Pitch pocket

Abstract

A pitch pocket for sealing a physical penetration of a roof is disclosed. The pitch pocket comprises a semi-rigid annular shaped curb with a base surface, and an opening to allow the passage of the physical penetration of the roof. The curb is further provided with a split in order to allow one to install the curb directly around the physical penetration instead of having to slip it on the penetration from its opened end. Adhesive is applied in the split so as to close the curb and adhesive is also applied to the base surface to secure the curb to the roof. A pourable sealant is then cast in the opening of the curb to form a solid seal of the penetration of the roof.

1 . A pitch pocket for sealing a physical penetration of a roof, said pitch pocket comprising: 
 a curb having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the inner peripheral surface defining an opening for said physical penetration to pass through, said curb further defining a base surface;    an adhesive applied to at least a portion of the base surface and adapted to secure the pitch pocket to the roof; and    a sealant cast within the opening of said curb and forming a solid seal around the physical penetration;    characterized in that the curb is formed out of a single semi-rigid unit and is provided with a split for allowing the installation of the curb around the physical penetration.    
   
   
       2 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 1  wherein said curb has an annular shape.  
   
   
       3 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 1  wherein said split is a straight through cut.  
   
   
       4 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 3  wherein the straight through cut lies in a plane different from a radial plane.  
   
   
       5 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 1  wherein said outer peripheral surface and said inner peripheral surface of the curb are joined by an upper edge located in a top portion of the opening; and said outer peripheral surface of the curb and said base surface are joined by a lower edge; the outer peripheral surface being slanted from the upper edge at the top of the opening towards the lower edge in order to evacuate any liquid away from the solid seal around the physical penetration.  
   
   
       6 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 1  wherein said inner peripheral surface comprises at least one peripheral groove for catching any liquid infiltrated between said solid seal located into the opening and said inner peripheral surface of the curb.  
   
   
       7 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 6  wherein said at least one peripheral groove has an acute angle profile with an apex, the apex pointing downwardly.  
   
   
       8 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 1  wherein said base surface comprises at least one base groove for receiving said adhesive to secure said pitch pocket to the roof.  
   
   
       9 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 8  wherein said adhesive is preinstalled into the at least one base groove of said curb, the adhesive being provided with a peel-off membrane to be peeled-off prior to the installation of said curb to the roof.  
   
   
       10 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one base groove has a rectangular profile.  
   
   
       11 . A pitch pocket according to  claim 1  wherein said curb is made out of rubber from recycled tires.  
   
   
       12 . A method for sealing a physical penetration of a roof using a pitch pocket comprising a curb with an opening and a split, the opening being filled with sealant, the method comprising the steps of: 
 spreading two opposed ends of said curb formed by said split, thus opening the curb;    placing said opened curb around the penetration;    closing said curb by applying an adhesive to join said two opposed ends together;    securing said curb to the roof by applying adhesive to at least one portion of a base surface of the curb;    preparing said sealant;    casting within the opening of said curb said sealant for forming a solid seal around the physical penetration;    allowing the sealant to cure and to seal the physical penetration.    
   
   
       13 . A method for sealing a physical penetration of a roof according to  claim 12  comprising, prior to the step of securing said curb to the roof, the additional step of: 
 peeling off a peel-off membrane provided to a preinstalled adhesive into at least one base groove of said curb.