Abstract:
This invention provides an apparatus, method, and system to arrange a deck or balcony with the use of pre-manufactured deck panels. The deck panels are inexpensive, easy to install, remove, or add to, and only requires common framing hardware.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to deck panels; in particular, this invention relates to the use of pre-manufactured deck panels to arrange a deck or balcony in a parquet, parallel, or any other desired style. 
     2. State of the Art 
     Building or remodeling decks are the most popular do-it-yourself home improvement projects. Nearly two-thirds of all decks are do-it-yourself projects. However, these do-it-yourself decks require the use of large, long, heavy and bulky lumber, are not easy to install, remove, or add to, and require rare or many materials to build. Therefore, there exists a need for an efficient apparatus, method, and system for do-it-yourself decks. 
     Decks are common in homes because it adds a whole new dimension to a homeowner&#39;s life. Decks are used to entertain, sunbathe, outdoor dine, and relax. A deck is a place where you can carry out many of the same activities as in inside rooms, but it also allows for the added pleasure of enjoying those activities in fresh air and sunlight. 
     Easy do-it-yourself decks, such as this invention, enables a homeowner, having limited knowledge and tools of construction, to plan and build a superior product at a reasonable cost. Moreover, additions to the deck are easy so that should a homeowner have a limited budget, building in progression is not a problem. In this invention, each pre-manufactured deck panel is a structural unit with a frame and a nail strip on each side. The use of this deck panel will reduce the amount of large lumber necessary to build decks and is easy to install, remove, and add to. Moreover, the use of this system will only require common framing hardware and not rare materials. Furthermore, the use of pre-manufactured deck panels will allow a homeowner to plan a deck to his own specification either in a parquet, parallel, or any other desired pattern. 
     Lastly, it is possible to use this pre-manufactured deck panel on a variety of piers. It may be installed on a concrete pier set at a level height or a pier made with a beam to cover irregular terrain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides an apparatus, method, and a system to arrange a deck or balcony. The preferred embodiment of this invention comprises: 
     a surface and a base, the base and the surface each having a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side; 
     a plurality of lateral bars disposed on the surface; 
     a plurality of frame rails peripherally bordering the base and attached to the plurality of lateral bars; and 
     a plurality of nail strips attached to the plurality of frame rails. 
     A second aspect of this invention, a pre-manufactured deck panel, is a method for arranging the deck panel, comprising: 
     preparing a finish grade; 
     making a solid foundation to be received by the finish grade; 
     securing a plurality of clips to the solid foundation; 
     laying the deck panel between the plurality of clips with the surface facing upwardly and the plurality of nail strips mating; and 
     disposing a trim between the deck panel. 
     A third aspect of this invention, a pre-manufactured deck panel, is a deck panel system, comprising: 
     a finish grade to receive a solid foundation; 
     a deck panel having: 
     a surface and a base, the base and the surface each having a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side; 
     a plurality of lateral bars disposed on the surface; 
     a plurality of frame rails peripherally bordering the base and attached to the plurality of lateral bars; and 
     a plurality of nail strips attached to the plurality of frame rails. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a view of the surface of a deck panel. 
     FIG. 2 is a view of the base of a deck panel. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the deck panel showing the connection of the nail frame, to the frame rail, to the lateral bars. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first side of a deck panel. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the top of a deck panel. 
     FIG. 6 is a surface view of a possible arrangement of a plurality of deck panels. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the arrangement of the deck panels as connected to a solid foundation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the surface  12  of the deck panel  10  having a top  24 , a bottom  14 , a first side  16 , and a second side  18 . There are a plurality of lateral bars  20  disposed on the surface  12  and a plurality of nail strips  22  each defining a projecting protrusion  26 . The first side  16  is substantially similar to the second side  18  and the top  24  is substantially similar to the bottom  14 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the base  30  of the deck panel  10 , has a top  32 , a bottom  34 , a first side  36 , and a second side  38 . There are a plurality of frame rails  40  peripherally bordering the base  30  and attached to the lateral bars  20 . A plurality of nail strips  22  are attached to the frame rails  40 . The base  30  has a first frame rail  40   a  and a first nail strip  22   a  on the first side  36  of the base, a second frame rail  40   b  and a second nail strip  22   b  on the second side  38  of the base, a third frame rail  40   c  and a third nail strip  22   c  on the top  32  of the base, and a fourth frame rail  40   d  and a fourth nail strip  22   d  on the bottom  34  of the base. As shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2 in phantom, the preferred method to attach the frame rails to the lateral bars and the nail strip to the frame rails are by the use of screws  42 . However, other affixing means may be used such as adhesives, like glue, nails, or other like affixing means. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the frame rails  40  each define a recess  60  therein where each nail strip  22  is splined into. When the nail strip  22  is splined into the frame rails  40 , the nail strips  22  project beyond the lateral bars defining a projecting protrusion  26 , as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As FIG. 3 further indicates, the frame rails  40  are attached to the plurality of lateral bars  20 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of the first side  70  of the deck panel  10 , and FIG. 5, a side view of the top  80  of the deck panel  10 . The frame rail  72  and the nail strip  74  on the first side  70  is shorter in length than the frame rail  82  and nail strip  84  on the top  80 . Moreover, as shown in phantom in FIG. 5, the preferred method to connect each frame rail to the each other is through the use of screws  42 . However, the frame rails can be attached to each other by the use of other affixing means such as an adhesive, like glue, nails, or other like affixing means. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the deck panel may be arranged in any position to form different patterns on a deck or balcony. The deck panels may be arranged to form a parquet, parallel, a combination of both, or any other desired style. The styles are formed by placing the plurality of lateral bars  20  in either the horizontal or vertical position with the nail strips  22  mating. To level and lock in the deck panels, disposed between the nail strips are a plurality of trims  90 . The trims  90   a  on the first side or the second side of the deck panel are shorter in length than the trims on the top or bottom  90   b.    
