Anchoring device

Abstract

An anchoring device is disclosed comprising a generally horizontal top element having an elongate, generally vertical, collapsible element extending downwardly from the underside thereof, the horizontal top element comprises a metallic plate reinforced plastic.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an anchoring device for retaining adjacent boards in precision spaced alignment, being particularly suitable for use with outdoor platform deck construction. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Outdoor spaced board platforms, generally referred to as decks, have become popular additions to homes, offices, restaurants and the like. They generally comprise a plurality of elongate, flat laid, closely spaced boards, connected to and supported on their bottom surface by framing with spaced joists, stringers, beams and the like forming a secure floor. Though the boards are generally cut from natural wood, they have been increasing manufactured from various compositions of wood and / or other cellulosic materials with various resins, and even plastics and various metals. The top surface of the boards is generally referred to as the face side of a board and the facing elongate sides of adjacent flat laid boards is generally referred to as the edges of a board. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] The plastic comprising the top element can be rigid plastic but flexible plastic is generally preferred. By flexible is meant that the plastic cannot easily be broken by normal swelling and flexing of the deck boards. Even when the plastic is rigid, though flexing and / or swelling of adjacent boards may crack or even crumble the plastic, the metal reinforcing can retain functional anchoring stability. When the plastic is flexible, there is more resistance to cracking, breaking or crumbling caused by flexing and / or swelling and the rigidity of the anchor is maintained by the metal plate.

Problems solved by technology

Though such anchoring devices are an effective means for convenient precision spacing and attachment of the floor boards to joists and / or each other during initial construction, they are subject to weather related failure and the visibility of the heads of fastening screws and / or nails between the boards is generally found ornamentally undesirable.

Commercially available anchoring biscuits of the aforesaid type are manufactured from rigid molded plastics, which under the stress of flexion and compression due to deck use and changing weather conditions the top biscuit element is known to crack or break thus losing its ability to anchor and / or prevent warping of the boards.

Though vertical members conveniently provide precision spacing between boards during initial construction, the swelling of laid boards during wet weather conditions tends to tightly compress the vertical members and though they may not break or crumble, their resistance to same can exacerbate warping of the boards.

The location of a center hole for affixing a screw or nail leaves an exposed, usually stainless steel nail or screw head, which many consider an undesirable ornamental blemish to the deck.

Further, though nail and screw fastening means are desirable for securely fastening the anchors, plastic anchors generally have little tolerance for over-tightening and fastening has to be skillfully handled to avoid driving the screw or nail head though the plastic top element leaving a loosely fastened and / or failed anchor.

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