Footing Apparatus for a Deck Frame

Abstract

A footing apparatus provides support to a deck frame of the type having a plurality of joists supporting decking thereon above a foundation. The footing apparatus has a sleeve including internal threads formed therein and a bracket supporting the sleeve thereon. The bracket can be secured onto one of the joists such that the sleeve is vertically oriented, offset to one side of the joist, and in fixed relation to the joist. A post extends axially through the sleeve and includes external threads thereon forming a mating threaded connection with the internal threads of the sleeve. In this manner, the post is adjusted vertically relative to the bracket with rotation of the post relative to the sleeve. The post has a suitable length such that the post protrudes below a bottom side of the joist for adjustably supporting the joist spaced above the foundation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a footing apparatus which supports the frame of a deck relative to a foundation below the frame in which the footing apparatus is adjustable in height to vary a supporting height of the deck frame relative to the foundation.

BACKGROUND

When constructing a deck supported on or near ground level, it is common to support a deck frame comprised of joists directly on a suitable foundation which may comprise a base material, for example crushed stone or concrete and/or the use of footings, for example concrete pads, which are supported directly on the ground or on the base material. In some instances, shims or blocks of various types are inserted between the joists and the base material or footings of the foundation to level the deck frame relative to the ground. In instances where the ground shifts so that the deck frame becomes unlevel, adjustment of the height of the deck frame at various locations relative to the foundation requires lifting the deck frame to insert or remove the shims or blocks, which is time consuming and strenuous.

United States Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0163334 by Carlson discloses an adjustable beam support comprising a post connected at a top end on a bracket below the beam and at a bottom end on a footing block. The post forms a threaded connection with a footing member that is nested into the footing block so that the post is adjustable in height relative to the footing block. The bracket supports the post fully below the beam so that the support is only suitable for use where the beam and frame supported thereon are to be supported at a considerable height above the ground to provide clearance for the post.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a footing apparatus for a deck frame comprising a plurality of joists supporting decking thereon above a foundation, the footing apparatus comprising:

• • a sleeve extending in an axial direction between opposing open ends of the sleeve, the sleeve including internal threads formed therein;
  • a bracket supporting the sleeve thereon, the bracket being arranged to be secured onto a supporting joist among the plurality of joists such that the sleeve is supported offset to one side of the supporting joist in fixed relation to the supporting joist with the axial direction oriented vertically; and
  • a post arranged to extend axially through the sleeve, the post including external threads thereon forming a mating threaded connection with the internal threads of the sleeve whereby the post is adjusted vertically relative to the bracket with rotation of the post relative to the sleeve, and the post having a length arranged to protrude below a bottom side of the supporting joist whereby the post is arranged to support the supporting joist spaced above the foundation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of adjusting a supported height of a deck frame in which the deck frame comprises a plurality of joists supporting decking thereon above a foundation, the method comprising (i) providing a footing apparatus as described above supported on a supporting joist among the joists of the deck frame such that the post is offset to one side of the supporting joist and a bottom end of the post protrudes below a bottom of the supporting joist so as to be supported on the foundation, and (ii) mating a tool with a top end of the post to drive rotation of the post relative to the sleeve whereby the height of the deck frame relative to the foundation is adjusted. Preferably the method further includes providing a footing plate on the foundation upon which the bottom end of the post is engaged, and rotating the post with the tool relative to the footing plate.

The arrangement of the bracket to support the sleeve and the post received therein offset to one side of the joist, allows the joist to be supported very close to ground level while remaining adjustable in height. Furthermore, the positioning of the post to one side of the joist ensures that the top end of the post is readily accessible with a tool to drive rotation of the post and thereby adjust the supported height of the joist while the joist remains supported on the post so that no additional equipment is required for lifting the deck frame to adjust the height of the deck frame. The post is also readily accessible from above the deck frame by removal of a portion of the decking material.

The bracket may comprise (i) a ledge arranged to receive a bottom side of the supporting joist supported thereon, and/or (ii) a fastener plate including fastener apertures formed therein such that the fastener plate is arranged to be fastened against an upright side surface of the supporting joist. In this instance, the sleeve is preferably mounted on the fastener plate, for example by welding. The fastener apertures may be elongated in a longitudinal direction of the supporting joist.

In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the supporting joist.

The sleeve is preferably supported on the bracket at an intermediate location spaced inwardly from opposing ends of the bracket in a longitudinal direction of the supporting joist, for example the sleeve may be centered longitudinally between the opposing ends of the bracket.

The apparatus may further comprise a footing plate receiving the post engaged thereon so that the post extends perpendicularly upwardly from the footing plate.

