Deck frame and system
United States Patent [1 1 Thompson 1 Apr. 8, 1975 1 1 DECK FRAME AND SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Harold D. Thompson, Houston, Tex.  
 [73] Assignee: Til-Row, Inc., Houston, Tex.  
 [22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,009  
 [52] [1.8. Cl 52/263; 312/257 SK; 108/153; 211/182; 248/1881; 248/1885; 52/36 [51] Int. Cl E04b l/54; EO4b 5/43 [58] Field of Search 52/263, 730-732, 52/758 A, 126.36, 758 H, 488, 490, 624,  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,656 12/1928 Huctten 108/111 2,377.427 6/1945 Kessler 52/758 A 2.407.721 9/1946 Nauert 52/758 A 3.540.175 l1/l970 Hawn 52/126 3,670,471 6/1972 Smith 52/726 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 236,609 11/1964 Austria 52/731 Primary E.\&#39;aminerFrank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner.lames L. Ridgill Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jack W. Hayden [57] ABSTRACT A deck structure of frame is formed by longitudinally extending C frame members which are maintained in predetermined spaced relationship by laterally extending C frame members extending therebetween. The laterally extending C frame members are provided with a slotted configuration for engaging with the longitudinally extending C frame members and support legs are provided which may be adjustable to position the longitudinally and laterally extending C frame members at a desired height.  
 When disassembled the frame members and support legs may be nested in interengaging relationship for shipment.  
 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DECK FRAME AND SYSTEM SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a deck structure which may be readily assembled and adjusted to a predetermined vertical position so that when a surface is placed on the deck frame of the present invention, it will be at a desired elevation.  
  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of deck frame members wherein the frame members may be nested in compact relationship for shipment.  
  Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view illustrating the deck frame of the present invention as it may be used with a typical mobile home with a deck surface thereon;  
  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the frame members of the present invention connected together and part of the surface on the frame removed to better illustrate the interconnecting relationship of the various frame components.  
  FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one of the support legs illustrating the manner of securing its components together and the manner of securing the support leg to the remainder of the frame;  
  FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the end of one of the longitudinally extending frame members and one of the laterally extending frame members to more clearly illustrate the manner of interconnecting and securing the two together; and  
  FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating the manner in which the components of the frame of the present invention may be nested for shipment.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention will be described and illustrated in connection with its use as a porch for a mobile home; however. it is to be understood that such is for purposes of example only and is not intended as a limitation since the deck frame of the present invention may be employed wherever desired.  
  Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein a mobile home is referred to generally at and is shown as having a door 11. The deck frame I3 of the present invention is shown as being positioned adjacent the door 11 with steps referred to generally at 14 being mounted adjacent the porch. Any suitable surface 50 is provided on the frame 13 to form a porch for the mobile home. The step construction 14 is shown in greater detail and claimed in my copending application for Steps for Mobile Home application Ser. No. 447,473, filed on Mar. 4, 1974 date.  
  The deck frame 13 of the present invention is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 and is shown as including a pair of longitudinally extending C shaped frame members l5 and 16. Each C frame member 15 and 16 is formed as shown in FIG. 4 and includes a back surface 18 having the end surfaces 19 and 20 extending longitudinally at each edge thereof which are at right angles to the portion 18 with the portions 19 and 20 being parallel to each other. At the outermost edge of the portions 19 and 20, the additional surfaces 21 and 22 are formed integrally with the portions 19 and 20 and extend at right angles thereto and toward each other so that in cross section the longitudinally extending frame members 15 and 16 form the shape of a square C. The members 15 and 16 are formed of plate material which is bent or formed to the shape described, so that the surfaces 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 preferably integral. The surface 18 is of substantial width in relation to the surfaces 19, 20, 21 and 22 and preferably, surfaces 19, 20, 21 and 22 extend continuously of the members 15 and 16.  
