Blowback Seal And Gauge For Building Exterior Panels

Abstract

A prefabrication panel for the construction of a building exterior in which one or more layers of a plurality of facing material is secured to a sheathing in a side-by-side relation along the length of the sheathing. A strip is secured to the sheathing on the surface thereof opposite from the surface on which the facing material is secured. The strip is disposed along the length of the sheathing in the vicinity of the lower edge thereof. A plurality of such panels are placed in overlapping relation to form a building exterior. In one embodiment, the strip of the upper panel has a surface for confronting the sheathing of the lower panel for sealing engagement and has another surface confronting the facing material fixed to the lower panel for providing a weather seal. In another embodiment, the strip of the upper pane has a surface perpendicular to the sheathing of the upper panel which surface confronts and is contiguous to the upper edge of the sheathing of the lower panel to serve as a guide for the aligning of overlapping panels and also to form a weather resistant seal.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to the construction of the exterior of a building and more particularly to a prefabrication panel for the construction of a building exterior.

Continuous effort has been made in the construction of a building exterior to improve the weather resistant characteristics of a building exterior. It has, heretofore, been customary to employ layers of waterproof material, such as tarred felt or the like. Also, the manner of interlocking and overlapping panels has been used to improve the weather resistant characteristics of building exteriors.

Heretofore, strips on prefabricated panels for building exteriors have been secured across layers of shakes and shingles. Consequently, such strips did not serve as weather resistant barriers. Disclosures of such strips can be found in the patent to Wilde, U.S. Pat No. 2,285,480, issued on June 9, 1942, for Prefabricated Shingle Panel and the patent to Fink et al. U.S. Pat. No. Re 24,246, dated Dec. 4, 1956. In the patent to Kough et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,509,676, issued on May 5, 1970, there is disclosed a strip for use as a weather resistant barrier, which is fixed to a sheathing of a panel to confront the facing material fixed to the same sheathing for providing a weather resistant barrier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A prefabricated panel for the construction of the exterior of a building in which a panel comprises one or more layers of a plurality of facing material secured to one surface of a sheathing and a strip secured to an opposite surface of the sheathing along the length of the sheathing.

A plurality of such panels are disposed in overlapping relation. In one embodiment, the strip of the upper panel has one surface thereof confronting and contiguous to the sheathing of the lower panel and has another surface thereof confronting the facing material secured to the sheathing of the lower panel to provide a weather resistant barrier. In another embodiment, the strip of the upper panel has one surface thereof perpendicular to the surface of the sheathing to which it is secured, which surface of the strip confronts and abuts against the upper edge of the sheathing of the lower panel to align and guide the location of the overlapping panels and to provide a weather resistant barrier.

The strip serves to inhibit the seepage of water into the interior of structures. Thus, a barrier is formed against rain and moisture being blown into the interior of the structure. Toward this end, the strip reduces the accumulation of blowback moisture or rain into the interstices of a building exterior and also under and between the facing material. In addition to serving as a weather resistant seal, the strip also serves as a guide in the alignment and placement of overlapping panels. The lower edge of the upper panel in the last mentioned embodiment is raised from the rafters without a long bridge by resting sheathing of an upper panel onto the sheathing of a lower panel aligning the upper panel relative to the lower panel through the strip of the upper panel. Consequently, facing material with rectanguloid configurations as distinguished from a tapered shingle or shake can optionally be employed and, yet, a smooth overlap is attained between overlapping panels. It has been found that rectanguloid facing material is generally stronger, less expensive and more weather resistant than tapered facing material. Structurally, an improved building exterior is realized, since the sheathings are structurally stronger, and lighter in weight, while the strip lends structural improvements to the building exterior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building exterior panel embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the panel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of adjoining overlapping panels illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the overlapping panels illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of adjoining overlapping panels illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the overlapping panels illustrated in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a panel 10 of the present invention which comprises a conventional sheathing or base strip 11. In the exemplary embodiment, the sheathing 11 is made of plywood. Secured to the sheathing 11 is a plurality or a layer of facing material 14. The facing material 14 may be of one or more layers. In the exemplary embodiment, the facing material 14 is disposed in substantially abutting relation in a side-by-side manner. The facing material 14 may be any suitable surfacing material, such as shakes, shingles, tile, composition asbestos, veneer, peeler strip, and the like.

