Abstract:
There is disclosed a bracket for connecting an unsecured element to a secured element, the bracket comprising an attachment face for connecting the bracket to the unsecured element, one or more flanges for connecting the bracket to the secured element and one or more lateral supports, connecting the attachment face to the one or more flanges, wherein at least one lateral support creates at least one non-right angles between the lateral support and the attachment face or the lateral support and the flanges. The bracket may allow, for example, decks to be attached to houses and effectively resist vertical and lateral forces.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There is considerable construction-industry experience in attaching objects together in a way that prevents various types of motion. More specifically, attaching unsecured structural elements (such as decks, staircases, and the like) to secured elements (such as foundations, house frames and other fixed building elements) has been known for some time. 
         [0003]    However, ways to attach unsecured elements to secured elements, and attaching decks to houses in particular, have not been adequately developed. Conventional approaches often lack adequate lateral strength while maintaining suitable dimensions, ease and flexibility of installation, and material properties. 
         [0004]    The present invention therefore seeks to address some of the shortcomings in the field. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching an unsecured structural element to a secured structural element and in particular, in one embodiment, to an apparatus for attaching a deck to a house. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to address the problems noted hereinabove, particularly, as they relate to an effective deck bracket. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, the invention provides in one aspect a deck bracket comprising a bracket body, further comprising an attachment face that is substantially parallel to a deck section and enables connecting the deck bracket to the deck section, and two lateral supports located on either side of the attachment face and extending towards the outer flanges, and two outer flanges, one attached to each of the two lateral supports, that are substantially parallel to the building section and enable connecting the deck bracket to the building section. 
         [0008]    The lateral supports may extend from the attachment face at an obtuse angle and the lateral supports extend from the outer flanges at an obtuse angle. 
         [0009]    The width of the deck bracket may be the width of a piece of veneer. The perpendicular distance between the outer flanges and the attachment face may allow the attachment face to extend a determined distance past the house&#39;s veneer. The attachment face and the outer flanges may have one or more bores for bolts to pass through so as to enable connection of the deck bracket to the deck section and building section respectively. 
         [0010]    In a further aspect the invention provides a bracket for connecting an unsecured element to a secured element, the bracket comprising an attachment face for connecting the bracket to the unsecured element, one or more flanges for connecting the bracket to the secured element, and one or more lateral supports, connecting the attachment face to the one or more flanges, wherein at least one lateral support creates at least one non-right angles between the lateral support and the attachment face or the lateral support and the flanges. 
         [0011]    In yet a further aspect there is a bracket for connecting an unsecured element to a secured element, the bracket comprising a bracket body, that is substantially U-shaped, with an attachment face at the bottom of the U that is connectable to the unsecured element and one or more outer flanges, connected to the bracket body near the top of the U, and connectable to the secured element. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a deck bracket according to the invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 2A-E  are orthogonal views, from the side, of embodiments of a deck bracket according to the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an orthogonal view, from above, of an embodiment of a deck bracket and external deck bracket installation according to the invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an orthogonal view, from above, of an embodiment of a deck bracket and internal deck bracket installation according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of an embodiment of deck bracket  1  (or bracket  1 ) according to the invention. Deck bracket  1  comprises bracket body  10  which further comprises attachment face  12  which may further comprise one or more bores  18 , and lateral supports  14 . Deck bracket further comprises outer flanges  16  which each may further comprise one or more bores  18 . 
         [0018]    Deck bracket  1  may be used to connect deck section  150   102 , or other unsecured elements  150 , to building section  114 , or other secured elements  110 . One side of deck bracket  1  may be connected to deck section  102  (either the outer flanges  16  side or preferably the attachment face  12  side) and the other side of deck bracket  1  may be connected to building section  114  (preferably the outer flanges  16  side). Such connections may be via bolts that extend through bores that are either inserted into building section  114  or deck section  152  or are fixed thereto, for example via bolts. Deck bracket  1  and the connections to deck section  152  and building section  114  may substantially prevent any movement of deck section  152  with respect to building section  114 —either rotation or translation. 
         [0019]    Importantly, one or more deck brackets  1  may withstand all forces acting on it by forces acting on a deck or similar surface, such as may be transmitted to deck bracket  1  via deck section  152 . Such forces may include vertical forces (which may include the weight of the deck and any objects on the deck), lateral forces (as described herein but that may include the force of objects moving horizontally along the deck, such as a person walking or running across the deck parallel to the plane of attachment face  12 ). Both lateral and vertical forces may be unidirectional (ie: just left to right lateral forces and not right to left, or just downwards forces) or may typically be bi-directional, at least for lateral forces. In withstanding such forces, deck bracket  1  must not itself deform or move, or allow deformation or movement of either of building section  114  or deck section  152 . 
