Patent ID: 11920618
Assignee: NATIONAL NAIL CORP.
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC F  E | IPC E  F

Claim 0:
1. A fastener unit comprising:
a spacer block defining a first fastener hole receiving a fastener therein, the spacer block including a front surface, an opposing rear surface, a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the spacer block having a thickness extending from the front surface to the rear surface, the thickness being such that the rear surface is configured to engage a first side surface of a first board and the front surface is configured to separately engage a second side surface of an adjacent second board to establish a preselected gap between the first board and the second adjacent board, the fastener including a pointed tip transitioning to a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft threadably engaging the first fastener hole defined by the spacer block to support the fastener relative to the spacer block before installation of the fastener unit relative to the first board; and
a grip element extending outwardly from the spacer block, the grip element defining a second fastener hole aligned with the first fastener hole of the spacer block, the crib element extending through a recess between the front and rear surfaces of the spacer block defined in an upper portion of the spacer block and located above the first fastener hole, the grip element configured to fit in and engage a first groove defined by the first board, the grip element operable in a contact mode in which the grip element is configured to directly engage a lower wall of the first groove of the first board to exert a force through the grip element directly to the first groove and thus the first board,
wherein the spacer block includes a first resilient compression element and a second resilient compression element extending outwardly from the spacer block,
wherein the first resilient compression element is configured to extend downwardly along a first side wall of a joist,
wherein the second resilient compression element is configured to extend downwardly along an opposing second side wall of the joist,
wherein the first and second resilient compression elements are configured to cooperatively engage and exert a clamping force against the first and second side walls of the joist respectively, distal from an upper surface of the joist,
wherein the spacer block includes the upper portion that extends upward above the grip element distal from the first fastener hole,
wherein the spacer block includes a lower portion that extends below the grip element.