Deck board apparatus and method of making same

Abstract

A method of making a pultruded deck board attachment fastened to a substructure to provide a stiffer and stronger deck board than a wood, wood composite, or plastic deck board, wherein the pultruded deck board attachment, along with any fasteners, is covered and protected with a walking surface that is, in examples, snapped in to place.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a divisional of and relies on the disclosures of and claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 833,486, filed Mar. 27, 2020. The disclosures of that application are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0002]The present invention is directed to a deck board assembly apparatus, wherein the deck board is manufactured, in aspects, using a pultrusion process, wherein the deck board is, in aspects, comprised of fibrous reinforcements and a resin matrix, wherein the deck board, in aspects, may be coupled to a structural joist member and coupled to a snap-on decking surface, wherein the decking surface is, in aspects, manufactured using an extrusion process, and wherein, in aspects, the decking surface is comprised of thermoplastic resin.Description of the Related Art[0003]Polymeric decking exists ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In one embodiment of the present invention, a device is provided that allows for a pultruded attachment apparatus to be attached to a decking frame or beam and then coupled to an extruded decking surface capping apparatus. In another embodiment of the present invention, the attachment apparatus is preferably a pultruded deck board attachment, which allows for support and attachment to a decking frame or beam comprising three or more support extensions, two or more of which can be used to attach the device to the decking frame or beam, as well as a second apparatus that acts as a decking surface that is snapped on or otherwise affixed to the support and attachment device, such as an extruded decking surface capping apparatus. In embodiments, the pultruded attachment apparatus makes available channels for screw heads, by way of example, to be recessed so as not to interfere with the extruded decking surface capping apparatus. In aspects, the pultruded attachment apparatus makes available channels for the screw heads to be recessed where the bottom of the channel is shaped to fit a countersunk head deck fastener or other fastener head shapes. In aspects, the pultruded attachment apparatus makes available channels for decorative end caps to be attached. And in other aspects, the pultruded attachment apparatus employs a series of vertical ribs and horizontal flanges to maximize stiffness and minimize weight.

[0010]For example, the pultruded deck board attachment may employ a series of horizontal flats that rest on the decking frame or beam. The centermost vertical rib and horizontal foot add support to the middle portion across the width of the pultruded deck board attachment, in aspects. The extruded decking surface capping apparatus may employ a thicker wall where it spans the channels of the pultruded deck board attachment. This allows for stronger support structure when a concentrated load, such as high heel or a chair foot, is applied.

[0013]In aspects, an extruded drain channel can be placed in between the pultruded deck board attachment to prevent water from penetrating the deck assembly. The extruded drain channel may also be used as a spacer for adjacent pultruded deck board attachments. The pultruded deck board attachment may employ rounded nubs on both sides to allow an extruded decking surface capping apparatus to be snapped on. In aspects, the extruded decking surface capping apparatus may employ rounded nubs on both sides and act as a drip edge for shedding water. The pultruded deck board attachment can have aesthetic flaws and use left-over pultrusion resin of multiple colors since the extruded decking surface capping apparatus will cover the pultruded deck board attachment upon final assembly. This will significantly reduce cost due to the reduction of scrap.

[0024]In aspects, the deck board attachment is pultruded with a resin matrix and a fibrous reinforcement. The pultruded attachment apparatus, processed with a resin matrix and fiberglass, will resist rot from trapped moisture or water infiltration. The pultruded deck board attachment, in aspects, resists expansion and contraction due to temperature variations. The pultruded deck board attachment using a composite of fibrous reinforcements and a resin matrix, resists losing appreciable stiffness or strength at elevated temperatures (e.g., in the 160° F. range). The pultruded deck board attachment, reinforced with continuous unidirectional fiberglass, will be stiffer than wood or an extruded thermoplastic, in aspects.

[0025]Further, the pultruded deck board attachment, reinforced with continuous unidirectional fiberglass, will resist creep and may be lighter than another material, such as wood or an extruded part. In aspects, the pultruded deck board attachment is a constant cross section. And, in aspects, the pultruded deck board attachment has a crowned top to allow for, for example, shedding water off the conforming extruded decking surface capping apparatus, and also allowing the conforming extruded decking surface capping apparatus to be pre-stressed after it is snapped on, which may allow for a tighter fit.

Problems solved by technology

Polymeric decking exists but can be expensive and difficult to install.

Stepping on this edge can potentially disengage the attachment, which is non-optimal in many use applications.

Overtightening the fasteners could potentially widen the slots, pushing the sides to deform and not allowing for proper top cap engagement, whereas a pultruded deck board attachment allows for the use of common flat head deck screws and overtightening would not cause nub distortion that would impede the proper engagement of the extruded decking surface capping apparatus, for example.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,021 does not address a new structural deck board.

Regarding typical wood deck boards attached to a frame, the natural thickness shrinkage of the existing aging, weathered wood deck boards can cause fit-up issues such as gapping in between the cap and the deck board.

Furthermore, adding a top cap to existing deck boards as described herein will decrease the longitudinal gapping, which causes water drainage and trapped debris issues.

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