         [0020]    The overall shape and orientation of deck bracket  1 , and bracket body  10  in particular, which may be described as “U”-shaped and rotated so that a “U”-shaped cylinder would extend vertically (with outer flanges  16  located at the top of the “U” shape), exhibits desirable strength and resistance characteristics. In particular deck bracket  1  is strong with respect to vertical forces and lateral forces (both as described herein). 
         [0021]    Dimensions of deck bracket  1  may be chosen to achieve various objectives, as further described herein. The following objectives provide illustrative examples:
       (a) The overall width of deck bracket  1  may be chosen to conform or relate to the size of a brick or piece of veneer  156  on a house, the distance between building elements such as floor joists or truss sections, or locations on building section  114  where outer flanges  16  are going to attach. Preferably the overall width of deck bracket  1  will remain the same and will be suitable for all desired uses.   (b) The overall height of deck bracket  1  may be chosen to conform or relate to the height of a brick or siding panel of veneer  156  of a house (for example being the height of one or two brick&#39;s height). Alternatively the height may be chosen to conform or relate to the height of deck section  152 . For example, if deck section  152  is one or more 2″×8″, the height of deck bracket  1  may be 8″, somewhat less than 8″ to allow some flexibility in attaching, or may be somewhat more than 8″. It should be noted that although deck bracket  1  may be of uniform height this is not required and the height may vary at different points of deck bracket  1 , if required or desired.   (c) The depth of deck bracket may be chosen to conform or relate to the depth of a brick veneer of a house.   (d) Any of the above dimensions, and others such as thickness, may also be determined to achieve strength, ease of installation, and other objectives.       
 
         [0026]    Deck bracket  1  may be made of substantially any material, as determined by the desired functionality of deck bracket  1 . Functionality may include strength, weight, resistance to rust, suitability for combining with wood (both pressure-treated and non pressure-treated), color, dimensions, etc. Exemplary materials may include steel, galvanized steel, plastic, aluminum, other materials, or combinations thereof (including coating one or more materials in another one or more materials). In one preferred embodiment, deck bracket  1  may be made of galvanized steel, which can be used with a multitude of deck section  152  and building section  114  materials. 
         [0027]    Outer flanges  16 , lateral supports  14  and attachment face  12  (substantially all of deck bracket  1 ) may be shaped from a solitary member or may be one or more members shaped and fit together. 
         [0028]    Attachment face  12  may be of suitable size to connect to deck section  152 , and bores  18  thereon may be located with similar considerations in mind. Attachment face  12  may be substantially parallel to at least the part of deck section  152  to which it is attached, and may also be substantially parallel to building section  114 . In one example, attachment face  12  is parallel to the deck ledger board (deck section  152 ) and the house&#39;s wall. 
         [0029]    Outer flanges  16  may be separate flanges, each attached to one or more lateral supports  14  but not to each other, or they may be integral (and possibly integral with the rest of deck bracket  1 , as described herein) and span each lateral support  14 . Outer flanges may be substantially parallel to at least the part of building section  114  to which it is attached, and may also be substantially parallel to deck section  152 . In one example, attachment face  12  is parallel to the house&#39;s wall or veneer  156  and the deck ledger board (deck section  152 ). 
         [0030]      FIGS. 2A-E  are orthogonal views, from the side, of embodiments of deck bracket  1  according to the invention. 
         [0031]    The orthogonal view in  FIG. 2A  further comprises attachment face nut  20 , flange angle  22 , attachment face angle  24 , and perpendicular depth  26 . The orthogonal view in  FIG. 2A  also shows dimensions of one embodiment of deck bracket  1 . 
         [0032]    One or more attachment face nuts  20  may assist in connecting deck bracket  1  to deck section  102  (such as by connecting attachment face  12  to deck section  152 ). Attachment face nut  20  may be a nut that may allow a bolt to be inserted therein, after having gone through bore  18  on attachment face  12 . Attachment face nut  20  is optional but may be desirable in preferred embodiments. Attachment face nut  20  may be integral to deck bracket  1 , such as welded thereto, or may be separate therefrom. 
         [0033]    Flange angle  22  and attachment face angle  24 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , are formed by lateral support  14  meeting outer flanges  16  and attachment face  12  respectively. These angles created additional lateral strength for deck bracket  1 . This additional lateral strength can be achieved by using one or more lateral supports (two as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and selecting one or more angles for flange angle  22  and attachment face angle  24  (preferably non-right angles, as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0034]    Alternatively, bracket body  10  and/or lateral supports  14  may be substantially U-shaped, as described herein, with attachment face  12  being the bottom of the “U” (or connected to the bottom of the “U”) and outer flanges connected to or extending from a top, or tops, of the “U”. Such shaping may arguably eliminate flange angle  22  and attachment face angle  24  as the U becomes more circular. Such a configuration is within the scope of the present invention and also provides additional lateral strength, as is desirable. A U-shape may be achieved by two lateral supports  14  each being part of a “U” or by one integral lateral support  14  being the entire U and connecting to attachment face  12  and outer flanges  16  at one or more locations. 
