MODULAR CAP FOR DECK POST

Abstract

A deck system according to an example of the present disclosure includes a deck post cap having opposing first and second sides, with the second side being attached to an end of a deck post, and the first side including an aperture. A light post is provided that includes opposing first and second ends. The first end of the light post is received into the aperture, and the second end of the light post includes a slot that extends across the second end in a direction transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the light post. The slot can be used to receive string lights.

Description

BACKGROUND

This application relates to lighting, and more particularly to a method and system for providing string lighting for a deck.

Lights can be hung on decks during holidays, parties, or special events to provide a decorative appearance. Usually this requires wrapping a string of lights around a railing or connecting the string of lights to the deck with hooks, which can be labor intensive.

SUMMARY

A deck system according to an example of the present disclosure includes a deck post cap having opposing first and second sides, with the second side being attached to an end of a deck post, and the first side including an aperture. A light post is provided that includes opposing first and second ends. The first end of the light post is received into the aperture, and the second end of the light post includes a slot that extends across the second end in a direction transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the light post. The slot can be used to receive string lights.

A lighting kit according to an example of the present disclosure includes a deck post cap having opposing first and second sides, the first side including a first aperture, and the second side including a second aperture sized for attachment to an end of a deck post. The lighting kit also includes a light post having opposing first and second ends, the first end configured for insertion into the first aperture, and the second end including a slot sized to receive a string of lights.

A method of hanging string lights to a deck according to an example of the present disclosure includes mounting a first end of a light post to an end of a deck post, and inserting a string to which a plurality of lights are attached into a slot at a second end of the light post that is opposite the first end.

The embodiments, examples, and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a deck system that includes a deck and string lights.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example deck post cap that can be used in the deck system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an exploded diagram of a light post, deck post, and deck post cap that can be used in the deck system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an assembly that includes the components of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A-D schematically illustrate examples of decorative caps that can be inserted into deck post caps of the deck system of FIG. 1 in place of light posts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a deck system 10 that includes an outdoor deck 12 and string lights 13. The deck 12 includes floor boards 16 and a plurality of deck posts 18 that are substantially perpendicular to the floor boards 16. A plurality of spindles 19 are located between adjacent ones of the deck posts 18. A deck post cap 20 is attached to an end of each deck post 18. A railing 22 is located over the spindles 19. Each deck post cap 20 has an associated light post 24 that extends upwards from each deck post 18 to the string lights 13, which include a string 14 to which a plurality of lights 15 are attached.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example deck post cap 20. The deck post cap 20 includes a body 26 having opposing first and second sides 28A-B. An aperture 30 is formed in a middle of the first side 28A and extends into the body 26 of the deck post cap 20. In one example, the deck post cap 20 is made of wood. In another example, the deck post cap 20 is made of metal or a composite, such as fiberglass or plastic. In another example, the deck post cap 20 is made of wood, and the aperture 30 is lined in metal or a composite.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an exploded diagram of an example light post 24, deck post 18, and deck post cap 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the deck post cap 20 includes the aperture 30 in the first side 28A, and also includes an aperture 32 in the second side 28B. In the example of FIG. 3, the aperture 30 is a blind hole.

An end 34 of the deck post 18 is receivable into the aperture 32 for mounting the deck post cap 20 to the end 34 of the deck post. In one example, the deck post cap 20 is glued to the end 34 of the deck post 18 for long term attachment.

The light post 24 has a length L1 and extends along a central longitudinal axis A between opposing first and second ends 40A-B. The first end 40A is receivable into the aperture 30, and the second end 40B includes a slot 42 that extends across the second end in a direction transverse to the central longitudinal axis A. In one example, the slot 42 extends perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis A. The slot 42 is sized to receive the string 14 of the string lights 13.

The aperture 30 includes a first area 50 having a first width W1 and at least partially defined by an inner wall 51. The aperture 30 also includes a second area 52 having a second width W2 and at least partially defined by an inner wall 53. The first area 50 is closer to the first side 28A of the deck post cap 20 than the second area 52. The second width W2 is less than the first width W1. The aperture 32 has a width W3 that is greater than each of the widths W1 and W2.

