Hidden Deck Bracket Structure to Prevent Wood Warping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wooden deck construction using nails is inefficient, unsightly, and poses safety hazards due to exposed fasteners, which fail to securely attach deck woods to the frame, leading to warping, splitting, and safety issues from weather changes and load shifts.
Innovation Solution
A bracket system that fits between adjacent deck woods and is screwed onto the joist, providing a secure hold without nails or screws through the deck woods, featuring a bracket body with a fastening groove, deck wood holder tap, and side inclines to prevent twisting, warping, and splitting, while allowing for expansion and contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nails are used to fasten deck woods to the frame, then the deck woods can be attached to the frame, but the fasteners are exposed and cause safety hazards when rusted and heaved out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bracket as an intermediary component between the deck wood and the frame. This bracket is fastened to the frame and then holds the deck wood, eliminating the need for exposed nails or screws through the deck surface. The bracket serves as a mediator that provides secure fastening while keeping all fastening hardware concealed within the bracket structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention moves the fastening mechanism from a two-dimensional surface attachment (nails through the deck surface) to a three-dimensional solution where the bracket extends below the deck surface to engage with the frame. This dimensional change allows fasteners to be hidden within the bracket structure rather than exposed on the deck surface.
2Reliability
If nails are installed on the deck surface, then the deck woods can be fastened to the frame, but the installation is time consuming and has low work efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastening functions into a single bracket component. Instead of using multiple individual nails or screws distributed across the deck width, one bracket performs the fastening function for the entire deck wood, reducing the number of fastening operations and improving installation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket serves multiple functions simultaneously: it fastens the deck wood to the frame, provides a concealed mounting solution, and offers structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the installation process.
3Reliability
If conventional fasteners are used, then the deck woods can be attached, but they fail to prevent twisting, warping, and splitting due to weather changes and load shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with flexibility to accommodate the dynamic nature of wood expansion and contraction due to weather changes. The bracket structure allows for controlled movement while maintaining the fastening function, preventing the rigid constraints that would cause warping and splitting.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fastening parameters from rigid, fixed-position nails to a more flexible bracket system that can adapt to dimensional changes in the wood. This parameter change allows the fastening system to maintain attachment while accommodating wood movement, preventing structural damage.
4Reliability
If multiple nails are installed on narrow joists, then the deck woods can be securely fastened, but the installation becomes complex and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fastening operations into a single bracket installation. Instead of installing multiple individual nails on narrow joists, one bracket component performs the fastening function for the entire deck wood width, significantly reducing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is designed as a segmented or modular component that can be easily positioned and fastened as a single unit. This segmentation allows for simplified installation compared to distributing multiple fasteners across the narrow joist surface.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is regarding a structure for fastening decking lumber woods for a wooden deck. The present invention includes a first deck wood (10a) and a second deck wood (10b) with a form of a certain thickness and extended to a certain length and the cross member, the joist, placed underneath and perpendicular to the deck lumber woods, and the bracket (100) that allows to fix the first deck wood (10a) and the second deck wood (10b) onto the cross member with a fastening material through the gap space between the deck woods without touching them so the deck wood can breath freely thus, preventing them from splitting.