DECK TOOL AND METHOD OF INSTALLATION

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/683,188 filed on Aug. 14, 2024, which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a tool to aid in the installation or construction of a deck by maintaining consistent spacing between deck boards. The present invention also encompasses a method of installing a deck using the novel tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The traditional methods for installing or constructing a deck are time consuming, monotonous, and require repetitive measuring and spacing of the individual deck boards to ensure that there are consistent gaps between adjacent boards and that those gaps are consistent along the length of each board. Traditional deck construction requires building a foundation for the deck by digging and setting the posts, attaching the joists, locating the boards, and then fastening the boards to the joists.

It is the step of locating or spacing the boards that can entail hours of work of measuring the gaps between the individual boards. Usually, when placing the deck boards, the installer aligns the edge of the first deck board parallel to the house and fastens it. Then individual deck boards are installed by measuring and maintaining the distance between the previously-fastened board and the next board to be fastened. When using pressure-treated wood or composite/maintenance free decking, the gaps between adjacent boards should be about ⅛ to 3/16-inch for expansion, drainage, and airflow.

Traditionally, installers use all sorts of devices and methods to maintain deck board spacing from measuring and placing spacers along the length of each gap between adjacent boards to using tools like the Camo® Marksman Pro® Installation Tool, which creates the spacing and then installs the fastener for one deck board at a time. Other spacing tools are individual spacers and edge clips, like those made by CAMO®, that require that numerous small clips be placed along the length of each board before or as the next board is laid into place. Installers also have been known to use screws and shims to maintain a space between individual deck boards, although these methods become difficult because they are hard to hold in place while positioning the next board and/or can provide inconsistent spacing. Because many of the existing tools and methods only enable the placement and installation of one board at a time, the entire deck installation process is very time consuming. In addition, other spacing tools have to be held in place by a user when in use.

The present invention solves many of these problems by facilitating the placement of multiple boards at one time while maintaining consistent gaps between the boards until they are fastened into place. Moreover, while the present invention can, in one embodiment, contain a handle for use in carrying and placing the tool, a user does not have to continue to hold the handle once the tool is placed between boards.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To facilitate understanding of the invention, the drawings and description illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, from which the invention, various embodiments of its structures, construction and method of operation, and many advantages, may be understood and appreciated. The drawings hereby are incorporated by reference.

One embodiment of the present invention is a deck construction tool for spacing deck boards during installation of the deck boards. The tool of this embodiment has a rectangular, rigid body having a top surface, a bottom surface, two longitudinal sides, and two shorter transverse sides. This embodiment also has at least two spacers located along the bottom surface of the body and separated from each other by an inset span with a predetermined length. The length of each span is at least as long as a deck board's width. When the tool is placed on top of the deck boards during installation, the spacers are pressed between adjacent deck boards and the spacers position the deck boards and create a space between the adjacent deck boards.

For one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the shorter transverse sides comprises an extension that extends beyond the spacer that is closest to that shorter transverse side. For another embodiment, the extension is a stepped lip. For one embodiment, the stepped lip creates space between the shorter transverse side and a deck surface to remove the tool.

For one embodiment of the present invention each spacer joins to the bottom surface of the body at a junction. For one embodiment, these junctions are curved. For another embodiment, these junction are an approximate 90-degree angle between each corresponding spacer and the bottom surface.

For one embodiment of the present invention, a handle is attached at or to the top surface. For one embodiment of the present invention, the body is solid. For another embodiment, the body is hollow. For one embodiment, at least one span has a cutout in it. For one embodiment of the present invention, the spans are configured to be at least 5-inches wide apart from each other.

For one embodiment of the present invention, the body is configured to withstand an application of pressure to force each spacer between adjacent deck boards. For one embodiment, the spacers are comprised of a metal or a hard plastic. For one embodiment, the body and the spacers are comprised of the same material. For another embodiment, the body and the spacers are comprised of at least two different materials.

