Abstract:
This is directed to systems, processes, machines, and other means that all a user to install flashing without removing exterior siding. The invention can allow a user to quickly and easily allow flashing which enables a structure to be more weather resistant.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
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     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to installing flashing beneath the siding on the exterior of a building. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Flashing is a piece of metal installed beneath shingles on the exterior of a building used to prevent water from entering the building. Current teaching in the field requires the removal of shingles before the installation of flashing or installing the flashing before the shingles are installed in the first instance. 
     The present invention teaches a manner of installing flashing beneath exterior shingles without first removing the shingles, creating a water resistant barrier in a much faster and efficient manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes methods, systems, and other means for installing flashing underneath exterior siding. A method for installing flashing comprises the following steps: a user must determine the kind of flashing needed; determine the size of flashing needing; insert the flashing into a flashing installation tool; and mechanically couple the flashing to exterior siding. The flashing installation tool comprises a handle, a blade and a notch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention shown in use. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the flashing installation tool shown in use. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the flashing installation tool. 
         FIG. 6 : is a side view of the flashing installation tool. 
         FIG. 7 : is a detailed view of the flashing installation tool taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8 : is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention shown as the left end flashing. 
         FIG. 9 : is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention shown as the right end flashing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention overcome many of the obstacles associated with installing flashing underneath exterior siding of a building, and now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show some, but not all embodiments of the claimed inventions. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  shows the invention in use. A user desires to install flashing  10  underneath siding  12 , which is on an exterior wall. The exterior wall further comprises a left end, where the user desires to install left end flashing  20  and a right end where the user desires to install right end flashing  22 . 
       FIG. 2  shows flashing  10 . Flashing  10  can be made from any metal including steel, aluminum, tin and many others. Flashing  10  comprises a series of sharp raised dimples  14 . While flashing  10  is shown to be rectangular with 24 raised sharp dimples  14 , this is merely exemplary and not drawn to scale, many combinations of sizes, shapes and a number of raised sharp dimples can be effectively used. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of flashing  10 . Note that flashing  10  is flat except for raised sharp dimples  14 . Previous flashing teaching was to hold the flashing in place with nails. Here, raised sharp dimples  14  hold the siding in place without the need for nails. Raised sharp dimples  14  can be made with known metalworking technology. 
       FIG. 4  shows flashing  10  being installed by a flashing installation tool. To complete the method the user first determines what kind of flashing is necessary for installation. This could be flashing  10 , left end flashing  20  or right end flashing  22 . The user then determines the shape of the flashing based on the needs of the particular project. For instance, flashing is usually similar in size to the shingles being used. Next the user puts flashing  10 , left end flashing  20  or right end flashing  22  into flashing installation tool  16 . After that the user moves flashing installation tool  16  into the position where flashing is desired. The user then pushes flashing  10 , left end flashing  20  or right end flashing  22  underneath the shingle with flashing installation tool  16  and the flashing will be held in place by sharp raised dimples  14 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the flashing installation tool in more detail. Flashing installation tool comprises handle  15  mechanically coupled to a blade  16  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The blade is further mechanically coupled to plate  17  forming a notch  18  between plate  17  and blade  16  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a side profile of the flashing installation tool. Handle  15  is mechanically coupled to blade  16 , as noted above. This mechanically couple can be accomplished by screws, nails, epoxy, rivets, press fitting or any other known mechanical couple. 
       FIG. 7  shows notch  18  in more detail. Note that notch  18  exists between a first edge on blade  16  and a second edge on plate  17  forming a depressed center section. The depressed center section should be of adequate size to hold flashing  10  (not shown) firmly without allowing space for flashing  10  to fall from the flashing installation tool. 
       FIG. 9  shows left end flashing  22  in more detail. Left end flashing  22  comprises flange  24  and further comprises a plurality of raised sharp dimples  14 . While flashing  22  is shown to be rectangular with 12 raised sharp dimples  14 , this is merely exemplary and not drawn to scale, many combinations of sizes, shapes and a number of raised sharp dimples can be effectively used.