Abstract:
An improved roofing method and assembly having a fascia cap designed to prevent water from moving through capillary action back towards the roof. The assembly has an a elongated drip edge running back the bottom edge of the fascia cap that displaces water away from the roof, preserving the integrity of the roof and building walls below. A blocking strip attaches the fascia cap to the roof, maintaining the assembly and helping the flow of water away from the roof.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved fascia cap assembly for roofing. More particularly, the invention is a fascia cap assembly designed to limit water from moving through capillary action back towards the roof. The assembly has an elongated drip edge that displaces water away from the roof, preserving the integrity of the roof and building walls below. The assembly also contains a blocking strip to help the flow of water away from the roof and also to hold the assembly together. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Buildings, such as houses and office buildings are made of walls and are covered by a roof. The roof is typically, but not always, downward sloping so that water can drip off the roof and away from the building. 
     At the point where the water drips off the edge of the roof, a fascia cap is typically installed to provide protection for the roof. The edge of the roof is the place most likely to have water accumulate and a fascia cap is designed to protect water from entering the building walls through the roof. 
     A disadvantage to prior art designs for fascia caps is that water is often able to seep between the fascia cap and the roof, causing rot and deterioration of the roof and building walls. Prior art fascia caps, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,587 suffer from a phenomena known as capillary action, which allows water to adhere to the fascia cap and seep through and enter the roof. 
     Capillary action involves water moving back up the fascia cap due to surface tension. The surface tension results in water penetrating the fascia cap and entering the roof. 
     Along with water, dirt and other debris may enter the roof via capillary action and surface tension, whereby the water causes the dirt and debris to flow back towards the roof. As such, it important to design a fascia cap that adequately displaces water away from the roof and building and limits capillary action and surface tension from allowing water and debris to seep back into the roof. This limits and potentially prevents rot and decay of the roof and preserves the structural integrity of the roof and building as a whole. 
     What is desired therefore is to provide a fascia cap design and assembly that mitigates and almost entirely eliminates capillary action. It is further desirable to develop a roofing assembly with a fascia cap having a continuous elongated drip edge that works to mitigate capillary action. It is further desirable and advantageous for the fascia cap to be in one continuous piece for assembly and cost purposes. It is further desirable to have fascia cap assembly with blocking strip that reinforces and attaches the fascia cap to the roof. A method for assembling a roofing assembly having a fascia cap with an elongated drip edge is also desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fascia cap design and assembly that mitigates and almost entirely eliminates capillary action. It is further object of the present invention to provide a roofing assembly with a fascia cap having a continuous elongated drip edge that works to mitigate capillary action. A further object of the invention is to have the fascia cap be in one continuous piece. A further object of the invention is to have a blocking strip as part of the assembly that reinforces the fascia cap and attaches it to the roof. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for a roofing assembly having a fascia cap with a continuous elongated drip edge. 
     These and other objectives are achieved by providing a roofing assembly for the end of a roof comprising: a fascia cap having a top edge, side edge, and bottom edge, the side edge connecting the bottom edge to the top edge to form a U-shaped body, the bottom edge having a drip edge extending past the U-shaped body; a roofing material; and a shingle material, wherein the body of the fascia cap accepts the roofing material, and wherein the shingle material is adapted to lie flat against the top edge of the fascia cap. This assembly may be used on the following roof systems: TPO-RS, SBS Modified bitumen, all one-ply and BUR, and also used as fascia. 
     The assembly further may have the drip edge run across the length of the bottom edge and be continuous with the bottom edge. The assembly further may have the edges of the fascia cap be fused together as one piece. 
     In preferred embodiments, the drip edge is at least as long as the side edge. In other preferred embodiments, the drip edge is at least half as long as the side edge. In other preferred embodiments, the bottom edge is at least as long as the top edge. The assembly functions to limit water from moving through capillary action back towards the roof. The assembly mitigates surface tension allowing water to move back and up towards the roof. 
     The assembly may further comprise a blocking strip, the blocking strip adapted to lie on top of the shingle material. Fasteners may also be applied that secure the blocking strip to the shingle material, although fasteners are not always necessary. On the bottom surface of the blocking strip, an adhesive may be applied to secure the blocking strip to the shingle material. The adhesive on the bottom surface may heat up and solidify to adhere the blocking strip to the roof, preferably to the shingle material. The blocking strip may also contain side surfaces angled so as to limit and block water from entering the bottom surface of the blocking strip, so water will not interfere and interact with the adhesive material. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention involves a fascia cap comprising: a top edge, side edge, and bottom edge, the side edge connecting the bottom edge to the top edge to form a U-shaped body, and the bottom edge having a drip edge extending past the U-shaped body. The fascia cap is typically found on the end of the roof. 
     Furthermore, the fascia cap may have the drip edge run the length of the bottom edge and be continuous with the bottom edge. The drip edge may limit water from moving through capillary action and surface tension back towards the roof. 
