Roof ridge anchors

Abstract

Several modifications and variations of roof ridge anchors are disclosed. One group has simple but extremely effective anchors which are inexpensive to make and will fully satisfy all requirements of building codes as well as roofers. Some roof ridge anchor crowns or head sections have all planar surfaces with no recesses; others have recesses on the side parts thereof; and have specific recess shapes that are advantageous when attaching roof ridge tile members to the anchors; other anchor head sections are provided with curvilinear portions; some have separate water leakage shields that direct any water leakage away from the interior of the anchors; some have recesses that extend the entire length of the anchors or alternately have recess sections that are longitudinally spaced along the length of the anchors.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein disclosed and claimed relates to anchors for roof ridges. Such anchors are installed so that they support roof ridge tiles and provide anchorages for the upper row of roof tiles on roof sections between the ridges and the eaves.

The general construction of roof ridge anchors includes an upper part sometimes known as the crown or head over which the typical roof ridge tile lies. The roof ridge tiles are usually secured in some manner to the roof ridge anchor. Those tiles are typically shaped, as seen in cross-section, as having inverted U-shaped openings which are placed over the roof ridge anchor with the sides of that inverted U diverging from the vertical centerline of that U. Thus the crown or head of the roof ridge anchor is located within that inverted U-shaped opening. Roof ridge anchors also typically have main body portions extending downwardly from the crown and nailer or securing flanges on the bottoms of the main body portions which conform with the slopes of the roof on opposite sides of the roof ridge itself, and provide a means for securing the roof ridge anchor to the roof. The background of the invention also includes many patents which are classified in Classes 52 and 454. Examples of these U.S. patents are U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,032—Kennedy; U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,263—Belden; U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,290—Wolfert; U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,458—Ting; U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,637—Mason; U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,071—Kirkwood; U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,273—Villela et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,472—Coulton et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,256—Gembala; U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,916—Maisch et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,675—Castellanos.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In it broadest sense the invention is that of a linearly extending roof ridge anchor having a body section, a crown section and a nailer section, the crown section and a part of said body section being adapted to have one or more roof ridge tiles received thereover and thus being adapted to be secured to the roof ridge anchor crown section and to be engaged by the engagement lines or surfaces areas so that any stresses at these engagement lines or areas are either diminished or eliminated. The nailer section of the roof ridge anchor extends outwardly and downwardly from the body section and is adapted to secure the roof ridge anchor to portions of a roof extending outwardly and downwardly from the opposite sides of a roof ridge on which the roof ridge anchor is adapted to be installed.

It is old in the art to provide a roof ridge anchor having a flat crown top surface and the main body being flat side surfaces which are edge-secured to the flat crown top surface and thus form two substantially right-angled edges extending linearly of the roof ridge anchor and these two edges are the only support contacts between the roof ridge tiles and the crown of the roof ridge anchor. One modification of this has been to have the entire flat crown top surface shaped in cross-section as a V. There have been problems of water retention and leakage in these V-shaped crown top surfaces, particularly when tile attachments include nails or screws, extending downwardly through the highest point of the rooftiles and thus into the bottom of the V thus making it much more receptive to water leakage into the interior of the roof ridge anchor and thus to the ridge of the roof that is supposed to be protected from water, following the path of the nails or screws. At times a glue-like mastic material is placed in the V, usually at intervals, to hold the tiles in place, forming a series of water retention points which makes it way through the pierced bottom of the V to the roof ridge that should be protected.

It is one of the features of the invention that such water retention is minimized in any of several manners, none of which do so by making the entire top surface of the crown as an inverted V. Even if a trough is provided in a part of the crown flat surface, it does not have its lower terminus at the point of a V where a nail or screw used to hold the ridge tiles in place would penetrate the crown top surface and any water retained would eventually leak therethrough.

One of the improvements embodied in the invention is the provision of any of several roof ridge head or crown sections having shapes in cross-section which are adapted to closely receive the roof ridge tiles thereover and which at times may be engaged either at more than two linear engagement edges or may be engaged at substantial surface areas of engagement of the roof ridge tiles with the roof ridge anchor crown section, thus lessening or entirely eliminating the linear type edge-supporting stresses on the tiles by providing a greater number of edge-like supports while at least maintaining, and in several instances improving, the roof ridge anchor's ability to support the roof ridge tiles without any adverse deformations of the roof ridge anchor, even though at times some heavy loads may be exerted on the roof ridge tiles ant thus possibly on the roof ridge anchor. This can possibly occur if heavy branches hit or fall on some roof ridge tiles, or someone steps on the roof ridge tiles while they are in place on the roof ridge anchor. This is accomplished with the provision of several different cross-section shapes of roof ridge anchor crowns by providing roof ridge anchors having several different crown section cross-section shapes, defined by surfaces of sheet metal material including a crown top surface and beveled crown side surfaces and usually the upper parts of said body section which may be considered to be a part of the crown as well as larger surfaces for such engagement by roof ridge tiles at times.

It is to be understood that, while describing the roof ridge anchors embodying the invention in further detail, and in some of the claims, the anchors herein shown, described and claimed may be identified as being made of sheet metal material, non-metallic materials which have the strength to perform the same functions and to last for at least the usual period of a roof having such roof ridge anchors installed and tiles thereon, may also be used. At this time, however, it is economically more feasible to make the roof ridge anchors out of sheet metal.

It a similar broader sense the invention is that of a linearly extending roof ridge anchor, sometimes known in the art as a ridge cap, comprising a length of metallic material having a first surface area forming a roof ridge anchor top surface. It has second and third surface areas which are spaced laterally apart and are generally perpendicular to and spaced from the first surface area. The second and third surface areas respectively include first and second roof ridge anchor side surfaces with at least major area portions thereof respectively being parts of the second and third surface areas. It also has fourth and fifth surface areas which are intermediate connecting surface areas so that they are not substantially planar continuations of either of the first and second or either of the first and third surface areas. The fourth surface area operatively connects the first surface area with the second surface area. The fifth surface area operatively connects the first surface area with the third surface area. The first, fourth and fifth surface areas combine so as to provide a ridge anchor crown section which more nearly conforms to the interior surface of a typical roof ridge tile than would be the case when the first surface area would be directly connected to the second and third surface areas without using the fourth and fifth surface areas. Each of the first and second roof ridge anchor side surfaces has a ridge anchor mounting flange formed so as to extend outwardly of the roofridge anchor at angles that are adapted to permit the roof ridge anchor to accommodate the slopes of a roof extending outwardly and downwardly from a roofridge on which the roof ridge anchor may be installed.

In a more specific sense, the invention also lies in the arrangement of a linearly extending roof ridge anchor comprising a length of metallic material formed to have the following features: a first plane having a roof ridge anchor top surface with at least major area portions thereof being in the first plane; second and third planes which are spaced laterally apart and are generally perpendicular to the first plane, the second and third planes respectively having first and second roof ridge anchor side surfaces with at least major area portions thereof respectively being in the second and third planes; fourth and fifth planes which are intermediate connecting planes, the fourth plane operatively connecting the first plane with the second plane and the fifth plane operatively connecting the first plane with the third plane; with the first and fourth and fifth planes cooperatively providing a ridge anchor crown section which more nearly conforms to the interior surface of a typical roof ridge tile than would be the case when the first plane is directly connected to the second and third planes at approximately right angles or more. The first and second roof ridge anchor side surfaces have ridge anchor mounting flanges formed so as to extend outwardly of said roof ridge anchor at angles that are adapted to permit said roof ridge anchor to accommodate the slopes of a roof extending outwardly and downwardly from a roof ridge on which the roof ridge anchor may be installed.