One embodiment of the present invention is a method of spacing deck boards comprising the following steps: (1) locating and fastening a first deck board to a deck frame; (2) placing at least two unsecured deck boards in approximate positions with respect to the first deck board; (3) placing, on top of the at least two unsecured deck boards, a deck construction tool having a rigid body comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, two longitudinal sides, and two shorter transverse sides, and comprising at least three spacers located along the bottom surface; (4) pushing on the top surface of the deck tool to maneuver the spacers between the unsecured deck boards and to force the unsecured deck boards into proper alignment; (5) fastening the aligned unsecured deck boards; and (6) removing the deck construction tool (and then repeating as needed to complete the deck surface). For one embodiment, the step of pushing of the spacers between the next deck boards is achieved by stepping on the top surface of the deck tool. For one embodiment, the step of placing of at least two next deck boards comprises placing all of the deck boards of a deck surface and wherein the placing a deck construction tool on the next deck boards comprises placing a sufficient number of deck tools to space all of the deck boards. For one embodiment of this method, the deck construction tool also comprises at least one offset lip on at least one of the shorter transverse sides and wherein removing the deck construction tool comprises lifting the tool by the offset lip. For one embodiment of the method, the deck construction tool also comprises a handle and wherein removing the deck construction tool comprises lifting the tool by the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

To facilitate understanding of the invention, the drawings and description illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, from which the invention, various embodiments of its structures, construction and method of operation, and many advantages, may be understood and appreciated. The drawings hereby are incorporated by reference.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more implementations described herein and, together with the description, explain these implementations. The drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale, and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated, to scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness. Not every component may be labeled in every drawing. Like reference numerals in the figures may represent and refer to the same or similar element or function.

FIG. 1 shows a side-perspective view of one embodiment of a deck construction tool;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of one embodiment of a deck construction tool of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of one embodiment of a deck construction tool of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom-perspective view of an end-portion of a deck construction tool of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of one embodiment of a deck construction tool having a stepped lip;

FIG. 6 shows a side-perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of the bottom side of the embodiment also shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of one embodiment of a deck construction tool;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the end of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is the side view of one embodiment of a deck construction tool;

FIG. 12 shows multiple deck construction tools being used with one embodiment of a method of spacing boards according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 shows multiple deck construction tools being used with one embodiment of a method of spacing the boards while at least one board is being fastened in place;

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate a bottom and a side view of one embodiment of a deck construction tool of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a bottom-perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B; and

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method of spacing boards according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following describes example embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. This invention, however, may be embodied in many ways and the description provided herein should not be construed as limiting in any way. Among other things, the following invention may be embodied as systems, methods, or devices. The following detailed descriptions should not be taken in a limiting sense. The accompanying drawings are hereby incorporated by reference.

The phrases “in some embodiments”, “in one embodiment”, “in various embodiments”, “according to various embodiments”, “in the embodiments shown”, “in other embodiments”, and the like generally mean the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and may be included in more than one embodiment of the present invention. In addition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments or to different embodiments.

If the specification states a component, element, part, or feature “may,” “can,” “could,” or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or” such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s) should be considered supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper,” “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume alternative orientations, variations, and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It also is to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in this specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.

While the disclosure has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Thus, it is intended that this application covers modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

One embodiment of the present invention is a tool 1 that enables faster installation of decking boards 205 and ensures that there are relatively consistent gaps or spaces 210 between individual boards 205. Traditional deck installation aims to have spaces or gaps 210 between individual, adjacent boards 205 that range from approximately ⅛-inch to 3/16-inch. As explained previously, the traditional methods and tools for installing deck boards 205 entail the placement of one board 205 at a time, configuring a consistent gap 210 between each pair of adjacent boards 205, then fastening each board 205 into place before placing the next board 205. The present invention saves time and effort by quickly aligning and spacing at least two deck boards 205 at the same time. Additionally, the present tool 1 can be designed to achieve any desired spacing 210 between deck boards 205, but the embodiments shown in the accompanying figures are configured to achieve 3/16-inch spacing 205. Most embodiments of the present invention are configured to achieve a space 210 between boards of approximately ⅛-inch to 3/16-inches with different tools 1 sized for different sized spaces 210. Alternatively, other embodiments of the spacing tool 1 can adjust to accommodate different board sizes.

As mentioned, one primary advantage of the present invention tool 1 and method 100 is that they enable the installation or spacing of multiple deck boards 205 at one time with consistent spacing 210. Another advantage of the various embodiments of a tool 1 and method 100 of the present invention is that they can be used to hold unsecured boards 205 in place without a user having to hold the tool 1 in place (usually while other boards 205 are being placed or aligned boards 205 are being secured). As shown in the Figures, the tool 1 (specifically the longitudinal sides 6) can be sized to a predetermined length to accommodate a predetermined maximum number of deck boards 205 at one time (and the predetermined number and width of the spaces 210 between those boards 205). FIGS. 1, 4 through 7 show spacing 210 between five adjacent boards 205 at one time. However, the tool 1 of the present invention can be enlarged to accommodate more than five boards 205 at one time or shortened for as few as two boards 205. This quick spacing 210 and placement of multiple boards 205 at one time increases the speed and efficiency with which a deck can be constructed. An additional advantage to the configuration of this tool 1 is that the tool 1 can hold unsecured boards 205 in place/alignment without the user having to hold the tool 1 in place.

One embodiment of a deck construction tool 1 of the present invention is illustrated from various perspectives in FIGS. 1 and 3 through 7. The body 2 of the tool 1 is defined by two longitudinal sides 6 and two shorter transverse sides 7, which define a rectangular shape having a predetermined length and a predetermined width (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The body 2 has a top surface 5 and a bottom (underneath) surface 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 3 through 7). A top-down view of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. The top surface 5 is defined by the longitudinal sides 6 and shorter transverse sides 7. For one embodiment, the longitudinal sides 6 and the shorter transverse sides 7 can be the same length (creating a square body 2).

For the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, a handle 40 is attached to the body 2 at the top surface 5. The handle 40 enables the easy placement, lifting, and carrying of the tool 1. Once tool 1 is placed, though, the user does not need to maintain contact with handle 40. In other embodiments, no handle 40 is included. For most embodiments, the body 2 of the tool 1 is made of a rigid material to withstand the force of placing the tool 1 (by hand or foot) between adjacent boards 205 and to withstand the wear and tear and environmental factors of a deck construction site. The various embodiments of a tool 1 and method 100 of the present invention also comprise placing the tool 1 with using another implement, such as a stick or placement tool, which would enable the user to place the deck construction tool 1 without having to bend down. Placing the deck construction tools 1 from a standing position further increases the speed and efficiency of deck construction over traditional tools and methods.

The bottom surface 10 of the tool 1 of FIGS. 1 and 3 is illustrated in full in FIG. 1 and in partial, close-up views in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 6, and 7, the bottom surface 10 has a plurality of spacers 20, which are described in more detail herein. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, for this embodiment the spacers 20 are manufactured separate from the body 2 and then attached (via glue, welding, any other acceptable method) to the body 2 at junctions 25. In other embodiments, spacers 20 can be formed integrally with tool 1 (through extrusion or molding or any other appropriate manufacturing technique)(see FIG. 8 for a version having spacers 20 formed integrally with the body 2). By forming the spacers 20 separate from the body 2 a manufacturer can better control production costs and/or can vary the design by having the spacers 20 and body 2 made from different materials. Additionally, one embodiment of the present invention comprises spacers 20 whose location along the bottom surface 10 is adjustable to vary the distance of the pan 30 between adjacent spacers 20.

Between two adjacent spacers 20 is an inset span 30, also described in more detail herein. For the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 through 7, the spans 30 have cut cutouts 35, which can save manufacturing materials and cost during production but which are not essential to the function of the tool 1.

The two opposing shorter transverse sides 7 each end in an extension 15. FIGS. 8, 10, and 11 illustrate extensions 15 that are flat. FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 through 6 illustrate extensions 15 configured as a stepped or offset lip 16. The offset lip 16 creates a space between the short end 7 and the surface of the closest deck board(s) 205 when the tool 1 is in place between boards. The offset lip 16 provides a handhold to grasp and life the tool 1 or a space under which to pry up the tool 1 from the deck surface 200. The flat extensions 15 and the offset lips 16 can be any length and can be formed as part of both of the shorter transverse sides 7 of a particular embodiment of a tool 1 or on only one of the shorter transverse sides 7.

