Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SEALABLE RIDGE VENT FOR TILE ROOF
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to roof vents and, in particular, this invention
relates to vents for
tiled roofs.
BACKGROUND
Adequate ventilation is necessary to ensure that the structural materials and
roofs is not
degraded by the presence of condensed moisture and the presence of wind blown
precipitation,
insects, pai-ticulates, and the like. However, tiled roofs have presented a
particular challenge
when vents are installed because the contours of tiled roofs are generally
undulating with crests
and troughs therein. To this end, it has often been necessary to install
materials such as foam or
the like beneath the vents, such that the foam will fill the contours
presented by the tiles. Other
materials, such as moi-tar, blown insulation, or expanding foams have also
been used. However,
these materials involve extra time and are often inefficient, expensive to
install. In addition to
being inefficient and adding extra expense, the materials used often degrade
due to exposure to
sunlight and weathering.
There is then a need for a vent with a feature confoiming to the undulating
contour of a
tiled roof.
SLTNIMARY OF THE INVENTION
?0 This invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industiy
by providing
a vent with a feature conforming to the undulating contour of a tiled roof.
This invention provides a venting device for a tiled roof, the venting device
comprising a
vent member and a sealing member, the sealing member including a malleable
material, capable
of being configured and sealed to the undulations of the tiled roof.
It is a feature of the instant vent that the sealing member folds between a
position
substantially beneath the vent member and a position wherein a portion of the
sealing member is
substantially outboard the vent member. It is an advantage of the foregoing
feature that the
sealing member, when folded inwardly, occupies a minimum volume for efficient
and economic
storage and transport.
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It is yet another feature of the instant vent that a portion of the sealing
member may be
configured between a folded and an unfolded configuration. It is an advantage
of the foregoing
feature that the sealing member may be folded for transportation and storage,
then unfolded to be
configured to, and seal, an undulating roof.
It is yet another feature of the instant vent that the sealing member has an
undulating,
convoluted configuration. It is an advantage of the foregoing feattue that the
sealing member
can accoinmodate a convoluted roof configuration when portions of the
convoluted sealing
member are unfolded, or straightened, when being pressed against, or conformed
to, the roof.
It is yet another feature of the instant vent that the sealing member is
configurable to
individual roof contours. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the
instant vent may be
configured to roof contours, which are not uniforni. It is another advantage
of the foregoing
feature that the instant vent may be installed on roofs having non-identical
opposing slopes, e.g.,
due to errors during installation.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will
become apparent
fi=om the description which follows, when considered in view of the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the instant sealable tile
ridge roof
vent with the sealing members in an extended configuration.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the roof vent of Figure 1 with the sealing
members in a
folded configuration.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the roof vent of Figure 1 with one of the
sealing
members partially unfolded.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof vent of Figure 1
showing an
enlarged view of the partially unfolded sealing member of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof vent of Figure 1
showing an
enlarged view of the folded sealing member of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a fi=agmentary perspective view of the sealing menZber of the roof
vent of
Figure 1 in a partially unfolded configuration.
Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the sealing member of
Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the sealing member of
Figure 6
in a folded configuration.
Figure 9 is a ftagmentary perspective view of the roof vent of Figure 1 being
installed on
a tiled roof.
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Figure 10 is a perspective view of the roof vent of Figure 1 installed on a
tiled roof.
Figure 11 is another perspective view of the roof vent of Figure 1 installed
on a tiled roof.
Figure 12 is yet another perspective view of the roof vent of Figure 1
installed on a tiled
roof, cap tiles disposed over the roof vent.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the instant roof vent in a partially
unfolded
configuration.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of lateral edges of the instant vent member
and instant
sealing member in an extended conf guration.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the roof vent of Figure 1, depicting the
sealing member
in an unfolded configuration.
Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of one embodiment of the tliree-ply
material
used in the manufacture of the vent member of this invention.
Figure 17 is a fraginentary sectional view of another embodiment of the three-
ply
material used in the manufacture of the vent member of tlus invention.
Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of an embodiment of a two-ply
material used in
the manufacture of the vent member of this invention.
