Wall shield

Abstract

A protective shield for a wall includes a flexible, moisture-proof protective sheet. The sheet has an array of mounting holes formed in its upper edge. The protective sheet is placed against a wall and secured thereto by tapered anchor pins driven through the mounting holes and into weep holes formed in the wall.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/432,745, filed Dec. 13, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to siding for buildings and more particularly to a protective shield for decorative brickwork.

[0003] Many buildings, especially residential homes, incorporate exterior masonry work, such as brick veneer over stud wall construction. Usually the siding is completed while the building is still unfinished, and therefore workers and vehicles will be moving around the vicinity of the building, usually in an area that is muddy or dusty. The siding can easily be subject to unsightly mud staining during subsequent construction. Therefore, an attempt is typically made to protect the siding, for example by placing straw or a similar material against the siding near ground level. However, straw can be blown away, kicked away, or smashed into the ground by foot or vehicle traffic, after which it becomes useless as a protective material. The siding must then be cleaned and the straw replaced. This cycle may have to be repeated several more times before construction is complete. This increases the labor and materials cost of the project.

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a wall shield which remains securely in place during construction.

[0005] It is another object of the invention to provide a wall shield which is simple to install and reusable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a wall shield, which comprises a plurality of tapered anchor pins for being inserted into a wall having an array of spaced-apart weep openings formed therein. A protective sheet of flexible, water-resistant material is positioned against the wall to prevent debris from contacting the wall. The protective material includes a plurality of spaced-apart mounting holes formed in its upper edge which receive the anchor pins. The mounting holes correspond to the weep openings.

[0007] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective sheet includes at least one weight attached to a lower edge thereof.

[0008] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the anchor pins comprise plastic.

[0009] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the anchor pins comprises an enlarged head and a tip disposed at opposite ends of a tapered shaft. The diameter of the shaft increases from the tip to the head.

[0010] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective sheet comprises plastic.

[0011] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective sheet includes a plurality of horizontally elongated nail slots formed in its upper edge.

[0012] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of protecting a wall comprises forming an array of spaced-apart weep openings in the wall, and positioning a protective sheet of flexible, water-resistant material against the wall to prevent debris from contacting said wall. The protective material includes an array of mounting holes corresponding to the weep openings. the sheet is secured to the wall by driving a plurality of tapered anchor pins through the mounting holes and into the weep openings.

[0013] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of forming the weep openings comprises drilling holes through the wall.

[0014] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall comprises a plurality of bricks bonded together by mortar, and the step of forming said weep openings comprises setting the bricks into the mortar so as to leave spaces between selected laterally-adjacent ones of the bricks. The spaces define the weep openings.

[0015] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall comprises a plurality of bricks bonded together by mortar, and the step of forming said weep openings comprise placing a plurality of spacers defining the shape of the weep openings into the wet mortar as said wall is laid up; and allowing the mortar to cure. After the mortar has cured, the weep openings, the spacers are removed, leaving the weep openings in the wall.

[0016] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacers comprise a brittle material, and the step of removing the spacers comprises breaking or knocking the spacers out of the weep openings.

[0017] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the anchor pins are used for the spacers, and the step of removing the spacers comprises pulling the anchor pins out of the weep openings, such that said anchor pins may be subsequently used to secure the protective sheet to the wall.

[0018] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a protective shield for a wall, includes a protective sheet of flexible, water-resistant material for being positioned against the wall. The protective sheet includes a plurality of spaced-apart, nail slots formed in an upper edge thereof for receiving a plurality of fasteners therethrough. The nail slots have a vertical dimension selected to receive a fastener of a preselected diameter therethrough with minimal vertical play and an elongated horizontal dimension substantially greater than the vertical dimension.

[0019] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective shield includes a plurality of spaced-apart mounting holes formed in an upper edge thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front view of a brick veneer wall prepared for use with the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the brick veneer wall of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a front view of a brick veneer wall showing the wall shield of the present invention attached thereto;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a side view of the brick veneer wall of FIG. 4;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a front view of an exemplary protective sheet for use with the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a side view of an anchor pin constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

[0027] FIG. 7 is a front view of an alternative protective sheet for use with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a wall 10 incorporating a brick veneer 12 of a known type. It is noted that the term “brick” as used herein is intended to refer to bricks as well as other kinds of masonry elements, such as stones or concrete blocks. Furthermore, the present invention is equally applicable to other kinds of wall construction. The wall 10 extends between the ground 14 and a roof structure 16. The wall 10 is structurally supported by framing 18 of a known type, such as wood or metal studs. The brick veneer 12 comprises courses of bricks 20 bonded together with mortar 22. The brick veneer 12 is porous and tends to absorb moisture. If this moisture were held against the framing 18 it could cause it to decay or corrode. Therefore, an air space 24 is provided between the framing 18 and the brick veneer 12. This air space 24 is ventilated to the exterior to provide a path for moisture to escape and also to equalize the pressure on the front and back sides of the brick veneer 12, to prevent rain from being driven into the air space 24. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, ventilation is provided at least in part by weep openings 26. The weep openings 26 are spaced apart at regular intervals. The weep openings 26 may take the form of circular holes 26a formed through the mortar 22. The weep openings could also be spaces 26b left between adjacent bricks in a course.