     In another embodiment, the drip edge is at least as long as the side edge. In another embodiment, the drip edge is at least half as long as the side edge. In another embodiment, the bottom edge is at least as long as the top edge. In another embodiment, the elongated drip edge has an axial length of more than half an inch. 
     The body of the fascia cap may be adapted to accept a roofing material, such as insulation, shingles, wood, or other roofing materials known in the art. The edges of the fascia cap are typically fused together as one piece, through they may also be formed of separate pieces hinged or fused together. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention involves a method for assembly of a roofing system for the end of a roof comprising the steps of: installing a fascia cap with a top edge, side edge, and bottom edge, the side edge connecting the bottom edge to the top edge to form a U-shaped body, and the bottom edge having a drip edge extending past the U-shaped body; sliding roofing into the body of the fascia cap; and laying shingle material over the top edge of the fascia cap. 
     The fascia cap of the above method may have the drip edge run across the length of the bottom edge and be continuous with the bottom edge. The method may further comprise applying a blocking strip over the shingle material and adhering the blocking strip to the shingle material. The blocking strip may contain a bottom surface with an adhesive to attach the blocking strip to the shingle material. 
     Other objects of the invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from consideration of the following drawings and accompanying detailed description. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of the assembly for a roof having a fascia cap, roofing material, and shingle material connected in an assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is side view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a fascia cap of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the fascia cap of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the fascia cap of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fascia cap of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the fascia cap of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the fascia cap of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a blocking strip of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the blocking strip of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the blocking strip of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an assembly  100  fitting on the end of a roof in accordance with the present invention is shown. This assembly  100  contains a fascia cap  110  having an elongated drip edge  115 , top edge  120 , side edge  125 , and bottom edge  130 . In a preferred embodiment, the fascia cap  110  is made of a single material such as a metal, metal alloy, hard plastic, or other such material used in the roofing industry. The body  105  of the fascia cap  110  is preferably a U-shape where top edge  120  and bottom edge  130  are connected by side edge  125 . Bottom edge  130  has drip edge  115  extending past U-shaped body  105 . 
     The fascia cap  110  is designed to accept a roofing material  140 , such as insulation, wood, foam, or any such material that is used in the roofing and construction industry. Shingle material  150  is adapted to lay flat against the top edge of the fascia cap. Single material  150  may be standard housing shingles or other such materials designed to protect a roof from water and wear and tear of external elements. 
     The assembly  100  may be used on the following roof systems: TPO-RS; SBS Modified bitumen, all one-ply and BUR, and also used as fascia. 
     In certain embodiments, elongated drip edge  115  runs across the entire length of bottom edge  130  and is continuous with bottom edge  130 . Drip edge  115  may be at least as long as side edge  125 . In other embodiments, drip edge  115  may be at least half as long as side edge  125 . Bottom edge  130  may be as long as top edge  120 , and may be longer in certain embodiments of the invention. 
     In other embodiments, drip edge  115 , top edge  120 , side edge  125 , and bottom edge  130  are fused together as one piece. This is advantageous in terms of cost of manufacturing the fascia cap as well as to limit points of entry for water. 
     Furthermore, fascia cap  110  is used to limit water from moving through capillary action or surface tension back towards the roof. Surface tension causes water to adhere to fascia cap  110  and causes the water to move back upward to the roof. Drip edge  115  keeps the water away from fascia cap  110  and allows the water to drip off the fascia cap  110  and away from the roof. 
       FIG. 1  further shows blocking strip  160  having fasteners  170  and  175 . Fasteners  170 / 175  and blocking strip  160  function to hold roof assembly  100  together and to secure shingle material  150  to fascia cap  110  and roofing material  140 . 
     The bottom surface of blocking strip  160  also contains adhesive  168  designed to secure blocking strip  160  to shingle material  150 . This adhesive  168  may heat up and solidify to adhere and attach blocking strip  160  to shingle material  150 . Blocking strip  160  also preferably has side surfaces  162  and  165  designed to limit water from entering the bottom surface of blocking strip  160 , which limits water from interfering and interacting with adhesive material  168 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a side view of assembly  100  is presented. Fascia cap  110  is shown with drip edge  115 , top edge  120 , side edge  125 , and bottom edge  130 . Roofing material  140  is merged into U-shaped body  105  of fascia cap  110 . Shingle material  150  is shown laying flat on the top edge  120  of fascia cap  110  with blocking strip  160  fastened to fascia cap via fastener  170 / 175 . Fastener  170 / 175  are shown holding assembly  100  together. Lower roofing material  210  is also shown, whereby lower roofing material  210  is typically wood or other such material used to provide structural support for the building  250  (not shown). 
