Patent ID: 7021012

Claim:
Watertight decking, comprising: a first end panel, a second end panel, and at least one intermediate panel disposed between said first and second end panels, each of said panels being a rigid, load-bearing extrusion having a generally flat, planar upper surface and a bottom surface opposite said upper surface; said first end panel and said at least one intermediate panel each further including: a first attachment edge; a tongue extending along said first attachment edge; a channel having a channel first wall depending from each said first attachment edge, and having an upper edge and a lower edge opposite said upper edge thereof; said channel having a channel floor extending from said lower edge of said channel first wall, and having a first wall edge and a second wall edge opposite said first wall edge thereof; said channel having a channel second wall extending from said second wall edge of said channel floor, spaced apart from and generally parallel to said channel first wall, and having a lower edge and an upper edge opposite said lower edge thereof with said upper edge spaced apart from said first attachment edge; an attachment flange extending outwardly from said lower edge of said channel second wall, generally coplanar with said channel floor; said second end panel and said at least one intermediate panel each further including: a second attachment edge; a groove disposed along said second attachment edge, engaging said tongue of said first attachment edge of said first end panel and said at least one intermediate panel when assembled therewith; and a drip rail depending downwardly from the bottom surface of said second end panel and said at least one intermediate panel and spaced apart from said groove and said second attachment edge thereof, the drip rail extending into said channel of said first end panel and said at least one intermediate panel and bearing against said channel second wall and wedging said groove of said second attachment edge tightly against said tongue of said first attachment edge; thereby forming a tongue and groove assembly and preventing relative lateral movement between adjoining panels when at least two of said first end panel, said second end panel, and said at least one intermediate panel are assembled together.