Multiple bracket decking apparatus

The multiple bracket decking apparatus provides multiple brackets for installing deck boards to adjoining structures. The brackets ideally provide for about ⅛- 3/16 inch space between boards. While the apparatus is especially ideal for use with deck boards which are made of composites, the apparatus is also excellent for use with deck boards made of other materials. The brackets are especially suited to deck boards with grooves into which the tangs of the brackets fit. The brackets of the apparatus uniquely provide for the use of nails and nail guns for fastening the brackets. This advantage provides greatly reduced labor costs and well as reduced fastener costs. A further advantage provided by the apparatus is the fourth bracket, which provides for angled deck boards, in relation to supporting joists.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various brackets exist for installing board and synthetic decking to adjoining structures such as joists, fascias, supports, and the like. The art typically finds a single bracket designed for a single use, which is insufficient for a deck project. And, most brackets for the above purposes are screwed into adjoining structures, a time consuming process and one which is almost always accessed with difficulty, hence the use of screws instead of nails driven by hammers or nail guns. Time spent in labor is costly. Additionally, many such brackets are visible after a project is completed. Visible brackets are undesirable for more than one reason, the reasons including the fact that visible brackets should be made from tarnish, rust-free materials, which are expensive. A further reason is that visible brackets are typically unsightly. The present apparatus solves these problems and more.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The multiple bracket decking apparatus relates to deck installation brackets and more especially to an apparatus with multiple, different brackets which provide for installation and spacing of decking materials to adjoining structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the multiple bracket decking apparatus, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a multiple bracket decking apparatus which has many novel features that result in an improved multiple bracket decking apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof.

To attain this, the multiple bracket decking apparatus provides multiple brackets for installing decking to adjoining structures. Decking is typically made from composites and from natural or treated woods. For explanation's sake, decking will be referred to herein as deck boards. Proper support and installation of deck boards is provided by the apparatus, as is proper spacing, both to meet guidelines and to ensure installation of deck boards in the most advantageous manner. Spacing of composite deck boards between themselves and other structures ideally comprises ⅛- 3/16 inch, although various embodiments of the apparatus are provided which offer different spacing for deck boards made of different materials.

While the apparatus is especially ideal for use with deck boards which are made of composites, the apparatus is also excellent for use with deck boards made of other materials. The brackets are especially suited to deck boards with grooves into which the tangs of the brackets fit. The brackets of the apparatus provide for the use of nails for fastening the brackets, rather than screw requirements of other devices in the art, because sufficient space is available for hammer and for nail gun access, a unique feature. This advantage provides greatly reduced labor costs and well as reduced fastener costs. A further advantage provided by the apparatus is the fourth bracket, which provides for angled deck boards, in relation to supporting joists. The ideal angle provided by the fourth bracket is 45 degrees, but other embodiments of varying degrees are provided. While the illustrated apparatus may offer ideal design features and production advantages, more basic designs of the brackets are employed as needed.

An object of the multiple bracket decking apparatus is to provide for labor cost savings by reducing labor time in decking installation.

Another object of the multiple bracket decking apparatus is to negate the need for expensive material use in bracket manufacture.

A further object of the multiple bracket decking apparatus is to space a deck board a specific distance apart from an adjoining deck board.

An added object of the multiple bracket decking apparatus is to provide for the use of nails and nail guns rather than screws in installing the brackets.

And, an object of the multiple bracket decking apparatus is to provide for hiding all or substantially all of the brackets used, in a completed deck project.

Yet another object of the multiple bracket decking apparatus is to accommodate perpendicularly disposed deck boards and joists as well as deck boards and joists disposed at an angle.

These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the improved multiple bracket decking apparatus will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the improved multiple bracket decking apparatus when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the improved multiple bracket decking apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the multiple bracket decking apparatus is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the improved multiple bracket decking apparatus. It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the multiple bracket decking apparatus.

It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particularFIGS. 1 through 7thereof, the principles and concepts of the multiple bracket decking apparatus generally designated by the reference number will be described.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, the first bracket20of the apparatus10is selectively attached to an existing structure80. The structure80is typically the starting point of a deck. The initial deck board95ais abutted against the first bracket20.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 7, the second bracket30is abutted to the initial deck board95a. The second tang39bis fitted within the groove98. The second bracket30is affixed to the existing joist85via nails99. Other types of deck boards without grooves98are also used with the apparatus10. The tangs of the second bracket30are provided in varied lengths such that boards installed without grooves are also correctly spaced apart. The brackets of the apparatus10provide for a space96of between ⅛ inch and 3/16 inch between deck boards. The second brackets30are affixed to both sides of the existing joist85when two separate adjoining deck boards95bare used. The second brackets30are concealed by subsequent addition of further adjoining deck boards95b.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 7, the third bracket40is affixed to the existing support90. The third bracket tang44is fitted within the groove98of the final deck board95d. The third bracket40is affixed with nails99. Although not shown, a fascia is typically applied to the outer surface of the third bracket40and the existing support90, thereby concealing the third bracket40.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2, and3, the multiple bracket decking apparatus10is comprised of four separate brackets comprised of the first bracket20, the second bracket30, the third bracket40, and the fourth bracket50. The first bracket20is selectively attached to an existing structure80. The first bracket20is disposed between the existing structure80and an existing initial deck board95a. The first bracket20has a first bracket side28spaced apart from a second bracket side29, a first bracket end21aspaced apart from a second bracket end21b, and a front surface21.

