Foundation protector system

Abstract

A foundation protection system for the exterior surface of a foundation wall has a membrane of plastic material on the exterior surface of the foundation wall, the membrane having a marginal edge portion, and a support strip extending along the entire marginal edge portion of the membrane. The membrane and the securement member have interengaged projecting and recessed portions, with fasteners penetrating through the support strip and the membrane into the foundation wall and thereby securing the support strip and the membrane to the foundation wall. The support strip may have a flexible flange in sealing contact with the foundation wall upwardly beyond the marginal edge portion of the membrane along the entire length of the marginal edge portion of the membrane. A slot-shaped recess extends along the support strip for temporarily holding nails or screws during installation.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A securement strip for securing an upper horizontal marginal edge portion of a foundation protector sheet to a foundation wall, the securement strip comprising first and second portions extending along the securement strip, the first portion having support formations for supporting inter-engagement with the foundation protector sheet, the second portion comprising a flexible flange extending at an angle from the first portion for flexed engagement with the foundation wall above the foundation protector sheet and the first portion being adapted to receive fasteners for fastening the securement strip and, therewith, the foundation protector sheet to the foundation wall.  
     
     
         2 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , including a strip of sealing material extending along the flexible flange for sealingly contacting the foundation wall.  
     
     
         3 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sealing material comprises a foam material.  
     
     
         4 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formations comprise substantially frusto-conically shaped protrusions.  
     
     
         5 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formations are elongate.  
     
     
         6 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the securement strip is angled to form a corner piece for use at a corner of the foundation wall.  
     
     
         7 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the formations are ribs.  
     
     
         8 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the formations are of rectangular cross-section.  
     
     
         9 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the formations are of trapezoidal cross-section.  
     
     
         10 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the formations are protrusions on one side of the first portion and extend around respective slots in an opposite side of the first portion.  
     
     
         11 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the formations are protrusions on one side of the first portion, the protrusions extending longitudinally of the securement strip, and slot-shaped recesses in an opposite side of the first portion extend at right angles relative to the protrusions.  
     
     
         12 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the formations are of solid cross-section.  
     
     
         13 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the foundation protector sheet is formed with nail holes.  
     
     
         14 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is formed with at least one slot-shaped recess extending longitudinally of the securement strip, the slot-shaped recess being dimensioned to receive and grip the tips of nails.  
     
     
         15 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible flange further comprises retainer members angled downwardly from an upper edge of the flange for temporarily retaining the securement strip on the foundation protector sheet during installation.  
     
     
         16 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a stop in the form of a projection on the second portion below the flexible flange is provided for limiting deformation of the securement strip when in use.  
     
     
         17 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the securement strip is angled to form a corner piece for use at a corner of the foundation wall.  
     
     
         18 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein opposite ends of the securement strip have end connector formations interengageable with corresponding formations of like securement strips for connecting the strips end-to-end.  
     
     
         19 . A securement strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one end of the securement strip is formed with a longitudinally projecting portion for overlapping an adjacent like securement strip.  
     
     
         20 . A surface covering on a substrate, comprising: 
 a) a membrane of plastic material;    b) the membrane having an upper marginal edge portion;    c) a support strip extending along the upper marginal edge portion of the membrane;    d) the membrane and the support strip being formed with mutually interengageable protrusions and recesses;    e) the support strip having a flexible upper marginal portion extending upwardly into sealing contact with the substrate beyond that the upper marginal edge portion of the membrane along the entire length of the upper marginal edge portion of the membrane; and    f) fasteners extending through the support strip and the membrane into the substrate and thereby securing the support strip and the membrane to the substrate.    
     
     
         21 . A surface covering on a substrate as claimed in  claim 20 , including a projection extending from the support strip to the foundation wall as a stop for limiting deformation of the support strip, the projection being located below the flexible upper marginal portion and above the interengageable protrusions and recesses.  
     
     
         22 . A surface covering on a substrate as claimed in  claim 20 , the membrane having an upper portion, the recesses comprising horizontal slots in the upper portion, and a lower portion with projections on one side thereof for abutment against the foundation wall, the protrusions comprising longitudinally extending ribs on the securement strip engaging in the slots.  
     
     
         23 . A surface covering on a substrate as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the slots and ribs are of complementary square cross-sectional shapes.  
     
     
         24 . A surface covering on a substrate as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the slots and ribs are of complementary tapered cross-sectional shapes.  
     
     
         25 . A surface covering on a substrate as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the securement strip is formed with vertical slots in a side thereof opposite from the ribs.  
     
     
         26 . A method of securing a foundation protector sheet to a foundation wall, comprising the steps of: 
 a) positioning the foundation protector sheet against a surface of the foundation wall;    b) interengaging protrusions and recesses in an elongate securement strip and in an upper marginal edge portion of the foundation protector sheet;    c) locating a sealing flange extending along the securement strip in engagement with the foundation wall surface above the upper marginal edge portion of the foundation protector sheet; and    d) fastening the securement strip to the foundation wall to secure the upper marginal edge portion of the foundation protector sheet in position on the foundation wall.    
     
     
         27 . A method of securing a foundation protector sheet as claimed in  claim 26 , which includes interengaging a vertical end formation of the securement strips with a complementary end formation of an adjacent like securement strips to connect the strips end-to-end.