One of the several specific species of the roof ridge anchor embodying the invention has the first surface area being as least predominantly a flat surface area. Another specific species of the roof ridge anchor embodying the invention has the first surface area being curvilinear in cross-section. In other modifications, the first surface area is curvilinear in cross-section, and that arrangement may be utilized either with flat side surfaces or with the side surfaces being either partially or wholly curvilinear as seen in cross-section of the roof ridge anchor. In similar manner, one of the other modification features is that the fourth and fifth surface areas may be curvilinear as seen in cross-section, with the first surface are being either flat or curvilinear as previously described. In still other closely-related modifications the fourth and fifth surface areas may each be formed of upper and lower parts which are in planes that are joined together at relatively small angles so that the fourth and fifth surface areas are slightly out of planar alignment, and thus appear in cross-section to be somewhat indented. The slight indentations so formed may be used for securing material such as a mastic or a glue to be placed therein on the outer surfaces thereof and also engaging the inner surfaces of the ridge tile or cap. When the mastic or glue is provided in linearly spaced relation within the indentations, the spaces between the mastic or glue are able to permit flow of any water that might come through the ridge tile opening through which securing devices such as nails may be inserted to more solidly anchor the ridge tiles in place, that water flow simply continuing to flow through these spaces because the slopes of both parts of the fourth and fifth surface areas are still outward and downward and the water flow follows that surface path and is harmlessly deposited on the tile which overlies the earlier noted roofridge anchor mounting flanges, and down off the roof. This has very distinct advantages over some prior constructions where the at least substantially entire top surface area is formed as a V. Any water which leaks past the nails or similar securing devices to the interior of the roof tile simply is trapped in the V, tending to cause the roof ridge anchor to deteriorate at a faster rate than it would if there were no place where the water could be collected.

In other modifications of the invention, the top surface area may be curvilinear so that it is adapted to more closely conform to the interior surfaces of the ridge tiles when they are installed. This curvilinear form may be seen as an arc of a circle when viewed in cross-section, of may be somewhat elongated so that the radii of the curvilinear area become greater and greater as that area approaches the side surface areas. Either of the curvilinear arrangements may have similar slight exterior indentations as earlier described.

The top of the crown portion of the roof ridge anchor may be formed in cross-section in the form of a “S” on each half with the lower parts of the area where the two “S's” are formed providing a large trough. This permits a rather large amount of fastening mastic or glue to be used to attach the ridge tile to the anchor, and there is no leakage within the ridge tile or within the roof anchor assembly. By filling the trough completely with the mastic or its equivalent, there is no water allowed to be trapped in the trough. Also, there can be some mastic retention advantage in using a groove that is trapezoidal in cross-section, with the smaller side of the trapezoid being the side that is open to the space immediately above the upper surface of the crown.

It is within the purview of the invention that when such arrangements for the slight exterior indentations are used, they may be linearly spaced along the linear length of the roof ridge anchor, thus still serving to assure that water is not trapped and the portions between the indentations that are not indented may still either approach or make actual contact where the full curvilinear surfaces exist. This will provide adequate water removal as well as a more desirable area of engagement for the ridge tile engagement with the ridge roof anchor should such engagement occur.

There may be occasions when it is desired to have the flat top surface to also have a small trough extending linearly of the roof ridge anchor, and yet want to absolutely prevent any water drip on the interior of the roof ridge anchor, such as when it leaks past a securing device such as a nail or screw. This arrangement is accommodated by one of the variations of the roof ridge anchor assembly. One example is shown in the drawings in which a substantially semi-circular cross-section trough is provided in the top surface area, and the side surfaces are provided with linearly extending tab-receiving bosses or recesses or openings formed from and as part of the side surfaces. Such bosses extend angularly downward and outward and having drain openings in their outer end lower areas to receive tabs formed on a curvilinear-in-cross-section water shield strip. There is only one such tab needed on each water shield strip side. These tabs are, formed to extend downwardly and outwardly, preferably by the curvilinear shape seen in cross-section or of somewhat different angle of extension so that they substantially match and therefore are mateable with the interiors of the bosses of the side surfaces. These tabs formed on either side of the water shield and also extend the linear length of the anchor assemble as do the recesses formed by the interiors of the bosses of the side surfaces. The water shield strip can be inserted through the lower end of the main body of the roofridge anchor until its outwardly extending tabs engage and enter the interior recesses of the bosses, retaining the water shield in place and still extending downwardly and outwardly. As seen in cross-section in the drawing, the water shield has its center section extending upwardly so that any water impinging upon it from any nail or screw hole in the bottom of the trough simply flows outwardly and over the water shield tabs so that it exits the ridge roof anchor through the drain holes provided in the recesses.

Instead of forming full boss recesses, tabs may be struck outwardly of the side surfaces of the roof ridge anchor assembly so that they are extending downwardly as well, leaving openings for drainage. These tabs are located in precise linearly spaced relation, and the water shield is provided with matching tabs so that when the water shield is pushed upwardly into the main body of the roof ridge anchor, the shield tabs will snap into the openings made by the tabs of the side surfaces, holding the water shield and also providing surfaces for the outward flow of any water that might impinge on the upper outer surface of the water shield, substantially as in the earlier-described tabs and recesses arrangement.

Still another modification of the species wherein the possible water leakage is directed out of the main body of the roof ridge anchor is shown. In that one, the upper portions of the side surfaces are bent first inwardly and then reverse bent outwardly so that they have a downward and outward slope, and then are then reversely bent inwardly to form troughs on the outer edges of the inner surfaces before continuing upwardly to form the crown portion of the roof ridge anchor. This arrangement also has the small linearly extending depressions earlier described, which will initially collect any water leaking, and deliver it through weep holes in the bottoms of these depressions so that the water impinges on the upper surfaces of the reversely bent sections and flows outwardly to another set of weep holes which open to the exterior of the entire roof ridge anchor body.

Another very similar arrangement is illustrated in the drawing where the top of the crown of the roof ridge anchor is flat and is also formed to provide, as seen in cross-section, a water path to the outer side of the roof ridge anchor. The two side surfaces are very close together from the crown to the point where the anchor flanges are provided. They are preferably offset laterally and have a waterproof filling between them preventing any of the water from entering the lower part of the anchor assembly.

If in any of these modifications having those slight exterior indentations fit closely to the interior surfaces of the tile, and particularly the lower part of the indentation wall, so that the flow of water may be impeded and it would then be retained at least part way along the length thereof, a slight long indentation may be made in the wall of the curvilinear part of the fourth and fifth curvilinear surfaces which extends downwardly and allows the water to flow through it to the exterior of the roof ridge anchor. This arrangement is particularly appropriate when the outer surface of the entire crown area of the roof ridge anchor is a close fit with the interior surface of the ridge tile that fits over it. It is not a requirement of the invention that the roof ridge tiles in any installation using a roof ridge anchor embodying the invention herein disclosed and claimed actually touch any part of the roof ridge anchor, although such touching does occur or is very closely approached with many installations. It is well known that in some installations the roof ridge tiles are in engagement with and supported by the top rows of roof tiles on either side instead of by a part of the roof ridge anchor. Even so, it is still important to keep water from leaking into the roof ridge anchor interior should there be any chance or opportunity that it could do so.

