Granted Patent B2

US 12,612,790 · App. 18/451,435 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Inventor: Jacob Hurst (Winchester, VA)

Assignee: Trex Company, Inc.

E04F15/02044E04F2015/02122E04F15/02183

Abstract

Claims (44)

1 . A hidden fastener, comprising:

a constraining member configured to support a plurality of boards, the constraining member being elongated along a longitudinal axis and comprising a top surface, a first side edge located on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a first tab member extending from the first side edge of the constraining member, and a second side edge located on a second side of the longitudinal axis and a second tab member extending from the second side edge of the constraining member, the constraining member having a first width measured between the first and second side edges in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the top surface of the constraining member is configured to support a portion of at least one of the plurality of boards;

a base member extending below the constraining member, the base member including a base portion and a pair of leg portions that includes a first leg portion located at a first end of the base member and a second leg portion located at a second end of the base member, each of the first and second leg portions comprising an opening extending at an inclined angle relative to the longitudinal axis for receiving a fastener at an inclined position;

wherein the pair of leg portions is configured to be attached to a structural member via a spacing formed between the pair of leg portions, the spacing corresponding to a size of a top surface of the structural member; and

wherein the first and second leg portions each have a second width measured in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the constraining member, the second width being greater than the first width such that each of the first and second leg portions extends beyond the first and second side edges of the constraining member in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

2 . The hidden fastener of claim 1 , wherein one of:

the first and second tab members extend outwardly from the first and second side edges of the constraining member, respectively, in a direction away from the longitudinal axis;

the first and second tab members extend perpendicularly from the first and second side edges of the constraining member, respectively, in a direction away from to the first and second leg portions of the base member; or

the first and second tab members extend perpendicularly from the first and second side edges of the constraining member, respectively, in a direction towards the first and second leg portions of the base member.

3 . The hidden fastener of claim 1 , wherein the first tab member has a first tab width measured along the first side edge of the constraining member and the second tab member has a second tab width measured along the second side edge of the constraining member, the second tab width being different than the first tab width.

4 . The hidden fastener of claim 1 , wherein the first tab member has a first tab width measured along the first side edge of the constraining member and the second tab member has a second tab width measured along the second side edge of the constraining member, the first and second tab widths being the same.

5 . The hidden fastener of claim 1 , wherein the first leg portion has a first central body portion that extends outwardly from a first end portion of the base portion and the second leg portion has a second central body portion that extends outwardly from a second end portion of the base portion, each of the first and second central body portions comprising an outer surface that is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis and an inner surface that is oriented at a perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

6 . The hidden fastener of claim 5 , wherein the first leg portion comprises first and second platform portions that extend in opposite directions from opposing sides of the first central body portion and the second leg portion comprises third and fourth platform portions that extend in opposite directions from opposing sides of the second central body portion, wherein at least a portion of the first and third platform portions protrude beyond the first side edge of the constraining member, and wherein at least a portion of the second and fourth platform portions protrude beyond the second side edge of the constraining member.

7 . The hidden fastener of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second leg portions has a central body portion and a pair of platform portions that extend from opposite sides of the central body portion, wherein the pair of platform portions of each of the first and second leg portions comprises an upper surface comprising a curved portion that extends from the central body portion and a flat portion that extends from the curved portion, the flat portion of the upper surface of each of the pair of platform portions of each of the first and second leg portions lying in a plane that is parallel to the top surface of the constraining member, wherein each curved portion is configured to receive and engage with a side portion of at least one of the plurality of boards while each flat portion is configured to engage with a bottom portion of the at least one of the plurality of boards.

8 . The hidden fastener of claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the constraining member comprising a first side extending member that extends beyond the first side surface of the base member and a second side extending member that extends beyond the second side surface of the base member, the first and second side extending members configured to engage with a groove formed in a side portion of at least one of the plurality of boards.

9 . The hidden fastener of claim 1 , wherein any plane perpendicular to the top surface of the constraining member and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the constraining member intersects that constraining member and each of the first and second leg portions.

