Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE AND METHOD FOR KEEPING HUMIDITY/WATER AWAY
FROM CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS AND PROVIDE INSULATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to concrete foundations, and more
specifically to a device and method for keeping humidity/water away from
concrete foundations, such as foundation walls and/or a concrete slab sitting
on
a footing, and provide insulation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The accumulation of water, and sometimes water pressure, along a
foundation wall and/or under a concrete slab of a building can generate major
problems to the building structure, without accounting for discomforts the
building resident has to deal with. Water along a foundation wall and/or under
a
concrete slab, usually considered as the basement of the building, causes a
high level (higher than normal comfortable level) of moisture, which might
eventually dampen/damage sections of the walls and/or floor finishing. Other
problems may occur on the concrete foundation itself. All these problems are
even more present when there is a positive pressure along the wall and/or
under the slab.
[0003] Such water can be stagnant and remain along the wall and/or under the
slab for extensive periods of time, if not permanently, depending on the soil
type. Since there is no real access along the wall and/or under the slab,
there is
no efficient way to get rid of the above-mentioned problems associated with
the
presence of water or moisture, other than digging along the wall and/or
breaking
the slab to access the water drenched soil. Alternatively, some have tried to
drain such water by reaching the area from underneath the footing, but this
could induce local displacement (collapsing, falling) of the footing, which
will
generate even more problematic situations to the structure of the building.
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[0004] Humidity can also reach the concrete slab from the interface between
the foundation walls and the footing supporting the walls, with the concrete
of
the foundation walls not fully adhering to the footing, thereby leaving some
interstices for water to reach the slab. Furthermore, since the concrete is
known to be porous, it is further easy for water often accumulating at the
outer
periphery of the footing to slowly flow along the unsealed interface and reach
the slab sitting on the inner periphery of the footing.
[0005] Commonly, particles are placed especially along the foundation walls to
provide adequate drainage, which is a time consuming operation since this must
be performed in stages (i.e. by sections of 1 or 2 foot at a time, pouring
particles, adjusting a landscape fabric membrane, filling the space between
the
landscape fabric membrane and the soil, and repeating the process) from the
base of the foundation wall up towards the surface. This process is very labor
intensive, requires specialized equipment for long durations of time and
consequently is very expensive.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved device and method for
keeping humidity away from a foundation wall and/or under a main concrete
slab and provide insulation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an
improved device and method for keeping humidity/water away from concrete
foundations and provide insulation, and more specifically to a device and
method for keeping humidity/water away from foundation walls and/or a
concrete slab sitting on a footing and provide insulation.
[0008] An advantage of the present invention is the reduction in the time and
equipment required for the installation of particles along concrete
foundations by
providing box-like devices having drainage openings and which are filled with
particles, the devices being configured to be easily stacked vertically along
foundation walls or mosaicked in contact with concrete foundations or
pathways.
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[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method for keeping humidity/water away from a concrete foundation wall and
provide insulation, the concrete foundation wall having a soil-facing surface,
said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of devices comprising a rectangular main body
having flat surfaces forming a cavity therein, the main body being
configured so as to be stackable horizontally and vertically, and having
opposed upper and lower surfaces each comprising a plurality of
drainage openings therethrough; and
- positioning the plurality of devices in contact with the soil-facing surface
of the concrete foundation wall such that the lower surfaces of the
devices face downward.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided
a
method as above, further comprising the step of: positioning a plurality of
longitudinal spacers in contact with the soil-facing surface of the concrete
foundation wall prior to positioning the plurality of devices, the plurality
of
devices being positioned in contact with the longitudinal spacers.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided
a
device for keeping humidity/water away from a concrete foundation and provide
insulation, the concrete foundation having a soil-facing surface, said device
comprising:
- a
rectangular main body having flat surfaces forming a cavity therein, the
main body being configured so as to be stackable horizontally and
vertically, and having opposed upper and lower surfaces each
comprising a plurality of drainage openings therethrough; and
- a
plurality of particles, the particles being located within the cavity and
having a diameter larger than the openings' diameter;
[0012] wherein positioning a plurality of the devices adjacent the soil-facing
surface of the concrete foundation keeps humidity/water away therefrom and
provide insulation.
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[0013] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a
kit for keeping humidity/water away from a concrete foundation wall and
provide
insulation, the concrete foundation having a soil-facing surface, said kit
comprising:
- a plurality of devices as above; and
- a plurality of longitudinal spacers;
wherein positioning a plurality of the longitudinal spacers in contact with
the
soil-facing surface of the concrete foundation wall and a plurality of the
devices in contact with the longitudinal spacers keeps humidity/water
away therefrom and provide insulation.
[0014] According to a further still aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method, device and kit as detailed above, wherein at least one
surface of the main body is hinged so as to allow access to the cavity and/or
the
main body is composed of a biodegradable material and/or the particles are
selected from the group consisting of gravel, plastic particles, polymer
particles,
polystyrene particles and a combination thereof.
[0015] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein,
with
appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become
better understood with reference to the description in association with the
following Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures
denote
similar components, wherein:
[0017] Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of devices for keeping
humidity/water away from concrete foundations and provide insulation in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention;
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[0018] Figure 2 is an enlarged broken perspective view taken along line 2-2 of
Figure 1;
[0019] Figure 3 is a broken perspective view of devices for keeping
humidity/water away from concrete foundations and provide insulation in
5 accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention; and
[0020] Figure 4 is an enlarged broken perspective view taken along line 4-4 of
Figure 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of
the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by
no
means as of limitation.
