Patent Grant
7434358
The present invention generally relates to water drainage for decks on residential houses and other buildings, and more particularly, to a panel assembly for use in providing an underdeck water drainage system and for other applications such as wall panels, ceiling panels, and decorative exterior panels such as trailer and mobile home skirts and the like.
Decks made of parallel planking are often constructed at residential houses and other buildings to provide an outdoor living or gathering area. Sometimes these decks are elevated on pilings or supports so that the deck can be accessed from an above-ground level. In such cases of an elevated deck, a space is necessarily provided below the deck. This space may or may not be usable for other purposes, but often receives water that drains through spaces in the deck planking during rain events or cleaning.
A conventional deck construction provides openings between adjacent deck boards or planks forming the deck surface so that water will fall through the openings and not accumulate on the deck surface. However, the area under the deck, which may be used as a second patio or storage area, is exposed to the elements of nature, particularly rain that passes through the openings in the deck. This severely limits the use of the space under the deck. It may be desirable to otherwise collect or divert this water to thereby make the underdeck area dry and usable for other purposes such as storage or recreation.
Various types of water drainage systems for decks are known in the art. Many of these known systems have proven at least partially effective for creating dry and usable spaces below decks. But many of the known systems have certain drawbacks and leave room for improvement. For example, the known DRY•B•LO system (http://www.dri-b-lo.com), which is believed shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,511,351 and 5,765,328, provides a plurality of flexible panels made of a web material mounted side-by-side in succession in overlapping relationship, straddling adjacent deckjoists. Installation of this system requires extensive manual labor, with many multiple fasteners, and is thus expensive and time-consuming to install. Although the structure is advertised as readily disgorging debris because of its flexible nature, its permanent mounting nature makes it difficult to readily remove, clean, and replace with the same panels.
The known system provided by the Underdeck Company, Plymouth, Minn. requires four separate components—a joist rail, collector panels, joist gutters, and boundary gutters. It is believed that this company's products are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,308,479, 6,226,956 and 6,212,887. One issue with this system is the diversion of water towards the joist gutters. Heavy accumulation of water from rainfall is directed toward the joists, which have joist gutters to carry away the water. If the water flow is heavy, it can seep over the edges of the joist gutter mounting structure and contact with the wood of the joist. Over time, this may result in damage to the bottom edges of the joists. Furthermore, this design results in visible joist gutters and does not permit a flat, flush appearance of ceiling and water drainage system. Further still, special collector panels are required for this system if a deck has inconsistent joist spacing, the joist rails are difficult to install at the edges, the panels easily dent and crease, and deck railing post fasteners and support braces can interfere with installation.
The known DRYSPACE system, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,785, involves use of joist covers and separate F-brackets that must be mounted to the bottom of a deck joist, with the F-brackets supporting V-shaped panels. The material of the F-brackets is relatively thin and weak, and may not support a significant water load on the panels. Furthermore, it is possible that during heavy rainfall, water can seep inwardly of the panels into the F-brackets and over the top edge of the F-brackets into the joist covers where it can contact the wood of the joists. This can result in damage to the joists over time.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,941 describes an undercover system mounted below and separate from the deck frame that serves to keep water and debris passing through the deck structure off of the prescribed area. While different mounting arrangements are contemplated, the undercover system in this patent is typically mounted between the wall of a building and posts holding the deck frame. Because the undercover system is separate from the deck frame, the drainage surface must be fairly rigid and self-supporting to carry the water as well as the weight of the panels that drain the water. Furthermore, this system requires a 4 inch to 7 inch space between the bottom of the deck and the panels, which can diminish the amount of overhead room in certain applications.
Some deck drainage systems require installation before the decking planks are installed. The Rainescape system (http://www.rainescape.com) is one such system. Such systems are clearly inconvenient for preconstructed decks, as the decking must be removed in order to install the drainage system.
The system shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,415,571 and 6,385,931 provides a plurality of trapezoid-shaped panels that are fastened to joist ends. Significant sealing and caulking may be required along the extensive seams in this approach to prevent leakage, which is time-consuming and difficult to create a smooth appearance.
