AU2020100020A4 - Building connecton system - Google Patents

Abstract

A support structure for a deck including a set of first substantially parallel and spaced apart building components, one or more of the building components in said set being extendible; a 5 second building component set at an acute angle to said set of first building components; a connector for securing two portions of each of the first building components, such that the connector enables relative sliding movement of the two portions to enable a desired combined length of the two portions before affixing one or more of the first building components to the second building component; and at least one hinge bracket having first and second panels joined 10 by a hinge, wherein one of the panels is adapted to be connected to one of the first building components and the other panel is adapted to be connected to the second building component, such that the components are able to be moved to a desired relative position before affixing the building components together. 32c)' 343_ ' XY' F 1 C- 4-

Description

BUILDING CONNECTION SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a building connection system and more particularly to components for a floor arrangement, such as a deck in an outdoor environment.

Background of the Invention

Decking systems, that are either stand alone or are attached to the outside part of a building, typically have a frame assembly or support structure upon which individual decking boards or strips are secured in place. Generally the securing of each of the individual deck boards, which may have a tongue and groove arrangement in their edges to connect to an adjacent decking board, are secured to the joists or noggins of the underneath frame assembly though nails or screws. Furthermore the noggins that are used to connect adjacent joists are perpendicular to the joists and provide overall stability to the deck frame, are secured to the joists through nails, screws or bolts.

Existing deck systems do not account for placing deck boards at angles other than parallel or perpendicular to the joists in the support frame assembly. When the deck boards have to be laid or positioned to avoid or get around an obstacle, such as a tree, it is a tedious task to cut each of the boards to size to fit around such an obstacle. Furthermore there is no flexibility in being able to have boards at different angles to one another.

The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages by providing a decking system that can be assembled relatively quickly with a minimum of use of cutting components. It also enables placement or position of deck boards at various angles and is not limited to being parallel or perpendicular to the direction of the main axis of each of the joists of the decking frame assembly.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector for connecting first and second elongate building components side by side used in a deck support structure, said connector including:

2020100020 07 Jan 2020 a central plate portion positioned between a respective side of each of said first and second building components;

member means located on each side of the central plate portion that extends into a recess of a respective side of each of said first and second building components;

such that the connector enables relative sliding movement of the first and second building components to enable a desired combined length of the first and second building components before affixing one of the building components to the other building component.

The connector may further include a base connected to a bottom edge of the plate portion. The first and second building components are preferably joists and are joined by said connector in a cantilevered manner. The member means may include a pair of elements that extend substantially perpendicular to a plane of the central plate portion into said respective recess of each of the first and second building components. The base preferably includes a pair of steps, such that between each step and a lower section of the central plate portion there is defined a connector recess for receiving a part of a respective side of the first and second building components.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a hinge bracket to enable connection of a first building component to a second building component, where said second building component is positionable at any acute angle with respect to said first building component; said hinge bracket including:

a first panel and a second panel;

a hinge connecting said first and second panels;

each of said first and second panels having an aperture and member means, said member means adapted to extend into a respective recess on a side of each of the first and second building components to enable the components to be moved to a desired relative position before affixing the building components together.

Preferably the hinge bracket is affixed adjacent an end of the first building component.

The member means preferably is a pair of projections that extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the respective panel. In a further embodiment, each projection is angled to fit adjacent to corresponding projections forming part of the periphery of the recess of a respective building component. Preferably the first and second building components are joists.

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According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a support structure for a deck including:

a set of first substantially parallel and spaced apart building components, one or more of the building components in said set being extendible;

a second building component set at an acute angle to said set of first building components, a connector for securing two portions of each of the first building components, such that the connector enables relative sliding movement of the two portions to enable a desired combined length of the two portions before affixing one or more of the first building components to the second building component; and at least one hinge bracket having first and second panels joined by a hinge, wherein one of the panels is adapted to be connected to one of the first building components and the other panel is adapted to be connected to the second building component, such that the components are able to be moved to a desired relative position before affixing the building components together.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector device for connecting and securing boards in a decking system, said device including:

means for engaging and securing one board to another board using a groove in the side of each board; and a base portion connected to said segment and having means to connect to a deck frame component.

