Expandable deck system

A portable deck system comprising a fixed deck surface adapted for structural support through side panel secured thereto and expandable for adaptation to a plurality of sizes. The fixed deck portion is constructed of a wooden frame and deck members adapted for securement to a plurality of other platform sections for expansion in orthogonal directions to form a deck of unlimited size and shape. The side rail frames are constructed for securement to said platform along the edges thereof in structural truss interengagement therewith for providing requisite rigidity for a multiplicity of uses. The side rail sections and steps are constructed for coupling to said platform along interchangeable end portions thereof to facilitate adaptation of the deck to motor homes and the like facilitating selection of direction of entry or assembly. The platform section and side rail truss sections are fixedly preasembled for affording structural integrity thereto, facilitating interengagement with one another, and enhancing both the assembly and disassembly thereof. In this manner a deck system of any size and shape can be packaged and shipped in a collapses configuration in motor homes, trailers and the like for quick assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to platform assemblies and, more 
particularly, to a portable deck system adapted for expandable assembly 
with structurally interconnecting side rail members. 
2. History of the Prior Art 
The advent of portable buildings such as manufactured housing, mobile 
homes, and transportable commercial units has necessitated a myriad of 
complementary structures facilitating the comfort and use of such portable 
buildings. For example, porches, sidewalks, decks and carports are often 
constructed adjacent manufactured housing to enhance their use. Generally, 
these structures are fixedly assembled from wood and/or concrete in the 
same manner that porches and garages are assembled adjacent permanent 
structures. Unfortunately, such units can be moved after a period of time 
which is, of course, inherent in the concept of mobile homes and mobile 
home parks. The permanent structures are seldom usable for subsequent 
occupants due to varying size and shape of mobile home structures and 
occupant preferences. Therefore, the permanent structures can become 
delapidated or destroyed which is both costly and wasteful. 
More conventional prior art designs for mobile home parks and the like have 
incorporated wooden structures which are more easily disassembled after 
their intended use. The utilization of fiberglass panels for carport roof 
sections as well as prefabricted steel sections for carport support frames 
have likewise been found effective in this particular application. Heavy 
gauge steel and the like is, of course, not extremely portable relative to 
residential mobile homes and, therefore, simply provide a cost effective 
expedient to carport and collateral structure assembly methods. 
Mobile home decks and stairways have likewise utilized concrete or basic 
steel structures which can require very few structural members and which 
are cost effective in temporary use. These assemblies are, however, not as 
aesthetically pleasing as many wooden structures fabricated from redwood, 
cedar and the like which is of particular import to owners of more 
expensive mobile homes as well as their use in commercial applications. 
For example, many commercial trailers, vans and the like are used for 
portable offices, shows and displays. Real estate sales offices at remote 
locations such as newly designed developments necessitate portable offices 
and buildings, the owners of which require an aesthetically pleasing 
appearance. For this reason, wooden platforms are generally constructed as 
porches and decks adjacent to the office buildings. In the area of 
recreation, lakeside decks, walks and piers are often constructed from 
wood for purposes of facilitating use of the lake, the appearance thereof, 
and access thereto. The conventional method of assembling such wood 
structures generally includes the use of nails which fixedly secure the 
structure together and prevent its disassembly without substantial damage. 
Moreover, the necessity for low cost assemblies in such wooden structures 
generally limit the degree of structural integrity provided by the wooden 
structure. This is particularly critical in commercial platform and deck 
applications where a plurality of people may assemble. Nails very often do 
not provide adequate structural interengagement when such weights are 
encountered and particularly in view of the fact that the structural 
design is often limited to single brace members incorporated for support 
of a single surface. 
It would be an advantage therefore to overcome the problems of the prior 
art by providing a wooden deck assembly which was both structurally sound 
and portable in nature to facilitate uses in remote locations. The deck 
system of the present invention provides such an assembly by incorporating 
preassembled, fixedly secured platform and side rail truss members adapted 
for being coupled one to the other in structural interengagement 
therebetween in a myriad of designs, sizes and shapes. The side rail 
trusses are fabricated from wood in a decorative configuration which also 
provides the function of a truss when secured to distal ends and an 
intermediate section of the platform. The utilization of lag bolts for 
assembly and disassembly of the aforesaid fixedly assembled sections 
permits portability while maintaining structural integrity of the unit. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention pertains to portable deck structures comprising a 
fixedly assembled platform and side rail sections adapted for structural 
interengagement one to the other. More particularly, the present invention 
relates to an improved deck system of the type where in a wooden platform 
is constructed with side panels at least partially therearound and steps 
providing access thereto. The improvement comprises a portable deck 
structure including a fixedly assembled platform, fixedly assembled 
longitudinal side panel, fixedly assembled end panel, fixedly assembled 
step section and plurality of structural members adapted for securing the 
platform, steps, side and end panels one to the other and to a supporting 
surface. The longitudinal side panel is further constructed in the form of 
a structural truss and includes a center attachment beam for coupling an 
intermediate section of the platform to the side panel. The side panel is 
adapted for interchangeability on opposite sides and ends of the platform. 