Another embodiment of a deck construction tool 1 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the spans 30 do not have cutouts 35, nor do the short ends 7 have offset lips 16, instead they have flat extensions 15.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a deck construction tool 1 for spacing deck boards 205 as shown in FIGS. 8 through 10. This embodiment of the tool 1 is a body 2 that is approximately rectangular in shape and has a flat top surface 5 and an underneath (or bottom) surface 10. This embodiment (and most embodiments) of the tool 1 is of a length that slightly exceeds the total of the width of the maximum number of boards with which it will be used and the intended gaps between those boards (see FIGS. 12 and 13). For this embodiment, the body 2 of the tool 1 has two longitudinal sides 6 and two shorter transverse sides 7 (as viewed from either the top surface 5 or the bottom surface 10.)

This embodiment of the tool 1 is designed to have an extension 15 that extends from each of the shorter transverse sides 7. Each extension 15 provides a convenient place to lift or pry the tool 1 up from the deck surface 200 and to carry the tool 1. In some embodiments, one or both of these lips 15 can incorporate a hole to act as a handle 40 or, in other embodiments, an actual handle 40 can be attached to an extension 15 and/or the top surface 5 to enable easy maneuverability of the tool 1 or multiple tools 1. In various embodiments of the present invention, the lips 15 can be the same length as one other or they can be different lengths to facilitate the spacing of boards different distances from a house, wall, or other vertical surface.

The tool 1 of one embodiment also has at least three spacers 20 located equal distance from one another along the underneath surface 10 of the tool 1 (see FIG. 8). The number of spacers 20 can vary. Each tool 1 of the present invention has at least two spans 30, which are the distances between two adjacent or consecutive spacers 20. The spans 30 can be any length but preferably are configured to be approximately the same distance as the width of standard deck boards. For purposes of the discussion herein, the length of a deck tool 1 corresponds to the length of a longitudinal side 6 and is represented herein as “L” (see FIG. 8 as a nonlimited example). The width of a deck tool 1 corresponds to the length of a shorter transverse side 6 and is represented herein as “W” (see FIG. 10 as a nonlimiting example). The height (H) of the deck tool 1 is comprised of the heights of the body 2 (h) and spacer 20 (h′) (see FIGS. 10 and 11). For most embodiments of the present invention in which the deck tool 1 is made from a single piece of material, h and h′ are each approximately half the length of H. Currently, the width of decking boards is between about 5-inches to 6-inches, with 5½ inches being a standard width. Where deck boards are used to form tool 1, as discussed below, the transverse width W of the tool 1 (the dimension of the shorter transverse sides 7) corresponds to the width of the deck board from which it is formed, and the height H (or thickness) of side 8 of tool 1 corresponds to the height or thickness of the deck board from which it is formed. This height H is about 1 to 1½ inches for standard deck boards (see FIG. 9). Where the tool 1 is formed independent of a deck board, the transverse width W can vary, though, to smaller or greater widths (the shorter traverse sides 7) and the height H or thickness also can vary.

As mentioned previously, the spacers 20 can have any width; however standard spacing between deck boards is ⅛-inch to 3/16-inch. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate various views of spacers 20 of one embodiment of a tool 1 according to the present invention. As illustrated in those Figures, the junctions 25 where each spacer 20 meets a span 30 are not 90-degree angles. Instead, these junctions 25 are configured with a curved or beveled edge, which facilitates the quick placement and removal of each tool 1 during deck construction. These angled or curved junctions 25 prevent the tool 1 from seating too tightly between the boards and from getting stuck between the boards. The curved junctions 25 also provide for an easier and faster release of the tool 1 from between deck boards and less risk of damage to the junctions 25. Additionally, the spacers 20 shown with the embodiment in FIGS. 8 through 10 are made from the same material as the body 2 of this tool 1.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a tool 1 having spacers 20 that are a different shape from the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10. While the exact shape and dimensions of the spacers 20 and the junctions 25 can vary, the spacers 20 can be sized to achieve the desired spacing between adjacent deck boards 205 and the length h′ of each spacer generally is no greater than the depth of standard deck boards 205 and can be shorter than the depth of standard deck boards 205 so long as the spacers 20 are of sufficient length to stay in place and to hold the tool 1 in place during deck construction.

FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a tool 1 of the present invention from the bottom side 10. This embodiment has six spacers 20, five spans 30 (each having a cutout 35), and two stepped lips 16.