[0029] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a wall 10 with an exemplary wall shield 28 constructed in accordance with the present invention in place. The wall shield 28 comprises a protective sheet 30 which is fastened against the wall 10 by anchor pins 32 inserted into the weep openings 26. With the wall shield 28 in place, mud spatters and debris are prevented from contacting the brick veneer 12. The upper edge 34 of the protective sheet 30 is disposed at a height “H” from the ground 14 adequate to prevent splashes from getting to the brick veneer 12, without making installation inconvenient or using excessive materials. In the illustrated example, the height “H” is about 1.2 m (48 in.) The protective sheet 30 may comprise individual panels as shown in FIG. 1. Several of these panels would be installed side by side or with their vertical edges overlapping to provide continuous coverage of the brick veneer 12. If desired, the protective sheet 30 could also be made in a continuous width sufficient to cover the entire perimeter of building.

[0030] The protective sheet 30 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 5. The protective sheet 30 may be formed of any convenient material which is flexible and water resistant, for example natural or synthetic coated fabrics, natural or synthetic rubber, or plastic. A plastic tarp of a known type may be used. The protective sheet 30 has a plurality of mounting holes 36 formed in its upper edge 34. The mounting holes 36 are spaced apart at a convenient lateral spacing “S” selected to provide adequate support without using an excessive number of anchor pins. The same lateral spacing S may be used for the weep openings 26. In the illustrated example the lateral spacing S is about 61 cm (24 in.) The mounting holes 36 may be reinforced with grommets (not shown) of a known type. The protective sheet 30 may be various colors depending upon the application. For example, it could be a bright color such as yellow or orange to serve as a safety warning of its presence or to attract attention for advertising purposes. Alternatively, it could also be made in a color closely matching the building it is attached to, so as to be unobtrusive during the construction process. If desired, indicia 38 (such as a manufacturer's or contractor's name) may be included on the exposed surface of the protective sheet 30.

[0031] Optionally, the protective sheet 30 may include one or more weights 40 attached to its lower edge 42 to help keep it in place. FIG. 5 shows an example in which elongated weights 40 are sewn into pockets 44 in the lower edge 42 of the protective sheet 30. The pockets 44 are formed by folding the lower edge 42 of the protective sheet 30 and bonding or stitching it back onto itself in a known manner. However, weights may not hold the protective sheet 30 in place in heavy winds. Therefore, it is preferable to secure the lower edge 42 of the protective sheet by burying it underground, for example about 10-15 cm (4-6 in.) deep.

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a side view of an exemplary anchor pin 32. The anchor pins 32 can be made of any material of sufficient structural strength to be driven into the weep openings 26 and later removed. Examples include wood, metal, and plastic. Plastic is a preferred material as it is naturally resistant to decay, strong and flexible, and inexpensive. The anchor pins 32 can be molded in a bright color to help prevent losing them at a job site. The illustrated example has an enlarged head 46 and a tip 48 disposed at opposite ends of a tapered shaft 50. The length “L” is about 15.2 cm (6 in.), and the diameter “D” at the tip 48 is about 12.7 mm (0.5 in). These dimensions are not critical and may be varied to suit a particular application. The shaft 50 is tapered, increasing in diameter from the tip 48 to the head 46. This taper is selected relative to the size of the weep opening 26 to allow the anchor pin 32 to wedge tightly in the weep opening 26 as it is driven in. The head 46 provides a surface to receive hammer blows, and also may be engaged by a tool to help remove the anchor pin 32 when the construction job is complete.

[0033] The wall shield 28 is installed as follows: First, the brick veneer 12 is constructed in a known manner and the weep openings 26 are formed. The weep openings 26 could be formed in a variety of methods. For example, the weep openings 26 may be formed by drilling holes through the mortar 22, after the mortar 22 has cured. The weep openings 26 could also be formed by leaving mortar-free spaces between the ends of adjacent bricks in a course, in which case the weep opening would look like a vertical slit. Finally, the weep openings 26 could be formed by placing spacers (not shown) into the mortar 22 at the desired opening locations while then bricks are being laid. Then, after the mortar has cured, the spacers may be removed. The spacers may be made of a brittle material which can be easily knocked out or broken out, such as polystyrene plastic. Alternatively, the anchor pins 32 themselves may be used as spacers if the anchor pins 32 are made from a material that the mortar 22 will not bond to, such as polyethylene or other smooth non-porous plastic.