         [0035]    Flange angle  22  may be the smaller of the angles formed between outer flange  16  and lateral support  14 , as shown. Flange angle  22  may be substantially any angle. However, in a preferred embodiment flange angle  22  may be any non-right, obtuse angle and may be 95-100 degrees or even 91-130 degrees. Flange angle  22  being obtuse will greatly increase the lateral strength of deck bracket  1 . 
         [0036]    Similarly, attachment face angle  24  may be the smaller of the angles formed between attachment face  12  and lateral support  14 , as shown. Attachment face angle  24  may be substantially any angle. However, in a preferred embodiment attachment face angle  24  may be any non-right, obtuse angle and may be 95-100 degrees or even 91-130 degrees. Attachment face angle  24  being obtuse will greatly increase the lateral strength of deck bracket  1 . 
         [0037]    Perpendicular depth  26  may be the depth of deck bracket  1 , measured perpendicularly from attachment face  12  plane to outer flanges  16  plane. Perpendicular depth  26  may be configured as needed but in one embodiment may be selected to make attachment face  12  flush with, or slightly extended from, a veneer of a house. 
         [0038]    The simple orthogonal views in  FIGS. 2B-E  provide alternative embodiments of deck bracket  1 , including embodiments with a single, but unified outer flange  16  ( FIG. 2B ), where attachment face  12  blends into lateral supports  14  ( FIG. 2C ), where lateral sections  14  are C-shaped and back to back, and where attachment face  12  is not parallel to outer flange  16  ( FIG. 2E ). 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is an orthogonal view, from above, of an embodiment of deck bracket  1  and external deck bracket installation  100  according to the invention. Deck bracket installation  100  (“DBI  100 ”) is one particular complete approach to connecting unsecured element  150  (such as a deck or deck section  152 , which may be a joist or beam) to secured element  110  (such as a building or house). This overall connection requires essentially two connections: that of securing deck bracket  1  to secured element  110  and connecting unsecured element  150  to deck bracket  1 . 
         [0040]    It will be understood by those of skill in the art that DBI  100  can vary substantially while remaining within the scope of the present invention. By way of example, DBI  100  shown in  FIG. 3A  may conform to building codes in one or more jurisdictions but may require amendment to conform to other building codes. The particular configuration of secured element  110  may change (such as by house joists  112  being parallel to building section  114  as opposed to perpendicular thereto), and DBI  100  may then vary slightly, as would be known to someone of skill in the art. As a further example, DBI  100  may involve connecting to a concrete foundation of secured element  110 , such as a concrete foundation of a house. In such instance DBI  100  may not involve nut  124   a  and bolt  124   b  may simply be drilled into, and supported by, the concrete. 
         [0041]    Although many parts of a deck and a house are abstracted in  FIG. 3A , DBI  100  in  FIG. 3A  is shown in substantially completed form. Both required connections are largely complete and other aspects of the deck (such as joists) and the house (such as the veneer) are in place. However, there are several approaches to arrive in such a position and all are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, deck bracket  1  may be attached to secured element  110  (such as a house) during any stage of construction of the house—perhaps even before a deck or deck design is even considered. Deck bracket  1  may be connected to sheathing  116  and building section  114  even prior to veneer  156  being installed. Although veneer  156  may typically be installed prior to the deck being installed, this need not be the case. In a further example, deck bracket may be “retrofit”, meaning that it is largely installed after a house has been completed. This may be done by removing part of veneer  156 , drilling through veneer  156 , attaching to veneer  156  (for example if veneer  156  is load bearing and would support the requirements for a deck for example), attaching deck bracket  1  to a concrete foundation (not shown) that may or may not require excavation to access. Although it is expected that Connection  1  will generally occur before Connection  2 , this need not be the case. 
         [0042]    Connecting Deck Bracket to Secured Element (“Connection  1 ”) 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 3  Connection  1  may further involve joists  112 , building section  114 , sheathing  116 , strapping  118 , nails  120 , blocking  122 , and connectors  124 , which may further comprise nut  124   a  and bolt  124   b.    
