Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage; Sky-lights
  • E04D13/14—Junctions of roof sheathings to chimneys or other parts extending above the roof
  • E04D13/147—Junctions of roof sheathings to chimneys or other parts extending above the roof specially adapted for inclined roofs
  • E04D13/1478—Junctions to walls extending above the roof
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage; Sky-lights
  • E04D13/15—Trimming strips; Edge strips; Fascias; Expansion joints for roofs
  • E04D13/155—Trimming strips; Edge strips; Fascias; Expansion joints for roofs retaining the roof sheathing
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage; Sky-lights
  • E04D13/15—Trimming strips; Edge strips; Fascias; Expansion joints for roofs
  • E04D13/158—Trimming strips; Edge strips; Fascias; Expansion joints for roofs covering the overhang at the eave side, e.g. soffits, or the verge of saddle roofs
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D3/00—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets
  • E04D3/40—Slabs or sheets locally modified for auxiliary purposes, e.g. for resting on walls, for serving as guttering; Elements for particular purposes, e.g. ridge elements, specially designed for use in conjunction with slabs or sheets
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage; Sky-lights
  • E04D13/04—Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the like
  • E04D13/0404—Drainage on the roof surface
  • E04D13/0445—Drainage channels
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage; Sky-lights
  • E04D13/04—Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the like
  • E04D13/0404—Drainage on the roof surface
  • E04D13/0445—Drainage channels
  • E04D2013/045—Drainage channels on inclined roofs
  • E04D2013/0454—Drainage channels on inclined roofs at the intersection of roof surfaces, e.g. roof valleys

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a flashing structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flashing structure used primarily but not exclusively for the installation of roofing shingles and roofing panels on residential and commercial property roofs.
• Metal roofing systems and the flashings used therewith, as well as the installing thereof, are very well known in the art. Indeed, as better shown in Figure 1 , it is customary to use metal flashings on the perimeter of a roof surface to reinforce and protect the same against wind damage and uplift, as well as to use flashings on roof edges and the transitions thereof to protect the same against water infiltration, for example.
• the flashings are generally supplied by the manufacturer of the roofing system, but can also be formed on site by the installers of the roofing system in order to adapt the flashings to the specific roofing situation at hand.
• flashing structures have evolved, partly driven by the economics of installation costs, partly driven by esthetic concerns, but mostly driven as a result and in response to failures of previous flashing structures, either due to wind damage and/or water infiltration, for example.
• a panel or shingle may be joined to a piece of flashing. Briefly explained, these three ways are the following: a) a folded shingle or panel over a lip of a flashing, as better shown in Figure 2; b) the insertion of a shingle or panel into a groove or open lock in a flashing, as better shown in Figure 3; and c) the insertion of a shingle or panel into a thin groove or slip-lock in a flashing, as better shown in Figure 4.
• first drainage channel or "gutter” on the flashing by adding a return bend (for example, a 180 degree bend), at the end of the flashing, underneath the shingle or flashing secured thereon, as better shown in Figures 3 and 4.
• This return bend is intended to prevent water in the gutter from moving from the flashing surface and onto the roof.
• this method is not fool-proof with the slip-lock type flashing shown in Figure 4, for example, as debris often builds up in the crevice and the gutter, and consequently can cause blockage of the gutter and this result in the deflection of water onto the roof surface, which is very undesirable for obvious reasons.
• the flashing structure shown in Figure 3 requires the shingle or panel to be inserted into an open lock channel, and trimmed in such a way that the shingle generally has a 90 degree bend, typically with a 1.5 to 2 cm riser, which then fills up the vertical gap, and touches the back of the open lock channel. Done properly, this type of flashing makes it very difficult for water to work its way around the riser and into the gutter.
• the flashing structure of Figure 4 is easier for an installer to install, as it involves trimming the shingle so that it fits under the securing lip of the flashing, but often fails due to water infiltration as described in the preceding paragraph.
• This type of flashing is used by a number of manufacturers who claim that anyone with little or no roofing experience can install the system, but end up having to face frequent complaints by customers in regards to leakage, resulting from design and installation flaws of this type of flashing structure.