Secured to the sheathing 11 by suitable means, such as nails or staples, is a strip 15. The strip 15 is secured to a surface of the sheathing 11 opposite from the surface to which the facing material 14 is secured. Specifically, the facing material 14 is secured to the surface 11a of the sheathing 11 and the strip 15 is secured to the surface 11b. The strip 15 which in the exemplary embodiment is made of wood is disposed along the length of the sheathing 11 in the vicinity of the lower edge thereof. The lower edge being the lower edge when the panel 10 is installed as a building exterior. In a typical embodiment, the strip 15 is of the same length as the sheathing 11; is 1 inch wide; and has a depth sufficient for the strip 15 to extend generally the height of facing material (FIG. 4).

Optionally, a membrane, not shown, of suitable material, such as tarred felt or the like, is secured to the upper surface 11a of the sheathing 11 between the sheathing 11 and the facing material 14. The membrane is co-terminal with the ends of the sheathing 11, but extends upwardly to or above the upper edge of the sheathing 11 and projects below the lower edge of the sheathing 11 a distance commensurate with the facing material 14.

For constructing an exterior of a building according to the present invention, a plurality of adjacent panels similar to panel 10 are secured to the rafters or the like in a longitudinal overlapping relation (FIGS. 3-6). Since the panels are similar in construction and function like parts of the panel adjacent the panel 10 will be designated with the same reference numeral but with a prime suffix.

In one embodiment of the present invention (FIGS. 3 and 4), the panels 10 and 10' are joined in longitudinal overlapping relation with the strip 15 in even contact with the upper surface of the sheathing 11' and also in abutting relation with the upper edge of the facing material 14'. More specifically, the strip 15 of the upper panel 10 has one surface thereof engaging the surface 11b of the sheathing 11 to which it is fixed and an opposite surface parallel with and in even contact with the surface 11a' of the sheathing 11 of the lower panel 10'. It is understood, of course, should a membrane be disposed on the sheathing 11', then the strip 15 will be in contact with such membrane. In addition thereto, the strip 15 has a surface perpendicular to the surface 11b of the sheathing 11 and the surface 11a' of the sheathing 11', which confronts the aligned upper edge of the facing material 14' of the lower panel 10'. Optionally, the strip 15 may abut or be spaced from the upper edge of the facing material 14'.

From the foregoing, it is to be observed that the strip 15 not only provides a blowback seal but also serves as a guide in the aligning of overlapping panels. When the strip 15 engages the sheathing 11', the upper panel 10 is guided relative to the lower panel 10'. Should the strip 15 abut against the facing material 14', then the upper panel 10 will be aligned relative to the lower panel 10'.

With the strip 15 of the upper panel 10 confronting the facing material 14' of the lower panel 10' and in even contact with the sheathing 11', or any waterproof membrane thereon, a weather resistant barrier and a blowback seal is provided. Through this arrangement, rain or moisture is inhibited from entering the interstices and from entering under and between the panels and the building structure and also from penetrating between irregular surfaces of the facing material.

