Modular decking assembly

A modular decking assembly for defining a floor to stand upon includes a plurality of panels that each has a tongue and a groove. The tongue on each of the panels releasably engages the groove on an adjacent one of the panels. In this way the panels can be coupled together to define a support surface for standing or sitting. Each of the panels is positionable on the ground and each of the panels is comprised of a fluid impermeable material to inhibit people's feet from getting wet during standing. A plurality of pins is provided and each of the pins is extendable through a respective panel and engages an adjacent panel for removably coupling the panels together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure and prior art relates to decking devices and more particularly pertains to a new decking device for defining a floor to stand upon.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of panels that each has a tongue and a groove. The tongue on each of the panels releasably engages the groove on an adjacent one of the panels. In this way the panels can be coupled together to define a support surface for standing or sitting. Each of the panels is positionable on the ground and each of the panels is comprised of a fluid impermeable material to inhibit people's feet from getting wet during standing. A plurality of pins is provided and each of the pins is extendable through a respective panel and engages an adjacent panel for removably coupling the panels together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 11, the modular decking assembly10generally comprises a plurality of panels12, and each of the panels12has a tongue14and a groove16. The tongue14on each of the panels12releasably engages the groove16on an adjacent one of the panels12. In this way the panels12can be coupled together to define a support surface18for standing or sitting. Each of the panels12is positionable on the ground and each of the panels12is comprised of a fluid impermeable material. In this way the panels12inhibit people's feet from getting wet during standing.

Each of the panels12has a top surface20, a bottom surface22and a perimeter edge24extending therebetween, and the perimeter edge24of each of the panels12has a first lateral side26and a second lateral side28. The groove16in each of the panels12extends downwardly into the top surface20, and the groove16is spaced from and is coextensive with the first lateral side26. The tongue14on each of the panels12extends downwardly from the bottom surface22, and the tongue14is spaced from and is coextensive with the second lateral side28.

Each of the panels12has an aperture30extending through the top surface20and the bottom surface22. The aperture30has a tubular portion32and a pair of keyed portions34each extending away from the tubular portion32. Moreover, the aperture30extends through the tongue14. Each of the panels12has a well36extending downwardly into the top surface20and the well36is positioned in the groove16. The aperture30is aligned with the well36in an adjacent panel12when tongue14of one panel is positioned in the groove16on the adjacent panel12.

The bottom surface22has a plurality of depressions38therein and each of the depressions38extends across a full width of the panel12. The depressions38are spaced apart from each other and are distributed between the first lateral side26and the second lateral side28of the perimeter edge24of the panel12. Thus, a plurality of ridges40is defined on the bottom surface22. The depressions38accommodate water, mud or other viscous material when the panel12is placed on the ground thereby inhibiting the panel12from floating.

A plurality of pins42is provided and each of the pins42is extendable through a respective panel12and engages an adjacent panel12. In this way the panels12are removably coupled together. Each of the pins42has a pair of keys44each extending away from a shaft46. The shaft46extends through the tubular portion32of the aperture30having each of the keys44extending through a respective one of the keyed portions34of the aperture30. The shaft46extends into the well36in the adjacent panel12. Moreover, the pin42is rotatable into a locking position having each of keys44being offset from the respective keyed portions34of the aperture30. In this way the pin42is inhibited from being removed from the aperture30. Each of the pins42may have a head45which has a recess47for an allen wrench or the like.

As is most clearly shown inFIG. 10, the plurality of panels12includes at least one corner panel48. The tongue14on the at least one corner panel48is aligned with and is coextensive with a front side50of the perimeter edge24of the at least one corner panel48. In this way the at least one corner panel48can define one of four corners of the support surface18defined by the panels12when the panels12are attached together.

As is most clearly shown inFIG. 9, the plurality of panels12includes at least one middle panel52. The at least one middle panel52has a tongue14that is aligned with and is coextensive with the front side50of the perimeter edge24of the at least one middle panel52. In this way the at least one middle panel52can define a middle of a front edge54or a middle of a back edge56of the support surface18defined by the panels12when the panels12are attached together.

In use, the plurality of panels12are laid on the ground prior to a dance, party or other outdoor event involving many people standing or sitting on the support surface18. The tongue14on each panel is positioned in the groove16of an adjacent panel12to define the support surface18for the people to stand upon and to sit upon. Additionally, each of the pins42is extended through the panels12to inhibit the panels12from being separated from each other. In this way the panels12facilitate a dry surface on which the people can stand or sit. The panels12are uncoupled from each other and are packet away when the outdoor event is finished.