Deck Spacers

Abstract

A deck spacer (10) used for creating uniform gaps between boards (12) of a deck (14) has a spacing member (16), a support member (18), and a grip member (20). The spacing member has a main body (22) with a lower free end (24), and at respective opposed sides of the main body are first and second spacing surfaces (26, 28). Each spacing surface has board contacting ribs (44) which project outwardly from the main body. The ribs extend longitudinally between the support member and the lower free end. Each rib has a tapered lower end portion (46) that is angled back towards the main body and terminates at the lower free end. In use, each spacing surface contacts an adjacent side surface of a respective board to create a uniform gap spacing between the boards. 20 24 22 75 14 21 O ct 2 02 4 2 1 O c t 2 0 2 4 2 0 2 4 2 2 7 5 1 4 2 1 O c t 2 0 2 4 A B S T R A C T

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a deck spacer and particularly to a spacer 5 for use in constructing a deck comprising a plurality of deck boards which are parallel to each other and separated by a small gap. More particularly, the invention relates to a spacer for maintaining two deck boards in a uniform spaced relationship to each other in order to allow the boards to be secured, such as by screwing or nailing, to underlying joists or the like. 10           Although the invention has a primary application to the construction of decks, and especially outdoor decking, the invention can also be applied to the construction of walkways, boardwalks or other similar structures. BACKGROUND ART It is important in the construction of decks that the deck boards be parallel 15 to each other and have a uniform gap width between adjacent boards so as to achieve the desired pleasing aesthetic effect. Also, the gap should be wide enough to allow rapid water drainage and passage therethrough of small debris which might otherwise wedge tightly within the gap. The gap should also allow the deck boards to expand under high temperature weather conditions or, if wooden boards are used, 20 to swell in wet weather or when otherwise subjected to the prolonged effect of water contact. The deck board spacing devices, or spacers, which provide such a gap, should be easy to place in their position for use and easy to remove after use, irrespective of the structural characteristics of the deck boards. 25          Examples of prior art devices which seek to provide a uniform spacing between boards are illustrated in the following patents: US Patent No. 3,735,497 (Boettcher) discloses a spacer for laying wooden flooring with a space between selected adjacent floor boards and maintaining the boards in a spaced relationship. 30          US Patent No. 4,850,114 (Vockins) discloses a decking spacer tool adapted for measured fitting between parallel boards prior to securing of the boards to a support. 2024227514   25 Aug 2026 US Patent No. 4,858,399 (Salato, Jr.) discloses a combination protective cover and spacer strip for mounting upon a wooden rectangular beam which supports horizontal planks. US Patent No. 4,930,225 (Phillips) discloses a tool for use in marking, 5 cutting, spacing, and / or securing boards or planks in deck, roof, or fence construction, and the like. US Patent No. 4,955,142 (Rieck) discloses a hand tool for use in placing deck boards on a support structure. US Patent No. 5,560,117 (Tallman) discloses a deck board or like spacer for 10 establishing a predetermined space between a pair of deck boards. US Patent No. 6,508,010 (Hanson) discloses a deck board spacer adapted for securely fitting over a deck joist prior to positioning an adjacent deck board thereagainst. While all these abovementioned prior art patents disclose devices which are 15 used to provide a uniform spacing between boards, and some additionally disclose means to aid in the placement and / or removal of the device relative to the deck, none of these patents disclose a deck spacer that can, when being lowered for contact and placement against an already secured board having, say, a chamfered and rounded edge or square corner of a side surface, slide downwardly against the 20 side surface with very little resistance and negligible risk of scratching the side surface. Furthermore, none of these above mentioned prior art patents disclose a deck spacer which can be easily removed from the deck in circumstances where there has been some unanticipated sideways movement or distortion of the board 25 which has been pressed against the spacer, that movement or distortion resulting from the action of securing the board to the joists. For instance, the nailing of wooden boards or the drilling with screws of wooden or metallic boards to the joists may cause a slight sideways spreading of the board such that the board applies a greater pressure against a spacing surface of the spacer than is desired, effectively 30   wedging the spacer in a now narrower gap than is desired between adjacent boards, and potentially making it difficult to remove the spacer from the deck after use. This problem may be more pronounced when the spacer is placed against a board at a position over or near an underlying joist into which a nail or screw is secured. 2024227514   25 Aug 2026 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a deck spacer that includes opposed spacing surfaces which are ribbed and in which the ribs have 5 tapering lower ends to advantageously lessen the resistance and risk of scratching when the spacer is being placed against a board in its position for use, and to more easily facilitate removal of the spacer after use in circumstances where the spacer has become wedged between adjacent boards by the distortion of a board secured to a joist. 