The tool 1 of the present invention can be a variety of heights H, h, h′, widths W and lengths L to accomplish the stated goals. As mentioned previously, the length 6 (the distance between the two shorter transverse sides 7) of the tool 1 depends upon the number of boards that it is configured to cover, plus the spaces between those boards, and, optionally, one extension 15 or offset lip 16. The width (the distance between the two longitudinal sides 6) of one embodiment of the tool 1 is approximately 5½-inches (the same as the width of a standard deck board), however, various embodiments of tools 1 can have a wide variety of widths. For example, in an embodiment of tool 1 designed to fully cover five deck boards with a width of 5½ inches and with ⅛ inch spacers 20, the longitudinal length (the length of the longitudinal sides 6) is equal to at least the total length of spans 30 (5.5 inches×5)+the total width of spacers 20 (6×⅛ inch)=28¼ inches. This length would increase based on the length of any extensions 15 at the longitudinal ends of deck tool 1. Any embodiment of a tool 1 of the present invention should be of sufficient width W and height H to impart a strength and stability to the tool 1 as is necessary for a construction environment in which the tool 1 is being used, moved, tossed around, and reused without cracking, bending, or breaking. Some embodiments of tools 1 of the present invention can be configured so that the tool 1 is sufficiently wide and thick or deep to withstand being stepped upon repeatedly during installation (see FIG. 12). Installation is faster and easier if the user can drop the tool 1 onto the surface of multiple adjacent boards and then step upon the tool 1 and/or push the end of tool 1 with a user's foot to force the boards into alignment between the spacers 20 on the tool 1, and without the user having to bend down and place and hold each tool 1 by hand before walking to the next tool 1 or board 205 that needs to be placed. Similarly, the tool 1 should be of a thickness and rigidity that impart strength and durability to the tool 1 in the context of a construction environment and a tool 1 that may be installed by having a user step on the tool 1 and/or push the end of tool 1 with a user's foot to force deck boards into place or it can be installed with a user's hand(s).

The need for strength and durability required for a construction environment can be offset in some embodiments by desire to lower production costs. One way to accomplish this it to manufacture the tool 1 to incorporate one or more cutouts 35 in one or more spans 30. In a solid tool 1 (as opposed to a hollow tool 1) the cutouts 35 can decrease the amount of material needed to produce each tool 1 and can, therefore, decrease the weight of each tool 1 and the related packing and transportation costs.

Various embodiments of a tool 1 of the present invention can be made from a wide variety of materials or a combination of materials. Preferably, each chosen material will be sufficiently rigid and strong to withstand repeated stepping upon the tool 1, pushing of the tool 1 between boards, use in an outdoor construction environment, use in outdoor weather environments, and general construction wear and tear. The spacers 20 can be configured out of any material that will slide between deck boards without wearing down easily. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tool 1, including the spacers 20, is fabricated from a single piece of material. In other embodiments a tool 1 can be made from two or more different materials. Some non-limiting examples of materials from which the tool 1 can be made include various hard plastics, such as PVC, HPVC, and HDPE (high density polyethylene), which have the attributes of being strong, durable, lightweight, and weather resistant. However, some plastics can have the downsides of wearing over time (which changes the size of the spacers 20) and suffering from some weather-related expansion and contraction. Similarly, wood is not an ideal material for the tool 1 because it can warp if it gets wet in an outdoor environment. Similarly, certain metals or metals of certain thicknesses may not be ideal because they can bend, rust, or damage the surface of the deck during construction. Other options include cast iron, other metals, composite materials (as described more fully below) and fiberglass. One preferred material for the body 2 and the spacers 20 is aluminum (and aluminum alloys) because it does not warp or bend; however, those positives can be offset by its higher cost. Therefore, some embodiments can be configured with an aluminum body 2 and aluminum spacers 20 while other embodiments can be configured with spacers 20 of other metals or various types of rigid plastic as explained previously. Some embodiments can be manufactured out of less than ideal materials to produce a tool 1 at a lower price point. For example, a tool body 2 can be made of wood (not the preferred material) with wood, plastic, or metal spacers 20. The resulting tool 1 may not be as durable in an outdoor environment but could be produced at a desired price point. While the preferred embodiments of tools 1 of the present invention meet the desired strength, rigidity, wear, environmental, and weather goals, tools 1 made of materials that compromise some of these goals for others (such as cost) are included within the scope of the present invention.

