BUILDING EXTERIOR BOARD ELASTIC END COVER AND USE THEREOF

FIELD

[0001]This disclosure relates to an elastic end cover and a method of use thereof. More specifically, this disclosure relates to coverings used for ends of wooden exterior boards of buildings.

BACKGROUND

[0002]Lumber is used for exterior covering of a building to enhance appearance of the building. Such installations include sideboards of a garage, exterior trims, and fascia boards. When the lumber is cut to fit the dimensions of the building, the standard practice is to cut the lumber 3/4 inch shorter to make a gap between the cut end of the lumber and abutting object (e.g., concrete ground, a roof, etc.) to prevent the cut end from being disposed in accumulated water that causes damage to the lumber. The raw cut end of the lumber, which may not be exposed to the outside of the building, is also not painted in a standard building method (e.g., due to not being an exterior surface of the building).

SUMMARY

[0003]This disclosure relates to an elastic end cover and a method of use thereof.

[0004]The embodiments described herein can protect a raw cut end (e.g., unsealed end) of building lumber that can rot when exposed to water (e.g., disposed in water). An elastic end cover is configured to be slipped on to a raw cut end of the wooden exterior building board and forms a water-impermeant barrier over the raw cut end.

[0005]In an embodiment, the end cover is used for a sideboard of a garage. The end cover can be used to protect the raw cut end of other exterior boards of a building, such as (but not limited to), to protect the raw cut end of a facie board and/or a corner trim that abuts another feature of a building where water can be present (e.g., can accumulate) and cause damage.

[0006]In an embodiment, an elastic end cover includes an opening configured to be stretched and slid onto a raw cut end of a building exterior wooden board. The elastic end cover prevents water from contacting the raw cut end of the building exterior wooden board.

[0007]In an embodiment, a method is directed to assembling an exterior of a building. The method includes attaching an elastic end cover over a raw cut end of a wooden board and securing the wooden board with the attached elastic end cover to a frame of the building.

[0008]In an embodiment, a method is directed to assembling a garage door. The method includes attaching the elastic end cover of claim 1 to a raw cut end of a building exterior wood board and securing the building exterior wood board with the attached elastic end cover to a garage frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]References are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this disclosure, and which illustrate embodiments in which the systems and methods described in this specification can be practiced.

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an elastic end cover attached to an end of a building exterior wooden board, according to an embodiment.

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the end cover of FIG. 1, showing the inside of the end cover, according to an embodiment.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an end cover installed on a sideboard of a garage door of a building, according to an embodiment.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of n elastic end covers installed on a facia of a roof and a corner trim of a building, according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

[0014]The term “about” as used herein refers to being within a range of ±5% of a stated amount. For example, “about 10 inches” refers to having a length in the range of from 9.5 to 10.5 inches. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, a recited about amount may be the recited amount (e.g., 10 inches for “about 10 inches”)

[0015]FIG. 1 shows an embodiment 100 in which an elastic end cover 120 is configured to cover the end of a wooden board 110. FIG. 1 is front perspective view of the elastic end cover 102 attached to the end of the wooden board 110. The wooden board is an exterior wooden board for a building. In the illustrated embodiment, the wooden board 110 may be a 2″×8″ wooden board (i.e., about 1.5 inch thick by about 7.25 inch wide wooden board, wooden board with a cross-section of about 1.5 inches by 7.25 inches). The wooden board 110 is a wooden board that forms a portion of the exterior of a building (i.e., attached to provide an external surface of the building).

[0016]The elastic end cover 120 is configured to be stretched and slid onto the end of a building exterior wooden board 110 and forms a tight fit onto the wooden board 110. The elastic end cover 120 can be configured to be attached (e.g., by being stretched onto) to the building exterior wooden board 110 without any attachment components (e.g., screws, bolts, adhesive, etc.). “Tight” as used herein means there is no space between the board 110 and the elastic end cover 120 and the elastic end cover 120 remains on the board 110 when the board 110 is lifted is moved (e.g., by hand). The tight fit forms a seal between the interior of the elastic end cover 120 and an exterior of the board 110 (e.g., forms a seal between inner wall surfaces of the elastic end cover 120 and sides/faces of the board 110).