The first end 40A of the light post 24 includes a cavity 56 having an inner wall 57. A threaded rod 60 is provided that is sized for threaded engagement with each of the inner wall 53 of the second area 52 and the inner wall 57 of the cavity 56. In the example of FIG. 3, the threaded rod 60 includes opposing ends 62A-B which are each threaded.

The first cavity 30 includes a seating surface 64 which can be used to abut the first end 40A of the light post 24.

In one example, the light post 24 can be made of metal, wood or composite. In another example, the light post 24 is made of wood, and the first end 40A and/or second end 40B are made of metal or composite.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an assembly that includes the components of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the threaded rod 60 engages both the inner wall 53 and the inner wall 57, and the first end 40A of the light post 24 abuts the seating surface 64. Also, the deck post 18 is received into the aperture 32 for securing the deck post cap 20 to the deck post.

The threaded rod 60 can have differing lengths, such that the rod 60 can extend further into the light post 24 and/or can extend further into the deck post cap 20. In one example, the threaded rod extends through the deck post cap 20 and into the deck post 18.

FIG. 5A-D schematically illustrate examples of decorative caps 70A-D that can be inserted into the deck post caps 20 in place of the light posts 24. Each cap 70 has an associated length L2 that is shorter than the length L1 of the light post 24. Caps 70A-C each include a respective cavity 74A-C for receiving the threaded rod 60. Cap 70D includes a threaded post 78 configured to engage the inner wall 51 of the first area 50 of the aperture 30. The decorative caps 70 can be rotated relative to the deck post cap 20 to attach the decorative cap 70 to the deck post cap 20 through threaded engagement.

In one example, the decorative caps 70A-D are made of metal, composite, or wood. In another example, the decorative caps 70 are made of wood, and the cavities 74A-C are made of metal or composite.

When one wants to attach string lights 13 to the deck 10, the respective decorative caps 70 can be removed from each deck post 18 by rotating the decorative cap 70 relative to the deck post cap 20. The light post 24 can then be rotated to engage the deck post cap 20. The first end 40A of the light post 24 is located in the aperture 30 of the deck post cap 20 and is rotated so that the threaded rod 60 engages both inner wall 53 of second area 52 and the inner wall 57 of cavity 56. One light post 24 can be attached to each of a plurality of the deck post caps 20. Once the light posts 24 are secured, the string 14 of lights 15 can be located into the slot 42 at the second end 40B the light post 24, as shown in FIG. 1. In one example, the string 14 of lights 15 are wedged in the slot 42 of the light post 24 to secure the string 14 of lights 15 relative to the light post 24. This allows the string lights 13 to be easily secured to the deck 12.

Once the string lights 13 are no longer needed, the string lights 13 can be removed from the slots 42. The light post 24 can be rotated relative to the deck post cap 20 to remove the light posts 24 from the deck post cap 20. The decorative cap 70 can be reattached to the deck post cap 20.

Although the examples above have been discussed in conjunction with the threaded rod 60, it is understood that alternative embodiments would be possible, such as one where a threaded member is built into the deck post cap 20 or is built into the light post 24 and the decorative caps 70.

In one example, the inner wall 53, the inner wall 57, and/or an inner wall of the cavities 74 are threaded even without engagement with the threaded rod 60. In one example, the inner wall 51 is threaded even without engagement with the decorative caps 70D.

Although a deck post 18 including a deck post cap 20 with an aperture 30 is illustrated and described, it is possible that the aperture 30 and its threads can be part of the deck post 18, such that and there is no deck post cap 20.

In one example, both the aperture 30 in the deck post cap 20 and the first end 40A of the light post 24 do not include threads. In this example, the first end 40A of the light post 24 is inserted in the aperture 30 of the deck post cap 20 to easily attach the light post 24 to the deck post cap 20 of the deck 12. In this example, the decorative caps 70 can also omit threads.

In one example the deck post cap 20, light post 24, threaded rod 60, and one or more of the decorative caps 70A-D are provided as a kit so that a user can readily switch between using the caps 70 and the light post 24.

Also, although a particular deck post cap 20 has been disclosed, it is understood that other deck post caps could be used.

