Pan flashing with sill wedge

Abstract

The subject invention provides a component which improves upon the overall function of sill pan flashing, specifically the use of a novel sill wedge that promotes drainage of water from the sill pan. The novel sill wedge is made from polyethylene foam, a flexible material in a unique configuration, which also provides support for the bottom of the sill pan. Accordingly, the sill wedge can be effectively extruded into a double wedge, continuous roll, shrink wrapped and shipped in rolls thus allowing for easy cutting to length in the field, improving performance of the pan flashing while also addressing shipping, storage and installation issues.

1 . A combination of flashing elements for reducing the penetration of water around a rough opening with a window, door or louver installed therein, said combination comprising: 
 a rough opening including a header, side jambs and a rough opening sill plate;    a sill wedge member installed across said sill plate;    a pan flashing member installed across the width of the opening above said sill plate with said sill wedge member therebeneath;    said pan flashing member comprising a self-adhesive backed flashing installed across the rough opening with vertical slits at the jamb studs folded into the rough opening over said sill wedge and terminating in a back dam;    a pair of preformed corner accessory pieces having a pair of legs installed in the lower corners of the rough window opening with one leg installed over said pan flashing member and the other leg in abutting relation with said window side jambs;    self-adhesive strip seals are placed over the sill edge of each of the corner accessory pieces which effectively combines to prevent moisture leakage into the building at this locale.    
   
   
       2 . A combination of flashing components as defined in  claim 1  wherein said sill wedge is an extruded polyethylene foam shape that is tapered across its width to promote drainage of water from the interior portion of the pan flashing towards the building's exterior.  
   
   
       3 . A combination of flashing elements as defined in  claim 2  wherein said polyethylene foam sill wedge is of a density that is flexible enough to be coiled into a roll.  
   
   
       4 . A combination of flashing elements as defined In  claim 3  wherein said polyethylene foam sill wedge is of a density that is firm enough to support the sill pan.  
   
   
       5 . A combination of flashing elements as defined in  claim 4  wherein the polyethylene foam sill wedge can be easily cut and trimmed with scissors or a utility knife.  
   
   
       6 . A combination of flashing components as defined in  claim 5  wherein said polyethylene foam sill wedge is extruded in a single width.  
   
   
       7 . A combination of flashing components as defined in  claim 5  wherein said polyethylene foam sill wedge is extruded in a double width to facilitate coiling, shipping and reduce manufacturing costs.  
   
   
       8 . A sill wedge for supporting a rough opening pan flashing comprising extruded polyethylene foam that is sloped across its width to create a wedge shape.  
   
   
       9 . A sill wedge for supporting a pan flashing as defined in  claim 8  wherein said wedge shape is extruded as a single width.  
   
   
       10 . A sill wedge for supporting a pan flashing as defined in  claim 8  wherein said wedge shape is extruded in a double width form for ease of shipping and storage.  
   
   
       11 . A sill wedge made of extruded polyethylene foam into a double wedge; each wedge of said double wedge having a high rear end and a forward extending taper ending in a forward tip of diminished height; 
 said double wedge extruded with said forward tip of each wedge in contact with the forward tip of the opposite wedge thus forming said double wedge of substantial width allowing the free-standing of a roll of said double wedge.    
   
   
       12 . A sill wedge as defined in  claim 11  wherein said extruded double wedge has an imaginary centerline whereby said double wedge may be cut along said imaginary centerline into a pair of single sill wedge members.