Preferably said engaging means is a first engagement portion having one segment for engaging and retaining the device in the groove in the side of one board and a second segment for engaging and retaining the device in the groove in the side of another adjacent board.

Each segment preferably has a pair of jaws that are flexible to enable firstly the respective segment to enter the groove by each jaw moving toward one another and secondly to enable the respective segment to be retained with in the groove by each jaw moving away from one another to grip against the surfaces of the groove.

The connector device may further include a connecting portion to connect the base portion to the engaging means. The engaging means preferably has said first engagement portion and a second engagement portion connected to the first engagement portion, said second engagement portion also having a first and second segment each with a pair of jaws. The base

2020100020 07 Jan 2020 portion may be shaped to fit into a recess of the deck frame component by placing the base portion into the recess and then twisting to lock and retain the base portion within the recess.

The base portion preferably has a pair of projections, each projection substantially parallel to one another and extending from opposed sides of the base portion. The base portion is preferably of 5 a shape having each projection extending from a straight side to a curved section on an adjacent side.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example 10 only, with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure IA is an end view of a joist used as part of a supporting frame for a deck;

Figure IB is a side view of the joist of Figure IB;

Figure 2A is an end view of a noggin used to connect adjacent joists and provide stability to the frame structure for the deck;

Figure 2B is a side view of the noggin of Figure 2A;

Figure 2C is an enlarged view of the internal part at one end of the noggin;

Figure 2D is a perspective view from above of the noggin assembly which includes the noggin bar or extrusion together with a pair of noggin end connectors which are used to connect the noggin to a joist;

Figure 2E shows the noggin assembly fully connected with the extrusion and the pair of end connectors connected to the extrusion;

Figure 2F is a perspective view from above of a noggin connector;

Figure 2G is a perspective view from above in reverse of the noggin connector of Figure 2F;

Figure 2FI is a magnified view of one end of the noggin of Figure 2E;

Figure 3 A is a perspective view of a corner bracket, used to connect two building components together at right angles;

Figure 3B is a side view of the corner bracket of Figure 3 A;

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Figure 3C is a front view of the corner bracket of Figure 3 A;

Figure 3D is a plan view of the bracket of Figure 3 A;

Figure 3E is a view of the corner bracket of Figure 3A in a flattened state before assembly;

Figure 4A is a front view of a connector for connecting two building components together side 5 by side;

Figure 4B is a side view of the connector of Figure 4 A;

Figure 4C is a plan view of the connector of Figure 4A;

Figure 4D is a plan view showing the connection of an angled building component, such as a joist, to a parallel set of building components or joists that are cantilevered, through hinge brackets of the type shown in Figure 5A;

Figure 4E shows a view with two building components placed side by side and separated by the joist connector or Figure 4A;

Figure 4F is a plan view showing a deck system sub-assembly or support structure consisting of a set of parallel building components or joists with one end of each joist connected to an angled 15 building component (joist) and the other end of each of the parallel sets of joists being connected to a further joist at right angles thereto;

Figure 5Λ is a front view of a hinge bracket for use in connecting one building component to another building component set at an angle thereto, showing the hinge folly extended;

Figure 5B is an end view of the hinge bracket of Figure 5 A;

Figure 5C is a plan view of the hinge bracket of Figure 5A;

Figure 5D is a rear perspective view of the hinge bracket of Figure 5A;

Figure 6 A is a perspective view from above of a connector device in the form of a clip that connects between adjacent boards in a deck system;

Figure 6B is a further perspective view from the front of the clip of Figure 6Λ;

Figure 6C is an end view of the clip of Figure 6 A;

Figure 6D is an underneath view of the clip of Figure 6A and 6B fitted to a joist; and

