Patent ID: 8469625

Claim:
A drainage joint for a traffic bearing systemg having adjacent water impermeable pads in a segmental mat, the drainage joint comprising: an elongate rectangular body positionable between the adjacent water impermeable pads and having an upper side, and a lower side configured to contact a water permeable base extending horizontally under the segmental mat, the upper side including a top edge of the elongate rectangular body and the lower side including a bottom edge of the elongate rectangular body; and the elongate rectangular body defining a longitudinal body axis located vertically half way between the top and bottom edges and extending between a first and a second body end of the elongate rectangular body; the elongate rectangular body further having a set of upwardly oriented legs, a set of downwardly oriented legs, and a bridge joining the sets of legs in an H-configuration; the elongate rectangular body further having a first outer face and a second outer face each extending vertically from the top edge to the bottom edge and axially from the first end to the second end, and each being located in part on one of the upwardly oriented legs and in part on one of the downwardly oriented legs; the first and second outer faces each being planar and rectangular such that the top edge and the bottom edge are parallel; an inlet channel being defined by the set of upwardly oriented legs and extending axially between the first and second body ends, an outlet channel being defined by the set of downwardly oriented legs and also extending axially between the first and second body ends, and the bridge defining a plurality of vertical drainage conduits fluidly communicating between the inlet channel and the outlet channel, such that the drainage joint is configured to drain water from the inlet channel to the outlet channel under the force of gravity; and a serviceable debris guard resident within the inlet channel and extending vertically from the bridge to the top edge of the elongate rectangular body.