Patent Application
20160201332
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(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to roof vent systems for building structures, to facilitate air circulation within the structure. More particularly, the invention disclosed herein relates to vents capable of obstructing air gaps that may exist or form between the vent and its substratum such as the roof decking or shingles. Height differences between adjacent shingles, or irregularities in roof decking, may create gaps allowing moisture and oilier undesirable matter to enter the structure. Hence the need for a vent capable of obstructing such air gaps.
(2) Background of Invention
Appropriate attic ventilation systems permit a constant flow of exterior air through the attic, protecting the efficiency of the insulation and helping to lower temperatures in the dwellings. Constant air intake and exchange between living spaces inside the house and outside the house is necessary to prevent buildup of heat and moisture during hot summer time, or household activities such as cooking, showering, and doing laundry. Increased moisture and temperatures also increase the cost of cooling the structure, and it damages roofs and insulation materials. Inconsistent air flow during elevated temperatures can also create ideal conditions for mold growth and formation of spores in large quantities. They are a health hazard to humans, potentially causing allergic reactions and respiratory problems.
There are vents known in the prior art that are arguably material to the patentability of the invention claimed herein U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,833 discloses a roof vent device formed from upper and lower outer surfaces sued to define a generally rectangular configuration having a linear axis. A tapered matrix is positioned between the outer surfaces, the taper being directed in a direction perpendicular to the axis to define a thin linear edge and a thick linear edge along the outer edges of the configuration that are parallel to the axis and tapered linear edges along the outer edges of the configuration that are perpendicular to the axis. The tapered matrix has a gap for air entry for an air to vent air from beneath the roof ridge out the thick linear edge located proximate the middle of the tapered linear edges and extending generally over the linear axis of the outer surfaces. The gap further provides a pivot point about which the configuration folds to conform to a roof pitch having a predetermined angle. In one embodiment the matrix is tapered from one outer edge to the gap and the remaining portion of the matrix is generally level.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,144 discloses a ridge vent including an elongated flexible member having a central panel portion comprising support means for supporting the central panel above a roof, a pair of side portions containing a vent opening and a baffle. The baffle is adjustable from a relatively flat position to a relatively vertical position with respect to the roof. Having an adjustable baffle permits the ridge vent to be rolled more easily, and assists in lower cost molding of the vent
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0287054 discloses a ridge vent comprising an elongated panel with two opposed lateral edges; a pair of elongated sidewalk extending downward from one of the lateral edges, a pair of elongated floor portions each extending outward from one of the sidewalls. One or more of the floor portions has an underside having a sealant to improve the seal between the floor portion and the roof.
U.S. Patent Application No 2010/0144266 describes a roof ridge vent that includes a base portion configured to extend generally longitudinally along the ridge, and a plurality of vent extension members extending down from the base portion. The extension members form passages to vent air exiting the vent opening, and direct the air beneath and out of the sides of the vent. The extension members set at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the vent. The vent also includes V-shaped filler members attached to the vent with the small end of the V adjacent the base portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,790,167 discloses a vent which substantially fills in and seals spaces between the exterior surface of the roof and the vent. Its mechanism includes transverse support members extending outwardly from the inner surface of the body, wherein each of the transverse support members includes an outer edge spaced from the inner surface of the body, the outer edge including a cutout spaced from the inner surface of the body. The mechanism also includes elongated resilient members extending across the width of the vent body, each cooperating with a corresponding number of the cutouts; each of the elongated resilient members includes a separate member that is a dual durometer component, including a mounting portion disposed in the cutout and having its composition harder along its length than the composition of the sealing portion (having its composition soft along its length), and structured to extend outwardly from the mounting portion toward the roof.
None of these references, standing alone, expressly discloses a roof vent system with a plurality of downwardly biased flanges that obstruct gaps between the vent and the roof substratum.
One object of the invention disclosed herein is to provide a means of obstructing gaps between the vent aid the roof.
Another object of the invention disclosed herein is to provide a means of obstructing gaps between the vent and the roof, outside the vent cavity.
Another object of the invention disclosed herein is to provide a means of obstructing gaps between the vent and the root using materials having the durability, longevity and structural rigidity of the vent.
Other objects will become apparent from the disclosure.
