U.S. patent application number 12/802629 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-15 for protective structure for plumbing vents.
Invention is credited to John D. Giffin.
Application Number | 20110302876 12/802629 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45095068 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110302876 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Giffin; John D. |
December 15, 2011 |
Protective structure for plumbing vents
Abstract
A protective device for a plumbing vent stack having a
weatherproofing cover that is formed substantially of a lead
material and is permanently secured over the plumbing vent stack to
completely cover the exposed surface of the lead jack flashing so
as to prevent access thereto by squirrels and other undesirable
animals and/or invasive water. A separate wire screen covers the
base or flange of the lead jack to prevent damage to the base of
the lead jack flashing. Suitable for use in repairing a damaged
lead jack flashing without replacement of the lead jack or removal
and replacement of existing surrounding roofing shingles, the
protective device is also installed on new construction as a
preventative device. Regardless of whether the device is installed
on new construction or to repair damaged lead jack flashing, the
device is easily and quickly installed.
Inventors: |
Giffin; John D.; (Houston,
TX) |
Family ID: |
45095068 |
Appl. No.: |
12/802629 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/741.4 ;
454/367 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/741.4 ;
454/367 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/682 20060101
E04B001/682; F24F 13/20 20060101 F24F013/20 |
Claims
1. A protective device for a roof vent comprising: a substantially
cylindrical sleeve; a cap secured to one end of said sleeve for
covering the open end of said sleeve; a screen secured to the open
end of said sleeve; and a base having an opening therethrough, the
diameter of the opening being smaller than the diameter of the
sleeve, and an upturned lip around the opening, the upturned lip
being received within the end of said sleeve opposite said cap.
2. The protective device of claim 1 additionally comprising a seal
around the end of said sleeve that receives the upturned lip around
the opening through said base.
3. The protective device of claim 2 wherein said seal comprises
either a polymeric material, epoxy sealant, or caulk.
4. A method of repairing damaged lead jack flashing comprising the
steps of: installing a base around the lead jack flashing, the base
having an opening therethrough for receiving the lead jack
flashing; sliding a cylindrical sleeve down over the lead jack
flashing and into contact with the base; and sealing the annulus
between the cylindrical sleeve and the lead jack flashing proximate
the base.
5. The method of claim 4 additionally comprising capturing an
upturned lip formed around the inside edge of the opening through
the base in the cylindrical sleeve when the sleeve contacts the
base.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the protection and repair
of the flashing of plumbing vents and, more particularly, to
structure that protects a plumbing vent and/or enables the repair
of a plumbing vent, particularly so-called "lead jack
flashing."
[0002] Lead jack flashing is commonly used to cover plumbing vents
in residential and commercial construction, the plumbing vent stack
(usually comprised of galvanized pipe or PVC tubing) extending up
through the plywood or roof decking and the lead jack being fitted
over the vent stack with the shingles overlapping the flashing
around the vent. After the lead is fitted over the vent stack and
secured to the roofing deck, the tubular portion, having a length
substantially longer than that of the protruding vent stack, is
manually hammered and forced over the distal end of the vent stack
and down into the vent stack to effect a weatherproof seal against
wind and rain entering the building around the vent stack. Lead
jacks are so well known and commonly used that they are available
from several manufacturers, including Construction Metals, Inc.
(Fontana, Calif.), F.J. Moore Manufacturing Co. (Cannon Falls,
Minn.), Nuclead Co., Inc./Sharp Manufacturing, Inc. (West
Bridgewater, Mass.), and Mayco Industries, Inc. (Birmingham,
Ala.).
[0003] Unfortunately, lead jacks are a favorite target of
squirrels, which gnaw on the lead to wear down their teeth. Other
animals may also attack the lead jacks, but squirrels are
particularly persistent and so destructive that sooner or later
(sometimes so soon as one day) the weatherproofing integrity is
substantially compromised. Of course if the lead flashing is chewed
sufficiently to form a hole, rainwater, insects, and other animals
can access the building at the vent. Nests and dead animals trapped
in the vent also cause serious problems.
