Beaded Step Flashing

The present invention relates to building construction, and in particular to a beaded step flashing.

Step flashing is generally well-known in the art, and serves to reduce or prevent water from entering a sidewall of a building. Step flashing is installed in the joint between roof shingles and the adjoining wall to prevent water from seeping through. Typically, step flashing is installed in a weave pattern, overlapping the step flashing and the shingle below it and positioned underneath the shingle above it. Step flashing is typically a bent piece of metal that extends at least several inches up the sidewall. The bend in the flashing is at the seam (contact point) between the roof and the sidewall.

While step flashing can help reduce water penetration into a sidewall, step flashing does little to help direct water away from the sidewalls. Indeed, water that collects at the seam will be directed toward the seam of the next piece of step flashing below it. This can increase the amount of water that is adjacent to the sidewall, leading to water penetrating into the sidewall if there is a gap or other opening at or leading to a seam along the sidewall. Consequently, providing step flashing that helps divert water away from the sidewall would be advantageous.

One embodiment of the invention is a step flashing piece. The step flashing piece has a bottom surface and a side surface with a bend at the intersection of the bottom and side surfaces. A raised bead is positioned on the bottom surface and on the side surface.

Another embodiment of the invention is a beaded step flashing piece. The beaded step flashing piece has a bottom surface and a side surface with a bend at the intersection of the bottom and side surfaces. A raised bead is positioned on the bottom surface generally parallel to the bend.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is a step flashing piece. The step flashing piece has a bottom surface and a side surface with a bend at the intersection of the bottom and side surfaces. A raised bead is positioned on the bottom surface, and a raised bead is positioned on the side surface. The raised beads are positioned generally parallel to the bend.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

As referenced in the figures, the same reference numerals may be used herein to refer to the same parameters and components or their similar modifications and alternatives. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the present disclosure as oriented in the Figures. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. The drawings referenced herein are schematic and associated views thereof are not necessarily drawn to scale.

As show in, an embodiment of a beaded step flashing pieceis shown. The beaded step flashing pieceincludes a bottom surfacewith an inner surfaceand an outer surface. The beaded step flashing piecealso has a side surfacewith an inner surfaceand an outer surface. A bendis at the top intersection of the bottom surfaceand the side surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the beadis approximately 90 degrees resulting in the bottom surfacebeing generally perpendicular to the side surface. However, the bendcould create a different angle between the bottom surfaceand the side surface.

The bottom surfaceincludes a raised beadon the inner surfacewith a corresponding grooveon the outer surface. Similarly, the side surfacehas a raised beadon the inner surfacewith a corresponding grooveon the outer surface. The grooves,have a radius of between 0.01 and 0.04 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, both grooves have a radius of 0.02 inches. While both grooves,are illustrated as having the same radius, they can have different radii. In addition, the grooves,and corresponding raised beads,are illustrated as being positioned approximately halfway down the width of the bottom surfaceand side surfaceand do not need to be spaced the same distance from the bend. In the illustrated embodiment, the grooves,and corresponding raised beads,are spaced approximately 2 inches from the bendwith the bottom surfaceand side surfaceboth being approximately 4 inches wide. The bottom surfaceand side surfacedo not necessarily need to have the same width.

As illustrated in, the beaded step flashingcan be installed on a roofadjacent to a wall. The outer surfaceis adjacent to the wallwhile the outer surfaceof the bottom surfaceis adjacent to the roof. Each piece of beaded step flashingmay be positioned over a part of a shinglethat is carrying a lower piece of beaded step flashing. The raised beadon the side surfacecan help direct water W away from bendtoward a lower piece of step flashing. Similarly, the raised beadon the bottom surfacecan help direct water W away from bendtoward a lower shingleand/or lower beaded step flashing. The presence of the raised beads,helps limit the amount of water that would travel to and/or along bendas water that may be headed toward the bendwould hit the raised bead,and be directed down the roofrather than toward the bendwhich is along the intersection of the walland roof. This lessens the amount to water W that is present at the intersection point, thereby lessening the chance of water penetrating into the wallor into the roof.

In the illustrated embodiment, the beaded step flashingis formed out of a 0.011 inch aluminum material. The beaded strep flashingis formed from a blank that is approximately 8 inches. The beaded step flashingcan be made from other metal materials and from different sized blanks. Moreover, beaded step flashingcould be made from a non-metal material. Similarly, beaded step flashingmay also be coated and/or painted.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or will be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the present disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the present disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that, unless otherwise described, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes, and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating positions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.