Other approaches to underdeck water drainage are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,065,883; 5,195,281; 6,308,479; 6,164,019; and D466,596.
With many of these known underdeck drainage systems, over a period of time, the drainage panel may be degraded and/or damaged, and there may be leaves and/or other debris accumulated on the drainage panel surface so that the panel surfaces become clogged. However, it is difficult or a least inconvenient to remove, clean, and/or replace components in many of these known drainage systems.
There is thus a need for an underdeck drainage system that is easy to install, easy to remove, and therefore easy to maintain and/or clean. There is a need for a system that can be used for new deck construction as well as aftermarket installation on preconstructed decks. There is a need for a system that can readily accommodate inconsistent joist spacing and the presence of railing post fasteners and support braces, and does not require separate special panels. There is also a need for a system that minimizes water contact with joists and other wood components of a deck to prolong the life of the joists and other components. The present invention addresses many of these unfulfilled needs.
The above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, which, in one aspect, relates to an underdeck water drainage system for mounting beneath a deck assembly, where the deck assembly has spaced floor boards extending over a predetermined surface area, the spaced floor boards are supported by a plurality of parallel, regularly-spaced joists. According to an aspect of the invention, the drainage system is for mounting beneath a deck assembly, the deck assembly having spaced floor boards extending over a predetermined surface area, the spaced floor boards being supported by a plurality of usually parallel spaced-apart joists. The underdeck drainage system includes a plurality of joist brackets, mountable to and across (perpendicular to) the plurality of joists, a plurality of drainage panels, a plurality of panel brackets connecting the plurality of drainage panels, and a plurality of stackable joist bracket spacers mountable to the plurality of joist brackets for providing slope or pitch to the drainage panels. The drainage panels direct water to gutters mounted at an end of the assembly, typically along an edge of the deck.
In one aspect, each of the plurality of joist brackets has a bottom portion, an opposite top portion, at least one notched receptacle extending widthwise on the bottom portion at a predetermined position, a pair of notched grooves lengthwise formed on the top portion, and a plurality of obround openings regularly formed on the top portion. The notched receptacle is for receiving and supporting the panel brackets. The notched grooves are for receiving stackable joist bracket spacers.
According to one aspect of the joist brackets, each of the plurality of joist brackets further comprises a first end, an opposite second end, at least one dovetailed peg formed on the first end, and at least one dovetailed notch formed on the second end such that when two joist brackets are joined, the at least one dovetailed peg of the first joist bracket is received in and engaged with the at least one dovetailed notch of the second joist bracket, for connecting multiple joist brackets together to extend the length.
According to another aspect of the joist brackets, each of the plurality of joist brackets further comprises a first end, an opposite second end, at least one tenon formed on the first end, and at least one mortise formed on the second end such that when two joist brackets are joined, the at least one tenon of the first joist bracket is received in and engaged with the at least one mortise of the second joist bracket.
According to one aspect of an embodiment of the drainage panels, each of the drainage panels has a first edge and an opposite second edge, and a first flange and an opposite second flange extending outward and widthwise from the first edge and the second edge, respectively. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of drainage panels includes a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a plurality of ridges lengthwise protruding from the first surface to form a plurality of drainage channels thereon, a first flange and a second flange with a number of protrusions lengthwise formed on flange surfaces.
In one embodiment, each of the plurality of panel brackets has a first surface, an opposite second surface, a U-shaped peg lengthwise protruding from the first surface, a first U-shaped notched receptacle and an opposite second U-shaped notched receptacle defined between the first surface and the second surface, the notched receptacles for receiving and supporting drainage panels. The U-shaped peg is for affixing into, slidably and/or by snap-in, the receptacle in the joist brackets.
In another embodiment, each of the U-shaped receptacles of the plurality of the panel brackets has a number of grooves lengthwise formed therein such that, in operation, the number of protrusions on the flange surfaces of the drainage panel are received in and engaged with a corresponding number of grooves of the panel brackets, respectively.