• valley flashing which is typically used to protect the valleys of a roof, that is, two adjoining roof sections meeting on a slope.
• valleys present the most amount of potential problems as this is where the water is typically concentrated, and where ice and/or snow can accumulate.
• Debris such as leaves, pine needles, and the like, often accumulate in these valleys and may cause water flowing off the roof to be diverted off course, thus resulting in leaks.
• the traditional practice in metal roofing has been to use "open" valleys, with built-in lips along both sides of the valleys to provide anchoring points and water deflection points for securing the shingles and/or flashings.
• valley flashing designs in existence which try to deal with the potential blockage of the pockets holding the ends of the shingles with a drainage system that directs the water to a central channel.
• These designs are typically of a two-piece construction, and the upper piece can be dislodged by the pressure and movement of ice and/or snow on the roof, causing the pocket holding the shingles to be lost.
• the object of the present invention is to provided a flashing structure which satisfies some of the above-mentioned needs and which is thus an improvement over the flashing structures known in the prior art.
• a flashing structure for mounting onto a roof surface and used for receiving at least one shingle, the flashing structure comprising: a first drainage channel extending longitudinally along the flashing structure; a securing lip positioned over the first drainage channel and extending along the same, a gap being defined between the securing lip and the first drainage channel, said gap being shaped and sized for receiving said at least one shingle; and a second drainage channel extending longitudinally along the flashing structure, said second drainage channel being fluidly connected to the first drainage channel.
• a flashing structure for mounting onto a roof surface and used for receiving at least one shingle
• the flashing structure comprising: a first drainage channel extending longitudinally along the flashing structure, the first drainage channel comprising a channel floor having opposite first and second longitudinal edges, the first and second longitudinal edges of the first drainage channel being each provided with a bend; a first supporting lip being operatively connected to the channel floor of the first drainage channel via the bend provided on the second longitudinal edge thereof; a securing lip operatively connected to the channel floor of the first drainage channel via the bend provided on the first longitudinal edge thereof, the securing lip being positioned over the first drainage channel and extending along the same, a gap being defined between the securing lip and the supporting lip, said gap being shaped and sized for receiving said at least one shingle; a second drainage channel extending longitudinally along the flashing structure, the second drainage channel comprising a channel floor having opposite first and second longitudinal edges, the first and second longitudinal edges of the second drainage channel being each
• a flashing structure for mounting onto a roof surface and used for receiving at least one shingle, the flashing structure comprising: a first drainage channel extending longitudinally along the flashing structure, the first drainage channel comprising a channel floor having opposite first and second longitudinal edges, the first and second longitudinal edges of the first drainage channel being each provided with a bend; a first supporting lip being operatively connected to the channel floor of the first drainage channel via the bend provided on the second longitudinal edge thereof; a second drainage channel extending longitudinally along the flashing structure, the second drainage channel comprising a channel floor having opposite first and second longitudinal edges, the first and second longitudinal edges of the second drainage channel being each provided with a bend, the bend provided on the second longitudinal edge of the channel floor of the second drainage channel being integral to the bend provided on the second longitudinal edge of the channel floor of the first drainage channel, the second drainage channel being fluidly connected to the first drainage channel; and a securing lip operatively connected to the channel floor of the second drainage channel via the bend provided on the
• a flashing structure for mounting onto a valley of a roof surface and used for receiving at least one shingle, the flashing structure comprising: a pair of first drainage channels extending longitudinally along the flashing structure; a pair of securing lips, each of the securing lips being positioned over a corresponding first drainage channel and extending along the same, a gap being defined between each of the securing lips and said corresponding first drainage channel, each of the gaps being shaped and sized for receiving at least one shingle; and a pair of second drainage channels extending longitudinally along the flashing structure, each of the second drainage channels being fluidly connected to a corresponding first drainage channel.
• a roof comprising at least one flashing structure used for receiving a plurality of shingles, said at least one flashing structure comprising: a first drainage channel extending longitudinally along the flashing structure; a securing lip positioned over the first drainage channel and extending along the same, a gap being defined between the securing lip and the first drainage channel, said gap being shaped and sized for receiving shingles; and a second drainage channel extending longitudinally along the flashing structure, said second drainage channel being fluidly connected to the first drainage channel.
• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the various edges and transitions of a typical roofing system.
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to a first embodiment of the prior art, said flashing structure being shown mounted onto a roof structure and cooperating with a shingle.
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to a second embodiment of the prior art, said flashing structure being shown mounted onto a roof structure and cooperating with a shingle.
• Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to a third embodiment of the prior art, said flashing structure being shown mounted onto a roof structure and cooperating with a shingle.
• Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, said flashing structure being shown mounted onto a roof structure and cooperating with a shingle.
• Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the flashing structure shown in Figure 5.
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said flashing structure being shown mounted onto a valley and cooperating with a shingle.
• Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the flashing structure shown in Figure 8.
• Figure 10 is a perspective view of the flashing structure shown in Figure 9.
• Figure 11 is a perspective view of a female component of the flashing structure shown in Figure 10.
• Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said flashing structure being shown mounted onto a valley and cooperating with a shingle.
• Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said flashing structure being shown mounted onto a roof structure and cooperating with a shingle.
• Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said flashing structure being shown mounted onto a roof structure and cooperating with a shingle.
• Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of a flashing structure according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• the preferred embodiments of the flashing structure 1 as shown comprises various components such as a return bend, first and second supporting lips, a nailing flange, an abutment flange, a rim, a drip-edge, etc.
• the preferred embodiments of the flashing structure 1 consists of certain geometrical configurations as briefly explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential to the present invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention.
• the flashing structure 1 for mounting onto a roof surface 3 and used for receiving at least one shingle 5.
• the flashing structure 1 comprises a first drainage channel 7 extending longitudinally along the flashing structure 1.
• the flashing structure 1 further comprises a securing lip 9 positioned over the first drainage channel 7 and extending along the same, a gap 11 being defined between the securing lip 9 and the first drainage channel 7, said gap 11 being shaped and sized for receiving said at least one shingle 5, as shown in Figures 5- 17.
• the flashing structure 1 further comprises a second drainage channel 13 extending longitudinally along the flashing structure 1 , said second drainage channel 13 being fluidly connected to the first drainage channel 7, as also shown in Figures 5-17.
• the flashing structure 1 is preferably made of a single piece and made of a single material, that is, as will be briefly explained hereinbelow, all the components of the flashing structure 1 are preferably made integral to one another.
• the flashing structure 1 is shaped and sized for receiving a plurality of shingles 5 along the gap 11.
• the present invention couples the ease-of- installation of a slip-lock method, and the convenience and strength of a single- piece flashing 1 , with the creation of built-in drainage channels 7, 13, and a configuration that minimizes the chance of debris clogging these channels 7, 13.
• the outside edge of the flashing 1 preferably has a hidden locking lip that, when hooked under a securing lock flashing, will prevent the potential failure of the flashing system by wind uplift.
• each flashing type can be created in various ways, as for example by bending sheet metal on a brake, or by roll-forming the flashing 1, or by creating the flashing 1 by extrusion, or by any other suitable technique, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.
• the type of flashing 1 used to better illustrate the present invention is a "gable-end flashing" which is typically applied to the edge 15 of the roof (also known as the gable) and runs from the ridge to the eave along the roof 3. Its main purpose is to provide a secure anchor at the gable-end roof edge 15 to the shingles 5 and panels that cover the roof surface, and to divert any water that works its way around the shingles 5.
• the first drainage channel 7 preferably comprises a channel floor 17 having opposite first and second longitudinal edges 19, 21
• the second drainage channel 13 also preferably comprises a channel floor 23 having opposite first and second longitudinal edges 25, 27.
• the primary drainage channel 7 cavity is sufficiently large to allow water to flow even if some debris makes its way past the shingle insertion point.
• the back portion of the primary hidden cavity is sufficiently high to allow adequate space for water drainage.
• the second drainage channel 13 acts as an overflow backup to the main first drainage channel 7, and is thus fluidly connected thereto.
• the first longitudinal edge 19 of the channel floor 17 of the first drainage channel 7 is provided with a bend 29, as better shown in Figure 6.