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Figure 7 is a view of the clip of Figure 6Λ inserted into a recess of a board and also fitted to a joist of the deck frame assembly.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figures 1A and IB there is shown a building component in the form of a 5 joist 2 that is used to form part of the support frame for a deck system. The joist 2 in profile has a rectangular outline with a top side 4 and a bottom side 6, first side 8 and second side 10. In each corner of the joist 2 there are structures 12, 14, 16 and 18 that provide projections that form recesses next to each of the sides 4, 6, 8 and 10. Specifically, at structure 12 there is projection 34 A and member 34B. At structure 14 there is projection 32A and member 32B. Each of the project! ons3'4A, 32 A and members 3413 and 3213 define an opening, channel or recess 42. At a different part of structure 12 there is projection 20 A and member 20B while at structure 18 there is projection 22 A and member 22B. Each of these projections define therein an opening, channel or recess 36. Also at structure 18 there is projection 24A and member 2413 and at structure 16 there is projection 26 A and member 2613. Each of these projections define therein an opening, channel or recess 38. Finally at structure 16 there is projection 28A and member 28B and at structure 14 there is projection 30A and member 30B. They all define an opening, channel or recess 40.

Referring to Figures 2 A to 211 there is shown in Figure 2A a profile or one end of a further building component, called a noggin which is designed to fit between adjacent joists.

The profile shown in Figure 2A is very similar to that shown in Figure 1A for the joist and similar numerals define the various features such as structures 212, 214, 216 and 218 and sides 204, 206, 208 and 210. In addition there are two stops 201 and 203. Stop 201 is located on the interior or underneath side of top side 204 while stop 203 is located on the interior or upper side of bottom side 206, both stops being on the inside of hollow noggin 200,

In Figure 2B the full length of the noggin in shown in section and from a side view where a pair of such stops would be located at each of the ends 205 and 207 of the noggin 200.

Located adjacent to end 205 is an upper stop 201A which protrudes from the inner side of side 204 and a lower stop 203A that protrudes from the inner side of side 206. At the opposite end 207 a further stop 201B protrudes from side 204 at the top and a lower stop 203B protrudes from 30 bottom side 206. The configuration of stop 201B is shown in more detail in Figure 2C where it is seen that the stop 20 IB extends at an angle out of the plane of side 204 to present a step surface or shoulder 209. This is designed such that when one of the end plugs or end connectors

2020100020 07 Jan 2020

250B, shown in Figure 2D, is inserted into the open end 207, once it passes the stop 20IB the step 209 prevents removal of the noggin connector 2 5 0B from end 207. The stop 20 IB is flexible enough to allow entry of the noggin connector 250B such that it ilexes inwardly towards the side 204 as the noggin connector 250B passes it and once a corresponding nib on the noggin connector passes the stop 201B then it abuts the step 209 after the stop 20IB has deflected back to its original position shown 2C.

In Figure 2D there is shown the noggin extrusion 200 with separate connectors 250 shown in an unconnected configuration. In Figure 2E each of the connectors 250A and 250B are shown respectively attached to the extrusion 200 and locked in place. More specifically in Figure 2I-I it is seen that block 260 abuts against the step 209 of the stop 20 IB so that the connector 250B cannot be removed from the extrusion 200. The insertion of the connectors allows connection of the noggin to any joist to be hereinafter described.

Referring to Figures 2F and 2G, the noggin connector 250 has a member 254 affixed to panel 252. On the other side of the panel 252 is segment 258 which fits into one end of the noggin extrusion 200. The member 254 is connected to the panel through a neck section 256 and both the member 254 and the neck section 256 are flexible enough to fit into any one of the recesses 36, 38, 40 or 42 of the joist. Once it is inserted into one of those recesses the connector 250 is immovable due to a frictional fit with the inside faces of the respective recess of the joist. The connector 250 is made from a polypropylene material which is impact modified and contains 30% glass filled co-polymer, such as Extron 3014 or similar. The segment 258 has a series of ridges 262 around its periphery to assist in providing a close interference fit with the interior at each end of the noggin extrusion 200. The segment 258 has a cavity 264. On the top portion of the segment 258 there is a nib 260 formed adjacent a shallow aperture 265 while on the bottom part of the segment 258 there is a nib 261 that is formed adjacent a further shallow aperture 267. When the noggin connector 250 is inserted into a respective end of the extrusion 200, the stops 201 and 203 respectively abut against one of the walls of the shallow apertures 265 and 267, against the respective nib, to prevent removal of the connector 250 from a respective end of the extrusion 200.

