Abstract:
A deck drainage system having a plurality of channeled drainage panels. The drainage panels are mounted to direct water flow transversely of the deck joists to a gutter, the panels connected to and suspended from the underside of the joists. The gutter is mounted transversely across the discharge ends of the drainage panels to collect water therefrom and direct it to a down spout. Drainage panels, which are rectangular with the individual drainage channels extending lengthwise, may be overlapped both lengthwise and widthwise to fit the perimeter of the deck.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention concerns drainage systems. More particularly, the invention is directed to a drainage system specifically designed to drain water dripping between floor boards of outdoor decks. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   As outdoor decks have become more popular, efforts to fully utilize the area below the decks have generally been limited as the floor boards and joists of a typically constructed deck allow water to drip through and onto the area beneath the deck. Accordingly, deck drainage systems have been devised to capture and channel water away from the area below the deck. While these systems are generally effective, they suffer from two major drawbacks. First, the systems are difficult and time consuming to install, often requiring custom built drainage sections. Second, the systems are expensive. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,316 issued to Davis, et al. discloses one such drainage system. The system includes a plurality of U-shaped drainage sections, each of the sections having a width corresponding to the spacing of the floor joists of the deck. Installation is effected by securing the drainage panel to opposing interior sides of adjacent joists. While this system does conserve some “headroom” it suffers from the drawback in that one drainage panel is required for every two floor joists, which substantially increases installation time. Also, improper construction will result in leakage between the side of the joist and the edge of the drainage panel. Caulking or other sealant may be needed over time regardless of the method used to join drainage panels to floor joists. 
   Another deck drainage system that collects and channels water running through the cracks in a deck floor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,883 to Thibodeau. Thibodeau utilizes a plurality of prefabricated gutters designed to be installed while the deck is under construction. Each gutter is fabricated with a base that slopes downwardly from one end to the other to facilitate the flow of water. The gutters rest between and on the deck joists, supported by flanges extending outwardly from the upstanding side members. This system suffers from the drawback that the gutters must be manufactured at one site and then transported to the installation site. Once installed, Thibodeau&#39;s drainage system may not be removed without extensive destruction of the deck. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,502 to Mickelsen discloses a drainage system for decks that may be installed on existing decks. Mickelsen utilizes gutter hangers fastened at an incline to the interior surface of two adjacent deck joists. A gutter panel is then coupled between the two gutter hangers. As in Thibodeau, Mickelsen requires the gutter hangers and panels to be custom fabricated at one site and then transported to the installation site. Additionally, the deck joists remain visible in both designs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a deck drainage system having a plurality of channeled drainage panels. The drainage panels are mounted to direct water flow transversely of the deck joists to a gutter, the panels connected to and suspended from the underside of the joists. The gutter is mounted transversely across the discharge ends of the drainage panels to collect water therefrom and direct it to one or more down spouts. Drainage panels, which are rectangular with the individual drainage channels extending lengthwise, may be overlapped both lengthwise and widthwise to fit the perimeter of the deck. 
   It is a major object of this invention to provide an improved deck drainage system. 
   It is another object to provide a deck drainage system which is modular and adaptable to fit any size deck. 
   It is another object to provide a deck drainage system comprised of a plurality of identically sized drainage panels, each having a predetermined number of water drainage channels. 
   It is another object to provide a deck drainage system which can be installed beneath virtually any deck and does not require any customization. 
   Finally, it is a general goal of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
   The present invention meets or exceeds all the above objects and goals. Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one of the drainage panels of the modular deck drainage system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side cross sectional view of a deck employing the drainage control system of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a deck employing the drainage control system of the invention. 
     FIG.  4 (A) shows a plan view, partly in section, of three drainage panels arranged end to end in accordance with one aspect of the invention. 
     FIG.  4 (B) shows a side view, partly in section, of the drainage panels in FIG.  4 ( a ), illustrating the variable overlap of adjacent end to end panels. 
       FIG. 5  shows an end view, partly in section, detailing the connection of a gutter. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the modular deck drainage system of the present invention, generally indicated by the numeral  10 , is shown in position on a deck  12 .  FIG. 3  depicts a typical deck construction having a main support frame comprising four support beams  20  arranged in a rectangular configuration and connected at their ends. The deck  12  is raised, relative to the ground, by connecting the frame to additional support members (not shown), the additional support members connected to a primary structure such as a house. A plurality of elongated, parallel, generally rectangular deck joists  22  are connected between the support beams  20  at regularly spaced intervals. 
