US3425172A - Roof expansion joint cover and flashing - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 4, 1969 1..1..1\'r'rAW/ v\f 3,425,172

ROOF EXPANSION JOINT COVER AND FLASHING Filed Nov. so. 1967 Asheet l Jul/'an J. Alf/away LI/ fm v ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1969 J. .1. ATTAWAY ROOF EXPANSION JOINT COVER AND FLASHING Sheet 2 of Filed NOV. 30, 1967 Fig. 2.

INVENTOR Jul/'an J. ,4f/away ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1969 J. J. ATTAWAY 3,425,172

ROOF EXPANSION JOINT COVER AND FLASHING F'iled Nov. 30, 1967 Sheekl Q of INVENTOR Jul/'0n J. ,4f/away wf@ 5m Q2 ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1969 .1. J. ATTAWAY ROOF' EXPANSION JOINT COVER AND FLASHING Sheet Filed Nov. 30, 1967 BNN ATTORNEY Feb.4, 1969 J. J. ATTAWAY 3,425,172

ROOF EXPANSION JOINT COVER AND FLASHING Filed NOV. 50, 1957 sheet 6' ors 70a 75"' 80h sob' INV ENTOR Jul/an J. Affaway CML/4 Km ATIORNEY United States Patent O 3,425,172 ROOF EXPANSION JOINT COVER AND VFLASHING Julian J. Attaway, 4520 Elmdale Drive, Tucker, Ga. 30084 Filed Nov. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 686,968 U.S. CI. 52-58 13 Claims Int. Cl. E04d 3/38, 13/14, 1/36 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An expansion joint cover and flashing for roof use is provided wherein rail means is associated with flashing by pivotal connectionV and with thrust means so that when the rail means is mounted on one side of an expansion joint to move with this structure the flashing may be brought to a clamping position against the end of roofing introduced between the flashing and the rail means and thus clamp the roofing under thrust of the thrust means, there also being second rail means mounted on structure on the other side of the expansion joint to move with the latter structure, the second rail means in certain em- -bodiments also having flashing pivotally connected therewith and being provided with thrust means for this further flashing to clamp a roofing end portion to the second rail means .under force imposed by the corresponding thrust means. The several rail means are covered by laterally intermediately flexible cover means secured to the several rail means and bridging the expansion joint.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to expansion joint cover and flashing structure for roof use and is more particularly concerned with covering an expansion joint between relatively movable structural sections and introducing flashing for weatherproofing an end of roofing on at least one of the relatively movable sections.

In accordance with a number of well known practices relating to roof construction, it has been found to be beneficial to provide an expansion joint between structural sections whether directly in the roof itself or between the roof and adjacent structure, thus to avoid forces which otherwise could develop as an incident to expansion or contraction. Typical of these joints are those which occur at locations in the roof where a water repellent roofing is interrupted adjacent to the joint, such as in covering different modules to the joint. In other typical instances the joint occurs between the roof and some other building section such as a vertical wall with the water repellent roofing portion of the roof being terminated adjacent to the joint. It therefore becomes important not only to weatherproof an end or ends of roofing in the locationk where a roof expansion joint is introduced, but to cover the joint itself and yet retain relative mobility of the sections of the joint under contraction and expansion affecting the joint.

In accordance with the present invention an expansion joint cover and flashing is provided for covering an expansion joint between a relatively movable pair of sections and for weatherprooling an end of roofing on at least one of the sections adjacent to the expansion joint. The expansion joint cover and flashing includes first rail means having foot and head structures and web means interconnecting the foot and head structures. Further there is a heeled flashing means which comprises lever arm means and flashing plate means, the flashing plate means andlever arm means being divergently interrelated from the heel of the flashing means and there being a pivotal connection of the lever means with the rail means. The rail means and the flashing means furthermore are arranged for the foot structure secured to one of a pair of sections forming a roof expansion joint to maintain the web means upwardly projecting toward the head structure and for said head structure to project outwardly over the lever arm means with the flashing plate means extending downwardly spaced from a side of the web means to conceal the marginal end portion of roofing on the section, having the marginal end portion of roofing introduced between the web means and the flashing plate means. The expansion joint cover and flashing further includes thrust means engaging the head structure and in thrust applying relation t0 the lever arm means for thrusting the flashing means to pivot about the axis of the pivotal connection and clamp a portion of roofing introduced between the web means and the flashing plate means. Second rail means adapted to be secured to the other of a pair of sections forming a roof expansion joint, and the first rail means, having laterally intermediately flexible cover means fixed thereto for said cover means to extend laterally intermediately flexible between the first and second rail means and cover a roof expansion joint. The cover means includes flange means to extend downwardly from the head structure of the first rail means and the downwardly extending flange means and the -ashing means are closed to each other adjacent to the heel of the flashing means.

