Patent ID: 8919068

Claim:
A joint device for an exterior floor covering, the joint device comprising: a body portion, wherein the body portion is disposed between an upper portion and a lower portion of the joint device; at least two tongue portions extending from the body portion in opposite directions transverse to a longitudinal direction of the joint device, the tongue portions being adapted for positioning between one or more panels of an exterior floor covering; wherein the joint device is adapted for outdoor use and adapted for securing portions of the exterior floor covering to portions of an underlying surface; and wherein the joint device is adapted to drain liquid from between adjacent floor panels, wherein the upper portion of the joint device comprises an upper surface of the tongue portions as well as a centrally located concave portion adapted for channeling the liquid to be drained; wherein the body portion is elevated by support portions formed by legs extending from the body portion in an opposite direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the joint device and underneath the tongue portions such that a collection space for the liquid to be drained is formed vertically underneath the concave portion; and wherein the joint device comprises at least one porous section adapted for draining the liquid, or wherein the body portion is adapted to pass liquid into a collection space below the joint device.