Abstract:
A bracket for attaching a post to one or more fascia boards is provided. In one embodiment, the bracket comprises a flat top surface with openings sized to receive fasteners for attachment to the post. A back surface comprises openings sized to receive fasteners for attachment to the fascia boards. Two flanges extend substantially perpendicularly to both the top surface and the back surface. A cover is releasably attachable to the flanges. In another embodiment, the bracket comprises a top surface, a plurality of walls extending down from the top surface, and a plurality of angled faces extending from an edge of the walls. The top surface, the walls, and the angled faces form a semi-enclosed space.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bracket assemblies mounted onto fascia boards. In particular, the present invention relates to bracket assemblies mounted onto fascia boards for use in building decks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exterior decks are commonly found connected to a building. Decks, and especially those connected to residential homes, are commonly made of wood. They typically have a flat surface and are often elevated from the ground. A fascia board may be present either on the edge or below the surface of a deck and may run horizontally along a substantial portion of the perimeter of the deck. For safety purposes, the deck may also be fully or partially enclosed by railing. The railing is typically supported by a number of spaced posts that are attached to the deck. The railing and posts are also commonly made of wood. 
     One method of attaching the posts to the deck is to attach the bases of the posts to the face of the fascia board through a metal bracket. For attachment of posts that are along the sides of the deck, such a bracket typically has a horizontal flat surface (for attachment of the bases of the posts) and a vertical flat surface (for attachment to the face of the fascia board). For attachment of posts that are at the corners of the deck, such a bracket typically has a horizontal flat surface (again for attachment of the bases of the posts) and a vertical L-shaped surface. This vertical L-shaped surface allows the bracket to be attached to the two adjoining faces of the fascia board that make up the corner of the deck. Actual attachment of the bracket to the posts and fascia board is typically accomplished using wood screws. 
     However, conventional metal brackets suffer from a number of shortcomings. As the brackets are typically exposed to the elements (such as rain or snow), corrosion near the area of attachment of the wood screws to the metal brackets may occur. This could result in failure of the attachment and consequently, unexpected detachment of the post from the fascia board. There is therefore a need for a bracket that may effectively connect a deck post to the face of a fascia board while at the same time, resisting the effects of the elements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the invention, a bracket for attaching a post to one more fascia boards comprises a substantially flat top surface, a substantially flat back surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to the top surface, two flanges extending substantially perpendicularly to both the top surface and the back surface, and a cover releasably attachable to the flanges. The top surface comprises one or more first openings sized to receive first fasteners for attachment to the post. The back surface comprises one or more second openings sized to receive second fasteners for attachment to the fascia boards. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the cover comprises a cover surface and two cover flanges extending substantially perpendicularly to the cover surface. Each of the cover flanges comprises one or more indentations and each of the flanges comprises one more cavities for accepting the indentations. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, the cavities are holes. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, when the cover is attached to the flanges, access to the second openings is blocked. 
     In still another aspect of the invention, each of the flanges comprises an angled edge. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the flanges and the top surface are formed from a single sheet of material. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a bracket for attaching a post to one or more fascia boards comprises a substantially flat top surface, two substantially flat wings oriented substantially perpendicularly to each other, a plurality of walls extending substantially perpendicularly from the top surface, and a plurality of angled faces. The top surface comprises one or more first openings sized to receive first fasteners for attachment to the post. Each of the wings comprises one or more second openings sized to receive second fasteners for attachment to the fascia boards. The wings are attached at a junction of two the walls, and the top surface, the walls, and the angled faces form a semi-enclosed space. 
     In still another aspect of the invention, the bracket further comprises a cover releasably attachable to the walls. The cover comprises a cover surface and two cover flanges extending substantially perpendicularly to the cover surface. Each of the cover flanges comprises one or more indentations, and the walls comprise one or more cavities for accepting the indentations. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the cavities are holes. 
     In a still further aspect of the invention, when the cover is attached to the walls, access to the first openings is blocked. 
     In still another aspect of the invention, the bracket further comprises two wing covers. The wing covers are releasably attachable to the wings. Each of the wing covers comprises a wing cover surface and a plurality of wing cover flanges extending substantially perpendicularly to the wing cover surface. When the wing covers are attached to the wings, access to the second openings is blocked. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the second openings in one of the wings are offset in relative position from those the second openings in another of the wings, such that when second fasteners are received in said second openings of both of the wings, the second fasteners do not interfere with each other. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the plurality of walls is three walls. 
