A recording head has a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface of the recording head. The near-field transducer extends a first distance away from the media-facing surface. A waveguide overlaps and delivers light to the near-field transducer. Two subwavelength focusing mirrors are at an end of the waveguide proximate the media-facing surface and extend a second distance away from the media-facing surface that is less than the first distance. The subwavelength mirrors are on opposite crosstrack sides of the near-field transducer and separated from each other by a crosstrack gap. The subwavelength focusing mirrors each include a first material at the media-facing surface; and a second material facing away from the media facing surface and in contact with the first material. The second material includes a plasmonic material, and the first material is more mechanically robust than the second material.

An expandable flashing device comprises first and second pieces of flashing material that overlap one another with hems or folded edges located on opposite lateral sides of the pieces that hold the pieces together, yet allow the pieces to slide or shift with respect to one another to selectively change the length of the device. In a first stowed position, the pieces overlap one another and in an expanded second position, the pieces may be pulled apart to increase an overall length of the pieces. The maximum length of material that overlaps between the pieces is defined as the overlap range. The overlap range defines the range to which the device can be shortened or lengthened to fit a particular installation. A flashing system and a method of installing flashing are also disclosed.

A one-piece sill pan flashing is provided with accordion sections enabling the flashing to be adjusted in width as necessary for installation in rough framing. The new flashing includes a sill plate cover with forwardly and downwardly inclined upper portions and lower portions extending downward from the upper portions. The accordion sections are incorporated integrally into the sill cover and are formed of narrow panels, flexibly connected along lateral edges to form V-shaped accordion folds having a series of ridges and valleys. The respective ridges and valleys are aligned in common vertical planes and are rounded through a transition curve at the front corners thereof. The flashing is injection molded in two end parts, each with one or more accordion sections. Center extensions can be used for extra wide window framing. The parts are permanently bonded and sealed at the factory and shipped and installed as one piece.

An external cladding system includes at least one panel of sheet material, a series of vertically and horizontally oriented panel mounting extrusions, and a number of spaced apart apertures passing through a topmost/bottom most horizontal panel mounting extrusions on a wall. The apertures extend along a longitudinal axis of an internal horizontal portion of the topmost and bottom-most panel mounting extrusions. In use, the at least one panel is held in place on the panel mounting extrusions via: capping extrusions and resilient sealing strips, which are located between the panel and the capping extrusions. One or more spacer elements are located on the horizontally-oriented panel mounting extrusions, which support the bottom edge of a panel.

The present invention is a threshold gasket assembly to be used in conjunction with end and/or back dams to form a sill pan. The threshold gasket assembly is fixed to a lower region of a rough opening in a wall and comprises a base with a plurality of fins projecting away from base to form a corresponding plurality of channels with a length generally the same as a base. Base has a generally L shaped cross section. At least two fins are sufficiently spaced from another to prevent contact with each other thereby simultaneously ensuring that moisture is dammed by at least one fin and directed by at least a portion of an adjacent channel.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for installing a closure assembly into a framed opening having sheathing arranged around the framed opening. The apparatuses, systems, and methods may include use of at least one support bracket along the framed opening and the sheathing.

A sill pan for a building opening has a bottom plate with a first end, a second end, a front edge and a rear edge. An end wall is located at the first end of the bottom plate and extends substantially away from the first end in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom plate. The end wall has a front edge and a rear edge that are coplanar to the front and rear edges of the bottom plate, respectively. A front skirt and a rear skirt are connected to the front and rear edges, respectively, of the bottom plate and the end wall. The bottom plate, end wall, front skirt, and rear skirt are vacuum formed as a unitary body from a foldable material. The bottom plate is self-supporting in a no-load condition and conformable to a load applied during installation in the building opening.

A sill pan concealment system and method for concealing a sill pan wall that lies across a threshold. The system comprises a sill pan that rests flush across the threshold, and a sill that is disposed parallel and in alignment with the sill pan. The sill fits into the sill pan to create a protruding barrier across the threshold. The sill pan has an interior wall oriented towards the interior region; and an exterior wall oriented towards the exterior region. The sill has a sill interior end that orients towards the sill an interior wall. The sill interior end forms an elongated notch through a cross section of the sill. The notch is sized and dimensioned to align with, and receive the interior wall of the sill pan. In this manner, the interior wall of the sill pan is concealed in the notch, from the perspective of interior region.

Multi-piece, flexible, sill pan assemblies and methods of installation are disclosed. Method of installation of a sill pan assembly for pocket door systems such as single- and double-door versions as well as multi-panel pocket doors. The sill pan assembly has a first flexible end dam member, a second flexible end dam member, a flexible outside corner member, and a flexible insert. Methods of installation of a sill pan assembly for a double-pocket door. The sill pan assembly having a first flexible end dam member, a second flexible end dam member, a first flexible outside corner member, a second flexible outside corner member, and a flexible insert.

A corner flashing system is provided for sealing the corners of recessed window frames against moisture penetration. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises first and second double-flap members, a half-cube member, and caulking. The first and second double-flap members, and the half-cube member are preferably made of asphalt or petroleum based material. In another preferred embodiment, the system comprises one double-flap member, a modified half-cube member, and caulking. In another preferred embodiment, the system comprises a single member that combines a double-flap member and a half-cube member, and caulking. In another preferred embodiment, the system comprises a combination member, a double-flap member, and caulking.