Deck Drainage Clips and Tensioned Membrane Gutter Assembly
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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 inefficient and expensive to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A water drainage system comprising clips that engage with deck rails to tension a waterproof membrane, creating a hammock-like gutter between joists, allowing easy installation, cleaning, and replacement, with rails angled to direct water into gutters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastic panels are used for water drainage under decks, then water diversion function is achieved, but installation difficulty increases and maintenance becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is divided into modular components: rails that attach to joists, waterproof membrane sections, and clip fasteners. This segmentation allows each component to be independently installed and replaced, simplifying the overall installation process while maintaining reliable water drainage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Clips serve as intermediary elements that connect the waterproof membrane to the rails. These clips enable easy attachment and detachment of the membrane without requiring specialized tools or skills, resolving the contradiction between reliable drainage and easy installation.
2Reliability
If plastic panels are used for water drainage, then water diversion is achieved, but clogging occurs easily and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproof membrane is designed to be removable and replaceable through the clip system. This dynamic configuration allows the membrane to be easily accessed, cleaned of debris, or replaced if damaged, preventing clogging issues while maintaining reliable water drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows homeowners to easily clean and maintain the drainage membrane themselves using simple tools. The clip-based attachment system enables quick removal and reinstallation of the membrane for cleaning without requiring professional service.
3Shape
If finished ceilings are used under decks, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses inexpensive plastic or metal rails and removable membrane materials that provide functional drainage without the high cost of finished ceiling materials. This approach achieves acceptable appearance while dramatically reducing installation costs compared to traditional finished ceilings.
Solution Approach 2:
The rails and membrane system serves multiple functions: water drainage, vapor barrier, and acceptable ceiling appearance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate finished ceiling materials, reducing overall cost while maintaining aesthetic adequacy.
4Reliability
If specialized drainage systems are installed before deck boards, then proper water diversion is achieved, but installation complexity and skill requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rails are installed on the joists before the deck boards are attached, establishing the drainage framework in advance. This preliminary action simplifies subsequent installation steps and ensures proper water diversion is built into the structure from the beginning without requiring complex pre-installation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A water drainage system may include a base clip and cover clip that may be engaged to one or more rails so that one or more portions of a waterproof membrane may be tensioned or compressed between the clips and rails. A base clip may include a base ridge that may be received in a base channel of a cover clip, preferably with a portion of the waterproof membrane disposed and coupled between the cover clip and the base clip. The cover clip may be coupled to the rail by inserting a second cover ridge of the cover clip into a cover channel of the rail and by inserting a rail ridge of the rail into a rail channel of the cover clip. The rail may be coupled to a portion of a deck to couple the rail, base clip, cover clip, and waterproof membrane to the deck.