• the distance between the channel floor 17 of the first drainage channel 7 and the securing lip 9 is selected so as to have suitable dimensions in order to have an appropriate drainage, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.
• the channel floor 17 of the first drainage channel 7 and the securing lip 9 are operatively connected to one another via the bend 29.
• the second longitudinal edge 21 of the channel floor 17 of the first drainage channel 7 is provided with a bend, and this bend 31.
• the flashing structure 1 preferably further comprises a first supporting lip 33, said first supporting lip 33 being operatively connected to the channel floor 17 of the first drainage channel 7 via the bend 31 provided on the second longitudinal edge 21 thereof.
• it is typically formed to be a very tight bend.
• This supporting lip 33 has the dual role of supporting the inserted shingle 5, holding it tightly against the upper lip 9, and at the same time leaving a cavity which allows drainage of water.
• the second longitudinal edge 27 of the channel floor 23 of the second drainage channel 13 is provided with a bend 35
• the flashing structure 1 preferably comprises a second supporting lip 37, said second supporting lip 37 being operatively connected to the channel floor 23 of the second drainage channel 13 via the bend 35 provided on the second longitudinal edge 27 thereof, as also better shown in Figure 6.
• This bend 37 is also typically very tight, and has two main functions: to hold the shingle 5 away from the underlying drainage channel 13, in order to keep enough space to allow the cavity to be formed and to push shingle 5 up against the slip-lock lip 9 so that the gap 11 be as small as possible.
• the first longitudinal edge 25 of the channel floor 23 of the second drainage channel 13 is preferably operatively connected to the second longitudinal edge 21 of the channel floor 17 of the first drainage channel 7 via the first supporting lip 33.
• the second supporting lip 37 is provided with a nailing flange 39
• the securing lip 9 is provided with an abutment flange 41 projecting perpendicularly therefrom.
• a fastener 43 such as a nail, a screw, a clip, or the like, is inserted through the nailing flange 39 and into the roof sheathing 45 for securing the flashing structure 1 onto the roof surface 3.
• This sheathing 45 may be covered by membrane or underlayment.
• the abutment flange 41 preferably projects downwardly and is preferably provided with a longitudinal drip-edge 47, said longitudinal drip-edge 47 being removably connectable onto a corresponding hook 49 provided on a side edge of the roof surface 3.
• the abutment flange 41 is the part covering the fascia of the gable-end or rake. The drip-edge 47 directs water away from the fascia.
• the abutment flange 41 preferably projects upwardly and may be provided with a longitudinal rim 51 , when the flashing structure 1 is employed as an end-wall flashing 1.
• the gable-end flashing 1 shown in Figure 5 is the same as in Figure 6, and also shows how the flashing 1 is positioned on the roof edge 15.
• This flashing 1 is preferably secured in two ways: a nail through the nailing flange 39 portion of the flashing 1 secures the flashing 1 to the roof sheathing 45, and the drip-edge 47 which is held by the lip of the securing flashing 15, which in turn is preferably nailed to the fascia with a nail 43. Once the flashing 1 is secured in this manner, it becomes a strong point of anchoring the shingles 5.
• the shingle 5 is cut so that it fits under the slip-lock, and enters the flashing at gap 11.
• the shingle 5 extends preferably under the slip-lock all the way to the back of the channel 7, preferably at a suitable distance past the insertion point. It should be clear that if the installer has not trimmed the shingle 5 carefully, as long as it is inserted at an appropriate minimal distance, under the slip lock lip 9, there will be little possibility of the shingle 5 popping out later, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. The extra margin of error that a wide slip- lock affords the installer allows for easier and quicker installation.
• a second important element of the invention is that any debris that does manage to work its way into the flashing 1 between the shingle and the slip-lock, will find itself in the primary drainage cavity 7, which is designed to be large enough to allow rain to wash out the debris. Compared to the current state of the art, this combination of features allows for a much more reliable flashing 1 from the point of view of protecting the roof from water infiltration.
• the lip 37 forming it is designed to push up against the inserted shingle 5, so that it makes a tight fit with the slip-lock lip 9, as better shown in Figure 5, and also creates a drainage cavity large enough to drain water.