[0022] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a device 10 for keeping
humidity/water away from concrete foundations and provide insulation, more
specifically foundation wall 20 and concrete slab 12 partially sitting on a
concrete footing 14 of a building in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. It is to be understood that the device 10 can be used in
conjunction with the foundation wall 20 or the concrete slab 12 only as well
as
with both.
[0023] The device 10 is essentially for keeping water/humidity away from the
foundation wall 20 entirely sitting on the top surface 18 of the footing 14
and
provide insulation to the foundation wall 20, typically with a key 22 at the
interface there between to prevent lateral sliding of the foundation wall 20
relative to the footing 14 and/or the main concrete slab 12 partially sitting
on an
internal edge of a top surface 18 of the footing 14. The foundation wall 20
and
slab 12 have respective soil-facing surfaces 24 and 26.
[0024] With particular reference to Figure 1, the device 10 in accordance with
the illustrative embodiment is box-like having a rectangular main body formed
by flat surfaces 30 made of a bio-degradable material such as for example,
cardboard, having opposed upper 30a and lower 30b surfaces each comprising
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a plurality of drainage openings 32 therethrough, and a hinged surface 34
allowing access to the interior of device 10, which contains a plurality of
non bio-
degradable particles 36 such as for example, gravel, plastic particles,
polymer
particles, polystyrene particles (including Styrofoam TM particles either
spherical
or "peanut" shaped) or a combination thereof, having a diameter larger than
the
diameter of the drainage openings 32.
[0025] It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments the device 10
may
be made of a non bio-degradable material and \or may be provided with further
surfaces 30 having drainage openings 32 and\or may be provided with a
plurality of hinged surfaces 34 or none at all. It is further to be understood
that
the device 10 may be provided empty and the hinged surface 34 used to fill the
interior of device 10 with the particles 36 or that it may be provided already
filled
with the particles 36.
[0026] In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of devices 10 are
configured to be vertically stacked in a trench between the soil-facing
surface 24
of the foundation wall 20 and the soil 1 and horizontally mosaicked in a space
between the soil-facing surface 26 of the slab 12 and the soil 1 such that the
lower surfaces 30b, which comprise drainage openings 32, face downward. The
devices 10 are stacked or mosaicked so as to entirely cover the soil-facing
surface 24 of the foundation wall 20 or the soil-facing surface 26 of the slab
12,
respectively.
[0027] As schematically shown in Figure 1, the present invention is preferably
installed along with a bed of small rocks 50 surrounding the footing 14 and
having positioned therein a drain pipe 60 to improve the flow of water away
from
the building.
[0028] Typically, a landscape fabric membrane 40 or the like is positioned
between the vertically stacked devices 10 and the soil 1. Preferably, the
membrane 40, allowing water and other fluids to flow there through while
blocking any solid particles to flow there through, extends upward beyond the
soil 1 level and downward down to the bed of small rocks 50 surrounding the
footing 14. Similarly, in an alternative embodiment, an additional landscape
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fabric membrane 41 may be positioned between the foundation wall 20 and the
vertically stacked devices 10.
[0029] The above device 10 can be installed either retroactively onto an
existing
building or during the construction thereof.
[0030] A corresponding method for keeping humidity/water away from concrete
foundations and provide insulation, more specifically foundation wall 20
and/or
concrete slab 12, is also provided. The method comprises positioning a
plurality
of devices 10, as previously described, in contact with the soil-facing
surface 24,
26 of the foundation wall 20 and concrete slab 12, respectively, such that the
lower surfaces of the devices 10 which comprise drainage openings 32 face
downward.
[0031] Typically, this entails vertically stacking the devices 10 in a trench
between the soil-facing surface 24 of the foundation wall 20 and the soil 1
and
horizontally mosaicking the devices 10 in a space between the soil-facing
surface 26 of the slab 12 and the soil 1 so as to entirely cover the soil-
facing
surface 24 of the foundation wall 20 or the soil-facing surface 26 of the slab
12,
respectively.
[0032] In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention,
shown in Figures 3 and 4, a plurality of longitudinal horizontal 42 and/or
vertical
44 spacers may be applied at intervals to the soil-facing surface 24, 26 of
the
foundation wall 20 and/or concrete slab 12, respectively, prior to positioning
the
plurality of devices 10. The spacers 42, 44 provide for increases water flow
away from the foundation wall 20 and/or concrete slab 12 and may be made of,
for example, wood, polymer or metal.
[0033] It is to be understood that multiple layers of spacers 42, 44 may be
used
and that additional landscape fabric membranes 41 may be positioned between
each spacer 42, 44 layers, or between the spacer 42, 44 and the device 10.
[0034] The method typically further includes the step of positioning a
landscape
fabric membrane 40 between the vertically stacked devices 10 and the soil 1.
Similarly, in the alternative embodiment where spacers 42, 44 are used, an
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additional landscape fabric membrane 41 may be positioned between the
foundation wall 20 and the spacers 42, 44 and/or between the spacers 42, 44
and the vertically stacked devices 10.
[0035] It is to be understood that multiple layers of spacers 42, 44 may be
used
and that additional landscape fabric membranes 41 may be positioned between
each spacer 42, 44 layers.
[0036] The method may also include the steps of excavating the trench
previous to the step of vertically stacking the devices 10 along the soil-
facing
surface 24 the foundation wall 20 and/or providing the space between the soil-
facing surface 26 of the slab 12 and the soil 1 previous to positioning the
slab 12.
[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the method may also apply to keeping
humidity/water away from a pathway horizontally mosaicking a plurality of
devices 10 horizontally in a trench between a soil-facing surface of the
pathway
and the soil 1 previous to the positioning of the pathway.
[0038] Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree
of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by
way
of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features
of
the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations
and modifications within the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