Referring to Figures 3 A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E there are shown respective views of a corner bracket used to secure a pair of building components at right angles to one another. The corner bracket 300 has a first portion 301 and a second portion 302 that are at right angles to one another and connected or joined through a fold or bend 303. An aperture 304 exists in the middle of portion 302 from which flaps or projections 305 and 306 extend outwardly so that

2020100020 07 Jan 2020 these are generally perpendicular to the plane of portion 302. Upper and lower flaps 305 and 306 are formed flat initially extending from a respective edge of the aperture 304. Before use, the flaps 305, 306 are then forced or pushed outwardly. Similarly, on portion 301 there is an aperture 307 from which flaps or projections 308 and 309 extend outwardly to be generally perpendicular to the plane of portion 301. Upper and lower flaps 308 and 309 are formed flat initially extending from a respective edge of the aperture 307. Before use, the flaps 308, 309 are then forced or pushed outwardly. Upper flap or projection 305 and lower flap or projection 306 fit within a recess, such as 40, (see Figure 1 A) on the side of a first building component or joist 2 (see Figures 1Λ and IB). Alternatively, the flaps or projections 305 and 306 can respectively be turned upwardly and downwardly to fit around projection 30A and projection 28A that form part of the boundary of recess 40. Thus, the flaps or projections 305 and 306 provide support temporarily against the joist 2.

Similarly, a second building component or joist 2 can have a respective recess 36 or 40 (in Figure 1Λ) to receive the upper projection or flap 308 or lower projection or flap 309 of portion 301 which second joist 2 is at right angles to the first joist 2. The joists can be secured together through the corner portion 300 by supplying securing means, such as screws through holes 310, 311 of portion 301 and holes 312 and 313 of portion 302. Such corner pieces 300 can form, with joists, the outer frame of a deck support assembly or support structure.

Shown in Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are views of a connector 320 used to connect a first building component, such as a joist, to a second building component, such as a further joist. The connector 320 enables a cantilever connection between adjacent joists so that one joist can be moved relative to the other and be set in position before affixing the two joists together through the connector using suitable securing means. *fhe two connected joists effectively act as one long joist, enabling easy adjustment to be connected to another joist set at an angle to the cantilevered joists. An application of moving one joist with respect to another joist through the connector 320 is shown in Figures 4D and 4F whereby a perimeter building component or joist 360 is at an angle relative to the scries of cantilevered joists, such as 362, that form the main part of the underneath support structure or assembly for the deck. The angled joist 360 is joined to each of the other parallel joists 362 by relative movement of the joists 362A and 362B until a hinge bracket 340 on each of the cantilevered joists 362B is able to be in contact with the angled joist 360 and then secured to the angled joist 360. This will be explained hereinafter.

Referring specifically to Figure 4A, the connector 320 has a central, thin and elongate plate portion 321 made up of three separate sections being a middle section 322, atop section 8

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323 and a lower section 324. Elements or projections 325 and 327 separate the top section 323 from the middle section 322 while elements 326 and 328 separate the middle section 322 from the lower section 324, The connector 320 also has a base 329, connected to a bottom edge of plate portion 321, and is connected to step 332 through intermediate portion 334 and the base

329 is also connected to step 333 through intermediate portion 331. The base 329 together with the intermediate portions 334 and 331 as well as the lower section 324 define recesses 330 and 331 which are adapted to receive structures (such as 12, 14, 16 and 18 of joist 2 in Figure 1A) of the adjacent joists which are separated by the thin width of the plate portion 321.