In another embodiment of the present invention (FIGS. 5 and 6), the panels 10 and 10' are joined in longitudinal overlapping relation with the strip 15 of the upper panel 10 in abutting relation with the upper edge of the sheathing 11' of the lower panel 10'.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the facing material 14 has the upper edge thereof aligned and spaced downwardly a selected distance from the upper edge of the sheathing 11 and the lower edge thereof aligned and extending beyond the lower edge of the sheathing 11 a selected distance. The facing material 14 extends beyond one edge of the sheathing 11 a predetermined distance and approaches an opposite edge of the sheathing in a preselected space relation. Stated otherwise, the facing material does not extend to the opposite edge of the panel. There is a staggering between the sheathing 11 and the facing material 14. The staggering at the edge of the panel 10' is complementary to the staggering at the edge of the panel 10 adjacent thereto to establish an overlapping mating relation between joined adjacent edges of the panels 10 and 10', wherein the sheathing 11 of the panel 10 overlaps the sheathing 11' of the panel 10' and the facing material 14 of the panel 10 overlaps the facing material 14' of the panel 10'. In addition thereto, a surface of the strip 15 of the panel 10 perpendicular to the surface 11b of the sheathing 11 abuts against the upper edge of the sheathing 11' of the lower panel 10'.

By overlapping the sheathing of one panel on the sheathing of the adjacent panel to be joined therewith and by overlapping the facing material of one panel on the facing material of the adjacent panel to be joined therewith, a water seal or weather-proofing joining of panels for a building exterior is formed. Water blowing into the building exterior either between the cracks in the facing material or between the overlapping material will be trapped by the top or bottom end of the sheathing. The overlap of the sheathing will enable moisture to be carried away on the sheathing below.

In addition thereto, the strip 15 provides a blowback seal or a weather resistant barrier for the sheathing on sheathing by inhibiting the penetration of moisture between confronting surfaces of the sheathings. The strip 15 abuts against the upper edge of the sheathing 11' to guide and align the upper panel 10 relative to the lower panel 10'. Through this arrangement, the lower edge of the sheathing 11 is elevated from the rafters to rest in the sheathing 11', or the membrane thereon, in an aligned guided manner by the strip 15 abutting against the upper edge of the sheathing 11' without a long bridge. This permits the use of rectanguloid facing material as distinguished from tapered facing material, when desired, without sacrificing a smooth overlap between joined adjacent panels.

Thus, the strip 15 serves as a lock strip to positively guide the upper panel 10 to facilitate the installation of overlapping panels. Also, the strip 15 aligns the upper panel 10 by raising the sheathing 11 to a proper angle for the overlapping of the sheathing 11' of the lower panel 10' to permit a smooth overlap whether rectanguloid or tapered facing material is employed.

Claims

We claim:

1. A panel construction for a building exterior comprising:

a. a first panel, said first panel being formed with a first sheathing and with first facing material secured to said first sheathing on one surface thereof and with a first strip secured to said first sheathing under a surface thereof opposite from said one surface of said first sheathing; and

b. a second panel, said second panel being formed with a second sheathing and with second facing material secured to said second sheathing on one surface thereof and with a second strip secured to said second sheathing below a surface thereof opposite from said one surface of said second sheathing,

said first panel being joined with said second panel in overlapping relation with said first panel as the upper panel and with said second panel as the lower panel, said first and second panels being disposed in overlapping relation with said first strip of said first panel engaging said second sheathing of said second panel.

2. A panel construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein one surface of said first strip engages a surface of said second sheathing in even contact.

3. A panel construction as claimed in claim 2 wherein said one surface of said first strip is parallel with said opposite surface of said first sheathing.

4. A panel construction for a building exterior comprising:

a. a first panel, said first panel being formed with a first sheathing and with first facing material secured to said first sheathing on one surface thereof and with a first strip secured to said first sheathing under a surface thereof opposite from said one surface of said first sheathing; and

b. a second panel, said second panel being formed with a second sheathing and with second facing material secured to said second sheathing on one surface thereof and with a second strip secured to said second sheathing below a surface thereof opposite from said one surface of said second sheathing;

said first panel being joined with said second panel in overlapping relation with said first panel as the upper panel and with said second panel as the lower panel, said first and second panels being disposed in overlapping relation with said first strip of said first panel engaging said second sheathing of said second panel,

one surface of said first strip engaging a surface of said second sheathing in even contact, another surface of said first strip being perpendicular to said opposite surface of said first sheathing.

