Flange and drip edge integrated with window frame

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a flashing-integrated window frame configured to reduce moisture intrusion in a building structure. The flashing-integrated window frame includes a window frame and a drip flange. The window frame includes a front and a periphery and the drip flange is configured to extend from a bottom portion of the window frame. The drip flange includes a downward extension configured to extend from the bottom portion of the window frame and an outward extension extending from the downward extension. With this arrangement, the drip flange is configured to substantially direct moisture away from the building structure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flashing-integrated window frame configured to reduce moisture intrusion in a building structure, comprising: 
 a window frame having a front and a periphery; and    a drip flange configured to extend from a bottom portion of said window frame, said drip flange including a downward extension extending from said bottom portion of said window frame and an outward extension extending from said downward extension, said drip flange configured to direct moisture away from the building structure.    
     
     
         2 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing flange having a face surface and a back surface, said sealing flange extending from said window frame a distance from the periphery of said window frame to provide an effective moisture barrier, and said back surface configured to be positioned against a surface of the building structure.  
     
     
         3 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said drip flange extends from said front of said bottom portion of said window frame.  
     
     
         4 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said drip flange extends from a peripheral underside portion of said periphery of said bottom portion of said window frame.  
     
     
         5 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 2 , wherein said sealing flange extends outward from an entire periphery of said window frame.  
     
     
         6 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said drip flange is configured to be formed seamless with said window frame.  
     
     
         7 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said outward extension of said drip flange includes an oblique deflection angle between approximately fifteen degrees and forty-five degrees.  
     
     
         8 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 2 , wherein said sealing flange is configured to be formed integrally with said periphery of said window frame.  
     
     
         9 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said drip flange comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         10 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 2 , wherein said sealing flange is configured to extend over a nailing flange of said window frame.  
     
     
         11 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 2 , wherein said sealing flange is configured to be attachable to said window frame.  
     
     
         12 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said drip flange is configured to be attachable to said bottom portion of said window frame.  
     
     
         13 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said drip flange is configured to be removable from said bottom portion of said window frame.  
     
     
         14 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said drip flange comprises a folded-back portion wrapped around an under-side portion of said drip flange.  
     
     
         15 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said drip flange comprises a rounded lip at an end of said drip flange.  
     
     
         16 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 14 , wherein said drip flange includes an extension extending from said folded-back portion configured to extend substantially vertically downward therefrom.  
     
     
         17 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said flashing-integrated window frame comprises a metallic material.  
     
     
         18 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said flashing-integrated window frame comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         19 . The flashing-integrated window frame of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing flange extends from said window frame at least four inches.  
     
     
         20 . A flashing-integrated window frame configured to reduce moisture intrusion in a building structure, comprising: 
 a window frame having a front and a periphery, said periphery configured to extend through an exterior treatment of the building structure; and    a drip flange configured to extend from a bottom peripheral portion of said window frame, said drip flange including a downward extension extending from said bottom peripheral portion of said window frame and an outward extension extending outward from said downward extension, said drip flange configured to direct moisture from said window frame away from the exterior treatment of the building structure and configured to substantially obstruct moisture from entering into the exterior treatment below said window frame.    
     
     
         21 . A flashing-integrated window frame configured to reduce moisture, intrusion in a building structure, comprising: 
 a window frame having a front and a periphery;    a sealing flange having a face surface and an back surface, said sealing flange configured to extend over a nailing flange extending from the window frame, said sealing flange extending from said window frame a distance from the periphery of said widow frame to provide an effective moisture barrier, and said back surface configured to be positioned between a surface of the building structure and an exterior treatment of the building structure; and    a drip flange configured to extend from a bottom portion of said window frame, said drip flange configured to extend downwardly and outwardly from said bottom portion of said window frame, and configured to direct moisture away from the building structure.    
     
