(19)
(11) EP 4 242 397 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
27.09.2023 Bulletin 2023/39

(43) Date of publication A2:
13.09.2023 Bulletin 2023/37

(21) Application number: 23177831.7

(22) Date of filing: 19.07.2018
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E04F 15/02(2006.01)
 E04F 13/08(2006.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
E04F 15/02044; E04F 2015/02094; E04F 15/02183; E04F 13/0826
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 15.08.2017 US 201762545709 P
27.02.2018 US 201862635745 P
21.05.2018 US 201862674247 P
18.06.2018 US 201816011179
18.06.2018 US 201816011213

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
21169742.0 / 3892795
18750041.8 / 3669036

(71) Applicant: National Nail Corporation
Grand Rapids, MI 49519-2404 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • VANDENBERG, Roger A.
    Hudsonville, MI 49426 (US)
  • HUTCHINGS, Douglas F.
    Rockford, MI 49341 (US)

(74) Representative: Haseltine Lake Kempner LLP 
Cheapside House 138 Cheapside
London EC2V 6BJ
London EC2V 6BJ (GB)

   


(54) HIDDEN FASTENER UNIT AND RELATED METHOD OF USE


(57) 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 resilient compression elements extending from the spacer block. The one or more resilient compression elements can be a joist leg configured to engage a joist, or it can be vertically compressible toward a first plane that is transverse to a vertical axis of the spacer block so that portions of it can compress from an open mode to a compressed mode and fit within, then forcibly expand within the groove, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. A related method of use also is provided.







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