Panel assembly for underdeck drainage and other applications

A drainage system 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 parallel, regularly-spaced joists, comprising:

• (a). a plurality of joist brackets mountable to the plurality of joists, each having 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 on the top portion;
• (b). a plurality of drainage panels, each having a first edge and an opposite second edge, a first flange and an opposite second flange extending outward and widthwise from the first edge and the second edge, respectively;
• and
• (c). a plurality of panel brackets, each having 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,
• wherein, in operation, a first flange and a second flange of each of the plurality of drainage panels are received in a first U-shaped notched receptacle of one of the plurality of panel brackets and a second U-shaped notched receptacle of another one of the plurality of the panel brackets, respectively, and U-shaped pegs of the plurality of panel brackets are received in corresponding notched receptacles of the plurality of joist brackets, respectively, such that the plurality of drainage panels are engaged with the plurality of panel brackets, which, in turn, are engaged with the plurality of joist brackets.

A drainage system 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 parallel, regularly-spaced joists, comprising:

• (a). a plurality of joist brackets mountable to the plurality of joists, each having 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;
• and
• (b). a plurality of drainage panels, each having a first edge, an opposite second edge, a flange widthwise extending from the first edge, and a panel bracket widthwise extending from the second edge, wherein the panel bracket has a U-shaped notched receptacle parallel to the drainage panel and a U-shaped peg protruded perpendicularly and lengthwise from a junction of the second edge and the panel bracket,
• wherein, in operation, a flange of one of the plurality of drainage panels is received in a U-shaped notched receptacle of another one of the plurality of drainage panels, and U-shaped pegs of the plurality of drainage panels are received in corresponding notched receptacles of the plurality of joist brackets, respectively, such that the plurality of drainage panels are engaged with each other, which are engaged with the plurality of joist brackets.

A panel system for covering an open space, the open space including a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart joists, each joist including a mounting surface, comprising:

• at least one elongate support bracket mounted to the mounting surface of at least one joist within the open space, each support bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the support bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the support bracket to the mounting surface of at least one joist, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member;
• at least one panel bracket for affixing to a support bracket, and retaining one or two panels the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said support bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a support bracket;
• and
• at least one panel for disposition across one or more support brackets, the panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket.

A drainage system for draining water beneath a deck assembly supported by a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart joists, comprising:

• (a). at least one elongate joist bracket for mounting transversely underneath a plurality of joists, each joist bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the joist bracket to the joists, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member;
• (b). at least one panel bracket for affixing to a joist bracket and retaining one or two drainage panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said joist bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a joist bracket;
• and
• (c). at least one drainage panel for disposition generally horizontally underneath one or more joist brackets, the drainage panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket, the drainage panel further including a downwardly-depending trough running lengthwise along the drainage panel between the support flanges for channeling water to the edge of the drainage panel.

A panel system for covering an open area, comprising:

• at least one elongate support bracket for mounting within the open area, each support bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the support bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the support bracket to a mounting surface, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member;
• at least one panel bracket for affixing to a support bracket and retaining one or two panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said support bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on support bracket;
• and
• at least one panel for disposition across one or more support brackets, the panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket, the panel further including a channel disposed between the support flanges for carrying water.

A drainage system for draining water beneath a deck assembly supported by a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart joists, comprising:

• (a). at least one elongate joist bracket for mounting transversely underneath a plurality of joists, each joist bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the joist bracket to the joists, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member;
• (b). at least one panel bracket for affixing to a joist bracket and retaining one or two drainage panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said joist bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a joist bracket, wherein the mounting element of the panel bracket comprises a U-shaped peg lengthwise protruding from the panel bracket, for slidably and/or snap engaging with the panel bracket holding member of a joist bracket;
• (c). at least one drainage panel for disposition generally horizontally underneath one or more joist brackets and for carrying water to an edge for drainage, the drainage panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket, and
• wherein a first flange and a second flange of each of a plurality of drainage panels are received in a first U-shaped receptacle of one of a plurality of panel brackets and a second U-shaped receptacle of another one of the plurality of the panel brackets, and the U-shaped pegs of the plurality of panel brackets are received in corresponding notched receptacles of the plurality of joist brackets, respectively, such that the plurality of drainage panels are engaged with the plurality of panel brackets, which, in turn, are engaged with the plurality of joist brackets.