The present invention concerns an unproved roof vent system for structures, which obstructs gaps between the vent and the substratum (such as the roof decking or shingles). Gaps often occur between the vent and the roof decking or shingles, allowing the unwanted entry of wind, precipitation and insects. To remedy such problems, the vent system must be attached completely to the roof surface without any gaps. Often roofs do not have an absolutely flat surface. It is difficult to create a ventilation system which guarantees continuous solid contact with the roof surface, while also filling any gaps between the roof surface and the vent. It is generally most advantageous for roof vents to have a solid or rigid edge contacting the roof, while assuring that such gaps are filled or minimized. The present invention generally includes a vent system maintaining rigid contact with the roof substratum, while also having a plurality of flexible gap-obstructing flanges that are biased downwardly to obstruct any gaps before the enclosed portion of the vent.
The dashed lines encircling portions of the roof vent are for illustrative purposes
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including”, or “have” or “having”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
For the sake of simplicity and to give the claims of this patent application the broadest interpretation and construction possible, the conjunctive “and” may also be taken to include the disjunctive “or,” and vice versa, whenever necessary to give the claims of this patent application the broadest interpretation and construction possible. Likewise, when the plural form is used, it may be taken to include the singular form, and vice versa.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element.
The disclosure herein is not limited by construction materials to the extent that such materials satisfy the structural and/or functional requirements. For example, any material may be used so long as it satisfies the rigid structural and functional requirements for which it is being used. In one embodiment, the device and/or system is pliable plastic material; however, any material of sufficient rigidity and flexibility will suffice as well. Likewise, the invention is not limited by any construction process or method. The invention disclosed herein may be constructed by injection molding, or any other method that will produce a vent having the necessary rigidity and flexibility.
In general, the invention disclosed herein comprises (includes) a vent for a roof or other structure, which may include a cavity housing portion and an outside-housing extension portion associated therewith. The housing portion may include a plurality of enclosure sidewalls downstanding from a top plate and a ventilation side downstanding from the top plate. The outside-housing portion may include an extension footing extending from a lower edge of the ventilation side; the extension footing further may include a means of obstructing gaps between the footing and the structure.
The means of obstructing gaps may include the footing that may include a footing portion biased downwardly below the footing. The footing portion may include a plurality of footing sub-portions, each resiliently biased downwardly below the footing. The footing further may include a plurality of slats, each extending from the lower edge of the ventilation side before merging, into a corner-edge connecting all of the slats. The fooling further may include a plurality of tabs, each integral with the corner-edge and extending between a respective pair of the slats, each of the tabs resiliently biased downwardly below the footing. The plurality of the tabs may include a free edge opposite the corner-edge and forming a flange angularly downstanding below the footing.
The footing corner-edge may merge into a wind deflector face upstanding therefrom. The corner-edge may further define at least one drainage opening; preferably, the vent will include a plurality of drainage openings spaced periodically along the corner-edge.
The ventilation side may include a plurality of ventilation openings, functioning as air louvers.
The vent disclosed herein may function as an off-peak vent, as well as a ridge vent.
The vent functions well as a ridge vent, perhaps straddling the roof ridge so that a ventilation side is on each side of the ridge. The plurality of enclosure sidewalls may include a first sidewall and an opposite second sidewall, each of the sidewalls having a flexion region. The housing portion further may include a second ventilation side opposite the first mentioned ventilation side, and a second outside-housing portion opposite the first mentioned outside-housing portion. Each ventilation side and outside-housing portion may have essentially the same features and facets, perhaps mirror images of the other respective ventilation side and outside-housing portion. The flexion regions may allow the bending of the vent for installing the vent straddling a ridge of the structure, with the first mentioned ventilation side and first outside-housing portion on one side of the ridge and with the second ventilation side and second outside-housing portion on the other side of the ridge.
The top plate further may include at least one air baffle downstanding therefrom. In one preferred embodiment, the air baffle may have a zig zagging configuration from the first sidewall to the second sidewall. In the alternative or conjunctive, the top plate may include at least one support baffle downstanding therefrom, providing rigid support maintaining the cavity within the housed portion. Preferably the top plate may include a plurality of support baffle down standing therefrom; these may also function as air baffles as well.
The side walls of the vent may be wave-form or serpentine surfaces that allow a certain amount of flexibility to the top plate, especially when the vent is intended to straddle the roof ridge. The absence of the rib support structure in the middle of the inner surface of the top plate makes the vent more flexible in the middle part of the housing.
