Sealed decking porch system
A decking and system that utilizes gap seals to seal spaces between flooring components. The gap seals are shaped to match the shapes of the spaces between the flooring components. As a result, when the seals are placed in the spaces, a sealed, continuous, uninterrupted decking surface is created.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/922,517 to Floyd Grady Carter filed on Apr. 9, 2007, entitled “Sealed Decking-Screened Porch System,” and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is generally directed to a decking or porch system having a plurality of spaced flooring beams, boards, or slabs. More specifically, the invention involves a decking or porch system utilizing gap seals to seal the spaces between the flooring components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDecking and porch systems have been used for many years. In recent years, these systems have involved more elaborate structures that add more useable space to a home. For example, decking and porch systems often create an aesthetic entryway into a home or add an additional room to a house.
In most decking and porch systems, the flooring is formed of a plurality of components, namely, boards, beams, or slabs, which are made of natural or man-made material, including wood beams, concrete, cement, plastics, vinyls, and engineered materials. In laying the floor of the decking system, it is generally accepted to leave a space between the flooring components. These spaces are beneficial for drainage purposes, and the spaces also accommodate the expansion and contraction of the beams, which typically results from temperature changes. To effectively provide for drainage and size changes, the spaces can range in size from a few centimeters to nearly an inch in some structures.
While these spaces are necessary to preserve the deck or porch, the spaces create problems and safety hazards. For example, items, such as jewelry, change, and food can fall into the spaces between the beams. Further, the heels of shoes can become lodged in the spaces, which can result in twisted ankles, falls, and other injuries. In addition, arms and fingers, especially those of small children can get stuck within-the spaces.
When a conventional decking or porch system is used to create an enclosed room, the system suffers from other deficiencies. Specifically, leaves, pinestraw, grass, and other debris may pass through the spaces between the flooring beams. In addition, the spaces between the beams of a typical porch system create openings for insects, rodents, and pests to enter the room. The spaces also allow heat to enter and exit the room.
Consequently, there is a need for a decking and porch system that mitigates the many drawbacks associated with the spaces between the flooring components of conventional decking and porch systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a decking and porch system that utilizes gap seals to seal the spaces between the flooring components. The gap seals are shaped to match the shapes of the spaces between the flooring components so that when the seals are placed in the spaces, a sealed, continuous, uninterrupted decking surface is created. As a result of the decking system of the present invention, items can no longer fall through or get caught in the spaces between the flooring components. In addition, weeds and pests cannot pass through the spaces. Further, the decking and porch system is stronger and less likely to warp when exposed to environmental effects.
A better understanding of the invention will be had with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
As shown in the Figs., the decking and porch system 10 includes a plurality of flooring components 20. The flooring components 20 may be beams, boards, or slabs. Further, the flooring components 20 may be made from natural or man-made materials or any combination thereof, including wood, concrete, cement, plastics, vinyls, engineered materials, or any other suitable material.
As shown in
The spaces 30 preferably each have an I-shaped cross-section, as also shown in
In addition to the flooring components 20 and the spaces 30, the decking and porch system also includes gap seals 40. The gap seals 40 may be made from wood, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic, rubber, or any other suitable material. The gap seals 40 are preferably made from a material or combination of materials that can withstand environmental effects, such as weather and sunlight. In addition, the gap seal 40 may be of a different color or material than the flooring components 20 to give the decking and porch system 10 an interesting look.
Each gap seal 40 has a shape that the corresponds to the shapes of the spaces 30 so that the gap seals 40 fit into the spaces 30 between the flooring components 20. Accordingly, each gap seal 40 has a generally I-shaped cross-section comprising an upper portion 40a, a lower portion 40b, and a middle portion 40c. The upper and lower portions 40a and 40b, respectively, are generally parallel to each other, and the middle portion 40c extends substantially perpendicularly between the upper and lower portions 40a and 40b, respectively. Further, ends of the upper and lower portions 40a and 40b may be rounded, bullnosed, beveled, squared, or any suitable shape to mach the ends of the upper and lower portions 30a and 30b, respectively, of the spaces 30. Alternatively, the gap seals 40 may be slightly smaller than the spaces 30 to create clearances for drainage and warping when the gaps seals 40 are placed in the spaces 30.
To use the decking and porch system 10 of the present invention, the ends of the flooring components 20 are cut into a desired shape. The flooring components 20 are then positioned at spaced distances from each other to form a flooring surface. Since the flooring components 20 are spaced from each other, spaces 30 are created between the components 20, as shown in
To seal the decking system 10, gap seals 40 are placed into the slots 30 formed between the flooring components 20. The gap seals 40 are placed into the slots 30 by aligning each gap seal 40 with an end of a space 30. The gap seal 40 is then placed into the end of the space 30 and slid along the length of the space 30, as shown in
Once in place, the gap seals 40 seal the spaces 30. As a result of the gap seals 40, the decking and porch system 10 has a smooth, uninterrupted, continuous upper flooring surface without any gaps or spaces, as shown in
The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by all of the embodiments encompassed within the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A decking system comprising:
- a plurality of beams arranged to create a floor surface;
- at least one slot disposed between the beams of said plurality of beams; and
- a gap seal adapted to fit within said at least one slot.
2. The decking system of claim 1, wherein said at least one slot includes a generally I-shaped cross-section.
3. The decking system of claim 2, wherein said gap seal includes a generally I-shaped cross-section that corresponds to said I-shaped cross-section of said at least one slot.
4. The decking system of claim 3, wherein said gap seal further includes edges that are shaped in the form of a shape selected from a group consisting essentially of bull-nose, round, and square.
5. The decking system of claim 3, wherein said gap seal is a different color than said plurality of beams.
6. A decking system comprising:
- at least one decking surface;
- at least one slot disposed within said decking surface; and
- a gap seal adapted to fit within said at least one.
7. The decking system of claim 6, wherein said at least one slot includes a generally I-shaped cross-section.
8. The decking system of claim 7, wherein said gap seal includes a generally I-shaped cross-section that corresponds to said I-shaped cross-section of said at least one slot.
9. The decking system of claim 8, wherein said gap seal further includes edges that are shaped in the form of a shape selected from a group consisting essentially of bull-nose, round, and square.
10. The decking system of claim 8, wherein said gap seal is a different color than said at least one decking surface.
11. A method of making a deck or porch comprising:
- placing a plurality of beams spaced distances from each other to form a decking surface having spaces between the beams; and
- inserting gap seals into the spaces between the beams to seal the spaces and create a deck or porch having an uninterrupted upper surface.
12. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 11, wherein each of the spaces has a generally I-shaped cross-section.
13. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 12, wherein each of the gap seals includes a generally I-shaped cross-section that corresponds to said I-shaped cross-section of each of the spaces.
14. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 13, wherein each of the gap seals further includes edges that are shaped in the form of a shape selected from a group consisting essentially of bull-nose, round, and square.
15. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 13, wherein said gap seal is a different color than the plurality of beams.
16. The method of making a deck or porch of claim 11, further comprising precutting ends of the beams so that each of the spaces has a generally I-shaped cross-section.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 9, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2008
Inventor: Floyd Grady Carter (Tallahassee, FL)
Application Number: 12/078,998
International Classification: E04B 1/68 (20060101);