U.S. patent application number 11/696089 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-02 for method and apparatus for deflecting liquid from a foundation wall.
This patent application is currently assigned to All Term Financing Inc.. Invention is credited to Jamis Myles Moule.
Application Number | 20070175113 11/696089 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35798639 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070175113 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moule; Jamis Myles |
August 2, 2007 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFLECTING LIQUID FROM A FOUNDATION
WALL
Abstract
Rain water is deflected from the foundation wall of a building
structure by a flashing of non-ferrous metal that is fastened to
the foundation below the grade level of the soil. Soil is trenched
and exposed about the foundation. Multiple sections of foundation
flashing are installed in the trench around the perimeter of the
foundation wall. Adjacent flashing sections overlap in a continuous
manner. After installation, the trench is backfilled with soil
thereby covering the flashing and restoring grade. During heavy
rains or floods, water seeping into the soil is deflected away from
the foundation by the flashing. This prevents water from pooling at
the bottom of the foundation and seeping up into the structure
through the joint where the foundation meets the basement
floor.
Inventors: |
Moule; Jamis Myles;
(Edmonton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DENNIS T. GRIGGS
17950 PRESTON ROAD
SUITE 1000
DALLAS
TX
75252
US
|
Assignee: |
All Term Financing Inc.
Edmonton
CA
|
Family ID: |
35798639 |
Appl. No.: |
11/696089 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11199794 |
Aug 9, 2005 |
|
|
|
11696089 |
Apr 3, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/169.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 31/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/169.5 |
International
Class: |
E02D 19/00 20060101
E02D019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 11, 2004 |
CA |
2477055 |
Claims
1. A method for deflecting liquid from a foundation wall of a
structure, the method comprising the steps: a) exposing at least a
portion of the perimeter of a foundation wall that is below ground
level, thereby creating a trench of a depth that is suitable for
installing a length of foundation flashing; b) fastening a length
of foundation flashing along an exposed portion of the foundation
wall; and c) backfilling the exposed portion of the foundation wall
with soil, thereby covering the installed foundation flashing.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flashing is
formed from a single piece of sheet material that is bent along a
fold line traversing the sheet material whereby a portion of the
sheet material on one side of the fold line forms a mounting flange
and a portion of the sheet material on the other side of the fold
line forms a deflector that projects transversely relative to the
mounting flange, further comprising the step: attaching the
mounting flange onto the foundation wall so that the deflector
projects outwardly away from and slopes downwardly relative to the
foundation wall.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the exposing step is
performed until the trench depth is in the range of 6 inches to 24
inches below ground level.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the foundation
flashing includes a mounting flange portion adapted for attachment
to a foundation wall and a deflector portion integrally formed with
the mounting flange portion, further including the step: bending
the reflector portion relative to the mounting flange portion along
a fold line so that the deflector portion projects transversely
relative the mounting flange portion at an angle in the range of
90.degree. to 180.degree..
5. The method as set out in claim 1, further comprising the step of
applying a pliable sealant to the mounting flange prior to
fastening the mounting flange to a foundation wall.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising repeating
steps a) through c) until multiple sections of foundation flashing
have been installed on the foundation wall in a continuous
manner.
7. The method as set forth in claim 6, including the step of
overlapping end portions of adjacent lengths of foundation
flashing.
8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of
fastening a length of foundation flashing to a foundation wall is
performed by using powder-actuated fasteners.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional application of application Ser. No.
11/199,794, filed Aug. 9, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is concerned with a method and
apparatus for deflecting liquid from a foundation wall.
Specifically, the present invention is concerned with a flashing
fastened to a foundation wall that deflects liquids from the wall
and a method for installing the flashing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Any structure having a basement or a floor located below
ground level, such as a residential dwelling, has the potential of
having liquids or groundwater seep up through the joint between the
foundation wall and the basement floor should the ground water
level rise above the elevation of the basement floor.