[0034] After the weep openings 26 are formed, the protective sheet 30 is positioned against the brick veneer 12 with its upper edge 34 extending laterally. The anchor pins 32 are then driven through the mounting holes 36 in the protective sheet 30 and into the weep openings 26 to hold the protective sheet 30 in place. The bottom of the protective sheet 30 may be left free, or buried. It may be weighted down using internal weights (described above), or separate weights (not shown) may be placed on top of its lower edge 42. The protective sheet 30 could also be secured in place with stakes (not shown) driven through it into the ground. After all construction is completed on the building, the anchor pins 32 and protective sheet 30 may simply be removed leaving the weep openings 26 in the brick veneer 12. As discussed above, the weep openings are required for practical reasons (and are often mandated by building codes). Therefore, there is no need to fill in the weep openings 26 after the construction is complete. The anchor pins 32 and protective sheet 30 are then available for use on another building.

[0035] FIG. 7 illustrates a variation of the protective sheet 30. In addition to, or in lieu of the mounting holes 36, the protective sheet 30 may have or more nail slots 52 formed therethrough near its upper edge 34. The nail slots 52 may be reinforced, for example with grommets or stitching. Preferably the nail slots 52 have a vertical dimension just large enough to accept a nail of a select diameter without excessive up-and down play of the protective sheet 30, and are horizontally elongated so that the exact location of the nails can be varied as needed. The exact spacing, dimensions, and location of the nail slots 52 can be varied as desired. The nail slots 52 allow the protective sheet 30 to be attached to any type of siding, such as wood, by driving nails or other fasteners through the nail slots 52. Except for the fasteners used, the installation and use of the protective sheet 30 having the nail slots 52 is similar to that described above.

[0036] The foregoing has described a protective shield for a wall. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wall shield, comprising:

a plurality of tapered anchor pins for being inserted into a wall having an array of spaced-apart weep openings formed therein; and

a protective sheet of flexible, water-resistant material for being positioned against said wall, said protective sheet including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting holes formed in an upper edge thereof for receiving said anchor pins, said mounting holes corresponding to said weep openings.

2. The wall shield of claim 1, wherein said protective sheet includes at least one weight attached to a lower edge thereof.

3. The wall shield of claim 1, wherein said anchor pins comprise plastic.

4. The wall shield of claim 1, wherein said each of said anchor pins comprises an enlarged head and a tip disposed at opposite ends of a tapered shaft, the diameter of said shaft increasing from said tip to said head.

5. The wall shield of claim 1, wherein said protective sheet comprises plastic.

6. The wall shield of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of horizontally elongated nail slots formed in said upper edge.

7. A method of protecting a wall, comprising:

forming an array of spaced-apart weep openings in said wall;

positioning a protective sheet of flexible, water-resistant material against said wall, said protective material including an array of mounting holes corresponding to said weep openings in said wall; and

driving a plurality of tapered anchor pins through said mounting holes and into said weep openings, whereby said sheet is secured to said wall.

8. The method of protecting a wall of claim 7, wherein the step of forming said weep openings comprises drilling holes through said wall.

9. The method of protecting a wall of claim 7, wherein said wall comprises a plurality of bricks bonded together by mortar, and said step of forming said weep openings comprises setting said bricks into said mortar so as to leave spaces between selected laterally-adjacent ones of said bricks, said spaces defining said weep openings.

10. The method of protecting a wall of claim 7, wherein said wall comprises a plurality of bricks bonded together by mortar, and said step of forming said weep openings comprises:

placing a plurality of spacers defining the shape of said weep openings into the wet mortar as said wall is laid up;

allowing said mortar to cure; and

removing said spacers after said mortar has cured, whereby said weep openings are left in said wall.

11. The method of protecting a wall of claim 10 wherein said spacers comprise a brittle material, and said step of removing said spacers comprises breaking or knocking said spacers out of said weep openings.

12. The method of protecting a wall of claim 10 wherein said anchor pins are used for said spacers, and said step of removing said spacers comprises pulling said anchor pins out of said weep openings, such that said anchor pins may be subsequently used to secure said protective sheet to said wall.

13. A protective shield for a brick wall, comprising:

a plurality of tapered anchor pins for being inserted into a wall comprising a plurality of courses of bricks bonded together with mortar, said wall having an array of spaced-apart weep openings formed therethrough; and

a protective sheet of flexible, water-resistant material for being positioned against said wall, said protective sheet including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting holes formed in an upper edge thereof for receiving said anchor pins, said mounting holes corresponding to said weep openings.

14. The wall shield of claim 13, wherein said protective sheet includes at least one weight attached to a lower edge thereof.

15. The wall shield of claim 13, wherein said anchor pins comprise plastic.

16. The wall shield of claim 13, wherein said each of said anchor pins comprises an enlarged head and a tip disposed at opposite ends of a tapered shaft, the diameter of said shaft increasing from said tip to said head.

17. The wall shield of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of horizontally elongated nail slots formed in said upper edge.

18. A protective shield for a wall, comprising a protective sheet of flexible, water-resistant material for being positioned against said wall, said protective sheet including a plurality of spaced-apart, nail slots formed in an upper edge thereof for receiving a plurality of fasteners therethrough, said nail slots having a vertical dimension selected to receive a nail of a preselected diameter therethrough with minimal vertical play and an elongated horizontal dimension substantially greater than said vertical dimension.

19. The protective shield of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of spaced-apart mounting holes formed in an upper edge thereof