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , deck bracket  1 , and outer flanges  16  in particular, are substantially flush with sheathing  112 . Connectors  124  connect and attach outer flanges  16  to sheathing  116  by passing a bolt through bore  18 , through sheathing  116 , building section  114  and blocking  122  to finally insert through a nut and secure deck bracket  1  to secured element  150 . Additionally, strapping  118 , possibly in combination with plywood sheathing (not shown) may be connected, using nails  120  or other known approaches, to building section  114  and optionally joist  112  (which may be a joist, for example). 
         [0045]    As discussed herein, Connection  1  may be done before Connection  2  and may be done before veneer  156  is in place. It is to be understood of course, that various approaches to securing Connection  1  (involving differences in secured element  110  and connectors  124 ) are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0046]    Connecting Unsecured Element to Deck Bracket (“Connection  2 ”) 
         [0047]    Also as shown in  FIG. 3  Connection  2  may further involve deck section  152 , deck joist  154 , veneer  156  and connectors  124 , as described herein. 
         [0048]    Attachment face  12  is substantially flush with deck section  152 . Deck section  152 , which may be, for example, two 2×8s, may have holes through them and arranged to match with bores  18  on attachment face. Connectors  124  may then establish the connection, with nut  124   a  (which may be attachment face nut  20 ) accepting bolt  124   b  that was passed through deck section  152 , and bore  18 . 
         [0049]    Many alternatives for deck section  152  and connectors  124  are within the scope of the present invention, largely as would be known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0050]    DBI  100  may be substantially any type of installation, including non-deck installations as described herein. 
         [0051]    As used herein, building section  114  may include substantially any first surface that deck bracket  1  may be attaching to, via outer flanges  16  in particular. Building section  114  may be used somewhat interchangeably with secured element  110 , and may thus be the structure that is largely already fixed and “secured”—such as a wall of a building or house. 
         [0052]    In one embodiment building section  114  may be elements of a house, such as framing or wood rim board, concrete foundation, joists, exterior sheathing, or a combination thereof, and deck bracket  1  may be disposed on an external surface of building section  114  (such as external to a house wall) or sheathing  116  for such external surface. In a further embodiment, building section  114  may be disposed on an internal surface of building section  114  (such as internal to a house wall, near a stairwell for example). 
         [0053]    As used herein, deck section  152  may include substantially any second surface that deck bracket  1  may be attaching to, via attachment face  12  in particular. Deck section  152  may be used somewhat interchangeably with unsecured element  150 , and may thus be the structure that is not generally independently fixed and secured, like a deck or part of a staircase such as a landing. 
         [0054]    In one embodiment deck section  152  may be elements of a deck, such as deck ledger board or other components of a deck that resides external to a house. In a further embodiment deck section  152  may be interior elements or a house that need to be connected to a house, such as staircases, staircase landings, and the like. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  is an orthogonal view, from above, of an embodiment of deck bracket  1  and DBI  100  according to the invention and may further comprise one or more staircases  402  and descending path  404 . 
         [0056]    DBI  100  shown in  FIG. 4  is an example of an internal installation, where Connection  1  is with an inside surface of building section  114 . Connection  2  may be with staircase  402  (which may further comprise left string  405  and right stringer  406 ), unsecured element  150  (which is a staircase landing in  FIG. 4  and could also be a stringer for example), or the like, for example via deck section  152 . 
         [0057]    Alternatively, and still with respect to  FIG. 4 , stairs  402  (such as those next to the Brick Ledger, which may be an example of veneer  156 ) could be attached directly to the house. In such an embodiment, left stringer  405  could be connected to deck bracket  1  (Connection  2 ) and deck bracket  1  could be connected to building section  114 , which may be an inside surface of the foundation (Connection  1 ). Right stringer  406  could then be fixed to a post that is cemented into the ground. 
         [0058]    DBI  100  in  FIG. 4  may be substantially similar in approach to DBI  100  in  FIG. 3  and may provide many of the same advantages, as described herein. One advantage that is desirably maintained is deck bracket  1  having good lateral strength—in this case resistant to lateral shifting as someone descends staircase  402  along descending path  404 , or ascends staircase  402  in the opposite direction. 
         [0059]    DBI  100  in  FIGS. 3 and 4  may involve further support for unsecured element  150  such as a deck and staircase  402  respectively, such as one or more vertical columns or posts (not shown), concrete footings, and the like (not shown). Such will depend, for example, on other design aspects of the particular unsecured element  150 . 
         [0060]    Essentially bracket  1  can be used to attach any portion or component of a deck, a fence, a gate, a trellis, or any other unsecured structural building element that is within the engineering specifications of size and distance from the building or secured element. 
         [0061]    It will be apparent to one of skill in the art that other configurations of the various physical components, modules, methods and hardware may be used in any of the foregoing embodiments of the products, methods, and systems of this invention. It will be further understood that the specification is illustrative of the present invention and that other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.