Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
LINTEL COVER
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Coverings for lintels
BACKGROUND
[0002] Steel lintels, also known as angle irons, are utilized to
support the weight of
materials like bricks or masonry blocks above openings of structures or
buildings, including
above windows, garages and doors. Over time exposed portions of the lintel
oxidizes
resulting in an unsightly appearance. Coverings may be used to protect the
exposed surfaces
of the lintel from the effects of exposure such as weathering and corrosion.
[0003] An angle iron cover such as disclosed in US Patent No. 5,584,150
may
provide for an aesthetic covering, but it can cause issues with water pooling
since water may
leak into the structure or can be retained within the angle iron cover. Over
time, water
exposure can lead to oxidation of the steel lintel and damage to the
structure.
[0004] Canadian Patent No. 2,926,843 discloses a lintel cover having a
flap and
hinge bend to form a sealed air space at a location between the structure and
the steel lintel.
This design may be cumbersome to install.
[0005] Many existing coverings require regular maintenance or are
cumbersome to
install. There is a need for an aesthetic covering which is easy to install
and requires little
maintenance, which may be used with existing building material to create
complete coverage
of a lintel.
SUMMARY
[0006] In an embodiment there is provided a cover for a lintel, the
lintel having an
upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion generally perpendicular
to the lower
portion. The cover comprises an upper surface and a lower surface. A side
surface connects
the upper surface and lower surface at one edge of the upper and lower
surface, the upper
surface, lower surface and side surface covering the lower portion of the
lintel. A lip extends
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from an opposite edge of the upper surface adjacent to the upper portion, the
height of the lip
being less than the height of the upper portion of the lintel.
[0007] There is also provided a method of installing a cover for a
lintel, comprising
the steps of placing the cover on the lintel so the cover covers a portion of
the lintel over a
structural opening and placing a flexible covering over the lintel so the
flexible covering
partially overlaps the cover.
[0008] In various embodiments, there may be included any one or more of
the
following features: the upper surface is generally parallel to the lower
surface and the side
surface is generally parallel to the lip, and the upper surface and lower
surfaces are generally
perpendicular to the lower surface and the side surface; the lip extends up
less than half of
the height of the upper portion of the lintel; the height of the lip is
between half an inch to
one inch; the flexible covering further comprises a flashing covering over the
lintel so the
flashing partially overlaps both the lip of the cover and a structure behind
the lintel; and
placing tar paper over the flashing so the tar paper partially overlaps the
flashing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures,
in which
like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in
which:
[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an installed lintel covering,
shown in
environment;
[0011] Fig. 2 is a cross section of the installed lintel covering of
Fig. 1; and
[0012] Fig. 3 is a cross section of the lintel covering of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described
here
without departing from what is covered by the claims.
[0014] Lintel covers protect the exposed faces of a lintel from the
elements.
Typically, when a lintel is installed over an opening of a structure the front
face and
underside of the lintel are exposed to the elements and may rust over time.
Furthermore,
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water may leak behind the steel lintel or pool on or around the steel lintel
and between the
structure and the outer wall, causing potential for water damage to the
building. Ideally, the
covers work to divert moisture over the lintel and away from the structure
face, preventing
the oxidation of the steel lintel. As shown in Figs. 1-3, a lintel cover 10
diverts moisture over
the lintel 12 and away from the structure face, preventing the oxidation of
the steel lintel, and
providing an aesthetic covering.
[0015] As shown in Fig. 2, steel lintel 12 may be generally L shaped
with an upper
portion 32 and lower portion 34, where the bottom face 36 and front face 38 of
the lower
portion 34 are exposed. The lintel cover 10 is installable on a lintel, and is
designed to cover
at least the portion of the lintel that may be exposed. Once the linter cover
10 is installed
within the wall 20 and the brick is laid, the lintel cover forms a permanent
part of the wall.
The lintel cover is comprised of four surfaces, two of which may be vertical
and two of
which may be horizontal when installed. As shown in Fig. 3, lintel cover 10
has an upper
surface 22, a side surface 24, a lower surface 26 and a top surface or lip 28.
The lower
surface of lintel cover 10 covers the exposed bottom face of the steel lintel
providing an
aesthetic covering. The side surface 24 covers the front face 38. Lip 28 and
the upper surface
22 of the lintel cover 10 act to provide continuous coverage of the lintel
allowing moisture to
be diverted away from the structure. The upper surface 22, side surface 24 and
lower surface
26 create an over-under component that can slide over the lower, horizontal
component of
steel lintels. In particular, the upper surface 22, lower surface 26 and side
surface 24 cover
the lower portion 34 of the lintel. The cover 10 preferably covers the lintel
12 with a tight fit.
Upper surface 22 may be generally parallel to the lower surface 26, and side
surface 24 may
be generally parallel to lip 28. Upper surface 22 and lower surface 26 may be
generally
perpendicular to side surface 24 and lip 28. The lip 28 provides a surface for
a flexible
covering of housing materials to be draped over, such as for example
polyethylene flashing
and tar paper.
[0016] Fig. 1 shows an installed lintel cover 10 shown from the front
face of a brick
wall 20. The steel lintel 12 supports the wall 20 above an opening 18 such as
a window or a
door. The lip of the lintel cover 10 extends partially along the upper portion
32 of the L
shaped lintel 12. The lower edge of a flashing 14 overlaps the lintel cover
10, and a lower
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edge of tar paper 16 overlaps the flashing 14, as shown in Fig. 2. This
layering of the lintel
cover 10, and flexible covering, including flashing 14 and finally tar paper
16 utilizes a
shingling pattern similar to roofing shingles to create continuous coverage of
the steel lintel
and to divert moisture away from a structure 30, to prevent moisture from
pooling on the
lintel. The flashing 14 and tar paper 16 provide a flexible covering to
prevent moisture from
entering past the lintel cover over the lip 28. Continuous coverage also helps
to prevent
moisture entering the space between the bricks 20 and structure 30, where it
may pool on the
lintel or other structures. Structure 30 may be for example a wall of a
building or house. The
overlapping layers may be sealed together using common construction sealing
means, for
example tape. Various different types of known tapes can be used.
