Abstract:
A protective trim strip having an “M”-shaped lateral cross-section is provided with a lengthwise channel along one edge and a lengthwise flange edge extending outwardly from the strip. A plurality of the trim strips are attached, using nails or screws, in a side-by-side and overlapping fashion onto the joists of a deck to direct water run-off away from the building to which the deck is attached, thereby protecting the deck joists and area under the deck from standing water. The flange edge of each strip is placed into the channel of the neighboring strip to improve the overlap. A foam adhesive can be used to adhere the flange edges of each strip into the corresponding channel of the neighboring strip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to protective trim strips for decks, and particularly to trim strips that can be applied side-by-side in overlapping fashion to the joists to direct water run-off away from the building to which the deck is attached, as well as to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance when viewed from underneath the deck. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The present invention is directed to protective trim strips applied to home deck structures. In particular, the invention is a contoured strip, a plurality of which can be attached to the joists of existing or new decks to direct water run-off away from the building to which the deck is attached and to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     Deck structures are typically built to extend outwardly from houses and other buildings to provide additional surface area above the ground or grade level. They provide support for various kinds of home activities, such as barbecue events, lounging, sun-tanning, and get togethers with family and neighbors. 
     During periods of precipitation, e.g., rain or snow, large amounts of water can run over the deck surface and between the deck planks. It is important to ensure that the water run-off is directed away from the house or other building to avoid problems that can otherwise occur, such as flooding in the lower levels of the building. Another problem that can occur is rotting or deterioration of the joists from slow drainage of surface water. Decks are generally constructed with a plurality of deck planks that are fastened (e.g., with nails) to a series of parallel joists, thereby providing the upper support surface of the deck. The joists typically extend outward from the building and themselves rest on two or more beams that extend perpendicularly to the direction of the joists. Finally, the beams rest on vertically arranged weight-supporting posts. 
     The present invention solves the problem of water run-off from the decks by providing a contoured protective trim strip in which a plurality of the strips are attached to the joists of the deck to direct water run-off away from the building. Also, the strips provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the deck when viewed from the space below the deck. The related art shows various efforts which have been made to address these problems, as well as related problems. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,883, issued to Thibodeau on Jan. 3, 1978, teaches spaced water conducting members mounted on beams (joists) to direct water run-off away from a building. U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,399, issued to Ryan on Oct. 6, 1987, teaches a universal deck made using a plurality of parallel overlapping corrugated members that direct water run-off away from the building. U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,502, issued to Mickelsen on Aug. 29, 1989, teaches a deck gutter system in which a series of gutters are mounted onto an existing deck to ensure water run-off in a direction away from the building. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,281, issued to Kosko on Mar. 23, 1993, teaches a deck trough that is mounted onto existing deck joists to create a water-proof roof for the space below the deck. U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,328, issued to Moore on Jun. 16, 1998, teaches a deck drainage system using a plurality of side-by-side flexible channels mounted onto the deck joists. U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,019, issued to Salley on Dec. 26, 2000, teaches dry deck rain trays that are mounted onto the deck joists. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,837, issued to Davis et al. on Apr. 10, 2001, teaches a rain water diverter system for deck structures. U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,271, issued to Burkart, Jr. on Aug. 28, 2001, teaches an under-deck water shedding system using a grid structure of panels. U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,479, issued to Prohofsky on Oct. 30, 2001, teaches a rain water diverter system for deck structures. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,300, issued to Babucke on Jan. 8, 2002, teaches a device to divert water from a deck. U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,450, issued to Vance, Jr. on Feb. 5, 2002, teaches a snap-together drainage system for decks and canopies. 