  The laterally extending frame members referred to at 25 are spaced at suitable longitudinal intervals along and extend between the members 15 and 16 as shown in FIG. 1, with a laterally extending member 25 being provided adjacent each end 28 and 29 of the deck frame 13. The laterally extending members 25 are formed by the back surface or plate 31 which has integrally formed at each edge the portions 33 and 34 that extend at right angles relative to the surface 31 and the integral portions 36 and 37 at the outer edges of portions 33 and 34 and the portions 33, 34 extend towards each other whereby the laterally extending frame members form in cross section a square C configuration. The width of surface 31 is substantial in relation to the width of surfaces 33, 34, 36 and 37.  
  Adjacent each end of each of the laterally extending members 25 there is provided a pair of slots 40 and 41, such slots being aligned as shown in FIG. 4 and spaced from each of the ends 43 of the laterally extending support members 25. It will be noted that the slots 40 and 41 extend only partially through the C frame member and only partially through surfaces 36 and 37 as well as partially through surface 31 whereby such slots terminate respectively in spaced relation to the edge 37a of the portion 37 and the edge 36a of the portion 36 as shown at 41a.  
  The slots 40 and 41 are spaced from the ends 43 of each of the laterally extending members a suitable distance so that when such laterally extending members 25 are engaged with the longitudinally extending members l5 and 16. the portions 21 and 22 of the longitudinally extending members fit within the slots 40 and 41 of the laterally extending member and surfaces 19 and 20 overlap and fit closely adjacent surfaces 34 and 33 from the slots 40 and 41 to the end 43 of the members 25 to thereby interengage and connect the longitudinally extending frame members 15 and 16 and laterally extending frame members 25 together without requiring the use of any screws, fasteners or other type means. The ends of surfaces 33 and 34 abut or fit closely adjacent surface 18 when the members 25 are engaged in the members 15 and 16.  
  The extent of the longitudinal members 15 and 16 and laterally extending members 25 may be that as desired, and preferably is of a suitable extent. so that when they are connected together a deck frame is formed for receiving a surface such as a piece of plywood as illustrated at 50 say, for example, of 4 feet wide X 8 feet in length. Any other module may be employed as desired. If desired, additional deck frame members may be assembled as referred to in dotted line at 51 in end to end and side by side relation and secured by screws or bolts to each adjacent frame 13 by bolts through openings 52a to form a deck frame of any desired extent.  
  Support legs referred to generally at 52 are provided at each corner of each deck frame 13 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and the lateral members at the ends 28 and 29 of the frame as well as the longitudinally extending members 15 and 16 adjacent their ends are provided with openings 18a and 25a so that suitable screws or bolts 520 or the like may be secured through the openings in the upper end of the support legs 52 as shown in FIG. 2 for securing the legs to the frame. and for securing adjacent deck frames together as previously described.  
  The support legs comprise an upper member 60 and a lower member 61 shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The upper member 60 is formed by four longitudinally extending, integral surfaces. A pair of surfaces 63 and 64 extend at right angles to each other; third surface 65 extends longitudinally at preferably right angles adjacent one edge 66 of the surface 64 as shown in FIG. 3; and fourth surface 68 extends similarly along the edge 69 of the surface 63 as shown in FIG. 3.  
  Each of said surfaces 65 and 68 are notched or recessed at their upper ends 650, 68a so that their upper ends 650 and 68a respectively terminate in a plane below the plane of the upper end 63a and 64a of the surfaces 63 and 64 respectively.  
  Such edges 65a and 68a also receive and support the lower surface of the longitudinal members 15 and the lower surface 33 of members at each end 28 and 29 of the deck frame 13.  
  The surfaces 63 and 64 are of substantial width in relation to the width of surfaces 65 and 68 as shown in FIG. 3. Suitable openings 70 are provided in the surfaces 63 and 64 adjacent their upper end for matching with openings 18a in the longitudinal member 15 and openings 52a in the lateral member 25 at the ends 28, 29 of the deck frame so that bolts or the like may be positioned therein to secure the lateral members 25 as well as the longitudinally extending members in position at the ends 28 and 29 of the frame 13 with the upper leg member 60.  