Projection 325 and projection 326 on one side of portion 321 fit within a recess 36 or 40 10 for example of a joist 2 (see Figures 1A and 113). Specifically, the projection 325 fits inside projection 30 A of the joist 2 while projection 326 fits within or interior to projection 28A. This is seen more clearly in Figures 4E which shows one joist 2A and a further joist 2B fitted against the connector 320. The connector 320 allows relative sliding movement between the joists 2Λ and 2B prior to the joists being affixed to one another. When projections 325 and 326 are located within the recess 40A, the structure 16A of joist 2A resides partly or wholly within the aperture 330 of the connector 320. This enables sliding movement of the joist 2A against the connector 320, until it is fixed in position. The step 332 can reside within aperture 38A of the joist 2A or rest against the lower parts of structures 16 A and 18 A. Similarly, with respect to joist 2B, the recess 36B is used to receive projections 327 and 328 of connector 320. Projection 327 can be located behind projection 20C while projection 328 can be located behind projection 22C. The structure 18C can reside within aperture 331 adjacent the base 329. This enables the joist 2C to slide against the connector 320 until it is fixed in place against joist 2Λ. The step 333 can reside within aperture 38C of joist 2C or otherwise be supported and touching against the lower parts of structures 18C and 16C of joist 2C.

Once the correct position of the joists 2A and 2C is determined, with regard to the angled joist in Figures 4D and 4F, the hinge brackets 340 can be affixed to the angled joist 360 and then the cantilevered joists 362A and 362B can be fixed to one another. For example, joist 2C can be affixed to joist 2A through apertures 336 and 337 in the upper section 323 of portion 321. Suitable apertures can be formed in the face of structure 14Λ of joist 2A and that of structure

12C in joist 2C that would abut against portion 323. A screw or similar means can then go through each of apertures 336, 337 and secure joist 2A to joist 2C. Additionally, when step 332 is located within aperture 38A and when step 333 is located within aperture 38C, respective apertures 338 in the step 332 can be used to secure bottom side 6A of joist 2A to the step 332.

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Similarly, apertures 339 in step 333 can be used to locate securing means to secure step 333 to side 6C of joist 2C.

Referring to Figures 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D there are shown various views of a hinge bracket 340 which is used to connect the end of a building component such as a joist to another joist which can be at any angle to the first joist. The hinge bracket 340 has a first panel 342 and a second panel 343 joined by a hinge 341 which allows panel 342 to be positioned at any angle with respect to panel 343. Panel 342 has an aperture 344 having sides from which projection 345 and projection 346 depend and can be pushed or formed outwardly of the plane of the hinge bracket 340 so that they are approximately at 90 degrees to the plane of the hinge bracket 340. Similarly, panel 343 has an aperture 347 that has sides to which is connected flaps or projections 348 and 349. Projections 348 and 349 can be pushed or formed outwardly of the panel 343 so that they are approximately at light angles to the plane of the panel 343. As is seen in Figure 5B, each of the projections or flaps 345, 346, 348 and 349 are at right angles to the plane of the hinge bracket 340 but they could alternatively have hooks formed at each of their ends, so that the projections or flaps have a 90 degree bend in them. Flaving such a shape enables the projections 345, 346, 348 and 349 to fit in behind projections on the side profile of a joist 2, such as projections 30Λ and 28A forming the head of recess 40A of joist 2, as seen in Figure 1 A. The hinge bracket 340 is secured to a respective joist through one of its panels 342 or 343 whereby securing means, such as rivets or screws, project through respective apertures 350, 351 or 352 and 353 of panels 342 and 343. As is seen in figures 4D and 4F, panel 343 is connected to the side profile 363 of a joist whereby projections 348 and 349 are located within a recess, such as 40 of the joist (see Figure 1 A). If the projections 348 and 349 are bent or have an elbow they can reside behind the projections 30A and 28A. Thus the panel 343 can be easily slid along the side of the joist 362B until it is fixed in position at the end of the joist 362B nearest to the angled joist 360. It is then a matter of placing flap or panel 342 against the side 361 of the angled joist 360 and then affixing that panel 342 through apertures 350 and 351 to the joist 360 once the projections 345 and 346 are placed in a corresponding recess, such as 40 of the angled joist 360. This procedure is repeated for however many cross joists 362, parallel to each other, that need to be connected to the angled joist 360. It is seen with this arrangement that the system is allowed to be modular and be in a customised shape without the need for cutting any of the frame parts and in particular cutting any of the joists 362. Alternatively, each connector 320/joist 362B can be moved to a desired position while sliding against a respective joist 362A and then, once the desired position is found, secure in any order the hinge bracket 340 to joist 360 (having already secured panel 343 to the end of joist 362B), or secure the joist 362B to joist 362A, through the

