Deck Drainage Clips Tension Waterproof Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water drainage systems for residential and commercial decks are unreliable, costly, difficult to install, prone to clogging, and require specialized skills, making them ineffective for creating a dry space and easy maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A water drainage system featuring removably engaged clips and rails that tension a waterproof membrane between joists, allowing for easy installation, maintenance, and diversion of water through a sloped rail system hidden from view, with clips securing the membrane and allowing for easy cleaning or replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastic panels are used for water drainage under decks, then water drainage function is provided, but the system is hard to install, gets clogged easily, and requires specialized tools and skills
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is divided into separate modular components: rails that attach to joists, waterproof membrane sections, and removable clips. This segmentation allows each component to be installed independently without requiring specialized tools or skills, while maintaining reliable water drainage function through the coordinated assembly of these simple parts.
2Reliability
If existing plastic panel systems are used, then water drainage is achieved, but the panels need to be taken down to clean and are difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The clips are designed to be removable rather than permanently fixed, allowing the waterproof membrane to be easily accessed, cleaned, or replaced. This dynamic connection system transforms the maintenance process from requiring panel removal to simple clip detachment, significantly improving ease of repair while maintaining the water drainage function.
3Reliability
If fully finished ceilings are used to create dry space under decks, then a finished aesthetic ceiling is provided, but the cost is very expensive at $12-$14 per square foot installed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses inexpensive components (rails, basic waterproof membrane, simple clips) rather than expensive finished ceiling materials. While the membrane may need periodic replacement, the overall system cost is dramatically reduced by using functional, simple components instead of aesthetic-oriented expensive materials, achieving dry space creation at a fraction of the cost.
4Reliability
If drainage systems are installed before deck boards, then proper water diversion can be achieved, but very few systems can be installed on existing decks
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the drainage system into rails that attach directly to joists and membrane sections that span between them, the system can be installed on existing decks without requiring deck removal or reconstruction. This modular approach allows adaptation to various deck configurations and installation timing, maintaining effective water diversion while gaining versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A water drainage system may include a clip having a support arm, a catch arm, and a brace. The support arm may include a support arm contact surface that may be opposingly positioned to the brace. A rail may have an upper plate, a back plate, and a lower plate. The lower plate may include a plate lip that extends toward the upper plate, and a channel may be formed in the rail that extends between the upper plate, back plate, lower plate, and plate lip. The upper plate may include an upper plate contact surface that is disposed within the channel. An optional waterproof membrane may be coupled to the clip and rail by engaging the clip to the rail with a portion of the waterproof membrane tensioned between the support arm contact surface and the upper plate contact surface.