[0017]The elastic end cover 120 is water-impermeable, and when installed, prevents water from contacting the bottom end of the board 110 disposed within the elastic cover 120. The end of the board 110 is raw cut end surface of the wooden board 110. A raw cut end is an unsealed end of the wood board. For example, an unsealed end of a wooden board has open wood pores can allow absorption of water into the wood. A raw cut end of wooden board may also be referred to as being unfinished end (or unfinished surface) or a site-finished end (or site-finished surface).

[0018]In an embodiment, the elastic end cover 120 is made of an elastic polymer material. For example, the elastic end cover 120 may be formed of an elastic polymer material. For example, the elastic polymer material may be, but is not limited to, one or more of polyvinyl (e.g., polyvinyl chloride), rubber, latex, and silicone. In an embodiment, the elastic end cover 120 may be formed of elastic polymer coated cloth of the elastic polymer material. For example, the elastic polymer coated cloth comprises a cloth (e.g., woven cloth, non-woven cloth, polymer cloth, etc.) coated in the elastic polymer material. In an embodiment, the elastic end cover 120 may be an elastic molded product of the elastic polymer material (e.g., elastic polymer material injection molded, cast molded, rotation molded, etc. to form the elastic end cover 120).

[0019]The material of the elastic end cover 120 is sufficiently elastic to form a water-tight seal between the elastic end cover 120 and the board 110 (e.g., between the inner walls of the elastic end cover 120 and the sides/faces of the board 110). The elasticity of the elastic end cover 120 is also configured to maintain the attachment of the elastic end cover 120 on the board 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic end cover 120 is made of a paintable elastic polymer material (e.g., configured to have paint adherence to the outside thereof, has exterior surfaces that have suitably high paint adherence, has exterior surfaces configured to have high bonding with building exterior paints). For example, the elastic end cover 120 is made of an elastic polymer material that is paintable with a conventional wood paint, such as the wood paint to be used with the wood board 110.

[0020]FIG. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the board 110 and elastic end cover 120 in FIG. 1. For example, FIG. 2 shows the elastic end cover 120 prior to being applied onto the end of the board 110 (e.g., prior to being elastically coupled onto/over the end of the board 110). Dashed lines are provided in FIG. 2 to illustrate obscured edges of the board 110 and the obscured interior edges of the elastic end cover 120.

[0021]The elastic end cover 120 has a front wall 200, a back wall 202, side walls 204 and 206, and a bottom wall 208. The front wall 200, the back wall 202, side walls (204 and 206), and the bottom wall 208 are joined water-tight, and forms a rectangular parallelepiped-like structure. As referred to herein, the side of the elastic end cover to which the bottom wall 208 is attached is referred to as the bottom of the elastic end cover, and the side of the elastic end cover opposite to the side attached to the bottom wall 208 is referred to as the top of the elastic end cover. Height is measured in the direction from the top to the bottom of the elastic end cover 120, and width is measured in the direction orthogonal to the height.

[0022]The elastic end cover 120 has an opening 212 configured to be stretched and slid onto the raw cut end of the wooden board 110. In FIG. 2, the raw cut end of the wooden board 110 is the end surface of the wooden board 110 facing downwards (e.g., the bottom end face/surface of the wooden board 110). The end of the wooden board 110 is inserted into the opening 212 of the elastic end cover 120 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2). The elastic end cover 120 (e.g., the opening 212) is configured to be stretched to dispose the elastic end cover 120 over the end of the wooden board. When the elastic end cover 120 is disposed on the wooden board 110, the raw cut end of the wooden board 110 is disposed opposite to an inner surface of the bottom wall 208 (e.g., the raw cut end of the wooden board 110 and the inner surface of the bottom wall 208 face each other). For example, the elastic end cover 120 provides a water-proof cap over the raw cut end of the wooden board 110.

[0023]As shown in FIG. 2, the back wall 210 of the elastic end cover 120 may have one or more ribs 210. The rib(s) 210 may be disposed on an inner surface of the bottom wall 208. The bottom wall 208 of the elastic end cover 120 in an embodiment may have a plurality of ribs 210. For example, the ribs 210 may extend along a plurality of directions (e.g., extending along at least two orthogonal directions). In an embodiment, the elastic end cover 120 may have at least one rib 210 disposed on the inner surface of the bottom wall 208 that extends between the side walls 204, 206 (e.g., extends from side wall 204 to side wall 206) and at least one rib 210 disposed on the inner surface of the bottom wall 208 that extends between the front wall 200 and the back wall 202 (e.g., extends from the front wall 200 to the back wall 202). As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the elastic end cover 120 may include a plurality of the ribs 210 that each extend between the front wall 200 and the back wall 202 (e.g., each extends from the front wall 200 to the back wall 202).

