Abstract:
A foundation protector for a foundation wall prevents moisture being retained in the foundation wall and also provides drainage for surface water so that water does not rest against the surface of the foundation wall. The foundation protector has a smooth exterior surface so that it remains attached to the foundation if earth subsidence occurs. The foundation protector includes a waterproof dimpled sheet with spaced-apart protrusions and an outer waterproof membrane which covers recesses formed by the protrusions and provides a substantially smooth exterior surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the protection of foundations from water leakage and earth subsidence around the walls. More particularly the present invention provides a protector for foundations that has a drainage space for moisture to escape from the foundations themselves.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Building structures that have foundation walls and floors made of concrete, concrete blocks, foam insulation and concrete composite blocks, wood or other materials are adversely affected over time by moisture, either moisture coming from the exterior or earth side of the foundations or alternatively, moisture that enters the foundations from the interior of the building. Most buildings have tile drains provided at the base of the foundation walls to remove water that penetrates the soil from above, but it is preferred to have waterproof protectors on the exteriors of foundation walls to prevent water entering the walls through cracks that occur over time.  
           [0003]    One example of such a protector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,951 to Kannankeril and has an array of spaced-apart projections that provides drainage space between a foundation wall and the protector. In the past, such protectors have been attached to the foundation walls either by nails or adhesive sheets that attach directly to the exteriors of the foundation walls. It has been found that adhesive sheets having the same area as the protectors do not permit the foundation walls to breathe and any moisture that may be retained in these walls cannot escape. Also, the use of nails has been undesirable because of the difficulty of properly installing the nails and the lack of secure attachment of the protectors to the foundation walls by the nails.  
           [0004]    One other problem that has occurred with these protectors with spaced-apart projections positioned on foundation walls is due to the earth on the exterior of the walls filling the projections from the outside. Thus, if and when the earth subsides, it tends to pull the protectors away from the foundation wall. This leaves gaps between the protectors and the walls, which defeats the purpose of the protectors.  
           [0005]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel protector for a foundation wall that is easily installed and permits moisture in the foundation to escape into a drainage space between the protector and the foundation.  
           [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a substantially smooth surface on the exterior of the protector to prevent the protector itself moving when earth adjacent the protector subsides.  
           [0007]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide at least one adhesive strip extending across a protector and attached to protrusions to provide attachment of the protector to a foundation wall.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a protector for a foundation wall, floor or other substantially flat foundation surface which includes protrusions extending from a base portion, the protrusions being for positioning adjacent the foundation surface and being spaced apart from one another to provide a drainage space between the foundation surface and the base portion of the protector, and an outer waterproof membrane on the base portion to cover recesses formed by the protrusions and provide a substantially smooth exterior surface to prevent movement of the protector due to earth subsidence.  
           [0009]    The present invention also provides a concrete foundation protection system for providing drainage for foundation walls including a waterproof dimpled sheet with spaced-apart protrusions from a base portion, the protrusions for positioning adjacent the foundation walls to provide drainage space between the foundation walls and the base portion of the dimpled sheet, and an outer waterproof membrane on the base portion to cover recesses formed by the protrusions and provide a substantially smooth exterior surface to permit earth subsidence adjacent the membrane without movement of the dimpled sheet. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    In drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present invention:— 
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a foundation protector according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a foundation protector according to one embodiment of the present invention showing attachment strips for attachment to a foundation wall or floor.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the foundation protector of FIG. 2 at line  3 - 3  positioned against a foundation surface.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of an overlap seal between adjacent protectors as shown in FIG. 2 at line  4 - 4   
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a foundation protector according to one embodiment of the present invention positioned against a foundation wall of blocks of concrete with insulating foam on each side.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a detailed elevational view of a portion of a foundation protector showing protrusions.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one of the protrusions shown in FIG. 6 at line  7 - 7 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial perspective views showing other types of protrusions. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    A waterproof foundation protector  10  according to one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a waterproof dimpled sheet  16  which has a plurality of dimples or protrusions  12  spaced apart in a regular pattern as illustrated. The rows of protrusions  12  may be staggered or varied. The purpose of the protrusions  12  is to provide drainage space  14 . The protrusions  12  extend from a base portion  13  and are integral therewith. Ridges  17  are shown extending linearly between the protrusions to provide additional strength to the waterproof dimpled sheet  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the waterproof dimpled sheet  16  is formed from quasi-rigid high-density polyethylene or other suitable tough long-lasting plastic material. When the protrusions  12  are formed, then corresponding recesses occur behind the protrusions  12  and, as seen in FIG. 1, the underside surface of the base portions  13  is covered by an outer waterproof membrane  18  which is adhered to the sheet  16  so as to cover these recesses and provide a smooth exterior surface. The membrane  18  is preferably formed of medium density polyethylene, although any suitable long lasting plastic material may be used. The protrusions  12  have a substantially flat top surface  20  and, as shown in FIG. 1, a top adhesive strip  22  extends across the waterproof dimpled sheet  16  attached to the surface  20  of the protrusions  12 . The top adhesive strip  22  has a tear-off protective sheet  24 , which is removed before attachment to a foundation wall or other surface.  
