Deck drainage system

Abstract

An elongate channel insert configured for installation between elongate structural members to prevent water from flowing through an overlying structure into the area beneath the structural members includes a U-shaped hook on a first side of the insert that goes over the top and both sides of a joist, an L-shaped ledge on the other side of the channel insert prevents the inserts from becoming off center as they are placed side by side on joists across the entire width of a deck with the base of the insert angled along its length such that water captured within the channel will drain from one end of the insert to the other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A channel insert for directing water between two substantially parallel elongated structural support members, the elongate channel member comprising:
 a first sidewall having an upper side, a lower side and substantially parallel first and second ends wherein the lower side of the first sidewall tapers away from the upper side from the first end of the first sidewall to the second end of the first sidewall;   a second sidewall having a upper side, a lower side and substantially parallel first and second ends wherein the lower side of the second sidewall tapers away from the upper side from the first end to the second end of the second sidewall;   a bottom wall extending between the bottom sides of the first and second sidewalls along the length of the first and second sidewalls and defining a single planer surface between the bottom sides of the first and second sidewalls;   a first support member extending from the upper side of the first sidewall along the first length of the first sidewall;   a second support member extending from the upper side of second sidewall along the length of the second sidewall;   wherein the first and second support members are configured to rest on the elongated structural support members and support the channel insert between adjacent elongated structural support members such that water entering the channel insert is diverted to an edge of the channel insert;   wherein the first support member of a first channel insert fits over the second support member of an adjacent second channel insert to secure the channel insert to the elongated structural support member;   wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are parallel to the two substantially parallel elongated structural support members; and   wherein the first sidewall is substantially adjacent to a first structural support member and the second sidewall is substantially adjacent to a second structural support member.   
     
     
         2 . The channel insert of  claim 1  wherein the channel insert is formed from a single piece of sheet metal. 
     
     
         3 . The channel insert of  claim 1 , wherein the first support member comprises:
 a first plate perpendicular to the upper side of the first sidewall and having a width substantially equal to a width of the elongated structural support member;   a second plate perpendicular to the first plate and extending along a lateral surface of the elongated structural support member.   
     
     
         4 . The channel insert of  claim 1  wherein the second support member comprises:
 a third plate perpendicular to the upper side of the second sidewall and having a width no greater than a width of the elongated structural support member. 
 
     
     
         5 . The channel insert of  claim 1  wherein the channel insert is formed from a single, trapezoidal piece of sheet metal. 
     
     
         6 . The channel insert of  claim 1  wherein the bottom wall of the channel insert tapers at a rate of ¼ inch per foot from the first end to the second end of the channel insert. 
     
     
         7 . A system for diverting water from an area beneath a structure having substantially parallel elongate structural support members, the system comprising:
 a plurality of elongate channel inserts configured to direct water between two of the substantially parallel elongate structural support members, each of the elongate channel members comprising:
 a first sidewall having an upper side, a lower side and substantially parallel first and second ends wherein the lower side of the first sidewall tapers away from the upper side from the first end of the first sidewall to the second end of the first sidewall; 
 a second sidewall having a upper side, a lower side and substantially parallel first and second ends wherein the lower side of the second sidewall tapers away from the upper side from the first end to the second end of the second sidewall; 
 a bottom wall extending between the bottom sides of the first and second sidewalls along the length of the first and second sidewalls and defining a single planer surface between the bottom sides of the first and second sidewalls; 
 a first support member extending from the upper side of the first sidewall along the first length of the first sidewall; 
 a second support member extending from the upper side of second sidewall along the length of the second sidewall; 
 wherein the first and second support members are configured to rest on the elongated structural support members and support the channel insert between adjacent elongated structural support members such that water entering the channel insert is diverted to an edge of the channel insert; 
 wherein the first support member of a first channel insert fits over the second support member of an adjacent second channel insert to secure the channel insert to the elongated structural support member; 
 wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are parallel to the two substantially parallel elongated structural support members; and 
 wherein the first sidewall is substantially adjacent to a first structural support member and the second sidewall is substantially adjacent to a second structural support member. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the first and second sidewalls and the bottom wall are adjustable such that the width of the generally “U” shaped channel may be changed to conform to elongate structural support members having different widths. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the first support member extends from the upper side of the first sidewall along the length of the sidewall, the first support member having a first wall extending substantially perpendicular to the first sidewall, the first support member having a second wall extending substantially perpendicular to first wall toward the lower side of the first sidewall, the second wall having a substantially constant width along the length of the first sidewall, wherein the width of the second wall is less than the width of the first side wall and wherein the first support member is configured to fit over an elongate structural member with the first and second walls positioned on adjacent sides of the elongate structural member. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the second support member extends from the upper side of the second side wall, the second support comprising only a flange extending substantially perpendicular to the second sidewall and wherein the flange has a width less than the first wall of the first support member such that a first support member of a second, adjacent elongate channel insert having the same structure as the first channel insert can be positioned over the second support member and elongate structural member. 
     
     
         11 . The channel insert of  claim 7  wherein the channel insert is formed from a single piece of sheet metal. 
     
     
         12 . The channel insert of  claim 7 , wherein the first support member comprises:
 a first plate perpendicular to the upper side of the first sidewall and having a width substantially equal to a width of the elongated structural support member;   a second plate perpendicular to the first plate and extending along a lateral surface of the elongated structural support member.   
     
     
         13 . The channel insert of  claim 7  wherein the second support member comprises:
 a third plate perpendicular to the upper side of the second sidewall and having a width no greater than a width of the elongated structural support member 
 
     
     
         14 . The channel insert of  claim 7  wherein the channel insert is formed from a single, trapezoidal piece of sheet metal. 
     
     
         15 . The channel insert of  claim 7  wherein the bottom wall of the channel insert tapers at a rate of ¼ inch per foot from the first end to the second end of the channel insert.