It is also desirable to make any of the roof ridge anchors from Galvalume, which is a highly rust resistant combination of steel and aluminum and other ingredients. This gives the roof ridge anchors a much longer life than those made out of steel, even when is coated with zinc and thus galvanized. It is also stronger than ordinary aluminum which is used at times in the manufacture of roof ridge anchors. While this forms no part of the invention since some roof anchors have been made of this material before the invention herein disclosed and claimed, it is considered sufficiently important to emphasize its advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an end view of the basic roof ridge anchor embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the anchor of FIG. 1, taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 of that FIGURE, and having parts broken away.

FIG. 3 is an end view of a modification of the anchor of FIG. 1, also embodying the invention.

FIG. 3 a is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3 identified by the circular arrow 3a of FIG. 3. and shows that portion in greater detail

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the anchor of FIG. 3, taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of that FIGURE.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show further modifications of the anchors of FIGS. 1 and 3, using end views of the anchors.

FIG. 7 shows still another modification of the anchor head section of the anchors of FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6. It is shown in cross-section with parts broken away.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of the anchor head section of FIG. 7, with parts broken away.

FIGS. 9 through 12 are line drawing representations of various modifications of one or more of the earlier noted anchors.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section of an anchor head section showing an anchor similar to that of FIG. 12, and also showing an additional drain passage or passages which conduct any water leakage away from the interior of the anchor.

FIG. 14 is a cross-section view of another anchor head section, showing a modified recess in the center section of the head section, and the provision of a water leakage and drain shield inside the anchor, with one way of anchoring the shield and providing for water leakage to the outside of the anchor.

FIG. 14 a is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 14 identified by circular arrow 14a of FIG. 14 and shows that portion in greater detail.

FIG. 14 b is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 14 identified by circular arrow 14b of FIG. 14 and shows that portion in greater detail.

FIG. 15 is a cross-section view of the anchor head section of FIG. 14, with parts broken away.

FIG. 16 is a cross-section view taken in the direction of arrows 16-16 of FIG. 17. The anchor crown or head section of this FIGURE is generally similar to the one shown in FIG. 14, of the anchor head with the leakage and drain shield, and shows a simpler and different way of anchoring the shield as well as providing a simplified way to form the drainage openings which permit the water leakage that may be on the top of the shield to exit the anchor. It also shows how to prevent water build-up in top-opening recesses of the anchor head section.

FIG. 16 a is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 16 identified by circular arrow 16a of FIG. 16 and shows that portion in greater detail.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the anchor head section of FIG. 16, with parts broken away, taken in the direction of arrows 17-17 of that FIGURE.

FIG. 18 is a cross-section view of the anchor head section of FIG. 16, taken in the direction of arrows 18-18 of that FIGURE, with parts broken away.

FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 are cross-section views of other anchor head section modifications embodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE INVENTION

The roof ridge anchor 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed from a sheet metal member which is preferably made of Galvalume. It is preferable to make all of the roof ridge anchors herein disclosed of this material. This material contains about 70% aluminum and 30% steel. It is far superior to the typically used galvanized iron or steel material in that it does not rust. It does not depend upon a coating such as zinc to be protected from the ravages of the elements over the years, because it is of the same consistent material throughout it. Furthermore, the zinc coating applied to iron or steel to galvanize it will erode over a period of time, usually less than the typical life of a roof using roof ridge anchors such as tile roofs.

Anchor 30 has several planar sheet metal surfaces which extend longitudinally for the length of an anchor. Anchors are usually made in any of several specified lengths. One of the common lengths is 10 feet. The particular length is not so much a function of the capabilities of the machines used to bend and otherwise shape the sheet metal members as it is the desires of the customer and the ease of storing, moving and transporting a group of anchors.

More specifically, anchor 30 has three major parts, which are the anchor head section or crown 32, the anchor body section 34 and the nailer section 36. The anchor head section 32 is made of a cover section which is made of the three planar surfaces 38, 40 and 42. These three planar surfaces are, respectively, the center cover portion 38 having a plane 39 and the two angularly disposed portions 40 and 42 respectively having planes 41 and 43. Portions 40 and 42 are formed from the sheet metal member by bending portions 40 and 42 at bend lines 44 and 46 located where those two portions are connected by their edges. The plane 41 of the angularly disposed portion 40 results when that portion is bent about 45° along the bend line 44. Similarly, the plane 43 of the angularly disposed portion 42 results when that portion is bent about 45° along the bend line 46. The anchor body section 34 includes the two angularly disposed side surfaces 48 and 50, respectively being in the planes 49 and 51. Side surfaces 48 and 50 formed by bending the material of the anchor 30 along bend lines 52 and 54 so that they are angularly disposed relative to angularly disposed portions 40 and 42. The planes 41 and 43 of the angularly disposed portions 40 and 42 are positioned at about 45° from the plane 39 of the center cover portion 38, and the planes 49 and 51 of the side surfaces 48 and 50 are therefore positioned at about 90° from the plane 39 of center cover portion 38.

The nailer section 36 is made up of the nailer portions 52 and 54, respectively located in planes 53 and 55. Nailer portions 52 and 54 are formed by bending the material of which the anchor 30 is made along bend lines 56 and 58 about 45° outward, resulting in the planes 53 and 55. The plane 53 of nailer portion 52 is therefore about 45° from plane 49, and the plane 55 of nailer portion 54 is about 45° from plane 51, with planes 53 and 55 respectively being substantially parallel to planes 41 and 43. When it is desired that the side surfaces 48 and 50 of the anchor body area 34, and therefore their respective planes 49 and 51, be slightly splayed or non-parallel, the nominally 45° angles between planes 39 and 41 and planes 41 and 43 may be decreased at bend lines 44 and 46 in an amount in a range of about 0.1° to about 5°, resulting in the anchor 30's transverse distance A between bend lines 56 and 58 being slightly greater than the transverse distance B between bend lines 52 and 54.

In a similar manner, the nominally 45° angle between planes 49 and 53 and the nominally 45° angle between planes 51 and 55, and therefore the angle between side surface 48 and nailer portion 52 and the angle between side surface 50 and nailer portion 54, or either of these angles, may be either increased or decreased at bend lines 56 and 58 in an amount within a range between 0.0° to about as much as 45° to achieve the desired angular amount between the side surface 48 and the nail portion 52, and also to achieve the desired angular amount between the side surface 50 and the nail portion 54, so that the nail portions 52 and 54 are each able to be anywhere from being substantially perpendicular to their respective side surfaces 48 and 50 to being substantially parallel to those respective side surfaces. At times, it may be desired that the angular relationship between side surface 48 and nail portion 52 is to be different from the angular relationship between side surface 50 and nail portion 54. This is capable of being accomplished by changing the angles between those nail portions in relation to their respective side surfaces to differing angular amounts within the noted respective ranges.

