U.S. patent application number 12/012731 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-18 for deck mounting bracket with spacer and mounting tabs.
Invention is credited to Randal Lee Johnson, William Jacob Prichard.
Application Number | 20080222993 12/012731 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39761260 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080222993 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prichard; William Jacob ; et
al. |
September 18, 2008 |
Deck mounting bracket with spacer and mounting tabs
Abstract
A deck mounting bracket for hidden use in installing parallel
deck boards oriented transverse to joists includes an upwardly
oriented joist member joined at a top edge with a transverse deck
member to form a generally L-shaped bracket. The bracket includes
tabs projecting outwardly from the top edge of the joist member.
The tabs are planar with a flat planar top surface of the
transverse deck member. The bracket includes a spacer projecting
upwardly from the top surface of the deck member. In use, the tabs
of the bracket are placed on the top of a joist and a deck board
placed transverse to the joist rests on one of the tabs to retain
the mounting bracket in place. The bracket is slid until the spacer
contacts a side face of the deck board. An installer then fastens
the bracket to the joist and to the deck board from below the deck
board. Thus the fastener secured to the deck member is hidden and
no hole is formed in a top face of the deck board.
Inventors: |
Prichard; William Jacob;
(Sturgis, MI) ; Johnson; Randal Lee; (Sturgis,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLYNN THIEL BOUTELL & TANIS, P.C.
2026 RAMBLING ROAD
KALAMAZOO
MI
49008-1631
US
|
Family ID: |
39761260 |
Appl. No.: |
12/012731 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60899755 |
Feb 6, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/702 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 15/02005 20130101;
E04F 2201/05 20130101; F16B 5/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/702 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/38 20060101
E04B001/38 |
Claims
1. A deck screwing bracket for securing a deck board transverse to
a joist comprising: an upwardly oriented joist member having a
planar side for contacting a side face of a joist; a transverse
deck member joined to a top edge of said joist member to form a
generally L-shaped bracket, said transverse deck member having a
planar top face for contacting a bottom side of a deck board; tabs
projecting outwardly from the top edge of said joist member and
planar with the top face of said transverse deck member; and a
spacer projecting upwardly from the planar top face of said
transverse deck member for providing a predetermined distance
between adjacent parallel deck boards abutting the spacer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC .sctn.119(e)
of co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/899,755 filed
Feb. 6, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated
by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a mounting bracket for use in the
construction of a deck. Specifically, the present invention
provides a deck mounting bracket for spacing and fastening deck
boards to a joist from the underside of the deck boards.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Deck structures are generally formed by two or more wooden
joists spanned by a plurality of boards secured from topside by
driving fasteners through the boards and into the joist. The
fasteners, such as nails, are displeasing in appearance. For
instance, the nails can rust or provide an inflow path for water to
seep into the deck board. Water can cause warping of deck boards.
In some instances warping results in nails projecting slightly
upwardly from the top face of a deck board. This poses a
hazard.
[0004] One prior art arrangement mounts deck boards to joists from
underneath the deck board. An L-shaped bracket is fastened to the
joist. The bracket has a spacer projecting upwardly therefrom. A
deck board is placed sidewardly in contact with the spacer. The
bracket is then secured to the deck board.
[0005] When the bracket is pressed against a joist and the spacer
against a transverse deck board, an installer must hold the bracket
in place while fastening the bracket to the joist. The installer
must grip the mounting bracket, hold a fastener such as a screw,
and a screwdriver simultaneously. Thus, this task is difficult for
an installer.
[0006] It is desirable to provide a hands free deck bracket,
wherein the bracket is placed on the joist and deck board, and
remains in position so that an installer can easily obtain
fasteners, such as screws, and fasten the bracket to the joist and
deck board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a deck mounting bracket for
joining spaced deck boards to joists to form a deck structure. The
brackets are designed to mount flush against a side face of the
joists and flush against a bottom surface of the deck boards. The
bracket has a first upwardly oriented joist member and a second
sidewardly oriented transverse deck member extending transversely
from a top edge of the joist member. The brackets further include
tabs projecting outwardly transverse at the top edge of the
upwardly oriented member for positioning flush against the to of
the joist. The tabs are in the same plane as the planar face of the
transverse member of the bracket that is intended to abut the
bottom surface of the deck boards. In use, the mounting bracket is
placed on the joist with the tabs on a top surface thereof. The
bracket is then slid toward a deck board generally transverse to
the joist. A tab slides between the joist and deck board thereon
until a spacer projecting upwardly from the transverse member
contacts a side face of the deck board wherein the tab is
sandwiched between the opposing faces of the joist and deck board
and thereby held in place by the weight of the deck board. An
installer may then release the bracket to obtain fasteners, such as
screws. In particular, the bracket is held in place by the tab in
surface-to-surface contact on one side with the top edge of the
joist and on the other side with a portion of the bottom of the
deck board. Thus, the installer can use both hands to obtain and
align a fastener to secure the bracket to the joist and deck
board.