[0024]The thickness of the front wall 200, the back wall 202, the side walls 204 and 206, and the bottom wall 208 is about 0.125 inches. In an embodiment, the height of the elastic end cover is about 1.5 inches. In an embodiment, the height of the elastic end cover 120 (measured from the outside) is about 0.75 inches. In an embodiment, the elastic cover 120 is configured to cover at least 0.5 inches of the end of the board 110 (e.g., to cover at least the last 0.5 inches of length of the end of the board 110, the opening 212 has a depth in the height direction of at least 0.5 inches). In an embodiment, the elastic cover 120 is configured to cover at least 1 inch of the end of the board 110 (e.g., to cover at least the last 1 inch of length of the end of the board 110, the opening 212 has a depth in the height direction of at least 1 inch for receiving the board 110). In an embodiment, the elastic cover 120 is configured to cover at least 1.25 inches of the end of the board 110 (e.g., to cover at least the last 1.25 inches of length of the end of the board 110, the opening 212 has a depth in the height direction of at least 1.25 inches for receiving the board 110). In an embodiment, the elastic cover 120 does not cover more than 6 inches of the length of the board 110 (e.g., the opening 212 has a depth in the height direction of 6 inches or less for accommodating the board 110). In an embodiment, the elastic cover 120 does not cover more than 4 inches of the length of the board 110 (e.g., the opening 212 has a depth in the height direction of 4 inches or less for accommodating the board 110). In an embodiment, the elastic cover 120 does not cover more than 2 inches of the length of the board 110. (e.g., the opening 212 has a depth in the height direction of 2inches or less for accommodating the board 110).

[0025]The elastic end cover 120 is configured to be stretched to be disposed over the board 110. At least the mouth of the opening 212 is stretched to dispose the elastic end cover 102 over the end of the board 110 (e.g., at least the mouth 212 of the opening 212 is configured to be stretched to dispose the end of the board 110 in the opening 212). In an embodiment, the top of the opening 212 (i.e., the mouth of the opening 212) may have a smaller size than the bottom of the opening 212. In an embodiment of the elastic end cover 120 configured to fit a 2″×8″ board as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inside widths of the front and back walls 200, 202 (e.g., an inner length of each of the front and back walls defining the opening 212) are each about 7.25 inches at the top and about 7.5 inches at the bottom. The inside widths of the side walls 204, 206 are each about 1.25 inches at the top and about 1.5 inches at the bottom. The outside widths of the front and back walls 202, 202 can each be about 7.75 inches at bottom, and the outside widths of the side walls 204, 206 can each be about 1.75 inches at the bottom. In an embodiment, the inner widths of the front and back walls 200, 202 can each be about 7.3 inches at the top and the outside widths of the front and back walls 202, 202 can each be about 7.56 inches at bottom.

[0026]FIG. 3 shows an example when the elastic end cover 120 is installed on a board 110 that is a sideboard of a garage door 300. A portion of a front surface of the garage door 300 is shown in FIG. 3 (e.g., front surface of the bottom right corner of the garage door 300). The side wall 204 and the front wall 200 of the elastic end cover 120 are shown. As shown in FIG. 3, the elastic end cover 120 can extend to the ground and no gap is formed between the elastic end cover 120 and the ground G (e.g., the elastic end cover 120 abuts the ground G, the bottom of the elastic end cover 120 abuts the ground G).