10           According to the invention, there is provided a deck spacer for creating a uniform gap spacing between boards in a deck, the deck spacer comprising: a spacing member adapted, in use, to be located between a first secured board and a second board required to be secured parallel to, and spaced apart from, the first secured board, the spacing member having a main body with a lower 15 free end, and further having first and second spacing surfaces at respective opposed sides of the main body, whereby each spacing surface contacts an adjacent side surface of a respective one of the first and second boards to create a uniform gap spacing between the boards prior to securing the second board to underlying joists of the deck, 20          a support member disposed transversely to the spacing member and having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface adapted to be supported upon upper surfaces of the first and second boards, a grip member extending above the support member for removing the deck spacer after the first and second boards have been secured to the joists, the grip 25 member having a square block portion protruding from opposite sides of a horizontal portion of the grip member, characterised in that each spacing surface comprises a plurality of board contacting ribs projecting outwardly from the main body and extending longitudinally between the support member and the lower free end of the main 30 body, each rib having a tapered lower end portion that is angled back towards the main body and terminates at the lower free end. Preferably, the longitudinally extending ribs extend vertically when in use. In a preferred form, all of the ribs of a spacing surface have a common width. 2024227514   25 Aug 2026 Each rib is preferably spaced apart from an adjacent rib of a spacing surface by a distance equal to the common width. It is preferred that all of the ribs of a spacing surface have a common length. It is also preferred that the tapered lower end portion of each rib of a spacing 5 surface has a vertical length, when in use, which is one quarter of the common length of each rib. In a further preferred form, the lower free end of the main body is a planar surface which is perpendicular to the main body. 10 SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are summarized below. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a deck spacer according to a preferred 15 embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the deck spacer of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the deck spacer of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the deck spacer of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of the deck spacer of Fig. 1. 20           Fig. 6 is a perspective view of part of a deck under construction in which a plurality of the spacers of Fig. 1 are being used to create a uniform gap spacing between boards of the deck. Fig. 7 is a partly sectional side view of the deck under construction of Fig. 6 which also shows means for securing the boards to underlying joists of the deck. 25           Fig. 8 is a top view of the deck under construction of Fig. 7 but not showing a securing means for the as yet unsecured board. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The embodiment of the deck spacer 10 shown in the accompanying 30 drawings of Figs. 1 to 8 is for creating a uniform gap spacing between boards 12 of a 2024227514   25 Aug 2026 deck 14, and especially an outdoor deck, but it may alternatively be used in the construction of walkways, boardwalks or other similar structures. The deck spacer 10 has a spacing member 16, a support member 18, and a grip member 20. 5          The spacing member 16 of the deck spacer 10 is adapted, in use and as shown in Figs 6 to 8, to be located between a first secured board 12a and a second board 12b which is required to be secured parallel to, and spaced apart from, the first secured board 12a. For this purpose, the spacing member 16 has a main body 22 with a lower free end 24, and-at respective opposed sides of the main body 22 10 are first and second spacing surfaces 26, 28. As a result, each spacing surface 26, 28 contacts an adjacent side surface 30, 32 of a respective one of the first and second boards 12a, 12b to create a uniform gap spacing 34 between the boards 12 prior to securing the second board 12b to underlying joists 36 of the deck 14. The support member 18 is disposed transversely to the spacing member 16 15 and has an upper surface 38 and a lower surface 40. The lower surface 40 is adapted, in use, to be supported upon upper surfaces 42a, 42b of the first and second boards 12a, 12b, respectively. The grip member 20 extends above the support member 18 and is used for removing the deck spacer 10 after the first and second boards 12a, 12b have been 20 secured to the joists 36. In order to advantageously lessen the resistance and risk of scratching when the spacer 10 is being placed against a board 12 in its position for use, and to more easily facilitate removal of the spacer 10 after use in circumstances where the spacer 10 has become wedged between adjacent boards 12 by the distortion of a 25 board secured to a joist 36, each spacing surface 26, 28 has a plurality of board contacting ribs 44 which project outwardly from the main body 22. The ribs 44 extend longitudinally between the support member 18 and the lower free end 24 of the main body 22 of the spacing member 16. Each rib 44 has a tapered lower end portion 46 that is angled back towards the main body 22 and terminates at the lower 30 free end 24. It is the aforementioned presence and structure of the ribs 44 which contributes largely to the stated advantages of this invention over the prior art, although some other features of the present invention are also advantageous. These other features are described below as preferred embodiments of the invention. 