Pier Fascia Fastening System

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present disclosure generally relates to the construction of piers for use on bodies of water, and more particularly relates to the attachment of ornamental fascia to piers.

BACKGROUND

[0002]Piers and dock structures play a critical role in providing access to bodies of water, serving both recreational and commercial purposes. Traditionally, piers are designed to facilitate safe docking, loading, and unloading of watercraft, as well as to support other waterfront activities.

[0003]Pier structures often incorporate fascia boards to enhance both structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. These boards act as barriers to protect the pier's substructure from environmental wear, provide a finished appearance to the construction, and protect users from impacting with the substructure. The fascia boards add cosmetics to the pier structures and may have many color options, as well as provide provisions for mounting accessories.

[0004]The installation of fascia boards on piers presents several challenges. Traditional methods involve manual fastening using screws, nails, or adhesives, which often lead to issues such as misalignment, weakened connections over time due to exposure to moisture, and difficulties in maintenance or replacement. Furthermore, existing fastening systems often require specialized tools and substantial labor, making the process time-consuming and costly.

[0005]Some attempts have been made to address these issues by developing modular or adjustable fastening systems. However, these solutions frequently fall short in accommodating the unique stresses experienced by pier structures, such as fluctuating water levels, wave impacts, and thermal expansion. Additionally, current systems may lack the versatility to integrate seamlessly with various fascia board designs or pier configurations.

[0006]It can therefore be seen that a need exists for an improved fascia board fastening system for pier structures, which offers enhanced durability, ease of installation, adaptability to various environmental conditions, and improved appearance such that fastening means cannot be seen from an outer surface.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0007]In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a fastening system for attaching fascia boards to a pier frame may be provided. The fastening system may comprise a fascia board configured with T-slots arranged longitudinally and extending along an entire length, each T-slot adapted to receive carriage bolts. The fastening system may comprise a set of carriage bolts configured to engage with the T-slots. The fastening system may comprise a pier frame featuring a series of aligned holes corresponding to a position of the T-slots when the fascia board is mounted to the pier frame. The fastening system may comprise a plurality of nuts, each configured to couple with one of the set of carriage bolts through the series of aligned holes in the pier frame securing the fascia board to the pier frame and concealing the set of carriage bolts such that they cannot be seen through an outside surface of the fascia board.

[0008]In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a fascia board configured to be attached to a pier frame may be provided. The fascia board may comprise a first end, a second end, an outside surface, an inside surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The fascia board may comprise a T-slot arranged longitudinally on the inside surface, extending along an entire length of the fascia board from the first end to the second end, adapted to receive a carriage bolt. The fascia board may comprise an opening arranged on the T-slot, configured to be larger than a head of the carriage bolt, the carriage bolt configured to be placed into the opening and slid into the T-slot proximate to an aligned hole on the pier frame.

[0009]In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure, a method of attaching fascia boards to a pier frame may be provided. The method may comprise providing a pier frame and a fascia board, the fascia board including a T-slot arranged longitudinally and extending along an entire length, the T-slot adapted to receive a carriage bolt, and an opening arranged on the T-slot configured to be larger an a head of the carriage bolt. The method may comprise inserting the head of the carriage bolt into the opening and sliding the carriage bolt into the T-slot. The method may comprise aligning the fascia board with the pier frame, and aligning the carriage bolt with an aligned hole on the pier frame. The method may comprise pressing the fascia board against the pier frame such that the carriage bolt is disposed through the aligned hole. The method may comprise coupling a nut with the carriage bolt such that the fascia board is securely held against the pier frame.

[0010]These and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame of a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a side view of a fascia board constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a fascia board attached to a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fascia board attached to a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016]FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of a fascia board attached to a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017]FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting a sample sequence of steps for assembling a fascia board to a pier structure, which may be practiced in accordance with the fascia board and pier section of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018]Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a pier section is depicted and generally referred to using reference numeral 10. The pier section 10 is exemplarily embodied as a framed rectangular substructure for use in large bodies of fresh water. While the pier section 10 is depicted as such, it should be noted that the depiction used is merely exemplary and illustrative in nature. It will be acknowledged that the teachings of the present disclosure can be similarly applied to other modular pier structures for use in bodies of water of any size and of any type as known to persons skilled in the art.

[0019]FIG. 1 depicts a pier structure 14 constructed from the pier section 10 as fully installed into a bed 13 of a large body of water 12. The pier structure 14 may be attached at one end to a shore 11. In some embodiments the shore 11 may include a concrete pad, wherein the pier structure 14 may affixed to the concrete pad with fasteners. In other embodiments, the shore 11 may be a grass shore, wherein additional pipes may be pounded into the shore 11 and connected to the pier structure 14. At the other end, the pier structure 14 may comprise a pair of pipes 15 configured to be driven into the bed 13 through an H-frame 16 of the pier section 10, with the pier section 10 connected to the pair of pipes 15. Other embodiments of the pier structure 14 may be provided as necessary.