IDENTIFICATION OF DRAWINGS While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which I regard as my invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description with reference to the illustrative embodiments thereof represented in drawings herewith in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a roof expansion joint cover and flashing in an installed position on a roof;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken at II-II in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of a modified form of expansion joint cover and flashing in association with a roof and an adjacent wall; l

FIGURE 3a corresponds to FIGURE 3 and is a side elevation broken away and thus restricted to an upper region of the expansion joint cover and flashing;

FIGURE 4 represents in end view a further modified form of expansion joint and roof cover in an environment of use similar to that of the assembly represented in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 represents an end view of a still further modified form of expansion joint cover and flashing in an environment of use similar to that of the cover and flashing illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 3a.

DISCLOSURE OF EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing an expansion joint cover and flashing designated in general by the reference numeral 10 includes first rail means 11 and second rail means 11a which are shown anchored on opposite sides of an expansion joint 14 and more particularly on sections l2 and 13 of a roof wherein these roof sections are included in the expansion joint and are relatively movable with respect to each other under conditions of expansion or contraction. As shown the first rail means 11 includes a pair of rigid rails R and R1 which are longitudinally aligned having adjacent ends spaced apart from each other to allow for longitudinal expansion of the rails R and R1. Comparably, the second rail means 11a has a pair of rigid rails R2 and R3, these rails also being in Ilongitudinal alignment with each other and spaced apart at adjacent ends to allow for longitudinal expansion. The

several rails R, R1, R2 and R3 are similar being for example extrusions made of aluminum base alloy or of other suitable material. As anchored to the roof sections 12 and 13, these rails are arranged for rails R and R1 in pair to be substantially parallel to rails R2 and R3 in pair, the pairs forming a gap with each other laterally across the expansion joint 14. Also, in the present embodiment, the sum of the lengths of the pair of rails R and R1, plus the expansion gap between the adjacent ends of these rails, is approximately the same as the corresponding extent of the joint 14 longitudinally and further is about the same as the sum of the lengths of the pair of rails R2 and R3 plus the expansion gap between the adjacent ends of the ylatter two rails. The length of the rails one compared with another may of course differ or be about the same, as the case may be.

Since the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 are similar to one another an understanding of the features of these rails can readily be had from a description of the rail R. The latter rail has foot structure 17, head structure 19, and a web 18 interconnecting the lfoot and head structures. An outer member 20 of the foot structure (see FIGURE 2) is provided with a series of apertures 22 at points progressively along the length of the rail R, and headed fastenings 23, such as screws, are utilized in these apertures for securing the rail to the related roof section. An inner member 21 of the foot structure is situated with reference to the outer member so as to have these two members define a recess 39 upwardly laterally intermediately of the foot structure from the bearing surface of the foot structure.

The rail R is further arranged lfor the foot structure 20, as secured by the screws 23, to maintain the web 18 upwardly projecting toward the head structure 19, while this head structure projects laterally outwardly over a side 25 of the web, the side 25 normally being external and thus is separated by the thickness of the web 18 from the expansion joint 14. In further particular, an upper web portion 26 of the web 18 is integral with an inner -transverse end of a main wall 28 of the head structure 19 and is in a plane substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface of the foot structure 17 and merges integrally with a lower web portion 27 of the web 18. The lower web portion 27 in the installed condition of the rail R is downwardly and outwardly inclined, underlying the overfhang of the main wall 28 of the lhead structure, and merges integrally with the foot structure 17.

The main wall 28 of the head structure is further characterized by having an inner wall extension 29, an intermediate wall extension 30 and an outer wall extension 31, all on the normally upper side of the head structure. Wall extensions 29, 30 and 31 in conjunction with the main wall 28 define an inner channel space or groove 32, an intermediate channel space or groove 33 and an outer channel space or groove 34, the latter opening outwardly to the side of the rail R, and the inner and intermediate spaces 32 and 33 being open in a normally upward direction. The inner and intermediate wall extensions 29 and 30 diverge transversely from each other outwardly from the main wall 28 thus defining the inner channel space or groove 32 laterally therebetween. Outer wall extension 3l is angular, -having an innermost portion partitioning off the intermediate channel space 33 from the outer channel space 34 and transversely opposed by the inter mediate wall extension 30 for this innermost portion and the extension 30 to define side boundaries for the intermediate channel space or groove 33, there also being an outermost portion of the outer wall extension 31 and this portion and a transversely opposed portion of the main wall 28 form sides -for the outer channel space or groove 34, the latter having the innermost portion of the outer wall extension 31 for an innermost boundary.

The expansion joint cover and flashing further includes heeled first flashing means 50 and heeled second flashing means 50a which respectively correspond to the first rail means 11 and to the second rail means 11a, and

the several flashing means are pivotally connected with the related ones of the rail means. These pivotal connections rnade with the rail means 11 and 11a are disposed in regions which ultimately are to be closed off under the head structures of the rail means with the aid of the corresponding flashing means 50 or 50a against roofing ends upon proper installation of the expansion joint cover and flashing 10. Since the pivotal connections between the several rail means and flashing means involved in the present embodiment are similar, an understanding of their structure can be had by again referring to rail R. A lateral extension 36 on side 25 of the web 18 Of rail R provides a downwardly entrant channel 37 (see FIG- URE 2) in the region immediately under the main wall 28 of the head structure 19 of the rail. The channel 37 `is a component of one of the aforementioned pivotal connections as will be better understood as the present description ensues.

