Gangable composite deck clip

Abstract

A composite clip for attaching decking. The clip includes a bottom and a top. The bottom is made of a first material. The top is made of a second material. The first material of the bottom is different than the second material of the top. The clip has a generally T shape in a side view with a central bore passing through the top member and the bottom member, and a series of posts that extend from the top surface of the bottom member to pass through a corresponding through bore in the top member.

Claims

1. A decking clip comprising: a bottom member having a transverse portion with an upper surface and a perpendicular upright portion formed from a first material with a central bore therethrough, the transverse portion defining an outer perimeter; a top member having a top member central aperture and a plurality of bonding through bores positioned away from the top member central aperture wherein the top member is formed from a second material different than the first material, the top member defining an outer perimeter that is no greater than the outer perimeter of the transverse portion of the bottom member; and a plurality of mounting posts which extend from the upper surface of the transverse portion of the bottom member wherein each of the plurality of mounting posts individually passes through a corresponding bonding through bore of the plurality of bonding through bores in the top member so as to secure the bottom member to the top member and wherein the mounting posts are spaced away from the central bore; wherein the first material is plastic; and wherein the second material is an exterior grade metal.

2. The clip of claim 1, wherein the clip has a generally T-shaped side view.

3. The clip of claim 2, wherein the transverse portion has an octagon-shape.

4. The clip of claim 3, wherein a first axis of the transverse portion is longer than a second perpendicular axis of the transverse portion.

5. The clip of claim 1, wherein the central aperture is countersunk.

6. The clip of claim 5, wherein the countersunk central aperture is configured for setting a head of a mounting screw flush with an upper surface of the top member.

7. The clip of claim 5, wherein the clip is connected to an adjacent clip in a spaced-apart relationship.

8. The clip of claim 7, wherein the clip is breakable from the adjacent clip.

9. The clip of claim 7, further comprising a handle.

10. The clip of claim 9, wherein the handle extends from a first ganged clip.

11. The clip of claim 9, wherein the handle has a shape generally that of the clip.

12. The clip of claim 1 wherein the mounting posts have at least a first diameter at a first location along a length of each of the mounting posts and a second diameter at a second location along the length of each of the mounting posts, different than the first diameter.

Description

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the gangable composite clip of the embodiments of the present invention attaching decking;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the gangable composite clip of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW 2 in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 3-3 in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic top plan view illustrating multiple gangable composite clips of the embodiments of the present invention manufactured ganged together for facilitating use and including a removable handle for further facilitating use; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 5 in FIG. 4.

4. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

A. General

(7) 10 gangable composite clip of embodiments of present invention for attaching decking 12 12 decking

B. Configuration of Gangable Composite Clip 10

(8) 14 bottom 16 top 18 upright portion 20 transverse portion 21 portion of transverse portion 20 22 remaining portion of transverse portion 20 24 one axis of transverse portion 20 26 other axis of transverse portion 20 27 mounting through bore 28 countersink of mounting through bore 26 for setting head 30 of mounting screw 32 flush with top 16 30 head of mounting screw 32 32 mounting screw 34 plurality of bonding through bores in top 16 36 lower portion of each bonding through bore of plurality of bonding through bores 34 in top 16 38 upper portion of each bonding through bore of plurality of bonding through bores 34 in top 16

C. Ganging Gangable Composite Clip 10

(9) 40 connectors for facilitating installation of clip 10 42 handle for further facilitating installation of clip 10

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A. General

(10) Referring now to the drawings, and particularly top FIG. 1, which is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the gangable composite clip of the embodiments of the present invention attaching decking, the gangable composite clip of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for attaching decking 12.