[0020]The pier structure 14 may be provided with a fastening system for attaching fascia boards to a pier frame 50. FIG. 2 depicts the pier structure with a plurality of fascia boards 20 attached. The plurality of fascia boards may comprise a front fascia board 21, a rear fascia board 22, a left fascia board 23, and a right fascia board 24. FIGS. 3-6 depict the fastening system as used to attach the front fascia board 21 to the pier frame 50 of the pier section 10, however each of the plurality of fascia boards 20 may similarly be attached to the pier frame 50.

[0021]As depicted in FIG. 3, the front fascia board 21 may be configured to attach to the pier frame 50 (FIG. 6). The front fascia board 21 may comprise a first end 30, a second end 39, an outside surface 41, an inside surface 40, a top surface 42, and a bottom surface 43. The front fascia board 21 may comprise a T-slot (31, 32) arranged longitudinally on the inside surface 40, extending along an entire length of the front fascia board 21 from the first end 30 to the second end 39, adapted to receive a carriage bolt 60. The front fascia board 21 may comprise an opening (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) arranged on the T-slot, configured to be larger than a head 61 of the carriage bolt 60, the carriage bolt 60 configured to be placed into the opening and slid into the T-slot proximate to an aligned hole (51, 52) on the pier frame 50.

[0022]The front fascia board 21 may be sized such that, in a vertical dimension (FIG. 6), the front fascia board 21 extends above and below the pier frame 50. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the front fascia board 21 extends below the pier frame 50 in order to increase protection against impacts with the pier frame. The front fascia board 21 may extend above the pier frame 50 such that a plurality of decking boards 90 (FIG. 1) may be placed on top of the pier frame 50 and be confined by the plurality of fascia boards 20.

[0023]The T-slot of the front fascia board 21 may comprise a plurality of T-slots spaced between the top surface 42 and the bottom surface 43. As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the front fascia board 21 may comprise a top T-slot 31 and a bottom T-slot 32. However, any number of T-slots may be similarly utilized as necessary. FIG. 6 depicts a cross-section view of the front fascia board 21, wherein a cross-section of the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32 are shown. Each of the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32 may be configured with a first slot portion 45 and a second slot portion 46. The first slot portion 45 is configured to house the head 61 of the carriage bolt 60, and the second slot portion 46 is configured to be smaller than the head 61 of the carriage bolt 60 and surround a shank 62 of the carriage bolt 60. In this manner, the carriage bolt 60 may slide freely within the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32, yet still be retained. The carriage bolt 60 may also be retained within the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32 while allowing for thermal expansion and contraction of the front fascia board 21.

[0024]In order to increase ease of installation, the opening may comprise a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings being spaced apart from each other along the T-slot. As depicted in FIG. 3, each of the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32 may comprise three openings. The top T-slot 31 may comprise a first top opening 33, a second top opening 35, and a third top opening 37. The bottom T-slot may comprise a first bottom opening 34, a second bottom opening 36, and a third bottom opening 38.

[0025]The front fascia board 21 may be constructed of a polymer material, preferably of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). However, any suitable material may be utilized. The front fascia board 21 may also be constructed of similar material to that of the plurality of decking boards 90. Construction in this manner may allow for the carriage bolt 60 to thermally expand and contract while within the T-slot while remaining retained. The pier frame 50 may be constructed of stainless steel, and in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, may be constructed in the form of rectangular tubes. Similarly, any alternate suitable material or configuration of the pier frame 50 may be utilized as necessary.

[0026]FIGS. 4-6 depict the fastening system for attaching the plurality of fascia boards 20 to the pier frame 50. While FIGS. 4-6 depict the front fascia board 21 attached to the pier frame 50, each of the plurality of fascia boards 20 may be attached in a similar manner. The front fascia board 21 may be configured with T-slots arranged longitudinally and extending along an entire length, each T-slot adapted to receive carriage bolts. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6, the front fascia board 21 is shown with the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32. The fastening system may also comprise a set of carriage bolts configured to engage with the T-slots. FIG. 6 depicts two of the carriage bolt 60 engaged with the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32. Each of the carriage bolt 60 may comprise the head 61, the shank 62, and a threaded end 63.

[0027]The fastening system may also comprise the pier frame 50 featuring a series of aligned holes corresponding to a position of the T-slots when the front fascia board 21 is mounted to the pier frame 50. As depicted in FIGS. 4-5, the series of aligned holes of the pier frame 50 may be arranged in an alternating configuration along a length of the pier frame 50 and the set of carriage bolts are engaged in the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32 in the alternating configuration to align with the series of aligned holes. The series of aligned holes may comprise top holes 51 aligned with the top T-slot 31, and bottom holes 52 aligned with the bottom T-slot 32. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the top holes 51 and the bottom holes 52 extend through the pier frame 50 such that the carriage bolt 60 can be placed through.

[0028]As can be seen from FIGS. 3-4, the plurality of openings on the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32 of the front fascia board 21 allow for selective placement of the carriage bolts 60 to align with the top holes 51 and the bottom holes 52. One of the carriage bolts 60 may be inserted into the first top opening 33 or the second top opening 35 and slid into a location proximate one of the top holes 51. A second of the carriage bolts 60 may be inserted into the third top opening 37 and slid into a location proximate another of the top holes 51. A third of the carriage bolts 60 may be inserted into the first bottom opening 34 and slid into a location proximate one of the bottom holes 52. A fourth of the carriage bolts 60 may be inserted into the second bottom opening 36 or the third bottom opening 38 and slid into a location proximate another of the bottom holes 52. Additional ones of the carriage bolts 60 may be utilized as necessary to mount to additional ones of the series of aligned holes in the pier frame 50.