In one aspect of the joist bracket spacers, each of the plurality of joist bracket spacers has a frame, an obround ring forming an obround opening, and a plurality of ribs connecting and supporting the ring and the frame. In another aspect, each of the plurality of joist bracket spacers further has a first end portion, an opposite second end portion, a first pair of openings and a first pair of pegs formed on the first end portion, and a second pair of openings and a second pair of pegs formed on the second end portion, where the first pair of pegs and the second pair of pegs are respectively offset from the first pair of openings and the second pair of openings such that when two identical joist bracket spacers are joined, the first pair of pegs and the second pair of pegs of one of two joist bracket spacers are received in and engaged with the first pair of openings and the second pair of openings of the other joist bracket spacer, respectively.
In a further aspect of the joist bracket spacers, each of the plurality of joist bracket spacers further includes a first surface, an opposite, second surface, a opening formed through the first surface and the second surface at a predetermined position, a pair of notched grooves formed on the first surface, and a pair of notched pegs formed on the second surface at corresponding positions of the pair of notched grooves such that when two identical joist bracket spacers are joined, a pair of notched pegs of one of two joist bracket spacers are received in and engaged with a pair of notched grooves of the other joist bracket spacer, respectively.
When an underdeck drainage system according to aspects of the invention is in operation, the first flange and the second flange of each of the plurality of drainage panels are received in the U-shaped notched receptacle of one of the plurality of panel brackets and the second U-shaped notched receptacle of another panel bracket, respectively. The U-shaped pegs of the plurality of panel brackets are received in corresponding notched receptacles of the plurality of joist brackets, respectively. The plurality of drainage panels are engaged with the plurality of panel brackets, which, in turn, are engaged with the plurality of joist brackets.
In one embodiment, when the joist bracket spacers are in operation, the first pair of pegs and the second pair of pegs of one of the plurality of joist bracket spacers are received in and engaged with the pair of notched grooves of another one of the plurality of joist brackets, respectively. In another embodiment, when these joist bracket spacers are in operation, the pair of notched pegs of one of the plurality of joist bracket spacers are received in and engaged with the pair of notched grooves of one of the plurality of joist bracket such that the second surface of the corresponding joist bracket spacer is substantially in contact with the top portion of the corresponding joist bracket, and the opening of the corresponding joist bracket spacer is substantially coincident or aligned with one of the plurality of obround opening of the corresponding joist bracket.
Advantageously, by mounting the joist brackets across (perpendicular) to a plurality of underdeck joists, it does not matter about the spacing of the joists, whether the spacing is regular or inconsistent. A system constructed in accordance with the invention is not dependent on particular joist spacing and can be readily adapted for many applications.
In one embodiment, the drainage system further comprises a trim channel cover mountable to a discharging end of the plurality of drainage panels to collect water therefrom and direct it to a downspout. In another embodiment, the trim channel cover comprises a gutter.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a drainage system for mounting beneath a deck assembly, where the deck assembly has spaced floor boards extending over a predetermined surface area, the spaced floor boards are supported by a plurality of generally parallel joists. In one aspect, the underdeck drainage system comprises a plurality of joist brackets mountable to the plurality of joists, where each of the plurality of the joist brackets has a bottom portion, an opposite, top portion, at least one notched receptacle widthwise protruding from the bottom portion at a predetermined position, a pair of notched grooves lengthwise formed on the top portion, and a plurality of obround openings regularly formed through the top portion. In another aspect of the joist brackets, each of the plurality of the joist brackets further comprises a first end, an opposite, second end, at least one dovetailed peg formed on the first end, and at least one dovetailed notch formed on the second end such that when two joist brackets are joined, the at least one dovetailed peg of one of two joist brackets is received in and engaged with the at least one dovetailed notch of the other joist bracket. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of joist brackets further comprise a first end, an opposite second end, at least one tenon formed on the first end, and at least one mortise formed on the second end such that when two joist brackets are joined, the at least tenon of one of two joist brackets is received in and engaged with the at least one mortise of the other joist bracket.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the underdeck drainage system comprises a plurality of drainage panels having a flange along one edge and a flange receptacle or bracket along another edge. In this embodiment, each of the plurality of the drainage panels has a first edge, an opposite second edge, a flange widthwise extending from the first edge, and a panel bracket or receptacle widthwise extending from the second edge. The panel bracket or receptacle is preferably a U-shaped notched receptacle parallel to the drainage panel and a U-shaped peg protruding perpendicularly and lengthwise from a junction of the second edge and the panel bracket. The U-shaped peg is received, slidably or by snap-in, corresponding receptacle in joist brackets.
