Reduced eccentricity guardrail post connector for decking structure

Abstract

A reduced eccentricity guardrail post connector is provided and includes a connection element having a tensile force resistant portion and a shear resistant portion, where a proximal end of the shear resistant portion is connected at about a normal angle to a distal end of the tensile force resistant portion. The post connector further includes a post coupler disposed at a proximal end of the tensile force resistant portion, where the post coupler compressively joins a post to a rim joist. Additionally, a joist coupler is disposed at a distal end of the shear resistant portion, where the joist coupler compressively joins the connector element to a joist. Further, a joist material strengthening element is disposed into the joist to resist tensile loads in joist material. The tensile resistant portion resists tensile loads and the shear resistant portion resist shear loads when the horizontal forces are imparted on the post.

1 . A reduced eccentricity moment guardrail post connector comprising:
 a. a guardrail post;   b. a rim joist;   c. a joist, wherein said rim joist is disposed perpendicularly at an end of said joist, wherein said guardrail post is disposed perpendicularly on said rim joist and perpendicularly to said joist:   d. a connection element, wherein said connection element comprises a tensile force resistant portion and at least one shear resistant portion, wherein said tensile force resistant portion is connected at about a normal angle to al said shear force resistant portion, wherein said shear force resistant portion is disposed through said joist and compressively couples said tensile force resistant portion adjacent to said joist providing a reduced eccentricity moment between said tensile force resistant portion and said joist, wherein said tensile force resistant portion extends through said rim joist and said guardrail post and compressively couples said guardrail post to said rim joist, wherein said tensile force resistant portion disposed along said joist,   e. a guardrail post coupler, wherein said post coupler is disposed at a proximal end of said tensile force resistant portion, wherein said guardrail post coupler provides said compressive joining of said guardrail post to said rim joist;   f. a joist coupler, wherein said joist coupler is disposed at a distal end of said shear resistant portion, wherein said joist coupler provides said compressive joining of said connector element to a joist; and   g. a joist material strengthening element, wherein said joist material strengthening element is disposed into said joist at an angle about parallel with said guardrail post, wherein said tensile force resistant portion resists tensile loads when horizontal forces are imparted on said guardrail post, wherein said shear resistant portion resist shear forces when said horizontal forces are imparted on said post, wherein said material strengthening element resist tensile loads in said joist.   
   
   
       2 . The guardrail post connector of  claim 1 , wherein said connection element comprises an angled rod, wherein said tensile force resistant portion comprises a proximal portion of said angled rod and said shear force resistant portion comprises a distal portion of said angled rod. 
   
   
       3 . The guardrail post connector of  claim 2 , wherein said shear resistant portion further comprises a joist sleeve, wherein said distal portion of said angled rod is disposed through said joist sleeve and said joist sleeve is disposed through said joist. 
   
   
       4 . The guardrail post connector of  claim 3  wherein said joist sleeve comprises a tube, wherein said tube comprises a fillet feature inside said tube, wherein said fillet feature conforms to a bend in said angled rod. 
   
   
       5 . The guardrail post connector of  claim 1 , wherein said connection element comprises:
 a. an angled plate, wherein said angled plate comprises said tensile force resistant portion and a rim joist abutting portion, wherein a proximal end of said tensile force resistant portion is disposed at about a normal angle to said rim joist abutting portion:   b. at least one shear bolt hole disposed near a distal end of said tensile force resistant plate and through said tensile force resistant portion;   c. at least one shear bolt disposed through said shear bolt hole and through said joist, wherein said tensile force resistant portion is compressively coupled to said joist by a nut and washer threadably tightened to said shear bolt;   d. a tensile rod channel disposed in said proximal end of said tensile force resistant portion and through said rim joist abutting portion;   e. a tensile force resistant rod, wherein said tensile force resistant rod is fixedly attached along said tensile rod channel providing a reduced eccentricity moment between said tensile force resistant portion and said joist and extends through said rim joist and said guardrail post for said compressive connection.   
   
   
       6 . The guardrail post connector of  claim 5 , wherein said tensile force resistant rod is fixedly attached to said tensile rod channel using connectors selected from a group consisting of welding, treads to nut, and threads to welded threaded element. 
   
   
       7 . The guardrail post connector of  claim 1 , wherein said connection element comprises:
 a. a first flat plate, wherein said first flat plate is said tensile force resistant portion comprising a tensile force resistant rod channel disposed in a proximal end of said first flat plate and at least one shear bolt through hole disposed in a distal end of said first flat plate:   b. a second flat plate wherein said second flat plate is a rim joist abutting portion;   c. a tensile force resistant rod, wherein a distal end of said tensile force resistant rod is fixedly attached to said tensile force resistant rod channel and said second flat plate is disposed at a normal angle along said tensile force resistant rod and at a normal angle to said first flat plate; and   d. at least one shear bolt, wherein said shear bolt is disposed through said shear bolt through-hole and through said joist, wherein said tensile force resistant portion is compressively coupled to said joist by a nut and washer threadably tightened to said shear bolt, wherein a proximal end of said tensile force resistant rod extends through said rim joist and through said guardrail post, wherein said guardrail post is compressively coupled to said rim joist by said guardrail post coupler.   
   
   
       8 . The guardrail post connector of  claim 1 , wherein said guardrail post coupler comprises a nut and washer, wherein said nut fixedly attaches to threads of said tensile force resistant proximal end, wherein said nut fixedly compresses said washer to said post, whereby compressively joining said post to said rim joist. 
   
   
       9 . The guardrail post connector of  claim 1 , wherein said joist coupler comprises a nut and washer, wherein said nut fixedly attaches to threads of a distal end of said shear resistant portion, wherein said nut fixedly compresses said washer to said joist, whereby compressively joining said post to said joist. 
   
   
       10 . The guardrail post connector of  claim 1 , wherein said joist material strengthening element is selected from a group consisting of a threaded screw and a nail, wherein said joist material strengthening element binds said joist material to prevent splitting of said joist material. 
   
   
       11 . A method of using reduced eccentricity moment guardrail post connector comprising:
 a. providing a deck, wherein said deck comprise at least a deck floor, a deck rim joist and a joist, wherein said rim joist is disposed perpendicularly at an end of said joist, wherein said guardrail post is disposed perpendicularly on said rim joist and perpendicularly to said joist;   b. providing at least one post for attaching to said rim joist;   c. providing a connection element, wherein said connection element comprises a tensile force resistant portion and at least one shear resistant portion, wherein said tensile force resistant portion is connected at about a normal angle to a said shear force resistant portion, wherein said shear force resistant portion is disposed through said joist and compressively couples said tensile force resistant portion adjacent to said joist providing a reduced eccentricity moment between said tensile force resistant portion and said joist, wherein said tensile force resistant portion extends through said rim joist and said guardrail post and compressively couples said guardrail post to said rim joist, wherein said tensile force resistant portion disposed along said joist;   d. providing a guardrail post coupler, wherein said post coupler is disposed at a proximal end of said tensile force resistant portion, wherein said guardrail post coupler provides said compressive joining of said guardrail post to said rim joist;   e. providing a joist coupler, wherein said joist coupler is disposed at a distal end of said shear resistant portion, wherein said joist coupler provides said compressive joining of said connector element to a joist; and   f. providing a joist material strengthening element, wherein said joist material strengthening element is disposed into said joist at an angle about parallel with said guardrail post, wherein said tensile force resistant portion resists tensile loads when horizontal forces are imparted on said guardrail post, wherein said shear resistant portion resist shear forces when said horizontal forces are imparted on said post, wherein said material strengthening element resist tensile loads in said joist.