Counting both the first and second flashing means 50 and 50a, there are four flashing members F, F1, F2 and F3 present, all of which are similar and illustratively are made of aluminum base alloy or of other suitable material. As |will be seen in FIGURE l, the flashing members F and F1 are longitudinally endwise aligned in pair in affiliation with the first rail means 11 while the pair of flashing members F2 and F3 in affiliation with the second rail means 11a are also longitudinally aligned endwise in pair. The adjacent ends of the flashing -members in the pairs form gaps with each other which tolerate longitudinal expansion of the flashing members in the pairs. Further, the first and second flashing means 50 and 50a coextend with the first and second rail means 11 and 11a substantially throughout the length of the expansion joint cover and flashing 10. Because of the similarity of the several flashing members F, F1, F2 and F3, it is believed that the structure -which these members have in common will readily be understood from an ensuing description applied more especially to the flashing member F. Also, because of the similarity of the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 it is believed that the manner in which the flashing means 50 and 50a are pivotally connected and are otherwise associated with the rail means 11 and 11a will be made clear through referring to the flashing member F and its relation to the rail R.

The flashing member F is heeled including a lever arm 51 and a flashing plate 52, the lever arm and the flashing plate being divergently interrelated from heel 53 of the flashing member. There is a laterally oppositely undercut groove 57 in the heel for purposes which will hereinafter be described. The remote end of the lever arm from the heel is in the form of a pivot component which in the present embodiment simply is a flange 55 having a down- 'ward direction in the installed expansion `joint cover and flashing 10, the flange 55 thus being held pivotally received in the channel 37 of rail R while the portion of the lever arm betweeen the flange 55 and the heel 53 extends outwardly laterally of rail R spaced a short distance from the underside of main wall 28 of the head structure of the rail. In the foregoing arrangement, the flashing plate 52 projects downwardly outside the web 18 of rail R so as to accommodate a marginal end portion 61 of roofing 60 between this flashing plate and the rail web 118. The roofing 60 is carried as a covering on the roof section 12 on which the rail R is mounted.

For applying thrust to the first and second flashing means 50 and 50a, the expansion joint cover and flashing 10 supports first and second thrust means respectively including a first series of screws 63 and a second series of screws 63a. Screws 63 correspond to the first rail means 11 and to the first flashing means 50 and are uniformly spaced apart longitudinally of these means to have occurrences for applying thrust to the flashing members F and F1 at a plurality of points on these members having these points spaced apart longitudinally of these flashing members. Likewise screws 63a are interrelated with the second rail means 11a and with the second flashing means 50a, being uniformly spaced apart longitudinally of these means to have occurrences for applying thrust to the vflashing members F2 and F3 at a plurality of points spaced apart longitudinally of these flashing members. The manner in which the thrust screws in the present embodiment are engaged with the related rail and flashing member will be understood through again referring to the 4typical rail members R and flashing member F, this time with reference also to one of the screws 63 which is typical of the screws A63 and 63a and of their relation to the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 in conjunction with the llashing members F, F1, F2 and F3. The screw 163 has its head received within the intermediate channel space 33 in the head structure 19 of rail R, the screw shank being threadedly engaged with the main wall 28 within an aperture through `this wall, and the shank end of the screw being in contact with the lever arm 51 of the ashing member F at a point between llange 55 and heel 53. Other screws in the 63 series are similarly disposed in relation to the rails R and R1 and the flashing members F and F1, and the screws of the 63a series are introduced akin to those in the 63 series but of course are situated in the head structures of rails R2 and R3 and contact the lever arms of `the ilashing members F2 and F3.

The adjacent longitudinal ends of the rails R and R1 and the adjacent longitudinal ends of the rails R2 and R3 are longitudinally relatively movably spliced. For this purpose in the present embodiment, there are shields 35 and 35a on these sides of the rails which are outermost from the joint 14. The shields comprise relatively short lengths of sheet material such as of aluminum alloy, and are connected by respective screws 65 and 65a to the rails R and R2 and freely slidably movably overlap the respective rails R1 and R3, thus to tolerate longitudinal expansion of the rails While covering the gaps between the adjacent longitudinal ends of the rails. Transversely, the shields reach from directly Iunderneath the channel components 36 and 36a of the pivotal connections made by the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 with the flashing members F, F1, F2 and F3, and extend downwardly over the webs and feet of the rails.

