Deck connector

1. A deck connector for attaching a deck board to a support member, the deck connector comprising:

a body configured to space adjacent decking members apart, wherein the body comprises a first end and a second end, a first side and a substantially opposing second side, and front and rear surfaces spanning between the first and second sides of the body, wherein the body further comprises a first flange projecting beyond the first side of the body and a second flange projecting beyond the second side of the body, wherein the flanges are provided at or near the first end of the body;

a boss comprising a front surface and a generally opposing rear surface and a connection aperture that extends downwardly from the front surface of the boss toward the rear surface of the boss to receive a downwardly angled fastener,

wherein the connection aperture has a generally elliptical profile at the front surface of the boss and wherein the front surface of the boss comprises a generally flat central region located between two side regions, wherein each of the two side regions is angled away from the central region;

a skeg extending between the boss and the second end of the deck connector; and

at least one pin projecting from the rear surface of the body to initially space the rear surface of the body from the support member during installation, wherein the at least one pin is downwardly angled to embed into the support member as the fastener is inserted through the connection aperture and into the support member to pull the deck board down against the support member under tension.

2. The deck connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pin comprises an upper surface that is angled downwardly in a direction from the first end of the body toward the second end and outwardly away from the rear surface of the body.

3. The deck connector of claim 1 , wherein the boss is substantially cylindrical and the connection aperture is substantially centrally located within the boss.

4. The deck connector of claim 1 , wherein the deck connector body is substantially planar along at least a portion of its length.

5. The deck connector of claim 1 , wherein the deck connector comprises a substantially oblong flanged plate at its first end, and wherein the first and second flanges form sides of the plate.

6. The deck connector of claim 5 , wherein the flanged plate comprises a substantially elliptical, planar plate.

7. The deck connector of claim 1 , wherein the deck connector body comprises:

a. a spine having a first end that forms the first end of the deck connector body and a second end;

b. a fastener region located at the second end of the spine and in which the boss and the connection aperture are located; and

c. the skeg located beneath the fastener region, wherein the at least one downwardly angled pin is located on a rear surface of the spine and further comprising at least one other downwardly angled pin located on a rear surface of the skeg.

8. The deck connector of claim 7 , wherein the skeg lies in substantially the same vertical plane as the spine.

9. The deck connector of claim 7 , wherein the spine, the fastener region and the skeg each have a rear surface and wherein the rear surfaces of the spine, the fastener region and the skeg lie in substantially the same vertical plane.

10. The deck connector of claim 1 , wherein the boss extends downwardly at an angle between the front and rear surfaces of the deck connector body.

11. The deck connector of claim 1 , wherein the connection aperture has a circular profile at the rear surface of the boss.

12. The deck connector of claim 1 , wherein the deck connector is formed from plastic or glass reinforced nylon.

13. A method of attaching a pair of decking members to a support member using a deck connector, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a first and a second decking member, each decking member comprising a substantially horizontal groove along a longitudinal edge of the decking member;

(b) placing the first and second decking members in a side by side arrangement above two or more support members so as to be supported by the support members and so that the grooved edges of the decking members face each other;

(c) using a deck connector according to claim 1 to attach the decking members to one of the support members by inserting the first flange of the deck connector into the groove of the first decking member and pushing the rear surface of the deck connector body against the support member;

(d) inserting a fastener through the connection aperture of the deck connector body and driving the fastener into the support member at an angle to pull the first decking member down against the support member under tension embedding the at least one pin in the support member; and

(e) pushing the second decking member against the deck connector so that the second flange of the deck connector is located within the groove of the second decking member.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fastener is driven into the support member at an angle of approximately 30 to 45° from horizontal.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fastener is a screw.