     In still another aspect of the invention, the plurality of angled faces is two angled faces. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, two of the walls comprise an angled edge. 
     The foregoing was intended as a broad summary only and of only some of the aspects of the invention. It was not intended to define the limits or requirements of the invention. Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings thereof in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows the bracket assemblies of the present invention as used with a deck; 
         FIG. 2  shows the side bracket of the present invention, with the cover removed, as used with the deck; 
         FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the side bracket, without the cover, as used with the deck; 
         FIG. 4  shows the corner bracket of the present invention with the covers removed; 
         FIG. 5  shows the corner bracket, without the covers; 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of the corner bracket, with the covers, as used with the deck; 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view of the corner bracket, with the wing covers; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a back view of the corner bracket, with the wing covers. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a deck  10  comprises a deck surface  12 . Around the edge of the deck surface  12  are one or more fascia boards  14 . The fascia boards  14  typically form a border around at least a portion of the deck surface  12  and may comprise a flat length of wood extending perpendicularly downward from the edge of the deck surface  12 . The deck  10  further comprises one or more deck posts  16  arranged along the perimeter of the deck surface  12 . The deck posts  16  are typically elongated members that extend vertically, with a post base  18  on one end of each deck post  16 . The post base  18  comprises a plurality of post base holes  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the deck posts  16  are connected to the fascia boards  14  through corner brackets  22  and side brackets  24 . The corner brackets  22  attach the deck post  16  at a corner of the deck  10 . As a result, the corner brackets  22  attach a single deck post  16  to the faces of two fascia boards  14  that meet at the corner of the deck surface  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . In comparison, the side brackets  24  attach the deck post  16  to a side of the deck  10 . Consequently, the side brackets  24  attach a single deck post  16  to the face of the fascia board  14  along the side of the deck surface  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the side bracket  24  comprises a side bracket top surface  26 , two side bracket flanges  28 , and a side bracket back surface  30 . In one embodiment, the side bracket top surface  26  lies substantially flat in the horizontal plane and comprises a plurality of side bracket top holes  32  (seen in  FIG. 3 ). The side bracket top holes  32  align with the post base holes  20  in the post base  18  such that the post base  18  may be attached to the side bracket top surface  26  by using one or more post fasteners  34 . The post fasteners  34  may include threaded fasteners (such as screws) or other mechanical fasteners. The side bracket top surface  26  provides a substantially flat and horizontal base for the placement and attachment of the deck post  16 . 
     The side bracket flanges  28  extend substantially perpendicularly below the side bracket top surface  26 . In one embodiment, the side bracket flanges  28  and the side bracket top surface  26  are formed from a single piece of material, with it being bent at right angles at two locations to form the side bracket flanges  28  and the side bracket top surface  26 . The side bracket flanges  28  may be tapered at the bottom, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The side bracket back surface  30  lies substantially flat in the vertical plane and is attached to an edge of each of the side bracket flanges  28 . This attachment may be made by welding or by some other appropriate permanent attachment mechanism. The side bracket back surface  30  comprises a plurality of side bracket back holes  36 , which may be used to securely attach the side bracket back surface  30  to the fascia board  14  using a plurality of fascia board fasteners  38 . The fascia board fasteners  38  may include screws, lug bolts, or the like. 
     The side bracket flanges  28  comprise one or more inward side bracket cavities  40  located slightly inward from a second edge of each of the side bracket flanges  32  (i.e. the edge opposite that which is attached to the side bracket back surface  30 ). As shown in  FIG. 2 , the side bracket cavities  40  provide a mechanism for a side cover  42  to be removably attached to the side bracket  24 . The side bracket cavities  40  are preferably holes (that pass through the side bracket flanges  28 ) but may also be indentations formed on the side bracket flanges  28 . The side cover  42  fits on the side bracket flanges  28  and generally encloses the front of the side bracket  24 . The side cover  42  comprises a side cover surface  44  and two side cover flanges  46  extending substantially perpendicularly to the side cover surface  44 . In one embodiment, the side cover surface  44  and the two side cover flanges  46  are formed from a single piece of material, with it being bent at right angles at two locations to form the side cover flanges  46  and the side cover surface  44 . The side cover flanges  46  each comprises one or more inward side cover indentations  48  that correspond to the side cavities  40  on the side bracket flanges  28 . 