[0004] It is of course desirable to prevent and/or minimize this
damage, and on information and belief, products are available that
are intended to address this need. For instance, copper and
galvanized plumbing vents are available (for instance, from the
above-identified F.J. Moore Manufacturing Co.) and the patent
literature includes various vent pipe covers, sleeves, shields, and
caps as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,244,006, 5,694,724,
5,245,804, 4,955,167, 4,484,424, 4,442,643, 4,399,743, 4,372,585,
4,206,692, 4,115,961, 3,797,181, 3,363,538, 1,010,100, 510,884, and
506,930. Although several of these known devices may well function
for their intended purposes, for various reasons relating to cost,
difficulty of installation, lack of durability, inability to be
retrofit to existing (damaged) plumbing vents, and for many other
reasons, none of these prior art devices is in widespread use.
Accordingly, there remains a long-felt, but unfulfilled need for a
protective structure for a plumbing or other roof vent that is
inexpensive to manufacture, that is easy and quick to install, that
effectively protects against damage by to pests such as squirrels,
that is sturdy enough that it is not damaged by plumbers, roofers,
and other individuals working on a roof, and that is durable enough
to provide long-term protection against entry by rainwater and
so-called "critters" (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,006), including
insects, snakes, birds, and rodents.
[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
protective device for a roof vent that can be removed and/or
replaced quickly and easily in the event of damage or in the event
of a drain clog or in situations in which a plumber must access the
plumbing vent with a clean-out apparatus.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
device that completely covers the lead jack flashing to prevent
access to the jack for chewing, teeth sharpening, and damaging the
waterproofing qualities of the jack by squirrels.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
protective device for damaged lead jack flashing that does not
require replacement of the lead jack or removal and replacement of
existing surrounding roofing shingles.
[0008] Yet another object is to provide a repair device for a lead
jack flashing having a weatherproofing cover that prevents access
to the lead jack and that includes an end piece having a screen or
mesh material of sufficient size to allow free upward escape of
sewer gas but which is sufficiently small in size to prevent
rodents, insects, and other animals from entering the vent
stack.
[0009] It is another object to provide a protective cover for a
roof vent that prevents rain water from entering the plumbing vent
and therefore entering the waste water system, reducing the need
for waste water treatment at municipal waste water treatment
facilities.
[0010] Other objects, and the many advantages of the present
invention, will be made clear to those skilled in the art in the
following description of the preferred embodiment(s) of the
invention and the drawings appended hereto. Those skilled in the
art will recognize, however, that the embodiment(s) of the present
invention that are described herein are only examples of specific
embodiment(s), set out for the purpose of describing the making and
using of the present invention, and that the embodiment(s) shown
and/or described herein are not the only embodiment(s) of a
protective vent structure and method that can be constructed and/or
performed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] These objects are met by providing a protective device for a
roof vent comprising a substantially cylindrical sleeve, a cap
secured to one end of the sleeve for closing the sleeve, and a
screen secured between the cap and the sleeve. The protective
device also comprises a base having an opening therethrough, the
diameter of the opening being smaller than the diameter of the
sleeve, and an upturned lip around the opening in the base, the
upturned lip being received within the end of the sleeve opposite
the cap.
[0012] In another aspect, these objects are met by providing a
method of repairing damaged lead jack flashing comprising the steps
of installing a base around the lead jack flashing, the base having
an opening therethrough for receiving the lead jack flashing,
sliding a cylindrical sleeve down over the lead jack flashing and
into contact with the base; and sealing the annulus between the
cylindrical sleeve and the lead jack flashing proximate the
base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The novel features believed to be characteristic of this
invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and
method of operation, together with further objects and advantages
thereof, may be best be understood by reference to the following
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a presently preferred
embodiment of a protective structure for a roof vent that is
constructed in accordance with the present invention and the manner
in which it is assembled to the roof vent (the lead jack flashing
of the roof vent is shown in FIG. 1 as being undamaged for purposes
of clarity and to illustrate the installation of the protective
structure of the present invention on, for instance, new
construction, but those skilled in the art who have the benefit of
this disclosure will recognize that the protective structure of the
present invention is also used to advantage for repair of damaged
lead roof jack flashing).