In another embodiment of the drainage panels, each of the drainage panels comprises a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a plurality of ridges lengthwise protruding from the first surface to form a plurality of drainage channels thereon. In yet another embodiment, the flange of a drainage panel has a number of protrusions lengthwise formed on flange surfaces, and the U-shaped notched receptacle of the drainage panel has a number of grooves lengthwise formed therein. In a further embodiment, when two drainage panels are connected, the number of protrusions on the flange surfaces of one of two drainage panels are received in and engaged with the number of grooves of the U-shaped notched receptacle of the other drainage panel.
According to another aspect of the invention, the underdeck drainage system comprises a plurality of joist bracket spacers mountable to the plurality of joist brackets for setting up a pitch or slope of the drainage system. In another aspect, each of the plurality of joist bracket spacers comprises a frame, a ring forming an opening, and a plurality of ribs connecting the ring and the frame. In another aspect, the plurality of joist bracket spacers further comprises a first end portion, an opposite, second end portion, a first pair of openings and a first pair of pegs formed on the first end portion, and a second pair of openings and a second pair of pegs formed on the second end portion, wherein the first pair of pegs and the second pair of pegs are respectively offset from the first pair of openings and the second pair of openings such that when two joist bracket spacers are joined, the first pair of pegs and the second pair of pegs of one of two joist bracket spacers are received in and engaged with a first pair of openings and the second pair of openings of the other joist bracket spacer, respectively.
In a further aspect of the joist bracket spacers, the first pair of pegs and the second pair of pegs of one of the plurality of joist bracket spacers are received in and engaged with the pair of notched grooves and of one of the plurality of joist brackets, respectively. In yet another aspect, each of the plurality of joist bracket spacers has a first surface, an opposite second surface, a opening formed through the first surface and the second surface at a predetermined position, a pair of notched grooves formed on the first surface, and a pair of notched pegs and formed on the second surface at corresponding positions of the pair of notched grooves such that when two joist bracket spacers are joined, a pair of notched pegs of one of two joist bracket spacers are received in and engaged with a pair of notched grooves of the other joist bracket spacer, respectively.
In yet a further aspect of the joist bracket spacers, the pair of notched pegs of one of the plurality of joist bracket spacers are received in and engaged with the pair of notched grooves of one of the plurality of joist brackets such that the second surface of the corresponding joist bracket spacer is substantially in contact with the top portion of the corresponding joist bracket, and the opening of the corresponding joist bracket spacer is substantially coincident or aligned with one of the plurality of obround openings of the corresponding joist bracket.
In one embodiment, the underdeck drainage system further includes a trim or end channel cover mounted to one end of the drainage panels (the higher or nondischarging end), and a gutter system at the other end of the drainage panels (the lower or discharging end) to collect the water and direct it to a downspout.
The components of the underdeck drainage system, such as the plurality of joist brackets, the plurality of drainage panels, the plurality of panel brackets, the plurality of joist bracket spacers, and the trim channel cover are made of generally rigid material such as plastic, metal, or the like.
The present invention, as decorative panel system, is not limited to providing a water-draining underdeck system. The panel system can also be used for other purposes, such as for walls, ceilings, and decorative or space-concealing members for mobile home skirting, deck or room sides, porches, and the like. According to another aspect of the invention, therefore, the panel system is used to provide a wall panel system, a ceiling system, or a skirting system for covering an area of interest. According to this aspect, the skirting system comprises a plurality of support brackets mountable in the area of interest and a plurality of panels mountable to the plurality of support brackets. In another embodiment, the skirting system further comprises a plurality of panel brackets adapted for connecting two adjacent panels and engaging the connected panels with the plurality of support brackets.