Another embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIG. 16's flowchart, is a method of spacing deck boards 100 on a deck wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: (1) locating and fastening a first deck board 110 on the deck frame; (2) placing at least two unsecured deck boards in sequential and proximate positions with respect to the first deck board 120; (3) placing on top of the at least two unsecured deck boards a deck construction tool 1 having a rigid body comprising a top surface 5, a bottom surface 10, two longitudinal sides 6, two shorter transverse sides 7, and having at least three spacers 20 located along the length of the bottom surface 130; (4) pushing on the top surface 5 of the deck tool 1 and toward the first deck board to maneuver the spacers 20 between the unsecured deck boards and to force the unsecured boards into proper alignment 140; (5) fastening the aligned deck boards to the deck frame 150; and (6) removing the deck construction tool 160. These six steps can be repeated as needed for additional unsecured deck boards until a deck surface is complete. Various steps of this method 100 are illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13.

For another embodiment of a method of installing a deck with this tool 100, the tool 1 is used on the top surface of the deck during installation or construction. In this embodiment, the user sets a first board 205 away from the house so that this board 205 is square to the outer perimeter of the deck. The board 205 closest to the house can be cut as needed to confirm to the shape of the perimeter of the deck along the house. As shown in FIG. 13, the user can lay out the entire deck and screw everything in at one time instead of the traditional, time consuming method of laying, spacing, and screwing one board 205 at a time. For other embodiments, the first board 205 can be installed at other locations.

Installation with the tool 100 of the present invention can be up to five times faster than traditional deck construction. When laying out an entire deck, traditionally a pulley system is required because of the weight of the decking. A pulley system is existing technology that can be cumbersome and time consuming to employ.

Once a user starts laying out the deck boards, the user can screw the entire deck in place from one side as the user moves the tools to set the whole deck. When the deck assembly begins from the outer perimeter of the deck, the user screws the deck board 205 in place from the side of the deck boards facing the house or other structure. While the tool 1 of the present invention can be configured to have any length, one preferred embodiment is configured to be used to place no more than five deck boards at one time. Across the length of the deck boards, multiple tools 1 are preferably spaced as little as 10- to 12-inches apart and up to about 24-inches apart. Within these constraints, for a 12-foot deck board, ten to twelve tools 1 can be used to hold down and adjust two to five deck boards. Once the user gets to the house with all of the decking, the tool 1 can be pulled and all of the screws can go in the back side of the deck boards (the side facing away from the house). This method 100 works for non-grooved deck boards. This method 100 makes installation faster and easier, and this method 100 secures the deck board 205 to the joist, which makes the deck stronger. This method 100 also is improvement over a process involving the use of traditional T-clips-where the deck board 205 is just held in place by a plastic clip. The present invention eliminates the need to use T-clips, which can be expensive, cumbersome, and prone to breaking. However, if a user chooses to use T-clips, the whole deck can be screwed down all at once. When using a pulley system with T-clips or when a user pushes with his or her foot to create alignment, gaps between the deck boards are not all the same because the clips gouge into the decking depending upon how hard the installer pushes or does not push. This results in the installer needing a tape measure to check the consistency of the installation and spacing across the entire board.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a deck tool 1 that is made from a deck board 205 (a board 205 traditionally used in deck construction) that is cut to a predetermined size and shape (see FIG. 2). For this embodiment of a deck tool, the cut deck board 205 is then machined to cutout or create inset spans 30 between spacers 20, which are portions of the deck board 205 that remain closer to the height H of the original deck board 205, to hold a plurality of deck boards in place during the construction of a deck. Deck boards, which form the walking surface of a deck and also can be used to form deck tool 1, can be made from wood, PVC, or composite materials. Composite deck boards are a popular choice, consisting of a mixture of wood fibers and plastic, often incorporating recycled materials. For wooding, a traditional option is often made from pressure-treated lumber like Southern Yellow Pine, which is treated to resist rot and insects, Other types of wood also can be used. PVC decking is made entirely of polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”), a type of plastic. Composite decking combines wood fibers (sawdust, wood chips, etc.) with plastic (often polyethylene or polypropylene). Some composite decking is capped with a protective layer for added durability and stain resistance. In addition to these primary materials, deck boards can also be made from aluminum or fiberglass.

It is to be understood that the invention may assume alternative variations and step sequences, unless specified to the contrary. It also is to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in this specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed are not to be limiting.