2020100020 07 Jan 2020 connector 320. Λ building component can comprise a pair of joists, such as 3 62A and 362B, that can be adjusted to provide a desired combined length through connector 320.

Referring to Figure 6A to 6D there is shown a further building connector, more specifically a connector for joining adjacent boards of a deck without the need for other securing means, such as nails. The connector or clip 400 has a first engaging portion 402 and a second engaging portion 404 that, either one on its own or both engaging portions engage within a groove which has been routed out from a board edge as is shown in Figure 7. The jaws 401 and

403 of engagement portion 402 and the jaws of 405 and 407 of the engagement portion 404 are deflected towards each other when they arc initially inserted within the groove or recess in the side of the board. The connector 400 is made of flexible material such as polypropylene, which is impact modified and 30% glass filled copolymer, such as Extron 3014 or similar. The component 400 can be orientated either way to connect into a recess in the side of the board and therefore on an opposite side of the parts 402 and 404 there are respective jaws 409 and 411 as well as jaws 413 and 415. The top surface 417 and 419 of each of the engaging portions 402 and

404 are slightly curved inwardly in order to allow the flex in each of the jaw members.

The components 402 and 404 are connected to one another through a bridge 408 that has a section 410 directly underneath component 402 and a section 414 directly underneath component 404. The two sets of jaws in each component 402 and 404 are respectively connected by bridges 420 and 424. Connecting the sections 410 and 414 is a central portion 412 which has a lower part connected to a base region 406 of the component 400. Parts of the lower section of the sections 410 and 414 also connect to the upper surface of the base 406. The base

406 has truncated elongate feet 428 and 430 as is more clearly seen in Figure 6D. The base 406 is shaped as a round diagonal corner rectangle or a leaf shape.

In Figure 7 there is shown the connection of the connector 400 in a joist 2 and within a recess in the side of a board. Specifically the base region 406 is able to flex or deform slightly to fit within one of the recesses for example 36 or 40 of the joist 2 in a friction fit. The base 406 can be rotated to lock into position against the inner surfaces that form the recess in the joist. The leaf shape of the base 406 and the truncated feet 428, 430 assist whereby the straight edges 429, 431 of the base 406 abut against the inner surfaces of the respective recess. It can be removed or released by twisting the base 406 in the reverse direction out of the recess. A board such as 500 having upper flange 504 and lower flange 506 with a recess 502 positioned therebetween is used such that the jaw members, for example 401 and 403 together and 405 and

407 together, are placed in the recess 502 and are initially drawn towards one another. When it is finally positioned in the recess 502 they flex apart to hold and grip the board 500 in place.

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Similarly an adjacent board can be placed alongside board 500 such that the jaw 409 and 411 and 413 and 415 are fitted within the recess in the side or edge of the adjacent board. That board and the board 500 will then be able to be next to one another. The component 400 does not need to be placed between every adjacent board. For example with the decking systems currently available with a routed recess on the edge, a number of boards can be placed together (for example in a tongue and groove fashion) and then every three or four boards one of the components 400 can be inserted. For the edge of a deck area a specialised component 400 can be used whereby it is essentially sliced in half or, that is, the components 402 and 404 arc sliced in half so that only one pair of jaws each extend into the recess or groove 502 of the outer most board. Such components can be pre-made this way.