The cover means 70 included in the expansion joint cover and llashing means is characterized by having a flexible wall structure wherein there are laterally opposed lirst and secon-d flange means 71 and 72 covering the outer lateral ends of the head structures of rails R, R1, R2 and R3. There are apertures through the first and second flange means at spaced points along the length of the expansion joint cover and flashing 10, and a first and second series of screws 80 and 80a having their heads externally of the respective first and second flange means and their shanks through these apertures and threadedly engaging the head structures of the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 fasten the cover means 70 to `the rails. The threaded engagement of the screws with the head structures of the rails is effected within the outer channel spaces or grooves in the head structures in the manner typified by one of the screws -80 in the outer channel space or groove 34 in FIGURE 2. Laterally opposed top portions 73 and 74 of the llexible wall structure of the cover means 70 directly overlie the top faces of the head structures of rails R, R1, R2 and R3 and thus blanket these faces. The top portions 73 and 74 merge with a laterally intermediate rib 7S which'is laterally flexible in the cover means 70 and accor-dingly covers the expansion joint 14. The rib 75 laterally is bowed or raised outwardly in the expansion joint cover and ashing 10.

In further detail the cover means 70 as shown includes a longitudinally aligned relatively longitudinally movably spliced pair of main cover members C and C1, the splicing in the present embodiment being achieved through use of a Spanner cover member C2 overlapping the adjacent longitudinal end portions of the main cover members C and C1 and shielding the longitudinal gap between the latter two members. All of the members C, C1 and C2 are similar in cross section, having the main members C and C1 nested at their adjacent ends into the Spanner member C2. All three members C, C1, and C2 are made for example of stainless steel sheet or of any other suitable sheet material, such as an' aluminum coated 4copper alloy, which durably allows tlexing across the joint 14. The end of cover member C1 underlying the Spanner member C2 is suitably secured to the latter member as by means of screws, while the end of the cover member C underlying the Spanner member is longitudinally relatively movable with reference to the spanner member and the adjacent end of the cover member C1, thus for the splice to tolerate longitudinal expansion of the cover means 70. The resulting first and second flange means 71 and 72 of the cover means 70 project downwardly below the outer lateral ends of the head structures of the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 and are in a closed relation to the heels of the first and second flashing means 50 and 50a.

The laterally oppositely undercut grooves in the heels of the flashing members F, F1, F2 and F3, and hereinbefore described with reference to the typical such groove 57 in the heel 53 of the tlashing member F, are longitudinally aligned in pairs in the corresponding pairs of flashing members F and F1 and F2 and F3, and accordingly receive flexible seals and 90a which extend longitudinally and preferably continuously for the lengths of the respective pairs of flashing members. Lateral anchor ends 91 and 91a of the seals engage the tlashing members in the undercut grooves and anchor the seals laterally in the heels of the ilashi'ng members. Longitudinally hollow tubular lateral extensions 92 and 92a of the seals project laterally outside the heel grooves and laterally flexibly contact the inner faces of the first and second flange means 71 and 72 and thus close off the first and second ilashing means 50 and 50a to the first and second flange means. The seam between the adjacent longitudinal ends of the llashing members F and F1 and that between the comparable adjacent longitudinal ends of the flashing members F2 and F3 are expansion tolerating seams. The seams include shields 59 and 59a of sheet metal or the like which longitudinally overlap the llashing plates of these members and are mounted on the outsides of the tlashing plates of members F and F2 as by means of screws 79 and 79a. The flashing members F1 and F3 have their ends in the seam spaced longitudinally from the adjacent ends of the flashing members F and F2, and relatively longitudinally movably free of the shields for longitudinal expansion to occur at these seams. In reach transversely along the seams the shields 59 and 59a advantageously extend from the seals 90 and 90a down to the lower ends of the flashing plates.

Before the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 are mounted on the roof sections 12 and 13, it is beneficial to install a flexible continuous waterstop 95 across the expansion joint 14. The opposite lateral marginal ends of this waterstop accordingly may be fastened onto the top faces of the roof sections 12 and 13 as by means of the longitudinal rows of nails 96 and 96a, the heads of which nails thereafter are received by the foot structures of the installed rails within the under hollowlfoot regions gigereo resented t icall by the under ho ow regions an 369 in the fotpstrucsfures of rails R and R2 in FIGU'RE 2.

