BRACE FOR DECK RAILING
A brace for deck railing is provided in which blocking is secured between the joists and a metal brace is fastened at one end to the blocking and at the other end to the post and rim board. The brace may be adjustable in length. According to a further variant the brace has a vertical piece attached to a plate which is secured to the post. In an alternate arrangement, the vertical element is attached to a sliding sleeve which slides on the brace to permit the placing of the post to be varied.
The present application claims the benefits, under 35 U.S.C.§119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/531,768 filed Sep. 7, 2011 which is incorporated herein by this reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates to the field of deck construction, and in particular construction of decks having railings supported by posts.
BACKGROUNDWooden decks are typically constructed of a number of parallel joists, a rim board, sheathing, and vertical posts supporting guard rails. In the past the posts have been bolted directly to the face of the rim board or to the rear face of the rim board supported by cross-braces. In either case, due to the lever arm created by the distance from the guard rail to the attachment point of post on rim board, a pressure applied to the guard rail creates possible failure of the connection of the post to the rim board. Prior art methods of reinforcing the point of attachment of the post to the deck include an angle bracket fastened to the joist and rim board to reinforce the post attachment; multiple anchors secured to the joist and against which the rim board is tightened by bolts, and multiple layers of blocking fastened to the rim board by fasteners to reinforce the rim board.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.
SUMMARYThe following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.
In the present invention, blocking is secured between the joists and a metal brace is fastened at one end to the blocking and at the other end to the post and rim board. The brace may be adjustable in length. According to a further variant the brace has a vertical piece attached to a plate which is secured to the post. In an alternate arrangement, the vertical element is attached to a sliding sleeve which slides on the brace to permit the placing of the post to be varied.
In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions.
Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
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In the present invention as shown in
Adjustable metal brace 44, shown in
In a further alternate arrangement shown in
While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the invention be interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within its true spirit and scope.
Claims
1. A bracing system for a post for supporting railing above a deck surface, wherein said deck comprises a plurality of parallel joists for supporting the deck surface and a vertical rim board forming the edges of the deck, said bracing system comprising:
- i) a rigid reinforcement element extending between and secured to two adjacent joists;
- ii) a rigid bracing element secured at a first end thereof to said reinforcement element and at the second end thereof to said rim board and further connected to the lower end of said post.
2. The bracing system of claim 1 wherein said rigid bracing element is secured at a first end thereof to said reinforcement element and at the second end thereof to said rim board and the lower end of said post.
3. The bracing system of claim 1 wherein said rigid bracing element is secured at a first end thereof to said reinforcement element by a plate secured to the first end of said rigid bracing element and at the second end thereof by a plate secured to said rim board and to the lower end of said post.
4. The bracing system of claim 2 wherein said second end of said bracing element is fastened to said lower end of said post and to said rim board by fastening elements extending through said rim board and connecting with the lower end of said post.
5. The bracing system of claim 4 wherein said second end of said bracing element is fastened to said lower end of said post and to said rim board by fastening elements extending through a plate secured to said second end, through said rim board and connecting with a plate secured to the lower end of said post.
6. The bracing system of claim 1 wherein said second end of said bracing element is fastened to said post and to said rim board by fastening elements extending into said rim board and by fastening elements extending through said deck surface and connecting with the lower end of said post.
7. The bracing system of claim 6 wherein said second end of said bracing element is fastened to said post and to said rim board by fastening elements extending through a plate secured to said second end and into said rim board and by fastening elements extending through said deck surface and connecting with a plate secured to the lower end of said post.
8. The bracing system of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said bracing element is adjustable in length.
9. The bracing system of claim 4 wherein the bracing element comprises a vertically extending element attached at the lower end thereof to said bracing element and at the upper end thereof to a plate which is secured through said deck surface to the lower end of said post.
10. The bracing system of claim 4 wherein the bracing element comprises a sleeve concentrically and slidably mounted on a bar, and a vertically extending element attached at the lower end thereof to said sleeve and at the upper end thereof to a plate which is secured by fasteners extending through said deck surface to the lower end of said post.
11. A bracing system for a post for supporting railing above a deck surface, wherein said deck comprises a plurality of parallel joists for supporting the deck surface and a vertical rim board forming the edges of the deck, said bracing system comprising:
- i) a rigid bracing element secured at a first end thereof to one of said joists and at the second end thereof to said rim board and to the lower end of said post.
12. The bracing system of claim 11 wherein said second end of said bracing element is fastened to said lower end of said post and to said rim board by fastening elements extending through said rim board and connecting with the lower end of said post.
13. A bracing system for a post for supporting railing above a deck surface, wherein said deck comprises a plurality of rigid structural elements having vertical surfaces and extending beneath said deck surface and a vertical rim board forming the edges of the deck, said bracing system comprising:
- i) a rigid bracing element secured at one end thereof to a structural element, and secured at the other end thereof to the lower end of said post and to said vertical rim board.
14. A method of bracing posts attached to a deck for supporting deck railing above a deck surface, wherein said deck comprises a plurality of rigid structural elements having vertical surfaces and extending beneath said deck surface and a vertical rim board forming the edges of the deck, said method comprising providing rigid bracing elements each secured at one end thereof to a structural element, and securing the lower end of said posts to the second end of said bracing elements and to said vertical rim board.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 6, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 20, 2014
Inventor: Cameron K. Robinson (Coquitlam)
Application Number: 14/241,914
International Classification: E04F 11/18 (20060101); E04H 17/22 (20060101); E04B 5/00 (20060101);