Bracket for securing decking member

Abstract

A bracket for attaching a decking member to a supporting member comprises a main flange, a side flange extending approximately perpendicular to the main flange, at least one through hole defined in the side flange for receiving a fastener to attach the bracket to a side of a decking member and at least one protrusion extending from a lower side of the main flange and serving to contact the supporting member and to space the bracket and decking member above the supporting member. A method of securing a decking member to a supporting member is also described.

1 . A bracket for attaching a decking member to a supporting member, comprising:
 a main flange shaped for positioning on an upwardly facing narrow face of a supporting member;   a side flange extending approximately perpendicular to the main flange;   at least one through hole defined in the side flange for receiving a fastener to attach the bracket to a side of a decking member;   at least one mounting opening defined in the main flange to receive a fastener to attach the bracket to the supporting member; and   at least one protrusion coinciding with the at least one mounting opening and protruding relative to a lower side of the main flange and serving to contact the supporting member and to space the bracket and decking member above the supporting member.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the main flange includes a widened portion having a lateral dimension wider than a side of the mounting member to which the bracket is configured for mounting. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting opening in the main flange is countersunk relative to an upper side of the bracket. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the main flange comprises four mounting openings. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises an annular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises at least two protrusions spaced apart to support the decking member above the supporting member such that a space is defined between protrusions and between an upper surface of the supporting member and a lower surface of the decking member. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the main flange has a thickness of approximately 0.150 inch in an area comprising the at least one protrusion. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the main flange comprises at least one chamfered corner. 
     
     
         10 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the side flange comprises at least one chamfered corner. 
     
     
         11 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of material in a plane of the main flange is bent into the side flange. 
     
     
         12 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the main flange comprises an attachment region having the at least one mounting opening and a contiguous support region extending laterally away from the attachment region, and wherein the side flange extends from the support region. 
     
     
         13 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the main flange is L-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the side flange extends at a position approximately midway along a longitudinal axis of the main flange. 
     
     
         15 . A method of securing a decking member to a supporting member with a bracket comprising:
 providing a bracket having a main flange and a side flange extending approximately perpendicular to the main flange, at least one through hole in the side flange, at least one mounting opening in the main flange and at least one protrusion extending from the main flange;   positioning the side flange over a side surface of the decking member at a desired position;   securing the side flange to the side surface with a fastener extending through the at least one through hole to thereby attach the bracket to the decking member;   positioning the decking member with attached bracket at a desired position relative to an underlying supporting member with the at least one protrusion contacting the supporting member to space the bracket and decking member above the supporting member; and   securing the main flange to an upper surface of the supporting member with a fastener extending through the at least one mounting opening.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising spacing the decking member from a previously secured decking member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the side flange has a thickness, and wherein the thickness of the side flange and any protruding fastener serves to provide a uniform spacer for spacing the decking member from an adjacent decking member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one mounting opening in the main flange comprises at least two mounting openings that remain exposed after the side flange is secured. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the side flange is secured to the side surface of the decking member before the main flange is secured to the upper surface of the supporting member.