Figure 19 is a fraginentary plan view depicting one method of defining the top
and vent
panels of the vent member of this invention.
Figure 20 is a side view depicting one method of assembling the vent member of
this
invention.
Figure 21 is plan view depicting another method of defining the top and vent
panels of
this invention.
Figure 22 is a side view depicting another method of assembling the vent
member of this
invention.
Figure 23 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another embodiment of the
vent
member of this invention.
Figure 24 is a fi=aginentary perspective view depicting yet another embodiment
of the
vent member of this invention.
Figure 25 is a fragmentary perspective view showing still another embodiment
of the
vent member of this invention.
It is understood that the above-described figures are only illustrative of the
present
invention and are not contemplated to limit the scope thereof.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Unless otherwise defined, all tecluiical and scientific terms used herein have
the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the ai-t to which
tliis invention
belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be
used to practice the invention, suitable methods and materials are descr-ibed
below. In case of
conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In
addition, the materials,
dimensions, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be
limiting.
Any references to such relative tei-ms as front and back, right and left, top
and bottom,
upper and lower, horizontal and vertical, or the like, are intended for
convenience of description
and are not intended to limit the present invention or its components to any
one positional or
spatial orientation.
Each of the additional features and methods disclosed herein may be utilized
separately
or in conjunction with other feattires and methods to provide improved devices
of this invention
and methods for making and using the saine. The following description is
merely intended to
teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing aspects of
the present teachings and
is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, specific
conlbinations of features
and methods disclosed in the following detailed description may not be
necessary to practice the
invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely, to
particularly describe
representative embodiments of the invention. Thus, a person of ordinary skill
in the art will
readily appreciate that individual components shown on various embodiments of
the present
invention are interchangeable to some extent and may be added or interchanged
on other
embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
Referring to the figures, a sealable vent for a tile roof ridge of th.is
invention is indicated
generally at 100 and includes a vent member 102 and a sealing member 104
extending fi=om one
of or each lateral edge of the vent member 102. Figures 1 and 2 depict a pair
of sealing members
present and Figure 3 depicts a single sealing member attached to the second
vent 114.
One embodiment of the vent member 102 is a top panel 110 attached to
respective first
and second vents 112 and 114 in a generally overlaying manner. The vents 112,
114, in turn,
may be made fi=om a plttrality of vent panels 116 disposed in a parallel,
generally contacting
relation. A filtering fabric 118 may also be present. If present, the
filtering fabric 118 may be
attached to the vent member 102 so that an airflow egressing fi=om a building
tlirougli the vent
member 102 must flow tlirough the filtering fabric 118 before egressing the
vent member 102.
In the embodiment depicted, lateral ends of the filtering fabric 118 are
attached to lower surfaces
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of the bottom-most vent panels 116. Air exchange is effected through airflow
passages 120
formed from the coiTugated material of the top panel 110, vent panels 116 and
from a route 122
formed generally axially and longitudinally in the top panel 110. This and
other exemplaiy and
suitable vent members are disclosed and described in U.S. Patent 6,623,354,
hereby incorporated
by reference.
The sealing men7ber 104, in the embodiment shown, is attached to the lower
vent panel
116 of each first and second vent 112, 114 by an adhesive strip 130, e.g.,
including butyl
adhesive. The sealing member 104 may be made from a malleable metal, such as
aluminum or
the like with a thiclaless providing the requisite malleability, resilience,
and resistance to
weathering. However, materials such as synthetic resins and fabrics having the
requisite
stiffiless, malleability, stretch characteristics (e.g., "memory,"
rubberized), and resistance to
weathering and sunlight may be suitable for other embodiments. In the
embodiment depicted,
the sealing member 104 includes a folded section 132 and a sealing section 134
and is fashioned
fi=om a pleated or a cornigated material having wave-like convolutions 136
which may be
characterized as having a trough 138, a crest 140, and a period or wavelength
144. Layers 145 of 1.7 the folded section 132 are defined by creases 146, a
crease 146 also separating the folded section
132 from the sealing section 134. Each crease 146 is foimed by crushing the
corri.igated material
axially, so as to flatten the troughs 138 and crests 140 along a generally
longitudinal line.