One of the roof ridge tiles 60 is schematically sketched in to show the typical relationship of the roof ridge anchor 30 and the tiles 60. The tiles 60 are considered to be barrel tiles, and they have a curved inner surface 62 which engages the roof ridge anchor head 32 at either bend lines 44 and 46 or bend lines 52 and 54, or at three or all four of these bend lines. The detailed shapes of the tiles 60 are not further shown, however it is understood that they are of a typical construction and shape of any roof tiles that are or can be used as roof ridge tiles. The invention is in the roof ridge anchor and not in the tiles, although the disclosure shows a typical relationship between the roof ridge anchor and the roof ridge tiles used.

Roof ridge tiles are known to be secured to roof ridge anchors by various means. One example is the use of a screw or nail 70, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as in FIGS. 5-8 and 21. Another example is the use of adhesive between at least a part of the roof ridge anchor head and the roof ridge tiles. This example is noted with regard to FIGS. 3 and 4, 6-8, 11, and 12-20. Although not shown in the drawings, both the nail or screw and the adhesive may be used when desired.

As typically seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the screw or nail 70 extends through a hole in each roof ridge tile 60 and is screwed into or nailed to the roof ridge anchor head 32. Since it is also at the apex of the roof ridge tile, it is usually centered on the roof ridge anchor section center portion 38. A roof ridge tile 60 may have one or two or more such screw or nail holes and a screw or a nail inserted into each one of them as shown. It is preferred that the entry of the screw or nail 70 into the roof ridge anchor head 32 be made by the screw or nail. Then there is no problem with aligning holes in the tile and the anchor head because the anchor head point at which each screw or nail penetrates is at whatever location the hole for it in the tile happens to be located. The use of screws or nails or similar fastenings are well known by those familiar with the art and are not part of the disclosed invention other than being a part of the completed assembly of the anchor or anchors 30, or any other anchors herein disclosed, and roof ridge tiles 70.

The roof ridge anchor 130 of FIGS. 3, 3a, and 4 is very similar to the anchor 30 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and the same reference characters are used therein as needed. The difference, shown in greater detail in FIG. 3a, is that the planar section angularly disposed portions 40 and 42 each have a recess, 132 and 134, respectively, formed in them by dividing the portion 40 into two parts 40a and 40b, leaving portion 40 as separate parts 40u and 40L which remain in the plane 41; and dividing the portion 42 into two parts 42a and 42b, leaving portion 42 as separate parts 42u and 42L which remain in the plane 43.

Parts 40a and 40b are joined together at bend line 144. The remaining upper part 40u of portion 40 and the part 40a have their adjacent edges joined at bend line 145. The remaining lower part 40L of portion 40 and the part 40b have their adjacent edges joined at bend line 147. The planar surface portion 38 is joined with part 40u at bend line 44 and portion 38 is also joined with part 42u at bend line 46.

Parts 42a and 42b are joined together at bend line 146. The remaining upper part 42u of portion 42 and the part 42a have their adjacent edges joined at bend line 151. The remaining lower part 42L of portion 42 and the part 42b have their adjacent edges joined at bend line 153.

Part 40a is in plane 148, part 40b is in plane 150, part 42a is in plane 152, and part 42b is in plane 154. The upper extensions of planes 41 and 43 are shown intersecting with an angle “f” at point 45, located above the planar surface center cover portion 38 in FIGS. 1, 3, and 3a. FIGS. 3 and 3a show the upper extensions of planes 150 and 154 intersecting with an angle “e” at point 158, and the upper extensions of planes 148 and 152 intersecting with an angle “g” at point 156, located above intersection point 45. Therefore, recess 132 is defined by the upper part 40a and the lower part 40b, and recess 134 is defined by the upper part 42a and the lower part 42b. Both recesses have their lower parts 40b and 42b as such an angle that, should there be any water leakage which would occur in the area of center portion 38 when a nail or screw is used to attach the roof ridge anchor 130 as earlier described with regard to roof ridge anchor 30, and should that water flow down the outside of the anchor 130 into either or both of the recesses 132 and/or 134, it will have a downward and outward direction of flow so that it cannot be trapped in either recess, but would flow on outward of the anchor 130 and eventually flow onto a roof tile section so that it would not enter into the anchor 130. Also, when it is desired to use adhesive to secure the anchor 130 in place, as earlier described with regard to the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be placed within the recesses 132 and 134. Since individual amounts of the adhesive would usually be placed in spaced locations along the length of the anchor 130, water from a leakage would still flow into and out of the recesses 132 and 134 as noted above.

FIG. 5 is a further modification of the roof ridge anchor 30 of FIGS. 1 and 3. Instead of having the anchor head section 32 formed with planar surfaces intersecting at bend lines, the anchor head section 232 is formed, as seen in cross-section, or as seen in the end view shown in FIG. 5, to be curvilinear, and preferably but not necessarily as an arc section of a circle. The anchor head section 232 has the end edges 234 and 236 of the arced head section 238 of head section 232 joining the upper edges of side surfaces 48 and 50 at bend lines 240 and 242. In this modification, the arc extends for less than 180° and thus requires the arced anchor head section 232 to join the upper edges of the side surfaces 48 and 50 at bend lines 240 and 242.

Other modifications of the roof ridge anchor crowns or head sections 32 and 232 such as those shown in FIGS. 6-9 and 13 use arced sections which may be either arcs of the circumference of circles to define the anchor head section, or may be curvilinear but radius-changing arcs to give the head section of such modifications a more elongated shape than that of an arcuate part of a circle gives. They are described below in greater detail, the FIGURES of the drawing being described in numerical order to the extent that is reasonable and best.

FIG. 6 has an anchor head section 332 that is more elongated than head section 232 of FIG. 5. This is achieved by changing the length of the radius of at least some of the arcuate parts of the anchor head section 332 so that the radii of that section, particularly below the recesses 340 and 342, are greater that the radii of the arcuate parts of the anchor head section 332 which are above the recesses. As shown in FIG. 6, the center cover portion 338 is formed with an arc like a part of the circumference of a circle having a fixed radius, and the curvilinear formation of arced portions 344 and 346 of anchor head section 332 have increasingly long radii as they extend further from the center cover portion 338. The head section 332 has longitudinally extending recesses 340 and 342 which are substantially like the recesses 132 and 134 shown in FIGS. 3, 3a, and 4. Because the arced portions 344 and 346 have increasing radii as they extend further away from the center section cover portion 338, the side edges 348 and 350 of the roof ridge anchor head section 332 are joined to the upper end edges 362 and 364 of the side surface edges 358 and 360 at bend lines 366 and 368, with a lesser angle of juncture than that shown in FIG. 5, for example, where upper end edges 234 and 236 of the side surfaces 48 and 50 join the edges 240 and 242 of the anchor head section 238. A ridge roof tile 360 is shown as being over the head section 332 and being secured thereto by suitable means such as bolt or screw 70.