   Transversely disposed across the top edges  24  of the joists  22 , in spaced relation so as to provide a series of parallel drainage cracks, are a plurality of floor boards  25 . The drainage cracks allow water to drain from the floor boards to prevent undesirable pooling of water on the deck  12 , and to minimize the amount of time water is in contact with the wood, which increases the lifespan of the deck  12  and reduces required maintenance. Often, however, it is desirable to construct another living space beneath the deck  12  such as an enclosed porch, and thus there is a need to control water flowing through the drainage cracks. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a plurality of drainage sheets  30  are employed to form a drainage surface  28  to capture and redirect water draining from the deck  12 . The sheets  30  are substantially rectangular and have at least three drainage channels  32  formed therein, the channels having a substantially triangular cross-sectional profile. Preferably, the drainage panels  30  are formed of a semi rigid, deformable material such as aluminum or PVC plastic which is creased to form channels  32 . The resulting panel  30  is deformable allowing the width thereof to be adjusted. Intermediate flat regions  31  disposed between and serving to connect adjacent channels  32  facilitate connection of the upper surface of panel  30  to the bottom surfaces of joists  22  by providing a flat surface area for flush mounting at the attachment points to the floor joists  22 .It can be seen that each panel  30  has a total of five folds with the “lower” folds  35  having no flat region and the “upper” folds having flat regions  31 , the geometric variance allowing a user to quickly discern the intended top side of the panel  30 . Also, the flat regions  31  allow for ease of forming apertures and inserting the fastening means  23 . It can be appreciated that any apertures formed should be uniform to allow for insertion of a selected standard sized fastening means therethrough so as to form a water tight connection between panel  30  and joist  22 . The top side  33  of each drainage panel would be the side having flat regions  31 , with the reverse side or underside having a standard corrugated panel fold  35  with no flat region. It can be appreciated that folds  35  would essentially form the bottom of the “trough” which conducts water to gutter  42 . Thus, if the panel  30  need be pre-stained or painted to a specific color, the top side  33 . which would not be visible as it faces the underside of th deck  20 , need not be painted. 
   The drainage panels  30  are mounted beneath the joists  22  and securely fastened to the lower edges  36 ,  38  of the joists  22  and support beams  20 , respectively as by nails, screws, or other mechanical fasteners  23 . It can be seen that the channels  32  of drainage panels  30  run perpendicular to the joists  22 , obviating the need for placing caulking or other sealant between the joist  22  and the panel  30 , which are typically fabricated from dissimilar materials as in many prior deck drainage systems. To reduce any possibility of leakage between adjacent panels  30  placed in side by side relation, and to adjust the collective width of the panels  30  to fit the size of the deck  12 , the panels  30  may be arranged in partially overlapped relation by nesting at least one channel  32  within another as shown in FIG.  2 . In lieu of the overlapped placement, and to reduce the number of drainage panels  30  needed, adjacent side by side panels  30  may be caulked along overlapped edge portions  39 , or otherwise sealed to ensure a water tight drainage surface  28 . To reduce the possibility of leakage between adjacent panels  30  placed end to end as shown in  FIG. 4 , the panels  30  may be overlapped so that a portion of each upstream panel overlies a portion of an adjacent downstream panel. Of course caulking or other means may be used to effect a seal between adjacent end to end panels  30 . Thus, each successive panel  30  in the flow direction, as indicated by arrow  45 , is placed beneath its predecessor. It can be appreciated that the flow direction  45  must be established to ensure one way water flow within channels  32  of the drainage panels  30 . In order to facilitate one way flow, the panels  30  must be inclined so that the discharge end  47  of the drainage surface  28  is at a lower point than collection end  49 . In the event the deck  12  is already inclined to ensure water flow away from the supporting structure, as is usually the case, the surface formed by panels  30  need only be parallel to the surface formed by floor boards  25 . Various techniques may be employed to establish that floor boards  25  and panels  30  are mutually parallel, as would be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
   Attached to the bottom edge  38  of support beam  20  and depending therefrom, in water tight relation, is a mounting flange  51  formed at one edge of a gutter  42 . The gutter  42  has a downwardly depending sidewall  53 , a bottom panel  55 , and a sidewall  57  having an arcuate cross section. The gutter  42  bridges the gap between discharge end  47  and support beam  20 . Water may flow in either direction along the gutter  42 , where it is directed to down spouts  44 . 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, drainage panels  30  are packaged together with fasteners  23 , panels  30 , and gutters  42 , as well as various end pieces and down spouts  44  as is known in the art. As decks  12  come in various sizes, drainage panels  30  may be selectively overlapped along both their width and their length, and compressed along their width in accordion like fashion. The packaged materials are preferably marked to indicate the maximum square footage for which coverage can be obtained. 
   In operation, once the area of the deck  12  is determined, pre-packaged materials having the appropriate number of drainage panels  30  can be purchased. The panels  30  are then fastened to the undersides of joists  22  and support beams  20 , overlapping lengthwise and widthwise as required to fit the area of the deck  12 . Gutter  42  and down spouts  44  are then attached using conventional materials and techniques. 
   From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims: