Patent ID: 8424260

Claim:
A flooring drainage system, comprising: (a) first and second floor panels each comprising: (i) a top surface; (ii) a bottom surface that is substantially parallel to the top surface; (iii) a first longitudinal surface having a longitudinally-extending tongue protruding therefrom; (iv) a second longitudinal surface having a longitudinally-extending groove extending inwardly therefrom; (v) a first transverse surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal surface and the second longitudinal surface; (vi) a second transverse surface opposite the first transverse surface, the second transverse surface substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal surface and the second longitudinal surface, wherein the first transverse surface and the second transverse surface are substantially shorter in length than the first longitudinal surface and the second longitudinal surface; and (b) at least one drainage assembly defined between the first transverse surface of the first floor panel and the second transverse surface of the second floor panel when the first transverse surface of the first floor panel is positioned substantially adjacent to the second transverse surface of the second floor panel, each of the at least one drainage assemblies defined by: (i) a drainage slot defined on the bottom surface of the first floor panel, the drainage slot extending from the first transverse surface towards the second transverse surface; and (ii) a drainage notch extending into the second transverse surface of the second floor panel and from the top surface of the second floor panel toward the bottom surface of the second floor panel, wherein the drainage notch is substantially aligned with the drainage slot to facilitate entry of water into the drainage slot.