Aii adhesive strip 148 is present on the lower surface of the lateral edge of
each sealing
section 134 and a strip of a release material 150 overlays the adhesive strip
148. The adhesive of
the adhesive strip 148 may be made from a material such as butyl adhesive and
the release
material may comprise materials such as paper or a synthetic resin, optionally
with a release
material such as silicone.
The sealing member 104, after being creased and folded as described above, is
attached
to lateral edges of the first and second vent panels 112, 114 by means of
applying the adhesive
strip 130, e.g. about 2.54 cm wide and 0.1778 mm thick. The adhesive strip 148
may be applied
to a lower surface of the sealing section 134 in an axial band, e.g., about
2.22 cm wide and about
4.76 inm thick. Figure 1 shows the instant roof vent with the sealing sections
134 unfolded in a
position to be configured to the contours of a tile roof. Figure 2 shows the
instant roof vent with
the sealing sections 134 in a folded position suitable for storage or transpoi-
t.
In use, the sealing members 104 of the roof ventilator 100 are folded
outwardly as
depicted in Figures 1, 9, 13, 14 and 15 and placed over the ridge of a tile
roof 160 having slits
along one or both sides of the roof ridge. The tile roof 160 includes a
plurality of tiles 162, each
tile 162 having a crest 164 and a trough 166. The release lnaterial 150 is
separated fi=om the
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adhesive strip 148. Portions of the sealing section 134 are then pressed
against the tile from the
configuration shown in Figure 9 to the configurations shown in Figures 10, 11
and 12, thereby
"expanding" the sealing section 134 and adhering the sealing section 134 to
the contours of the
tile 162. Notably, portions of the corrugations in the sealing section 134 are
unfolded to allow
the sealing section 134 to "stretch" so that so that the sealing section 134
contacts and adheres to
the tile troughs 166, as well as the crests 164, of the tiles 162, thereby
completely sealing the
undulating, tiled roof beneath the instant vent from precipitation, wind-blown
particulate ingress,
and invading fauna, such as insects. The instant vent may then be fiu-ther
secured as desired,
then a cap tile 168 may be installed over the instant vent as shown in Figure
12. Thusly
.0 positioned, the instant vent is hidden from view by the cap tile 168, yet
allows air to egress the
ventilated building, while preventing ingressing moisture, insects, and
particulates via the
applied sealing section 134.
Referring to Figure 16, one exemplary material which may be used to constiltct
the vent
member of this invention is a tlu=ee-ply material 180, which is weatherproof
and resistant to W
5 radiation in some embodiments. The material 180 depicted in Figure 16 has
first planar plies
182 and 184 and a second convoluted (fluted) ply 186 joined to the planar
plies 182 and 184 to
define the airflow passages 120. An alternative three-ply material is shown at
188 in Figure 17
and includes first planar plies 190 and 192 and a second ply 194. In the
embodiment shown, the
second ply 194 includes a series of cross-walls 196 extending generally
transversely (e.g.,
0 perpendicular) to the planar plies 190 and 192 to define the airflow
passages 120. Refer-ring to
Figure 18, a two-ply material 198 is shown having a first planar ply 200 and a
second convoluted
(fluted) ply 202. The first ply 200 and second ply 202 are joined together to
form the airflow
passages 120. Moreover, when two or more layers of the two-ply 'material are
folded such that
the convoluted plies 202 generally face and contact each other, another
multiplicity of air
5 passages 120 is formed therebetween. The foregoing materials 180, 188, and
198 may be
foimed from a high density polyethylene or other synthetic resin. However,
these weatherproof
materials may also be formed from cointgated paper board coated with a sealant
such as an
epoxy to protect the paper board fi=om deterioration due to moisture and
similar elements. In
addition to being impervious to moisture, suitable materials may also resist
deterioration fi=om
0 exposure to solar radiation and heat. Such corrugated polyethylene shown may
be obtained from
U.S. Comtlite, Inc., South Bay, Florida, Diversi-Plast Products, Inc. Golden
Valley, Minnesota,
and Fremont Direct Products, Ind. Fremont, Oliio.