FIG. 7 shows an anchor head section 430 which is similar to that shown in FIG. 5, but the arc “J” of the center portion 432 of head section 430, as seen in cross-section in this FIGURE, is formed at about 180° so that the junction of its lower end surface edges 434 and 436 with the upper end surface edges 454 and 456 of the side surfaces 448 and 450 have no bend line, but flow seamlessly from one to the other. Anchor head section 450 also has recesses 444 and 446, similar to the recesses of 132 and 134 of FIGS. 3 and 3a, and the similar recesses 340 and 342 of FIG. 6, which can extend fully in a longitudinal direction for the length of the roof ridge anchor 430.

Alternatively, they may instead be a plurality of recesses 444 and 446 located in a longitudinally spaced relation as shown in FIG. 8. Typically the inner surface 468 of each ridge tile member 460 is formed with a radius which is somewhat longer than the radius of the center cover section portion 432 so that any water leakage that does flow between the tile members 460 and the anchor head section 430 is substantially unrestricted flow taking place totally outside of the roof ridge anchor. When the recesses 446 and 448 are as shown in FIG. 8, selected ones may be filled with adhesive material to hold the tile members 460 in place. It is preferred that no two immediately adjacent recesses 444 or 446 be filled with adhesive material. They may be so filled to allow for proper anchoring of the tile members 460 to the roof ridge anchor.

FIG. 9-12 are provided in simple line format and show in a similar manner the cross-section shapes of their respective roof ridge anchor head sections. FIG. 9 thus relates to the anchor head section 232 of FIG. 5 and therefore the same reference characters as those used in FIG. 5 are also used in FIG. 9 for the same elements.

The cover section portion 532 of the anchor head section or crown 530 of FIG. 10 is a slight modification combining some features of the anchor head section 232 of FIG. 5, the anchor head section 332 of FIG. 6, the anchor head section 432 of FIG. 7, and the anchor head 30 of FIG. 1. As seen in cross-section, the cover section portion 532 of the anchor head section 532 is basically an arc which is somewhat greater in arcuate length than the arcuate length of portion 432 shown in FIG. 7, yet somewhat arcuately less than the anchor head section portion 238 shown in FIG. 5. It is much like the anchor head section 430 shown in FIG. 7, but with no recesses such as recesses 444 and 446, or for that matter, recesses shown in other drawing FIGURES. Instead, it has flat surfaces 540 and 542 much like the flat surfaces 40 and 42 of FIG. 1, terminating with edge surfaces 544 and 546 which join the upper edges 548 and 550 of the side surfaces 552 and 554 at bend lines 556 and 558.

The anchor head section 532 of FIG. 10 receives the tile members, not shown therein but much like those schematically shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, in much the same manner as anchor head section 32 of FIG. 1 does, or how anchor head section 232 of FIG. 5 does, or how anchor head section 332 of FIG. 6 does.

FIG. 11 shows a head section 632 shaped like the head section 32 of FIG. 1, with one difference. There is, when looking at a cross-section view, a trapezoidal recess 636 formed in the center section 638, that center section otherwise being in a horizontal plane. Trapezoidal recess 636 extends for the length of the roof ridge anchor. Its smaller upper side is an opening 640 through the center section 638 and its larger lower side 642 forms the bottom of the recess 636. If one desires to have a groove or some similar arrangement to the V-shaped groove formed by the entire center section such as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,675, it is preferable that not to have the V-groove take up all of the center section as it is claimed and is shown to do in that patent, or only a portion of it (not shown or claimed in that patent, By using the trapezoidal shape shown in FIG. 11, any adhesive which is used to attach the tile members in place on the roof ridge anchor will be much better retained in the trapezoidal recess shown. Of course, the trapezoidal shape is indicative of other shapes that may be used, such as other quadrilateral or greater multilateral shapes including but not limited to pentagonal, hexagonal, septilateral, octagonal, and still greater number-of-sides shapes, which may not always have smaller openings to further restrict any hardened adhesive from being pulled out of them. Of course, shapes without smaller openings may be adequate, but may not retain the hardened adhesive as well, and therefore would not be first preferences but still could function within the purview of the invention. The side surfaces 652 and 654, which are connected with the head section 632, are fully equivalent to the side surfaces 48 and 50, respectively, of FIGS. 1, 3, 3a, and 5.

Another center section recess 936 has a shape much like that of a substantially semicircular configuration as shown in FIG. 14, or a less than a full semicircular configuration as shown in FIG. 16. The broader terms of quadrilateral or greater multilateral central section recess shapes include all of these types of configurations of the recess in cross-section which have more than two recess sides, which may be in planes as shown or in a combination of one or more planes and one or more curvilinear sides, or a single recess side that is curvilinear, defined by either constant radius or a varying length radius. The configurations shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 also use some curvilinear parts of their anchor head sections, as will be described in greater detail when describing those FIGURES.

FIGS. 12 and 13 respectively use similarly shaped anchor head sections 732 and 832 which are closely related to the anchor head section 432 of FIGS. 7 and 8. The differences are that the anchor head section 432 of FIGS. 7 and 8 is basically semi-circular in cross-section, while those anchor head sections 732 and 832 in FIGS. 12 and 13 have portions, referred to as the center portions 734 and 834, respectively, located at the tops of the head sections, that are seen in cross-section as arcs of circles, and thus have fixed length radii, and other portions 736 and 836 that are generated using a gradually increasing radius length as the outer ends 738, 740 and 838, 840, respectively, of portions 736 and 836, which, as they become nearer to the upper ends 742, 744 and 842, 844, respectively, of the anchor side surfaces 746, 748 and 846, 848, respectively, are approached, permitting the joining of the head sections with the side surfaces so that there is substantially no bend at those joined places. Thus, as shown in FIG. 12, the joining of head section portion 736 with its outer ends 738 and 740 respectively joining the upper ends 742 and 744 of the respective side surfaces 746 and 748 is substantially a smooth transition with a minimum or no bending required. The same is true where head section portion 836 of FIG. 13 has its outer ends 838 and 840 respectively joining the upper ends 842 and 844 of the respective side surfaces 846 and 848.

FIG. 12 has recesses 750 and 752 formed on its anchor head section 732 in the same manner and basic configurations as the recesses 444 and 446 of FIG. 7, for example, are formed, and these recesses provide the same advantages as those described earlier when describing recesses 444 and 446 of FIG. 7. The same is true for recesses 850 and 852 formed on the anchor head section 832 as shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 has one additional feature that is shown in that particular anchor head section 832, which may be used in any of the variations and modifications of the anchor head sections shown in FIGS. 1-12, and FIGS. 19 and 20. This is the provision of one or more drain paths from the recesses 850 and 852. One such drain path 862 is shown in cross-section as a part of the anchor head section 832. It is an indented area extending along the outside of anchor head section 832 from recess 852 downwardly and outwardly to the area where its outer end 840 is located at or slightly beyond the juncture of the head section outer end 840 which joins with the upper end 844 of the side surface 848. When the tile member 870 is in place over the anchor head section 832, and even if the inner surface 864 of the tile member 860 and that anchor head section 832 are so relatively sized and shaped so that the anchor head section 832 is in engagement, or nearly in engagement, with the tile inner surface 864, with the head section 832 and particularly its portions which are between the recesses 850 and 852 being so engaged, there are paths including one or more recesses 862 by which the water leakage can more freely flow away from the center section portion 834 along the outside of the roof ridge anchor 830. This type of flow passage may be used wherever needed in any of the noted configurations, and is shown only in FIG. 13 by way of example.

