Flexible drip cap
AssigneeAndersen Corporation
InventorsArik Van Asten, Devin Nagel, Duane Fier, Corey Bishman, Jeremiah Boe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Flexible drip cap for use with fenestration units and related methods. The flexible drip cap includes a flange member and a cap member attached to each other along a length of the drip cap, with a seal member located between the flange member and the cap member. The seal member provides a seal to limit water infiltration between the flange member and the cap member when the drip cap is positioned on a fenestration unit.
Claims25
A flexible drip cap comprising:
- a spine extending along a length of the flexible drip cap;
- a cap member comprising a back edge and a front edge, wherein the back edge of the cap member extends along the spine of the flexible drip cap, and wherein the front edge of the cap member is spaced away from the back edge and the spine along the length of the flexible drip cap;
- a flange member comprising a base edge and free edge, wherein the base edge of the flange member extends along the spine of the flexible drip cap, and wherein the free edge of the flange member is spaced away from the base edge and the spine along the length of the flexible drip cap;
- and
- a seal member comprising an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein the inner edge of the seal member extends along the spine of the flexible drip cap, and wherein the outer edge of the seal member is spaced away from the inner edge and the spine along the length of the flexible drip cap;
- wherein the back edge of the cap member and the base edge of the flange member are attached to each other proximate the spine of the flexible drip cap such that the cap member and the flange member define an inside corner of the flexible drip cap when the cap member and the flange member are positioned such that the seal member is located within an arc of less than 180 degrees centered along the spine and extending from the cap member to the flange member.
A flexible drip cap comprising:
- a spine extending along a length of the flexible drip cap;
- a cap member comprising a back edge and a front edge, wherein the back edge of the cap member extends along the spine of the flexible drip cap, and wherein the front edge of the cap member is spaced away from the back edge and the spine along the length of the flexible drip cap;
- a flange member comprising a base edge and free edge, wherein the base edge of the flange member extends along the spine of the flexible drip cap, and wherein the free edge of the flange member is spaced away from the base edge and the spine along the length of the flexible drip cap, wherein the flange member comprises a plurality of fins, wherein each pair of adjacent fins is separated from each other by a slot extending towards the base edge of the flange member from the free edge of the flange member;
- and
- a seal member comprising an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein the inner edge of the seal member extends along the spine of the flexible drip cap, and wherein the outer edge of the seal member is spaced away from the inner edge and the spine along the length of the flexible drip cap;
- wherein the spine of the flexible drip cap is formed by a junction between the back edge of the cap member and the base edge of the flange member;
- wherein the seal member extends away from the junction between the back edge of the cap member and the base edge of the flange member such that the seal member is located within an inside corner defined by the cap member and the flange member;
- wherein the cap member comprises an inside surface facing the seal member and an outside surface facing away from the seal member, wherein the inside surface and the outside surface extend between the back edge and the front edge of the cap member along the length of the flexible drip cap, and wherein the front edge comprises a drip edge comprising a rounded profile in a cross-section taken transverse to the spine;
- wherein the cap member comprises a stiffener located between back edge and the front edge of the cap member, wherein the stiffener is at least partially encapsulated in a covering polymeric material forming the back edge and the front edge of the cap member, and wherein the stiffener comprises a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is located between the forward edge and the back edge of the cap member, and wherein the forward edge is located between rear edge and the front edge of the cap member.
A method of installing flexible drip cap on a fenestration unit wherein the flexible drip cap includes a cap member, a flange member, and a seal member, wherein a back edge of the cap member, a base edge of the flange member, and an inner edge of the seal member are attached to each other proximate a spine of the flexible drip cap, and wherein the seal member is located between the cap member and the flange member when the cap member and the flange member are positioned such that the seal member is located within an arc of less than 180 degrees centered along the spine and extending from the cap member to the flange member, the method comprising:
- deforming the cap member of the flexible drip cap such that the spine and the cap member of the flexible drip cap follow a curved path matching the shape of a top edge of a fenestration unit installed in a building opening;
- and
- attaching the cap member to the top edge of the fenestration unit such that the cap member is positioned on the top edge of the fenestration unit with the flange member and the seal member both positioned on and aligned with the building wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.