AU2003100493B4 - A board for decking - Google Patents

Description

A BOARD FOR DECKING FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to timber products for use in decking, boardwalks, pergolas, piers and park facilities.

PRIOR ART The construction of decks has involved the fixing of timber planks or boards to joists to provide a platform for people to walk and stand. With time the weather particularly the rain and sun attribute to the deterioration of the decking. Direct sunlight leads to accelerated drying of the decking boards causing them to warp with their side edges turning upwards resulting in an effect known as "cupping". The cupping of decking boards provides an uneven surface for a person to walk over.

The cupped deck boards have raised edges which may cause a person to trip.

Furthermore the cupped boards in a deck are unsightly and give the impression to the consumer that the product is faulty. To address the problem of cupping, boards have been developed with an anti-warping groove along the lower surface of the board.

The prolonged presence of water or moisture in the boards causes them to rot particularly where the boards join or overlap joists. The problem of moisture has been approached by forming reeded or rippled sections along the surface thereby exposing a greater surface area to circulating air to assist in the drying of the boards.

Unfortunately many builders mistakenly lay the boards with the reeded sections uppermost believing that the reeded sections provide an anti-slip surface. In this position the boards trap water in the grooves and provide a slippery surface to a person walking in a direction substantially in line with the reeded sections.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative board for decking purposes that overcomes at least in part one or more of the above mentioned problems.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION The present invention arises from conceptualizing and reducing to practice a combination of several features to produce a useful and long lasting board. The combination of these features and the particular manner in which they have been combined in the present invention has not been hitherto published before.

In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a board for decking including a wooden longitudinal member with a substantially centrally located longitudinal groove bordered on one or both sides by a longitudinally disposed reeded section, wherein the surface with the longitudinal groove and the one or more reeded sections forms a lower surface when the member is fixed in position.

The present invention provides a combination of known features in a new way to address the aforementioned problems. The positioning of the one or more reeded sections on the same surface as the groove uses its design to facilitate aeration of the lower surface and adjacent abutting surfaces. The positioning of the one or more reeded sections on the same surface as the groove prevents the reeded sections from being interpreted and being used as tread patterns.

The wooden member may be of any suitable length from short boards to long planks.

The longitudinal groove preferably forms an anti-cupping groove.

13-APR-2004 10:45PM FROM-Wynnes patttm attorny0s 61 T 33421292 T-401 P.005/013 F-265 -3- The reeded section Is preferably on both sides of the groove. The reeded section preferably provides aeration to the member lower surface and the surface of any abutting structural support such as a joist.

The member preferably has tapered sides. The member has sides which preferably taper from the upper surface to the lower surface. The taper is preferably inwardly from the upper surface to the lower surface.

In another aspect the Invention resides in a board for decking Including a wooden longitudinal member with a surface having a centrally located substantially shallow longitudinal groove bordered on one or both sides by a longitudinally disposed reeded section, wherein each of said reeded sections comprises a series of substantially parallel narrow channels adjacent each other to provide a reeded appearance, said surface forms the lower surface when the member is fixed in 16 position.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides In a board for decking Including a wooden longitudinal member with a substantially centrally located longitudinal anti-cupping groove bordered on both sides by a longitudinally disposed reeded section, wherein the surface with the longitudinal groove and the reeded sections forms a lower surface when the member is fixed in position and the member has tapered sides where the sides taper from an upper surface to the lower surface.

The member preferably has a rounded edge between the upper surface and each side.

In another aspect the present Invention broadly resides in a board for decking Including a wooden longitudinal member with a substantially centrally located longitudinal groove bordered on one or both sides by a longitudinally disposed COMS ID No: SMBI-00705488 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:45 Date 2004-04-13 13-APR-2004 10:45PM FROM-Wynnes pat&tn attorneys 61 T 33421292 T-401 P- 006/013a F-265 -3areeded section, wherein the surface with the longitudinal groove and the one or more reeded sections forms a lower surface when the member is fixed in position and the member has a rounded edge between the upper surface and each side.