FIGS. 14, 14 a, 14b, 15, 16, 16a, 17, and 18 show two very similar arrangements where a roof ridge anchor of any of the configurations of anchor head sections illustrated in FIGS. 1-18 and 20 may have this additional feature. These arrangements include an internal water leakage shield 984 or 984′ that is installed in the basic roof ridge anchor after the side surfaces thereof have been modified to provide for reception of the leakage shield and holding the shield in place while at the same time providing exits for the water leakage. The roof ridge anchors of FIGS. 14-15 and 16-18 are ones that are similar to the anchor 30 of FIG. 1, and is are shown with an anchor head section 930 or 930′ having a center section 932 provided with an indented recess 936. That recess 936 is shown as extending for the entire length of the anchor head section 930 or 930′, but is to be understood that, in the same fashion as the recesses 444 and 446 of FIGS. 7 and 8, there may be a series of recesses 936 which are spaced along the length of the anchor 930 or 930′ having a semi-circular trough-like appearance in cross-section. Whether there is one full-length recess 936 or a series of spaced apart recesses 936 along the length of the anchor 930 or 930′, each such recess has one or more drain openings 938 extending through the lower part of the semi-circular recess or recesses, so that very little or no water leakage may be standing in the recess or recesses.

While the head section 932 is also shown as having planar surfaces 940 and 942, like the planar surfaces 40 and 42 of FIG. 1, the head section may have other shapes disclosed in other FIGURES herein. The side surfaces 948 and 950 of the anchor body section 934, the side surfaces 948′ and 950′ of the anchor body section 934′ and the nailer portions (not shown in FIGS. 14-18) are similar to the side surfaces 48 and 50 and the nailer portions 52 and 54 of FIGS. 1 and 2. They are also similar to the side surfaces in FIGS. 3-13 and 16-18. The side surfaces of FIGS. 3-13 have no side openings as do those to be described herein and shown in FIGS. 14, 14a, 14b, 14c, and 15, and also no side openings as do those to be described herein and shown in FIGS. 16-18.

In FIGS. 14, 14a, 14b, and 15, side surfaces 948 and 950 respectively have shield retention openings 952 and 954 extending therethrough, Covers 956 and 958 are respectively provided for openings 952 and 954. These covers may be formed as part of the side surfaces 948 and 950 as best shown in FIGS. 14 and 14a, or may be covers made separately and secured to their respective side surfaces by suitable means so that they effectively become parts of their respective side surfaces as shown in FIGS. 14 and 14b. In either case, each of these covers has an upper section which has one edge defined either by a bent line 959, as indicated for side surface 950 and cover 958, or with upper an upper flange 960 and a lower flange 962, as shown for side surface 948 and cover 956.

When the cover is like cover 956 of FIGS. 14 and 14b, its flanges 960 and 962 are secured to the upper and lower parts of the side surface such as the upper and lower parts 964 and 966 of side surface 948 so that the covers become fixed integral parts of the side surface 948, and have the required strength for all purposes required of any of the similar side surfaces. They are also so fixed that there is no leakage between either of the cover flanges 960 and 962 and their associated side surface parts 964 and 966. When the side surface openings 952 and 954 are provided as a longitudinally spaced series of openings, as seen in FIG. 14a and the right side of FIG. 14, there are sufficient parts of the side surfaces 948 and 950 between such openings to provide the requisite strength for such side surfaces. However, when side surface openings 952 and 954 are continuous and are covered by covers 956 and 958, as seen in FIG. 14b, and also the left side of FIG. 14, the covers 956 and 958 must be sufficiently strong to function as integral parts of the side surface with which they are connected. When the covers for the openings 952 and 954 in FIG. 14a and the right side of FIG. 14 are as shown by cover 958, they are already integral with the side surfaces with which they are associated, and the side surfaces have the requisite strength required.

Essentially each cover 956 and 958, irrespective of its specific construction described above, has an upper portion 970, a lower portion 972 and an end portion 974. Both portions 970 and 972, whether installed or integrally made with the associated side surface, are spaced apart at a distance greater than the thickness of the outer edge surfaces 980 and 982 of the water leakage shield 984 to be described. This may be a relatively loose fit, making it easy to install shield 984. The covers 956 and 958 have drain openings 968 spaced along their end portions 974 so that the water leakage dripping or flowing from the drain openings 938, which then flows over the curved portion 986 of the shield 984, is directed by the outer edge surfaces 980 and 982 of the shield 984 toward the drain openings 968, from which they exit the anchor 930.

Shield 984 has a shallow dish-like curved portion 986 as seen in cross-section, and the outer edge surfaces 980 and 982 constitute linearly extending parts that readily snap into and through the openings 952 and 954 and yet do not fill the covers 956 and 958 so that water leakage going past the edge surfaces 980 and 982 are directed to flow out through the drain openings 968 of the covers 956 and 958. It is therefore preferable that the length of the tabs 990 and the width of the drain shield 984 be sufficient to have its edge surfaces 980 and 982 on the outer ends of the tabs 990 located outwardly of or below the bottom parts of the openings 952 and 954 once it is installed.

FIGS. 16-18 show a very similar arrangement which is simpler than that shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The shield 984′ has its edge surfaces formed as linearly spaced tabs 990, and the side surface openings 952′ and 954′ are formed by striking, in an outwardly bent fashion, designated sections of the side surfaces 948′ and 950′ with the upper side of the struckout parts 992 just being bent so that the tabs 990 extend outwardly at a suitable angle. That angle can be anywhere from about 15° or so to about 75° or so, but preferably about 30° to about 45° from the plane of the side surfaces. It must make the openings 952′ and 954′ large enough for the shield tabs 990 to enter and to spring outwardly as a part of the spring action of the entire shield so that tabs 990 extend at a natural downward angle through the openings 952′ and 954′

While the arrangement in FIGS. 16-18 is more simple than the arrangements of FIGS. 14-15, it does require precise longitudinal locations of the shield tabs 990 and of the side surface openings 952′ and 954′ so that the shield can be installed by putting it into the anchor 930 or 930′ by initially just pushing it in toward the center portion 932, with its curved portion having a spring-bending action until the shield end surface tabs 990 snap into place through the openings 952′ and 954′. The insertion and securing of the shield 984′ is therefore more easily done when the openings 952′ and 954′ are of greater continuous linearly arranged widths throughout the length of the anchor 930′ so as to accommodate several tabs 990, than when those openings and the matching tabs 990 must be more precisely linearly aligned before pushing the shield into place.

FIG. 19 is somewhat like FIGS. 14 and 16, but does not have a separate water leakage shield. Instead, the anchor 1030 has an anchor head center section 1038 which has laterally spaced recesses 1040 and 1042 which have drain openings 1044 and 1046 in them. The center section 1038 then extends outwardly beyond the recesses 1040 and 1042, and is reversely bent at 1048 and 1050 to extend upwardly and inwardly toward the anchor axis plane 1052 until it leaves a small opening 1054 as it is again reversely bent at 1056 and 1058 so the upper parts 1060 and 1062 of the anchor body section 1064 are formed. At bend lines 1064 and 1066, the side surfaces 1068 and 1070 are formed, and they extend downwardly to the nailer section 1072, which has nailer flanges 1074 and 1076 extending outwardly and downwardly at suitable angles. Any water leakage through the tile member 1080, because of the anchor pin, screw or bolt 1082, flows outwardly into recesses 1040 and 1042, out through drain openings 1048 and 1050, and flows to the outside of the anchor 1030.

