RIDGE CAP CLOSURE SYSTEM

SYSTEME DE FERMETURE DE FAITAGE

English Abstract

A roof closure system for use with corrugated panel roofs having a ridge cap
and
ventilated or non-ventilated foam closures permanently attached thereto, the
ridge cap and the
foam assembled as a ready-to-use single unit. The foam closure is formed a
highly mailable
foam material such that the closure may be used with any style of corrugated
metal roof panels.

French Abstract

Un système de fermeture de toit utilisable avec des toits en tôle ondulée ayant un faîtage et des fermetures en mousse aérée ou non aérée qui y sont attachés de façon permanente, ledit faîtage et ladite mousse étant assemblés en une unité unique prête à l'usage. La fermeture en mousse est formée d'un matériau mousse très malléable qui permet l'emploi de la fermeture avec n'importe quel style de panneaux en tôle ondulée pour toit.

Claims

6
Claims
1. A pre-assembled closure system for a corrugated roof, the closure system
comprising a metal ridge cap formed in a bent shape having a plurality of
dependent
ledges, each of said dependent ledges having a foam closure permanently
attached
thereto.
2. The pre-assembled closure system of Claim 1 wherein the foam closure is
formed of a malleable foam material whereby the foam closure can conform to a
wide
variety of patterns of corrugated panels.
3. The pre-assembled closure system of Claim 1 wherein the foam closure is
selected from the group comprising ventilating foams and non-ventilating
foams.
4. A manufacturing method of forming a pre-assembled closure system, the
method comprising:
forming a metal ridge cap for a peaked corrugated roof building, said ridge
cap
formed in a bent shape having a plurality of dependant ledges; and
permanently attaching a foam closure to said ridge cap, wherein said
attachment
is undertaken by automated means.
5. The method of Claim 4 wherein forming the ridge cap and attaching the
foam closure are undertaken concurrently on a manufacturing line.

Description

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RIDGE CAP CLOSURE SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
This invention finds use in the field of ridge or roof caps for freestanding
structures.
More particularly, this invention relates to a ridge or roof cap for
structures having corrugated
metal roofs and vented or non-vented foam closures.
Background
Many types of freestanding structures, particularly commercial buildings, are
constructed with root formed from corrugated metal pods or sheets. In a
building having a
peaked or pitched rook, as opposed to 'a flat roof, a roof or ridge cap is
placed at the peak.
Depending on the requirements of the btdkling, the ridge cap may serve to
assist ventilation in
the building in combination with ridge vents in the eaves.
By its very nature, the surface of a corrugated metal panel has a series of
repeating
troughs and crests. When an object, such the flat attachment portions of a
ridge cap arc placed
on top of such troughs and crests, gaps are formed between the object and the
corrugated metal
panel. Such gaps are not welcome due to issues of insulation, moisture
weathavtg, and wear
from debris collecting in the gaps. It is therefore custom practice to place
it strip of foam
between the ridge cap attachment portions (flaps) and the corrugated roof
panels. The foam is
usually contoured on one side to the pattern of the corrugated roof panel and
contains an
adhesive backing. At the construction site, the adhesive backing on the foam
is exposed and
the foam is attached to the roof panels. The ridge cap is lined up with the
foam closure on the
corrugated roof and fastened using conventional means known in the art such as
screw, nails, or
bolts.

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While there is no doubt that prior art foam closure systems are functional,
they present
several usability problems which can interfere with an otherwise smooth
installation in the
field. The adhesive backing can sometimes be difficult to expose and, upon
exposure, can pick
up dirt, dust and other debris from the job site, leading to problems with
adhesion and possible
premature wear of the foam or the ridge cap. It can also be difficult to line
up the exposed
adhesive portions of the foam with the roof panels, leading to possible waste
of materials and
manpower to correct misaligned pieces of foam. Finally requiring corrugated
metal panels,
foam closures needing to correspond to the shape of the corrugations, and
ridge caps, all
possibly from separate manufacturers, complicates the ordering and delivery
process and leads
to clutter on the job site
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a roof ridge cap
and foam
closure that is easy and economical to install in the field.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a roof ridge cap and
foam
enclosure that reduced the likelihood of collecting unwanted dust, dirt and
debris.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a foam closure
that is able to
mate to a wide variety of corrugation styles of metal roof panels so as not to
be profile sensitive.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in
the art for
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the
invention.
Summary of Invention
The invention comprises roof closure system for use with corrugated panel
roofs having a a
ridge cap and ventilated or non-ventilated foam closures permanently attached
thereto,
manufactured as a single unit. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,
the foam closure
is formed a highly mailable foam material such that the closure may be used
with any style of
corrugated metal roof panels. It is also contemplated that the foam closures
attached to the