     Although various shapes and structures of trim strips that are applied to decks, including joists, for the purpose of water drainage, etc. are taught in the references, none teach trim strips having the structure of the present invention. The inventive trim strips taught herein have edge features that result in the desirable edge-into-channel overlapping structure that ensures that water flow is directed away from the building. Also, the trim strips are provided with an additional slope feature that ensures rapid water flow away from the building. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus protective trim strips for decks solving the aforementioned problems are desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a contoured protective trim strip for decks, in which a plurality of the inventive strips are placed in overlapping and side-by-side fashion onto the joists of the deck. The strips are structured to direct any water flowing from the deck, e.g., run-off due to precipitation, etc., to be directed away from the building to which the deck is attached. 
     The protective trim strips of the present invention are elongated strips of vinyl having a length coextensive with the length of the deck joists and having either an “M” shape or a “W” shape in transverse section, depending on whether the strips will be mounted above or below the joists, in order to define either one or two V-shaped troughs which have a gradual taper extending away from the deck ledger board. One elongated strip edge has a first flange extending parallel to the top or bottom edge of the joist, while the opposite elongated strip edge has a second flange slightly wider than the first flange extending parallel to the joist edge with a third flange normal to the second, so that the edges of adjacent strips can be overlapped or nested. The overall width of the strip is preferably dimensioned to extend between the conventional sixteen inch on center joist spacing commonly used in deck construction. The vinyl may be textured to resemble house siding. 
     The strips can be applied as an after-market retrofit in a side-by-side fashion to cover the bottom of the joists of existing decks. In this way, the strips provide a gutter system directing any collected water away from the building to which the deck is attached. The resulting system of overlapping strips also provides a roof having an aesthetically appearance for the space under the deck. 
     Alternatively, the strips can be applied to the tops of the joists during construction of a new deck before the deck planks have been attached to the joists. This arrangement directs water run-off away from the building and protects the joists from water damage as well. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a contoured protective trim strip that can be applied to deck joists to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance as well as direct water run-off away from the building. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a deck structure that is modified to include the above protective trim strips. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
    
    
     These and other objects of the present invention will becomes readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a deck including the protective strips according to the present invention the deck being broken away to show over the joist construction on the left side and under the joist construction on the right side. 
     FIG. 2A shows a side perspective view of a protective trim strip according to the present invention configured in an “M” shape in section for attachment to the bottom edges of the joists. 
     FIG. 2B shows a side perspective view of a protective trim strip according to the present invention configured in a “W” shape in section for attachment to the top edges of the joists. 
     FIG. 3 shows an end view of the protective trim strip of FIG.  2 A. 
     FIG. 4 shows an end view of the protective trim strip of FIG.  2 B. 
     FIG. 5 shows a section view of a plurality of the protective trim strips of FIG. 2A attached to adjacent joists, the deck planks being omitted. 
     FIG. 6 shows a section view of a plurality of the protective trim strips of FIG. 2B attached to adjacent joists. 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the protective trim strip of FIG.  2 B. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to contoured protective trim strips used on deck structures which facilitate drainage of surface water to preserve the deck substructure from the effects of weather and channel rain water away from the building foundation, to provide a roof which protects the area beneath the deck from water drainage, and to provide a decorative trim beneath the surface of the deck. FIG. 1 shows a perspective cutaway view of a typical deck  100  extending outward from a wall  92  of a building. In this case, the deck extends outwardly from the bottoms of the doors  90 . Portions of railings  102  are also shown. 
     The top surface  82  of the deck  100  (only a portion of the deck surface is shown in cutaway in FIG. 1) is made up of a series of deck planks that are placed side-by-side from one side of the deck to the other. The deck planks are attached to a series of parallel joists  80 , which extend away from the building. The joists  80  are typically 2′×6′ or 2′×8′ boards placed on edge to rest on one or more beams  70  that extend perpendicular to the joists  80 . The ends of the beams  70  rest on posts  84  that provide vertical support for the deck  100 . The posts  84  shown in FIG. 1 rest on concrete piers  86 , which, in turn, rest on concrete footings  88 . 
     The space underneath the deck is often available for other activities, e.g., barbecues, etc. Underneath most decks, the joists and the other supporting structure for the deck are exposed and visible. 
