AU2012204110A1 - Deck joiner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to hardware for construction in particular but not exclusively to a 5 deck joiner for joining deck planks or boards. In particular, the present invention relates to a deck joiner specially adapted to join deck planks or boards with peripheral end and longitudinal grooves that comprises a planar member having a dumbbell configuration of at least one pair of opposed lobed sections and an intermediate strap joining the lobed sections. In use, the lobed sections are adapted to be inserted into the longitudinal grooves of adjacent planks or boards, 10 and, the strap portion is adapted to be inserted into the end grooves of the ends of abutting planks or boards. - 12 - C\ -~ .C = i y

Description

STANDARD PATENT APPLICATION DECK JOINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to hardware for construction in particular but not exclusively to a deck joiner for joining deck planks or boards. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The construction of decks and floors using planks or boards is known to the prior art. In most 10 cases the only way of joining decking boards meeting end to end is to join the deck boards over a joist. This is often inconvenient where decking planks have to be cut to size contributing to wastage and time spent in ensuring that the joins occur over a joist. There are some prior art solutions to this problem. One of the solutions is a T-shaped plastic 15 joiner for use with a specifically designed decking board and which is not adaptable to any other decking boards on the market. A further problem with this prior art is that the T-shaped design is too narrow to allow for a longitudinal expansion or contraction of the boards when they are - 1joined end to end. This prior art joiner has been designed to work with the particular decking associated with the joiner and cannot be used in joining decks of composite material or with any other type of decking, planks or boards. 5 There is therefore a need for a universal decking joiner which allows for expansion between boards located end to end as well as supporting adjacent boards to form a integral and uniform deck or floor. In particular, there is need of a joiner that can be used to join planks or boards anywhere 10 between a joist thereby eliminating all waste associated with decking with the aim of increasing efficiency in reducing construction time. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the invention to ameliorate some or all of the above disadvantages of the prior 15 art by providing a novel and improved item of hardware namely a deck joiner for building decks and platforms. -2 - STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect therefore the invention resides in a deck joiner specially adapted to join deck 5 planks or boards with peripheral end and longitudinal grooves comprising; a planar member having a dumbbell configuration of at least one pair of opposed lobed sections and an intermediate strap joining the lobed sections; wherein in use, the lobed sections are adapted to be inserted into the longitudinal grooves of 10 adjacent planks or boards, and, the strap portion is adapted to be inserted into the end grooves of the ends of abutting planks or boards. Suitably the lobed sections are of a width where they are either fully inserted into the longitudinal grooves of adjacent boards or may be configured to provide gap there between. 15 Suitably the intermediate strap is of a width wherein it can be fully enclosed within the end grooves of opposing or abutting planks or boards. -3- Preferably the joiner is of a resilient plastic material which can be penetrated by a metal fastener such as being secretly nailed between adjacent planks using a nail gun. 5 Preferably the intermediate strap is of a width wherein it acts as an expansive joint between the ends of the abutting planks or boards, as they expand and contract under different weather conditions. In a preferred version the intermediate strap can include frangible portions wherein the strap 10 may be torn or broken along the frangible portions to accommodate planks narrower in width than that of the length of the unbroken strap. Preferably adhesive is applied when inserting the lobed and strap portions in the complementary grooves of the planks or boards. 15 -4 - Preferably the adhesive is a flexible water based adhesive that forms a waterproof and strong structural bond between the planks or boards and the joiner. Preferably the surface of the joiner may also include ridges or is patterned to provide for greater 5 adherence when in contact with the grooves of the planks or boards. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order for the invention to be better understood and put into practise, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 10 Figure 1 shows a preferred deck joiner according to the invention. Figure 2 shows the deck joiner of Figure 1 in use. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a preferred deck joiner 10 according to the invention. 15 The deck joiner is shown comprised having a dumbbell configuration wherein there are opposed lobe sections 12, 14 adapted to fit into the longitudinal grooves of adjacent decking planks (not -5shown). The lobe sections are joined together by a strap portion 16 adapted to fit into the end grooves of planks which are to be joined end to end. The width of the strap portion is sufficient to enable it to function as an expansion joint between the deck planks. 5 There is also shown frangible snap lines 18, 20, 22 to break and shorten the strap portion for the accommodation of narrower boards. Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown the preferred deck joiner 10 of the Figure 1 in use. The deck joiner is shown inserted into an end groove 24 of the board 26. As it will be appreciated a 10 second board will be abutted end to end which will then enclose the exposed portion 28 of the strap member shown. The lobe sections 12, 14 of the joiner are shown partially inserted into the longitudinal grooves 30 of the board. As will be appreciated an adjacent board on either side of the board shown would enclose the lobe sections completely. It will be obvious that the boards or planks using the joiner would be laid or assembled in staggered fashion wherein a 15 substantially self supporting deck or floor can be laid. Whilst not shown in these views as the - 6joiner is preferably of a plastic material wherein nailing by a nailing tool can be used to further secure the joiner to an underlying joist. Preferably also, water proof adhesive is used when inserting the deck joiner into the relative 5 grooves of the planks or boards to provide a resilent and flexible waterproofing joint between the boards. Although not shown in the example, the surface of the joiner can be patterned or ribbed to provide greater purchase with the grooves of the boards. 10 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. 15 - 7- Moreover, in the specification the terms "comprising" and "containing" shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on 5 the terms "comprising" and containingn" such as "comprise", "comprises", "contain" and "contains". -8 -

Claims (9)

1. A deck joiner specially adapted to join deck planks or boards with peripheral end and longitudinal grooves comprising: a planar member having a dumbbell configuration of 5 at least one pair of opposed lobed sections and an intermediate strap joining the lobed sections; wherein in use, the lobed sections are adapted to be inserted into the longitudinal grooves of adjacent planks or boards, and, the strap portion is adapted to be inserted into the end grooves of the ends of abutting planks or boards. 10

2. The deck joiner of Claim 1, wherein the lobed sections have a width where they are fully inserted into the longitudinal grooves of adjacent boards or configured to provide gap there between.

3. The deck joiner of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate strap is of a width wherein it can 15 be fully enclosed within the end grooves of opposing or abutting planks or boards. -9-

4. The deck joiner of any one of Claims 1-3, wherein the joiner is fabricated from a resilient plastic material which can be penetrated by a metal fastener such as being secretly nailed between adjacent planks using a nail gun.

5 S. The deck joiner of any one of Claims 1-4, wherein the intermediate strap is of a width wherein it acts as an expansive joint between the ends of the abutting planks or boards, as they expand and contract under different weather conditions.

6. The deck joiner of any one of Claims 1-5, wherein the intermediate strap includes frangible 10 portions wherein the strap may be torn or broken along the frangible portions to accommodate planks narrower in width than that of the length of the unbroken strap.

7. The deck joiner of any one of Claims 1-6, wherein adhesive is applied when inserting the lobed and strap portions in the complementary grooves of the planks or boards. 15

8. The deck joiner of Claim 7, wherein the adhesive is a flexible water based adhesive that forms a waterproof and strong structural bond between the planks or boards and the joiner. - 10-

9. The deck joiner of any one of Claims 1-8, wherein the surface of the joiner includes ridges or is patterned to provide for greater adherence when in contact with the grooves of the planks or boards. - 11 -