Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates to flashing systems used to control and redirect water and, more specifically, to flashing systems used to control and redirect water from the junction of a deck with a wall or post. The present invention utilizes a set of flashing members and an upward facing pocket to create a system that drains water away from the decking assembly, including the support structure and decking.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to flashing systems used to control and redirect water and, more specifically, to flashing systems used to control and redirect water from the junction of a deck with a wall or post. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A common problem in the construction business is that of weatherproofing structural junctures, such as those between vertical walls or posts and roofs, decks, balconies, terraces and the like. Weatherproofing serves the goal of protecting the underlying structure from the damage associated with water seepage, e.g., rotting wood and cracking of masonry. The standard practice is to cover the seams associated with such junctures with flashing. 
     In applications for generally vertical structures such as decks, balconies, terraces and roofs with a low pitch, the prior flashing arrangements have been prone to leakage at best and commonly have been ineffective. Generally, such prior arrangements have left seams or junctures with cracks that allow water seepage and have not been effective at channeling or draining the water away from the support structure of the deck. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have better flashing systems to control and redirect water away from the juncture and support structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a termination pocket for preventing intrusion of water at a junction of a generally vertical support structure and a deck. The deck has an upper surface; a first side in contact with the support structure and forming a first edge with the upper surface; and a second side connected to the first side at a generally right angle, forming a second edge with the upper surface and extending out from the support structure so that the first side, the second side and the upper surface form the junction with the support structure. The termination pocket comprises a set of flashing members connected in waterproof connections and covering the upper surface and the second side in the area around the junction and covering the support structure in the area around and above the junction. The termination pocket further comprises an upward facing pocket extending parallel to the second side and spaced from the second side wherein the upward facing pocket is connected to the set of flashing members such that a flashing bridge is formed extending from the upper surface to the upward facing pocket, thus creating a downward facing pocket between the second side and the upward facing pocket. 
     In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a deck assembly comprising a generally vertical support structure, a deck and a termination pocket. The deck has an upper surface; a first side in contact with the support structure, and forming a first edge with the upper surface; and a second side connected to the first side at a generally right angle. The second side forms a second edge with the upper surface and extends out from the vertical support structure so that the first side, the second side and the upper surface form a junction with the support structure. The termination pocket has a set of flashing members connected in waterproof connections and covering the upper surface and the second side in the area around the junction and covering the support structure in the area around and above the junction. The termination pocket further has an upward facing pocket extending parallel to the second side and spaced from the second side wherein the upward facing pocket is connected to the set of flashing such that a flashing bridge is formed extending from the upper surface to the pocket, thus creating a downward facing pocket between the second side and the upward facing pocket. 
     In yet another embodiment there is provided a termination pocket comprising a generally horizontal flashing member, a first generally vertical flashing member and a pocket flashing member. The generally horizontal flashing member has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, a front edge and a back edge, with the back edge being perpendicular to the first side edge. The first generally vertical flashing member extends from the bottom surface of the generally horizontal flashing member. The pocket flashing member has a first vertical wall having a top edge and a bottom edge; a second vertical wall having a top edge and a bottom edge; and a bottom extending from the bottom edge of the first vertical wall to the bottom edge of the second vertical wall. The first generally vertical flashing member is substantially parallel to and spaced from the first wall. The top edge of the first wall is attached to the first side edge of the generally horizontal flashing member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a termination pocket in accordance with one embodiment of the current invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  from a different angle. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a termination pocket in accordance with another embodiment of the current invention. The termination pocket illustrated is shown attached to a support column and a deck. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  from a different angle. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a termination pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the current invention. The termination pocket is illustrated as installed on a deck. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view taken along line  6  of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, “deck” refers to a structural platform such as used in roofs, balconies, terraces and the like. “Support structure” generally means the structural element to which the deck is attached for support, for example, a wall, column or post. The inventive termination pocket is a set of flashing members and an upward facing pocket for use at the junction of a deck and a support structure to control and redirect water away from the ends of the deck and away from the support structure. Additionally, the inventive termination pocket creates a substrate to tie-in to for other structural and waterproofing components of the deck. The inventive termination pocket will now be more fully described with reference to the figures. Within the figures like components will generally be referred to with the same reference numerals even when referring to different embodiments. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of the present invention is shown generally by reference numeral  10 . The termination pocket  10  has a set of flashing members connected with imperforated seams, i.e., the flashing members are connected so that the seams are waterproof and have no holes or gaps that could allow water seepage. The set of flashing members comprises a generally horizontal flashing member  12 , first generally vertical flashing member  26  and second generally vertical flashing member  40 . 
