Patent ID: 8646234

Claim:
A two-piece expansion joint integrated with a lath furring strip, comprising: a first expansion joint member and a second expansion joint member overlapping said first expansion joint; Said first expansion joint member comprising, a first bottom mounting plate having a base that forms a first bottom mounting plane, a first top mounting plate substantially parallel to said bottom mount plate, a first mounting leg for securing lath, a first overlapping plate substantially parallel to said first bottom mounting plate, a first vertical termination leg, and a first overhanging flange extending substantially perpendicular to said first vertical termination leg; Said second expansion joint member comprising a second bottom mounting plate having a base that forms a second bottom mounting plane, a second a top mounting plate, a second mounting leg for securing lath, a flashing extending angularly from said second bottom mounting plate to form a second overlapping plate, a second vertical termination leg, and a second overhanging flange substantially perpendicular from said second vertical termination leg; wherein said first mounting leg and said second mounting leg have at least one hole for securing lath; and, wherein the distance from the first bottom mounting plane to the top of said first mounting leg, and the distance from the second bottom mounting plane to the top of said second mounting leg does not exceed 0.365 inches; whereby said first expansion joint and said second expansion joint can be installed such that said flare allows for a slideable seal between said first expansion joint and said second expansion joint; whereby said flashing and said second overlapping plate create a pre-tensioned bend in said second expansion joint member to allow for a tight seal when said first and second expansion joint members are fastened to a framing member, thereby providing superior moisture intrusion protection; and, whereby said two-piece expansion joint can be installed to provide a variable size to an expansion joint width depending on the width specified to in an architectural plan.