The post preferably also includes a first mating connector at a top end of the post having a non-circular shape so as to be arranged for mating connection with a second mating connector of a driver tool and for transferring torque from the driver tool to the post. For example, the head may have a non-circular outer perimeter shape such as a hexagonal bolt head for mating connection with a socket tool, or alternatively, the post may include a socket formed at a top end of the post having a non-circular inner perimeter shape for mating connection with corresponding driver bit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a deck frame supported on a foundation by a plurality of the footing apparatuses according to the present invention in which some of the decking has been removed for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the deck frame according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one footing apparatus mounted on one of the joists of the deck frame according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the various components of the footing apparatus according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded end view of the footing apparatus according to FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the footing plate forming part of the footing apparatus according to FIG. 5.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures, there is illustrated a deck frame footing apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The footing apparatus 10 is particularly suited for use with a deck structure comprising a deck frame 12 supporting decking material 14 such as deck boards and the like thereon in which the deck structure is supported on a foundation 16 such that the deck frame is at or near a ground level of the foundation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the deck frame 12 comprises a plurality of intermediate joists 18 which span the full length of the deck in a longitudinal direction between opposing ends 20 of the deck in which the intermediate joists are parallel and laterally spaced apart from one another. An end joist 22 is provided along each of the two laterally opposing outer sides of the deck frame to span longitudinally between the opposing ends 20 in parallel relation together with the intermediate joists 18. A pair of rim joists 24 span laterally across the opposing ends 20 of the deck structure respectively so that each of the intermediate joists 18 and end joists 22 terminates at the opposing ends thereof in abutment with the two rim joists 24 respectively. The rim joists span laterally across the full width of the deck frame perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction.

The foundation 16 typically comprises a suitable base material such as compacted ground or crushed stone and the like. In some instances the foundation may comprise a concrete pad. The foundation may further comprise a plurality of footings 26 such as individual concrete pads or blocks positioned at strategic locations on the base material to distribute load onto the base material from respective portions of the deck frame supported thereon.

A typical deck frame is supported by a plurality of the footing apparatuses 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each footing apparatus 10 supports a respective portion of one of the joists of the deck frame relative to a respective footing 26 of the foundation. Each footing apparatus generally includes (i) a bracket 28 arranged for mounting onto the respective joist, (ii) a sleeve 30 mounted in fixed relation onto the bracket so as to be offset to one side of the joist, and (iii) a post 32 forming a threaded connection with the sleeve 30 such that the post can be adjusted in height relative to the bracket mounted on the joist to vary a distance that the post protrudes below the bottom of the joist which in turn varies a supported height of the joist relative to the respective footing 26 receiving the post supported thereon.

The bracket 28 is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the joist upon which it is mounted between two opposing ends 34 of the bracket. The bracket is generally L shaped in profile along the length between the opposing ends 34 so as to comprise a first flange 36 which is horizontal in use for abutment against the bottom of the joist and a second flange 38 extending perpendicularly and vertically upward from one edge of the first flange 36 for abutment against a respective side surface of the joist upon which it is mounted. The first flange 36 thus defines a horizontal and upward facing ledge upon which the bottom of the joist is supported and engaged. The width of the first flange is approximately equal to or less than the width of conventional dimensional lumber joist typically having a width of approximately 1.5 inches for example.

The second flange is larger in dimension than the first flange such that the second flange is taller than the width of the first flange for spanning a majority of the height of the deck joist. For example, the second flange may have a height extending from the first flange in the order of 5 inches so as to span the majority of the height of a conventional dimensional lumber joist having a height of 7.5 or 9.5 inches. The length of the second flange in the longitudinal direction is greater than the height such that the overall length may be 6 inches for example.

The second flange 38 includes fastener apertures 40 therein such that the second flange defines a fastener plate arranged to be secured to the side surface of the joist using suitable fasteners. The fasteners may take the form of screws penetrated into the wooden joist or bolts fastened through the joist to clamp the fastener plate against the side surface of the joist. The fastener apertures 40 comprise slots which are elongated in the longitudinal direction of the joist and which are spaced horizontally and vertically apart from one another at respective corners of the fastener plate.

The sleeve 30 is fixedly mounted in immovable relationship onto the second flange 38 of the bracket 28, for example by welding. The sleeve 30 protrudes from an outer side face of the second flange, opposite to the first flange. The sleeve is oriented such that a vertical axis defining a central axis of the sleeve is oriented vertically in use by arranging the vertical axis to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bracket. The sleeve 30 includes internal threads formed on the inner surface thereof for cooperating with corresponding external threads 42 formed externally on the post 32 such that the internal threads of the sleeve mate with the external threads 42 of the post to form the threaded connection therebetween. The sleeve 30 remains open at opposing top and bottom ends to receive the post 32 extending therethrough.

The post 32 comprises an elongated rod having the external threads 42 formed thereon about the majority of the length of the rod between a head 44 at the top end of the post and an opposing bottom end 46 of the post. The head 44 includes a first mating connector formed thereon in which the first mating connector has a noncircular cross-section for mating connection with a corresponding second mating connector of a suitable tool for transferring torque to drive rotation of the post. For example, the first mating connector on the head 44 of the post may be defined by an outer perimeter surface having a polygonal cross-sectional shape such as a hexagonal bolt head so that the head 44 is suited for mating with a corresponding sized socket among a set of sockets of a socket tool that defines the second mating connector. Alternatively, the first mating connector on the head 44 may be a socket having a shape in cross section that mates with the corresponding shape of a screwdriver bit defining the second mating connector, for example a Robertson, Phillips, or Allen (hex) driver bit. The bottom end 46 of the post may be tapered towards a flat bottom end surface lying perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the post.