     When the side cover  42  is pushed against the side bracket  24 , the inward side cover indentations  48  will come into contact with the edge of the side bracket flanges  28 . Further pressure exerted against the side bracket  24  will cause the side cover flanges  46  to deform apart slightly, with the side cover indentations  48  pushed over the edge of the side bracket flanges  28  and onto the surface of the side bracket flanges  28 . However, when the side cover indentations  48  reach the side bracket cavities  40  on the side bracket flanges  28 , the side cover indentations  48  will catch onto the side bracket cavities  40  and the side cover flanges  46  will revert back to their original shape. The side cover  42  will be securely held over the side bracket  24 . In order to remove the side cover  42 , the side cover  42  may be pulled away from the side bracket  24 . As the side cover  42  is pulled away, the side cover indentations  48  will come into contact with the interior sides of the side bracket cavities  40 . Further outward pressure will cause the side cover flanges  46  to deform apart slightly, allowing the side cover indentations  48  to slide out of the side bracket cavities  40  and onto the surface of the side bracket flanges  46 . When the side cover flanges  44  move past the edges of the side bracket flanges  46 , the side cover flanges  44  will revert back to their original shape, and the side cover  42  will have detached completely from the side bracket  24 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 8 , the corner bracket  22  comprises a corner bracket top surface  50 , which lies substantially flat in the horizontal plane. The corner bracket top surface  50  comprises a plurality of corner bracket top holes  52 . The corner bracket top holes  52  align with the post base holes  20  in the post base  18  such that the post base  18  may be attached to the corner bracket top surface  50  by using one or more post fasteners  34 . The post fasteners  34  may include threaded fasteners (such as screws) or other mechanical fasteners. The corner bracket top surface  50  provides a substantially flat and horizontal base for the placement and attachment of the deck post  16 . 
     A plurality of surfaces extend substantially perpendicularly to and downward from the corner bracket top surface  50 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the surfaces include a first corner bracket face  56 , a second corner bracket face  58 , and a third corner bracket face  60 . The first corner bracket face  56  and the second corner bracket  58  are attached and extend for substantially the entire height of the corner bracket  22 , while the third corner bracket face  60  only extends for a portion of the height of the corner bracket  22 . A number of angled surfaces  62  extend angularly from the first, second, and third corner bracket faces  56 ,  58 ,  60 , forming a generally semi-enclosed space (bounded by the angled surfaces  62 , the corner bracket top surface  50 , and the first, second, and third corner bracket faces  56 ,  58 ,  60 ) with a corner bracket opening  54 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , there are two angled surfaces  62 . 
     The first corner bracket face  56  and the third corner bracket face  60  each comprise one or more inward corner bracket cavities  64  located slightly inward from their respective edges adjacent to the corner bracket opening  54 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the corner bracket cavities  64  provide a mechanism for a corner cover  66  to be removably attached to the corner bracket  22 . The corner bracket cavities  64  are preferably holes (that pass through the first and third corner bracket faces  56 ,  60 ) but may also be indentations formed on the first and third corner bracket faces  56 ,  60 . 
     The corner cover  66  fits on the first corner bracket face  56  and the third corner bracket face  60  and provides a covering for the corner bracket opening  54 . The corner cover  66  comprises a corner cover surface  68  and two corner cover flanges  70  extending substantially perpendicularly to the corner cover surface  68 . In one embodiment, the corner cover surface  68  and the two corner cover flanges  70  are formed from a single piece of material, with it being bent at right angles at two locations to form the corner cover flanges  70  and the corner cover surface  68 . The corner cover flanges  70  each comprises one or more inward corner cover indentations  72  that correspond to the corner bracket cavities  64  on the corner bracket  22 . 
