Preformed diverters and diverter system for building foundations

Abstract

A method of installing preformed unibody diverter units around building foundations to direct water away from the building foundation including performing the diverter units to have a vertical section and an angled section, preparing the soil surrounding the building foundation, and coupling the vertical section to the building housing.

1 . A preformed unibody diverter for directing water away from a building foundation comprising: 
 a generally vertical section having a first predetermined width;    first and second portions of said generally vertical section disposed at an angle with respect to one another;    an angled section extending downwardly from said generally vertical section at an obtuse angle therewith and having a second predetermined width, wherein said angled section includes first and second portions disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to one another; and    wherein said first predetermined width is larger than said second predetermined width.    
   
   
       2 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein said first and second portions are disposed at a generally right angle with respect to one another.  
   
   
       3 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein said vertical section has a width of approximately ten inches.  
   
   
       4 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein said angled section has a width of approximately 30 inches.  
   
   
       5 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein a ratio of the widths of said vertical section and said angled section is between approximately 1:1 and 1:10.  
   
   
       6 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein said first and second portions of said vertical section have a predetermined length of approximately 24 inches.  
   
   
       7 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein said angled portion extends downwardly from said vertical portion at a grade of approximately 20%.  
   
   
       8 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein said vertical section has a predetermined thickness.  
   
   
       9 . The diverter of  claim 8  wherein said vertical section has a predetermined thickness of approximately 0.045 inches (1 millimeter).  
   
   
       10 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein said angled portion comprises rubber.  
   
   
       11 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein said vertical section comprises PVC.  
   
   
       12 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein said vertical section includes an attachment system.  
   
   
       13 . The diverter of  claim 12  wherein said attachment system includes at least one fastener.  
   
   
       14 . The diverter of  claim 13  wherein said fastener comprises at least one bolt.  
   
   
       15 . The diverter of  claim 13  wherein said fastener comprises at least one threaded fastener.  
   
   
       16 . A preformed unibody diverter for directing water away from a building foundation that includes one or more of an outside corner, inside corner, and generally planar surfaces, said diverter comprising: 
 a diverter body generally shaped to fit closely to the building foundation, wherein said diverter body includes a generally vertical portion shaped to abut a portion of the building foundation and an angled portion shaped to extend downwardly and away from both said vertical portion and the building foundation.    
   
   
       17 . The diverter of  claim 16  wherein said vertical portion is shaped to fit closely to an outside corner of the building foundation.  
   
   
       18 . The diverter of  claim 17  wherein said vertical portion has an angle of abutment of approximately 90°.  
   
   
       19 . The diverter of  claim 16  wherein said vertical portion is shaped to abut an inside corner of the building foundation.  
   
   
       20 . The diverter of  claim 19  wherein said vertical portion has an abutment angle of approximately 270°.  
   
   
       21 . The diverter of  claim 16  wherein said vertical portion is shaped to abut the generally planar surface of the building foundation.  
   
   
       22 . The diverter of  claim 21  wherein said vertical portion has an abutment angle of approximately 180°.  
   
   
       23 . A preformed unibody diverter for directing water away from a building foundation comprising: 
 a diverter body generally shaped to fit closely to an outside corner of the building foundation, wherein said diverter body includes a vertical portion and an angled portion that extends downwardly and away from both said vertical portion and the building foundation.    
   
   
       24 . A preformed unibody diverter for directing water away from a building foundation comprising: 
 a diverter body generally shaped to fit closely to an inside corner of the building foundation, wherein said diverter body includes a vertical portion and an angled portion that extends downwardly and away from both said vertical portion and the building foundation.    
   
   
       25 . A preformed unibody diverter for directing water away from a building foundation comprising: 
 a diverter body generally shaped to fit closely to a generally planar portion of the building foundation, wherein said diverter body includes a vertical portion and an angled portion that extends downwardly and away from both said vertical portion and the building foundation.    
   
   
       26 . A preformed diverter system for directing water away from a building foundation that includes one or more of an outside corner, inside corner and a generally planar surface, said system comprising: 
 a first unibody diverter body generally shaped to fit closely to the outside corner of the building foundation;    a second unibody diverter body generally shaped to fit closely to the generally planar surface of the building foundation; and    a third unibody diverter body generally shaped to fit closely to the inside corner of the building foundation when the inside corner is present.    
   
   
       27 . The diverter system of  claim 26  wherein said first unibody diverter body includes a generally L-shaped vertical portion shaped to abut the outside corner of the building foundation and an angled portion that extends downwardly and away from both the vertical portion and the building foundation.  
   
   
       28 . The diverter system of  claim 27  wherein said vertical portion of said first unibody diverter body has a width of approximately ten inches.  
   
   
       29 . The diverter system of  claim 27  wherein said angled section of said first unibody diverter body has a width of approximately 30 inches.  
   
   
       30 . The diverter system of  claim 27  wherein a ratio of the widths of said vertical section and said angled section of said first unibody diverter body is between approximately 1:1 and 1:10  
   
   
       31 . The diverter system of  claim 27  wherein said angled portion of said first unibody diverter body extends downwardly from said vertical portion at a grade of approximately 20%.  
   
   
       32 . The diverter system of  claim 27  wherein said vertical portion of said first unibody diverter body includes a first half and a second half each having a predetermined length of approximately 24 inches.  
   