     When applied to the bottom edge of the joists  80 , the protective trim strips  10  of the present invention appear to have an “M” shape, i.e., their cross-sections and their pattern as viewed from the end of the strips resemble the letter “M”, as seen in the right side of FIG.  1 . This “M” pattern is shown in detail in the perspective view in FIG. 2A, in the end view of FIGS. 3, and in the section view of FIG.  5 . Hereinafter, strips  10  having an “M” orientation will be referred to as “under-joist” trim strips. 
     Conversely, when applied to the top edges of the joists  80 , the protective trim strips  110  of the present invention appear to have a “W” shape, i.e., their cross-sections and their pattern as viewed from the end of the strips resemble the letter “W”, as shown in the left side of FIG. 1 (FIG. 1 shows the “M” and “W” configurations side-by-side for comparative and illustrative, purposes only, it being understood that a single deck would not feature both configurations together). This “W” pattern is shown in detail in the perspective view of FIG. 2B, in the end view of FIG. 4, and in the section view of FIG.  6 . Hereinafter, the strips  110  having a “W” orientation will be referred to as “over-joist” trim strips. 
     Details of the under-joist trim strip  10  will be discussed in relation to FIGS. 2A,  3  and  5 . The under-joist trim strips  10  are applied to the bottom edges of the joists  80 , as in the right side of the deck  100  of FIG.  1 . As shown, the under-joist trim strip  10  has several elongated panels connected together along their lengths. 
     Referring to FIG. 2A, the two center panels  18  and  20  are connected along a common edge forming a ridge  50 . The V-shaped channel formed between these panels extends the entire length of the strip  10 , as shown partially in hidden lines in FIG.  2 A. The V-shaped channel forms a drainage trough for draining water away from the building. Two parallel side panels  16  and  22  are connected to the center panels,  18  and  20 , respectively. Extending from side panel  22  is an outwardly projecting flange  24  which is normal to side panel  22 . On the opposite side of trim strip  10  is an elongated J-shaped channel  60  defined by side panel  16 , second flange  14  which extends normal to side panel  16 , and third flange  12  which extends normal to second flange  14  and parallel to side panel  16 . The second flange  14  has a width slightly greater than the width of first flange  24 , so that the first flange  24  of one strip  10  nests in J-shaped channel  60  of an adjacent strip  10 , as described below. 
     An optional elongated, double-sided, foam adhesive strip  170  can be applied in channel  60  to adhere to second flange  14 . A series of trim strips  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c , etc., are then fastened to the joists  80  using suitable fasteners  94 , such as corrosion-resistant or galvanized steel nails, or preferably screws, with the first flange  24  of one strip  10   a  nesting in the bottom of the J-shaped channel  60  of the adjacent strip  10   b , and optionally being secured to the adjoining strip  10   b  by double-sided adhesive strip  170 . 
     When installed on the underside of the joists  80  as in FIG. 5, surface water on the top surface  82  of the deck  100  will drain between the decking planks and fall into the V-shaped channel or trough between center panels  18  and  20 . In order to ensure that the water will flow in the V-shaped channel, the V-shaped channel slopes downward as it extends away from the building, the channel sloping downward at a rate of about one inch per four feet as the protective trim strip  10  extends from the building wall  92  to the far end of the deck  100 . The channel has a uniform depth throughout its length, but the width (or, height when viewed from the side) of the side panels  16  and  22  decreases from a width of about five inches at a first end  35  attached adjacent the building, to a width of about three inches at a second end  45  farthest from the building. It will be noted in FIG. 2A that the front edge and the rear edge of side panels  16  and  22  are perpendicular with the top edge of the side panels, while the front edge and the rear edge of the side panels are not perpendicular with the bottom edge of the side panels  16  and  22 , i.e., the bottom edge of the side panels has a greater length than the top edge, while the V-shaped trough has a uniform depth. The advantage of this construction is that the protective trim strip  10  can be switched from the under-joist to the over-joist configuration by flipping the strip 180° about its longitudinal axis and reversing the first  35  and second  45  ends, as described below. 