[0008] Further, other embodiments of the invention permit the
installation of deck boards at angles other than perpendicular to
the joists. In these embodiments, the spacer has a rounded
generally cylindrical shape. The shape allows deck boards to be
angled relative to the joist while maintaining a constant gap size
between adjacent deck boards.
[0009] The invention also contemplates a different angle for the
mounting holes that receive fasteners to secure the bracket to a
deck board. The holes are aligned skewed instead of perpendicular
to the deck board bottom face.
[0010] In another embodiment, an additional feature is a projection
within the open deck screw hole that is generally transverse to the
axis of the hole. The projection applies a force against a screw
inserted partially beyond the projection in the hole. The force
retains the screw within the screw hole when the bracket is moved
about. Thus, when the bracket is placed so that a tab is between
the joist and a deck board, the screws are maintained in their
respective holes. Therefore, an installer need not constantly hold
the bracket or the screws when mounting the bracket to the deck
board and a user friendly installation process results.
[0011] The foregoing features provide an improved deck bracket
arrangement, wherein other objects and purposes of the invention,
and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following
specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a deck mounting bracket
including a spacer.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the deck mounting bracket of
FIG. 1 mounted to a floor joist and a deck board.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a sectional end view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2
showing the deck mounting bracket attached to a floor joist and a
deck board.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of another embodiment of a
deck bracket attached to a floor joist and two deck boards.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an angle deck mounting
bracket having a round spacer.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a top view of the angle deck bracket of FIG. 5
mounted to a floor joist and a deck board.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a top view of the angle deck bracket arrangement
of FIG. 6 including a second spaced deck board.
[0019] Certain terminology will be used in the following
description for convenience and reference only and will not be
limiting. The words "up", "down", "top", "bottom", "left" and
"right" will designate directions in the drawings to which
reference is made. The words "in" and "out" will refer to
directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center
of the device and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will
include derivatives and words of similar import.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] FIGS. 1 and 2 show one embodiment of a deck mounting bracket
20 used to join deck boards 22 to floor joists 24. The mounting
bracket 20 includes a first upwardly oriented joist member 26 and a
second sidewardly oriented transverse deck member 28 that extends
transversely from a top edge of member 26 to form a generally
L-shaped bracket. As shown in FIG. 1, a supporting rib or gusset 38
is joined to a front side of member 26 and to a corresponding
bottom side of member 28 to strengthen the joined edges
therebetween.
[0021] The upwardly oriented member 26 of the mounting bracket 20
has three screw holes 34 opening sidewardly for attaching the
mounting bracket to the side face 24A of the joist 24. The three
screw holes 34 each have a countersink to receive the head of a
standard wood screw. At least one side surface 26A of the upwardly
oriented member 26 is flat defining a generally planar surface
facing sidewardly.
[0022] The transverse member 28 includes two screw holes 36 that
pass vertically through two thickened portions 40. A top surface
28A of the transverse member 28 is generally planar and
perpendicular to the planar surface 26A of the member 26. The
centerline axis of each screw hole 36 is perpendicular to the
planar top surface of the transverse member 28. The screw holes 36
in the thickened portions have a countersink to receive the head of
a wood screw.
[0023] A generally rectangular spacer 30 projects upwardly from the
top surface at the rear edge of the transverse member 28. The
spacer 30 has a rectangular shape except for a curved portion of
constant radius on the top thereof as shown in FIG. 1.
