Ventilating sill plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilating devices for wall structures often lead to moisture accumulation and rust due to contact with support surfaces, and vapor barrier membranes can trap moisture in case of flooding, failing to effectively ventilate and prevent damage from humidity and water.

Innovation Solution

A ventilating sill plate design featuring a longitudinal base with support legs and elevated pads that create ventilating channels, along with arms to guide and maintain the wall portion, allowing for air circulation and water drainage, thereby isolating the wall from moisture and humidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a support surface is used to elevate the wall structure from the ground, then the wall is prevented from direct contact with water flooding, but moisture accumulates at the contact point causing rust and deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from water floodingVSAvoidmoisture accumulation and rust

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the wall structure from direct contact with the support surface by introducing spacers that create a gap between the wall and the support surface. This extraction eliminates the moisture accumulation problem at the contact point while maintaining the elevation benefit for flood protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces spacers as an intermediary element between the wall structure and the support surface. These spacers serve as a mediator that prevents direct contact, thereby eliminating moisture transfer and rust formation while still allowing the wall to be elevated for flood protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vapor barrier membranes are used to isolate wall structures from humidity, then moisture isolation is improved, but water and moisture become trapped in case of flooding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidity isolationVSAvoidmoisture trapping during flooding

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a vapor barrier membrane that prevents moisture transmission, the invention inverts the approach by using a permeable support surface and introducing spacers that allow air circulation. This inversion enables moisture to escape rather than be trapped, solving the flooding problem while still providing humidity isolation through ventilation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a porous or permeable support surface that allows moisture and water to pass through rather than being blocked. This porous structure prevents moisture trapping during flooding while still providing effective humidity isolation through controlled ventilation and drainage pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Strength

If the wall structure is in contact with the support surface of the ventilation device, then structural support is provided, but moisture accumulation and rust formation are facilitated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidmoisture accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the wall structure from direct contact with the support surface by positioning spacers between them. This extraction maintains structural support through the spacer elements while eliminating the moisture accumulation problem that occurs at contact points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacers serve as intermediary elements that provide structural support while preventing direct contact between the wall structure and the support surface. This intermediary arrangement maintains the necessary structural strength while eliminating moisture transfer and rust formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The ventilating sill plate effectively prevents moisture accumulation and rust by promoting air circulation and water drainage, ensuring the wall structure remains dry and protected from damage.

Implementation Method 1

two adjacent ones of the plurality of longitudinally spaced support legs defining a ventilating channel extending therebetween

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir circulation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the first face of the single longitudinal plate is inclined so as to allow evacuation of water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity drainage: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11359368B2Ventilating sill plate

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 9619674 CANADA INC

AI summary

There is provided a ventilating sill plate for elevating a wall portion from a receiving surface. The ventilating sill plate comprises at least one longitudinal base having a first and a second face opposite the first face extending along a longitudinal axis, the first and the second face extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between a first and a second lateral side. A plurality of longitudinally spaced support legs extend away from the second face and define at least one ventilating channel extending from the first to the second lateral side of the at least one longitudinal base. A plurality of support pads project from the first face and collaborate for supporting the wall portion. A plurality of longitudinally spaced arms are shaped and sized to receive the wall portion therebetween.