Underdeck drainage with sloped corrugated panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underdeck drainage systems face challenges in being easy to install, maintaining a desired water flow direction, and handling uneven or irregular joists without drooping into the underdeck area.
Innovation Solution
The use of corrugated panels and hanging components, such as L-shaped, U-shaped, and inverted T-shaped brackets, which are attached to joists to create a sloped drainage surface, allowing water to flow in a desired direction while accommodating uneven joists without extending downward excessively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional drainage systems are used with uneven joists, then installation complexity increases, but drainage effectiveness is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible membranes that can conform to irregular joist surfaces and uneven deck configurations. These thin film elements adapt to the existing structure without requiring precise fitting or complex assembly, thereby simplifying installation while maintaining drainage functionality across non-uniform surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system utilizes components with variable geometric parameters that can be adjusted during installation. By changing the shape, slope, or positioning parameters of drainage elements, the system adapts to uneven joists and irregular deck geometries, reducing installation complexity while preserving drainage effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If drainage panels are mounted to direct water flow transversely to joists, then water flow direction is controlled, but structural support requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water flow direction control function from rigid mounted panels and implements it through the inherent geometry of flexible drainage elements. By separating the flow direction control from structural support requirements, the system achieves controlled water flow transverse to joists without imposing additional structural load.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane acts as an intermediary between the joist structure and the water flow. It transfers the load minimally to the joists while effectively directing water flow in the desired transverse direction, thereby decoupling flow control from structural support requirements.
3Strength
If hanging components extend downward to support panels, then panel support is achieved, but underdeck area is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical extension of support components into the underdeck space to horizontal or lateral attachment methods. By changing the dimensional orientation of the support mechanism from vertical to lateral, panels are supported without compromising the usable underdeck area, maintaining both structural integrity and space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending support components downward into the underdeck area, the system inverts the approach by attaching support elements to the underside of joists and having them extend upward or laterally to contact the drainage panels. This inversion eliminates interference with underdeck space while providing necessary panel support.
Data Source
AI summary
Drainage under a deck can be performed by a structure that includes hanging components and corrugated panels. For example, a hanging component can have connected first and second portions, with the first portion being connected to hang from one of the joists and extending downward to where it connects to the second portion, which is below the joist. The second portion can be connected to support of at least one of the panels from above. The upper surfaces of panels are sloped so that drainage occurs from a high part to a low part. The direction of slope and the direction of corrugations are not perpendicular, and can be approximately the same. The hanging components can, for example, be L-shaped brackets, U-shaped, or inverted T-shaped, and can be integrally formed by extrusion of plastic or can be metal. The panels can be corrugated plastic or metal sheets.