[0004] Typically, the cause of the rise of ground water level is
due to excessive rains saturating the soil surrounding the
foundation. Aggravating factors such as having soil graded toward
the foundation, as opposed to being graded away, guide water toward
the foundation. If the water is not directed away from the
foundation, it will often migrate down the foundation wall and then
seep up through the joint between the foundation wall and basement
floor thereby introducing water into the basement. This is not
desirable as water will often spoil or damage any material sitting
or laying on the basement floor.
[0005] It is known to install weeping tile around the foundation
perimeter which serves to collect excessive groundwater and direct
it toward a storm sewer system. While the cost of installing
weeping tile is not great when the structure is first being built
and prior to any landscaping being done around the structure, the
cost of installing weeping tile around a structure after being
built and landscaped can be excessive. Installing weeping tile in
these circumstances requires the ground around the foundation wall
to be trenched down to the bottom of the wall in order to properly
prepare the soil for the weeping tile installation. The cost is
further increased by the repair and restoration of the landscaping
surrounding the structure required after the weeping tile has been
installed.
[0006] It is, therefore, desirable to have a method and apparatus
for deflecting liquid from a foundation wall that is nearly as
effective as, but less expensive than, installing weeping tile.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is concerned with a method and
apparatus for deflecting liquid, such as water, from a foundation
wall such as concrete basement walls.
[0008] The apparatus consists of a flashing made of a non-ferrous
material, preferably aluminum. The flashing includes a vertical
mounting flange for fastening to the foundation wall and a
deflector attached to the mounting flange at an angle between
90.degree. and 180.degree.. The flashing is, preferably, made from
a single rectangular sheet of aluminum, typically 0.025 inch to
0.100 inch in thickness, by bending the sheet along a fold line
that is parallel to one edge of the sheet. Bending the sheet in
this fashion forms the mounting flange on one side of the fold line
and the deflector on the other side of the fold line and the
deflector on the other side of the fold line. The angle formed
between the mounting flange and the deflector is, preferably, in
the range of 100.degree. to 135.degree.. The height of the mounting
flange is, preferably, in the range of one to 3 inches while the
deflector is preferably, six to 24 inches in length from the fold
line.
[0009] The method of the present invention comprises exposing the
foundation wall below the grade level by digging or trenching the
soil away from the foundation wall to a depth of approximately 6
inches to 24 inches below grade.
[0010] Once the foundation wall has been exposed around the
perimeter of the structure, lengths of the flashing are fastened to
the foundation wall in a continuous manner around the perimeter.
Each length of flashing is positioned on the foundation wall such
that it is substantially horizontal or level and then fastened to
the foundation wall using suitable concrete fasteners. Preferably,
the lengths of flashing are fastened using powder-actuated
fasteners that are well known to those skilled in the art.
[0011] Each subsequent length of flashing is similarly positioned
and attached to the foundation wall adjacent to the previously
installed length until flashing has been installed along the entire
perimeter of the structure. The flashing may come in varying
lengths although 10-foot lengths are convenient to handle and
provide adequate coverage around a structure with a minimal number
of joints. Preferably, each length of flashing is positioned such
that it overlaps with the previously installed length of flashing.
An overlap of 12 inches to 24 inches is preferable. For additional
effectiveness, a pliable sealant, such as silicone caulking,
roofing tar or other suitable material, may be applied to the
mounting flange prior to being fastened to the foundation wall to
ensure a waterproof seal between the mounting flange and the
foundation wall.
[0012] Once the flashing has been installed, the trench around the
structure is then backfilled with soil thereby covering the
installed foundation flashing. Preferably, the backfilled soil is
then graded away from the foundation to allow surface water to flow
away from the structure.
[0013] Water saturating the soil surrounding the structure
foundation, either due to heavy rains or flooding, seeps down
through the soil along the foundation wall until it meets the
flashing where it is deflected away from the wall to prevent it
from pooling near the bottom of the wall and seeping through the
joint between the wall and the basement floor.