     
         22 . A flashing-integrated window frame configured to reduce moisture intrusion in a building structure, comprising: 
 a window frame having a front and a periphery, said periphery configured to extend through an exterior treatment of the building structure; and    a moisture-directing means for directing moisture away from the exterior treatment below said window frame, said moisture-directing means including a downward extension extending from a bottom portion of said window frame and an outward extension extending from said downward extension.    
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a flashing-integrated window frame configured to reduce moisture intrusion in a building structure, the method comprising: 
 forming a window frame having a front and a periphery;    forming a drip flange to be disposed along a bottom portion of said window frame; and    configuring said drip flange to include a downward extension extending from said bottom portion of said window frame and an outward extension extending from said downward extension so that said drip flange is configured to direct moisture away from the building structure.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming a sealing flange having a face surface and a back surface, said sealing flange formed to extend outward from said periphery of said window frame.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising configuring said sealing flange to extend from said window frame so that said back surface abuts a surface of the building structure.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said forming said drip flange comprises extending said drip flange from said front of said bottom portion of said window frame.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said forming said drip flange comprises extending said drip flange from said periphery of said bottom portion of said window frame.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said forming said drip flange comprises seamlessly forming said drip flange with said window frame.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said configuring said drip flange comprises configuring said outward extension with an oblique deflection angle with respect to said downward extension between approximately fifteen degrees and forty-five degrees.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said forming said sealing flange comprises configuring said sealing flange to be formed integrally with said periphery of said window frame.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said forming said sealing flange comprises configuring said sealing flange to be attachable to said window frame.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said forming said drip flange comprises configuring said drip flange to be attachable to said window frame.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said forming said drip flange comprises configuring said drip flange to be removable from said window frame.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said forming said drip flange comprises configuring said drip flange to include a folded-back portion wrapped around an under-side portion of said drip flange.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said forming said drip flange comprises configuring said drip flange to include a rounded lip at an end of said drip flange.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said drip flange includes an extension extending from said folded-back portion configured to extend substantially vertically downward therefrom.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming said flashing-integrated window frame from a metallic material.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising forming said flashing-integrated window frame from a polymeric material.  
     
     
         39 . A method of installing a flashing-integrated window frame in an opening defined in a wall of a building structure, the method comprising: 
 providing said flashing-integrated window frame configured to include a window frame and a drip flange, said drip flange configured to be positioned along a bottom portion of said window frame and configured to include a downward extension configured to extend from said bottom portion of said window frame and an outward extension extending from said downward extension; and    inserting said window frame in the opening of the building structure so that said drip flange is positionable to extend downwardly and outwardly from said bottom portion of said window frame to direct moisture away from the building structure.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said providing comprises providing a sealing flange configured to extend from a periphery of said window frame a distance to provide an effective moisture barrier.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said inserting comprises positioning said sealing flange around the periphery of the window frame against a nailing flange of the window frame and the wall of the building structure.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said inserting comprises positioning said drip flange to extend from a bottom portion of the window frame prior to said inserting said window frame.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said inserting comprises positioning said drip flange to extend from a bottom portion of the window frame subsequent to said inserting said window frame.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said inserting comprises inserting said flashing-integrated window frame with said sealing flange and said drip edge attached thereto so that said sealing flange overlies and is positioned against the wall of the building structure.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said inserting comprises preliminarily attaching said sealing flange to a periphery of said window frame so that said sealing flange is positionable against the wall of the building structure.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said inserting comprises attaching said drip flange to said bottom portion of said window frame prior to said inserting said window frame.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said inserting comprises inserting said window frame with said sealing flange attached thereto so that said sealing flange overlies and is positioned against the wall of the building structure.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said inserting comprises attaching said drip flange to said bottom portion of said window frame subsequent to said inserting said window frame.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said inserting comprises positioning said sealing flange against the wall around a periphery of the opening therein prior to said inserting said window frame.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said inserting comprises inserting said window frame in said opening to at least partially abut with said sealing flange.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said inserting said window frame comprises attaching said drip flange to the bottom portion of the window frame.