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  FlashingUSPTO Application #: 20070186500Title: Flashing Abstract: Flashing includes an elongate body for overlying a member, and legs extending for at least part of the body length and protruding from either side of the body. The flashing has a configuration prior to overlying the member whereby one or both legs is/are biased towards a respective member side when positioned thereat. The legs may be detachable from the body along a line of severance. In addition, wings can extend out from either side edge of the body to extend for at least part of the body length. One, some or all of the wings can be detachable from the body along a line of severance. (end of abstract) Agent: Ratnerprestia - Valley Forge, PA, US Inventor: Peter Quirk USPTO Applicaton #: 20070186500 - Class: 052300000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070186500. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] Flashing is disclosed which finds particular use in the construction industry, primarily for covering members such as joists, beams, bearers, wall plates, rafters and the like. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Flashing is used in the construction industry to provide a barrier against the passage of moisture into and beyond joists, rafters, beams, bearers, wall plates and the like, especially where such members are formed from materials susceptible to moisture such as timber. [0003] Known flashing includes metal strips or metal-containing sheets which are cut and positioned in relation to the member. It is also known to use adhesive tape in the place of metal flashing. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,644 discloses a covering strip of rubber or plastic. At column 2, lines 1&2 it is stated that the strip is dimensioned so that the distance between the side portions substantially corresponds to the width of a wooden member on which the strip is placed. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0005] In a first aspect there is provided flashing comprising an elongate body for overlying a member, and legs extending for at least part of the body length and protruding from either side of the body, the flashing having a configuration prior to overlying the member whereby one or both legs is/are biased towards a respective member side when positioned thereat. [0006] Thus, the flashing can be provided with an in-built bias which enables it to better grip onto and/or locate on the member on which it is placed. This bias can be pre-configured within the flashing body to then be transferred to the legs when the flashing is placed on the member, and/or can be pre-configured within either one or both legs. In one form, both legs may have such bias. [0007] In addition, whilst the legs may be spaced at approximately the width of a member (eg. the flashing can be supplied with leg spacings corresponding to one or more standard member widths), the legs may also have a spacing that is greater than or, in the case of an elastomeric flashing, slightly lesser than the member width and yet still be configured to grip onto the member. [0008] In one form the body can be provided with eg. a contoured profile. For example, the legs may extend inwardly from a concave surface of the body. Then, when the flashing is located on the member, the body can assume a generally flat configuration. The contoured profile provides one means by which bias can be pre-configured within the flashing. [0009] In one form the flashing is formed from an elastomeric material. Use of an elastomeric material provides for noise reduction (especially when used on metal members such as metal joists) and can provide for impact absorption between adjacent members (ie. between which the flashing is located). In addition, when nails or screws are driven through the flashing, the elastomeric properties enable the elastomeric material to grip around the nails or screws, thereby preventing water, moisture, liquid and dust movement therepast. The use of an elastomeric material can also enhance the in-built bias of the or each leg. [0010] The term "elastomeric" is intended to include a broad range of polymers having resiliency and/or shape memory, and includes natural and synthetic rubbers such as EPDM rubber, polymeric resins having flexibility and resiliency such as ABS resin and other butadiene and styrene polymers and co-polymers, nylons etc. EPDM rubber is particularly useful because it has excellent UV, ozone and chemical resistances, and is long-ageing. In addition, it is resistant to most paints, lacquers, oils, solvents, acids and cleaning agents. [0011] The term "member" as used herein includes joists, 10 beams, bearers, wall plates, rafters, battens and the like. [0012] In a second aspect there is provided flashing comprising an elongate body for overlying a member, and legs protruding from either side of the body and extending for at least part of the body length, wherein one, some or all of the legs are detachable from the body along a respective line of severance. [0013] In a third aspect there is provided flashing comprising an elongate body for overlying a member, and wings extending laterally from either side of the body and extending for at least part of the body length, wherein one, some or all of the wings are detachable from the body along a respective line of severance. [0014] By providing for leg and wing detachability, various flashing shapes can be created which can allow for accommodation of various other adjacent members in abutting or closely positioned relationships. For example, when all legs and wings are detached, the resultant flashing may simply comprise the elongate body, or when one of the legs and one of the adjacent wings are detached and the flashing is applied to a first member, an adjacent second member can be butted right up against the first member where that leg and wing have been removed, etc. [0015] In one form the flashing comprises two legs extending for the entire length of the body on opposing sides thereof, although a plurality of discrete legs arranged along part or the entire length of the body on opposing sides thereof can also be provided. [0016] In one embodiment, prior to positioning the flashing on the member, legs on opposing sides of the body project generally towards each other. In this regard the flashing may be extruded or moulded so that the legs in the finished configuration project generally towards each other and so that the flashing is manufactured with an in-built bias. Thus, when the legs-are positioned on either side of the member, they are biased towards that respective side. This enables the flashing to grip onto the member, making it easier to use and tending to prevent its inadvertent removal. For example, when the flashing is used in an inverted or vertical configuration, the legs grip onto the member and prevent the flashing from dropping off the member. [0017] In addition, by providing legs which extend for the entire length of the body on opposing sides thereof the flashing can prevent stain marks from promulgating down the side of the member to which the flashing is attached (eg. resin stains, water stains etc that emanate from or occur on timber members, or from seepage from overlying, abutting or adjacent members etc). [0018] In another embodiment the flashing further comprises wings extending laterally from the body beyond the legs (ie. the wings can be provided in addition to the legs). Again, the wings may extend for the entire length of the body on opposing sides thereof, although a plurality of discrete wings can be provided for part of or for the entire length of the body on opposing sides thereof. The wings enable the flashing to overlap adjacent members, and can also overlap adjacent flashing etc to provide for a more comprehensive barrier against moisture, dust, noise and the like. [0019] A line of severance can also be provided along and adjacent to where each wing is attached to the body to enable wing detachment. In other words, a discrete or an entire length of the wing can be removed to enable positioning of the member in close proximity to other members and to enable the abutment of adjacent members etc. [0020] The wings may have an elongate rectangular shape and can respectively be joined to the body along opposing elongate sides thereof. In a further variation, each wing can taper, from a relatively thicker section where it is connected to the body to a relatively thinner remote end (ie. the wing having a decreasing cross-sectional thickness out to its remote end). This tapering configuration can reduce any distortion between flashing heights in adjacent members where the wing overlaps adjacent flashing (eg. of an adjacent member). The wings can also be fastened directly or indirectly to an adjacent member (eg. by nailing, screwing, adhesive, etc). [0021] In one embodiment a line of severance is provided along and adjacent to where each leg attaches to the body to enable all or any of the legs to be detached from the body as appropriate, in a similar manner to wing detachment. Again, detaching of one or more legs allows for close positioning or abutment of adjacent members etc. Continue reading... Full patent description for Flashing Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Flashing patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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