Deck fastener system

Abstract

Deck fastener systems for outdoor building structures, such as decks, are described. The deck fastener system can include one or more installation retention elements, one or more retention elements, one or more deck boards, and one or more fasteners coupled to a structural frame member, when in an assembled configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fastener system comprising:
 a deck clip;   an installation retention element positioned on the deck clip to penetrate an upper wall of a primary deck board groove; and   a fastener hole positioned on the deck clip for receiving a fastener to secure the deck clip to an underlying joist, wherein a deck board retention element positioned on the deck clip is configured to engage with a lower wall of a deck board after installation of the fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The fastener system of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary deck board retention element configured to engage with a secondary deck board groove of an adjacent deck board after installation of the fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The fastener system of  claim 2 , wherein the deck clip further comprises a spacer element. 
     
     
         4 . The fastener system of  claim 3 , wherein the spacer element is part of the deck clip. 
     
     
         5 . The fastener system of  claim 4 , wherein the installation retention element comprises a barb or hook-like feature. 
     
     
         6 . The fastener system of  claim 1 , further comprising a joist engagement element. 
     
     
         7 . The fastener system of  claim 1 , wherein the installation retention element and the deck board retention element are spaced between 1 percent and 10 percent larger than a width of the primary deck board groove. 
     
     
         8 . A fastener system comprising:
 a deck clip configured to be inserted into a primary deck board groove of a primary deck board and a secondary deck board groove of a secondary deck board, the deck clip comprising:
 an installation retention element positioned to penetrate and deform an upper wall of the primary deck board groove; 
 a deck board retention element positioned to engage a lower wall of the primary deck board groove; 
 a fastener hole for receiving a fastener to secure the deck clip to an underlying joist; and 
 a spacer element configured to maintain a predetermined distance between the primary deck board and the secondary deck board. 
   
     
     
         9 . The fastener system of  claim 8 , wherein the installation retention element comprises a point or an edge feature. 
     
     
         10 . The fastener system of  claim 8 , wherein the deck board retention element is configured to cause a deformation within the lower wall of the primary deck board groove upon securement of the fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The fastener system of  claim 8 , wherein the installation retention element and the deck board retention element are spaced between 1 percent and 10 percent larger than a width of the primary deck board groove. 
     
     
         12 . The fastener system of  claim 8 , further comprising a joist securement element positioned on the spacer element. 
     
     
         13 . The fastener system of  claim 8 , further comprising a secondary deck board retention element configured to engage with the secondary deck board groove of the secondary deck board. 
     
     
         14 . The fastener system of  claim 8 , wherein the fastener hole is positioned to allow the fastener to sit flush with a surface of the deck clip. 
     
     
         15 . The fastener system of  claim 8 , wherein the spacer element defines a gap between the primary deck board and the secondary deck board of between 3 mm and 6 mm. 
     
     
         16 . A method for assembling a decking system, comprising:
 inserting a deck clip into a first deck board groove of a first deck board, wherein the deck clip comprises a deck clip installation retention element and a deck board retention element in contact with the first deck board groove of the first deck board;   aligning a second deck board such that the deck clip inserts into a second deck board groove; and   securing the deck clip to a joist with a fastener through the deck clip, wherein the fastener is configured to exert a downward force upon the deck board retention element to secure the first deck board.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the deck clip installation retention element penetrates an upper wall of the first deck board groove. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the deck clip further comprises a spacer configured to ensure consistent spacing between the first deck board and the second deck board. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the deck clip is formed using additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the deck board retention element is configured to cause a deformation of the first deck board groove upon securing the deck clip to the joist.