In another aspect the present Invention broadly resides in a board for decking including a wooden longitudinal member with a substantially centrally located longitudinal groove bordered on one or both aides by a longitudinally disposed reeded section, wherein the surface with the longitudinal groove and the one or more reeded sections forms a lower surface when the member Is fixed In position, the COMS ID No: SMBI-00705488 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:45 Date 2004-04-13 -4member has a rounded edge between the upper surface and each side, and the member has tapered sides where the sides taper from an upper surface to the lower surface.

The upper surface of the member may be smooth dressed, rough sawn, machined low slip profile or have a tread pattern. The tread pattern may be stippled or some other suitable pattern. In one preferred embodiment the tread pattern comprises spaced apart obliquely angled channels or grooves. The channels preferably allow water to pass along and down the sides of the member.

Preferably the upper surface of the member has obliquely angled grooves made at 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the member. The degree angle is preferred because it provides the same amount of slip resistance irrespective of whether the member is positioned in the direction of human traffic or at right angles to the traffic. In a preferred embodiment the upper surface of the member has obliquely angled grooves made at 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the member. The channels may be formed with a flat base surface or an angled base surface. Preferably the depth of the groove increases from one side to the other or increases on both sides to form a slightly convex shaped groove floor so that water can move towards either side of the member.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a board for decking including a wooden longitudinal member with a substantially centrally located longitudinal anti-cupping groove bordered on both sides by a longitudinally disposed reeded section, wherein the surface with the longitudinal groove and the reeded sections forms a lower surface when the member is fixed in position, said upper surface has a smooth dressed, rough sawn, machined low slip profile or have a tread pattern.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a board for decking including a wooden longitudinal member with a substantially centrally located longitudinal anti-cupping groove bordered on both sides by a longitudinally disposed reeded section, wherein the surface with the longitudinal groove and the reeded sections forms a lower surface when the member is fixed in position and the member has tapered sides where the sides taper from an upper surface to the lower surface, said upper surface has a smooth dressed, rough sawn, machined low slip profile or have a tread patternm.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a board for decking including a wooden longitudinal member with a substantially centrally located longitudinal anti-cupping groove bordered on both sides by a longitudinally disposed reeded section, wherein the surface with the longitudinal groove and the reeded sections forms a lower surface when the member is fixed in position, said upper surface has a smooth dressed, rough sawn, machined low slip profile or have a tread pattemrn, and the member has a rounded edge between the upper surface and each side.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a board for decking including a wooden longitudinal member with a substantially centrally located longitudinal anti-cupping groove bordered on both sides by a longitudinally disposed reeded section, wherein the surface with the longitudinal groove and the reeded sections forms a lower surface when the member is fixed in position and the member has tapered sides where the sides taper from an upper surface to the lower surface, said upper surface has a smooth dressed, rough sawn, machined low slip profile or have a tread pattern, and the member has a rounded edge between the upper surface and each side.

-6- Each member is preferably fixed in position so that there is a space between adjacent members to allow drainage of water, aeration of adjacent members and the passage of debris such as leaf litter.

In another aspect the present invention resides in a method of fixing a plurality of boards that are described above, including the steps of positioning the boards on supports so that adjacent boards are spaced apart from each other and fixing the boards to the supports. The spacing between the boards is preferably sufficient to allow water and debris such as leaves to pass through.

In another aspect the present invention resides in a board for decking including a wooden longitudinal member having an upper surface tread pattern of spaced apart obliquely angled channels or grooves.

The channels may be formed with a flat base surface or an angled base surface.

The channels preferably allow water to pass along and down the sides of the member.

Preferably the upper surface of the member has obliquely angled grooves made at 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the member. The degree angle is preferred because it provides the same amount of slip resistance irrespective of whether the member is positioned in the direction of human traffic or at right angles to the traffic.

