Patent Abstract:
A flashing apparatus for external use on structures is described. The flashing apparatus essentially serves as an accessory for fiber cement siding and is designed to provide a certain level of water resistance in the seams between the ends of the sections of the siding. The flashing apparatus has a forward projecting flange and comes in various heights to accommodate different sizes of fiber cement siding that may be used in constructing a structure.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns that of a new and improved flashing apparatus for external use on structures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,600, filed by Olson, discloses a flexible flashing device for vertically stacked building side panels. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,435, filed by David et al., discloses a flashing for use with siding panels possessing an interior and an exterior surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,477, filed by Lawless et al., discloses a barrier laminate for attachment to the outer surface of a structure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,572, filed by Purcell et al., discloses a new concept wall system wherein a moisture and vapor barrier is positioned in an interior insulation finish system to provide thermal stability regardless of climatic variations. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,415, filed by Fisher et al., discloses a water flashing device for use in conjunction with the installation of exterior building siding materials. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns that of a new and improved flashing apparatus for external use on structures. The flashing apparatus essentially serves as an accessory for fiber cement siding and is designed to provide a certain level of water resistance in the seams between the ends of the sections of the siding. The flashing apparatus has a forward projecting flange and comes in various heights to accommodate different sizes of fiber cement siding that may be used in constructing a structure. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a flashing apparatus for external use on structures that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the flashing apparatus that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the flashing apparatus for external use on structures in detail, it is to be understood that the flashing apparatus is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The flashing apparatus for external use on structures is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present flashing apparatus for external use on structures. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flashing apparatus for external use on structures which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a flashing apparatus for external use on structures which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a flashing apparatus for external use on structures which is of durable and reliable construction. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a flashing apparatus for external use on structures which is economically affordable and available for relevant market segment of the purchasing public. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the flashing apparatus as it is shown in use. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the flashing apparatus as it is shown in use. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the flashing apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the various flashing apparati that incorporate aspects of the flashing apparatus into them. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new flashing apparatus for external use on structures embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  2  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a number of construction components are utilized in conjunction with the flashing apparatus  2  to show how the flashing apparatus  2  interrelates with these items. First, a stud  4  is shown as structural support for a structure. The stud  4 , in the completed product, would be not be visible, as it serves as a structural framework within the structure. Attached to the stud  4  would be a layer of sheathing  6  and a weather resistant barrier  8 . The sheathing  6  and barrier  8  could very well be incorporated into one item that is then fixedly attached to the stud  4 . 
     Over the barrier  8  is then attached a plurality of fiber cement siding pieces  10 . Each of the pieces has a length and a width, with the length being much longer than the width. The length of each of the fiber cement siding pieces  10  is at least eight feet long, but can be longer as needed. Each of the fiber cement siding pieces  10  has a width that can vary widely, depending on the manufacturer and the particular use or look desired for a particular structure. Each fiber cement siding piece  10  also has two edges, a top edge  17  and a bottom edge  15 . 
     When placed against the weather resistant barrier  8 , the fiber cement siding pieces  10  are placed in parallel rows. Normally, when fiber cement siding  10  is placed against the barrier  8 , it is angled in a way that allows the bottom edge  15  of a particular fiber cement siding piece  10  to overlap the top edge  17  of a fiber cement siding piece  10  that is below the first piece  10 . In addition, all of the fiber cement siding pieces  10  on a structure are overlapped in such a manner that the “butt joints,” which are the areas between two adjoining fiber cement siding pieces  10  at the same level, are not at the same “vertical” location for each level. These characteristics ensure that the water dripping down against the exterior of a structure will not easily get behind the fiber cement siding pieces  10 . 
     However, without the flashing apparatus  2 , it is possible that small amounts of water could get in between adjacent fiber cement siding pieces  10 . However, proper use of the flashing apparatus  2  in conjunction with the fiber cement siding pieces  10  will prevent this from happening. 
     The flashing apparatus  2  itself comprises a main body  5  and a lip  3 . The main body  5  ideally has a height of six (6) inches and has two edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. The main body  5  also has a width of anywhere between five and one-fourths (5¼) of an inch and twelve (12) inches. The fiber cement siding pieces  10  ideally has width dimensions of one of several different sizes, including 5¼, 6¼, 7¼, 8, 8¼, 9¼, and 12 inch widths. 
     Attached to the top edge of the main body  5  of the flashing apparatus  2  is the lip  3 . The lip  3  is attached to the top edge of the main body  5  at a ninety degree angle and extends outward approximately one-fourth (¼) of an inch. When each particular flashing apparatus  2  is used in conjunction with two adjacent fiber cement siding pieces  10 , the lip  3  is wrapped over the top edge  17  of each of the fiber cement siding pieces  10  before fasteners  18  are used to fixedly attach the fiber cement siding pieces  10  to the weather resistant barrier  8 . 
     The lip  3  of each flashing apparatus  2  essentially holds the flashing apparatus  2  in place against the weather resistant barrier  8  and the fiber cement siding pieces  10 , especially before the fasteners  18  have been used to fixedly attach the fiber cement siding pieces  10  to the weather resistant barrier  8 . In addition, the presence of a flashing apparatus  2  over each “butt joint” where two adjacent fiber cement siding pieces  10  meet each other will prevent water seepage through this area, thereby further protecting the weather resistant barrier  8 , the sheathing  6 , and the stud  4  from external moisture problems. 
     The flashing apparatus  2  itself is preferably fabricated from galvanized steel. The flashing apparatus  2  would come in a variety of colors, depending on the colors of fiber cement siding pieces  10  that are available. 
     The concept of the flashing apparatus  2  can also be utilized in other various shapes and sizes as well.  FIG. 4  highlights various alternative embodiments of flashing apparati  2  that include a base  20 , a bent portion  22 , and a reverse bend  24  portion. The bent portion  22  of each these alternative embodiments is attached at a ninety degree angle to the base  20 , while the reverse bend  24  is attached to the bent portion  22  and wraps around at a one-hundred eighty degree angle. The various flashing apparati  2  shown in  FIG. 4  are not to scale, as they generally have lengths of at least eight to ten feet. Furthermore, the width of each of the bases  20  is preferably between two to three and one-half inches and the width of each bent portion  22  is ideally one to two and one-half inches. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4