B. The Configuration of the Gangable Composite Clip 10

(11) The overall configuration of the gangable composite clip 10 can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, which are, respectively, an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the gangable composite clip of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW 2 in FIG. 1, and a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 3-3 in FIG. 2, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

(12) The gangable composite clip 10 comprises a bottom 14 and a top 16. The bottom 14 is made of a first material. The top 16 is made of a second material. The first material of the bottom 14 is different than the second material of the top 16. The first material of the bottom 14 engages in the second material of the top 16 during manufacturing so as to attach the bottom 14 to the top 16 and form the gangable composite clip 10 without a need for any other means to attach the bottom 14 to the top 16.

(13) The first material of the bottom 14 is, preferably, plastic, but is not limited to that, while the second material of the top 16 is, preferably, exterior grade metal, but is not limited to that.

(14) The gangable composite clip 10 is generally T-shaped in side view, and as such, has an upright portion 18 and a transverse clip portion 20. The upright portion 18 and a transverse bottom member portion 21 of the transverse clip portion 20 form the bottom member 14, and as such, gives the bottom member 14 a generally T-shape in side view, while a remaining top portion 22 of the transverse portion 20 forms the top member 16. The upright portion 18 is for providing proper and uniform spacing between adjacent deckings 12 (FIG. 1). As shown in the cross-section of FIG. 3, the transverse bottom member portion 21 has posts that extend updwardly from a top surface of the transverse bottom member portion 21 through corresponding apertures formed by the through bores 34 in the top portion 22 forming the top member 16. The posts are mounting posts around which the through bores 34 are positioned. Additionally, as illustrated, the through bores 34 are positioned on the top surface of the transverse bottom member portion 21 away from the central bore 27 which passes centrally through the upright portion 18 and the transverse bottom member portion 21 and forms a central countersink 28 at the top member 16.

(15) The transverse portion 20 is generally octagon-shaped in plan view, but has one axis 24 thereof longer than the other axis 26 thereof so as to be asymmetrical.

(16) The gangable composite clip 10 has a mounting through bore 27. The mounting through bore 27 passes centrally, continuously, and vertically through both the bottom 14 and the top 16.

(17) The mounting through bore 26 has a countersink 28. The countersink 28 of the mounting through bore 26 is disposed through the top 16 for setting the head 30 of a mounting screw 32 flush with the top 16 (FIG. 1).

(18) The top 16 has a plurality of bonding through bores 34. The plurality of bonding through bores 34 in the top 16 pass vertically and continuously therethrough, are disposed outboard of the mounting through bore 26, are, preferably, two or four in number, but is not limited to that, and may be of varying shape.

(19) Each bonding through bore 34 in the top 16 has a lower portion 36 and an upper portion 38. The upper portion 38 of each bonding through bore 34 in the top 16 extends upwardly from, and is wider than, the lower portion 36 of an associated bonding through bore 34 in the top 16 so as to allow the first material of the bottom 14 to flow through the lower portion 36 of the associated bonding through bore 34 in the top 16 and captively engage in the upper portion 38 of each bonding through bore 34 in the top 16 during manufacturing so as to attach the bottom 14 to the top 16 and form the gangable composite clip 10 without a need for any other means to attach the bottom 14 to the top 16.

C. Ganging the Gangable Composite Clip 10

(20) Ganging the gangable composite clip 10 can best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, which are, respectively, a diagrammatic top plan view illustrating multiple gangable composite clips of the embodiments of the present invention manufactured ganged together for facilitating use and including a removable handle for further facilitating use, and a diagrammatic side elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 5 in FIG. 4, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

(21) The gangable composite clips 10 are ganged together in a side-by-side, or end-to-end, and spaced-apart relationship along the other axis 26 thereof by connectors 40. The connectors 40 are thin, elongated, of the first material, readily breakable, and formed connecting adjacent portions 21 of the transverse portion 20 of each clip 10 to each other during manufacturing for facilitating installation of the clip 10.

(22) The gangable composite clips 10 further include a handle 42. The handle 42 extends from a connector 40 extending from a first ganged composite clip 10 for further facilitating installation of the clip 10, and has a shape generally that of the clip 10.

D. Impressions

(23) It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

(24) While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a gangable composite clip for attaching decking and method for making, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

(25) Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.