower end of the leg member.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the central cavity of the screw well has a beveled edge. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the central cavity of the screw well is non-circular and elongated. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the biscuit core and the supporting leg members are unitarily formed. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the device comprises a polyolefin or a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the material is polypropylene, polyethylene or high density polyethylene. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the device is manufactured by injection molding. 
   
   
       17 . A method for joining boards, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing one or more two boards to be joined and a supporting joist therefore;   b) providing a fastener according to  claim 1 ; and   c) inserting the fastener into a receiving slot of the board and driving a nail or screw through the controlled flash and into the joist.