[0015] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the protective structure of
FIG. 1 in place over a roof vent of a type that is commonly used as
a plumbing vent in residential construction.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a protective mesh or screen
"hat" that is installed over lead jack flashing of the type shown
in FIG. 1 as a protective device (rather than as a repair
device).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The present invention will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred
embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however,
be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as
being limited to the embodiment shown. This description is instead
provided so that this disclosure is full and complete, and for the
purpose of fully conveying the true scope of the invention to those
skilled in the art.
[0018] Referring to the figures, a preferred embodiment of the
protective device of the present invention is indicated generally
at reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. Protective device 10 is
comprised of a generally cylindrically-shaped, elongate sleeve 12
and a star cap 14 that covers the open end of sleeve 12 and
provides the necessary venting of the vent stack 18. In a preferred
embodiment, the sleeve 12 and cap 14 are constructed of a material
that is hard enough to protect the lead jack flashing, for
instance, steel, and particularly, galvanized or powder-coated
steel. Sleeve 12 is long enough to fit completely over the lead
jack flashing 16 of a plumbing vent stack 18 that extends through
the roof decking 20 of a building (as will be apparent from the
figures, the building is of a type commonly utilized in residential
construction, but the invention is not limited in use only to
residential construction). As best shown in FIG. 2, lead jack
flashing 16 is formed as a single piece with an integral flat base,
or flashing, 22 and stack 24 as known in the art, and is shown in
both FIGS. 1 and 2 as undamaged but as set out above, the
protective device 10 is also used to advantage for repair of
damaged lead jack flashing.
[0019] Protective device 10 may optionally also include a hardware
cloth base 26 that is either secured to sleeve 12, for instance, by
tack welds at the upturned lip 28 (see FIG. 2) of the opening 30
through the hardware cloth and having a diameter sized to fit over
the outside diameter (O.D.) of the stack 24 of lead jack flashing
16. Alternatively, the hardware cloth base 26 is assembled to
sleeve 12 on-site, for instance, when damaged lead jack flashing is
being repaired, by pressing the opening 30 in base 26 over the O.D.
of the stack 24 of lead jack flashing 16 as a result of the opening
30 being slightly undersized so that the wire comprising hardware
cloth base 26 is bent upwardly at the inside margin of opening 30
to form a lip 28 when the base 26 is pressed down over the lead
jack flashing 16 against the top surface of the existing shingles
32 (FIG. 2). A bead of caulk or epoxy sealant in which the wire at
the inside margin of opening 30 lands when the base 26 is pressed
all the way down over the stack 24 and onto the shingles 32 may be
provided around the O.D. of the stack 24 of lead jack flashing 16,
but is not shown in the figures because that bead is not necessary
to the function of device 10.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the protective device 10 is assembled to
the lead jack flashing 16 by sliding the sleeve 12 over the O.D. of
the lead jack 16. A snug fit of the inside diameter (I.D.) of
sleeve 12 over the O.D. of lead jack 16 is not required and,
because the stack 24 of the lead jack 16 is often deformed (note
the "wrinkles" in the walls of stack 24 near the base 22 of lead
jack 16 shown in the figures) during installation and/or by the
effects of weathering and/or attack by the animals that the
protective device 10 of the present invention is intended to
frustrate, it is preferred that the I.D. of sleeve 12 be larger
than the O.D. of the stack 24 of lead jack 16, leaving a space, or
annulus, 34 therebetweeen. The annulus 34 is also important to the
sliding of the sleeve 12 of device 10 over the stack 24 because the
top margin 36 of stack 24 is usually misshapen, and sometimes even
grossly distorted and/or partially gnawn away, as a result of
squirrel attack. The distortion of the top margin 36 of stack 24 is
often substantial enough that it may be necessary to re-shape stack
24 at its top margin 36 with a few taps with a hammer before the
sleeve 12 of device 10 can be fitted over stack 24, and the
presence of the annulus 34 between the O.D. of stack 24 and the
I.D. of sleeve 12 reduces the need for careful re-shaping of the
top margin 36 of stack 24. Note also that, as shown in FIG. 2, the
larger diameter I.D. of sleeve 12 causes some or all the wire
comprising the upturned lip 28 of hardware cloth base 26 to be
captured within the I.D. of sleeve 12 when the bottom edge of
sleeve 12 rests on the hardware cloth base 26.
