The present invention relates to water tables in exterior building applications. A water table, sometimes referred to as a drip cap or stone cap, is a projecting architectural feature that deflects water running down the face of a building away from a lower course of materials. Typically, a water table is located as a transition element between materials, such as from wood, metal or polymer siding to stone or stone siding panels, including faux stone.
In one embodiment of the invention, a water table with improved installation geometry is transition between polymer siding, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) siding, including cellular PVC siding, and a lower course of panelized or faux stone such as Atlas Stone™ siding (Royal Building Products, Marion, Va.), Versetta Stone® siding (Boral Building Products Inc., Wixom, Mich.), and the like.
In one embodiment of the invention, a water table includes an upper fastening flange for attachment to an underlying building surface, such as wall, column, post and the like, with a fastener, such as a nail or screw, and a lower auxiliary fastening flange for similar attachment to an underlying building surface with a fastener. In one embodiment, the lower auxiliary fastening flange is utilized in installations of the water table before installation of the lower course of materials, such as faux stone (referred to as pre-stone installation). In one embodiment of the invention, the upper fastening flange is utilized in both pre-stone installation and in installations of the water table after the lower course of materials, such as faux stone (referred to as post-stone installation).
A water table in one embodiment of the invention includes a sloped projection that downwardly slopes to divert water from siding, such as PVC siding of an upper course of materials, away from dripping on the lower course of materials, such as faux stone siding. In embodiments of the invention, the projection slopes at slopes between a 10° and 20° angle, preferably between a 12° and 18° angle, and most preferably at an approximately 14° angle below a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical plane of a flat rear planar surface of the water table that abuts the underlying building surface.
In one embodiment, a water table includes a drip edge, or drip notch, that is a groove running lengthwise between sides and underneath and along the forward end of the projection. The drip edge is preferably located forward of the underlying lower course of materials, such as faux stone siding. The drip edge in embodiments preferably operates to ensure that diverted water avoids contacting the underlying course of materials, such as faux stone. Diverted water that might adhere to the water table and continue over the forward end of the projection will reach the drip edge and drip downward from such point forward of the lower course of stone/faux stone siding.
In embodiments of the invention, such as when the upper course of siding comprises cellular PVC siding, a water table comprises polymer material (such as cellular PVC by Celuka processing) and the lower course of siding comprises faux stone, such Atlas Stone™ siding or Versetta Stone® siding, the water table profile has a height of or of about between 1 and 10 inches, preferably between 1 to 5 inches, and most preferably at about 2¾ inches and having a width, as measured projecting horizontally outward from a flat rear planar surface of the water table to a forwardmost front edge of the water table, of or of about between 1 and 10 inches, preferably between 1 to 5 inches, and most preferably at about 2½ inches. A cellular PVC water table according to an embodiment of the invention provides a stronger and more durable structure at more competitive manufacturing costs than typical water tables in the current market. In various embodiments, a water table of the invention may include such other dimensions adapted to the upper course of materials and lower course of materials to provide similar advantages of installation and diverting water forward of the lower course as described herein.
The present invention provides a water table 100 including improved installation geometry to act as a transition between a first upper course of material and a second lower course of material. With reference to
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In one embodiment, a water table 100 according to the invention comprises polymer material, such as PVC, and preferably cellular PVC by Celuka processing. A cellular PVC water table 100 according to an embodiment of the invention exhibits more durability in comparison to conventional stone caps (i.e. stone and faux stone water tables) that are typically heavy and brittle and known by many installers in the relevant field of building exteriors to be susceptible to breaking during installation. In one embodiment, a full cellular PVC Celuka water table according to the invention weighs only 0.88 lb/ft as compared to one commercial manufactured stone-like water table product that weighs 4.7 lb/ft (over 5 times heavier).
Further, a full cellular PVC Celuka water table 100 according to the invention can be manufactured and sold at a retail cost over 9 times less expensive per foot as compared to such commercial manufactured stone-like water table product. Moreover, in comparison to conventional milled PVC water tables that typically have an open cell structure, a full cellular PVC Celuka water table 100 according to the invention has a full skin covering the entirety of the water table structure and is therefore easier to clean and paint since there are no exposed open surfaces to collect dirt, grime, mold, and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, a polymer water table 100, such as preferably a full cellular PVC Celuka water table, is coated with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) (such as Kynar® PVDF from Arkema, Inc. (King of Prussia; PA)) to provide improved protection against weather, sun and other outdoor dements, as well as numerous color selections, as compared to conventional water tables that are not known to include PVDF coating.
Various embodiments of the invention have been described. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth by the claims. This specification is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/004,102, filed Apr. 2, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63004102 | Apr 2020 | US |