Panel joint assembly with drainage cavity

Claim 1

A joint assembly between a first panel having a first exposed panel face and a male end on one end of said first panel, and a second panel having a second exposed panel face and a female end on one end of said second panel, said male end of said first panel having a first end leg projecting inwardly adjacent said male end of said first panel, said female end of said second panel having a second end leg projecting inwardly adjacent said male end of said first panel, said joint assembly having: a. cooperating means on said first end leg of said male end of said first panel and on said second end leg of said female end of said second panel for preventing forward movement of said female end of said second panel toward said first exposed panel face of said first panel; b. said cooperating means on said first end leg of said male end of said first panel and on said second end leg of said female end of said second panel being operable to prevent sidewise movement of said female end of said second panel away from said first end leg of said male end of said first panel, to allow for expansion and contraction of said female end of said second panel with respect to said male end of said first panel, and to positively position said female end of said second panel with respect to said male end of said first panel; c. a frame; d. said cooperating means having: 1. a first retaining leg on said first end leg of said male end of said first panel projecting from said first end leg of said male end of said first panel and said first end leg is provided with a socket projecting toward said first exposed panel of said first panel and opening inwardly toward said female end of said second panel; 2. a second retaining leg projecting outwardly from said second end leg of said female end of said second panel and adapted to engage said first retaining leg of said first panel; 3. a male protuberance on said second retaining leg of said female end of said second panel adapted to engage said socket when said second retaining leg of said female end of said second panel engages said first retaining leg of said male end of said first panel; e. said socket and said first male protuberance defining a drainage cavity; and f. fastener means disposed in said drainage cavity and extending through said first retaining leg of said male end of said first panel and hidden by said first male protuberance.