   
       33 . The diverter system of  claim 27  wherein said vertical section of said first unibody diverter body includes an attachment system.  
   
   
       34 . The diverter system of  claim 27  wherein said attachment system includes at least one fastener.  
   
   
       35 . The diverter system of  claim 27  wherein said second unibody diverter body includes a vertical portion shaped to abut the generally planar surface of the building foundation and an angled portion that extends downwardly and away from both the vertical portion and the building foundation.  
   
   
       36 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein said vertical portion of said second unibody diverter body has a predetermined width of approximately 10 inches.  
   
   
       37 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein said vertical portion of said second unibody diverter body has a predetermined width corresponding to a distance between two inside corners of the building foundation.  
   
   
       38 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein said vertical portion of said second unibody diverter body has a predetermined width corresponding to a distance between two outside corners of the building foundation.  
   
   
       39 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein said vertical portion of said second unibody diverter body has a predetermined width corresponding to a distance between an inside corner and an outside corner of the building foundation.  
   
   
       40 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein said angled portion of said second unibody diverter body has a predetermined width of approximately 30 inches.  
   
   
       41 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein a ratio of the widths of said vertical section and said angled section of said second unibody diverter body is between approximately 1:1 and 1:10.  
   
   
       42 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein said angled portion of said second unibody diverter body extends downwardly from said vertical portion at a grade of approximately 20%.  
   
   
       43 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein said vertical portion of said second unibody diverter body is generally planar and has a predetermined length of approximately 27 inches.  
   
   
       44 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein said vertical portion of said second unibody diverter body includes an attachment system.  
   
   
       45 . The diverter system of  claim 35  wherein said attachment system includes at least one fastener.  
   
   
       46 . The diverter system of  claim 26  wherein said third unibody diverter body includes a vertical portion generally shaped to fit closely to the inside corner of the building foundation when the inside corner is present and an angled portion that extends downwardly and away from both the vertical portion and the building foundation.  
   
   
       47 . The diverter system of  claim 46  wherein said vertical portion of said third unibody diverter body has a width of approximately ten inches.  
   
   
       48 . The diverter system of  claim 46  wherein said angled section of said third unibody diverter body has a width of approximately 30 inches.  
   
   
       49 . The diverter system of  claim 46  wherein a ratio of the widths of said vertical section and said angled section of said third unibody diverter body is between approximately 1:1 and 1:10.  
   
   
       50 . The diverter system of  claim 46  wherein said angled portion of said third unibody diverter body extends downwardly from said vertical portion at a grade of approximately 20%.  
   
   
       51 . The diverter system of  claim 46  wherein said vertical portion of said third unibody diverter body includes a first half and a second half each having a predetermined length of approximately 44 inches.  
   
   
       52 . The diverter system of  claim 46  wherein said vertical section of said third unibody diverter body includes an attachment system.  
   
   
       53 . The diverter system of  claim 46  wherein said attachment system includes at least one fastener.  
   
   
       54 . A preformed unibody diverter for directing water away from a building foundation comprising: 
 a generally vertical section having a first predetermined width;    an angled section having a second predetermined width and being angled downwardly and away from both said vertical section and the building foundation; and    wherein said first predetermined width is larger than said second predetermined width.    
   
   
       55 . A method of installing preformed unibody diverter units around building foundations to direct water away from the building foundation comprising: 
 performing said diverter units to have a vertical section and an angled section;    preparing soil surrounding the building foundation;    coupling said vertical section to the building housing.    
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein performing said diverter units comprises performing inside corner units, outside corner units and planar units as needed.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 55  wherein performing said diverter units comprises providing said angled section at a grade of approximately 20% with respect to said vertical section  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 55  wherein preparing said soil comprises compacting said soil.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 55  wherein preparing said soil comprises grading the soil at approximately 20% with respect to the building foundation.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 55  wherein preparing said soil comprises installing a thermal insulating material over said soil and a portion of the building foundation to which the vertical section is coupled.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 55  wherein preparing said soil comprises placing pest treatment chemicals in the soil.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 55  wherein coupling said vertical section to the building housing comprises abutting the vertical section to the building housing.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 55  wherein coupling said vertical section to the building housing comprises coupling a termination bar to said vertical section.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein coupling said vertical section to the building housing comprises inserting fasteners through said termination bar and said vertical section and into corresponding recesses in said building foundation.  
   
   
       65 . A preformed unibody diverter for directing water away from a building foundation comprising: 
 a diverter body generally shaped to fit closely to a generally cylindrical post of the building foundation, wherein said diverter body includes a vertical portion and an angled portion that extends downwardly and away from both said vertical portion and said cylindrical post of said building foundation.    
   
   
       66 . The diverter of  claim 65  further comprising a through-cut disposed on said vertical portion and said angled portion.  
   
   
       67 . A preformed unibody diverter system for directing water away from a building foundation comprising: 
 at least one diverter body generally shaped to fit closely to an outside corner of a pier of a building foundation, wherein said diverter body includes a vertical portion and an angled portion that extends downwardly and away from both said vertical portion and said pier of said building foundation.    
   
   
       68 . The diverter system of  claim 67  further comprising four diverter bodies.