Weep Hole Cover

Abstract

A weep hole cover fits into an existing weep hole and expands for a friction fit in the weep hole. A vertical front plate includes a plurality of holes to permit seepage from the air gap behind a brick facade. A pair of vertical side plates extend back from the front plate, each at a right angle to the front plate. A pair of angled plates extend back from the side plates to contact the bricks on either side of the weep hole. The angled plates collapse for insertion of the cover into the weep hole, and then spring out again for friction contact with the bricks on either side of the weep hole.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of building construction devices and, more particularly, to a device which provides a cover adapted to retrofit over and within a weep hole in buildings such as homes and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A weep hole is a built-in gap or space between adjacent bricks in facade of a building such as a home or other structure. A weep hole is typically positioned at intervals, by code every 33 inches, on the bottom row of bricks on the outside of the structure. Most often, weep holes are used in structures having a brick veneer in which an outer brick wall is separated by an air gap from the adjacent wall of the interior structure. Weep holes are intended to permit drainage of water that becomes trapped in this air gap and to allow ventilation so that air can reach the walls of the interior structures, thereby helping to prevent rot and mold.

There are several problems associated with conventional weep holes. First, insects and other pests can easily enter the weep holes and build nests within the air gap or infest the structure itself. Often, rodents crawl into the weep hole and then die, leaving a foul odor that is difficult to get rid of affecting indoor air quality. Further, debris that enters the weep hole from outside the structure can block the weep hole and render the weep hole ineffective in draining water. Such blockages are often difficult to see and to clear out.

A proposed solution to these and other problems was taught by Phillips in U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,031. Phillips described a weep hole barrier that included a substantially vertical spacer portion having a pair of side walls that are maintained in a spaced relation to one another to define a gap for the passage of water or other fluids. The spacer portion was shaped and sized to be inserted into a weep hole space between a pair of bricks while the brick facade was under construction. A substantially horizontally disposed tray was affixed to the spacer portion which was shaped and sized to capture falling mortar portions or other objects that might block the weep hole falling behind the facade within the air gap. The rear edge of the tray portion had an edge intended to contact the inner wall when the weep hole device is put into place.

The weep hole barrier shown and described by Phillips has proved to be very effective when it is installed between bricks while the brick wall is being constructed. This way, any gap between the Phillips barrier and the bricks on either side of the barrier can be eliminated by snugging the bricks up against the barrier. However, many structures have already been built with the attendant problem described above regarding the access for insects and pests. Unless the weep hole size coincidentally matches the width of the barrier, then a gap will remain, providing continued access for pests. Further, the tray which is so essential to the utility of the Phillips barrier renders it impossible to install into a weep hole in an existing facade. No accommodation is made in Phillips for installing a weep hole barrier or cover on a brick wall that has already been built, i.e. a retrofit construction device. The present invention is directed to solving this drawback in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses these and other drawbacks in the art by providing a weep hole cover that fits into an existing weep hole and expands for a friction fit in the weep hole. In a preferred embodiment, a vertical front plate includes a plurality of holes to permit seepage from the air gap behind the brick facade. A pair of vertical side plates extend back from the front plate, substantially at a right angle to the front plate. A pair of angled plates extend back from the side plates to contact the bricks on either side of the weep hole. The angled plates collapse for insertion of the cover into the weep hole, and then spring out again for friction contact with the bricks on either side of the weep hole.

As previously described, the angled plates preferably extend from the side plates, although the angled plates may instead extend from the side edges of the front plate. Also, the front plate may include a plurality of holes therethrough, although only one hole is essential. Preferably, the weep hole cover is symmetrical so that the cover may be inserted with either end of the front plate up or down.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art from a review of the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages, and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, more particular description of the present invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric of a detail of a brick wall illustrating, partially in phantom, placement of the weep hole cover between adjacent bricks.

FIG. 2 a perspective view of a weep hole cover of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the weep hole cover between a pair of adjacent bricks which are relatively close together.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the weep hole cover between a pair of adjacent bricks which are relatively far apart.

FIG. 4 is a section view of a weep hole cover of this invention with a reinforced region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 depicts a weep hole cover 10 of this invention positioned between a pair of bricks 12 and 14, two of the bricks of a bottom row 15 of bricks of a brick facade. The facade rests upon a foundation 16 with a layer of mortar 18 between the bricks 12 and 14 and the foundation 16. For illustration purposes, a brick 20 of the next higher row 21 of bricks is shown spanning a gap 22 between the bricks 12 and 14.