2024227514   25 Aug 2026 For example, the longitudinally extending ribs 44 extend vertically when in use. All of the ribs 44 of a spacing surface 26, 28 have a common width. Each rib 44 is spaced apart from an adjacent rib of a spacing surface 26, 28 by a distance equal to the common width. All of the ribs 44 of a spacing surface 26, 28 have a common 5 length. The tapered lower end portion 46 of each rib 44 of a spacing surface 26, 28 has a vertical length, when in use, which is one quarter of the common length of each rib. The lower free end 24 of the main body 22 is a planar surface which is perpendicular to the main body. The use of the deck spacer 10 in the creation of a uniform gap spacing 10 between boards 12 of a deck 14, for example, will now be described in more detail. The part of the deck 14 under construction shown in Figs 6 to 8 has a plurality of parallel and spaced apart boards 12, including board 12a, which have already been secured to the underlying joists 36, such as by screws 48, bolts, nails or other suitable securing means, and has a board 12b which is required to be secured 15 parallel to, and spaced apart from, the board 12a. The uniform gap spacing 34 which is shown between the secured boards 12 has been created by the use, in this example, of two deck spacers 10, and they are still shown in their "in use" positions between the secured board 12a and its adjacent secured board 12 prior to their removal from between the said secured boards and their re-use, if required, in the 20 ongoing construction of the deck 14. The same uniform gap spacing is required between the boards 12a and 12b and is created by similarly using two deck spacers 10. The deck spacers 10 are manually positioned or placed such that the ribs 44 at the spacing surface 26 of the spacing member 16 of each deck spacer 10 contact 25 and slide downwardly against an adjacent side surface 30 of the secured board 12a at positions similar to, or the same as, those shown in Figs 6 to 8, and the unsecured board 12b is then brought towards and pressed against the deck spacers 10 so that an adjacent side surface 32 of the unsecured board 12b contacts the ribs 44 at the opposite spacing surface 28 of the spacing member 16 of each deck spacer 10. 30 Alternatively, the spacing member 16 of the deck spacers 10 may be manually slid and squeezed into position between the boards 12a, 12b when they are already very close to, or contacting, each other, thereby moving them apart to create the uniform gap spacing 34. 2024227514   25 Aug 2026 Once the uniform gap spacing 34 has been created, the unsecured board 12b is secured to the underlying joists of the deck 14 by screws 48 or the like. It will be apparent to skilled persons in the art that the deck spacer of the present invention, by virtue of the presence and structure of the ribs thereof, can 5 slide downwardly against the side surfaces of the boards with very little resistance and negligible risk of scratching the rounded edge or square corner of the side surfaces compared to prior art deck spacers. It will also be apparent to skilled persons in the art that the deck spacer of the present invention, when compared to the prior art deck spacers, can be easily removed from the deck in circumstances 10 where there has been some unanticipated sideways movement or distortion of the board which has been brought towards and pressed against the deck spacer, that movement or distortion resulting from the action of securing the board to the joists, and that this is also due largely to the presence and structure of the ribs of the deck spacer of the present invention. 15            Furthermore, it will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of design, construction and steps in the use of the deck spacer which has been described above without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A deck spacer for creating a uniform gap spacing between boards in a deck, the deck spacer comprising:a spacing member adapted, in use, to be located between a first secured board and a second board required to be secured parallel to, and spaced apart from, the first secured board, the spacing member having a main body with a lower free end, and further having first and second spacing surfaces at respective opposed sides of the main body, whereby each spacing surface contacts an adjacent side surface of a respective one of the first and second boards to create a uniform gap spacing between the boards prior to securing the second board to underlyingjoists of the deck,a support member disposed transversely to the spacing member and having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface adapted to be supported upon upper surfaces of the first and second boards,a grip member extending above the support member for removing the deck spacer after the first and second boards have been secured to the joists, the grip member having a square block portion protruding from opposite sides of a horizontal portion of the grip member,characterised in that each spacing surface comprises a plurality of board contacting ribs projecting outwardly from the main body and extending longitudinally between the support member and the lower free end of the main body, each rib having a tapered lower end portion that is angled back towards the main body and terminates at the lower free end.

2. The deck spacer of claim 1 wherein the longitudinally extending ribs extend vertically when in use.

3. The deck spacer of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein all of the ribs of a spacing surface have a common width.2024227514   25 Aug 20264. The deck spacer of claim 3 wherein each rib is spaced apart from an adjacent rib of a spacing surface by a distance equal to the common width.

5. The deck spacer of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein all of the ribs of a spacing surface have a common length.

6. The deck spacer of claim 5 wherein the tapered lower end portion of each rib of a spacing surface has a vertical length, when in use, which is one quarter of the common length of each rib.

7. The deck spacer of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the lower free end of the main body is a planar surface which is perpendicular to the main body.

Images