The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended to be illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are now described in detail. Refer now to the drawings, where like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
Referring now to
When the underdeck drainage system 10 is assembled, the drainage panels 13 are connected and supported by the panel brackets 15. The panel brackets 15 are preferably first attached to the underside of the joist brackets 11 by sliding engagement or by snapping in, and the drainage panels are then slid into the panel brackets. Alternatively, an assembly of panel brackets that have already been engaged by drainage panels can be affixed to the joist brackets 11.
The joist brackets 11 are attached to underside of the joists 20 with or without the joist bracket spacers 17, but preferably with spacers 17 provided in progressively larger stacks to provide a pitch for drainage. The joist bracket spacers 17 provide a pitch for the drainage panels 13 so one end of the drainage panel is higher than the other end where the water will be collected into a gutter system 19. For example, as shown in
The joist brackets 11 are fastened to the underside of the joists 20 of the of the deck assembly with either hot dipped galvanized screws/nails or stainless steel screws/nails according to one embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the joist brackets 11 are fastened transversely across (perpendicularly) to the underside of the joists 20, but could be attached at any angle. The gutter system 19 is installed transversely across the discharging end of the plurality of drainage panels 13 to collect water therefrom and direct it to a downspout 22. A U-shaped channel member 24 is provided to support the edge of the drainage panels adjacent the house, and provide a water barrier.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In order to affix the drainage panels 130 to a joist bracket bar, a first flange 134 of a drainage panel 130a is inserted into a first U-shaped notched receptacle 154 of a panel bracket 150, and a second flange 136 of another drainage panel 130b is inserted into a second U-shaped notched receptacle 156 of the panel bracket 150. The flanges may be snapped into place by direct insertion, or may be slidingly engaged. The drainage panels 130a, 130b and drainage panel brackets 150 form a water shield with an alternate pattern such as one drainage panel 130a, one drainage panel bracket 150, another drainage panel 130b, another drainage panel bracket 150, and so on. The U-shaped pegs 157 of the panel brackets 150 of this water shield are then installed into corresponding notched receptacles 117 of joist brackets 110, by snapping into place or by sliding engagement. Optionally, a plurality of the joist bracket spacers 170 can be installed between joists and the joist bracket bars to form a pitch for the drainage panels 130.
Referring now to
According to an aspect of the invention, a joist bracket 110 also includes a plurality of notched receptacles 117 extending across the width of the bracket from a bottom portion 115a of the body 115 at a predetermined position and adapted for receiving the U-shaped pegs of a drainage panel bracket 150. According to another aspect, a joist bracket 110 also includes a pair of notched grooves 119a and 119b extending lengthwise along the top portion 115b adapted for attaching one or more joist bracket spacers 170 (not shown in
When the joist brackets 110 of this aspect are in use, they are joined together by sliding the dovetailed peg 112 of the first end 111 of one joist bracket 110 to the dovetailed notch 114 of the second end of 113 of another joist bracket 110 to form a joist bracket bar in a length substantially equal to the length of the deck assembly. Several joist bracket bars may be needed to form the underdeck drainage system. More joist bracket bars may be required for a large size deck assembly and the joist bracket bars are spaced at a predetermined distance for supporting the drainage panels 130.
The top portion 115b of the joist bracket 110 has a pair of notched grooves 119a and 119b extending lengthwise, for receiving a first pair of pegs 173a and a second pair of pegs 173b of the joist bracket spacers 170 (e.g. see
A joist bracket 410 of the type shown in
When the joist brackets 410 are in use, they are snapped together by joining the first end 411 of a joist bracket 410 to the second end of 413 of another joist bracket 410 to form a joist bracket bar in a length substantially equal to the length of the deck assembly. Several joist bracket bars may be needed to form the underdeck drainage system. More joist bracket bars may be required for large size deck assembly and the joist bracket bars are spaced at a predetermined distance for supporting the drainage panels 130.