[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, a
foundation flashing for deflecting liquid from a foundation wall of
a structure includes a substantially vertical mounting flange
adapted for attachment to a foundation wall, the mounting flange
having a lower edge and including a planar deflector having an
upper edge operatively attached to the lower edge of the mounting
flange whereby the angle formed between the mounting flange and
deflector is in the range of 90.degree. to 180.degree..
[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, liquid
is deflected from a foundation wall of a structure by exposing at
least a portion of the perimeter of a foundation wall that is below
ground level thereby creating a trench of a depth that is suitable
for installing a foundation flashing; fastening a length of
foundation flashing along the exposed portion of the foundation
wall; and backfilling the exposed portion of the foundation wall
with soil thereby covering the installed foundation flashing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foundation flashing
apparatus of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded side plan view showing the foundation
flashing being installed on a foundation wall.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the
foundation flashing being installed on a foundation wall.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the
foundation flashing being installed on a foundation wall.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side plan view of showing the foundation
flashing being installed on a foundation wall.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the flashing apparatus 10 of the
present invention is shown. The flashing 10 includes a mounting
flange 12 attached to a deflector 14 along a fold line 13.
Preferably, the flashing 10 is made from a rectangular sheet of a
non-ferrous material, for example aluminum. The flashing 10 may
also be made of other durable materials such as non-ferrous metals,
fiberglass, PVC plastic or other composite materials that are
impervious to water as are known to those skilled in the art.
Preferably, the flashing 10 is made from a sheet of aluminum 0.025
inch to 0.100 inch in thickness. The sheet is bent along fold line
13 which is parallel to the longitudinal edges of the sheet.
[0022] Bending the flashing 10 along the fold line 13 forms an
angle 16. The angle 16 is in the range of 90.degree. to
180.degree.. Preferably, the angle 16 is in the range of
100.degree. to 135.degree.. The flashing 10 is sized such that the
mounting flange 12 is 1 inch to 3 inches in length whereas
deflector 14 is 6 inches to 24 inches in length.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, installation of the flashing
10 requires digging soil 24 away from the foundation wall 18 to
create a trench 22. Preferably, the trench 22 is 6 inches to 24
inches in depth and sufficiently wide enough to allow the
installation of the flashing 10 on the wall 18. A length of
flashing 10 is positioned on the wall 18 below the grade line 25 of
soil 24 such that the flashing 10 is horizontal or level. The
flashing 10 is then fastened to the wall 18 by using fasteners 20
that are driven through the mounting flange 12. To speed the
installation of the flashing 10, powder-actuated fasteners, such as
those made by Hilti, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., U.S.A. or equivalent,
are used.
[0024] Because the surface of wall 18 can be uneven, a pliable
sealant 26 may be applied to the mounting flange 12 prior to being
fastened to the wall 18 to ensure a continuous seal between the
flashing 10 and wall 18. The sealant 26 may be silicone-based
caulking, roofing tar or an equivalent sealant suitable for below
ground installation. Additional lengths of flashing 10 are then
installed adjacent to the previously installed flashing, thus
providing overlapping sections of flashing around the perimeter of
the structure. Once the flashing 10 has been installed, soil 24 is
then backfield into the trench 22 up to the grade line 25, thereby
covering the flashing 10 with soil 24.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 5, when soil 24 becomes saturated with
water due to heavy rains or flooding, water 32 seeps down into soil
24 until it reaches the deflector 14. Water 32 then flows down
deflector 14 away from wall 18. This prevents water 32 from pooling
at the bottom of the wall 18 where it meets with the basement floor
28 and, subsequently, seeping up through joint 30 between wall 18
and floor 28.
[0026] Although a preferred embodiment has been shown and
described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
various changes and modifications might be made without departing
from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions in the
preceding specification have been used therein as terms of
description and not of limitation.
* * * * *