  The lower member 61 is of a similar configuration to leg member 60 and is slightly smaller to slidably and snugly telescopically fit therein. It also comprises a pair of longitudinally extending surfaces 72 and 73 there being a third surface 74 along the edge 75 of the surface .73 and a surface 76 at right angles to, and along the edge 76a of the surface 72. The surfaces 72 and 73 are of substantial width in relation to surfaces 74 and 76 and it will be noted that surfaces 63, 64, 72 and 73 are generally of the same extent as are surfaces 65, 68, 74 and 76.  
  A plurality of spaced, aligned openings are provided as shown at 64b adjacent the lower end of the upper member 60 in surface 64, and in surface 63 (not shown). Aligned, spaced openings 73b and 72b are provided in the surfaces 73 and 72 for matching with the openings 64b in surfaces 63, 64 so that the upper and lower members 60 and 61 may be secured together by .bolts or the like and may be telescopically adjusted to position the top of deck frame 13 comprising the longitudinal members 15, 16 and lateral members 25 at a desired elevation.  
  A footing 80 is provided for the bottom of each support leg including a flat plate 81 having upwardly vertically extending edge portions 82 and 83. Openings such as illustrated at 82 may be provided in one of the surfaces so that the footing 80 may be secured to surfaces 72 and 73 adjacent the lower end of the lower member 61 by bolts or screws.  
  From the foregoing, it is seen that the lateral C frame members are engaged with the longitudinally extending C frame members by engaging the surfaces 21 and 22 in the slots 40 and 41 as previously described so as to abut surfaces 19, 20 with the top of 34 and bottom of 33 respectively. The laterally extending frame members 25 thus have their surfaces 33 supported inside the surface 20 and when the members 25 are at the end of the deck 13, the surface 20 and the surface 33 will rest on the end edges 65a and 680 respectively of the surfaces 65 and 68 of the upper leg member 60.  
  The spaced laterally extending members 25 that are positioned between the ends 28 and 29 of the deck may be placed at any desired spaced longitudinal intervals and may be positioned by turning on their side at an angle relative to longitudinal members l5, 16 as illustrated at 500 in dotted line of FIG. 2 to engage one of the slots 40, 41 at one end of the member 25 in one of the longitudinal members l5, 16. They may be then moved to engage the other end of the member 25 with the other longitudinal member and then rotated to an upright, vertical position relative to members 15, 16 as shown in full line in FIG. 2.  
  The configuration of the components of the deck frame of the present invention is provided not only to form a frame for a deck which may be readily and easily assembled. but also to provide an arrangement so that they may be nested when disassembled and placed in a container in compact form requiring a minimum amount of space for shipment.  
  The legs are secured to the longitudinal and laterally extending members, and a top surface of plywood or other material is then positioned on the upper surfaces of the longitudinal member 15, 16 and lateral members 25 by screws or the like as shown in the drawing.  
  To nest the frame members for shipment, they are arranged as shown in FIG. 5. The longitudinally extending frame members 15 and 16 are first abutted so that their surfaces 18 are in contact. Thereafter the laterally extending frames members 25 are engaged around the longitudinally extending frame members 15 and 16 as shown in FIG. 5. Since the frame members 15 and 16 are of greater longitudinal extent than the members 25, it can be appreciated that the various plural members 25 will be positioned in longitudinal end to end relationship surrounding the members 15 and 16. Thereafter the lower leg portion 61 which is slightly smaller in dimension than the leg member is wrapped around the portions 25 so that its surface 76 or surface 74 overlaps one edge of the members 25 and the other surface such as 74 overlaps a portion of the adjacent edge. The upper leg member 60 is then positioned so that its surface overlaps the edge 74 and a portion of the surface 73 as shown in FIG. 5 and the other surface 68 overlaps the surface 76 and a portion of the surface 72.  
