Insulating and waterproofing apparatus

Claim 2

A waterproof wall assembly comprising an inner wythe and an outer wythe disposed in spaced apart relationship with respect to one another, a plurality of waterproof block members disposed in the space between said inner and outer wythes, means for positionally securing said block members with respect to at least one of said wythes, said block members having a front face, a rear face and horizontally disposed upper and lower edges, said front face being disposed in facing relation to said inner wythe and said rear face being disposed in facing relation to said outer wythe, and selected ones of said upper and lower horizontal edges of said black members being angularly inclined in a downward direction from the front face toward the rear face along at least a portion of said horizontal edges, whereby any water flow upon the front face of said block members is diverted away from said inner wythe by means of said angularly inclined edges.

Claim 3

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said block members have a substantially rectangular configuration.

Claim 4

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the side edges of laterally adjacent ones of said block members are disposed in substantially abutting engagement.

Claim 5

A waterproof assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the side edges of laterally adjacent ones of said block members are disposed in overlapping relationship.

Claim 6

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein said rectangular block members are oriented with the longitudinal axis thereof disposed in a horizontal plane.

Claim 7

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said rectangular block members disposed between said inner and outer wythes are positioned in substantially horizontal rows, said angularly inclined horizontal upper edges of selected ones of said block members being disposed in adjacent proximate relationship to the lower horizontal edges of selected ones of said block members, and said adjacently disposed horizontal edges forming downward angularly inclined horizontal joints for diverting water flow away from said inner wythe toward said outer wythe.

Claim 8

A waterproof wall assembly, in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rear faces of said block members and said outer wythe are spaced from one another to form a vertical channel for the downward flow of water.

Claim 9

A waTerproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein said rear faces of said block members and said outer wythe are spaced from one another to form a vertical channel for the downward flow of water, and said vertical channel being in fluid flow communication with said horizontal joints.

Claim 10

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said angularly inclined horizontal edges are formed integrally with said block members.

Claim 11

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said angularly inclined horizontal edges comprise angular end caps secured to said block members along at least a portion of the horizontal edges of said block members.

Claim 12

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 10, wherein said end caps extend along the entire length of said block member horizontal edges.

Claim 13

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein said side edges of selected ones of said block members are champhered, and adjacent abutting champhered side edges of said block members forming vertical joints which are recessed with respect to said front faces of said block members.

Claim 14

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein said abutting side edges form vertical joints, means secured to said vertical joints upon the front face of said block members to prohibit the permeation of water through said vertical joints from the rear faces towards the front faces of said block members.

Claim 15

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein said means secured to said vertical joints comprises a layer of waterproof tape.

Claim 16

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein said means secured to said vertical joints comprises a T-shaped strip, said strip including a shank portion and a head portion, and said shank portion extending into said vertical joint and said head portion overlying said vertical joint in abutting engagement with the front faces of said adjacent block members.

Claim 17

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said block members are fabricated of an insulative material, thereby forming a combined insulated and waterproof wall assembly.

Claim 18

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 16, wherein said insulative material is an expanded polymer plastic material.

Claim 19

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 17, wherein said expanded polymer plastic material is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene and polyurethane.

Claim 20

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein said block members are fabricated of an insulative material, thereby forming a combined insulated and waterproof wall assembly.

Claim 21

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein said rear faces of said block members and said outer wythe are spaced from one another to form a vertical channel for the downward flow of water, and said vertical channel being in fluid flow communication with said horizontal joints.

Claim 22

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 16, including wall-tie members interconnected between said inner and outer wythes.

Claim 23

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 21, wherein said means for positionally securing said block members with respect to said one of said wythes comprises said wall-tie members.

Claim 24

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 22, wherein said wall-tie members are disposed in substantially horizontal rows, said waterproof block members being dispoed between adjacent rows of said wall-tie members, and said block members being positionally secured by the frictional engagement of said wall-tie members with said upper and lower horizontal edges of said block members.