     Also drip edge  115  is shown in its elongated state. Water droplets  220 ,  240  are shown on drip edge  115 . Water droplets  220 ,  240  are shown moving in a direction away from the roof namely in direction  230  shown by an arrow. This displays how drip edge  115  functions whereby it limits capillary action and causes water and water droplets  220 ,  240  to drip away from the roof. 
     Stopping capillary action is important as it preserves the structural integrity of the roof as well as limits water from seeping into the space between a fascia cap and the roofing material. 
       FIG. 3  shows the fascia cap, specifically fascia cap  110  having top edge  120 , side edge  125 , bottom edge  130 , and drip edge  115  extending past bottom edge  130 . Fascia cap  110  can be linked together with another fascia cap  300  via locking mechanism  310 . This allows multiple fascia caps to be linked together to cover the length of a roof, so that the entire edge of the roof can be covered if it is longer than individual fascia caps. Furthermore, other embodiments of the present invention allow for different locking mechanisms  310  than the ones shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show a side view and front view of fascia cap  110 , respectively. Top edge  120 , side edge  125 , bottom edge  130 , and drip edge  115  are displayed and fused together as one piece. 
     In  FIG. 4 , one can see drip edge  115  measured along length x and side edge  125  measured along length y. Length y is the diameter between the inner surface of top edge  120  and bottom edge  130 , which is the length of side edge  125 . Length x is the distance from the end of drip edge  115  to the part where side edge  125  meets drip edge  115 . As shown drip edge  115  is as least half as long as side edge  125 . In other embodiments, drip edge  115  may be at least as long as side edge  125 . The longer the drip edge, the farther away the water is from the roof and the more difficult it would be for water to seep back towards the fascia cap and roof. 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a fascia cap  600  of another embodiment of the present invention. Fascia cap  600  has top edge  610 , side edge  615 , drip edge  620 , and bottom edge  625 . Drip edge  620  extends past side edge  615 . 
     Fascia cap  600  is designed lay on top of and accept fascia cap  110 . This allows fascia cap  600  to cover seem/opening  650  which occurs as a result of fascia caps  110  and  660  being placed side-by-side. When two fascia caps are placed side-by-side, seem  650  results, which can allow water to drip inside the seam and potentially enter the fascia cap and roof. The design of fascia cap  600  allows fascia cap  110  and/or  660  to accept fascia cap  600  and cover seem  650 , preventing water from entering the roof. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , fascia cap  600  has top wall  610 , side wall  615 , drip edge  620 , and bottom wall  625 . Drip edge  620  has a side wall  622  whereby drip edge  620  can fit around drip edge  115  of fascia cap  110 . This allows fascia cap  110  to fit inside fascia cap  600 . 
       FIG. 7  also shows the length of drip edge  620  represented by x′. y′ is the diameter between the inner surface of top edge  610  and bottom edge  625 . In the embodiment shown y″ is the length of side edge  615 . As shown drip edge  620  is as least half as long as side edge  615 . In other embodiments, drip edge  620  may be at least as long as side edge  615 . The longer the drip edge, the farther away the water is from the roof and the more difficult it would be for water to seep back towards the fascia cap and roof 
       FIGS. 9-11  show blocking strip  900 , which is equivalent to blocking strip  160  shown in  FIG. 1 . Blocking strip  900  has side walls  910  and  930 , top wall  920 , which has holes  950 ,  952 ,  955 , and  958  for accepting fasteners (not shown). Adhesive material  940  is shown on the bottom of blocking strip  900 . 
     Adhesive material  940  is made of housing material  1100  with sticky material  1110  attached to housing material  1100 . Sticky material  1110  connects blocking strip  900  to shingle material  150  (not shown). Sticky material  1110  can heat up and solidify to adhere and attach blocking strip  900  to shingle material  150 . 
     Blocking strip  900  also contains side walls  910 ,  930 , which contain bottom side walls  1020  and  1010  respectively. These walls limit water from entering the bottom of blocking strip  900 , and prevent water from interfering with adhesive material  940 . 
     Another embodiment of the present invention involves a method for assembly  100  of a roofing system for the end of a roof comprising the steps of: installing a fascia cap  110  with a top edge  120 , side edge  125 , and bottom edge  130 , wherein side edge  125  connects bottom edge  130  to top edge  120  to form U-shaped body  105 , bottom edge  130  having drip edge  115  extending past U-shaped body  105 ; sliding roofing  140  into body  105  of fascia cap  110 ; and laying shingle material  150  over top edge  120  of fascia cap  110 . 
     The method further may have drip edge  115  run across the length of bottom edge  130  and be continuous with bottom edge  130 . A blocking strip  160  may further be applied over shingle material  150 , adhering blocking strip  160  to shingle material  150 . Blocking strip  160  contains a bottom surface with an adhesive to attach blocking strip  160  to shingle material  150 . 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation and that various changes and modifications in form and details can be made thereto, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature, and thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.