Patent ID: 11898357
Assignee: NATIONAL NAIL CORP.
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E  F | IPC E  F

Claim 9:
10. A fastener unit adapted to secure at least one board to a support, the fastener unit comprising:
a spacer block including a lower portion bounded by a lower surface, the spacer block defining a first fastener hole receiving a fastener therein, the first fastener hole defining a longitudinal axis, the spacer block having a thickness corresponding to a preselected gap between a first board and an adjacent second board;
a grip element extending outward from the spacer block on a first surface and an opposing second surface of the spacer block, the grip element configured to fit in a first groove defined by the first board; and
a first resilient compression element extending away from the first surface and being bendable relative to a reference plane that is aligned with the grip element,
wherein the first resilient compression element includes a wing that moves toward a reference plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and forcibly engages a groove surface of the first groove to suspend the spacer block adjacent the first groove, with the spacer block thereby secured to the first board, before the second adjacent board is moved adjacent the first board,
wherein the first resilient compression element suspending the spacer block adjacent the first board establishes with the spacer block the preselected gap between the first board and the second adjacent board when the second adjacent board is moved adjacent the first board,
wherein the lower portion extends directly downward under the grip element a distance to the lower surface located directly below the grip element,
wherein a first fastener hole is defined through the distance and bounded by a sidewall for the distance to the lower surface,
wherein the grip element includes a grip element length,
wherein the grip element length is greater than the thickness,
wherein the spacer block is in the form of a monolithic plastic block that extends directly downward under the grip element and includes the lower portion that extends to the lower surface,
wherein the first fastener hole is defined through the lower portion of the monolithic plastic block to the lower surface and extends below the grip element.