Top Sided Vented Trim for Exterior Cladding System

Abstract

A trim member for an exterior wall cladding system of a residential or commercial building is provided. The trim member includes a nailing flange, a top flange extending perpendicularly from the top of the nailing flange, a front leg extending downwardly from the exterior end of the top flange, a vent leg projecting inwardly from the front leg, and a return leg extending upwardly toward the top flange. The vent leg may be perforated to allow the passage of air and moisture out of the trim member and oriented so that rain water cannot enter directly into the trim member. The trim member permits the wall cladding system to drain and ventilate, thereby removing unwanted water and moisture vapor or condensation from within the cladding system. The trim member may be installed on an exterior building wall beneath the soffit prior to the application of a wall cladding system.

1 . A trim member for use with an exterior cladding system affixed to an exterior sheathing of a building wall, comprising:
 a nailing flange extending vertically for attachment to said exterior sheathing;   a top flange defining a depth dimension of said trim member and extending orthogonally from an upper portion of said nailing flange away from said exterior sheathing;   a front leg extending downwardly from said top flange generally parallel to said nailing flange; and   a vent leg extending inwardly toward said nailing flange from said front leg, said vent leg being operable to allow the passage of air therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The trim member of  claim 1 , further comprising a return leg projecting upwardly from said vent leg. 
     
     
         3 . The trim member of  claim 2 , wherein said top flange and said front leg are impervious to the passage of air and moisture. 
     
     
         4 . The trim member of  claim 3 , wherein said vent leg is perforated. 
     
     
         5 . The trim member of  claim 3 , wherein said trim member is formed from extruded polyvinyl. 
     
     
         6 . The trim member of  claim 3 , wherein said return leg is sealed against said exterior cladding system. 
     
     
         7 . An exterior cladding system mounted to a building wall having exterior sheathing, comprising:
 an exterior cover affixed to said exterior sheathing;   a drainage gap formed between said exterior cover and said exterior sheathing to provide ventilation of air through said exterior cladding system from a bottom portion of said building wall to a top portion of said building wall;   a trim member secured to said exterior sheathing in flow communication with said drainage gap to direct a flow of air from said drainage gap externally of said building wall.   
     
     
         8 . The exterior cladding system of  claim 7 , wherein said trim member includes a vent leg oriented generally horizontally, said vent leg permitting the passage of air from said trim member to the atmosphere externally of said external cladding system. 
     
     
         9 . The exterior cladding system of  claim 8 , further comprising a fluid conducting member defining said drainage gap. 
     
     
         10 . The exterior cladding system of  claim 9 , wherein said trim member further includes:
 a vertically extending nailing flange for attachment of said trim member to said exterior sheathing;   a top flange defining a depth dimension of said trim member and extending orthogonally from an upper portion of said nailing flange away from said exterior sheathing; and   a front leg extending downwardly from said top flange generally parallel to said nailing flange, said vent leg extending inwardly from said front leg toward said nailing flange.   
     
     
         11 . The exterior cladding system of  claim 10 , wherein said vent leg is perforated and said top flange and said front leg being impervious to direct air from said drainage gap to said vent leg for discharge from said trim member. 
     
     
         12 . The exterior cladding system of  claim 11 , further comprising an impervious return leg projecting upwardly from said vent leg. 
     
     
         13 . The exterior cladding system of  claim 12 , wherein said exterior cover is a masonry material secured to a masonry scratch coat affixed to said fluid conducting member, said return leg engaging said masonry scratch coat to form a seal therewith. 
     
     
         14 . The exterior cladding system of  claim 12 , wherein said nailing flange, said top flange, said front leg, said vent leg and said return leg are integrally formed. 
     
     
         15 . In a building wall having an exterior sheathing, an exterior cladding system, and a drainage gap between said exterior sheathing and said exterior cladding system, the improvement comprising:
 a trim member mounted in flow communication with said drainage gap to vent air from said drainage gap externally of said exterior cladding system.   
     
     
         16 . The building wall of  claim 15  wherein said trim member includes a vent leg oriented generally horizontally, said vent member being operable to allow a passage of air from said trim member. 
     
     
         17 . The building wall of  claim 16  wherein said trim member further includes:
 a vertically extending nailing flange for attachment of said trim member to said exterior sheathing;   a top flange defining a depth dimension of said trim member and extending orthogonally from an upper portion of said nailing flange away from said exterior sheathing; and   a front leg extending downwardly from said top flange generally parallel to said nailing flange, said vent leg extending inwardly from said front leg toward said nailing flange.   
     
     
         18 . The building wall of  claim 17  wherein said top flange and said front leg are impervious. 
     
     
         19 . The building wall of  claim 18  wherein said drainage gap is defined by a fluid conducting member mounted to said exterior sheathing. 
     
     
         20 . The building wall of  claim 19  wherein said exterior cladding system includes an exterior cover formed of masonry material secured to a masonry scratch coat affixed to said fluid conducting member, said trim member further including a return leg projecting upwardly from said vent leg to engage said masonry scratch coat to form a seal therewith.