In a preferred embodiment the upper surface of the member has obliquely angled grooves made at 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the member and the depth of the groove increases from one side to the other or increases on both sides to form a slightly convex shaped groove floor so that water can move towards either side of the member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic end view of the preferred embodiment of the board; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lower surface of the board shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a longer board of the preferred embodiment; and Figure 4 is a perspective end view of a section of the board shown in figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to figures 1 and 2 there is shown a board 10 having an upper surface 11 and a lower surface 12. The upper surface 11 is essentially planar without any tread pattern. The side edges 13 of the upper surface are rounded to assist in handling of the board and lessen the likelihood of producing splinters. The sides 14 of the board 10 are tapered. The sides 14 are tapered inwardly from the upper surface 11 to the lower surface 12. The lower surface 12 has two reeded sections 15,16 spaced apart by an anti-cupping groove 17. Each reeded section 16 has a series of small channels 18 extending longitudinally along the board These channels 18 allow the air to circulate along the lower surface 12 keeping it dry. The anti-cupping groove 17 also allows air to circulate along the lower surface 12 of the board 10. The anti-cupping groove 17 is a shallow scallop like groove that serves to reduce the tendency for the sides 14 to curve upwards. The curving upwards of the sides of a board is known as cupping and boards with their sides curved up tend to collect rain water and subsequently accelerate their deterioration.

Boards with upwardly curved sides are also dangerous for persons walking across the board.

The board 25 shown in figures 3 and 4 have an upper surface 26 with a series of obliquely angled channels 27 extending across the board. The obliquely angled channels 27 on the upper surface 26 provide a tread against slipping. The channels 27 are shaped so as to be able to drain water to the sides of the board 25. The board 25 also has a lower surface 28 with reeded sections 30 and an anti-cupping groove 29. The anti-cupping groove 29 has a shallow scalloped shape to prevent the tendency of the sides to lift.

In use the boards are positioned on supports such as joists with their lower surfaces in contact with the joist. The boards are spaced apart to allow air to circulate along the lower surface of the boards, provide drainage of water, and the passage of debris such as leaf litter. The collection of leaf litter and other matter between the boards contributes to board deterioration. The rounded edges and tapering of the sides assist in the drainage and passage of debris. Where there is minimal likelihood that leaf litter and other debris will not cause a problem, the boards can be placed closer together.

ADVANTAGES

The board of the present invention has an advantage that it will last longer than current boards because it allows air to circulate along the board's lower surface and supporting joists assisting to keep them dry thereby preventing them from rotting. The board has an anti-warping groove bordered by one or more reeded -9sections along the board's lower surface thereby removing any confusion the builder may have in deciding the correct position of the reeded sections. The board of the preferred embodiment also provides a tread pattern that prevents slippage and assists in draining water from the upper board surface.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (1)

13-APR-2004 10:46PM FROM-Wynnes pat&tm attornays 61 7 33421202 T-401 P.011/013 F-265 CLAIMS 1. A board for decking Including a wooden longitudinal member with a surface having a centrally located substantially shallow longitudinal groove bordered on one or both sides by a longitudinally disposed reeded section, wherein each of said reeded sections comprises a series of substantially parallel narrow channels adjacent each other to provide a reeded appearance, said surface forms the lower surface when the member is fixed in position. 2. A board as claimed In claim 1 wherein the longitudinal groove is an anti-cupping groove, the reeded section is on both sides of the groove, the member has tapered sides which taper inwardly from the upper surface to the lower surface. 3. A board as clalmed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the member has a rounded edge between the upper surface and each side, said upper surface of the member may be smooth dressed, rough sawn, machined low slip profile or have a tread pattern. 4. A board as claimed in claims 2 or 3 wherein said upper surface has a tread Dattem comprising of spaced apart obliquely angled channels. A board as substantially described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. COMS ID No: SMBI-00705488 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:45 Date 2004-04-13 -11- DATED THIS TWENTY THIRD DAY OF JUNE 2003 EDGAR MALCOLM STUBBERSFIELD by his Patent Attorneys Wynnes Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys