Hidden Decking Fastener

Abstract

A hidden fastener for use in assembling a decking structure by attaching a series of grooved deck planks to underlying joists is disclosed. The fastener is configured with a horizontal body between a leading arm and trailing leg. The leading arm transitions to a leading wing while the trailing leg transitions to a trailing foot. At least one prong extends from the body at a downward angle. The leading wing and trailing foot are configured optimally for engagement within the grooves of adjacent deck planks. The body defines a hole for receipt of an elongated securing member that can be driven therethrough, optionally by a power driving tool, to attach the fastener to an underlying joist. The fastener spaces adjacent decking planks an optimal distance for drainage while providing improved resistance to lateral plank movement caused by thermal expansion or physical forces.

1 . A fastener for use in adjoining adjacent decking members, comprising:
 a generally flat body extending from a left end to a right end between leading and trailing edges, the body defining a hole extending therethrough;   a leading arm extending upward from the body leading edge, having a leading wing extending therefrom in a direction away from the body;   a trailing leg extending upward from the body trailing edge, having at least one trailing foot extending therefrom in a direction away from the body, the trailing leg defining a notch indented toward the body substantially in registry with the body hole, the notch splitting the trailing leg into right and left portions; and   at least one prong extending downward from the body trailing edge.   
     
     
         2 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the leading arm defines at least one alignment hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the prong is positioned substantially in registry with the trailing leg notch and body hole. 
     
     
         4 . The fastener of  claim 3 , wherein the prong extends downward from the flat body at an angle of between approximately 30-60 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the leading wing is bent to extend outward at an angle of between approximately 70 and approximately 95 degrees relative to the leading arm. 
     
     
         6 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the leading wing defines two opposing corner edges and said corner edges are bent downwardly to form a pair of claws. 
     
     
         7 . The fastener of  claim 6 , wherein the claws are bent downward at an angle of between approximately 115 to approximately 140 degrees relative to the leading wing. 
     
     
         8 . The fastener of  claim 1 , comprising at least one toe extending angularly from an end of the trailing foot. 
     
     
         9 . The fastener of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one toe is bend upward from the trailing foot. 
     
     
         10 . The fastener of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one toe extends at an angle of between 100 and 120 degrees relative to the trailing foot. 
     
     
         11 . The fastener of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one toe extends upward at an angle of approximately 110 degrees relative to the trailing foot, the leading wing extends outward at an angle of approximately 78 degrees relative to the leading arm and defines two opposing corner edges which are each bent downward to form a pair of claws, and the prong extends downward an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the flat body. 
     
     
         12 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the hole has a generally circular cross section and the body defines a partial radial dimple extending upward around a portion of circumference of the hole. 
     
     
         13 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the dimple defines an upper surface that extends between approximately 0.03 and 0.06 inches above an upper surface of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The fastener of  claim 1 , comprising at least one lower extension formed in the leading arm and extending therefrom co-directionally with and at the opposite arm end from the leading wing. 
     
     
         15 . The fastener of  claim 14 , wherein each of the adjacent decking members has opposite front and rear edges and a groove on each opposite edge thereof splitting the respective edge into an upper and lower nub, the at least one lower extension is bent from the leading arm and configured to abut the lower nub when the leading wing is positioned within the groove of a decking member. 
     
     
         16 . A fastener for use in adjoining adjacent decking members, comprising:
 a generally flat body extending from a left end to a right end between leading and trailing edges, the body defining a hole extending therethrough;   a leading arm extending upward from the leading edge, having a leading wing formed as a bend at a top end thereof and extending in a direction away from the body;   a trailing leg extending upward from the body trailing edge, having a notch formed therein splitting the trailing leg into left and right portions, each of the left and right portions having a trailing foot formed as a bend at the top end thereof and extending in a direction away from the body; and   a prong formed as a bend and extending downward from the body, positioned substantially in registry with the notch.   
     
     
         17 . The fastener of  claim 16 , wherein the respective trailing leg bends are generally symmetrical to each other and asymmetrical to the leading arm bend. 
     
     
         18 . The fastener of  claim 17 , comprising at least one claw formed as a bend in and extending angularly downward from the leading wing. 
     
     
         19 . The fastener of  claim 17 , comprising a toe formed as a bend in and extending angularly upward from at least one of the trailing feet. 
     
     
         20 . The fastener of  claim 16 , wherein the leading arm defines at least one alignment hole extending therethrough positioned at least partially within the bend.