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ridge caps may be formed of a shaped foam that corresponds to a particular
pattern or style of a
corrugated metal roof panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Specific embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes of
illustration and
description, and are shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the
specification
wherein:
FIG.1 is a cross-sectional view of the inventive ridge cap closure system on a
metal
paneled roof.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The ridge cap closure system according to the present invention will be
described herein
by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 shows a cross-
sectional view of of
the inventive ridge cap closure system on a metal paneled roof.
As described in further detail, below, the subject ridge cap closure system 10
is
generally comprised of a ridge cap 20 having two or more dependant ledges 22
Wining the entire
length of both sides of the ridge cap and foam closure strips 24 attached to
each of said
dependant ledges 22. The ridge cap 20 portion of closure system 10 is
constructed of metal
conventionally used in metal panel roof buildings, such as galvanized steel,
aluminum or
copper and is available pre-forted from numerous suppliers or can be bent in
situ during the
manufacturing process of the entire closure system 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the
ridge cap 20
generally is formed in a triangular or peaked shape although a rounded or
flatened shape may
used, as dictated by the project. Ridge caps normally sold and used in 10'
sections.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the foam closure strips 24 are
generally
formed from a flexible, semi-rigid, cross-linked polyethylene foam, such as is
produced by

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Hibco Plastics, Inc. (Yadkinville, North Carolina) or any other foam material
used in the art.
Depending on the building application, the foam closures 24 can be non-
ventilating or
ventilating, closed or open-celled. In the preferred embodiment of the
invention, the foam
closure 24 is formed in a convoluted, egg-crate style and is highly mailable,
such that it can
conform to any pattern of corrugation of the corrugated roof panels 28. One
advantage of using
a mailable foam closure 24 over the prior art is that a contractor need only
be concerned about
ordering the closure system 10 having the appropriate type of ridge cap 20 and
not being
concerned with ordering the appropriate type of contoured foam to match the
style of corregated
panels being used on the building project. Futher, mailable foam 24, as used
as part of the
inventive system 10, offers the added advantage of being able to use different
corrugation styles
of corruguated panel 28 on the same roof with a continous strip of foam 24. Of
course, the
closure system 10 of the instant invention functions, albeit less preferrably,
using specifically
contoured foam matching the contours of the specific corrugated panel 28, as
is currently
practiced in the art.
The inventive closure system 10 is formed at a factory or other manufacturing
facility as
a single component rather than a ridge cap 20 and foam strips 24 separately
ordered and
transported to a construction site and assembled by workers exposing an
adhesive backing the
foam 24 and adhering the foam to the roof panels. The closure system 10 may be
formed as
part of a unitary assembly process where the ridge cap 20 and the foam are
assembled on the
same line with automated means, such as a manufacturing line, or otherwise
with minimal
human intervention. In an alternative embodiment of the assembly process, the
ridge cap 20
and the foam 24 are manufactured in separate facilities, possibly by unrelated
manufacturers,
brought together at another manufacturing line, an adhesive is applied to the
back of the foam
24 which is then precisely mated to the ridge cap 20. In either manufacturing
embodiment, the
complete closure system 10 is then ready to be transported to a construction
site and used,
without concern of lining up the foam 24 with the roof panels 28 and
subsequently lining up the
cap 20 with the roof panels 28 and the foam 24.

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Referring again to Fig, 1, a building roof is formed of a series of beams or
struts 26, two
of which are shown in the cut-away view. A series of corrugated panels 28,
typically metal, are
affixed to and between the struts 26. The closure system 10 is placed upon the
metal panels 28
such that the peak of the ridge cap 20 is aligned with the peak of the roof.
The closure system
is then attached to the metal panels 28 and the struts 26 by way of fastening
means 30 such as
screws, bolts, nails, and rivets. Upon attachment, the malleable foam 24
conforms to and fills
the various troughs and crests of the corrugated panels 28, forming a tight
seal between the
ridge cap 20 and the roof panels 28.
In addition to the use with ridge caps 20, the instant invention is adaptable
to base plates
and eave struts. It should also be noted that the foam may be placed
underneath the ridge cap
20 or on top of the base plates or eave struts, depending on the needs of the
contractor.
In addition to the structures, sequences, and uses immediately described
above, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications and variations
can be made the
method of the instant invention without diverging from the scope, spirit, or
teaching of the
invention. Therefore, it is the intention of the inventors that the
description of instant invention
should be considered illustrative and the invention is to be limited only as
specified in the
claims and equivalents thereto.

Representative Drawing