Head joint drainage device, wall system and method for draining moisture from a head joint

Abstract

A wall system, head joint drainage device and method adapted to allow drainage of moisture from a head joint of a structure meeting a horizontal interruption when the wall system is formed with a plurality of building products set with mortar forming a mortar joint between adjacent ones of the plurality of modular building products. A spacer has a top portion, having a length approximately equal to a depth of the plurality of building products and a width approximately equal to a width of the mortar joint, adapted to block the mortar from reaching the horizontal interruption and has a side portion adapted to keep the portion a distance away from the horizontal interruption, the distance allowing moisture drainage from the head joint.

1 . A head joint drainage device adapted to allow drainage of moisture from a head joint meeting a horizontal interruption of a structure formed with a plurality of building products set with mortar forming a mortar joint between adjacent ones of said plurality of modular building products, comprising: 
 a spacer having a top portion, having a length approximately equal to a depth of said plurality of building products and a width approximately equal to a width of said mortar joint, adapted to block said mortar from reaching said horizontal interruption and having a side portion adapted to keep said portion a distance away from said horizontal interruption, said distance allowing moisture drainage from said head joint.    
   
   
       2 . A head joint drainage device as in  claim 1  wherein said top portion is solid.  
   
   
       3 . A head joint drainage device as in  claim 1  wherein said side portion is angled back from a front edge of said spacer.  
   
   
       4 . A head joint drainage device as in  claim 3  further comprising a second one of said side portion.  
   
   
       5 . A head joint drainage device as in  claim 4  wherein said side portion and said second one each have approximately equal heights.  
   
   
       6 . A head joint drainage device as in  claim 1  wherein said head joint drainage device is formed into a plurality of sections, each of said plurality of sections having a length selected so that a length of an integral number of said plurality of sections is approximately equal to said depth of said plurality of modular building materials.  
   
   
       7 . A head joint drainage device as in  claim 6  wherein said top portion has a transverse groove providing an ability for said plurality of sections to snap apart by hand.  
   
   
       8 . A head joint drainage device as in  claim 7  wherein said side portion angles back from said top portion said transverse groove.  
   
   
       9 . A head joint drainage device as in  claim 7  wherein said side portion roughly forms a v-shape.  
   
   
       10 . A head joint drainage device as in  claim 1  wherein said head joint drainage device is of a color which approximates a color of said mortar.  
   
   
       11 . A wall system for a structure having a head joint meeting a horizontal interruption in a wall of a structure, said wall having a veneer, comprising: 
 an angle positioned at said horizontal interruption;    a plurality of modular building products set on said angle forming said veneer;    mortar set between said adjacent ones of said plurality of modular building products forming a mortar joint;    a spacer positioned on said angle between said adjacent ones of said plurality of modular building products, said spacer forming a moisture drainage channel between said adjacent ones of said plurality of modular building products between said mortar and said angle.    
   
   
       12 . A wall system as in  claim 1  wherein said spacer has a top portion, having a length approximately equal to a depth of said plurality of building products and a width approximately equal to a width of said mortar joint, adapted to block said mortar from reaching said angle and has a side portion adapted to keep said portion a distance away from said angle, said distance allowing moisture drainage from said head joint.  
   
   
       13 . A wall system as in  claim 12  wherein said top portion of said spacer is solid.  
   
   
       14 . A wall system as in  claim 12  wherein said side portion of said spacer is angled back from a front edge of said spacer.  
   
   
       15 . A wall system as in  claim 14  wherein of said spacer further comprises a second one of said side portion.  
   
   
       16 . A wall system as in  claim 15  wherein said side portion of said spacer and said second one of said spacer each have approximately equal heights.  
   
   
       17 . A wall system as in  claim 12  wherein said spacer is formed into a plurality of sections, each of said plurality of sections having a length selected so that a length of an integral number of said plurality of sections is approximately equal to said depth of said plurality of modular building materials.  
   
   
       18 . A wall system as in  claim 17  wherein said top portion of said spacer has a transverse groove providing an ability for said plurality of sections to snap apart by hand.  
   
   
       19 . A wall system as in  claim 18  wherein said side portion of said spacer angles back from said top portion said transverse groove.  
   
   
       20 . A wall system as in  claim 18  wherein said side portion of said spacer roughly forms a v-shape.  
   
   
       21 . A wall system as in  claim 11  wherein said spacer is of a color which approximates a color of said mortar.  
   
   
       22 . A method of providing drainage of moisture from a head joint meeting a horizontal interruption of a wall of a structure, said wall having a veneer constructed from a plurality of modular building products set with mortar forming a mortar joint between adjacent ones of said plurality of modular building products, comprising the steps of: 
 placing one of said plurality of modular building products on an angle at said horizontal interruption;    setting a spacer on said angle adjacent said one of said plurality of modular building products;    applying said mortar to said one of said plurality of modular building products forming said mortar joint; and    placing another of said plurality of modular building products on said angle adjacent to said spacer.    
   
   
       23 . A method as in  claim 22  wherein said spacer has a top portion, having a length approximately equal to a depth of said plurality of building products and a width approximately equal to a width of said mortar joint, adapted to block said mortar from reaching said angle and has a side portion adapted to keep said portion a distance away from said angle, said distance allowing moisture drainage from said head joint.  
   
   
       24 . A method as in  claim 23  wherein said top portion of said spacer is solid.  
   
   
       25 . A method as in  claim 23  wherein said side portion of said spacer is angled back from a front edge of said spacer.  
   
   
       26 . A method as in  claim 25  wherein said spacer further comprises a second one of said side portion.  
   
   
       27 . A method as in  claim 26  wherein said side portion of said spacer and said second one of said spacer each have approximately equal heights.  
   
   
       28 . A method as in  claim 23  wherein said spacer is formed into a plurality of sections, each of said plurality of sections having a length selected so that a length of an integral number of said plurality of sections is approximately equal to said depth of said plurality of modular building materials.  
   
   
       29 . A method as in  claim 28  wherein said top portion of said spacer has a transverse groove providing an ability for said plurality of sections to snap apart by hand.  
   
   
       30 . A method as in  claim 29  wherein said side portion of said spacer angles back from said top portion said transverse groove.  
   
   
       31 . A method as in  claim 29  wherein said side portion of said spacer roughly forms a v-shape.  
   
   
       32 . A method as in  claim 22  wherein said spacer is of a color which approximates a color of said mortar.