     Details of the over-joist trim strip will be discussed in relation to FIGS. 2B,  4  and  6 . The over-joist trim strips  110  are applied to the tops of the joists  80  as in the left side of the deck  100  of FIG.  1 . As shown, the over-joist strips  110  can only be applied to the joists  80  before the deck planks are attached. This can take place either during the construction of a new deck, or if the deck planks of an existing deck are removed to expose the top edge of the joists  80 . Since the latter situation is highly unlikely because of the costs and time involved, the under-joist trim strips  10  are instead preferably applied to the deck for retrofitting an existing deck with the protective trim strips of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 2B, two center panels  118  and  120  are connected along a common edge forming a ridge  150 . An inverted V-shaped channel formed between these panels extends the entire length of the strip  110 , as shown partially in hidden lines in FIG. 2B, defining two parallel drainage troughs on opposite sides of the ridge  150 . Two parallel side panels  116  and  122  are connected to the center panels,  118  and  120 , respectively. 
     Extending from side panel  122  is an outwardly projecting flange  124  which extends normal to side panel  122 . On the opposite side of trim strip  110  is an elongated, inverted J-shaped channel  160  defined by second flange  114  extending normal to side panel  116 , and third flange  112  extending normal to second flange  114  and parallel to side panel  116 . The second flange  114  has a width slightly greater than the width of first flange  124 , so that first flange  124  of one strip  110  nests in inverted J-shaped channel  160  of an adjacent strip  110 , as described below. An optional elongated foam double-sided adhesive strip  170  can be applied to the channel  160  to adhere the second flange  114  in channel  160  of the trim strip  110 . A series of trim strips are fastened to the top edge of joists  80  using suitable fasteners  194 , such as corrosion-resistant or galvanized steel nails, or preferably, screws. 
     When installed on the top edges of the joists  80  as in FIG. 6, surface water on the top surface  82  of the deck  100  will drain between the decking planks and fall into the parallel drainage troughs defined on opposite sides of ridge  150 . In order to ensure that water will flow through the drainage troughs, the troughs slope downward from a first end  135  adapted for attachment adjacent the building wall  92  to an opposite second end  145  at the opposite end of the deck  100 . Side panels  116  and  122  taper in height from about three inches at the first end  135  to about five inches at the second end  145 . The configuration can be obtained by changing the orientation of protective strip  10 , by flipping the strip  10  by 180° about its longitudinal axis and reversing the first  35  and second  45  ends, as mentioned above. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, adjacent protective trim strips  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c , etc. are attached to the top edges of the joists by fasteners  194 , with the first flange  124  of one strip  110   a  nested in the J-shaped channel  160  of the adjacent strip  110   b , with the flange  124  optionally secured to the J-shaped channel  160  by double sided adhesive strip  170 . 
     FIG. 7 shows an elevation view of the over-joist trim strip  110  (i.e., having the “W” orientation), showing the changing height of the side panels of the strip from the end  135  that, when installed, is closest to the building to the opposite end  145  farthest from the building. 
     The strips can be made of any suitable material that can be fastened to the joists including aluminum and vinyl-based materials, such as are commonly used for making siding strips for homes. 
     Exemplary dimensions of the protective trim strip  10  and  110  include: length of eight or twelve feet and overall width of about seventeen inches; side panel  16 ,  22 ,  116 ,  122  have a length of eight or twelve feet and heights tapering along the length from three to five inches; outwardly projecting first flanges  24  and  124  having a length of eight or twelve feet and a width of about one and one-half inches; outwardly projecting second flanges  14  and  114  having a length of eight or twelve feet and a width of about one and three-quarter inches; third flanges  12  and  112  having a length of eight or twelve feet and a height of about one inch; and all panels and flanges having a thickness of about 0.046 inches. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.