• the securing lip 9 is the slip-lock which holds the shingle in place. It is designed to be very close to or even touching the primary channel lip 33. With the shingle 5 inserted into under this lip 9, there will be very little space available to allow the entry of debris, as can be easily understood.
• the wide securing lip 9 of the slip lock allows an installer to trim the shingle 5 approximately (as opposed to precisely), and the lock will still secure the shingle 5. This allows an installer to work quickly and to use only basic tools (such as snips and a hammer for example) to carry out the installation.
• the addition of the secondary drainage channel 13 provides for a water outlet that avoids water buildup in the hidden gutter which can overflow the return.
• the gable-end flashing 1 has been briefly described hereinabove.
• the other two common flashing types are the end-wall flashing 1 and the valley flashing 1.
• an end-wall flashing is used to protect the junction between the roof and a wall. It is the current practice to use either the full-lock or the slip-lock methods of securing the shingles 5 with these flashings. According to the prior art, the full-lock takes time, skill, and special tools to perform correctly, and therefore is often not done to the required standard.
• the slip-lock is installed quickly, but has problems with water diversion and backup.
• the abutment flange 41 is the portion of the flashing 1 that runs up the wall, either underneath the siding on the wall, or over the wall covering.
• the rim 51 is designed to hold a caulking bead if the flashing 1 is installed on the outside of the wall covering.
• Figure 8 shows a flashing structure 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention, the flashing structure 1 being now used as a valley flashing 1.
• Figure 8 illustrates the attachment nails 43 of the flashing 1 to the roof 3, and the location of the shingle 5 which is inserted into the slip-lock at point. Note that the shingle 5 is held away from the bottom of the flashing 1 by the lips, allowing the drainage channels to function, and tight fit of sliplock lip 9 against the shingle 5 minimizes the entry of debris.
• this valley flashing 1 deals with the issues of water flow, debris accumulation, potential lack of skill of installers, pressure by ice and snow accumulation in a reliable and effective manner, allowing this type of flashing 1 to be used by relatively inexperienced workers, while still delivering professional results.
• flashings are usually produced in 8-foot or 10-foot lengths, and often have to be joined together to cover roof sections that are greater than 10 feet in length.
• one end of each section is preferably made somewhat wider, so that an adjacent section can slip into it with an appropriate distance overlapping, so that water running down the drainage channel in the higher section finds itself in the drainage channel of the lower section at the junction point.
• This wider part of the flashing 1 is referred to as the "female" end, and is better shown in Figure 11.
• sections of flashings 1 are typically no longer than 10 or 12 feet, and have to be joined together if the section of roof 3 to be protected by the flashing 1 is longer than this. Due to the presence of the built-in channels 7, 13, the present invention also covers the method of joining the different sections of flashings 1 to allow a leak-proof installation.
• Figure 11 illustrates the "female" end of the valley flashing 1 and illustrates the tapered shape needed to allow two sections of flashings 1 to be joined.
• the "male" end of the flashing 1 is preferably cut straight across (not tapered), and the two .primary drainage channels are inserted into the corresponding female ends first.
• the flashing surface formed by the exposed part of the valley of the "male” end is slipped over the corresponding surface on the "female” end, and finally the lips forming the secondary drainage channel on the "male” end are slipped into the cavity on the "female” end.
• This configuration allows any water in the upper part of the flashing 1 (above the joint) to drain directly into the corresponding drainage channels in the lower flashing 1 (below the joint), as apparent to a person skilled in the art.
• Figures 12-14 show other embodiments of the flashing structure 1 according to the present invention which include all the features of the invention, namely first and second drainage channels 7, 13, but does not have a nailing flange 39 for example. It is worth noting that the first and second drainage channels 7, 13 may be positioned differently within the flashing structure 1 according to the present invention so long as they are fluidly connected to one another and operate in the manner described herein.
• an important feature of these particular embodiments of the present invention resides in the additional drainage channel 13 which now becomes the primary drainage channel 7, and the configuration of the slip-lock lip in very close proximity to the underlying primary channel 7. This configuration allows the blocking of the majority of debris from entering the internal drainage channels 7, 13, and the size of the debris that can get through will be washed out with the next rain.
