Top deck panel system

Abstract

A Top Deck Panel System cover made from a plastic material, such as Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Nylon and/or wood composite, wherein the top deck exterior walking cover is assembled without the use of mechanical fasteners such as screws or nails. The Top Deck Panel System cover is designed to be either a temporary or permanent exterior walking surface and can be placed on ground such as gravel, sand, limestone, soil and/or used to cover existing decks, concrete walkways or porches, brick walkways or porches, or other walking surfaces. The Top Deck Panel System cover can be quickly and effectively installed. The Top Deck Panel System provides a mobile walking surface that allows the Top Deck Panel System to be moved easily, efficiently and economically.

1 . A panel for use in combination with other panels to form a panel assembly that provides a walking surface, said panel comprising:
 a panel body that defines a top surface, a bottom surface that is oppositely disposed on said panel body from said top surface, a first side that is located between said top surface and said bottom surface, and a second side that is located between said top surface and said bottom surface and oppositely disposed on said panel body from said first side;   at least one wall that extends from the bottom surface of said panel, said wall cooperating with said panel body to support and strengthen said panel body;   a first connector rail that is secured to the first side of said panel body, said first connector rail being longitudinally aligned with said panel body, said first connector rail also having a profile that defines an enlarged portion; and   a second connector rail that is secured to the second side of said panel body, said second connector rail being longitudinally aligned with said panel body and sized to longitudinally receive the first connector rail of another panel, said second connector rail having opposed arms that define a gap therebetween, said gap having a width that is less than the cross-section dimension of the enlarged portion of said first connector rail such that the arms of said second connector rail block the passage of the enlarged portion of said first connector rail laterally through the gap of said second connector rail and said first and second connecter rails are not joined or separated by moving the first connector rail laterally with respect to the second connector rail.   
   
   
       2 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein said first connector rail has a T-shaped cross-section and wherein said second connector rail has a C-shaped cross-section. 
   
   
       3 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein said top surface defines a textured surface. 
   
   
       4 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein said panel is comprised of a material that is selected from at least one of the group comprising polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene teraphalate, polyamide, and wood composite. 
   
   
       5 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein said panel is comprised of a material that is selected from one or more of the group comprising Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), polyamide, Polyethylene (PE), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polystyrene (PS), nylon, and Poly carbonate (PC). 
   
   
       6 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein said top surface defines an array of grooves that are longitudinally aligned on said panel. 
   
   
       7 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein said panel includes two or more of said walls with adjacently located walls cooperating with the bottom surface of said panel body to define a channel, said channel being aligned longitudinally with the ends of said panel. 
   
   
       8 . The panel of  claim 6  wherein said grooves define a V-shaped cross-section, said grooves being aligned longitudinally with the ends of said panel. 
   
   
       9 . A deck surface comprising a plurality of panels that can be secured together, each of said panels defining:
 a panel body that defines a top surface, a bottom surface that is oppositely disposed on said panel body from said top surface, a first side that is located between said top surface and said bottom surface, and a second side that is located between said top surface and said bottom surface and oppositely disposed on said panel body from said first side;   at least one wall that extends from the bottom surface of said panel, said wall cooperating with said panel body to support and strengthen said panel body;   a first connector rail that is secured to the first side of said panel body, said first connector rail being longitudinally aligned with said panel body; and   a second connector rail that is secured to the second side of said panel body, said second connector rail being longitudinally aligned with said panel body, said second connector rail being longitudinally engageable with said first connector rail of an adjacent second panel, and said first connector rail being longitudinally engageable with the second connector rail of an adjacent third panel.   
   
   
       10 . The deck surface of  claim 9  wherein the first connector rail of one panel is slideable in a longitudinal direction inside the second connector rail of an adjacent panel so that the panels are engaged. 
   
   
       11 . The deck surface of  claim 10  and further comprising:
 a first side rail having a side surface and a female connector structure that is engageable with the first connector rail of one of said panels.   
   
   
       12 . The deck surface of  claim 11  and further comprising:
 a second side rail having a side surface and a male connector structure that is engageable with the second connector rail of one of said panels.   
   
   
       13 . The deck surface of  claim 9  and further comprising:
 an L-bracket that is securable to said panel assembly and that covers the ends of said panels that define one edge of said panel assembly.   
   
   
       14 . The deck surface of  claim 12  wherein the first and second side rails include ports for receiving fasteners to secure said panel assembly to another object. 
   
   
       15 . The deck surface of  claim 13  wherein said L-bracket is secured to said panel assembly by a fastener. 
   
   
       16 . The deck surface of  claim 15  wherein said fastener is a detent fastener. 
   
   
       17 . The deck surface of  claim 9  and further comprising:
 a side rail that includes an arm that extends over the top surface of said panel body, said side rail maintaining the lateral and vertical position of said panel body.