The expansion joint cover and flashing 10 also directly includes a flexible continuous waterstop designated by the reference numeral 97. This waterstop is underneath the cover means 70 and is associated with the head structures of the rails R, R1, R2 and R3, and furthermore has marginal end portions which form laterally tapered, substantially parallel ribs 98 and 99, the ribs being seated within the inner channel spaces 32 and 321 of the rails R and R2 and within the companion inner channel spaces of the rails R1 and R3. An intermediate portion 100 of the flexible waterstop 97 leads from the ribs 98 and 99 and is downwardly bowed within the space over the expansion joint 14 and between the rails R and R1 on the one side and the rails R2 and R3 on the other side. Additionally in association with each of these rails, and situated between the screws in each of the series 63 and 63a, there are fastening clips in 101 and 101a series which serve to maintain the waterstop 97 seated upon the related rail head structures. Since all of the clips 101 and 101a are similar, made for example of an aluminum base alloy, these structures will readily be understood by again referring to the rail R and to one of the clips 101 attached to that rail. The latter clip, being for example anywhere from one inch to three inches long on the length of rail R, is shorter than the distance between adjacent screws 63 in the rail head structure and includes a channel 102 and a laterally projecting arm 103 in the plane of the base of the channel. The legs of the channel are sprung within the intermediate groove 33 of the head structure of rail R and frictionally engage the faces of the intermediate and outer wall extensions 30 and 31 in a location between a pair of the screws 63 within this groove. Meanwhile the lateral arm 103 of the clip projects over the adjacent rib 98 formed by the marginal end portion of the flexible waterstop 97 and sustains this rib seated in the inner groove 32 in the head structure of rail R. The other clips are likewise installed and serve like functions on the particular ones of the rails. The clips in the 101a series are disposed between pairs of the screws in the 63a series and are engaged with the rails R2 and R3 as the case may be, accordingly having their arms 103a maintaining the rib 99 of the flexible waterstop 97 seated in the inner grooves in the head structures of these rails.

In installing the expansion joint cover and flashing 10, the first and second rail means 11 and 11a are mounted on the respective roof sections 12 and 13 by means of the headed fastenings in the 23 and 23a series and accordingly are arranged to coextend longitudinally with the expansion joint and laterally form a gap across the expansion joint. With the first and second rail means 11 and 11a thus installed the marginal end portions `61 and 61a of roofing 60 and 60a on the roof sections 12 and 13 are brought into a covering relation over the foot and web structures of the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 on the outsides of the rails. The first and second flashing means 50 and 50a are thereafter engaged at the lever arm ends of the flashing members F, F1, F2 and F3 with the pivot component channels of the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 and the screws in the 63 and 63a series in the head structures of those rails then are set to have their shank ends bear upon the lever arms of the flashing members and force the first and second flashing means 50 and 50a to clamp the roofing ends 61 and 61a against the first and second rail means 11 and 11a. Before installing the cover means 70, the flexible continuous waterstop 97 has its ribs placed in the inner grooves of the head structures of the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 and the clips 101 and 101a are attached in the related intermediate grooves of the head structures to maintain the marginal end portions of the waterstop seated in the inner grooves. With the continuous seals 90 and 90a anchored in the heeled flashing plate means 50 and 50a, the cover means 70 may be put in place having the laterally opposite first and second flange means 71 and 72 laterally flexed inner facially closed against these seals while the screws in the 80 and 80a series maintain the cover means secured to the first and second rail means 11 and 11a by threadedly engaging the rails R, R1, R2 and R3 within the outer grooves in the head structures of the rails.

It will be appreciated that the flashing means 50 and 50a therefore can pivot to clamp the roofing ends 61 and 61a under the force of the screws in the 63 and 63a series and that thereby a very considerable thrust is exercised toward keeping the flashing plates and the roofing ends in a closed off relation. Further, the laterally flexible flange means 71 and 72 in conjunction with the laterally flexible continuous seals 90 and 90a assure positive closure between the cover means 70 and the first and second flashing means 50 and 50a. Relative movement of the roof sections 12 and 13 is very thoroughly tolerated by virtue of the laterally flexible intermediate rib 75 of the cover means 70. For example this relative movement may be toward reducing or increasing the distance between the roof sections 12 and 13 across the expansion joint 14 or may be a movement involving action vertically as viewed in FIGURE 2 of the drawing thus altering considerably the horizontal alignment of the roof sections 12 and 13. The shields 35 and 35a, the spanner member C2, and the shields 59 and 59a, all arranged in the manner hereinbefore described, cover the related seams and tolerate longitudinal expansion of the expansion joint cover and flashing 10 at these seams.

The expansion joint cover and flashing 10a represented in FIGURES 3 and 3a is intended for use in those instances where for example one of the structural sections 12a forming an expansion joint 141 is a roof or a portion thereof and the other of the sections 13a is a wall or the like, with the working faces of the sections respectively being substantially horizontal and vertical. The first rail means 111 mounted upon the roof section 12a and having rails longitudinally relatively movably spliced at 351 and provided with the clamping screws 631, clips 1011 and seal 901, and the corresponding first flashing means 501 with flashing members longitudinally relatively movably spliced at 591, are all constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described with reference to either of the rail means and the corresponding flashing means described in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, and therefore a description need not be repeated. A second rail means 11H1, coextending substantially parallel with the first rail means 111 in the expansion joint cover and flashing 10a, though, comprises rails a and 100b which are of similar transverse cross section and are extrusions made for example of aluminum alloy. Rails 110a and 110b are formed having rearwardly and forwardly laterally entrant longitudinal grooves therein which are longitudinally aligned in the expansion joint cover and flashing 10a for the second rail means 11a1 accordingly to have longitudinally an upper laterally outwardly opening channel structure 112 and a lower laterally inwardly opening hook structure 113. Integrally interconnecting the channel and hook structures of the second rail means 11a1 is an intermediate wall structure 114 through which there are apertures spaced apart on the length of the second rail means to receive headed fastenings 23:11 which headwise engage the intermediate wall structure 114 and shankwise anchor the rails 110a and 110b to the structural section 13a. The second rail means 11a1 is stepped from the rear forwardly above the channel structure 112 to provide a darn for caulking compound to seal the second rail means to the structural section 13a.

