Plastic deck board with separated drainage channel and hold down surface

Abstract

A plastic panel assembly is formed by least first and second plastic boards secured at an interlocked joint of the boards. Each of boards having an identical construction comprises a main body portion with first and second side edges to opposite sides of the board. The first edge region has a locking part extending down from the top surface of the board and the second edge region has a second locking part extending up from the bottom surface of the board. The first and second locking parts of the boards secured with one another to form the interlocked joint. The panel assembly further includes a moisture drainage channel and a mechanical fastener receiving surface separated from one another at the interlocked joint of the assembly.

1 . A plastic panel assembly formed by at least first and second plastic boards secured at an interlocked joint of said first and second boards, each of said boards having a construction comprising a main body portion with a top surface, a bottom surface, a first edge region and a second edge region, said first edge region having a top surface which is a continuation of the top surface of the main body portion and also having a first locking part, said second edge region having a bottom surface which is a continuation of the bottom surface of the main body portion and also having a second locking part, said interlocked joint being formed by engagement of said first locking part of said first edge region of the first board with said second locking part of said second edge region of said second board, said assembly including both a moisture drainage channel and a mechanical fastener receiving surface which are separated from one another at said interlocked joint.  
   
   
       2 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said moisture drainage channel is formed in said second edge region of said second board and includes a channel mouth, said first locking part of said first edge region having a locking member which locks into said channel mouth.  
   
   
       3 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said fastener receiving surface is formed with said second edge region of said second board, said moisture drainage channel and said fastener receiving surface being located to opposite sides of said interlocked joint separated from one another by said first locking part of said first edge region and said second locking part of said second edge region of said first and second boards respectively.  
   
   
       4 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said moisture drainage channel has a channel base wall which is formed by said bottom surface of said second edge region of said second board.  
   
   
       5 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said second locking part of said second edge region comprises an upward projection from said bottom surface of said second edge region, said fastener receiving surface also being formed by said bottom surface of said second edge region, said channel base and said fastener receiving surface being separated from one another by said upward projection.  
   
   
       6 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said first locking part of said first edge region includes a recessed region which faces downwardly at and receives said upward projection of said second edge region.  
   
   
       7 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said upward projection of said second locking part comprises a pair of upwardly directed barbs with a gap between said barbs, said first locking part comprises a pair of downwardly directed barbs including a first barb located in said gap between and locking with said upwardly directed barbs of said second locking part and a second barb to one side of said gap locking into said moisture drainage channel said second barb of said first locking part locking into said moisture drainage channel.  
   
   
       8 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said first edge region has an outside face provided with a laterally extending tooth and said second edge region has an outside face with an notch in which said tooth is received above said moisture drainage channel of said interlocked joint.  
   
   
       9 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said tooth has a flat top surface parallel to said upper surface of said first edge region, and a lower side surface which is inclined downwardly away from said outside face of said second edge region.  
   
   
       10 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said recessed region has a concave shape and wherein said upward projection has a convex shape, said moisture drainage channel including a channel mouth above said upward projection, said first edge region including a laterally extending head portion which penetrates through said channel mouth and which rocks upwardly into a moisture blocking position within said moisture drainage channel as said recessed region of said first locking part of first edge region is interlocked with said upward projection of said second locking part of said second edge region.  
   
   
       11 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said channel has a channel roof and said laterally extending head locks with said channel roof.  
   
   
       12 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said channel roof includes a notch and wherein said laterally extending head has a tooth which rocks upwardly into said notch.  
   
   
       13 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said fastener receiver surface comprises a projecting fin having openings therethrough at regular spaced intervals along said fin.  
   
   
       14 . A plastic panel assembly as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said opening in said fin have an elongated oval shape.