Step clip fastening system and method

Abstract

A method of assembling a deck board by using a step clip fastening device is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of fastening the step clip fastening device onto a joist by using a plurality of fastening tools; sliding a first end of the deck board into an inner cavity of a step clip attached at a first end of the step clip fastening device; and snapping a second end of the deck board into an inner cavity of a corresponding step clip facing the step clip attached at the first end of the step clip fastening device to form a mating relationship between the deck board and the step clip fastening device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A step clip fastening device, the step clip fastening device comprising:
 an elongated base strip having a first end and a second end, and a first edge and second edge wherein the first edge and second edge extend between the first and second end;   a plurality of step clip sets extending substantially perpendicularly upwards from the base strip, wherein each of the step clip set comprises at least two step clips arranged in a back-to-back configuration, wherein a step clip is attached at each of the first end and the second end of the base strip;   one or more tabs extending substantially perpendicularly downwards from the base strip between two corresponding step clips facing each other; and   a plurality of protrusions extending substantially perpendicularly downwards from the base strip and positioned near a bottom surface of alternating sets of step clip sets.   
     
     
         22 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 21 , further comprising
 a first step clip set, second step clip set, third step clip set, and fourth step clip set; and   a first protrusion provided near a bottom surface of the first step clip set and third step clip set.   
     
     
         23 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more tabs are provided on the first edge of the elongated base strip and the plurality of protrusions are provided on the second edge of the base strip opposite the first edge. 
     
     
         24 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 21 , further comprising a cover strip attached to the second edge of elongated base strip, the cover strip configured to cover at least a portion of the second edge of the elongated base strip excluding a space where the plurality of protrusions are attached to the elongated base strip. 
     
     
         25 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one hook extending from a first edge of the elongated base strip. 
     
     
         26 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 24 , further comprising a cover strip attached to the first edge of the elongated base strip. 
     
     
         27 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one hook is configured to hold the cover strip attached to the first edge of the elongated base strip. 
     
     
         28 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one hook is removably attached to the elongated base strip. 
     
     
         29 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are integral with the elongated base strip. 
     
     
         30 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the one or more tabs comprises a cut-out. 
     
     
         31 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 30 , wherein the cut-out causes a stiffness of the at least one tab to be reduced. 
     
     
         32 . The step clip fastening device of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more tabs or the plurality of protrusion are configured to align the step clip sets on a surface of a joist. 
     
     
         33 . A method of assembling a deck board by using a step clip fastening device, the method comprising the steps of:
 rigidly attaching a step clip fastening device on a surface of a joist, each step clip fastening device comprising:   an elongated base strip having a first end and a second end, and a first edge and second edge wherein the first edge and second edge extend between the first and second end;   
       a plurality of step clip sets extending substantially perpendicularly upwards from the base strip, wherein each of the step clip set comprises at least two step clips arranged in a back-to-back configuration, wherein a step clip is attached at each of the first end and the second end of the base strip and each step clip of the plurality of step clip sets defines an inner cavity facing an inner cavity of an opposing, facing step clip;
 one or more tabs extending substantially perpendicularly downwards from the base strip between two corresponding step clips facing each other; and 
 a plurality of protrusions extending substantially perpendicularly downwards from the base strip and positioned near a bottom surface of alternating sets of step clip sets; 
 fastening the step clip fastening device by using one more fastening tool on the joist wherein each tab of the step clip fastening device is positioned along a side surface of the joist; 
 positioning the deck board across two corresponding step clips facing each other of the step clip fastening device; 
 sliding a first end of the deck board into an inner cavity of a first end of the step clip fastening device such that the step clip fastening device is engaged within a groove of the deck board; and 
 snapping a second end of the deck board into an inner cavity of a corresponding step clip of the step clip fastening device to form a mating relationship between the deck board and the step clip fastening device. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising joining a second step clip fastening device with the step clip fastening device by engaging a female locking part attached at a first end of the step clip fastening device with a male locking part attached at a second end of the second step clip fastening device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step clip fastening device further comprises:
 a first step clip set, second step clip set, third step clip set, and fourth step clip set; and   a first protrusion provided near a bottom surface of the first step clip set and third step clip set.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more tabs are provided on the first edge of the elongated base strip and the plurality of protrusions are provided on the second edge of the base strip opposite the first edge. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step clip fastening device further comprises at least one hook extending from a first edge of the elongated base strip. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising a cover strip attached to the first edge of the elongated base strip. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one hook is configured to hold the cover strip attached to the first edge of the elongated base strip. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more tabs or the plurality of protrusion are configured to align the step clip sets on the surface of the joist.