[0027]The board 110 is attached to a frame 302 of the garage (e.g., nailed, or the like). In some embodiments, a covering piece can be used over the gap between the board 110 and the garage door 300. For example, a method of assembling a garage door can include attaching the elastic end cover 120 to the raw cut end of the wooden board 110, and securing the wooden board 110 (with the elastic end cover 120 attached thereto) to the frame 302 of the garage. The attaching of the elastic end cover 120 can include stretching the elastic end cover 120 to fit onto the wooden board 110 over the raw cut end (e.g., as discussed above). In an embodiment, the method can also include the cutting the wooden board based on a height of the garage door 300. The raw cut end of the wooden board 110 results in the wooden board 110 with the raw cut end. In an embodiment, the method may be adapted for other types of exterior boards of a building than a sideboard of a garage as discussed herein. For example, the method in such an embodiment may be for assembling a building and include securing the wooden board (with the attached elastic end cover) to a frame of the building.

[0028]Conventionally, a sideboard for a garage door has a length so that a gap is provided between the sideboard and the ground (e.g., a gap is provided between the raw cut end of the attached wooden board and the ground). This gap is configured to prevents the end of the sideboard from being disposed in any standing water on the ground. As shown in FIG. 3, as there is no need to make a gap between the sideboard and the ground to prevent damage from water, the board 110 can be cut to the exact length (e.g., while accounting for a thickness of the bottom wall of the elastic end cover). The elastic end cover can advantageously prevent air (e.g., hot and cold air) as well as rodents, insects, spiders, and amphibians (frogs, snakes, and lizards etc.) from entering the garage 300.

[0029]It is appreciated that the dimensions and shape of an elastic end cover is not limited to this example, and the dimensions and shape of the elastic end cover can be modified to match the board to be protected. It is also appreciated that the use of the elastic end cover is not limited to sideboards of a garage door, but the elastic end cover can be used to protect raw cut end of a building exterior wooden board in places that water can accumulate and damage the wooden board.

[0030]FIG. 4 shows other exterior wooden boards of a building to which an elastic end cover may be installed. As shown in FIG. 4, examples of other exterior wooden boards of a building to which the elastic end cover can be installed include, but are not limited to, the facie board 430 of a dormer window 400 on the end that abuts a roofing 440 of the building (e.g., an elastic end cover 450) and a corner trim 460 on the end that abuts the roofing 440 (e.g., an elastic end cover 470). As similarly discussed for the elastic end cover in FIG. 3, a bottom of the elastic end covers 450, 470 in FIG. 4 can be configured to abut the roofing 440 with no gap provided therebetween. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the elastic end covers 450, 470 may be configured to have an angled bottom so as flushly abut (i.e., abut at a single plane) the roofing 440.

ASPECTS

[0033]Aspect 2. The elastic end cover of Aspect 1, wherein the elastic end cover is made of an elastic water impermeable polymer material.

[0034]Aspect 3. The elastic end cover of any one of Aspects 1-2, wherein the elastic end cover is made of a polymer material comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl, rubber, latex, and silicone.

[0035]Aspect 4. The elastic end cover of any one of Aspects 1-3, wherein the elastic end cover is configured to cover at least 0.5 inches of a length of the building exterior wooden board.

[0036]Aspect 5. The elastic end cover of any one of Aspects 1-4, wherein the elastic end cover is configured to cover less than 5 inches of the length of the building exterior wooden board.

[0041]Aspect 8. The elastic end cover of any one of Aspects 1-7, wherein the opening configured to be stretched and slid onto the raw cut end of the building exterior wooden board that is a trim board of a garage, in which the raw cut end faces towards the ground.

[0042]Aspect 9. The elastic end cover of any one of Aspects 1-7, wherein the opening configured to be stretched and slid onto the raw cut end of the building exterior wooden board that is a facie board.

[0043]Aspect 10. The elastic end cover of any one of Aspects 1-7, wherein the opening configured to be stretched and slid onto the raw cut end of the building exterior wooden board that is a corner trim board.

[0044]Aspect 11. The elastic end cover of any one of Aspects 1-10, wherein the elastic end cover is configured to be attached to the building exterior wooden board by the opening of the elastic end cover being stretched and slid onto the raw cut end of the building exterior wooden board.

[0045]Aspect 12. The elastic end cover of any one of Aspects 1-11, wherein the elastic end cover is configured to be attached to the building exterior wood board without any fastening components.

[0052]Aspect 15. The method of any one of Aspect 14, wherein the wooden board is secured to the garage frame such that no gap is provided between a bottom of the elastic end cover and the ground.

[0059]The examples disclosed in this application are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not limitative. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.