Rot protector

• US 6,108,992 A
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John G. Shaw
• Original Assignee: John G. Shaw
• Inventors: Shaw, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, YVONNE MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US09/170,234
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 52/302.1, 52/177, 52/517, 52/650.3, 52/737.3, 52/302.3
• US Class Current: 52/302.3
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/70 Drying or keeping dry, e.g. by air vents using damp-proof courses E04B1/644; using sealings, e.g. sealing masses or foils, E04B1/66; during erection E04G21/28
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 5/12 with wooden beams E04B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02016 with sealing elements between flooring elements sealings of joints between building constructions in general E04B1/68
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02183 for outdoor use, e.g. in decks, patios, terraces, verandas or the like

Abstract

A wood rot protector for use between two intersecting portions of lumber, and having a protector for attachment over the upper edge of a lower portion of lumber, the protector having a web overlying the upper edge of the lumber, and in some cases having side walls, an upper surface of the web having a central planar median strip. In one embodiment the protector is in the form of a planar strip having angled side edges extending outwardly from the edges of the lumber to a width greater than the width of the lumber to carry moisture away from the lumber and allow it to drip downwardly. In another embodiment the protector may have side walls extending down partially over each side of the piece of lumber. Grooves may be formed on the upper surface of the median to prevent migration of moisture along the upper surface.

Claims

1. A wood rot preventor adapted for use between two intersecting portions of lumber, namely an upper portion of lumber and a lower portion of lumber, said lower portion defining an upper edge and a lower edge, and said upper portions of lumber defining a predetermined load and said load being transmitted to said lower portions of lumber, and comprising:

a elongated protector adapted for attachment over the upper edge of a lower portion of lumber, the protector in turn comprising,

a web for overlying the upper edge of the lower portion of lumber;

side walls for extending partially downward from said web along either side of the lower portion of lumber;

an upper surface of said web defining a central median strip which is substantially planar and parallel to the upper edge of the lower portion of lumber, and,

two side strips running along opposite side edges of said central median strip, said side strips having upper surfaces angled downwardly away from the plane of said median strip, wherein said median strip defines a planar contact area for contact with an upper portion of lumber, and said two side strips define wedge shaped spaces below such an upper portion of lumber, said median strip being narrower than said lower portion of lumber and thus substantially reducing the area of contact with said upper portion of lumber and permitting airflow to take place along said two side strips and said upper portion of lumber;

said side walls defining inner surfaces adapted to overlie the sides of said lower portion of lumber;

ribs formed along the inner surfaces of said protector side walls for contacting the sides of said lower portion of lumber and for maintaining the remainder of said inner surfaces of said protector side walls out of contact with said lower portion of lumber whereby to permit air circulation between the inner surfaces of said protector side walls and the sides of said lower portion of lumber.

2. A wood rot preventer as claimed in claim 1 and including ridges formed along the underside of the web for contacting the upper edge of the lower portion of lumber, the ridges defining planar contact load bearing surfaces for transmitting the load of the upper portion of lumber to the upper edge of the lower portion of lumber, whilst at the same time defining air flow passages between the ridges to permit air flow along the upper edge of the lower portion of lumber.

3. A wood rot preventer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said protector is formed of resilient thermoplastic material and is dimensioned whereby said ribs on said side walls make a snug friction fit over the sides of the lower portion of lumber.

4. A wood rot preventer as claimed in claim 3 wherein said protector is formed by extrusion techniques so that said protectors can be made in extended lengths, at low cost.

5. A wood rot preventer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said protector side walls are formed with a single rib on each side, the ribs having a pointed or hook shape so as to partially bite into the sides of the lumber.

6. A wood rot preventer as claimed in claim 5 wherein said side walls have drip edges which are spaced away from contact with the wood thereby causing moisture running down the exterior of the side walls to drip off the side walls clear of the sides of the lumber.

7. A wood rot preventer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the web of the protector is formed with parallel grooves, defining load bearing surfaces between the grooves.

8. A wood rot preventer adapted for use between two intersecting portions of lumber, namely an upper portion of lumber and a lower portion of lumber, said lower portion defining an upper edge and a lower edge, and said upper portions of lumber defining a predetermined load and said load being transmitted to said lower portions of lumber, and comprising;

a elongated protector adapted for attachment over the upper edge of a lower portion of lumber, the protector in turn comprising,

a web for overlying the upper edge of the lower portion of lumber;

side walls for extending partially downward from said web along either side of the lower portion of lumber;

an upper surface of said web defining a central median upper surface strip which is substantially planar and parallel to the upper edge of the lower portion of lumber, and,

two upper surface side strips running along opposite side edges of said central median strip, said side strips having side strip surfaces angled downwardly away from the plane of said median strip, wherein said median strip defines a planar contact area for contact with an upper portion of lumber, and said two side strips define wedge shaped spaces below such an upper portion of lumber, said median strip being narrower than said lower portion of lumber and thus substantially reducing the area of contact with said upper portion of lumber and permitting airflow to take place along said two side strips and said upper portion of lumber.