U.S. patent application number 11/962004 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for soffit weep corner.
This patent application is currently assigned to California Expanded Metal Corporation. Invention is credited to Don A. Pilz.
Application Number | 20080148662 11/962004 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39540899 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080148662 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pilz; Don A. |
June 26, 2008 |
SOFFIT WEEP CORNER
Abstract
The present invention is directed toward a device and system for
removing moisture from the drainage plane of the exterior cladding
to the surface of the exterior wall, and is specifically designed
for use in soffits and overhangs. The device comprises both at
least one angled portion which directs water from the drainage
plane of the exterior wall, through the stucco cladding and to the
outside of the building. A drip edge and lip on the bottom of the
device further create a cup or gap which prevents the moving water
from further moving along the underside of the overhang.
Inventors: |
Pilz; Don A.; (Livermore,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET, FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Assignee: |
California Expanded Metal
Corporation
City of Industry
CA
|
Family ID: |
39540899 |
Appl. No.: |
11/962004 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60871893 |
Dec 26, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/302.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/158 20130101;
E04D 2013/0468 20130101; E04D 13/0459 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/302.1 |
International
Class: |
E04D 13/04 20060101
E04D013/04 |
Claims
1. A moisture drainage system for use in building construction
comprising an elongate strip of material configured for placement
within a generally vertical wall of an overhang, the strip
comprising: at least one angled portion configured to direct the
flow of moisture in the wall out of said building cladding; a drip
edge along a first side, the drip edge comprising a first face
aligned in a generally horizontal direction and orthogonal with
said wall when installed in place, and a second face extending from
the first face at an angle from said first face; and a ground lip
extending from the second face at an angle from said second face so
that moisture more reliably drops from the drip edge.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a membrane configured
for adhesive placement over a portion of the strip to provide
additional protection from corrosion and water filtration.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a water resistant
barrier configured to be lapped in a weather bond fashion over the
membrane.
4. The system of claim 3, further comprising: a first lath material
configured to be fastened on top of the water resistant barrier
through exterior sheathing on one side of the corner of the
building; a second lath material configured to be fastened directly
to a framing member on a second side of said corner of the
building, said second lath material configured to fit into a groove
formed by said drip edge at one end; and stucco material configured
to be fastened to said first and second lath materials.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This application is directed toward a device and system for
removing moisture from the drainage plane of the exterior wall of a
building, to the outside of the exterior cladding, and is
specifically designed for use in soffits and overhangs.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Drainage systems are generally known in the art. Current
drainage systems used in soffits or overhangs typically include an
elongated strip of metal or some other material. The metal strip
extends vertically at its top end, and is positioned behind the
water resistant barrier. The strip extends down the wall, and is
eventually angled towards the exterior of the building to direct
moisture and water to the outside of the exterior cladding. At the
bottom of the strip, the strip material is bent so that it again
becomes vertical and/or flush with the exterior of the stucco or
other material on the building's surface. Water is intended to flow
from the inside drainage plane across the sloped portion and drip
off the end of the accessory. Often times, however, the water weeps
through the pre-punched holes; which are located in the sloped
portion of the accessory. This water remains in the stucco cladding
allowing the stucco to become saturated. The saturated stucco will
then deteriorate the framing members that it up against. Surface
water that flows down the face of the exterior cladding will
continue to run along the underside of a soffit or overhang with
this accessory rather then drop off the soffit corner. This creates
more opportunity for leaking inside the building and/or unintended
displacement of water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed toward a device and system
for removing moisture from the drainage plane of the exterior
cladding of a building, and is specifically designed for use in
overhangs and soffits. The term "overhang," as used herein, is a
broad term, and is used in accordance with its ordinary meaning.
The term includes, but is not limited to, soffits, corner returns,
bay windows, etc. It is an object of the invention to provide a
device which can efficiently remove moisture from the drainage
inside of an overhang. It is also an object of the invention to
provide a device which is configured such that water drips off its
end and does not continue to flow along the underside surface of a
soffit or overhang.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
various devices, systems and methods presented herein are described
with reference to drawings of a certain embodiment, which are
intended to illustrate, but not to limit, such devices, systems,
and methods. The drawings include two figures. It is to be
understood that the attached drawings are for the purpose of
illustrating concepts of the embodiments discussed herein and may
not be to scale.
