Patent ID: 7415801

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 the upper surface; said first end panel and said intermediate panel each having: a first attachment edge; a channel support leg sloping from the bottom surface, set back from the first attachment edge and extending therebelow, said channel support leg having a lower edge; an adjacent panel fulcrum flange sloping upwardly from the lower edge of said channel support leg, said first attachment edge, said channel support leg, and said adjacent panel fulcrum flange defining an adjacent attachment edge groove; a channel first wall depending from the lower edge of said channel support leg, said channel first wall having an upper edge and a lower edge opposite the upper edge thereof; a channel second wall connected to the lower edge of said channel first wall and spaced apart from said channel first wall, said channel second wall having a lower edge and an upper edge opposite said lower edge thereof, said upper edge spaced apart from said first attachment edge, a channel floor extending between the lower edge of said channel first wall and the lower edge of said channel second wall, the floor connecting said channel first wall and said channel second wall defining a channel therebetween; an attachment flange extending outwardly from the lower edge of said channel second wall, generally parallel to said panel; said second end panel and said at least one intermediate panel each further including: an offset second attachment edge tongue, engaging said adjacent attachment edge groove of said first end panel and said intermediate panel when assembled therewith; and a drip rail depending from said second end panel and said intermediate panel and spaced apart from said second attachment edge tongue thereof, extending into said channel of said first end panel and said intermediate panel and bearing against said channel second wall and wedging said second attachment edge tongue tightly within said adjacent attachment edge groove of the adjacent said panel, 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.