[0017] Lip 28 extends partially up the upper portion 32 of the lintel.
The height of
the lip 28 is preferably less than the height of the upper portion 32 of the
lintel 12 to increase
the ease of installation of the lintel cover 10 and may be substantially
shorter than the height
of the upper portion 32, for example less than half the height of the upper
portion 32. The lip
28 extends far enough up the lintel to create complete coverage of the lintel
by allowing
protective building materials to overlap the lintel cover. In this way, the
lip 28 functions as
an upper lip which provides for a vertical surface to overlap with flashing.
Using a lintel
cover with a lip shorter than the lintel's upper portion helps the lintel
cover be easier to
install and saves on material costs. The lintel cover 10 allows for the
flashing to be attached
to the upper lip 28 which may allow for complete coverage and for water to be
funnelled
over and away from the lintel and therefore the structure as well.
[0018] The lip 28 that extends partially up the upper portion 32 of the
lintel is useful
to limit or stop moisture from entering the structure from the upper surface
22 of the lintel
cover 10. Although the amount of moisture that would otherwise accumulate
behind the
brick may be minimal, without the lip 28, moisture and water would make its
way back into
the structure and eventually make its way between the cover and the lintel
which over time
would cause deterioration and could eventually lead to failure. Even a very
small lip 28 may
stop the brunt of the water. However, if the lip is not of sufficient height,
there is a risk that
water may flow up or around the plastic flashing and back down in between the
cover and
the lintel. Wind may also be an issue, particularly on a third or fourth level
scaffold, and so if
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the lip is of an insufficient height, it may be difficult to keep the
plastic/tar paper flashing in
front of the lip throughout the length of the lintel. A balance must be made
between having a
lip that is too long and therefore cumbersome and redundant, as compared to
one that is too
short and does not provide sufficient protection from moisture or does not
allow a structure
for the plastic/tar paper to secure against. Preferably, the lip may extend no
more than one
inch in height. For example, the lip may extend a height between half an inch
to one inch.
[0019] Certain lintel covers with complicated flaps and joints may be
annoying for
workers to install because they need to be manipulated in order to be
installed correctly. In
cases where the lintel covers require manipulation by the workers in order to
get into a
proper position, sometimes the worker may forget to do whatever manipulation
is required,
which may lead to the lintel cover hitting the structure and both the cover
and lintel may not
sit properly on the brick or over the window.
[0020] Providing a lip with minimal height may provide multiple
benefits, including
making the lintel cover easier to cut, handle, and install. A lintel cover
with a minimal height
lip sits on the steel lintel better and can be kept in position by workers
such as masons well
placed on the lintel as bricks are being installed. By keeping weight and size
to a minimum,
shipping costs and the amount of storage space required are reduced.
[0021] The lip 28 is configured to be integrated with existing or new
building
material to create complete coverage of the lintel from the elements. The
building materials
may be any material used to create a barrier to protect the structure, for
example flashing, tar
paper or house wrap, alone or in combination. The flashing may be for example
polyethylene
flashing. Other types of materials may be used to construct the flashing.
Preferably, the
flashing is made from a durable, lightweight and waterproof material. Lintel
cover 10 may
be used with any house wrap. The house wrap may be for example TyvekTm
HomeWrapTM.
[0022] The lintel cover 10 preferably extends long enough to cover the
entire
exposed surface of the lintel 12, for example at least the width of the
structural opening.
[0023] The lintel cover 10 is preferably manufactured for a precise fit
on the lintel,
and with a thickness chosen so the cover does not substantially interfere with
the structural
elements of the building or the surrounding materials.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-02-28
[0024] The components may be installed over each other starting from the
bottom,
allowing water to be diverted away from the structure. Lintel cover 10 is
designed to be
relatively compact so that it may be quickly and easily installed. To install
the lintel cover 10
it is slid over the steel lintel 12 creating over-under coverage. The flexible
covering such as
polyethylene flashing 14 may then be draped over the lip 28 of the lintel
cover, followed by
tar paper 16 draped over the polyethylene flashing 14, ensuring each layer at
least partially
overlaps with at least the layer immediately below it. Bricks or other wall
material may then
be placed on the upper surface of the lintel cover. Installing a lintel with a
lip 28 that extends
partially up the upper portion 32 of the lintel, may allow for substantially
easier installation
for workers than if more complicated structures of lintel covers are used.
Moreover, the lintel
cover is compact and easy to handle and can be installed using available
construction
materials. This can create time and cost savings.
[0025] The exterior brick wall shown in Fig. 1 is shown for example
only. The wall
or structure may be other masonry blocks or other construction materials.
References to
bricks includes other construction materials. Use of the term "lintel" or
"steel lintel" refers to
any horizontal structural support that spans an opening between two vertical
supports.
Lintels are often made of steel but may be made of other materials. The use of
the term
"brick" can refer to any rectangular units of clay or other material used in a
building to make
a wall or other vertical structure.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the lintel cover is extruded out of
PVC with added
stabilizers.
[0027] In the claims, the word "comprising" is used in its inclusive
sense and does
not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles "a" and "an"
before a claim
feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of
the individual
features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by
virtue only
of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as
defined by the
claims.
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