One lateral marginal end 981 of a continuous flexible waterstop 971 is secured to the head structure of the first rail means 111 and is arranged the same as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, though the opposite lateral marginal end portion 991 of this waterstop is hooked to interfit with the inwardly laterally opening hook structure 113 and be clamped by the end of this hook structure to the vertical face of the structural section 13a when the headed fastenings 23a1 effect the securement of the second rail means 11a1 to this section.

A laterally flexible intermediate rib 75a of the cover means 70a is integral with a lateral marginal and portion 121 of the cover means and is outwardly laterally bowed in a covering relation over the waterstop 971 and over the expansion joint 141. The aforementioned outwardly bowed portion of the cover means is integral with a top cover portion 73a, covering the top side of the head structure Of first rail means 1111 and thence with laterally flexible flange means 71a secured by a series 801 of screws to the first rail means 111 and associated with flashing means 501 in substantially the same manner as has already been indicated with reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2. As shown in FIGURE 3a, the

cover means 70a includes longitudinally aligned cover sections C1 and C1 which are spaced apart endWise at a seam having the adjacent ends of the sections shielded by a conforming shielding member C2 which is suitably secured to move with one of the sections while relatively movably overlapping the other of the sections to tolerate longitudinal expansion. The cover means 70a has its sections C and C1 and the shielding strip C2' all made of sheet material, such as of a stainless steel or aluminumcoated copper alloy grade.

The lateral marginal end portion 121 of the cover means 70a extends upward frontally against the wall structure 114 of the second rail means 11111 and in turn is covered frontally. by trim means 111 wherein a pair of trim strips 11111 and 111b longitudinally coextending with the rails 11011 and 110b clamp the lateralvmarginal end portion 121 of the cover means 70a to these rails with the aid of screws 117. The latter screws enter apertures through the trim stripes 11a and 111b and engage theV second rail means 11a within the channel structure 112 at locations along the length of the expansion joint cover and flashing a. A shielding member 111C of the trim means 111 covers a longitudinal gap between adjacent ends of the rails 11011 and 110b and a gap between adjacent longitudinal ends of the trim strips 11a and 1111i. The shielding member 111C is vangular in transverse cross section, having a vertical leg frontally overlapping the adjacent ends of the trim strips, and a horizontal leg rearwardly projecting to the c'aulking compound 120 and longitudinally overlapping the adjacent ends of rails 11011 and 110b in this region. Certain of the screws 117 additionally enter apertures in the shielding member 111C for connecting this member tothe rail 110b while securing the trim plate 111b to this same rail, thereby having the rail 11011 and the trim strip 11111 longitudinally rela` tively movably spliced across their adjacent ends through use of the shielding member 111C. The shielding member 111c meanwhile may be seated on mastic sealing the interconnection. The shielding member andthe trim plates 11111 and 111b are conveniently made of sheet or of thin plate, and for example may be of aluminum alloy, of stainless steel, of aluminum-coated copper alloy, or of any other suitable material.

An expansion joint cover and flashing 10b in the embodiment represented in FIGURE 4, is provided having a cover means 70a' wherein there is a` laterally flexible laterally outwardly bowed rib 75a comprising an elastomeric wall having sealing properties and -weather resistance. Within the same intermediate portion of the cover means 70a' as the rib 75a and interconnected by the elastomeric wall are opposed marginal end projections 98a and 99a and laterally opposed laterally oppositely grooved flanges 123 and 124. In the present embodiment flexible elastomeric wall of rib 75a includes an outer ply and an inner insulating ply, the outer ply being made for example of a relatively hard but 'flexible grade of elastomer, the latter material carrying over into the projections 98a and 99a and into the llanges.123 and 124 as the composition thereof, while havingthe inner ply also being made of an elastomeric material but of a relatively soft grade as comparedwith that in the outer ply. Examples of the elastomeric material or materials for' the wall are natural rubber, vinyl resin, and neoprene. In certain embodiments in the practice of the present invention flexible reinforcement is added to the elastomer with or without the inner ply ibeingomitted. In the present embodiment the wall is slotted in the inner ply laterantly entrantly toward the outer ply to lend bowing ease.