         [0020]    The waterproof dimpled sheet  16  and membrane  18  can, in one embodiment, incorporate UV protection in the form of 2% carbon black. The protector  10  may be of any desired color. Whereas the protector  10  is shown on a foundation wall, it may be used on concrete floors or on substantially flat surface where protection is desired.  
         [0021]    A waterproof foundation protector  10  is shown in FIG. 2 with adjacent protectors  10 A and  10 B on either positioned on either side. A top adhesive strip  22  extends along the top edge of the waterproof dimpled sheet  16  attached to an offset flat portion  30  as shown in FIG. 3. When the top adhesive strip  22  is attached to the concrete wall  26 , it forms a seal to prevent water on the earth  32  entering the drainage space  14  in the dimpled sheet  16 . As can be seen in the drawings, the outer waterproof membrane  18  extends over the complete outside surface of the dimpled sheet  16  and thus provides a smooth surface and, if the earth  32  should subside downwards, it will not drag the dimpled sheet  16  down with it but the dimpled sheet  16  will remain affixed to the concrete wall  26 .  
         [0022]    Vertical adhesive attachment strips  34  are shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 extending substantially perpendicularly downwards from the top adhesive strip  22  with a space  36  between strips  22  and  34  for moisture to escape from the concrete wall  26 . The vertical adhesive attachment strips  34  have vertical spaces  36  therebetween and extend down over the protrusions  12  of the dimpled sheet  16 . They may be fused to the surfaces  20  of the protrusions  12  or adhered by adhesive. Drainage can occur in the space  14  and any water that enters the drainage space  14  will not be retained therein.  
         [0023]    A vertical overlap seal  40  is shown in FIG. 4 between the protector  10  and an adjacent protector  10 A as may be seen in FIG. 2. One vertical side edge  42  on the protector  10  has an offset vertical flat side portion  44  of the waterproof dimpled sheet  16  which is attached to the concrete wall  36  by a vertical adhesive strip  46 . The side edge  50  on the adjacent protector  10 A has an offset vertical adhesive strip  52  that is attached to the underside of the waterproof dimpled sheet  16  and forms a seal on the membrane  18  with the offset flat side portion  44  of the protector  10 . This offset vertical adhesive strip  52  extends under the adjacent row of protrusions  12  on the waterproof dimpled sheet  16  thus assuring that the adjacent protector  10 A is sealed to the protector  10  and the concrete wall  26 . Leakage is thus prevented between adjacent protectors. The strips  22 ,  34 , and  52  may be double-sided adhesive strips or may be heat-fused at one side to the dimpled sheet  16 .  
         [0024]    Another use of the protector  10  is shown in FIG. 5 wherein the protector  10  is attached to an insulating foam panel  54  which, with a second insulating foam panel  56 , contains a concrete foundation wall  58 . The foam panels  54  and  56  are interconnected in a known manner and provide forms during installation for forming the concrete wall  58 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate protrusions  12  which are frusto-conical in shape and have an annular top surface  20  with an indented center aperture  60  which extends downwards to a base  62  level with the waterproof dimpled sheet  16  so membrane  18  remains flat when attached to the sheet  16 . FIG. 8 shows another type of protrusion  66  which is in the shape of a truncated pyramid, and FIG. 9 shows a further type of protrusion  70  which is L-shaped with sloping arms  72  at the ends. Protrusions  12  or dimples of other shapes may be used. Raised projections or patterns of vertical or inclined ribs or grooves may be used provided moisture can flow downwards or away from the foundation surface. In other embodiments dimples or protrusions may project from both sides of the waterproof dimpled sheet  16 . Such a sheet can provide increased strength. A permeable wicking material pad may be attached to the outside of the membrane  18  so that moisture may drain downwardly between the earth and the membrane.  
         [0026]    Preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the drawings and specification and, although specific terms are employed, it is to be understood and appreciated that they are to be used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation. The scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.