Claim 25

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for positionally securing said block members with reSpect to one of said wythes comprises an adhesive disposed between one of said faces of said block members and said one of said wythes.

Claim 26

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 24, wherein said adhesive is disposed between the rear faces of said block members and said outer wythe.

Claim 27

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein said means for positionally securing said block members with respect to one of said wythes comprises an adhesive disposed between one of said faces of said block members and said one of said wythes.

Claim 28

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 26, wherein said adhesive is disposed between the rear faces of said block members and said outer wythe, and said adhesive serving to space said rear faces of said block members from said outer wythes to form a vertical channel for the downward flow of water.

Claim 29

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 27, wherein said vertical channel is in fluid flow communication with said horizontal joint.

Claim 30

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 28, wherein said inner wythe is secured with respect to said block members by means of an adhesive interposed between said inner wythe and said front faces of said block members.

Claim 31

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 29, wherein said inner wythe is fabricated of gypsum board.

Claim 32

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 20, including means for connecting said inner wythe with respect to said block members.

Claim 33

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 31, including means for connecting said block members to said outer wythe.

Claim 34

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 32, wherein said means for connecting said inner wythe with respect to said block members comprises channel members interposed between said block members and said inner wythe.

Claim 35

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 33, wherein said channel members are disposed in substantially vertical planes.

Claim 36

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 32, wherein said inner wythe is fabricated of gypsum board.

Claim 37

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 21, wherein said wall-tie members includes means operatively connected therewith to space said block members a predetermined distance from at least one of said wythes.

Claim 38

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 36, wherein said one of said wythes is said inner wythe.

Claim 39

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 36, wherein said one of said wythes is said outer wythe.

Claim 40

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 36, wherein said last mentioned means is effective to space said block members a predetermined distance from said inner wythe and said outer wythe.

Claim 41

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein said block members are arranged to form first and second layers thereof between said inner and outer wythes.

Claim 42

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 40, wherein said front faces of said first layer of block members is disposed in facing relation to said inner wythe, said rear faces of said second layer of block members is disposed in facing relation to said outer wythe, and said rear faces of said first layer of block members and said front faces of said second layer of block members are disposed in juxtaposed relationship.

Claim 43

In a wall assembly including an inner wythe and an outer wythe in spaced apart relationship and a structural horizontal support member, the improvement comprising at least one block member disposed in the space between said inner and outer wythe, said block member having a lower angularly inclined edge extending downwardly from said inner wythe toward said outer wythe, said support member having a horizontally extending recess formed in one of The side edges thereof, said recessed side edge of said support member being secured with respect to said outer wythe, said angularly inclined lower edge of said block member being positioned within said recessed side edge portion of said support member, said outer wythe having a plurality of weepholes disposed in adjacent relationship to said recessed side edge portion of said support member, and said angularly inclined lower edge of said block member, said recessed side edge portion of said support member and said weepholes forming a self-flashing system.

Claim 44

In a wall assembly including an inner wythe and an outer wythe in spaced apart relationship and a structural horizontal support member, the improvement comprising at least one block member disposed in the space between said inner and outer wythe, said block member having a lower angularly inclined edge extending downwardly from said inner wythe toward said outer wythe, said support member having a horizontally extending recess formed in one of The side edges thereof, said recessed side edge of said support member being secured with respect to said outer wythe, said angularly inclined lower edge of said block member being positioned within said recessed side edge portion of said support member, said outer wythe having a plurality of weepholes disposed in adjacent relationship to said recessed side edge portion of said support member, and said angularly inclined lower edge of said block member, said recessed side edge portion of said support member and said weepholes forming a self-flashing system.

Claim 45

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 42, wherein said lower angularly inclined edge of said block member is disposed at an elevation lower than that of the upper horizontal surface of said support member.

Claim 46

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 42, including a plurality of said block members disposed in side by side relationship, said plurality of block members extending longitudinally a distance which is substantially equal to the longitudinal extension of said recessed side portion of said support member.

