Full coverage vent pipe flashing

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6279272
  • Patent Number
    6,279,272
  • Date Filed
    Friday, November 10, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 28, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Friedman; Carl D.
    • Porterie; Bennett
    Agents
    • Galgano & Burke
Abstract
A vent pipe flashing system includes a lower flange, a resilient boot portion and a matching sleeve portion. According to a first embodiment, the lower flange is plastic or metal, the resilient boot portion is plastic or rubber, and the sleeve portion is metal or plastic and has a diameter large enough to slide over the vent pipe and a length about one inch longer than the vent pipe. The top of the sleeve is crimped to hook over the top end of the vent pipe and the bottom of the sleeve is coupled to the boot by crimping. According to a second embodiment, the lower flange includes a metal or plastic roof flange and a rubber gasket having a skirt fixedly seats atop the roof flange. The bottom end of the sleeve portion is crimped over the rubber gasket. The upper ends of the sleeve portion and the vent pipe are covered by a cap having an inverted U-section. According to either embodiment, multiple (telescoping) sleeve portions may be provided and (optionally) coupled to each other by crimping. According to either embodiment of the invention, the components are preferably color matched and made available in a variety of sizes to fit different size vent pipes.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The invention relates to roofing flashing. More particularly, the invention relates to a flashing system for a plumbing stack vent pipe.




2. State of the Art




Vent pipes are typically provided in roofs of residential buildings to permit the escape of gas-phase materials. Indeed, most residential building codes require that building's sewer connections be provided with vents so that obnoxious and potentially hazardous fumes are not released into the building. These connections are typically achieved by extending a pipe through the roof so that it opens upwardly to the sky. A seal is placed around the outside of the pipe where it passes through the roof to prevent rainwater or other precipitation from entering the building. However, no provision is made to prevent rainwater from entering the pipe itself, the assumption being that since the pipe is connected to the sewage system, little harm is done in permitting leakage into the pipe.




A common boot-type flashing for sealing the space surrounding a vent pipe is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,559. The flashing consists of a sheet of aluminum or steel with a central opening sized to allow a vent pipe to pass through it, and a frustoconical rubber gasket which seals the space between the pipe and the sheet. The prior art vent pipe flashing works reasonably well most of the time. However, leaks can and do occur in these types of seals when the rubber gasket becomes loose.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vent pipe flashing system which is more reliable than the prior art systems.




It is also an object of the invention to provide a vent pipe flashing system which is inexpensive.




It is another object of the invention to provide a vent pipe flashing system which is easy to install.




It is still another object of the invention to provide a vent pipe flashing system which is aesthetically pleasing.




In accord with these objects which will be discussed in detail below, the vent pipe flashing system of the present invention includes a lower flange, a boot portion and a matching sleeve portion. According to a first embodiment, the boot portion is rubber, the sleeve portion is a metal tube having a diameter large enough to slide over the vent pipe and a length about one inch longer than the vent pipe. The top of the sleeve is crimped to hook over the top end of the vent pipe and the bottom of the sleeve is coupled to the boot preferably by crimping. According to a second embodiment, the boot portion comprises a rubber gasket having a skirt which seats atop the roof flange. The bottom end of the sleeve portion is crimped over the rubber gasket. The upper ends of the sleeve portion and the vent pipe are covered by a cap having an inverted U-section. According to either embodiment, multiple (telescoping) sleeve portions may be provided and (optionally) coupled to each other by crimping. According to either embodiment of the invention, the components are preferably color matched and made available in a variety of sizes to fit different size vent pipes.




One of the advantages of the invention is that the horizontal sealing required by the prior art gasket is replaced by a vertical sealing among the flange and the sleeve via the boot. This vertical sealing is less prone to separating as it is held in place by gravity, is not affected by expansion and contraction, and is aesthetically pleasing.




Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 2

is a vertical cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 4

is a vertical cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the invention; and





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring now to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, a first embodiment of a vent pipe flashing system


10


includes a lower plastic or metal flange


11


having a raised central hub


12


having a central opening and an outer peripheral, generally planar flange


13


, and an upper metal or plastic tubular sleeve portion


14


, which are joined together by a flexible (rubber or plastic) boot portion


22


preferably made of neoprene. The lower planar, peripheral flange


13


is designed to reside under roofing material (e.g. shingles, not shown) when installed. The tubular sleeve portion


14


is dimensioned to have a diameter large enough to slide over the vent pipe


1


and a length about one inch longer than the vent pipe. The top


18


of the sleeve


14


is crimped to hook over the top end


2


of the vent pipe


1


. As seen best in

FIG. 2

, the bottom end


20


of sleeve


14


is coupled to the upper end of metal sleeve


16


by the boot


22


.




According to a presently preferred aspect of the first embodiment, the bottom end


20


of the sleeve


14


is provided with a J-shaped flange and the upper end


16


of central hub


12


is provided with an inverted J-shaped flange. The two flanges are joined by complementary-configurational J-shaped ends


23


and


24


, respectively, of generally C-shaped boot


22


. Preferably, boot


22


is further provided with an annular tapered skirt


25


which is draped over the upper end


16


of central hub


12


so as to direct any water away from the joint defined by the J-shaped flanges of upper end


16


and bottom end


20


.




Turning now to

FIGS. 3 and 4

, a second embodiment of a vent pipe flashing system


110


includes a rigid (metal or PVC) lower flange


111


and a (metal or PVC) sleeve portion


114


, joined together by a sealing (rubber or plastic) gasket


122


, and an end cap


126


. The lower flange


111


is comprised of a raised, central hub


112


having a central opening which is joined to a peripheral, planar flange


113


. The planar flange


113


is designed to reside under roofing material (e.g. shingles, not shown) when installed. The gasket


122


is seated on (or crimped to) the upper end


116


of the central hub and is provided with a skirt


124


which overlies upper end


116


and serves to direct water away from gasket


122


and down over central hub


112


. The bottom end


120


of the upper sleeve portion


114


is crimped over the rubber gasket


122


. The upper end


118


of the sleeve portion


114


and the vent pipe


1


are covered by a cap


126


which is engaged therewith in a friction fit manner. The cap has an inverted U-section which covers the space between the space between the upper end


118


of the sleeve portion


114


and the vent pipe


1


.




As seen best in

FIG. 4

, the lower end of gasket


122


is provided with a downwardly depending annular bead


125


which is supported in a complementary-configured pinch joint or fitting


117


of central hub


112


. The rubber gasket


122


also gives the vent flashing adjustability relative to different roof pitches (i.e., flat to various-pitched roof angles)




According to either embodiment, multiple (telescoping) sleeve portions may be provided and (optionally) coupled to each other by crimping, if need be arranged with the larger diameter sleeve


14




a


covering the upper portion of the vent pipe and the upper end of the lower smaller diameter sleeve


14




b


which is attached to gasket


22


. An example is shown in

FIG. 5

, wherein vent pipe


14




a


and


14




b


are shown telescopically arranged. According to either embodiment of the invention, the components are preferably color matched and made available in a variety of sizes to fit different size vent pipes.




One of the advantages of the invention is that the horizontal sealing required by the prior art gasket is replaced by a vertical sealing among the pipe, the sleeve via the rubber boot which provides a watertight connection without the need for adhesives or sealants. This vertical sealing is less prone to separating as it is held in place by gravity, is not affected by expansion and contraction, and is aesthetically pleasing. In both embodiments, an elastomeric vertical expansion and sealing member


22


,


122


, is provided between the lower flange (


13


,


113


) and the sleeve (


11


,


111


) and horizontal covering means (


18


,


126


) is provided to cover the space between the upper ends of the sleeve and the vent pipe. As a result of this constructions, any water will simply flow over the rubber boot or gasket


122


, over its rubber skirt


124


and onto the roof flashing (i.e., covering the lower flange


111


)




There have been described and illustrated herein several embodiments of a full coverage vent pipe flashing system. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as so claimed.



Claims
  • 1. A vent pipe flashing system, comprising:a) a lower flange including means for residing beneath roofing material; b) an upper sleeve means for covering substantially the entire exposed length of vent pipe; c) elastomeric vertical expansion means coupled to and interconnecting said flange and said sleeve means; and d) horizontal covering means for covering the upper ends of said upper sleeve means and the vent pipe.
  • 2. A vent pipe flashing system according to claim 1, wherein:said lower flange comprises a central hub having a central opening and an outer, generally planar, peripheral flange which peripheral flange serves as said means for covering: said upper sleeve means comprises a metal tube, said elastomeric vertical expansion means comprises a flexible boot, and said horizontal covering means comprises an upper flanged portion of said upper sleeve means.
  • 3. A vent pipe flashing system according to claim 2, wherein:said upper sleeve has a substantially J-shaped flange at its lower end, said central hub of said lower flange is provided with an upper end having a substantially inverted-J-shaped flange, and said substantially C-shaped boot engages said substantially J-shaped flange and said substantially inverted-J-shaped flange.
  • 4. A vent pipe flashing system according to claim 3, wherein:said upper flanged portion of said upper sleeve means is a substantially inverted-J-shaped flange.
  • 5. A vent pipe flashing system according to claim 1, wherein:said lower flange comprises a raised center hub having a central opening and an outer generally planar, peripheral flange, said upper sleeve means comprises a tube, said elastomeric vertical expansion means comprises a gasket with a skirt, and said horizontal covering means comprises a functionally mounted end cap having a substantially inverted-U-shaped section.
  • 6. A vent pipe flashing system according to claim 5, wherein:a lower end of said tube is fixedly coupled to said gasket.
  • 7. A vent pipe flashing system according to claim 6, wherein:an upper end of said hub is fixedly coupled to said gasket.
  • 8. A vent pipe flashing system according to claim 6, wherein:said lower end of said tube is crimped to said gasket.
  • 9. A vent pipe flashing system according to claim 8, wherein:said upper end of said hub is crimped to said gasket.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number Name Date Kind
2985091 Hatcher May 1961
3313559 Kifer Apr 1967
5970667 Thaler Oct 1999
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
94-21872 Sep 1994 DE