Patent ID: 8276344

Claim:
A support system configured to mechanically receive a series of decking components and capture water that ingresses between adjacent decking components into one or more open-top channels defined within one or more components of the support system, the support system comprising: two or more interlocking support structures, wherein each interlocking support structure comprises: a base with a substantially flat surface portion operable to communicate with a support frame; a connection structure for creating a joint when mechanically communicated with a complimentary connection structure of an adjacent interlocking support structure; and at least one integral wall located proximate to the connection structure and extending away from the base in a plane that is angled away from the connection structure, the wall forming one side of a joint channel when the connection structure is in mechanical communication with a complimentary connection structure of an adjacent interlocking support structure; and one or more joint channel covers operable to mechanically couple with a pair of integral walls from adjacent interlocking support structures; wherein when two adjacent interlocking support structures are mechanically coupled such that a joint is created via the communication of complimentary connection structures, a joint channel cover mechanically coupled to a pair of integral walls from the adjacent interlocking support structures operates to form a covered joint channel having a cross sectional profile with a substantially triangular truss geometry, the covered joint channel being defined by the pair of integral walls, the joint channel cover and the joint created via the communication of complimentary connection structures; wherein the joint channel cover is configured such that, when it completes the covered joint channel, water originating from above the joint channel cover is prevented from ingress into the covered joint channel; and wherein one or more open-top channels defined within at least one of the interlocking support structures is operable to receive the ingress of water that originates from above the open-top channel.