[0024] The mounting bracket 20 includes two thin locator tabs 32
that project rearwardly and outwardly from the top edge of the
planar surface of the upwardly oriented member 26. The tabs 32 have
a top surface that is a planar extension of the top surface of the
transverse member 28. The tabs 32 are spaced equidistantly from the
central axis of the rectangular spacer 30.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, decking such as a deck board 22 is
placed across the joist 24. An installer places the mounting
bracket 20 on the joist top surface 46 with the two tabs 32
overhanging the top of joist 24 and the member 26 abutting the side
of the joist. The installer then slides the mounting bracket 20
underneath the adjacent deck board 22 until the spacer 30
sidewardly abuts the side face 22A of the deck board 22. Thus a
part of the top surface 28A of the transverse member 28 abuts the
underside of the deck board 22 and the respective tab 32 (not
viewable in FIG. 2) nests or is sandwiched between the underside
22B of the deck board 22 and the top face 46 of the joist 24. The
tab 32, along with the rear surface 26A of the upwardly oriented
member 26, provides a cantilever effect that prevents pivotal
movement of the mounting bracket 20 so that the bracket 20 does not
fall from the deck structure being constructed. Thus the installer
can release the mounting bracket 20 placed on the joist 24 and
under the deck board 22 and the bracket 20 remains in place by the
weight of the deck board 22. Therefore hands free support of the
mounting bracket 20 during installation is provided.
[0026] After placing the bracket 20, next the installer preferably
attaches the bracket 20 to the wooden joist 24 with a wood screw
44, preferably inserted sidewardly through the countersunk center
screw hole 34. By utilizing the center hole 34 only, the mounting
bracket 20 is allowed to move slightly about the centerline of the
screw 44 as the completed deck structure moves with time due to
settling, temperature changes and weather. The two remaining screw
holes 34 are generally only used when there is an imperfection in
the wood of the joist 24 in the area of the center screw hole 34
wherein preferably only one of the three screw holes 34 is
used.
[0027] Mounting the screw 44 into the side of the joist 24 prevents
water from entering a screw hole that is formed at the top 46 of
the deck board as is common in fastening devices that attach the
deck board to the joist from above.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken at line 3-3 in FIG. 2,
except the joist screw 44 is shown inserted into the left joist
hole 34. The spacer 30 is in sideward contact with the side face
22A of the deck board 22 and the screw hole 36 in the thickened
portion 40 is arranged flush with a bottom surface 22B of the deck
board 22. Thus the bracket 20 is ready to receive a screw 42 in the
deck board screw hole 36 to fix the deck board 22 to the bracket
20. A second screw 42 then fixes the bracket 20 to the deck board
22.
[0029] After the deck board 22 is attached as described above, the
next deck board 22 is then slid into place on the joist 24 and
pushed sidewardly up against upright spacer 30 of the bracket 20
and held firmly by the installer while the screw 42 is screwed into
the underside of the deck board 22 through the countersunk hole 36.
The spacer 30 forces the deck boards 22 to be properly spaced at a
predetermined distance for allowing water from above to pass
between the boards in order to prevent rotting of the wooden deck
structure.
[0030] In the FIG. 4 embodiment, wood screws 42 securely attach
adjacent deck boards 22 to the mounting bracket 20 entering from
the underside of the deck board 22 via the through holes 36. The
screws 42 seat in a countersink in the thick section 40 of the
mounting bracket 20 designed for this purpose.
[0031] The holes 36 and screws 42 are oriented at a skewed angle
shown in FIG. 4 relative to the plane of the top surface 28A of the
transverse member 28. Thus the mounted screws 42 are not oriented
perpendicular to the planar surface of member 28 as in the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. Mounting the screw 42 in an angled
screw hole 36 results in a better securement to the deck boards 22
as the tips of each screw extend away from the closest edge of the
respective deck board 22. Therefore the deck board 22 is less
likely to splinter or otherwise break due to the screws closeness
to the closest edge of the board. Further, the angled screw 42
tends to draw the bracket 20 sidewardly against the first mounted
board 22 and then the second screw 42 draws the next mounted board
22 against the bracket spacer 30 for a tight, consistent fit.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 4, a screw retainer is defined by a small
angular projection that extends radially inwardly from an inside
center edge of each of the deck board mounting holes 36 of the
bracket 20. The projection 50 confines the deck screw 42 when it is
placed into the hole and the screw tip is forced beyond the
projection 50. The projection 50 keeps the screw 42 from falling
out during installation. This feature also prevents the installer
from dropping a screw 42 during hands free installation.
[0033] While a single projection 50 is shown, plural projections or
other structural arrangements may be provided for retaining a
screw. The projection 50 is preferably dimensioned to fit radially
in the grooves of the screw 42 while allowing the screw tip or
other type of fastener to pass thereby with minimal force. In some
embodiments, the screws 42 may be inserted into the mounting holes
36 before the brackets 20 are sold to minimize the time and effort
required by an installer.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows a material saver space 48. Space 48 defines
openings in the upwardly oriented member 26. Space 48 opens into
the generally flat rear surface of the upwardly oriented member 28.
The space 48 located below each tab 32 is designed in part to help
remove unnecessary material from the thickened portion 40.