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment
of the device.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment
of the device and surrounding environment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] The present invention is directed toward a device and system
for removing moisture from the drainage plane of the exterior
cladding to the surface of the exterior cladding, and is
specifically designed for use in soffits and overhangs.
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the device 7. As can be
seen in the figure, the device 7 has a generally vertical top
section, an angled section, and a lower section with both generally
vertical and horizontal faces. The device is configured to be
placed under the water resistant barrier at the vertical top
section allowing the angled section to extend to the soffit corner,
in order to remove moisture to the surface of the exterior
wall.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the device 7 installed
inside a soffit or overhang. Below the overhang is a window 11. As
can be seen in the embodiment shown, the device 7 has a generally
vertical top section installed over the face of exterior sheathing
1. A peel and stick membrane 3 has been placed over the device 7,
providing additional protection from corrosion and water
infiltration. A water resistant barrier 2 has been lapped in a
weather bonded fashion over the peel and stick membrane 3. A lath 4
has been placed over the water resistant barrier 2, and fastened
through the exterior sheathing 1 into a framing member.
[0012] On the underside of the soffit or overhang, the lath 13 has
been fastened directly to the framing member 6 and tucked into a
drip edge 9. Stucco 5 has been installed on the vertical portion
and underside of the overhang.
[0013] On the underside of the overhang and above the window 11, a
return ground lip 10 provides a screed point to ensure the proper
thickness of the stucco 5 and also maintains a drip edge 9 for
water or moisture to drip off the corner of the device 7.
[0014] Water or moisture often accumulates within an overhang or
wall such as that shown in FIG. 2. The moisture or water seeps
through the stucco 5 via cracks or unsealed termination points and
continues on past lath material 4 and into a drainage plane 12. In
order to remove the water or moisture, device 7 is installed. In
use, the water or moisture is directed down and alongside the top
portion of device 7, illustrated by the generally vertical section
in FIG. 2. The device 7 has at least one angled portion 8 which
further directs the water towards the exterior of the overhang and
building. Once the water reaches the exterior surface, the device 7
angles back down in a generally vertical direction again. This
creates a vertical dropping point for the water. However, as
described above, often times water will continue to flow along the
underneath surface of the overhang. This phenomenon can be
eliminated by incorporating the drip edge 9 shown in FIG. 2.
[0015] Drip edge 9 comprises a first, generally horizontal face
attached to a second, generally vertical face, creating a "cup" or
"groove" near the corner of the overhang. Attached to the second,
vertical face is a ground lip 10. Ground lip 10 acts as a screed,
ensuring the proper thickness of stucco 5 along the underside of
the overhang and also helping to maintain the drip edge 9. The
design of drip edge 9 and drip edge 10 ensures that any water or
moisture coming down the top vertical portion of device 7 and
angled portion 8 does not have a pathway for traveling horizontally
along the underside of the overhang. By incorporating a "cup" or
"groove" as described above which hangs beneath the underside of
the overhang, the water is forced, via gravity, to fall from the
building.
[0016] In some embodiments, the drip edge 9 and ground lip 10
additionally act as an area for attachment of lath material 4. As
seen in FIG. 2, one end of a lath material 13 may be inserted or
fastened within the cup or groove formed by drip edge 9 and ground
lip 10 and then further fastened to the framing member 6 along the
underside of the overhang.
[0017] The device 7 may be comprised of a number of materials,
including but not limited to galvanized sheet metal, zinc, copper,
PVC, and stainless steel. Other materials may also be used.
Additionally, in some embodiments it may be possible for both the
first face and second face of drip edge 9 to be angled, as opposed
to generally horizontal and vertical, wherein the two faces still
create a "cup" or "groove" that prevents water from further moving
along or traveling along the underside of the overhand.
[0018] Although these inventions have been disclosed in the context
of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that the present inventions
extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other
alternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventions and obvious
modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while several
variations of the inventions have been shown and/or described in
detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of these
inventions, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art
based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various
combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and
aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the
scope of the inventions. It should be understood that various
features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined
with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes
of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of
at least some of the present inventions herein disclosed should not
be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described
above.
* * * * *