[0029]The fastening system may also comprise a plurality of nuts 70, each configured to couple with one of the set of carriage bolts 60 through the series of aligned holes (51, 52) in the pier frame 50 securing the front fascia board 21 to the pier frame 50 and concealing the set of carriage bolts 60 such that they cannot be seen through an outside surface 41 of the front fascia board 21. Each of the plurality of nuts 70 may be configured with an internal threaded portion to mate with the threaded end 63 of each of the set of carriage bolts 60 such that the plurality of nuts 70 may be easily installed or removed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0030]From the foregoing, it can be seen that the technology disclosed herein has industrial applicability in a variety of settings such as, but not limited to large bodies of water. While depicted and described in conjunction with a lake, such teachings can also find applicability with other settings in a wide variety of bodies of water.

[0031]FIG. 7 illustrates a visual representation of a method 100 of attaching the plurality of fascia boards 20 to the pier frame 50. The pier frame 50 may be part of the pier section 10, which may be assembled on site at a body of water, or may arrive pre-assembled. In a first step 101, the pier frame 50 and one of the plurality of fascia boards 20 may be provided. The front fascia board 21 is exemplarily described in the method 100, however any of the plurality of fascia boards 20 may similarly be utilized. In the first step 101, the front fascia board 21 may be provided including a T-slot (31, 32) arranged longitudinally and extending along an entire length, the T-slot (31, 32) adapted to receive a carriage bolt 60, and an opening (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) arranged on the T-slot (31, 32) configured to be larger an a head 61 of the carriage bolt 60.

[0032]In a second step 102, the head 61 of the carriage bolt 60 may be inserted in to the opening (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) and slid within the T-slot (31, 32) to a desired location. In a third step 103, the front fascia board 21 may be aligned with the pier frame 50 such that the carriage bolt 60 may be aligned with an aligned hole (51, 52) on the pier frame 50. As depicted in FIGS. 3-6, the pier frame 50 may have a plurality of aligned holes (51, 52). The third step 103 may comprise inserting a plurality of carriage bolts 60 into the opening (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) and sliding the plurality of carriage bolts 60 into the T-slot, and aligning the plurality of carriage bolts 60 with the plurality of aligned holes (51, 52). Where the front fascia board 21 has a plurality of T-slots such as the top T-slot 31 and the bottom T-slot 32, the plurality of aligned holes of the pier frame 50 may be arranged in an alternating configuration along a length of the pier frame 50. As depicted in FIGS. 4-5, the plurality of aligned holes may comprise alternating the locations of the plurality of aligned holes between a hole at a top location aligned with the top T-slot 31 and a bottom location aligned with the bottom T-slot 32. The third step 103 may also comprise inserting the plurality of carriage bolts 60 into the plurality of T-slots (31, 32) and aligning the plurality of carriage bolts 60 with the plurality of aligned holes (51, 52) on the pier frame 50 in the alternating configuration.

[0033]In a fourth step 104, the front fascia board 21 may be pressed against the pier frame 50 such that the carriage bolt 60 is disposed through the aligned hole (51, 52). Where the front fascia board 21 comprises the plurality of carriage bolts 60, each of the plurality of carriage bolts 60 may be disposed to a corresponding one of the plurality of aligned holes (51, 52) in the pier frame 50. In order to secure the front fascia board 21, in a fifth step 105, one of the plurality of nuts 70 may be coupled with the threaded end 63 of the carriage bolt 60 such that the front fascia board 21 is drawn towards and securely held against the pier frame 50.

[0034]Additional ones of the plurality of fascia boards 20 may be desired such that the plurality of fascia boards 20 may be disposed about a periphery of the pier frame 50. In a sixth step 106, the user may determine if additional ones of the plurality of fascia boards 20 are needed to be installed on the pier frame 50. If so, the first step 101 through the fifth step 105 may be repeated for each of the plurality of fascia boards 20. If not, the user may finish construction of the pier structure 14, and may further install the plurality of decking boards 90 on top of the pier frame 50.

[0035]The method 100 of attaching the plurality of fascia boards 20 to the pier frame 50 provides for a simple and effective means for attaching ornamental fascia boards to a pier structure. The plurality of fascia boards 20 are configured such that they may protect a user from impacting against the pier frame 50, and provide a secure attachment means that is not visible from an outside of the pier structure 14 when assembled. In the depicted configuration, each of the elements may be constructed and assembled using simple to manufacture components. However, other materials may be used as required. The method 100 can be adapted to fascia boards of any size to surround pier structures of any size and configuration.

[0036]It should be evident that this disclosure is by way of example and that various changes may be made by adding, modifying or eliminating details without departing from the fair scope of the teaching contained in this disclosure. The invention is therefore not limited to particular details of this disclosure except to the extent that the following claims are necessarily so limited.