In the installed condition of the expansion joint cover and flashing 10b the marginal end projections 98a and 99a are engaged in grooves in the head structures of first and second rail means of the character hereinbefore described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2. There are also rigid angle members 125 and 12511 included in the cover means 70a. The angle members illustratively are made of alloy metal, such as aluminum alloy. First arms 126 and 12611 of the angle members have ends received in the respective grooves in flanges 123 and 124 of the intermediate flexible portion of the cover means, and second arms 127 and 127a of the angle members are providedv with apertures for screws in separate series 80h and 80b to engage in the rigid angle members with the head structures of the first and second rail means in the assembly and thereby have the first arms secure the flanges 123 and 124l to the tops of the rail head structures while keeping the projections 98a and 99a seated in the corresponding rail head grooves. The second arms 126 and 12611 furthermore project downwardly as flanges which are closed off by seals to heeled first and second flashing means of a sort hereinbefore described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2. For each angle member 125 and 12511 another such member may be longitudinally aligned therewith and spliced relatively longitudinally movably in the pair by a shielding mem-ber M or M as the case may be.

An expansion joint cover and flashing 10c represented in FIGURE 5 is intended for such uses as have hereinbefore been set forth with reference to FIGURES 3 and 3a `for lthe expansion joint cover and flashing 10a; however, the cover means 7011" in the assembly 10c is partially rigidly angular in struc-ture and partially of a ilexible material to have laterally intermediately thereof a sea-ling, weather resistant, flexible rib 75a" outwardly bowed. In the embodiment shown the rib y75a comprises an elastomeric wall having inner and outer plies such as of a type hereinbefore described. The rib 75a" at one lateral end projection 9811' of the cover means 70ais integral with a longitudinally grooved flange 12311' -into which a rigid angle member 125' has the end of its first arm 126 received. Arm 127 of this same angle member is arranged and mounted to the head struct-ure of a corresponding rail means in the manner already set forth in connection with the embodiment represented in FIGURE 4 and accordingly maintains the projection 9811 engaged with this rail means and a cla-mping action upon the laterally grooved flange 12311. The opposite lateral end of the rib 7511 is integral with lateral projection 99a' of the cover means and the latter projection is clamped to rails of a second rail means 11011 and by trim means 111 in a manner similar to that in FIGURES 3 and 3a.

VAs the present invention lends itself to many possible embodiments, and as many possible changes according to the invention may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore set forth, it will be distinctly understood that all matter described herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation.

I claim:

1. An expansion joint cover and flashing for covering an expansion joint between a relatively movable pair of sections and for weatherproong an end of roofing on at g least one of the sections adjacent to the expansion joint,

sai-d expansion joint cover and flashing including, first rail means having foot and head structures and web me-ans interconnecting said foot and head structures, heeled flashing means including lever arm means and flashing plate means, said flashing plate means and lever arm means being divergently interrelated from the heel of said flashing means, there being a pivotal connection of said lever -arm means with said rail means, and sai-d rail means and said lflashing means further arranged for said foot str-ucture secured to one of a pair of sections |forming a roof expansion joint to maintain said Iweb means upwardly projecting toward said head structure and for said head structure to project outwardly over said lever arm means with said flashing plate means extending downward-ly spaced from a side of said web means to conceal the marginal end portion of roofing on the section, having the marginal end portion off roofing introduced between said web means and said flashing plate means, thrust means engaging said head structure `and in thru-st applying relation to said lever a-rm means for thrusting said flashing means to pivot about the axis of said pivotal connection and clamp a portion of roofing introduced between said web means and said flashin-g plate menas, second rail means adapted to 4be secured to the other of pair of sections foaming a roof expansion joint, and laterally intermediately flexible cover means covering said head structure and secured to lsaid first and second rail means for hav-ing said cover means laterally intermediately flexibly extending between said first and second rail means and covering a roof expansion joint, said cover means including flange means to extend downwardly from said head structure 4and said downwardly extending flange means and said flashing means being closed to each other adjacent to the heel of said flashing means.

2. An expansion joint cover and flashing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pivotal connection includes a normally downwardly entrant channel in said rail means and a normally downwardly directed end of said lever arm means pivotally movably engaging said rail means within said channel.

3. An expansion joint cover and flashing as set forth in claim 2, wherein said web means has a lateral projection forming said channel.

4. An expansion joint cover and flashing as set forth in claim 3, wherein said thrust means includes a plurality of screws threadedly engaging said head structure and in thrust applying contact with said lever arm means longitudinally along said head structure for said flashing means pivoted about the axis of said pivotal connection to clamp a roofing end portion introduced between said web means and said flashing plate means.

5. An expansion joint cover and fl-ashing as set forth in claim 4, wherein said head structure has a longitudinal groove therein in the normally upper side and said screws threadedly engaging said head structure have their heads accommodated in said groove and covered by said cover means.

6. An expansion joint cover nad flashing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flashing means has a longitudinally extending laterally oppositely undercut groove in the heel thereof, -and sealing means having an anchor in said groove conforming substantially to the undercut of said groove extends laterally outwardly of said groove into sealing contact with said flange means.

