Flexible cover for boards of a deck structure

Abstract

A cover for boards of a wooden deck structure is made of flexible material and is preferably made from polyvinylchloride. The cover has a central portion with side portions that are integral therewith and can pivot relative to the central portion from a first position that is substantially parallel to the central portion to a second position that is substantially perpendicular to the central portion. The cover can be formed into rolls of significant length and can be installed by cutting an appropriate length from the roll to completely cover a single board from end to end. No adhesives or fastening means are required. A combination of a cover and wooden deck structure, and a method of installation of the cover on a deck structure is also provided. Each board of the deck is covered individually.

1 . A cover for boards of a wooden deck structure, said cover comprising an elongated strip having two outer edges that are substantially parallel to one another, said strip being, made from flexible material, said strip having two ends with a central portion and two side portions located on either side of said central portion, said side portions being integral with said central portion, said side portions being pivotable relative to said central portion from at least a first position that is substantially parallel to said central portion to a second position that is substantially perpendicular to said central portion. 
     
     
         2 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said cover is sufficiently flexible to be formed into a roll with one end of said cover substantially at a center of said roll and another end being located on a circumference of said roll. 
     
     
         3 . A cover as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said side portions extend outward substantially parallel to said central portion in said roll. 
     
     
         4 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said cover is made from extruded material. 
     
     
         5 . A cover as claimed in  claim 4  wherein there are longitudinal score lines to reduce a thickness of said cover in an area where said side portions pivot about said central portion. 
     
     
         6 . A cover as claimed in  claim 5  wherein there are two of said score lines along each side of said cover, one of said score lines being in an upper surface of said cover and another of said score lines being in a lower surface of said cover. 
     
     
         7 . A cover as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein there is one additional score line along each side of said cover, the additional score line being located in said lower surface of said cover. 
     
     
         8 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said central portion is sized to fit on top of a single board on a deck, said side portions extending downward on either side of said single board in a gap between adjacent boards. 
     
     
         9 . A cover as claimed in  claim 8  wherein there are no adhesives or fastening means located between said cover and said board on which the cover is installed. 
     
     
         10 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are fastening means located between said cover and said board. 
     
     
         11 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said cover is made from polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
         12 . A cover as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said roll has a length of at least 50 feet. 
     
     
         13 . A cover as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said central portion is slightly thicker at a center thereof and thinner near said side portions, and said side portions are thicker than said central portion, said score lines being notches extending between said ends of said cover. 
     
     
         14 . A cover and boards of a wooden deck structure in combination, said boards being made from wood and having a generally rectangular cross-section, said cover comprising an elongated strip having two outer edges that are substantially parallel to one another, said strip being made from flexible material, said strip having two ends with a central portion and two side portions located on either side of said central portion, said side portions being pivotable about said central portion from a first position substantially parallel to said central portion to a second position substantially perpendicular to said central portion, said cover being sized so that said top portion covers a top of one board and said side portions extend downward on either side of said board, when said boards are adjacent to one another to form a supporting surface of said deck structure, said boards being separated by a gap of sufficient size to receive the two side portions of said strip, there being one side portion for each board in each gap between adjacent boards. 
     
     
         15 . A combination as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said cover is made from extruded material and there are longitudinal score lines to reduce a thickness of said cover in an area where said side portions pivot about said central portion. 
     
     
         16 . A combination as claimed in  claim 15  wherein there are two of said score lines along each side of said cover, one of said score lines being in an upper surface of said cover and another of said score lines being in a lower surface of said cover. 
     
     
         17 . A combination as claimed in  claim 16  wherein there is one additional score line along each side of said cover, the additional score line being located in said lower surface of said cover. 
     
     
         18 . A combination as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said central portion is sized to fit on top of a single board on a deck, said side portions extending downward on either side of said single board in a gap between adjacent boards. 
     
     
         19 . A combination as claimed in  claim 18  wherein there are no adhesives or fastening means located between said cover and said board on which said cover is installed. 
     
     
         20 . A combination as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said cover is made from polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         21 . A combination as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said central portion is slightly thicker at a center thereof and thinner near said side portions, said side portions being thicker than said central portion and said score lines being notches extending between said ends of said cover. 
     
     
         22 . A method of installing a cover on boards of a deck, said cover having an elongated strip having two outer edges that are substantially parallel to one another, said strip being made from flexible material, said strip having two ends with a center portion and two side portions located on either side of said central portion, said side portions being integral with said central portion, said side portions being pivotable relative to said central portion from at least a first position that is substantially parallel to said central portion, to a second position that is substantially perpendicular to said central portion, said cover being formed into a roll with one end of said cover substantially at a center of said roll, and another end of said cover being located on a circumference of said roll, said method comprising unrolling a sufficient length of said cover from said roll to completely cover a particular deck board from end to end of said deck board, cutting the strip of said cover to an appropriate length, installing the cover on said deck board by pivoting the side portions downward relative to the central portion and inserting the side portions into the gap on either side of said board with the lower surface of the central portion resting on an upper surface of said board.