Claim 47

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 44, wherein said block members are formulated of an insulative material, thereby providing an insulative barrier between said inner and outer wythes at the elevation of the wall assembly which is adjacent said horizontal support member.

Claim 48

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 44, wherein said block members are of substantially rectangular configuration having the adjacent side edges thereof disposed in substantially abutting engagement.

Claim 49

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 44, wherein said block members are of substantially rectangular configuration having the adjacent side edges thereof disposed in overlapping relationship.

Claim 50

In a wall assembly including an inner wythe and an outer wythe disposed in spaced apart relationship and a structural horizontal support member, the improvement comprising at least one block member disposed in the space between said inner and outer wythe, said block member having an angularly inclined lower edge extending downwardly from said inner wythe toward said outer wythe, said horizontal support member having a horizontally extending champhered upper edge portion, means for securing said horizontal support member to said wall assembly at a predetermined elevation with the champhered upper edge portion thereof being disposed in the space between said inner and outer wythes, said champhered upper edge portion having a downward angular inclination from said inner wythe toward said outer wythe, said champhered upper edge portion being disposed in adjacent proximate relationship to said angularly inclined lower edge of said block member, said outer wythe having a plurality of weepholes disposed in adjacent relationship to said angularly inclined edges, and said angularly inclined lower edge of said block member, said champhered upper edge portion of said support member and said weepholes forming a self-flashing system.

Claim 51

In a wall assembly including an inner wythe and an outer wythe disposed in spaced apart relationship and a structural horizontal support member, the improvement comprising at least one block member disposed in the space between said inner and outer wythe, said block member having an angularly inclined lower edge extending downwardly from said inner wythe toward said outer wythe, said horizontal support member having a horizontally extending champhered upper edge portion, means for securing said horizontal support member to said wall assembly at a predetermined elevation with the champhered upper edge portion thereof being disposed in the space between said inner and outer wythes, said champhered upper edge portion having a downward angular inclination from said inner wythe toward said outer wythe, said champhered upper edge portion being disposed in adjacent proximate relationship to said angularly inclined lower edge of said block member, said outer wythe having a plurality of weepholes disposed in adjacent relationship to said angularly inclined edges, and said angularly inclined lower edge of said block member, said champhered upper edge portion of said support member and said weepholes forming a self-flashing system.

Claim 52

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 48, wherein said structural horizontal support member is secured with respect to said outer wythe.

Claim 53

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 49, wherein said weepholes in said outer wythe are disposed at an elevation below that of said angularly inclined edges.

Claim 54

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 50, wherein said horizontal support member is a structural base member.

Claim 55

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 51, wherein said means for securing said structural base member to said outer wythe comprises a lintel.

Claim 56

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 50, including a plurality of said block members disposed in side by side relationship, and said block members being substantially horizontally coextensive with said champhered upper edge of said support member.

Claim 57

A wall assembly iN accordance with claim 53, wherein said block members are formulated of an insulative material, thereby providing an insulative barrier between said inner and outer wythes at the elevation of the wall assembly which is adjacent said horizontal support member.

Claim 58

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 53, wherein said block members are of substantially rectangular configuration having the adjacent side edges thereof disposed in substantially abutting engagement.

Claim 59

A wall assembly in accordance with claim 53, wherein said block members are of substantially rectangular configuration having the adjacent side edges thereof disposed in overlapping relationship.

Claim 60

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein selected ones of said block members have a wetting agent applied to at least one of the surfaces thereof.

Claim 61

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein selected ones of said block members have a water absorbent layer applied on at least one of the surfaces thereof.

Claim 62

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for positionally securing said block members with respect to said one of said wythes comprises substantially horizontally extending members secured to said one of said wythes, and said block members being impaled upon said horizontally extending members.

Claim 63

A waterproof wall assembly in accordance with claim 59, wherein said horizontally extending impaling members are secured to said one of said wythes by means of an adhesive.