Claims (19)

1. A connector for connecting first and second elongate building components side by side used in a deck support structure, said connector including:

a central plate portion positioned between a respective side of each of said first

5 and second building components;

member means located on each side of the central plate portion that extends into a recess of a respective side of each of said first and second building components;

such that the connector enables relative sliding movement of the first and second building components to enable a desired combined length of the first and second building

10 components before affixing one of the building components to the other building component.

2. A connector according to claim 1 further including a base connected to a bottom edge of the plate portion.

3. A connector according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first and second building components are joists and are joined by said connector in a cantilevered manner.

15

4. A connector according to any one of claims 2 to 3 wherein said member means includes a pair of elements that extend substantially perpendicular to a plane of the central plate portion into said respective recess of each of the first and second building components.

5. A connector according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said base includes a pair of steps, such that between each step and a lower section of the central plate portion there is defined

20 a connector recess for receiving a part of a respective side of the first and second building components.

6. A hinge bracket to enable connection of a first building component to a second building component, where said second building component is positionable at any acute angle with respect to said first building component; said hinge bracket including:

25 a first panel and a second panel;

a hinge connecting said first and second panels;

each of said first and second panels having an aperture and member means, said member means adapted to extend into a respective recess on a side of each of the first and

2020100020 07 Jan 2020 second building components to enable the components to be moved to a desired relative position before affixing the building components together.

7. Λ hinge bracket according to claim 6 wherein the hinge bracket is affixed adjacent an end of the first building component.

5

8. A hinge bracket according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the member means is a pair of projections that extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the respective panel.

9. A hinge bracket according to claim 8 wherein each projection is angled to fit adjacent to corresponding projections forming part of the periphery of the recess of a respective building component.

10 10. A hinge bracket according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the first and second building components are joists.

11. A support structure for a deck including:

a set of first substantially parallel and spaced apart building components, one or more of the building components in said set being extendible;

15 a second building component set at an acute angle to said set of first building components, a connector for securing two portions of each of the first building components, such that the connector enables relative sliding movement of the two portions to enable a desired combined length of the two portions before affixing one or more of the first building components

20 to the second building component; and al least one hinge bracket having first and second panels joined by a hinge, wherein one of the panels is adapted to be connected to one of the first building components and the other panel is adapted to be connected to the second building component, such that the components are able to be moved to a desired relative position before affixing the building

25 components together.

12. A connector device for connecting and securing boards in a decking system, said device including:

means for engaging and securing one board to another board using a groove in the side of each board; and

2020100020 07 Jan 2020 a base portion connected to said segment and having means to connect to a deck frame component.

13. A connector device according to claim 12 wherein said engaging means is a first engagement portion having one segment for engaging and retaining the device in the groove in

5 the side of one board and a second segment for engaging and retaining the device in the groove in the side of another adjacent board.

14. A connector device according to claim 13 wherein each segment has a pair of jaws that are flexible to enable firstly the respective segment to enter the groove by each jaw moving toward one another and secondly to enable the respective segment to be retained with in the

10 groove by each jaw moving away from one another to grip against the surfaces of the groove.

15. A connector device according to claim 14 further including a connecting portion to connect the base portion to the engaging means.

16. A connector device according to claim 14 wherein the engaging means has said first engagement portion and a second engagement portion connected to the first engagement portion,

15 said second engagement portion also having a first and second segment each with a pair of jaws.

17. A connector device according to claim 15 wherein the base portion is shaped to fit into a recess of the deck frame component by placing the base portion into the recess and then twisting to lock and retain the base portion within the recess.

18. A connector device according to claim 16 wherein the base portion has a pair of

20 projections, each projection substantially parallel to one another and extending from opposed sides of the base portion.

19. A connector device according to claim 17 wherein the base portion is of a shape having each projection extending from a straight side to a curved section on an adjacent side.