FIG. 20 shows a roof ridge anchor 1130 which is another modification of the anchor 30 of FIG. 1. The anchor head section 1132 has a center section 1138 which is serpentine when viewed in cross-section, somewhat like cycles of a sine wave. Center section 1138 as shown has a downwardly extending recess portion 1140 connected to upwardly extending outer portions 1142 and 1144 whose recess shapes are on the under side of the center section 1138. While they are shown as being semi-circular recess shapes, and of the same radius, it is within the purview of this modification of the invention that they may be considerably less in amplitude and therefore present a much flatter sine wave in form; that they may have different radii lengths, and that they be considerably different in amplitude. For example, the downwardly extending recess portion 1140 may be of considerably less amplitude that the outer portions 1142 and 1144, reducing the volume of the recess formed by portion 1140. It is considered desirable to fill the space above the center section 1138 with a suitable adhesive 1150 to hold the roof ridge tile members 1152 in place on the anchor 1130. By keeping space filled with a suitable adhesive, there is no place for water leakage to occur so as to leak into the inside of the anchor 1130.

FIG. 21 shows another anchor variation 1230 of the roof ridge anchor 30 of FIG. 1. Anchor 1230 has an anchor head section 1232 which is hollow and has downwardly and outwardly extending drain edges 1236 which have drain openings 1238 in their lowest parts. The body section 1244 is formed to be offset from the anchor center axis plane 1250 in which a bolt or screw or the like 1240 is used to hold the roof ridge tile members 1260 in place on the anchor so that there is no opportunity for the bolt or screw 1240 to extend into the body section. The body section 1244 is formed by two relatively closely associated side surfaces 1246 and 1248. They extend down to the nailer section 1270 of the anchor 1230, which is formed to provide the usual nailer portions 1272 and 1274. The space 1280 is filled with a suitable compound that not only may strengthen the body section 1044, but will prevent any water leakage from entering the body section from the hollow center section 1232.

Claims

1. A linearly extending roof ridge anchor having a body section, a crown section and a nailer section, said crown section and a part of said body section being adapted to have a roof ridge tile received thereover and secured thereto, and said nailer section extending outwardly and downwardly from said body section and being adapted to secure said roof ridge anchor to portions of a roof extending outwardly and downwardly from the opposite sides of a roof ridge on which said roof ridge anchor is adapted to be installed; said crown section having a shape in cross-section which is adapted to closely receive the roof ridge tiles thereover, said crown section cross-section shape being defined by surfaces of sheet metal material including a crown top surface and beveled crown side surfaces and at least parts of said body section.

2. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 1 wherein said crown section comprises: a linearly extending top surface has first and second laterally spaced edges and first and second linearly extending interconnecting surfaces respectively having third and fourth laterally spaced edges and fifth and sixth laterally spaced edges; and said body section having linearly extending first and second side surfaces have seventh and eighth laterally spaced edges; said first and second laterally spaced edges being connected to said third and fourth laterally spaced edges and said fifth and sixth laterally spaced edges being respectively connected to said seventh and eighth laterally spaced edges so that said crown section is defined by said linearly extending top surface and said first and second linearly extending interconnecting surfaces and at least the portions of said body section on which said seventh and eighth laterally spaced edges are formed.

3. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 1 wherein said crown section comprises: a linearly extending top surface lying at least predominantly in a first plane and having first and second laterally spaced edges and first and second linearly extending interconnecting surfaces respectively having third and fourth laterally spaced edges and fifth and sixth laterally spaced edges; and said body section having linearly extending first and second side surfaces lying at least predominantly in respective second and third planes and having seventh and eighth laterally spaced edges; said first and second laterally spaced edges being connected to said third and fourth laterally spaced edges and said fifth and sixth laterally spaced edges being respectively connected to said seventh and eighth laterally spaced edges so that said crown section is defined by said linearly extending top surface and said first and second linearly extending interconnecting surfaces and at least the portions of said body section on which said seventh and eighth laterally spaced edges are formed.

4. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 3 wherein said linearly extending top surface is a curvilinear surface as seen in cross-section, said first and second linearly extending interconnecting surfaces are planar surfaces, and said body section linearly extending first and second side surfaces are planar surfaces.

5. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 3 wherein said linearly extending top surface is a curvilinear surface as seen in cross-section, said first and second linearly extending interconnecting surfaces are curvilinear surfaces as seen in cross-section, and said body section linearly extending first and second side surfaces are planar surfaces.

6. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 3 wherein said linearly extending top surface is a curvilinear surface as seen in cross-section, said first and second linearly extending interconnecting surfaces are curvilinear surfaces as seen in cross-section, and said body section linearly extending first and second side surfaces are planar surfaces with the portions thereof on which said seventh and eighth interconnecting edges are formed are curvilinear surfaces as seen in cross-section.

7. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 1 wherein said crown includes said top surface and said beveled crown side surfaces which surfaces are connected as seen in cross-section with said beveled crown side surfaces being at an acute angle from said top surface and also at an acute angle from said body section at least parts of said body section.

8. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 7 in which said crown top surface and said crown side surfaces and said body section are planar.

9. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 8 wherein said top surface is curved as seen in cross-section and thus being adapted to be closely fit within the roof ridge tiles to be used when completing the roof.

10. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 8 in which said crown side surfaces are also curvilinear as seen in cross-section to further adapt said anchor to be closely fit within the roof ridge tiles to be used when completing the roof.

11. The linearly extending ridge anchor of claim 99 wherein said curvilinear top surface mates with said curvilinear crown side surfaces and said curvilinear crown side surfaces mate with said body section side surfaces.

12. The linearly extending ridge anchor of claim 9 wherein said crown top surface is curved outwardly and said curvilinear crown side surfaces are curved inwardly so that said inwardly curved crown side surfaces provide side troughs which are adapted to assure space between said troughs and roof ridge tiles,

13. A linearly extending roof ridge anchor comprising a length of sheet material formed to have the following features: a first sheet material surface area; a roof ridge anchor top surface formed as at least a part of said first sheet material surface area; second and third sheet material surface areas which are spaced laterally apart and are generally perpendicular to and spaced from said first sheet material surface area, said second and third sheet material surface areas respectively including first and second roof ridge anchor side surfaces with at least major area portions thereof respectively being parts of said second and third sheet material surface areas; fourth and fifth sheet material surface areas which are intermediate connecting sheet material surface areas so that they are not substantially planar continuations of either of said first and second or either of said first and third sheet material surface areas, said fourth sheet material surface area operatively connecting said first sheet material surface area with said second sheet material surface area and said fifth sheet material surface area operatively connecting said first sheet material surface area with said third sheet material surface area, said first and said fourth and said fifth sheet material surface areas providing a roof ridge anchor crown section which substantially conforms to the interior surface of a typical roof ridge tile to a greater extent than it would if said first sheet material surface area were to be directly connected to said second and third sheet material surface areas without said fourth and fifth sheet material surface areas; said first and second roof ridge anchor side surfaces having roof ridge anchor securing flanges formed therefrom so as to extend outwardly of said roof ridge anchor at angles and thus be adapted to permit said roof ridge anchor to accommodate the slopes of a roof extending outwardly and downwardly from a roof ridge on which said roof ridge anchor may be installed.

14. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 13 in which said first sheet material surface area forms substantially all of said roof ridge anchor top surface

15. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 13 in which said first sheet material surface area is at least predominantly a flat surface area.

16. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 15 in which said first sheet material surface area has at least one trough formed from only a portion of said first sheet material surface area, said at least one trough extending linearly of said roof ridge anchor and dividing said first sheet material surface area at least predominantly flat surface area into at least two parts which also extend linearly of said roof ridge anchor.

17. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 13 in which said first sheet material surface area is curvilinear in cross-section.

18. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 17 in which said first sheet material surface area has at least one trough formed from only a portion of said first sheet material surface area, said at least one trough extending linearly of said roof ridge anchor and dividing said first sheet material surface area at least predominantly flat surface area into at least two parts which also extend linearly of said roof ridge anchor.

19. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 18 in which said at least one trough is a single trough having a substantially semi-circular cross-section.

20. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 18 in which said at least one trough is a single trough which is substantially semi-circular in cross-section.

21. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 18 in which a pair of troughs are formed, one of said pair of troughs being formed by each of said fourth and fifth sheet material surface areas, said pair of troughs being laterally disposed on opposite lateral sides of said first sheet material surface area and extending linearly of said roof ridge anchor.

22. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 17 in which said at least one trough is a single trough having a trapezoidal cross-section the two parallel sides of which have the shorter one opening through said first sheet material surface area.

23. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 13 in which said second and third sheet material surface areas respectively have at least portions thereof which are curvilinear in cross-section.

24. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 13 in which each of said first, fourth and fifth sheet material surface areas is at least in part a curvilinear surface area in cross-section.

25. The linearly extending roofridge anchor of claim 13 in which said fourth and said fifth sheet material surface areas have non-coplanar first and second sections joined along a linear line so as to subtend an angle of less than 180° between said first and second sections and forming a depression in each of said fourth and said fifth surface areas.

26. A linearly extending roof ridge anchor comprising a length of sheet material formed to provide various sheet material surfaces so as to be defined by and comprised of the following elements, features and characteristics: a first plane; a roof ridge anchor top surface; a first surface of sheet material which includes said roof ridge anchor top surface with at least major area portions thereof being in said first plane; second and third sheet material surfaces including first and second roof ridge anchor side surfaces; second and third planes respectively having at least major portions of said second and third sheet material surfaces lying therein and which are spaced laterally apart, said second and third planes being generally perpendicular to said first plane; fourth and fifth planes which respectively have intermediate connecting fourth and fifth sheet material surfaces therein operatively connecting said first sheet material surface with said second plane sheet material surface and said fifth plane material surface operatively connecting said first plane sheet material surface with said third plane sheet material surface; said sheet material surfaces of said first and fourth and fifth planes cooperatively forming a ridge anchor crown section adapted to receive a typically curved roof ridge tile and which more nearly conforms to the curved interior surface of such a typical roof ridge tile than would be the case should said first plane sheet material surface be directly connected to said second and third planes' sheet material surfaces; said first and second roof ridge anchor sheet material side surfaces having ridge anchor mounting flanges formed so as to extend outwardly of said roof ridge anchor at angles such that they are adapted to permit said roof ridge anchor to accommodate the slopes of a roof extending outwardly and downwardly from the opposite sides of a roof ridge on which said roof ridge anchor may be installed.

27. A linearly extending roof ridge anchor having several surfaces and comprising a length of sheet material formed to provide various sheet material surfaces which include at least parts of said roof ridge anchor surfaces so as to be defined by and comprised of the following elements, features and characteristics: a first roof ridge anchor surface providing a roof ridge anchor top surface; a first sheet material surface which includes said roof ridge anchor top surface; second and third roof ridge anchor surfaces each of which is a side surface of said roof ridge anchor; second and third sheet material surfaces respectively having at least major portions of said second and third roof ridge anchor side surfaces therein and which are spaced laterally apart, said second and third sheet material surfaces being generally perpendicular to said first sheet material surface; fourth and fifth roof ridge anchor surfaces which are intermediately-connecting surfaces respectively connecting said first roof ridge anchor surface with said second and third roof ridge anchor side surfaces; fourth and fifth sheet material surfaces which respectively have said intermediately-connecting fourth and fifth roofridge anchor surfaces therein, said fourth sheet metal surface operatively connecting said first sheet material surface with said second sheet material surface and said fifth plane material surface operatively connecting said first sheet material surface with said third plane sheet material surface; said first and fourth and fifth roof ridge anchor surfaces cooperatively forming a ridge anchor crown section adapted to receive a typically curved roof ridge tile and which more nearly conforms to the curved interior surface of such a typical roof ridge tile than would be the case should said first roof ridge anchor surface be directly connected to said second and third roof ridge anchor side surfaces; said second and third roof ridge anchor surfaces having ridge anchor mounting flanges formed therefrom so as to extend outwardly of said roof ridge anchor at angles such that they are adapted to permit said roof ridge anchor to accommodate the slopes of a roof extending outwardly and downwardly from the opposite sides of a roof ridge on which said roof ridge anchor may be installed.

28. A linearly extending roof ridge anchor having: a body section, a crown section and a nailer section, said crown section and said body section being adapted to be installed over and cover a roof ridge; and further having a shield acting as a water deflector, said shield having linear side edges extending linearly with said roof ridge anchor and as seen in cross-section having a surface laterally defined by said linear side edges, said shield being installed below said crown top surface and being adapted to be positioned above any part of the roof ridge over which said roof ridge is adapted to be installed and cover; and also having means securing said shield to said body section, said shield extending to and being secured to said body section by said securing means, said shield surface between said linear side edges being higher than said linear side edges when installed in said roof ridge anchor body section and thus being adapted to deflect any water that may drip or flow downwardly from said roofridge anchor crown section and thus being adapted to protect the roof ridge over which said roof ridge anchor is installed against water damage.

29. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 28, said means securing said shield to said body section being a linearly spaced series of tabs formed on said shield linear side edges and openings formed in said body section receiving said tabs therein, said shield being laterally wider than lateral width of said body section so that when it is moved into place within said body section it is bowed upwardly as seen in cross-section and provides a curvilinear surface which will deflect and direct any water that enters said roof ridge anchor above said shield to flow outwardly into said body section openings through which said tabs are received, said body section openings also serving as outlet openings through which any such deflected water flow is directed outwardly of said roof ridge anchor.

30. The linearly extending roof ridge anchor of claim 28, said means securing said shield to said body section including linearly extending recesses formed in said body section and receiving said shield linear side edges in said body section linearly extending recesses, said shield being laterally wider than said body section so that when it is moved into place in said body section it is bowed upwardly as seen in cross-section and provides a curvilinear surface which will deflect and direct any water that enters said roof ridge anchor above said shield to flow outwardly into said body section recesses, said body section recesses having outlet openings through which any such deflected water flow is directed outwardly of said roof ridge anchor.