     Generally horizontal flashing member  12  has a top surface  14 , a bottom surface  16 , opposing side edges  18  and  20 , back edge  22  and front edge  24 , with back edge  22  and side edge  18  being perpendicular. First generally vertical flashing member  26  is connected to the bottom surface  16  at top edge  28 . Additionally, first generally vertical flashing member  26  has opposing side surfaces  30  and  32 , back edge  34 , front edge  36  and bottom edge  38 . Back edge  34  of first generally vertical flashing member  26  is connected to second generally vertical flashing member  40  at vertical edge  42 . Additionally, second generally vertical flashing member  40  has vertical edges  44  and  46 , top edge  48 , bottom edge  50  and horizontal edge  52 . Horizontal edge  52  of second generally vertical flashing member  40  is connected to the generally horizontal flashing member  12  at back edge  22 . 
     As described above and shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , generally horizontal flashing member  12  and first vertical flashing member  26  form an inverted L-shape. This inverted L-shape is connected to second generally vertical flashing member  40  so that second generally vertical flashing member  40  extends above and to the backside of the inverted L-shape. As is further discussed below with regard to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the resulting configuration for the set of flashing members snuggly fits into the junction of a support structure and deck covering the surrounding surfaces. 
     Returning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , termination pocket  10  further has an upward facing pocket  54 . Upward facing pocket  54  generally will have opposing vertical walls  56  and  58 , and a bottom  59  extending between the two vertical walls. Upward facing pocket  54  can have third vertical wall or back  60 , which, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , can be the second generally vertical flashing member  40 . Accordingly, opposing vertical walls  56  and  58  and back  60  define a top opening  62  (best seen in  FIG. 6 ) and a front opening  64 , which allow water to drain into upward facing pocket  54  through top opening  62  and out of upward facing pocket  54  through front opening  64 ; thus directing water away from the deck and support structure, as further described below. The opposing walls can be any suitable height, e.g., equal height, wall  56  extending higher than wall  58  or wall  58  extending higher than wall  56 . However, in the illustrated embodiment, wall  58  extends higher than wall  56  so that upward facing pocket  54  is a J-shaped flashing member. The J-shaped configuration provides protection from water entering upward facing pocket  54  spilling over wall  58 . 
     Upward facing pocket  54  is connected at the top edge  66  of wall  56  to generally horizontal flashing member  12  so as to define a downward facing pocket  68  by first generally vertical flashing member  26 , upward facing pocket  54  and generally horizontal flashing member  12 . The portion of horizontal flashing member  12  extending between first generally vertical flashing member  26  and wall  56  serves as a bridge extending from deck  76  to upward facing pocket  54 , as will be more fully appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 3 and 6 . Additionally, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , second generally vertical flashing member  40  extends across the back of downward facing pocket  68  and is connected thereto by imperforated seams so as to prevent water intrusion to the surface adjacent to the back of second generally vertical flashing member  40 . 
     As will be appreciated, the embodiment of termination pocket  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is for use with a wall that extends beyond the side of the deck to which the termination pocket  10  is attached. Thus, the deck and deck side are received in the afore described inverted L-shape at the junction of the deck and wall, and second generally vertical flashing member  40  extends along the wall above the junction and around the side of the deck to thus protect the wall from water intrusion. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a termination pocket  70  is illustrated. Termination pocket  70  is useful where support structure  78  is a column or beam support structure or to wall support structure where a wall corner is located at the wall deck junction. For termination pocket  70 , like components have been labeled with like reference numerals to those of termination pocket  10 . For termination pocket  70 , first generally vertical flashing member  26  extends behind second generally vertical flashing member  40  and has an L-shaped configuration so that the upper portion  72  of the L-shaped configuration extends above generally horizontal flashing member  12  on the back side of second generally vertical flashing member  40 . Thus, first and second generally vertical flashing members  26  and  40  form a corner flashing piece  73  having imperforated seam  74  so as to at least partially encase the corner of the wall, column or beam above generally horizontal flashing member  12 . Additionally, downward facing pocket  68  can have a back or be open on both front and back as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an installed termination pocket  70  is illustrated. In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a deck  76  is connected along one side to a generally vertical support structure  78 , in this case a column or beam. The connection is along edge junction line  80  located where edge  84  of deck  76  meets with support structure  78 . In past flashing systems, edge junction  80  has been particularly problematic with respect to water seepage due to numerous seams and junction points in the flashing and because of inadequate direction of water away from edge junction  80 . 