Referring now to
The drainage panel 130 also includes a first flange 134 and a second flange 136 extending widthwise from a first lateral end 133 and an opposite, second lateral end 135 of the corresponding drainage panel 130, respectively. Each of the first flange 134 and the second flange 136 has a number of protrusions 134a (136a) formed lengthwise on flange surfaces for inter-locking the flanges 134 or 136 of the drainage panels 130 to the receiving grooves 154 or 156 of a panel bracket 150.
Referring now to
The flange 234 has a number of grooves 258 defined by spaced apart trapezoidal protrusions 259, each of which has a sloped leading edge and a generally vertical trailing edge to engage with and “catch” protrusions 234a on a drainage panel 230. Each drainage panel has a number of protrusions 234a formed lengthwise on both flange surfaces for inter-locking the flanges 234 of the drainage panels 230 to the U-shaped notched receptacle 236 of another drainage panel 230. When a drainage panel 230 is inserted, the number of protrusions 234a on both flange surfaces of the drainage panel 230 are received in and engaged with the number of grooves 258.
According to this aspect of the invention, the panel bracket 236 has a plurality of protrusions 258 formed lengthwise on both inner surfaces of the U-shaped panel bracket 236 for receiving the flanges 234 of another adjacent drainage panel 230, and a pair of U-shaped pegs 236c protruding perpendicularly and lateral end 235. The flange 234 and the U-shaped panel bracket 236 are designed to inter-lock adjacent drainage panels 230. The protrusions 234 properly installed. The U-shaped pegs 236c are used to attach the connected drainage panels 230 to the notched receptacles 117 of the joist brackets 110.
Referring now to
Referring now to
As generally can be seen in
Still referring to
Another embodiment of a joist bracket spacer 370 is shown in
For a preferred embodiment, the components and their arrangement for an underdeck drainage system 100 are shown in
Referring now to
These parts such as joist brackets 110/410, drainage panels 130/230, drainage panel brackets 150 and joist bracket spacers 170/370 can be assembled in any order. Many alternative methods can also be practiced by those skilled in the art to form an underdeck drainage system.
All components of the underdeck drainage system can be made of plastic such as polyvinyl chloride (hereinafter “PVC”), polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonnitrile-butadiene-styrene (hereinafter “ABS”), or metal such as aluminum or steel. Generally, the lumber used for constructing a deck assembly is treated with Alkaline Copper Quaternary (hereinafter “ACQ”) in recent years. The ACQ treated lumber is very corrosive to aluminum or ungalvanized steel. One advantage of using plastics over metal is that underdeck drainage system made with plastic material will not experience corrosion problems caused by ACQ treated lumber. Therefore, the components with direct contact with treated lumber, such as the joist brackets or joist bracket spacers, should preferably be made of plastic such as PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene etc. The drainage panels may be made of thin aluminum sheets or preferably rectangular plastic sheets of a sufficient thickness and strength.
In order to make an underdeck drainage system more appealing, the outer surfaces of components such as panel brackets 150, and drainage panels 130 can be coextruded with various thin layers of films such as wood grain, different colors, or different patterns. In coextruding, a second extruder with different color material (the wood-grain) is used to extrude a thin layer over the top of the substrate. The components of such underdeck drainage system can be made with or without this coextruding process.
While there has been shown several and alternate embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that many other materials, as well as many other manufacturing techniques can be used to practice present invention, and certain changes can be made in the form and arrangement of the elements of the devices as would be known to one skilled in the art without departing from the underlying scope of the invention as is discussed and set forth above. Furthermore, the embodiments described above are only intended to illustrate the principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the disclosed elements.
The underdeck drainage system of the present invention can find many applications in a wide spectrum of fields. Among them, one of the application as a Deck/Home/Mobile Home skirt system is given as an example.
Other applications include sun shades, sunroom roof, portions of screened porches, portions of car ports, wall decoration, or other places of interest.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teaching.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments and will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e), U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/643,232, filed Jan. 11, 2005, entitled “Underdeck Drainage II,” by Jeffrey E. Smith, and U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/595,558, filed Jul. 14, 2005, entitled “Underdeck Drainage System,” by Jeffrey E. Smith, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 60643232 | Jan 2005 | US | |
| 60595558 | Jul 2005 | US |
