Under Deck Drainage Channel with Sliding Clip Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevated decks often allow water to fall through gaps between deck boards during inclement weather, preventing the use of space below the deck and allowing bugs to enter.
Innovation Solution
An under deck drainage system comprising starter strips, clips, and elongate channel members with channels for fluid drainage, allowing for easy installation and cleaning, and featuring snap-fit connections for stability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional open deck construction is used, then the space below the deck is accessible and easy to install, but water falls through the gaps between deck boards during rain
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is divided into separate modular components: starter strips that attach to joists, individual channel members that fit between deck boards, and clips that connect them together. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies installation while effectively blocking water from falling through the deck.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel members act as intermediary elements installed between the deck boards and the space below, creating a barrier that intercepts water before it can fall through the gaps. The clips serve as intermediaries to connect the channel members to the starter strips, enabling easy assembly without complex fastening mechanisms.
2Stability of the object's composition
If channel members are fixed rigidly to joists, then structural stability is improved, but installation complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system transitions from rigid fixed mounting to a dynamic snap-fit mechanism. The clips can be easily inserted and removed from the starter strips, allowing for flexible installation and adjustment while maintaining sufficient stability during use. This dynamic connection enables the system to be installed without complex tools or procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap-fit connection mechanism is designed to be self-aligning and self-securing. The clips automatically engage with the starter strips when properly positioned, eliminating the need for additional fastening steps or specialized installation techniques. The system essentially installs itself through the inherent mechanical properties of the snap-fit design.
3Productivity
If deck boards are placed close together, then water drainage is improved, but cleaning access and bug prevention become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is extracted from the deck board assembly itself and implemented through separate channel members installed in the gap space. This allows the deck boards to maintain their spacing for aesthetic and structural reasons while the extracted drainage channels handle water management, and the open structure remains accessible for cleaning.
Data Source
AI summary
An under deck drainage system for use with a deck. The system includes at least one starter strip mounted to one or more joists of the deck, a plurality of clips coupled with the starter strip, where the clips are slidable along the starter strip. The system further includes an elongate channel member coupled with at least one of the plurality of clips, and the elongate channel member has at least one channel therein.