     Termination pocket  70  is located at edge junction  80  such that the inverted L-shape formed by first generally vertical flashing member  26  and generally horizontal flashing member  12  is mated with the inverted L-shape formed by upper surface  86  and side  88  of deck  76 . Additionally, corner flashing piece  73  is mated with sides  90  and  92  of support structure  78 . Because the flashing members are joined with imperforated seams, the seams and area around the junctions are covered by flashing members  12 ,  26  and  40  in a waterproof layer. 
     Generally horizontal flashing member  12  extends out from the upper surface  86  of deck  76  to form a bridge to upward facing pocket  54  such that water tends to flow off upper surface  86  out and away from the deck to upward facing pocket  54 . Upward facing pocket  54  channels the water away from the support structure and can be connected at opening  64  to a gutter or other drainage system. To ensure drainage away from the support structure, upward facing pocket  54  can have a slope. As will be appreciated from the drawings, downward facing pocket  68 , allows for the installation of further flashing, fascia boards, siding and other decking components between the upward facing pocket  54  and first generally vertical flashing member  26 . Also, among other advantages, downward facing pocket helps ensure that water is channeled away from the deck. 
     Generally, the upward facing pocket  54  and downward facing pocket  68  can be any size and shape to ensure adequate control and redirection of water away from the support structure and deck. Typically, the slope of upward facing pocket  54  will be downward from the back  60  to the front opening  64  at about 5 degrees from horizontal but can be from about 2 degrees to 45 degrees, or from about 2 degrees to about 10 degrees or from about 4 degrees to about 7 degrees. Upward facing pocket  54  can generally have a width of about 1.25 inches but can have a width of from 0.5 inch or greater, and can be about 0.5 inch to a about 2.0 inches or can be from about 1.0 inch to about 1.5 inches. Downward facing pocket  68  will generally have a width of about 1.0 inch but can have a width of about 0.5 inch or greater and can be about 0.5 inch to about 1.5 inches or can be from about 0.75 inch to about 1.25 inches. Additionally, typically, wall  58  of upward facing pocket  54  will be greater in height than wall  56 . As illustrated, wall  58  can have its greatest height near back  60  of upward facing pocket  54  and can angle down to a lower height towards front opening  64 . This lower height can be the same height as wall  56  or, preferably, can be greater in height than wall  56 . Thus, adjacent to back  60 , wall  58  can be about 2.25 inches greater in height than wall  56  and can, more generally, be about 1 inch to about 3 inches greater than the height of wall  56 , or can be about 2 inches to about 2.5 inches greater than the height of wall  56 . Adjacent to front opening  64 , wall  58  can be about 1.75 inches greater in height than wall  56  and can, more generally, be about 0.5 inch to about 3 inches greater than the height of wall  56 , or can be about 1 inch to about 2.5 inches greater than the height of wall  56 . The inventive termination pocket can be made from any suitable material. Generally, the material can be selected from materials that can be cast, molded and/or welded, such as metals plastics, polymers and carbon composites. Generally, most metals are suitable for use as the material, but typically the material can be selected from the group comprising aluminum, copper and galvanized steel. More preferably, the material can be aluminum. 
     The size of the flashing members can depend on the particular decking and support structure and will be apparent to one skilled in the art based on the disclosure herein. Generally, the flashing members can extend out from the edge junction at least about 2 inches and can be from about 2 inches to about 5 inches. 
     Returning now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the installation of the termination pocket on a deck with additional flashing elements and water membranes can be seen. In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , termination pocket  70  is installed as described above. A second set of flashing members can further cover the deck and surface of the support structure. The second set of flashing members can comprise flashing edge piece  96 , which covers at least a portion of the upper surface of deck  76 , extends out over edge  84 , across downward facing pocket  68  and over into upward facing pocket  54 . Additional flashing members can be installed along the upper surface and support structure so as to extend over a portion of the wall adjacent to junction line  80  and overlapping on top of second generally vertical flashing member  40  (not seen in  FIG. 6 ). A water resistant or waterproof membrane known in the art, such as membrane  100 , can be on top of the second set of flashing members and on portions of the deck and support structure not covered by flashing. 
     Other embodiments of the current invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. Thus, the foregoing specification is considered merely exemplary of the current invention with the true scope thereof being defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4