The step section is also adapted for securement to either end of the 
platform, and the platform is adapted for attachment to a second platform 
positioned on either end or side thereof facilitating bi-directional 
expansion of the deck system. 
In another aspect, the deck system further comprises L-shaped corner posts 
and apertures formed therethrough adapted for receiving lag bolts. The lag 
bolts are adapted for being received through the apertures in the posts 
and the platform, which includes a plurality of apertures formed therein 
adapted for alignment and registry with the apertures of the posts for the 
receipt of the lag bolts therein. The platform, the side panels and the 
steps are preferably formed of pressure treated wood and include upper and 
lower elongate rails and lattice members or pickets at 45.degree. 
positioned in a diametric design secured therebetween. The upper and lower 
rails have opposite ends cut at 45.degree. angles facilitating orthogonal 
engagement therebetween on opposite ends thereof for facilitating 
selection and mounting to the platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown the portable deck system of the 
present invention in a disassembled and transportable configuration. The 
deck system 10 comprises a fixedly assembled platform 12, a longitudinal 
side rail panel 14, end panel 16, steps 18 and structural members 20 
packaged and found in a collapsed configuration. Each of the aforesaid 
members of the system 10 have been permanently assembled with securing 
fasteners to provide a structurally sound component to the overall 
structural system. The steps 18, for example, incorporate a plurality of 
step sections 22 disposed between side frame members 24 and 26 having a 
plurality of underlying support fingers 28 secured thereto. Each step 
portion 22 is comprised of two or more lateral planks 30 and the unit is 
permanently nailed together. In this manner the components of system 10 
are preassembled with sufficient structural rigidity to withstand 
predetermined weight loads in the square footage area therein provided. It 
may further be seen from FIG. 1 that the collapsed configuration is 
sufficiently small in overall size to be passed through the door of 
conventional mobile homes and trailers for transportation therewith. In 
this manner the unit can be sold and transported with mobile homes and 
commercial trailer units. Structural bolting members (not shown in this 
view) are utilized with predrilled holes in each of these structure 
members and preassembled sections for quick and efficient assembly. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown an enlarged, exploded perspective 
view of the system 10 of the present invention wherein the platform 12 is 
shown to be positioned beneath longitudinal side panel 14 and end panel 
16. The steps 18 are shown secured to a left end thereof. In accordance 
with the principles of the present invention the steps can be assembled to 
either end of the subject deck system 10, as can the end panel 16. The 
distal ends 31 of the hand rails 32 of each panel are cut at 45.degree. 
angles to facilitate coupling along any end portion. Likewise the side 
panel 14 may be assembled on the opposite side of the platform 12 as shown 
herein. 
Still referring to FIG. 2, the post and structure members 20 are shown to 
comprise 4 L-shaped corner members 34 each having a plurality of 
predrilled holes 36 therein aligned for registry with holes 38 formed in 
the platform 12 and side panels 14 and 16. A plurality of lag bolts 38 are 
provided for threaded entry through holes 36 and 38 and securement of the 
structural members one to the other. 
In the present embodiment, posts 34 are assembled to the deck 12 with 3/8 
inch.times.31/2 inch hex head lag bolts 37. The remaining assembly 
utilizes 5/16 inch.times.31/2 inch hex head lag bolts. Likewise steps 18 
include vertical members 40 adapted to secure to the side frames 24 of the 
steps with handrails 42 secured to the upper ends thereof and to the posts 
34. A central panel brace 44 is provided for securement to the 
longitudinal panel 14 and to the platform 12. Brace 44 is adapted with 
holes 36 aligned for registry with holes 38 in the handrail 32 and base 
rail 46 for lag bolts 37. In this manner a structure truss is formed and 
coupled whereby weight upon the platform 12 is supported in a structural 
configuration facilitating maximum utilization of the platform 12. 
Referring still to FIG. 2 the assembly of the platform 10 incorporates the 
lag bolts 37 of varying lengths as set forth above for penetrating the 
predrilled holes 36 and 38 in the various members. The lag bolts 37 can be 
easily inserted and removed for portability of the system 10 and permit 
the various discrete components comprising the deck 12, legs 34, side 
sections 14 and 16 and the steps 18 to remain intact before, during and 
after assembly. By eliminating the need for nails and other permanent 
fastener members in the ultimate section assembly, transportation and 
portability is not deleterious to the unit. Moreover, the structural 
integrity of the unit is not compromised by disassembly due to the fact 
that the lag bolts 37 provide the load bearing structural fastening 
elements necessary for interconnecting the various discrete components. In 
this manner all weight loading is transferred through the lag bolt 
junctions and the design of system 10 incorporates maximum utilization of 
this assembly technique for facilitating a plurality of assembly and 
disassembly operations. Platform 12 is thus usable either upon the ground 
or upon water when secured to pontoons and the like as described in more 
detail below. 
Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown a perspective view of the system 10 
in an assembled configuration adjacent a mobile structure 50. The platform 
12 is shown assembled to the stairs 18 with the longitudinal brace 14 
provided in a truss configuration therewith. End brace 16 is disposed on 
the distal end of the platform 12 opposite the stairs 18 while the posts 
34 secure both the outside and the inside corners of the platform 12 to 
the mobile unit 50. Handrails 42 are shown coupled directly to the end 
posts 34 as well as to the upstanding braces 40. In this manner structural 
integrity is provided in the assembly of the present invention. It may be 
seen that the doorway 52 of the mobile home 50 would obviously be too 
small to receive the deck 10 in its assembled condition. As seen above in 
FIGS. 1 and 2, the disassembled structure may easily be passed through the 
doorway 52 for shipment with the mobile home system. Since assembly of the 
system 10 only takes a finite period of time, on the order of one hour, 
utilization of the deck 12 is greatly facilitated and is not a major 
element of the "set-up" of a mobile home. Much more time is necessary for 
leveling and securing the mobile home structure than is necessary for 
assembly and securement of the deck system 10 thereto. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a diagrammatic illustration of one 
expansion embodiment of a single platform 12 with a plurality of platforms 
12 in orthogonal directions. Expansion, in accordance with the present 
invention, does not compromise the structural integrity because the 
structural members are directly interconnected. Additional sections are 
simply secured one to the other with lag bolts 37 running between the 
structural members thereof as shown herein. Connecting boards 101 are 
provided for placement between the legs 34 of each deck section 12 for 
facilitating flush engagement with the abutting deck section 12 and the 
entry of the lag bolt 37 therethrough for securement of one deck 
structural member to the other, as shown in FIG. 4. Each board 101 and the 
deck 12 is pre-drilled with lag bolt apertures 105 which align during 
assembly. This aspect is representatively shown in FIG. 2 wherein an 
expansion board 101 is illustrated adjacent the platform 12. In this 
manner bi-directional expansion of the deck system can be incorporated 
with the structural legs 34 extending down to the ground or onto pontoon 
members 103 for support thereof. Each deck is therefore supported in its 
original configuration but coupled to other deck sections which in and of 
themselves are self-sustaining and supportable. Interconnection 
therebetween is not a structural weakness in the present invention due to 
the fact of the independent support of each deck. The truss framework 
comprised by panel member 14 coupled to platform 12 is structurally 
independent between each post 34 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and therefore 
the security of one deck is not compromised by assembly to any of a 
plurality of decks. In this manner, pontoons 103 may be secured to the 
post members 34 or the post members modified by the particular users for 
placement upon a body of water. Moreover, the posts 34 may be secured 
within the ground for more permanent placement in the form of a walkway 
through wooded areas or around lake areas. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4 in combination, it may be seen that the 
assembly and disassembly of the present invention is greatly facilitated 
by the fixed discrete sections 12, 14, 16 and 18. The utilization of the 
structural members 20 in conjunction therewith provide a unit which is 
self-sustaining and yet may be disassembled and placed in a compact 
configuration for shipment. In this manner, stages, platforms, piers, 
walks, decks and other assemblies may be quickly and easily incorporated 
by the utilization of a single unit having known structural 
characteristics which are not dependent upon the size of the structure 
itself. Moreover, the structural characteristics of the particular unit 
are adapted for maximum support thereon whereby collateral considerations 
as to aesthetics and access may be addressed. The fabrication of the 
system 10 out of pressure treated wood or the like, likewise facilitates 
the low cost assemblage and affords a manner of providing an aesthetically 
pleasing deck structure in a lightweight configurations with the minimum 
of cost. For example each of the discrete sections may be assembled upon a 
preselected jig for aligning both the members one to the other for 
fastening through a pneumatic fastener such as nail guns and the like. 
Each leg 34 comprises first and second longitudinal members 70 and 72 (as 
shown in FIG. 2) which are nailed along a single side 73 for securement 
one to the other. The L-shaped configuration then matingly conforms to the 
corner 74 of the platform 12 and to the distal ends 31 of the handrail 16. 
An inside leg brace 77 is preferably included within the L-shaped members 
72 and 73 for receiving the weight of platform 12 during the assembly and 
for further enhancing the rigidity of the assembly of members 72 and 73 
one to the other. The platform 12 may then initially be placed to rest 
upon the inside leg braces 77 disposed in the orthogonal intersection of 
the leg members 34. 
It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present 
invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the 
method and apparatus shown and described has been characterized as being 
preferred, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may 
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention as defined in the following claims.