Figure 19 shows the vent member 102 of this invention may be formed fi=om a
ututary
sheet 204. Sheet 204 is foi-med, e.g., fi=om the above-described materials. A
series of cut score
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lines 206 and 208 defined in the top panel 110 and vent panels 210, 212, and
214. The score
lines 206 and 208, in the embodiment depicted, extend generally parallel to a
longitudinal axis
216. Figure 22 depicts the top panel 110 and vent panel 210 as being formed by
extending the
slit 206 in the first planar ply 182 and at least partially tluough the
convoluted ply 186. The
intermediate vent panel 212 is laterally adjacent the first formed vent panel
210 and is partially
defined along the score line 208. The score line 208 is formed by extending
the slit to the other
first planar ply 184 and at least par-tially through the convoluted ply 186.
Finally, intermediate
panel 212 and a flanking panel 214 are defined completely by extending the
score line 206 as
described above. Having been defined by the score lines 206 and 208, the
panels 210, 212, and
214 may be folded under the top panel 110 in a Z-fold teclulique.
Fasteners, such as staples 228, may then be placed into the top panel 110 and
extended
through each of the vent panels 210, 212 and 214 to secure the vent panels in
place with respect
to the top panel 110. Figure 19 depicts one embodiment of the vent member of
this invention as
having a route 218 coextensive with the longitudinal axis 260. The route 218
may be defined on
a lower surface 229 of the top panel 110 by removing a generally linear
portion of the first planar
ply 184 and an underlying portion of the second ply 186. The route 218 formed
thusly may be
generally arcuate in cross section. However, other cross-sectional
confirmations are possible.
For example, one alternate cross-sectional geometry may be generally square or
rectangular.
Any of the route geometries achieved may define interior openings for the air
passages 120 in
the top panel 110. These interior openings for the air passages 120 in the top
panel 110 enable
airflow in addition to the air passages in the vent panels 210, 212, and 214.
The route defined in
the top panel 110 also functions to allow this embodiment of the vent member
of this invention
to be folded easily and precisely along the longitudinal axis 216 during
installation for
conformance to the contours of a roof, e.g., at the ridge thereof.
Figure 21 depicts an alteinative method of forming the vent member 102, hence
top panel
110 and vent panels 210, 212, and 214 fi=om the sheet 204. As in the case with
the score lines
206 and 208, perforated lines 222 extend generally parallel to the
longitudinal axis 216.
However, in contrast to the score lines 206 and 208, perforated lines 222 are
foimed by a series
of perforations 224 extending tluough the plies 182, 184, and 1S6.
hiterspersed between the
perforations 224 are intact areas 226. The perforated lines 222, hence the
perforations 224, thus
define the top panel 110 and vent panels 210, 212, and 214. The perforations
224 fiulher define
exterior openings for the airflow passages 120. Once foimed, the vent panels
210, 212, and 214
may be Z-folded under the top panel 110 as described above and may be secured
together by
means of a fastener, sucll as a staple, in a maimer described above as well.
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Referring to Figure 22, yet another alter-nate method of forming the vent
member 102 is
depicted, in which the top panel 110 and vent panels 210, 212, and 214 are
defined by being
completely severed from the uiutary sheet 204. Once severed, the vent panels
210, 212, and 214
may be stacked beneath the top panel 110 and secured thereto by means of
fasteners, such as
staples 22S, or by equivalent means such as adhesives. Also depicted are
additional vent panels
230 and 232 to demonstrate by illustration and not limitation that any number
of vent panels may
be present in various embodiments of the vent member of this invention. As
fonned by each of
the methods described above, once assembled, the vent member of this
invention, as described
above, includes a top panel and one or more vent panels in a fixed, stacked,
and contacting
relation.
