Clamp-On Deck Mount Bracket for Damage-Free Accessory Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deck mount systems damage decks when permanently attached and are difficult to relocate, and they are typically specific to certain types of outdoor accessories, making them cumbersome and inefficient for various applications.
Innovation Solution
A universal deck mount system comprising a top bracket and a bottom bracket with perpendicularly extending sides and fasteners that allow for reversible attachment to deck members without drilling, enabling easy installation and relocation, and accommodating a variety of deck accessories through adaptable base mounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If permanent attachment using drilled holes and screws is used, then stability of the accessory is improved, but damage to the deck and difficulty of relocation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: a deck-mounted bracket that remains fixed to the deck, and an accessory-mounted bracket that can be attached and detached. This segmentation allows the mounting system to provide stable fixation when needed while enabling easy relocation by simply detaching the accessory bracket without damaging the deck.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a localized mounting interface at the deck surface with a bracket that clamps onto the deck board edge. This local mounting mechanism provides secure attachment points while avoiding widespread damage to the deck structure, allowing stable mounting without compromising the overall integrity of the deck.
2Stability of the object's composition
If weighted bases filled with water or sand are used, then stability is improved, but ease of movement deteriorates and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the weighting function from the mounting mechanism itself and places it solely on the accessory (umbrella, table, etc.). The deck bracket provides structural attachment while the accessory's own weight provides stability. This separation allows the mounting system to be lightweight and easy to move while still providing stable support through the combination of mechanical attachment and accessory weight.
3Reliability
If specific attachment means are used for specific accessory types, then reliability of attachment is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deck bracket is designed as a universal mounting interface that can accommodate multiple types of accessories through standardized attachment mechanisms. The bracket system provides reliable attachment for various accessory types (umbrellas, tables, gazebos, planters) while maintaining a single standardized mounting point on the deck, thereby achieving both reliability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A deck mount system and method is provided that can be installed and relocated easily without damaging the deck. The deck mount system comprises a top bracket with a top bracket plate and top bracket sides for flanking a deck member, a bottom bracket including a bottom bracket plate and bottom bracket sides for overlapping the top bracket sides, and at least one fastener to reversibly attach the top bracket to the bottom bracket for securing the deck mount system to the deck member. The method for attaching the deck mount system comprises placing a deck mount top bracket over a deck member, placing a deck mount bottom bracket under the deck member, and attaching the top bracket to the bottom bracket using at least one fastener, thereby reversibly fixing the top bracket to the bottom bracket around the deck member.