Building structure and spacer used therein
AssigneeBenjamin Obdyke Incorporated
InventorMichael S. Coulton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A roll-form spacer product providing an air space and drainage passageways within a building structure. Preferably, the spacer product is a thermoplasic web of material having hollow spacer elements formed integrally thereon. A first set of spacer elements projects outwardly from one face of the web and a second set of spacer elements projects from the other face of the web. The first and second sets of spacer elements are offset, project in opposite directions, and create air space and drainage passageways along each face. Thus, in a wall or roof construction, air, vapor and water are provided with exit paths extending along both the inner sheathing member and the outer building material. In addition, the web can also be provided with apertures for creating transverse paths therethrough.
Claims22
A spacer product for providing a drainage path and air space within a building structure so as to retard deterioration of the building structure, consisting essentially of:
- a continuous, indeterminate-length, roll-form web of thermoplastic material having a front face and a rear face, said web capable of being rolled lengthwise into a spiral roll during manufacture and unrolled lengthwise in a substantially straight direction during installation;
- a first set of hollow spacer elements integrally formed on said web and projecting outwardly from said front face of said web, each spacer element of said first set of spacer elements having an apex portion such that a drainage path and air space is created extending adjacent and along said front face;
- and
- a second set of hollow spacer elements formed integrally on said web and projecting outwardly from said rear face of said web in an opposite direction relative to said first set of spacer elements, each spacer element of said second set of spacer elements having an apex portion such that a drainage path and air space is created extending adjacent and along said rear face;
- said first set of hollow spacer elements being offset from said second set of hollow spacer elements.
A building structure having a drainage passageway and air space therein so as to retard deterioration of the building structure, comprising:
- an inner sheathing member providing a wall of a building structure;
- a web of thermoplastic material affixed to and overlying said inner sheathing member, said web having a front face and a rear face;
- and
- an outer building material affixed to said inner sheathing member and overlying said web;
- said web having a first set of integrally formed hollow spacer elements projecting outwardly from said front face of said web providing a drainage path and air space adjacent said front face;
- said web having a second set of integrally formed hollow spacer elements on said web and projecting outwardly from said rear face of said web in an opposite direction relative to said first set of spacer elements to provide a drainage path and air space adjacent said rear face;
- and
- said first set of hollow spacer elements being offset from said second set of hollow spacer elements.
A building structure having a drainage passageway and air space therein so as to retard deterioration of the building structure, comprising:
- an inner sheathing member providing a wall of a building structure;
- a membrane overlying said inner sheathing member;
- a web of thermoplastic material affixed to and overlying said membrane, said web having a front face and a rear face and being capable of being rolled lengthwise into a spiral roll during manufacture and unrolled lengthwise in a substantially straight direction during installation;
- and
- an outer building material affixed to said inner sheathing member and overlying said web;
- said web having a first set of integrally formed spaced-apart hollow spacer elements projecting outwardly from said front face of said web to provide a drainage path and air space adjacent to said front face, each spacer element of said first set of spacer elements having an apex portion;
- said web having a second set of integrally formed spaced-apart hollow spacer elements on said web and projecting outwardly from said rear face of said web in an opposite direction relative to said first set of spacer elements for providing a drainage path and air space adjacent to said rear face, each spacer element of said second set of spacer elements having an apex portion;
- said first and second sets of hollow spacer elements being formed in grid patterns on said web and said first set of hollow spacer elements being uniformly offset from said second set of hollow spacer elements;
- said web having a series of apertures formed therein for creating a drainage and air flow path extending transversely through said web, said series of apertures being located on said apex portions of said first and second set of spacer elements;
- and
- said first set of hollow spacer elements being formed by integral portions of said web having been deformed outwardly from said front face of said web, and said second set of hollow spacer elements being formed by integral portions of said web having been deformed outwardly from said rear face of said web.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.