FIG. 1 illustrates the weep hole cover 10 inserted into the gap 22. The weep hole cover 10 of the present invention is to be inserted into a pre-existing gap, rather than being included in the construction of facade originally. The cover 10 is formed of a relatively flexible material so that it can be bent and inserted into the gap, as desired. The cover may be manufactured in a length greater than the vertical thickness of a brick, so that it may be cut to a desired length in the field to fit. Or, the cover may be made of standard lengths so that no adaptation is required for a snug fit in the gap.

FIG. 2 illustrates a presently preferred embodiment of the cover 10. The cover 10 comprises a front plate 30 having a plurality of ventilation and weep holes 32 therethrough. The holes 32 provide a flow path for water to flow out from between the interior wall and the facade. As shown in FIG. 1, the holes may be arranged with several columns of holes, each column having a plurality of rows, or as shown in FIG. 2, there may be a single column of holes.

A first pair of side plates 34 and 36 extend back from the front plate 30. The side plates 34 and 36 are preferably substantially parallel to one another when the cover 10 is in a relaxed state, and are substantially perpendicular to the front plate 30. A second pair of angled plates 38 and 40 extend from the plates 34 and 36, respectively. Note that the side plate 34 (as well as the side plate 36) defines a length 134 and that the plate 38 (and the plate 40) defines a length 138. Preferably, length 138 is greater than length 134.

It should also be understood that the angled plates 38 and 40 may extend directly back from the front plate, if desired. Thus, the angled plates 38 and 40 define an obtuse angle with the front plate, whether extending from the front plate or extending from the side plates 34 and 36.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the operation of the present invention as inserted between the bricks 12 and 14 (See also FIG. 1). In FIG. 3, the bricks 12 and 14 are relatively close together, barely farther apart than the horizontal width of the front plate 30. As shown, the angled plates 38 and 40 are pressed toward each other, making a friction fit against the bricks. Similarly, in FIG. 4, the bricks 12 and 14 are farther away from each other, yet the angled plates extend out to maintain a fit against the bricks. Thus, the angled plates define a span of distance between them while maintaining a friction fit in the weep hole.

If, due to poor placement of the bricks 12 and 14, the distance between the bricks 12 and 14 is greater than the relaxed extent of the angled plates 38 and 40, then a simple shim may be inserted against either brick 12 or brick 14, thereby maintaining a friction fit for the weep hole cover 10.

Finally, FIG. 5 illustrates another feature of a preferred embodiment of the weep hole cover. As before, the first pair of side plates 34 and 36 extend back from the front plate 30. The second pair of angled plates 38 and 40 extend from the plates 34 and 36, respectively. However, in this preferred embodiment, a reinforced region 50 is provided at the joint where the side plate 34 meets the angled plate 38 and at the joint where the side plate 36 meets the angled plate 40. This feature of the invention enhances the memory of the material from which the cover is made so that the plates spring back to their original, relaxed position. This feature also increases the sideways force of the plates against the bricks on either side of the cover.

The principles, preferred embodiment, and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. This invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, since these are regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Moreover, variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A weep hole cover comprising:

a. a front plate with at least one weep hole therethrough;

b. a first angled plate defining an obtuse angle with the front plate; and

c. a second angled plate defining a obtuse angle with the front plate.

2. The weep hole cover of claim 1, further comprising:

a. a first side plate extending between the front plate and the first angled plate; and

b. a second side plate extending between the front plate and the second angled plate.

3. The weep hole cover of claim 2, wherein the first side plate and the second side plate are perpendicular to the front plate.

4. The weep hole cover of claim 2, wherein the first side plate and the first angled plate meet at a first joint and wherein the second side plate and the second angled plate meet at a second joint, and further comprising a first reinforced region at the first joint and a second reinforced region at the second joint.

5. The weep hole cover of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of holes through the front plate.

6. The weep hole cover of claim 5, wherein the plurality of holes comprises a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

7. The weep hole cover of claim 5, wherein the plurality of holes comprises a plurality of rows in a single column.

8. The weep hole cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is formed of a plastic material.

9. The weep hole cover of claim 1, wherein the first and second angled plates define a span of distance between them.

10. A weep hole cover comprising:

a front plate with a plurality of weep holes therethrough;

a first side plate adjoining the front plate and perpendicular thereto;

a second side plate adjoining the front plate and perpendicular thereto;

a first angled plate defining an obtuse angle with the front plate and adjoining the first side plate; and

a second angled plate defining an obtuse angle with the front plate and adjoining the second side plate.

11. The weep hole cover of claim 10 formed of a plastic material.

12. The weep hole cover of claim 10, wherein the first and second angled plates define a span of distance between them.