One preferred embodiment of the invention composes a vent for a roof or other structure, which may include a cavity housing portion and a first outside-housing extension portion associated therewith:
(a) the housing portion may include:
(1) a lop plate (1) having a first edge (11), a second edge (21) and a ventilation edge (31),
(2) a first side-wall (12) downstanding from the first edge,
(3) a second sidewall (22) downstanding from the second edge, and
(4) a ventilation side downstanding from the ventilation edge and including a lower edge (33) opposite thereto and connecting ribs (32); and
(b) the first outside-housing portion may include:
(1) an extension footing (41) extending from the lower edge of the ventilation side; and
(2) a means of obstructing gaps between the footing and the structure, which may include the footing that may include at least one footing portion biased downwardly below the footing.
The footing may include a plurality of footing sub-portions (42), each resiliently biased downwardly below the footing. The footing further may include a plurality of slats (43), each extending from the lower edge of the ventilation side before merging into a corner-edge (44) connecting all of the slats. The footing further may include a plurality of tabs (45), each integral with the corner-edge and extending between a respective pair of the slats; each of the tabs may include a free edge (46) opposite the corner-edge and forming a flange angularly downstanding and resiliency biased below the footing.
The footing corner-edge may merge into a wind deflector face (47) upstanding therefrom, and with the corner-edge further defining at plurality of drainage openings (48).
Each of the sidewalls may have a flexion region. One embodiment of such a flexion region may be a serpentine section (13) of sidewall, preferably aligned with a similarly serpentine section (23) of the opposite sidewall (which may be mirror images of each other). The housing portion further may include a second ventilation side opposite the first mentioned ventilation side and a second outside-housing portion opposite the first mentioned outside-housing portion. The flexion regions may allow the bending of the vent along its longitudinal axis, for installing the vent straddling a ridge of the structure, with the first mentioned ventilation side and first outside-housing portion on one side of the ridge and with the second ventilation side and second outside-housing portion on the other side of the ridge.
The top plate further may include at least one air baffle (14) downstanding therefrom, and at least one support baffle (15) downstanding therefrom. Preferably, the top plate further may include at least one air baffle downstanding therefrom, and a plurality of support baffles downstanding therefrom.
The vent disclosed herein may be supplied in segmented units, which may be aligned side-by-side and connected. For each such unit, the first sidewall and adjoining top plate portion and the second sidewall and adjoining top plate portion may be adapted with complimentary inset and outset portions, to enable two separate such vent units to mate in alignment side-by-side. The top plate may have a first edge overhanging the first sidewall flexion region inset thereunder; it may have an opposite second edge following a stepped-down ledge, defining an outset margin having the second sidewall and flexion region downstanding thereunder and complimentary to the inset. For example, when installing a right-side unit next to an identical left-side unit, each unit will have an inset (or “female”) configuration on one side and a complimentary outset (or “male”) configuration on the other side. The inset may be formed by the sidewall having a portion converging inwardly beneath the top plate (overhanging, preferably with an edge perpendicular to the ventilation side), prior to merging into the flexion region on that side of the roof ridge. The complimentary outset may be formed on the opposite side (of the other mating unit) by the sidewall having a portion diverging outwardly from the co-planar edge of the top plate (preferably parallel to or complimentary with the opposite edge); there may be a stepped-down ledge extending from the co-planar edge, completing the enclosure. When mated side-by-side, the outset portion inserts or nests within the inset portion of the side wall beneath the overhanging top plate, which overlays the ledge of the adjacent unit.
The vent units may also be shortened for installation, by cutting along a plane perpendicular to the ventilation sides. The top plate may further include at least one support battle downstanding therefrom near each of the ventilation sides, each of the support baffles may be configured to abut the second sidewall if two separate such vent units are mated m alignment side-by-side after the width of the one vent unit has been shortened by cutting along a plane perpendicular to the ventilation sides.
Besides the vent described herein, the invention includes the method of using the vent. Such method includes the steps of positioning the vent housing portion over the ventilation opening(s) in the roof substratum, with the vent footing positioned in any depressions or other air gaps that may be present in the roof substratum. Then the user compresses the vent against the roof substratum, and anchors the vent to the substratum. Anchoring means may include support baffles having modifications accepting an anchor screw, nail or other fastener; however, any means of anchoring the vent may suffice so long as the footing is maintained in a position biased downwardly to obstruct any air gap.
Successive units or sections of vent may be aligned side by side across the width of the roof being ventilated. For convenience, the second edge of the top plate (and/or the second sidewall) may be adapted to accept in overlapping engagement an overhanging adaptation portion of the first edge of the top plate, so that adjacent units of vent essentially interlock.
