This invention relates to the general field of roofing, and in particular ventilation systems for preformed roofing panels or tiles.
Preformed metal roofing panel systems provide the benefit of durability and long service life with a minimum of maintenance compared with other types of roofing systems. A typical roofing system includes preformed sheet metal panels with overlapping portions which may or may not interlock.
Each panel includes spaced longitudinal projections extending the length of the panel that provide structural rigidity and also allow mating between panels. The panels are installed on a roof such that the projections extend in the direction of the slope of the roof. The projections create gaps between the panels and any flat underlying support material or base surface on which the panels are installed. These gaps can be filled with closure strips that have a profile complementary to the bottom of the roof panel. The strips are made from a resilient watertight material at the bottom edge of the roof panels. The closure strips' installation prevents wind-driven rain, debris, or insects from entering through the gaps at the bottom edge of the roof and damaging the underlying support structure.
In order to work effectively, the closure strips must be precisely formed with complementary projections that align with the mating panel to close the gaps and prevent foreign matter from passing through to the underlying support material. A perfectly sealed roof, however, is not practicable, and inevitably, moisture finds its way between the roof panels and the underlying materials. Often, humid, warm air is trapped between roof panels and the underlying material during the day time. When the roof cools at night, moisture in the air condenses and is then trapped inside the roof structure by the closure strips. This trapped moisture may cause deterioration of the roof panels and the underlying material. Current roofing systems do not provide ventilation that assists in evaporating this unwanted water. Additionally, the known closure strips have a life of about three years before the material breaks down.
Similar problems are known in tile roofing systems, in which rounded tiles created gaps with similar problems as those discussed above.
Thus, a need exists for a panel roofing system that allows adequate ventilation between the roof panels and the underlying material to prevent deterioration of the roof panels and support material.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides air permeable vent plugs located between the major projections and the base surface at a bottom end of the roof. The air permeable plugs vent an area between the roof panel and the base surface and prevent ingress of moisture and other foreign matter.
A roofing system, according to the invention, has at least one roof panel, located above the base surface, having at least one longitudinally extending projection; a gap defined between the base surface and the projection; and a venting material located within the gap that both vents the gap and prevents ingress of moisture into the gap.
a is an isometric view of a vent plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
b is an isometric view of another vent plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
c is an isometric view of another vent plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
d is an isometric view of another vent plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not considered limiting. Words such as “front”, “back”, “top” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. This terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. Additionally, the terms “a” and “one” are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted. The term “roof panel” is intended to refer to any type of profiled roofing media, such as profiled or corrugated metal or plastic roofing panels or roofing tiles that form a profiled roof through the assembly of multiple tiles.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawing figures where like numerals represent like elements throughout.
Each of the panels 12 may include one or more of major longitudinally extending projections 16 at the seams as well as major stiffening projections 17 and/or minor stiffening projections 18 in the field to provide structural rigidity. At a bottom end 24 of the panels 12, vent plugs 30 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention are installed in gaps formed between the major projections 16 for the seam and/or the major stiffening projections 17 and the water barrier 22. Alternatively, the plugs 30 can be installed between the major projections 16 for the seams and/or the major stiffening projections 17 and purlins used to support the roof panels. The bottom end 24 may correspond to the bottom edge of the roof structure on which the roof panels 12 are installed, or alternatively, may correspond to a transitioning portion of the roof such as a change in pitch, material or surfaces.
A first preferred plug 30 is shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The plugs 30 may include a tapered end to facilitate installation. Installation of the plugs 30 is accomplished after the panels 12 are secured on the base surface 20. The plugs 30 are inserted, preferably tapered end first, into a respective gap of one of the major projections 16, 17 so that an end of each plug is flush, slightly recessed, or slightly protruding with respect to the roof end 24. Optionally, the vent plugs 30 may be adhered to the panels 12 and/or the water barrier 22 by an adhesive applied to at least one of the plugs 30, the panels 12 and the water barrier 22. The adhesive may include a fluid or semi-solid substance, or alternatively, the adhesive may include adhesive strips, of the type known in the art, supplied pre-attached along a lower surface of each of the vent plugs 30. The adhesive strips preferably include a release strip which, when removed, reveals an adhesive such as an acrylic or silicone.
Referring now to
In the embodiment shown in
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the vent plugs 30, 130, 230, 330 can be used at some or all of the major projections 16, 17, and 216. Additionally, if the strips 50 or 250 are used, the mating projections 52, 53, and 252 can be at some or all of the major projection locations in the roof panel 12 or tile 212.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, which should be considered as merely exemplary. Further modifications and extensions of the present invention may be developed, and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/563,625 filed on Apr. 19, 2005, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60563625 | Apr 2004 | US |