10 . A hidden fastener, comprising:

a constraining member configured to support a plurality of boards, the constraining member comprising a top surface, a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis that extends from the first end to the second end;

a base member extending below the constraining member, the base member including a base portion, a first leg portion, and a second leg portion, the first leg portion comprising a first angled screw hole and the second leg portion comprising a second angled screw hole, the first and second angled screw holes configured to receive a fastener at an inclined position;

wherein the first and second leg portions are configured to attach to a structural member via a spacing formed between the first and second leg portions, the spacing corresponding to a size of a top surface of the structural member;

wherein each of the first and second leg portions comprises a platform that is configured to support a bottom surface of one of the plurality of boards, and wherein a first portion of the platform of each of the first and second leg portions extends beyond one of the first and second ends of the constraining member in a direction of the longitudinal axis; and

wherein any plane perpendicular to the top surface of the constraining member and parallel to the longitudinal axis intersects the constraining member and each of the first and second leg portions.

11 . The hidden fastener according to claim 10 further comprising:

the constraining member comprising a first side edge and a second side edge that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis;

wherein a first plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis intersects the first and second edges of the constraining member and a second portion of the platform of the first leg portion;

wherein a second plane that is parallel to the first plane intersects the first portion of the platform of the first leg portion without intersecting the constraining member;

wherein a third plane that is parallel to the first plane intersects the first and second edges of the constraining member and a second portion of the platform of the second leg portion; and

wherein a fourth plane that is parallel to the first plane intersects the first portion of the platform of the second leg portion without intersecting the constraining member.

12 . The hidden fastener according to claim 10 wherein the top surface of the constraining member is a planar surface that extends continuously and uninterruptedly from the first end of the constraining member to the second end of the constraining member.

13 . The hidden fastener according to claim 10 further comprising:

wherein the first leg portion is located at a first end of the base member and the second leg portion is located at a second end of the base member, each of the first and second leg portions comprising the platform and a central body portion having an outer surface, the platform comprising first and second platform portions that extend from opposite sides of the central body portion, each of the first and second platform portions having a flat top surface;

the first angled screw hole extending through the central body portion of the first leg portion at a location between the first and second platform portions of the first leg portion, the first angled screw hole terminating at a first opening in the outer surface of the central body portion of the first leg portion, the first opening being at an elevation between the flat top surface of the first and second platform portions of the first leg portion and the constraining member; and

the second angled screw hole extending through the central body portion of the second leg portion at a location between the first and second platform portions of the second leg portion, the second angled screw hole terminating at a second opening in the outer surface of the central body portion of the second leg portion, the second opening being at an elevation between the flat top surface of the first and second platform portions of the second leg portion and the constraining member.

14 . A method of installing a hidden fastener to a butt end of a board, comprising:

attaching a first hidden fastener to a structural member, the first hidden fastener including a pair of leg portions that correspondingly engage with a top side surfaces of the structural member, a constraining member, and a first tab;

engaging a first side of a first board with a first side edge of the constraining member of the first hidden fastener so that a first end of the first board engages a first side of the first tab that is integral with and extends from the first side edge of the constraining member of the first hidden fastener;

engaging a first side of a second board with the first hidden fastener so that a second end of the second board engages a second side of the first tab of the first hidden fastener, the second end of the second board facing the first end of the first board and being spaced apart from the first end of the first board by the first tab;

attaching a second hidden fastener to the structural member opposite to the first hidden fastener so that a second side of the first board engages the second hidden fastener and a second side of the second board engages the second hidden fastener.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein attaching the first hidden fastener to the structural member includes extending a fastener through an angled opening in each of the pair of leg portions and into the structural member.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second hidden fastener comprises a second tab, the first end of the first board engaging a first side of the second tab and the second end of the second board engaging a second side of the second tab.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein engaging the first side of the first board with the first hidden fastener includes inserting a side portion of the first hidden fastener into a groove formed at the first side of the first board.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein engaging the first side of the second board with the first hidden fastener includes inserting a side portion of the first hidden fastener into a groove formed at the first side of the second board.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein engaging the second side of the first board with the second hidden fastener includes inserting a side portion of the second hidden fastener into a groove formed at the second side of the first board.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein engaging the second side of the second board with the second hidden fastener includes inserting a side portion of the second hidden fastener into a groove formed at the second side of the second board.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (74)