• Figure 14 shows the end-wall flashing 1 according to another embodiment, incorporating the invention, and having all the key elements described in Figure 5.
• Figures 15 and 16 show two cross-sections of a gable-end type of flashing 1 which have different ways of creating the drainage channels 7, 13.
• a second fold has been created to support the shingle 5 or panel, while still creating a drainage channel 13.
• the securing lip 9 has a second fold to provide a tighter joint for the slip lock, and as well creates a more open drainage channel 13.
• a hidden drainage channel 13 in roofing flashings 1 allows for easy installation and give a higher level of security and protection than existing methods and practice. Furthermore, the addition of a hidden securing lip on the fascia side of the gable-end flashing 1 provides for a much more secure method of fastening the outside edge of this type of flashing compared to existing methods, while at the same time addressing esthetic concerns. This method is also applicable to any flashing which has a fascia-face exposure, such as the starter flashing.
• the roof flashing 1 incorporates a drainage channel hidden underneath a securing locking lip 9, and a hidden locking lip for the exposed portion of the flashing.
• This design is adapted with these features to various flashings used in the metal roofing industry, including, but not limited to gable-end flashings 1 , end-wall flashings 1 , and valley flashings 1 , and all other related flashing structures.
• the present invention is applicable to the installation of roofing shingles 5 and roofing panels on residential and commercial property roofs.
• the shingles 5 and panels will usually be metal (e.g, steel, aluminum, copper, etc.), although other suitable materials may be used, such as polymers and/or composites for example, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.
• the present invention addresses the ease of installation with a design that allows the slip-lock method of securing the shingles 5 or panels to the flashing, while at the same time providing hidden drainage channels 7, 13 that traps any water infiltration and drains it away.
• the flashing system design for roofing applications incorporates interconnected and concealed drainage channels 7, 13 located underneath a securing locking lip 9, and may be adapted to various flashings 1 used in the roofing industry, including, but not limited to gable-end (or rake) flashings; end-wall flashings; and valley flashings.
• the current invention addresses the ease of installation with a design that allows the slip-lock method of securing the shingles or panels to the flashing, while at the same time providing several hidden drainage channels 7, 13 that trap any water infiltration and drain it away.
• the invention couples the ease-of-installation of the slip-lock method, with the creation of several built-in drainage channels 7, 13 in a one-piece flashing 1 that will avoid the problems associated with blockage of water flow by debris, and will continue to function reliably even under the harsh conditions of winter.
• There are different ways of creating such channels and several examples are illustrated in the enclosed drawings.
• the present invention is a substantial improvement over the prior art in that the flashing structure 1 , by virtue of its design, enables for a much easier and reliable installation of shingles 5 when compared to traditional methods.
• the preferred one-piece flashing 1 according to the present invention is designed so as to simplify installation because it reduces the number of parts that need to be handled.
• the present invention is also advantageous in that the main first drainage channel 7 is devised to allow a drainage even under severe weather conditions, unlike traditional flashing systems which can back-up and allow water infiltration to the roof.
• the present invention is also advantageous in that the addition of a secondary drainage channel 13 acts as a back-up to the primary first drainage channel 7 in case of extreme water flow rates resulting from precipitation.
• the present invention is also an improvement over the prior art in that, as explained herein, the flashing structure 1 is so constructed so as to impede the entry of debris into the hidden channels, allowing them to function without danger of blockage. Moreover, unlike previous designs, the present invention is also a substantial improvement over the prior art in that its features may be integrated to various different types of flashing designs, namely valley, gable-end, end-wall, and other related types of flashings 1. Moreover, the flashing structure 1 according to the present invention is also advantageous in that the extended runs of flashing are easily connected to one another using a sequential insertion joining method.

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• 2002
  • 2002-11-20 EP EP02779078A patent/EP1448859A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-11-20 WO PCT/CA2002/001773 patent/WO2003044301A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-11-20 AU AU2002342480A patent/AU2002342480A1/en not_active Abandoned

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