Patent US3914913A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3914913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap interlock deck structure with improved interlocking engagement
Assignee: Burnham Corp
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Filing: 1974-07-25
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-07-25
Abstract
Abstract An extruded aluminum deck structure, of the general type in which floor joists support and are secured to transverse decking members, is characterized by an improved decking member capable of secure snap interlocking installation on floor joists despite extrusion shape distortions in the decking members. In the deck structure, the floor joists have longitudinal ribs along their top supporting surfaces with pairs of notches in the ribs forming horizontally opposed latching members. The extruded decking members are formed with a floor plate and two depending vertical legs with opposed latching members at their lower ends which meet and then snap into interlocking engagement with the rib latching members as the legs descend into the rib notches. To provide secure interlocking, vertical outrigger flanges depend from the outer edges of the floor plate with a length arranged to rest upon the longitudinal rib when the latching members are in proper engagement, thereby compelling the decking member to assume a shape urging the latching members toward one another for secure engagement. The vertical legs are angled outwardly, and the latching members on the vertical legs have barbs with upwardly canted latching surfaces to maintain latching engagement during distortion of the decking member.
Inventors
- 👤 William A Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:24
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01C; E01C13/00; E01C13/04; E04; E04B; E04B5/00; E04B5/02; E04B5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A deck or other support structure comprising a support member formed with an upper longitudinal rib provided with pairs of notches forming horizontally opposed latching members on the rib; and a decking or surface member formed with a horizontal plaTe, two vertical legs depending from the plate and spaced apart to correspond to the spacing between the notches, and horizontally opposed latching members at the lower ends of said vertical legs for meeting and interlocking with the latching members on the ribs as the vertical legs are received within said notches, said structure being characterized by: the decking or surface member being formed with vertical outrigger flanges depending from the plate a spaced horizontal distance from the vertical legs on the sides of the vertical legs carrying the latching members, the vertical outrigger flanges being arranged to rest upon the longitudinal rib when the latching members are in interlocking engagement. whereby the plates are supported by the outrigger flanges upon the rib and the latching members on the vertical legs are urged into engagement with the rib latching members, thereby to hold the support member and decking member in interlocking engagement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A deck or other support structure comprising a support member formed with an upper longitudinal rib provided with pairs of notches forming horizontally opposed latching members on the rib; and a decking or surface member formed with a horizontal plaTe, two vertical legs depending from the plate and spaced apart to correspond to the spacing between the notches, and horizontally opposed latching members at the lower ends of said vertical legs for meeting and interlocking with the latching members on the ribs as the vertical legs are received within said notches, said structure being characterized by: the decking or surface member being formed with vertical outrigger flanges depending from the plate a spaced horizontal distance from the vertical legs on the sides of the vertical legs carrying the latching members, the vertical outrigger flanges being arranged to rest upon the longitudinal rib when the latching members are in interlocking engagement. whereby the plates are supported by the outrigger flanges upon the rib and the latching members on the vertical legs are urged into engagement with the rib latching members, thereby to hold the support member and decking member in interlocking engagement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A deck or other surface structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outrigger flanges are formed at the outer edges of the horizontal plate, the two vertical legs being interior of the outrigger flanges and having outwardly extending latching members at their lower ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A deck or other surface structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the vertical legs depending from the floor plate are angled outwardly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A deck or other surface structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the vertical legs are angled outwardly approximately two degrees from vertical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A deck or other surface structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vertical legs depending from the floor plate are tapered, being thinner at their lower ends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
A deck structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latching members at the lower ends of the vertical legs each are in the form of an outwardly extending barb with a lower inclined surface and an upper latching surface canted upwardly and arranged to engage a corresponding latching surface on the rib, whereby the upwardly canted latching surface maintains engagement with the rib latching surface even if a vertical leg flexes inwardly, thereby to maintain interlocking engagement of the deck members and floor joists.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A deck structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein the two vertical legs are angled outwardly, whereby upon being flexed inwardly they are capable of maintaining the latching surfaces in engagement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A deck or other surface structure comprising a support member formed with an upper longitudinal rib provided with pairs of notches forming horizontally opposed latching members on the rib; and a decking or surface member formed with a horizontal plate, two vertical legs depending from the plate and spaced apart to correspond to the spacing between the notches, and horizontally opposed latching members at the lower ends of the vertical legs for meeting and interlocking with the latching members on the ribs as the vertical legs are received within said notches, said structure being characterized by: the horizontally opposed latching members at the lower ends of said vertical legs extending outwardly, and the vertical legs depending from the floor plate being angled outwardly so as to direct the latching members into engagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
A deck or other surface structure comprising a support member formed with an upper longitudinal rib provided with pairs of notches forming horizontally opposed latching members on the rib; and a decking or surface member formed with a horizontal plate, two vertical legs depending from the plate and spaced apart to correspond to the spacing between the notches, and horizontally opposed latching members at the lower ends of the vertical legs for meeting and interlocking with the latching members on the ribs as the vertical legs are received within said notches, said structure being characterized by: the horizontally opposed latching members at the lower ends of said vertical legs extending outwardly, and the vertical legs depending from the floor plate being angled outwardly so as to direct the latching members into engagement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A deck or other surface structure as claimed in claim 8 wherein the vertical legs are angled outwardly approximately two degrees from vertical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A deck or other surface structure as claimed in claim 8 wherein the vertical legs depending from the floor plate are tapered, being thinner at their lower ends.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
A deck or other surface structure as claimed in claim 8 wherein the latching members at the lower ends of the vertical legs each are in the form of an outwardly extending barb with a lower inclined surface and an upper latching surface canted upwardly and arranged to engage a corresponding latching surface on the rib, whereby the upwardly canted latching surface maintains engagement with the rib latching surfacE even if a vertical leg flexes inwardly, thereby to maintain interlocking engagement of the deck members and floor joists.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |