EP1582648A1

EP1582648A1 - Valley/Flashing for flues

Info

Publication number: EP1582648A1
Application number: EP05005454A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zeno Cipriani
Original assignee: Dakota Metal Plastic Works LLC
Current assignee: Dakota Metal Plastic Works LLC
Priority date: 2004-04-02
Filing date: 2005-03-14
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Also published as: ITVR20040046A1

Abstract

A valley/flashing is proposed for flues. Preferably, the cross section of the present valley/flashing is an essentially circular cross section. The valley/flashing (1) is made of an elastic rubber material. The valley is a sole-piece element and shows a plurality of overlapped concentric rings (2). The rings show circular sectors (5) on which additional bands are attached, if necessary. The valley comprises borders that are placed on the said rings. The borders (8) are shaped in such a way as to insert in seats provided on the lower flashing.

Description

The present invention refers to a particularly shaped valley/flashing for flues and preferably steel flues and circular cross section flues.
As is known, at the outlet of chimney or stack flues, generally circular cross section flues, it is necessary to place valley/flashings. These valley/flashings are shaped in such a way as to be adapted to the outer circumference of the flue. Basically, the valley/flashings are made of copper or other metals and are in general preformed and therefore, the size of the valley/flashing must correspond, at least approximately, to the section of the flue to embrace. Otherwise, the valley/flashings are positioned by tinsmiths that prepares the plate or sheet and then, they make the sheet adhered to the flue by hammering the plate or sheet itself onto the outer circumference of the flue. Finally, they seal the borders with silicone or another suitable material.
Consequently, when utilizing preformed valley/flashings for circular cross section flues, which flues may have different diameters, it is necessary to use valley/flashing whose size that corresponds to the flues size and therefore, the market need to offer several valley/flashing sizes or models.
Another problem of the known valley/flashings is the difficulty in adapting them to flues that have irregular sizes. Further, the valley/flashing may be mounted on roofs that have not a standard inclination. In these cases, the artisan has to face the said problem with empirical methods and therefore, it is not possible for him to assemble the valley/flashing in a correct and safe manner.
The aim and object of the present invention is to remove the problems of the valley/flashings of the prior art; indeed the valley/flashing according to the present invention may be adapted to any size of the flue cross section or to whatever roof inclination also by a non-skilled artisan. In this way, the costs are reduced and it is possible to obtain a perfect sealing against water, vapours, condensate or other in proximity of the flue or in proximity of the base on which the flashing is mounted.
The present invention is characterized in that it is a flashing in elastic rubber material, is a sole-piece element and shows a plurality of overlapped concentric rings which have circular sectors on which additional bands are attached, if necessary; the flashing comprises borders that are placed on the said rings and are shaped in such a way as to insert in seats provided on the lower valley/flashing.
Further features and details of the invention will be better understood from the following specification that is given as a non-restricting embodiment on the hand of the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective top view of the valley/flashing;
Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the valley/flashing;
Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the valley/flashing coupled with a flashing to seal a flue against infiltrations.
With reference to the accompanying drawings, number 1 denotes a valley/flashing on the whole. The valley/flashing 1 is made of an elastic rubber material such as EPDM, silicone or other suitable material and is a one-piece element. The valley 1 comprises a plurality of overlapped concentric rings 2 which are provided with sectors 5 to couple additional bands 6. The bands 6 are locked in said sectors 5 through projections 7 disposed in the upper part of the rings.
The valley/flashing 1 according to the present invention has a lower opening 4 and an upper opening 3 which permits the valley/flashing to be put on the flue in the outside.
At first, the diameter of a flue 11 is measured and then, the valley is cut in proximity of the ring that has the corresponding diameter. Then, the valley is put on the flue and lowered to a lower flashing 10.
The said flashing 10 is made essentially of copper, aluminum, steel or other more suitable material. The inside of the flashing 10 has substantially inclined sides 12 that permit the valley to be put on and hold. The valley is provided with a lower ring 8. The internal side of the lower ring is provided with a counter-border 9 which is to couple and hold the flashing 10.
The valley/flashing according to the present invention has a high elasticity because it is made of a rubber material such as EPDM, silicone or other more suitable elastic materials that permit an utilization of the valley/flashing also at high or low temperatures.
The elasticity and the particular shape of the valley/flashing, which has a slight degree of eccentricity, permit to utilize this valley/flashing on roofs of any inclination as well as on conventional circular cross section flues of any diameter.
Now, an example of application of the present invention will be described to better explain the new features of the invention itself.
At first, the diameter of a flue 11 is measured and then, the valley is cut in proximity of the ring that has the corresponding diameter. Then, the valley is put on the flue and lowered to a lower flashing 10.
Thanks to the particular elliptic shape, which has a slight degree of eccentricy and thanks to a particular elastic bellows structure, the valley is adaptable to different roof inclinations. In case the valley is not pre-mounted on its flashing, the valley must be fastened by coupling the counter-border 9 of the lower ring 8 with the substantially inclined sides 12 of the flashing, the flashing being positioned between the roof 13 and the flue 11.
To obtain an additional sealing against water infiltrations and to avoid any displacements of the valley owing to rubber cracks due to violent atmospheric phenomena such as storms or blizzards, it is possible to provide additional bandage elements 6 on the upper ring of the valley 1 in touch with the flue 11.
A skilled artisan may modify the valley/flashing according to the present invention and remain in the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Valley/flashing, characterized in that it is made of an elastic material and comprises a substantially circular body formed by a plurality of annular planes (2) which are overlapped and have different diameters, the annular planes being delimited by substantially rounded scaled borders; the lower part (8) of the valley is shaped in such a way as to be connected and coupled with a lower flashing.
Valley/flashing according to the foregoing claim, characterized in that on the part of the plane (5) delimited between two subsequent annular borders it is possible to house fastening bands (6).
Valley/flashing according to the foregoing claims, characterized in that the said flashing has a substantially inclined perimeter (12) to house and keep the valley itself.
Valley/flashing according to the foregoing claims, characterized in that any annular plane (2) of the said valley can be cut according to the size of the flue on which the valley has to be put.
Valley/flashing according to the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises a lower opening (4) and an upper opening (3), which permit the valley/flashing to be put on the flue in the outside.
Valley/flashing according to the foregoing claims, characterized in that said openings (3, 4) are placed with a slight degree of eccentricity.