Concealed Board Fastener With Resilient Groove Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener systems for securing grooved boards to underlying support structures are inadequate as they often fail to forcibly engage the grooves, leading to movement of boards during temperature changes and require manual alignment, which can be cumbersome and aesthetically displeasing, while also presenting safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A fastener unit comprising a spacer block with a grip element and a resilient compression element that fits within the groove, expanding to forcibly engage the groove and secure the board, allowing for self-supported installation and concealed placement between boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a hidden fastener system with horizontal flanges is used to fit within grooves of boards, then the fastener can be concealed between boards, but the flanges do not engage the grooves forcibly enough to prevent board movement during expansion and contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the engagement element from rigid to resilient/compressible, allowing it to deform and expand within the groove to create strong engagement while maintaining concealment. The resilient element can be compressed during installation and then expands to forcibly engage the groove walls, preventing board movement while remaining hidden.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement element is designed to be dynamic rather than static - it transitions from a compressed state during installation to an expanded state during service. This dynamic behavior allows the element to adapt to the groove dimensions and provide consistent engagement force throughout board expansion and contraction cycles.
2Reliability
If traditional fasteners like nails or screws are used to secure boards to joists, then strong engagement is achieved, but the fasteners become discolored or work loose and project upward from the board surface creating safety hazards and aesthetic issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the visible portion of the fastening system from the board surface by using a hidden fastener design. The resilient engagement element is contained within the groove and concealed between boards, removing the harmful visual projection and potential safety hazard of exposed fasteners while maintaining secure engagement through the concealed mechanism.
3Ease of manufacture
If hidden fasteners with fixed thickness flanges are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but the flanges cannot adapt to varying groove dimensions and may not fit well or align properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by making the engagement element's dimensions variable through compression and expansion. The element can be compressed to a smaller size for installation into grooves of various dimensions, then expands to fill and engage the specific groove dimensions, providing adaptability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a single component design.
4Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment of the plate with grooves is required during installation, then precise positioning can be achieved, but the installation process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient engagement element provides self-alignment capabilities during installation. As the element is compressed and inserted into the groove, it naturally expands to engage the groove walls, automatically positioning itself without requiring manual alignment. This self-service mechanism maintains precise positioning while dramatically simplifying and accelerating the installation process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fastener unit effectively secures boards to the underlying structure, preventing movement during temperature changes and allowing for easy installation without manual alignment, while being concealed and aesthetically pleasing, thus enhancing safety and usability.
Implementation Method 1
the board engagement element is a resilient compression element that is vertically compressible so that portions of it can be compressed from an open mode to a compressed mode. In the compressed mode, the board engagement element is sized and dimensioned smaller than a width of the groove so that the element can fit within the groove. After placement in the groove, the portions can expand within the groove to forcibly engage the groove
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more board engagement elements extending from a portion of the spacer block. The board engagement elements can clamp the board, between an upper and/or lower surface of the board and a groove of the board, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. Related methods of use also are provided.