5. A panel construction as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first sheathing overlaps said second sheathing.

6. A panel construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first facing material overlaps said second facing material.

7. A panel construction as claimed in claim 6 and comprising a first membrane of waterproof material disposed between said first sheathing and said first facing material and a second membrane of waterproof material disposed between said second sheathing and said second facing material.

8. A panel construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein said other surface of said first strip engages said upper edge of said second facing material.

9. A panel construction for a building exterior comprising:

a. a first panel, said first panel being formed with a first sheathing and with first facing material secured to said first sheathing on one surface thereof and with a first strip secured to said first sheathing under a surface thereof opposite from said one surface of said first sheathing; and

b. a second panel, said second panel being formed with a second sheathing and with second facing material secured to said second sheathing on one surface thereof and with a second strip secured to said second sheathing below a surface thereof opposite from said one surface of said second sheathing,

said first panel being joined with said second panel in overlapping relation with said first panel as the upper panel and with said second panel as the lower panel, said first and second panels being disposed in overlapping relation with said first strip of said first panel confronting said second sheathing of said second panel,

one surface of said first strip engaging a surface of said second sheathing in even contact and another surface of said first strip confronting an upper edge of said second facing material of said second panel.

10. A panel construction as claimed in claim 9 wherein said one surface of said first strip is parallel with said opposite surface of said first sheathing and said other surface of said first strip is perpendicular to said opposite surface of said first sheathing.

11. A panel construction as claimed in claim 10 wherein said other surface of said first strip is in even contact with said upper edge of said second facing material.

12. A panel construction as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first sheathing of said first panel overlaps said second facing material of said second panel.

13. A panel construction for a building exterior comprising:

a. a first panel, said first panel being formed with a first sheathing and with first facing material secured to said first sheathing on one surface thereof and with a first strip secured to said first sheathing under a surface thereof opposite from said one surface of said first sheathing;

b. a second panel, said second panel being formed with a second sheathing and with second facing material secured to said second sheathing on one surface thereof and with a second strip secured to said second sheathing below a surface thereof opposite from said one surface of said second sheathing,

said first panel being joined with said second panel in overlapping relation with said first panel as the upper panel and with said second panel as the lower panel, said first and second panels being disposed in overlapping relation with said first strip of said first panel confronting said second sheathing of said second panel;

c. a first membrane of waterproof material disposed between said first sheathing and said first facing material for said first panel; and

d. a second membrane of waterproof material disposed between said second sheathing and said second facing material of said second panel,

one surface of said first strip confronting said second sheathing and being disposed in even contact with said second membrane.

14. A panel construction as claimed in claim 13 wherein another surface of said first strip confronts an upper edge of said second facing material of said second panel.

15. A panel construction as claimed in claim 14 wherein said one surface of said first strip is parallel with said opposite surface of said first sheathing and said other surface of said first strip is perpendicular to said opposite surface of said first sheathing.

16. A panel construction as claimed in claim 15 wherein said other surface of said first strip is in even contact with said upper edge of said second facing material.

17. A panel construction as claimed in claim 16 in which said first and second panels overlap longitudinally; wherein said first sheathing has an upper and lower edge, said first facing material being secured to said first sheathing in a side-by-side relation in the general direction of said upper and lower edges of said sheathing, said first strip being secured to said first sheathing in the general direction of said upper and lower edges of said first sheathing in the vicinity of said lower edge of said first sheathing.

18. A panel construction as claimed in claim 17 wherein said second sheathing has an upper and lower edge, said second facing material being secured to said second sheathing in a side-by-side relation in the general direction of said upper and lower edges of said sheathing, said second strip being secured to said second sheathing in the general direction of said upper and lower edges of said second sheathing in the vicinity of said lower edge of said second sheathing.