DECK BOARD SPACERS

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to devices for use when constructing decks and in particular to deck board spacers.

Deck construction is well known wherein a plurality of deck boards are attached to a plurality of joists. During constructions it is a well known practice to attach the deck boards by estimating the spacing through sight and experience. Some may use a jig that is inserted between the boards while they are being installed but removed after the deck boards are attached to the joists. This technique can be somewhat awkward and time consuming.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a product that would be easy to use and provide a consistent spacing between the deck boards.

SUMMARY

A deck board spacer for use in deck construction wherein the deck has a plurality of deck boards attached to a plurality of deck joists. The deck board spacer includes a spacer portion and a first arm spaced from a second arm. The spacer portion has a first and second distal end and a top spacer portion edge, a bottom spacer portion edge, a front spacer portion edge and a back spacer portion edge. The pair of spaced apart first and second arm extend downwardly from the bottom spacer portion edge and forwardly from front spacer portion edge of the respective first and second distal end of the spacer portion. The first and second arm each have a bottom arm edge, a front arm edge and a back arm edge.

The first and second arm may be tapered. The front arm edge at the bottom arm edge of the first and second arm may be curved.

The deck joists have a width and the space between the first and second arm is larger than the width of the deck joists.

The back of arm edge of the first and second arm may be aligned with the back spacer edge.

The first and second arm may extend backwardly from back spacer portion edge of the respective first and second distal end of the spacer portion.

The first and second arm may each have a protrusion extending inwardly and the protrusion may be proximate to the bottom arm edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a deck board spacer;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the deck board spacer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the deck board spacer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the deck board spacer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the deck board spacer of FIG. 1 shown in situ as used in a deck as viewed from above;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the deck board spacer of FIG. 1 shown in situ as used in a deck as viewed from below;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a deck board spacer;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the deck board spacer of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the deck board spacer of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the deck board spacer of FIG. 7 shown in situ as used in a deck as viewed from above;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a deck board spacer;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the deck board spacer of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another further embodiment of a deck board spacer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments and aspects of the disclosure will be described with reference to details discussed below. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" are to be construed as being inclusive and open ended, and not exclusive. Specifically, when used in the specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean the specified features, steps or components are included. These terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The following examples are presented to enable those skilled in the art to understand and to practice embodiments of the present disclosure. They should not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the disclosure, but merely as being illustrative and representative thereof.

The specific embodiments described above have been shown by way of example, and it should be understood that these embodiments may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. It should be further understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but rather to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 a deck board spacer is shown generally at 10. The deck board spacer 10 is for use in deck construction wherein the deck has a plurality of deck boards 12 attached to a plurality of deck joists 14 as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. When in use, the deck board spacer 10 is designed to provide a consistent spacing between the deck boards 12. In addition, the deck board spacer 10 will help to reduce warping of the deck boards over time as they are intended to be left in place after construction.

The deck board spacer 10 includes a spacer portion 16 and a first arm 18 and second arm 20. The spacer portion 16 has a first and second distal end 22, 24 and a top spacer portion edge 26, a bottom spacer portion edge 28, a front spacer portion edge 30 and a back spacer portion edge 32.

The first 18 and second 20 arms are spaced apart and extend downwardly from the bottom spacer portion edge 28 of the spacer portion. The first 18 and second 20 arm each have a bottom arm edge 34, a front arm edge 36 and a back arm edge 38. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 the first arm 18 and second arm 20 extend forwardly from front spacer portion edge 30 and backwardly from the back spacer portion edge 32 of the respective first 22 and second 24 distal end of the spacer portion 16. The bottom arm edge 34 of each of the first 18 and second 20 arm is angled slightly inwardly towards each other. Each bottom arm edge 34 is tapered to help guide the deck board spacer 10 onto the joist 14. The first 18 and second 20 arm each have a protrusion 40 which extends inwardly proximate to the bottom arm edge 34. The front arm edge 36 and the back arm edge 38 at the bottom arm edge 34 of the first 18 and second 20 arm are curved.

The first arm 18 and the second arm 20 are spaced apart so that in situ the arms fit snuggly on either side of the deck joists 14.

Another embodiment of the deck board spacer is shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 generally at 50. Deck board spacer 50 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 but the first 18 and second 20 arm each extend downwardly and forwardly from the spacer portion 16. The back arm edge 38 of the first and second arm are aligned with the back spacer edge 32 of the spacer portion 16.

Another embodiment of the deck board spacer is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 generally at 60 and is similar to deck board spacer 60 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. However, deck board spacer 60 does not include the protrusion 40.

A further embodiment of the deck board spacer is shown in FIG. 13 generally at 70 and is similar to deck board spacer 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. However, deck board spacer 70 does not include the protrusion 40.

The deck board spacers 10, 50, 60 and 70 are made from resiliently deformable material. Thereby in use a deck board spacer is pushed onto a joist 14 and then pushed towards deck board 12 such that one side of the spacer portion 16 is in contact with the deck board 12. An adjacent deck board 12 is then put in position and pushed up against the other side of the spacer portion 16 of the deck board spacer. This process may then repeated for the whole deck. The arms 18, 20 are angled inwardly so that they grip the joist 14. In embodiments 10 and 50 the protrusions 40 which extend inwardly from arms 18 and 20 provide the grip while allowing for a bigger distance between the distal ends of the arms 18 and 20.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the deck board spacers shown herein provide a number of advantages. They are easy to use and in use they will provide a consistent spacing between the deck boards. Since the deck board spacers are intended to stay in place after the construction phase they will maintain the spacing between the deck boards and thus help to reduce warping of the boards over time. The deck board spacers simplify installation of a deck by eliminating the need for a jig or other type of spacer.