  The footings are positioned adjacent each end of the nested members as shown at 100, with only a pair being shown. It can be appreciated that a pair of footings can be positioned at each end of the nested members. A pair of footings 80 is arranged so that the surfaces 81 are in spaced relation to each other by reason of the projections 82, 83 on each footing.  
  The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
 extending surfaces, said surfaces of said upper member including a pair extending substantially at What is claimed is:  
 right angles to each other, a third surface extending at a right angle along the edge of one of said pair,  
  A deck frame comprising: 5 said third surface of said upper member having a two sets of C frame members, each C frame free edge extending along substantially the entire h having five longitudinally extending Surface length thereof, and a fourth surface extending at a Portions; right angle along the edge of the second of said a first Surface Portion of each C frame member pair, said fourth surface of said upper member havhaving second and third surface portions extending 10 ing a f edge extending along Substantially the p l ly to 9 Side thereof- Said Second entire length thereof, there being a recess in said and thrd Pomons bemg SPaced from each other; third and fourth surfaces of said upper member adefach C frame member hflvmg fourth surface jacent their upper ends for receiving said frame f from f Second members of said first and second sets thereon and ,Surface and a fifth surfa ce porno there being openings in said pair of surfaces of said mg perpendicularly from said third surface portion, upper member; fqurth and fi Surface Pomons bung 2. securing means for positioning in the openings to posed m subsmmmuy the Same plane; secure said upper member to said C frame memd. the combined widths of said fourth and fifth surbers of Said first and Second sets;  
  face P i bemg substantially less than the wldth 3. a lower member formed by four longitudinally exof Sald first Surface .pomon so that. an open area tending surfaces, said surfaces of said lower memg l between Said fourth and fifth surface porber including a pair extending substantially at right e. s gi ll first set including a pair of C frame members apgles to each other a third Surface fixiendipg extending parallel to one another; 25 right angle along the edge of one of saidpair said f. said second set including a plurality of C frame third Surfac? sad lower l i free members extending laterally between the C frame edge extndmg along substantially erlgth members of said first set adjacent both ends thereof thereof a fourth Surface extendnllg T i and at spaced intervals along the lengths thereof; angle along the edge of the second of P &#39;f g. each C frame member of said second set including fourth Surfafx of Said lower member having free a pair of angned Slots adjacent each end one slot edge extending along substantially the entire length of said pair extending: thefeofl l b h I l I l i. only partially across said fourth surface portion, upper 1 Ower l ers avmg P l ii. entirely across said second surface portion, and of a ahgned l l i v iii. only partially across said first surface portion; securmg means for posmonmg m the Opemngs to the other Slot of Said pair extending. secure said upper and lower members together;  
  i. only partially across said fifth surface portion, and ii. entirely across said third surface portion, and footfng for the lower f of lower member iii. only partially across said first surface portion &#34;P a flat Surface Wlth a P 9 suffaces at i. said slots in said C frame members of said second 40 anglffs the&#39;retor there g openmgsln at lefist set being engageable with said fourth and fifth surone of 51nd P of sllrfaces whereby footmg face portions of said C frame members of said first y P secflrcd t0 sald lower F F Set, whereby the ends of Said C frame members f 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said C members said second set may be positioned to pass through f Said first and Second Sets l pp g h said open areas of said C frame members of said disassembled, are nestable withineach other for shipfirst set, whereupon said C frame members of said ment, the nestmg arrangement P g formed y $a ld C second set may b rotated i t l ki engagement members of said first set abutting each other, said C with said C frame members of said first set to form members of Said Second et Surrounding said C mem said frame; bers of said first set, said lower leg members partially j. support legs secured to said frame to position it at 5 overlapping said C members of said second set and said a predetermined level. upper leg members overlapping the remainder of said 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said sup- C members of said second set and partially overlapping port legs include: said lower leg members.  
 I. an upper member formed by four longitudinally