     When the corner cover  66  is pushed against the corner bracket  22 , the inward corner cover indentations  72  will come into contact with the edges of the first corner bracket surface  56  and the third corner bracket surface  60 . Further pressure exerted against the corner bracket  22  will cause the corner cover flanges  70  to deform apart slightly, with the corner cover indentations  72  pushed over the edges of the first corner bracket surface  56  and the third corner bracket surface  60  and onto their surfaces. However, when the corner cover indentations  72  reach the corner bracket cavities  64 , the corner cover indentations  72  will catch onto the corner bracket cavities  64  and the corner cover flanges  70  will revert back to their original shape. The corner cover  66  will be securely held over the corner bracket  22 . In order to remove the corner cover  66 , the corner cover  66  may be pulled away from the corner bracket  22 . As the corner cover  66  is pulled away, the corner cover indentations  72  will come into contact with the interior sides of the corner bracket cavities  64 . Further outward pressure will cause the corner cover flanges  70  to deform apart slightly, allowing the corner cover indentations  72  to slide out of the corner bracket cavities  64  and onto the surfaces of the first corner bracket face  56  and the third corner bracket face  60 . When the corner cover flanges  70  move past the edges of the first corner bracket face  56  and the third corner bracket face  60 , the corner cover flanges  70  will revert back to their original shape, and the corner cover  66  will have detached completely from the corner bracket  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the first and second corner bracket faces  56 ,  58  meet substantially perpendicularly from one another. Two substantially flat wings, namely first wing  74  and second wing  76  extend from the intersection of the first and second corner bracket faces  56 ,  58 . As a result, the first and second corner bracket faces  56 ,  58  and the first and second wings  74 ,  76  form a generally cross-shaped configuration. Each of the first and second wings  74 ,  76  comprise a number of wing holes  78 , which may be used to securely attach the first and second wings  74 ,  76  to the two fascia boards  14  that make up a corner of the deck  10 . This attachment may be made by using a plurality of fascia board fasteners  38 , such as screws, lug bolts, or the like. 
     The location of the wing holes  78  on the first and second wings  74 ,  76  are placed such that the fascia board fasteners  38  inserted through the first wing  74  do not interfere with the fascia board fasteners  38  inserted through the second wing  76 . This may be accomplished by offsetting the relative heights of the wing holes  78  on the first and second wings  74 ,  76 , as best seen in  FIG. 8  (e.g. the relative heights of the wing holes  78  on the first wing  74  are different from the relative heights of the wing holes  78  on the second wing  76 ). 
     Wing covers, namely first wing cover  80  and second wing cover  82 , may be placed over the first and second wings  74 ,  76 . Each of the first and second wing cover  80 ,  82  comprises a wing cover surface  84  and three wing cover flanges  86 . Each of the three wing cover flanges  86  may extend from an edge of the wing cover surface  84 . In one embodiment, the wing cover surface  84  and the two wing cover flanges  86  are formed from a single piece of material, with it being stamped to form the wing cover flanges  86  and the wing cover surface  84 . The first and second wing covers  80 ,  82  fit over the first and second wings  74 ,  76 , respectively, with the wing cover flanges  86  sliding over the top and bottom edges of the first and second wings  74 ,  76 . The first and second wing covers  80 ,  82  may be held in place by friction. 
     The first and second wings  74 ,  76  may also comprise one or more protrusions  77  stamped along the edges of the surface of the first and second wings  74 ,  76 . The wing cover flanges  86  may each comprises one or more inward wing cover indentations  79  that correspond to the protrusions  77 . When the first and second wing covers  80 ,  82  are placed on the first and second wings  74 ,  76 , respectively, the wing cover indentations  79  may slide over and around the protrusions  77 , securing the wing covers  80 ,  82  in place, as best seen in  FIG. 8 . 
     In one embodiment, the corner bracket  22  and the side bracket  24  are constructed from a metal, such as steel. The side cover  42 , the corner cover  66 , and the first and second wing covers  80 ,  82  may be constructed from a metal, such as aluminum. 
     The corner bracket  22  and the side bracket  24  of the present invention provide a bracket assembly in which all of the fasteners (i.e. the post fasteners  34  and the fascia board fasteners  38 ) are enclosed and protected from the weather elements. However, the fasteners are still accessible to the user through the use of various removable covers (i.e. the side cover  42 , the corner cover  66 , and the first and second wing covers  80 ,  82 ). Also, the addition of the covers provides additional structural rigidity to the respective bracket assemblies. 
     The embodiments of the invention have been described in some detail. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole, and that modifications to the constructional details of the embodiments may be practiced within the scope of the claims. The following claims are further to be considered part of the disclosure herein.