     The deck panels may be made from any type of wood, however, the preferred wood to use is Redwood since it is the strongest wood in nature. When preparing outdoor decks or balconies, it is preferred that the building materials be long lasting and is able to withstand environmental elements yet retain their symmetry and aesthetic purposes. Redwood has less volumetric and tangential shrinkage so that the deck panels will stay flat and straight with minimal warping, cupping, or checking. Redwood also has a grown-in resistance to decay and insects throughout its lumber. Finally, Redwood is able to absorb and retain all types of finishes because it has an open celled structure and contains little or no pitch or resins. Although Redwood is the preferred building material to use, the deck panel may be made from other types of woods such as Douglas fir-larch, Western cedar, Southern pine, Eastern hemlock, Hem-fir, Idaho white pine, Spruce-pine-fir, Englemann spruce-lodgepole pine, and the like. 
     This invention also provides a method for arranging the deck panel. As shown in FIG. 7, the method provides for preparing a finish grade  100  and making a solid foundation  102  to be received by the finish grade  100 . Then securing a plurality of clips  104  to the finish grade  100  to receive the deck panels  10 . The deck panels are then positioned between the plurality of clips with the surface facing upwardly and the plurality of nail strips  22  mating, and finally, disposing a trim  90  between the deck panel to level and deck secure the deck panels. 
     Furthermore, this invention provides for a method of making a deck to cover irregular terrain or a balcony comprising preparing a finish grade and making a solid foundation to be received by the finish grade. Then securing a plurality of clips to the solid foundation. A stable beam, having a first end and a second end, is received by the solid foundation. Disposing the first end between the plurality of clips, the second end receives the deck panel with the surface facing upwardly and the plurality of nail strips mating. Finally, the method provides for laying the trim between the deck panels to level and secure the deck panels. 
     The clips used to secure and arrange the deck panels are common framing hardware. The preferred clips to use are Simpson A-21 clips or the Simpson RTU-2 clips. However, any device that is able to be secure and arrange the deck panels may be used. 
     Although the preferred embodiment of this invention employs the use of a solid foundation, the solid foundation is not necessary. As long as the finish grade is sturdy enough to secure the clips, the deck panels may be placed directly onto the finish grade. However, this is not advisable due to weather conditions and acts of God that may cause the deck panels to warp, become unstable, or cause the deck to be not level. Moreover, it is preferred that the solid foundation be a concrete pier, although other forms of solid foundations may be used, such as wood piers, or other like piers. 
     Lastly, this invention provides for a deck panel system comprises a finish grade to receive a solid foundation; a deck panel having a surface and a base, the base and the surface each having a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side; a plurality of lateral bars disposed on the surface; a plurality of frame rails peripherally bordering the base and attached to the plurality of lateral bars; and a plurality of nail strips attached to the plurality of frame rails. The frame rails each define a recess therein wherein each nail strip is splined into the recess of each frame rail. The plurality of nail strips each project beyond the lateral bars defining a projecting protrusion where a plurality of trims are received by the projecting protrusion. The first side is substantially similar to the second side and the top is substantially similar to the bottom. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a side view of the first side  70  of the deck panel  10 , and FIG. 5, a side view of the top  80  of the deck panel  10 . The frame rail  72  and the nail strip  74  on the first side  70  is shorter in length than the frame rail  82  and nail strip  84  on the top  80 . And as shown in FIG. 6, the trims  90   a  on the first side or the second side of the deck panel are shorter in length than the trims  90   b  on the top or bottom. 
     Finally, the deck panel system comprises preparing the finish grade to receive a solid foundation; securing a plurality of clips to the solid foundation; laying the deck panel between the plurality of clips with the surface facing upwardly and the plurality of nail strips mating; and positioning a trim above the projecting protrusion. The deck panel system further allows for securing the plurality of clips to the solid foundation; disposing a plurality of sturdy beams between the plurality of clips at a first end; positioning each deck panel on a second end of the sturdy beam with the surface facing upwardly and the plurality of nail strips mating; and laying the trim above the projecting protrusion. 
     This invention has been described by reference to specific examples and embodiments, which will bring alternative embodiments, modifications and variations to the minds of those skilled in the art. The appended claims are intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications, and variations.