The apparatus 10 typically further includes a footing plate 48 in the form of a rigid metal plate arrange to be supported on the respective concrete footing 26 of the foundation for receiving the bottom end 46 of the post engage thereon. The footing plate may be formed with a central recess 50 which can be bowl shaped to receive and center the bottom end 46 of the post seated therein in use.

When using the footing apparatuses 10 for supporting a deck structure, the user initially determines the number of footings required for supporting the deck relative to the foundation in the usual manner. At each footing location, one of the apparatuses 10 is provided by mounting the bracket 28 onto the corresponding joist of the deck frame at the location of the footing. The post 32 is then threaded into the sleeve on the bracket so that the bottom end of the post protrudes below the bottom end of the joist by a prescribed amount corresponding to the desired supported height of the joist above the footing. Before applying the decking material to the deck frame, a socket tool is mated to the top end of the post 32 of each apparatus for rotating the post to vary the corresponding supported height of the respective portion of the joist carried on each post for leveling the deck frame. The decking material can then be applied over top of the deck frame. The length of the post 32 is selected to ensure that the top end of the post does not protrude above the top of the corresponding joist once the post is adjusted to the desired supported height of the joist relative to the footing. In this manner the posts 32 do not interfere with mounting of the decking material onto the top side of the joist. When mounting the apparatus 10 onto rim joists or end joists of the deck frame, the fastener plate defined by the second flange 38 of the bracket is typically mounted on the inner side surface of the joist towards the interior of the deck frame so that the apparatus 10 is concealed within the deck frame once the decking material is mounted onto the deck frame.

In the event of settling of the ground occurring subsequent to installation of the deck structure such that it is desired to adjust the supported height of the joist relative to the foundation, decking material can be removed at locations adjacent the footing apparatuses 10 respectively to provide access to the post 32 thereof. Use of a socket tool connected to the top end of each post allows each post to be rotated to adjust the protruding distance of the post below the bottom of the joist and thereby adjust the corresponding supported height of the joist as described above.

The arrangement of the sleeve mounted on the side surface of the bracket locates the post 32 of each apparatus offset to one side of the respective joist. This provides a high degree of accessibility to the post for subsequent adjustment so that the weight of the deck frame can remain supported on the post 32 of the apparatuses 10 while adjusting the height thereof. Furthermore, the top end of the post remains readily accessible from a top side of the deck frame with a conventional tool merely by removal of a portion of the decking material in alignment with each apparatus 10.

Since various modifications can be made in the invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A footing apparatus for a deck frame comprising a plurality of joists supporting decking thereon above a foundation, the footing apparatus comprising: a sleeve extending in an axial direction between opposing open ends of the sleeve, the sleeve including internal threads formed therein;a bracket supporting the sleeve thereon, the bracket being arranged to be secured onto a supporting joist among the plurality of joists such that the sleeve is supported offset to one side of the supporting joist in fixed relation to the supporting joist with the axial direction oriented vertically; anda post arranged to extend axially through the sleeve, the post including external threads thereon forming a mating threaded connection with the internal threads of the sleeve whereby the post is adjusted vertically relative to the bracket with rotation of the post relative to the sleeve, and the post having a length arranged to protrude below a bottom side of the supporting joist whereby the post is arranged to support the supporting joist spaced above the foundation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bracket comprises a ledge arranged to receive a bottom side of the supporting joist supported thereon.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bracket comprises a fastener plate including fastener apertures formed therein such that the fastener plate is arranged to be fastened against an upright side surface of the supporting joist.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the sleeve is mounted on the fastener plate.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the fastener apertures are elongated in a longitudinal direction of the supporting joist.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bracket is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the supporting joist.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is supported on the bracket at an intermediate location spaced inwardly from opposing ends of the bracket in a longitudinal direction of the supporting joist.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the sleeve is centered longitudinally between the opposing ends of the bracket.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is welded onto the bracket.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a footing plate receiving the post engaged perpendicularly thereon.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the post includes a first mating connector at a top end of the post having a non-circular shape so as to be arranged for mating connection with a second mating connector of a driver tool and for transferring torque from the driver tool to the post.

12. A method of adjusting a supported height of a deck frame in which the deck frame comprises a plurality of joists supporting decking thereon above a foundation, the method comprising: providing a footing apparatus according to claim 1 supported on a supporting joist among the joists of the deck frame such that the post is offset to one side of the supporting joist and a bottom end of the post protrudes below a bottom of the supporting joist so as to be supported on the foundation; andmating a tool with a top end of the post to drive rotation of the post relative to the sleeve whereby the height of the deck frame relative to the foundation is adjusted.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising providing a footing plate on the foundation upon which the bottom end of the post is engaged, and rotating the post with the tool relative to the footing plate.