Although example embodiments have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the scope and content of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A deck system comprising: a deck post cap having opposing first and second sides, the second side attached to an end of a deck post, and the first side including an aperture; anda light post including opposing first and second ends, wherein the first end is received into the aperture, and the second end includes a slot that extends across the second end in a direction transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the light post.

2. The deck system of claim 1, comprising: a plurality of string lights on a string received in the slot.

3. The deck system of claim 2, comprising: a plurality of the deck post caps and a plurality of the light posts;wherein the second side of each deck post cap is attached to an end of a respective deck post;wherein the first side of each deck post cap receives a first end of a respective one of the plurality of light posts into its aperture; andwherein the string is received into a respective slot at the second end of each of the plurality of light posts.

4. The deck system of claim 1, wherein the aperture is a blind hole.

5. The deck system of claim 1, wherein: the deck system includes a threaded member that extends from one of the first end of the light post and the aperture and engages the other of the first end of the light post and aperture to secure the light post to the deck post cap.

6. The deck system of claim 5, wherein: the aperture includes a first area having a first width, and a second area that has a second width that is less than the first width, the first area being closer to the first side of the deck post cap than the second area; andthe threaded member engages an inner wall of the second area.

7. The deck system of claim 6, wherein: the threaded member is a rod that is threaded at both of its opposing first and second ends;the first end of the rod engages the inner wall of the second area; andthe second end of the rod engages an inner wall of a cavity in the first end of the light post.

8. The deck system of claim 1, wherein: the aperture is a first aperture; anda second aperture is provided on the second side of the deck post cap, the second aperture having a width greater than a width of the first aperture, the second aperture is sized for receiving the end of the deck post.

9. A lighting kit, comprising: a deck post cap having opposing first and second sides, the first side including a first aperture, and the second side including a second aperture sized for attachment to an end of a deck post; anda light post comprising opposing first and second ends, the first end configured for insertion into the first aperture, the second end including a slot sized to receive a string of lights.

10. The lighting kit of claim 9, wherein the slot extends across the second end of the light post in a direction transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the light post.

11. The lighting kit of claim 9, wherein: the lighting kit includes a threaded member configured to extend from one of the first end of the light post and the first aperture for engaging the other of the first end of the light post and the first aperture to secure the light post to the deck post cap.

12. The lighting kit of claim 11, wherein: the first aperture includes a first area having a first width, and a second area that has a second width that is less than the first width, the first area being closer to the first side of the deck post cap than the second area; andthe threaded member engages an inner wall of the second area.

13. The lighting kit of claim 12, wherein: the threaded member is a rod that is threaded at both of its opposing first and second ends;the first end of the rod engages the inner wall of the second area; andthe second end of the rod engages an inner wall of a cavity in the first end of the light post.

14. The lighting kit of claim 9, comprising an additional cap having a length less than a length of the light post, the additional cap configured to be received into threaded engagement with the first aperture in place of the light post.

15. The lighting kit of claim 14, wherein a plurality of the additional caps are provided which are different from each other, each of the additional caps having a length less than a length of the light post and each being configured to be received into threaded engagement with the first aperture in place of the light post.

16. A method of hanging string lights to a deck, comprising: mounting a first end of a light post to an end of a deck post; andinserting a string to which a plurality of lights are attached into a slot at a second end of the light post that is opposite the first end.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said mounting comprises: mounting a second side of a deck post cap to the end of the deck post, wherein the deck post cap includes a first side opposite the second side; andinserting the first end of the light post into a first aperture in the first side of the deck post cap.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said mounting a first side of deck post cap to the end of the deck post comprises inserting the end of the deck post into a second aperture in the second side of the deck post cap, the second aperture having a width greater than a width of the first aperture.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said inserting comprises: engaging threads from a threaded member that extends from one of the first end of the light post and the first aperture with the other of the first end of the light post and the aperture to secure the light post to the deck post cap.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said engaging comprises: rotating the threaded member relative to first aperture to engage an inner wall of the first aperture; androtating the threaded member relative to a second aperture in the first end of the light post to engage an inner wall of the second aperture.