[0021] A caulk, elastomeric, or sealant bead 38 is applied to the
O.D. of the stack 24 of lead jack flashing 16 near the base 22 of
the flashing 16. The bead 38 is smeared or squeezed by contact
between the O.D. of stack 24 and the I.D. of sleeve 12 when the
bottom of sleeve 12 rests on the hardware cloth base 26. In an
optimal installation, because the wire of the upturned lip 28 of
the opening 30 in the hardware cloth base 26 is caught in the
caulk/sealant bead 38, the bead 38 the wire reinforces this barrier
against entry into annulus 34. Those skilled in the art who have
the benefit of this disclosure will recognize that a polymeric
gasket could be substituted for the bead 38 and/or that a rubber or
polymeric bumper could be fitted to the bottom edge of the sleeve
12 of protective device 10; either alternative provides the
intended function. It will also be noted that the bottom of sleeve
12 is angled to facilitate installation of the protective device 10
on a roof slope. In a preferred embodiment, the angle is based on a
6/12 pitch, but an exact fit is not required at the bottom of the
flashing such that this exact angle is likewise not required.
[0022] As best shown in FIG. 2, the open end of the sleeve 12 of
protective device 10 is covered by the star cap 14 to prevent entry
of rain into the plumbing vent stack 18. A screen or mesh 40 is
attached to sleeve 12 under vent cap 14 to prevent entry of insects
and other small animals into the sleeve 12.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, a protective mesh or screen "hat,"
preferably formed from hardware cloth, is indicated generally at
reference numeral 50. Protective hat 50 is intended for
installation over lead jack flashing before the lead is attacked by
squirrels, for instance, at the time of construction of the
building or installation of a new roofing system, and by virtue of
its quick installation, is advantageous for protecting against
squirrel damage. Like the protective device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and
2, the protective hat 50 is comprised of sleeve 52 that fits over
the lead jack flashing (the latter not being shown in FIG. 3); hat
50 also includes a base 54 similar in construction to the hardware
cloth base 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2 that functions in the same manner.
The hardware cloth comprising the sleeve 52 of protective hat 50 is
open along one side, indicated at reference numeral 56, to
accommodate various roof pitches. The top of the sleeve 52 is open
as at reference numeral 58 and when the protective hat 50 is
dropped over the lead jack flashing, the installer bends the wire
downwardly over the top of and into the lead jack flashing to
provide both protection of the top of the flashing stack from
squirrel attack and to serve as a barrier against entry by birds
and other small animals.
[0024] While the invention has been described with respect to
certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many
modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended,
therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications
and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention. For instance, although the star cap 14 of the protective
device of the present invention has been described herein and shown
in the figures as being of a particular configuration, those
skilled in the art who have the benefit of this disclosure will
recognize that the cap may be formed in a variety of shapes so long
as it serves the function of closing off the end of sleeve 12 (and
as set out above, the cap 12 also holds the mesh 40 in place).
Other such modifications will likewise be apparent to those skilled
in the art from the description of this preferred embodiment.
* * * * *