7. An expansion joint cover and flashing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said laterally intermediately flexible cover means includes laterally intermediately thereof a later-ally flexible longitudinal rib laterally bowed outwardly in the expansion joint cover and flashing.

8. An expansion joint cover and flashing as set forth in claim 7, wherein said flashing means lengthwise has a laterally exible seal secured to the heel thereof, and said flange means is laterally flexible and is flexed laterally in contact with said seal for said seal to close said flange means and said flashing means to each other.

9. An expansion joint cover and flashing as set forth in claim 7, wherein a rigid angular member of said cover means has a first leg jointed to an end of said laterally flexible rib, and said flange means includes a second leg of said rigid angular member, said flashing means lengthwise has a laterally flexible seal secured to the heel thereof, and said seal laterally flexibly contacting said second leg of said rigid angular merrnber for closing said second leg and said flashing means to each other at said heel.

10. An expansion joint cover and flashing for covering an expansion joint between relatively movable pair of sections and for weatherproofing ends of roofing on the sections adjacent to the expansion joint, said expansion joint cover and flashing including first rail means having first foot and first head structures and first web means interconnecting said first foot and said first head structures, heeled first flashing means including first lever arm means and first flashing plate means, said first flashing plate means and said first lever arm means being divergently interrelated from the heel of said first flashing means and there being a pivotal connection of said first lever arm means with said first rail means, yand said first rail means and said first flashing means funther arranged for said first :foot structure secured to one of a pair of sections forming a roof expansion joint to maintain said first web means upwardly projecting toward said first head structure and for said first head structure to project outwardly over said first lever arm means with said first flashing plate means extending downwardly spaced from a side of said first web means to conceal a marginal end portion of roofing on the one of a pair of sections, having the marginal end portion of roofing introduced between said first web means and said first flashing plate means, first thnust means engaging said first head structure and in .thrust applying relation to said first lever arm means for thrusting said first flashing means to pivot about the axis of said first pivotal connection and clamp a roofing end portion introduced between said first flashing plate means and said first web means, second rail means having second foot and second head structures and second web means interconnecting said second foot and said second head structures, heeled second flashing means including second lever arm means and second flashing plate means, said second flashing plate means and said second lever ar-m means being divergently interrelated yfrom the heel of said second flashing means and there being a pivotal connection of said second lever 4means with said second rail means, and said second flashing means and said second rail means further arranged for said second foot structure secured to tlhe other of a pair of sections forming a roof expansion joint to maintain said second web means upwardly projecting toward said second head structure and said second head structure to project outwardly over said second lever arm means with said second flashing plate means extending downwardly spaced from a side of said second web means to conceal a marginal end portion of roofing on the other olf a pair of sections, having the marginal end portion of roofing introduced Ibetween said second webmeans and said second flashing plate means, second thrust means engaging said second head structure and in thrust applying relation to said second lever arm means for thrusting said second flashing means to pivot about the axis of said second pivotal connection and clamp a roofing end portion introduced between said second flashing plate means and said second web means, and laiterally intermediately flexible cover means covering said first and second head structures and secured to said first and second rail means for having said cover means laterally intermediately flexibly extending between said first and second rail means and covering a roof expansion joint, said first head structure covered by said cover means conjointly including first flange means, said cover means including first and second flange means to extend downwardly respectively from said first and second head structures, said downwardly extending first flange means and said first flashing means being closed to each other adjacent to the heel of said first flashing means and said downwardly extending second flange means and said second flashing means being closed to each other adjacent to the heel of said second flashing means.

11. An expansion joint cover and flashing as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first and second head structures have a pair of longitudinal grooves therein in the normally upper sides, and a flexible seal interconnecting said first and second fhead structures has ends securely in said grooves and is covered by said cover means.

12. An expansion joint cover and flasing as set forth in claim 11, wherein spring clips, each having resilient legs and a laterally extending arm, are received in channels in said normally upper sides of said first and second end structures and resiliently engage said first and second head structures in said channels having said arms contacting said ends of said flexible seal for maintaining said ends in said pair of grooves, and said cover means covers said clips.

13. A expansion joint cover and flashing as set forth in claim 10, wherein said rst and second head structures have a pair of longitudinal grooves therein, and said cover means includes a laterally intermediately bowed exible sealling portion having a pair of longitudinally eX- tending laterally opposed projections and a pair of longirt'uclinally extending laterally oppositely grooved flanges, and a pair of rigid angle members secured to said first and second rail means and said angle members having lirst legs inserted in said longitudinal grooves in said oppositely grooved langes to maintain said pair of laterally opposed projections of said laterally intermediatebowed exible sealing portion seated in said pair of longitudinal `grooves in said iirst and second head structures,

said first and second flange means of said cover means including second legs of said rigid angle members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,296,762 1/1967 Thorn 52-395 3,300,913 l/1967 Patry et all. 52-403 3,375,621 4/1968 Curtis et a1. 52-58- 3,365,847 l/1968 Josek 52--58 X ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 52-395, 463

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