Deck Bracket Drainage Channel Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for securing deck boards to joists often lead to moisture accumulation, causing rapid deterioration of the deck boards and underlying joists, as deck boards abut in the center, restricting drainage and leading to structural issues.
Innovation Solution
A deck board support bracket with a back member, top mount member, and gusset supports forming a structural connection, featuring a flow-through drainage arrangement between them, allowing water to pass through and providing a separate securement surface for deck board ends, preventing abutment and promoting drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If deck boards are centered over joist with abutting ends, then securement is simplified, but moisture accumulates causing rapid deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bracket as an intermediary component between the deck board and joist. The bracket includes a drainage channel that actively manages water flow, preventing moisture accumulation at the deck board ends while maintaining secure attachment. This mediator resolves the contradiction by adding functional complexity that eliminates the harmful moisture trap effect of direct abutting securement.
2Strength
If two screws are used to attach deck board to joist, then attachment strength is sufficient, but moisture accumulation accelerates deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket serves as a mediator between the screws and deck board, providing a dedicated drainage channel that prevents moisture accumulation. The attachment mechanism remains simple (screws through bracket), but the intermediary structure actively manages water flow, resolving the contradiction between sufficient attachment strength and long-term durability by eliminating the moisture trap.
3Ease of manufacture
If deck boards abut at joist center, then only partial overlap is achieved, but drainage is restricted causing water accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket with its integrated drainage channel acts as a mediator that actively manages water flow at the deck board ends. Even though the installation method remains simple (deck boards abutting at joist center), the intermediary bracket structure creates a controlled drainage path that prevents harmful moisture accumulation, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and resistance to harmful factors.
4Strength
If perpendicular bracket is used to support deck board end, then structural support is provided, but drainage channel is blocked by abutting ends
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with a specific local quality - a drainage channel positioned at the end where deck boards meet the joist. This localized drainage feature ensures that water can escape from the critical area where moisture accumulation would cause deterioration, while the rest of the bracket provides structural support. The local quality of the drainage channel resolves the contradiction between structural support and drainage capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A deck board support bracket includes a drainage channel in a top surface of the bracket and deck boards are secured in an end to end manner with a space between two deck board ends centered over the drainage channel. Water presented on the deck surface at two deck board ends passes therebetween and to one side of a supporting joist. The deck board support bracket can be used with various deck board fastening arrangements and preferably is made of an injection molded plastic material.