[0035] While a single spacer 30 on a single joist 24 is
illustrated, the invention utilizes plural spacers on at least two
preferably substantially parallel joists for aligning deck boards
along their entire length parallel to adjacent deck boards.
[0036] FIGS. 5-7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the
invention. The mounting bracket 54 permits mounting of deck boards
at a desired angle relative to the length of the joist that the
bracket it is attached to. The mounting bracket 54 is formed
substantially the same as bracket 20 and thus, common points are
identified by common reference numerals and the following
description primarily addresses the differences in bracket 54.
[0037] FIG. 5 shows the mounting bracket 54 possessing two
supporting ribs 38 and a round cylindrical spacer 52 extending
upwardly and perpendicular to the flat surface of transverse member
28. The horizontal length of the mounting bracket 54 is increased
along with the spacing of the screw holes 36 relative to the axis
of the upright spacer 52. Thus, the length or width between the
centerlines of the screw holes 36 of the mounting bracket 54 is
greater than the length or width between the centerlines of the
screw holes in the mounting bracket 20 shown in FIG. 4.
[0038] The mounting bracket 54 is placed against joist 24 with the
two tabs 32 resting firmly on the top of the joist 24. The mounting
bracket 54 is then slid toward the deck board 22 until the round
spacer 52 rests against the board 22 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The
extra length allows the centerline spacing of these screw holes 36
for bracket 54 to be approximately the same distance away from the
edge of the deck board 22 as with the mounting bracket 20 even when
the deck board 22 is rotated, for example, to a 45 degree angle
relative to the length of the joist 24 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0039] This design allows the mounting bracket 54 used on either
side face 24A of a joist 24 to obtain the same results. As in the
first embodiment, the mounting bracket 54 is slid into position,
one of the tabs 32 (not shown) is located between the top of the
joist 24 and the underside of the first mounted deck board 22 to
maintain the mounting bracket 28 in place without requiring holding
by the installer.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the circular cylindrical design of the
round spacer 52 allows the deck board 22 to be rotated to virtually
any angle while still maintaining an accurate spacing of the deck
boards 22 based on the diameter of the spacer. The center axis of
the upright spacer 52 is in the same plane as the centerlines of
the two screw holes 36 in the upwardly oriented member 28 relative
to the back of the mounting bracket 54 that rests against the joist
24. This feature ensures that the screw holes 36 remain a
sufficient distance from the closest edge of the deck board 22 at
any reasonable angle, preferably at least a 30 degree angle from
the axis defined by the length.
[0041] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7, screws 44 and 42 mount the
bracket 54 onto the joist 24 and the underside 22B of the deck
board 22 using the same method shown in FIGS. 1-4 and discussed
above with respect to mounting bracket 20.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows a second deck board 22 mounted against the
round spacer 52 to establish the desired spacing based on the
diameter of the spacer 52. A screw installed from the underside of
the second deck board 22 completes the installation of the mounting
bracket 54 to the second deck board 22. The spacer 52 separates the
deck boards as in the first embodiment. While not illustrated,
additional mounting brackets 54 mounted to additional joists 24
maintain the proper spacing at the selected angle along the length
of the deck boards 22.
[0043] The first and last deck boards at the ends or sides of a
deck structure attach to perimeter joists that are perpendicular to
the rest of the joists. Since there is no adjacent board on the
outer side, a mounting bracket similar to the brackets 20, 54 is
used, except the bracket does not have an upright spacer 30, 52.
The L-shaped mounting bracket without an upright spacer 30, 52
includes tabs and thus mounts to the first and last end joists to
enable hands free installation.
[0044] Further, with regard to the first and last deck boards
provided on an angled deck structure, the fastening method may
require attaching these boards to the perimeter joists with nails
or screws from above if the corner does not have enough room to use
the angle mounting bracket 54 shown in FIG. 5.
[0045] Deck boards 22 are disclosed as wooden deck boards or a
composite board. Deck boards, however, are also available in many
materials including hardwoods, plastics and composites formed from
a combination of materials.
[0046] The deck mounting brackets 20, 54 are desirably a clear
transparent plastic material to assist in hiding the mounted
brackets. Polycarbonate, such as LEXAN, does not corrode and is the
preferred material.
[0047] The deck brackets 20, 54 preferably are a one-piece
monolithic element formed by molding. Other integral arrangements
of parts are also possible.
[0048] The attached Appendix pages (4 sheets) disclose specific
dimensions for one preferred deck bracket and disclose particular
installation steps.
[0049] Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention
have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be
recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed
apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *