Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Relatively yieldable preformed separator – Exposed separator between prefabricated components
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2002-01-08
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Relatively yieldable preformed separator
Exposed separator between prefabricated components
C277S637000, C277S647000, C277S906000, C277S921000, C052S302100, C052S011000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06336300
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sealing means, and more specifically to various embodiments of flexible or pliable elastomer seals for fitting in the gaps between deck boards in an outdoor deck. The present seals serve to channel any water which falls upon the deck to the sides of the deck, rather than allowing the water to pass between the deck boards.
2. Description of Related Art
Exterior decks are conventionally constructed with relatively large gaps between the deck boards, to allow for expansion of the deck boards due to temperature and humidity changes and other factors. As a result, water, leaves, and other debris are free to fall and run off between the boards, thus soaking and cluttering the space below the deck. This precludes the use of what otherwise would be a convenient area for the storage of various articles, such as outdoor furniture, yard maintenance equipment, etc., with the area below the deck generally being wasted space.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for a device for diverting water from a deck, comprising a series of elongate seals for fitting between adjacent deck boards and serving to seal the gap between the boards to preclude the entrance of moisture, leaves, etc. into the area beneath the deck. Others have recognized this need and have attempted to provide various sealing means for decks and other areas in the past. However, none of the devices of the prior art provide the structure and/or function of the device of the present invention in its various embodiments, as indicated in the discussion of the related art below.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,110 issued on Jul. 30, 1963 to Harold L. Spaight, titled “Control Joint,” describes an expansion joint for use in a wall constructed of cement blocks. The control joint is made from rubber, with a hard rubber central section and soft rubber ends. The soft rubber ends are configured to be compressed when the control joint is placed between blocks, forming a seal. The adjacent concrete blocks with which the Spaight joint is used, must be specially formed with facing grooves in order to fit the cruciform center section of the Spaight joint configuration. This configuration holds the Spaight joint in place between the concrete blocks. In contrast, the present seals are configured to fit tightly between conventional deck boards, with no special forming or shaping of the area between the boards being required for installation of the present seals. Moreover, the use of two different rubber compounds for the Spaight seal results in a relatively costly seal to produce, unlike the present seal.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,973 issued on Jun. 23, 1964 to Lloyd H. Williams, titled “Sealed-Joint Construction For Masonry Block Walls,” describes a flexible joint seal having a generally T-shaped configuration when viewed from one end. The seal is generally formed of a relatively hard rubber, but includes a softer rubber flange extending across the distal end of the stem of the T. The crossmember of the T is placed within the open space within the blocks while the opposite end of the stem is placed between facing block surfaces, with the soft rubber providing a seal therebetween. The Williams seal, as in the Spaight seal discussed immediately above, includes two different hardnesses of material, thus resulting in a relatively costly seal device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,125 issued on Jun. 14, 1988 to Helmuth Ofterdinger, titled “Composite Panel Having A Drip Groove,” describes a panel having a core material with a waterproof cover sheet laminated over the outer surface thereof. Such panels are commonly used for kitchen counters and the like, and liquid runoff is known to spill and flow around the lip of such panels to remain along the underside and possibly delaminate any joint in that area. Ofterdinger provides a groove recessed into the underside of the panel with the sealed edges of the laminate being located therein, which causes any moisture runoff to accumulate along the protected edge rather than within the seal and joint. Accordingly, Ofterdinger does not provide any means for sealing the space between deck boards in an existing exterior deck, as provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,548 issued on Mar. 7, 1989 to James T. Ligon, Sr. et al., titled “Sandwich Seal Structure,” describes an expandable foam seal used for sealing gaps between automobile panels. The seal is placed inside the gap, and the parts are dipped into a coating material. The coating material enters the gap. When the panels are heated to cure the coating material, the foam expands, filling the gap. The technique is unsuitable for use in sealing the open gaps between deck boards, as the expansion of the material would extend above and below the open gaps, thus creating a raised area between boards rather than a runoff channel as provided by the configuration of the present seals.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,281 issued on Mar. 23, 1993 to John J. Kosko, titled “Deck Trough,” describes a trough fitting between the floor joists of a deck, for channeling water away from the area under the deck. The trough has lips along each edge for covering the top of the joists on either side. The Kosko device allows water to pass through the deck and then channels it to the side of the deck, unlike the present invention, which channels water to the side of the deck before allowing it to pass through the deck. Moreover, the Kosko trough system must be installed during the construction of the deck, before the deck boards are installed over the joists, whereas the present sealing system may be installed in any existing completed deck, regardless of its age or time since completion.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,511,351 and 5,765,328 respectively issued on Apr. 30, 1996 and Jun. 16, 1998 to Grant M. Moore, both titled “Drainage System For Decks,” describe systems in which a plurality of U-shaped channels are secured to the joists beneath the deck boards of a deck. While the Moore systems may be installed after the deck is completed by sealing their attachment edges to the joists, the system suffers from the same problem as the Kosko trough system described immediately above, in that water, leaves, and other debris are free to fall between the joists and become trapped in the troughs or channels immediately beneath the deck boards. In contrast, the present system seals the gaps between the boards, precluding the passage of water, leaves, etc. therethrough. All materials remain upon the upper surface of the deck boards, or run off in the channel defined by the slight depression of the seals between adjacent deck boards, rather than falling to the undersides of the deck boards, as in the Kosko and Moore systems.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 134,792 issued on Jan. 12, 1943 to Forrest F. Beil, titled “Weather Strip,” illustrates a generally rectangular shape with rounded edges. The rounded edges would allow water to collect in the resulting gap between the edges and the adjacent deck boards, thus leading to deterioration of the deck boards in that area. In contrast, the present seals in their various embodiments provide flanges for sealing securely against the adjacent deck boards, and provide a lower central groove so that water will collect only in the seal groove, rather than adjacent to any of the wood or other deck board material.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 182,784 issued on May 20, 1958 to Joseph C. Bancroft, titled “Weatherstripping Unit,” illustrates another design for a weatherstrip. The Bancroft weatherstrip is relatively wide for its height, and thus if it were made to fit the relatively narrow gap between conventionally spaced deck boards, it would not reach to the bottom surface of the boards to lock in place. Moreover, the flat upper flanges do not conform to the generally rounded corners of the boards, and would leave a crevice between the straight extensions and the curved corners of the boards. This would trap water and other debris, thus leading to deterioration of the deck boards. Also, the sides of the Bancroft seal are not paral
Chavez Patrick J.
Friedman Carl D.
Litman Richard C.
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