The first bracket20further comprises a cutout24within the first bracket side28. The cutout24comprises a cutout base24awithin the cutout24. The u-shaped fold25is extended from the cutout base24a. The u-shaped fold25has a projected tang25aextended outwardly from the front surface21. The base25cis extended perpendicularly from the projected tang25a. The second side25bis extended perpendicularly from the base25c. The second side25bis extended from the cutout base24a. The first bracket20also comprises the raised channel23raised from the front surface21. The raised channel23has a first channel end23aspaced apart from a second channel end23b. The pair of orifices26within the first bracket20comprise the first orifice26aspaced apart from the second orifice26b. The first orifice26ais proximal to the first bracket end21a. The second orifice26bis proximal to the second bracket end21b. The first bracket20positions the initial deck board95aand existing structure80with a specific space96therebetween.

The second bracket30is selectively attached to an existing joist85which is perpendicularly disposed to the existing structure80. The second bracket30is attached between the initial deck board95aand an adjoining deck board95b. The second bracket30comprises a bottom rectangle32. The bottom rectangle32has a bottom rectangle top32a. A plurality of spaced apart orifices26is disposed within the bottom rectangle32. The upper rectangle37is spaced apart from the bottom rectangle32. The upper rectangle37further comprises a pair of spaced apart dimples37b. The upper rectangle37also comprises the first tang39aspaced apart from the second tang39b. Each tang is perpendicular to the upper rectangle37. The notch38is disposed between the first tang39aand the second tang39b. The midsection33is disposed between the bottom rectangle top32aand the upper rectangle bottom37a. The midsection33comprises the first slant34spaced apart from the second slant35. The first slant34is extended from the bottom rectangle top32ato the upper extension31b. The upper extension31bis connected to the upper rectangle bottom37a. The second slant35is connected to the lower extension31aand to the bottom rectangle top32a. The 90 degree bend36is extended from the connected upper extension31band upper rectangle bottom37ato the lower extension31a. The third bracket40is selectively attached externally to an existing support90. The third bracket is in abutment to a final deck board95d. The third bracket40comprises the rectangular section41. The rectangular section41has a section top41a. The third bracket40further comprises the plurality of spaced apart orifices26disposed within the rectangular section41. The right angle bend42is connected to the section top41a. The third bracket tang44is extended perpendicularly upward from the right angle bend42.

The fourth bracket50is selectively affixed to an existing joist85for disposing an initial deck board95aand adjoining deck boards95bat a 45 degree angle to a joist85. The fourth bracket50is therefore optionally included in the apparatus10. The fourth bracket50is disposed between the existing initial deck board95aand the adjoining deck board95b. Additional fourth brackets50are selectively affixed between further adjoining deck boards95bas a deck size increases. The fourth bracket50partially comprises the bottom rectangle32. The bottom rectangle32has a bottom rectangle top32a. Fourth brackets50position initial deck boards95aand adjoining deck boards95bwith a specific space96therebetween.

A plurality of spaced apart orifices26is disposed within the bottom rectangle32. The upper rectangle37is spaced apart from the bottom rectangle32. The upper rectangle37further comprises the pair of spaced apart dimples37b. The first tang39ais spaced apart from the second tang39b. Each tang is perpendicular to the upper rectangle37. The first tang39afaces opposite the second tang39b. The notch38is disposed between the first tang39aand the second tang39b. The midsection33is disposed between the bottom rectangle top32aand the upper rectangle bottom37a. The midsection33comprises the first slant34spaced apart from the second slant35. The first slant34is extended from the bottom rectangle top32ato the upper extension31b. The upper extension31bconnects to the upper rectangle bottom37a. The second slant35is connected to the lower extension31awhich is connected to the bottom rectangle top32a. The second slant is further connected to the upper rectangle bottom37a. The midsection of the fourth bracket50is identical to the midsection33of the second bracket30. The bottom rectangle32and the upper rectangle37of the second bracket30and the fourth bracket50are identical. The 135 degree bend52is extended from the connected upper extension31band upper rectangle bottom37ato the lower extension31a. The fourth bracket50differs from the second bracket30in that the 135 bend52of the fourth bracket exceeds the 90 degree bend36of the second bracket30.