Single-Sided Deck Clip Angled Fastening System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional decking systems that secure deck boards to joists with visible fasteners can be unsightly and prone to rust, and may loosen over time, posing safety hazards, while hidden fasteners often rely on grooved boards and visible grooves for grip strength.
Innovation Solution
A single-sided deck clip system that allows fasteners to be attached at an angle through the clip and into both the deck board and joist, eliminating the need for grooved edges and using a clip magazine to facilitate installation, which can hold both clips and fasteners, ensuring proper alignment and angle for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visible fasteners are used to secure deck boards to joists, then structural strength and reliability are improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible fasteners, rust, and discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is extracted from direct visibility by introducing a clip as an intermediary component. The fastener secures the clip to the joist, while the clip's arms extend into grooves on the deck board, hiding the fastener from view while maintaining structural strength through the clip-deck board connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip serves as an intermediary component between the fastener and the deck board. The fastener attaches to the clip, which then attaches to the deck board via its arms in the grooves, mediating the connection and hiding the fastener while preserving structural integrity.
2Reliability
If fasteners are driven through the face of deck boards, then secure attachment is achieved, but the natural beauty of the material deteriorates due to visible fastener heads
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener attachment point is extracted from the visible face of the deck board. Instead of driving fasteners through the board face, the fastener attaches to the clip, which connects to the board via grooves on the edge, removing the fastener head from visible areas while maintaining secure attachment.
3Strength
If metal fasteners are used to secure deck boards, then strong attachment is achieved, but harmful factors increase due to rust and discoloration of adjacent boards
Solution Approach 1:
The metal fastener is extracted from direct contact with the deck board surface. The fastener attaches to the clip, which then contacts the board via grooves, isolating the potential source of rust and discoloration from the visible board surface while maintaining attachment strength.
4Reliability
If conventional fastening methods are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but device complexity increases due to need for grooved edges and visible grooves
Solution Approach 1:
The clip acts as an intermediary that simplifies the overall system. While grooves are required in the deck board, the clip design consolidates the attachment mechanism, with arms that engage the grooves and a body that receives the fastener, creating a unified connection system that is easier to install and adjust than alternative hidden fastening methods.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a single-sided deck clip that allows an approach to deck board installation with hidden fasteners, and without grooving both edges of a deck board. By not grooving edges, perimeter trim can include one square finished edge on ending pieces. The single-sided clip allows for attaching fasteners through the clip at an angle that penetrates both a deck board and an underlying joist, thus providing a positive connection of decking to joist framing below. In another embodiment, a clip magazine is disclosed that stores, supplies, and assists in installation of single-sided deck clips and fasteners. The clip magazine can hold a plurality fasteners and single-sided deck clips. The magazine allows the single-sided clips and fasteners to be positioned relative to the deck board, and allows fasteners to be aligned with a single-sided clip, and pushed into a deck board during installation.