A drainage system for draining water beneath a deck assembly supported by a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart joists, comprising:

• (a). at least one elongate joist bracket for mounting transversely underneath a plurality of joists, each joist bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the joist bracket to the joists, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member;
• (b). at least one panel bracket for affixing to a joist bracket and retaining one or two drainage panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said joist bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a joist bracket;
• (c). at least one drainage panel for disposition generally horizontally underneath one or more joist brackets and for carrying water to an edge for drainage, the drainage panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket;
• and
• (d). a plurality of stackable joist bracket spacers mountable to the plurality of joist brackets for setting up a pitch of the drainage system.

A drainage system for water beneath a deck assembly supported by a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart joists, comprising:

• (a). at least one elongate joist bracket for mounting transversely underneath a plurality of joists, each joist bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the joist bracket to the joists, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member, and wherein each of the plurality of joist brackets further comprises a connector element at one end and a corresponding mating connector element at the opposite end, for connecting and holding together multiple joist brackets for additional length;
• (b). at least one panel bracket for affixing to a joist bracket and retaining one or two drainage panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said joist bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a joist bracket;
• and
• (c). at least one drainage panel for disposition generally horizontally underneath one or more joist brackets and for carrying water to an edge for drainage, the drainage panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket.

A drainage system for draining water beneath a deck assembly supported by a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart joists, comprising:

• (a). at least one elongate joist bracket for mounting transversely underneath a plurality of joists, each joist bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the joist bracket to the joists, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member;
• (b). at least one panel bracket for affixing to a joist bracket and retaining one or two drainage panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said joist bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a joist bracket;
• and
• (c). at least one drainage panel for disposition generally horizontally underneath one or more joist brackets and for carrying water to an edge for drainage, the drainage panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket, wherein each of flanges of a drainage panel includes one or more protrusions lengthwise formed on flange surfaces for engaging with corresponding U-shaped grooves in a panel bracket.

A panel system for covering an open area, comprising:

• at least one elongate support bracket for mounting within the open space, each support bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the support bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the support bracket to a mounting surface, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member;
• at least one panel bracket for affixing to a support bracket and retaining one or two panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said support bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a support bracket, wherein the mounting element of the panel bracket comprises a U-shaped peg lengthwise protruding from the panel bracket, for slidably and/or snap engaging with the panel bracket holding member of a support bracket;
• and
• at least one panel for disposition across one or more support brackets, the panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket, wherein a first flange and a second flange of each of a plurality of panels are received in a first U-shaped receptacle of one of a plurality of panel brackets and a second U-shaped receptacle of another one of the plurality of the panel brackets, and the U-shaped pegs of the plurality of panel brackets are received in corresponding notched receptacles of the plurality of support brackets, respectively, such that the plurality of panels are engaged with the plurality of panel brackets, which, in turn, are engaged with the plurality of support brackets.

A panel system for covering an open area, comprising:

• at least one elongate support bracket for mounting within the open space, each support bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the support bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the support bracket to a mounting surface, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member;
• at least one panel bracket for affixing to a support bracket and retaining one or two panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said support bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a support bracket;
• at least one panel for disposition across one or more support brackets, the panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket;
• and
• a plurality of stackable support bracket spacers mountable to the plurality of support brackets for holding the panels in spaced-apart relation to the support brackets.

A panel system for covering an open area, comprising:

• at least one elongate support bracket for mounting within the open space, each support bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the support bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the support bracket to mounting surface, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member, wherein each of the plurality of support brackets further comprises a connector element at one end and a corresponding mating connector element at the opposite end, for connecting and holding together multiple joist brackets for additional length;
• at least one panel bracket for affixing to a support bracket and retaining one or two panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said support bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a support bracket;
• and
• at least one panel for disposition across one or more support brackets, the panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket.

A panel system for covering an open area, comprising:

• at least one elongate support bracket for mounting within the open space, each support bracket including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting openings positioned along the length of the support bracket for receiving fasteners to hold the support bracket to a mounting surface, and also including at least one panel bracket holding member;
• at least one panel bracket for affixing to a support bracket and retaining one or two panels, the panel bracket including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped receptacles extending generally horizontally when affixed to said support bracket, and including a mounting element for removably affixing the panel bracket to the panel bracket holding member on a support bracket;
• and
• at least one panel for disposition across one or more support brackets, the panel including oppositely disposed support flanges extending along opposite lateral edges of the panel and operative for engaging with the U-shaped receptacles of a panel bracket, wherein each of flanges of a panel includes one or more protrusions lengthwise formed on flange surfaces for engaging with corresponding U-shaped grooves in a panel bracket.