Another alternative suitable for some embodiments of the vent member of this
invention
is shown in Figure 23 at 234 and includes first plies 236 and 23S and a second
ply 240. The first
plies 236 in 238 maybe planar or convoluted, depending upon the contour of the
surface to which
the vent member will be affixed. The second ply 240 may be a matting of
individual filaments
241 of a plastic (s}mthetic resin) polynzeric material, which may be resistant
to degradation when
exposed to precipitation, heat, and solar radiation. These filaments may
include a nylon or other
polymers. In contrast to the defined and discrete airflow passages described
above, the filaments
of this embodiment define intersecting and non-discrete airflow passages,
which allow egress of
air ii=om buildings being vented by the vent of this invention.
In Figure 24 anotller embodiment of the vent member of this invention is
depicted
generally at 242. The vent member 242 includes at least one first, generally
planar ply 244. The
first ply 244 is medially divided by a hinge 246 to enable the vent member 242
to easily confoml
to an apex or ridge line of a roof. Also included is a second ply 248. Not
shown but present in
some embodiments is a second first ply 244 which overlays the second ply 248.
One of the first
plies attaches to the sealing member of this invention in a mamier similar to
that described
above. The second ply includes rows of spacer elements 250 proximate each
lateral edge and a
matting 252 disposed between two of the rows of spacer elements. The matting
252 may include
the plastic (syntlietic resin) filaments described above.
Referring to Figure 25, another embodiment of the vent member of this
invention is
indicated at 254. The vent member 254 may be foimed as a single-sheet, open
work mat or web
256 of randomly convoluted polyineric (synthetic resin) filaments. The mat 256
has a
longitudinal medial lunge or centerline 258 dividing the mat 256 into a pair
of substantially
identical, longitudinally-extending lateral flaps, or side portions 260 and
262, wluch, during
installation, may be disposed at an angle to conform to a roof ridge. The mat
256 may have a
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substantially planar upper surface 264 and a substantially planar roof
confronting lower surface
266. A plurality of cusps, or hollow spacer elements, 268 may be disposed in a
plurality of
longitud'ulal rows extending throughout the longitudinal flaps 260 and 262.
Each cusp 268
projects downwardly from the upper surface 264 and has a basal portion 270,
which may be co-
planar with the upper face 264 and an apex portion 272 a spaced distance
therefrom. The apex
portions 272 form the roof confi=onting surface 266 of the mat 256. The cusps
44 space the face
264 of the mat 256 from the roof to provide of ventilation passageways
therebetween. A strip of
air permeable filter material 274 may be secured to the roof confronting
surface 266 of the mat
256. The filter 274 permits air to egress the stiucture, while preventing
insects, rain, snow,
blowing foreign objects, and the like from ingress. The sealing members 104
may be attached to
lateral portions of the filter 274. hl some embodiments, a continuous length
of filter material
274 is thermally or adhesively bonded to the apex portions 272 of the cusps
268 and may extend
to the edge flanges 276 and 278 of the lateral flaps 260 and 262. Because the
edge flanges 276
and 278 are substantially co-planar with the upper surface 264 of the mat 256
in this
embodiment, weather and insects are prevented from ingress. The filter
material 274 may also
extend over, and cover, the slot foi-nled in the roof so that insects or other
foreign objects cannot
ingress tlu=ough the slot. The filtered material 274 may be a sheet-like
fabric, such as non-woven
polyester nylon or other synthetic resins. Altei7iatively, the filter material
to be fotmed from
needle-punched non-woven material, metal mesh screens, or the like, which
would provide
".0 permeability tlu=ough small spaces in their structures. A person of
ordinary skill in the art will
readily comprehend that suitable synthetic resins for the components described
herein may be
selected from Handbook of Plastics, Elastomers, and Composites, Third Edition,
Charles A.
Haiper, Editor in Chief, McGraw-Hill, New York (1996), hereby incoiporated by
reference.
The upper surface 264 of the mat 256 may be reinforced adjacent nail lines 280
and 282.
:5 Each nail line 280 and 282 extends in a longitudinal direction on one of
lateral flap 262 and 264,
respectively, and maybe located at a spaced distance from the centerline hinge
258 and edge
flanges 276 and 278. The mat 256 may be reinforced with one or more strips of
nail line
reinforcement material 284, which may be bonded to the upper surface 264 of
the mat 256. The
nail line reinforcement material may be a sheet-like fabric material, such as
non-woven nylon
0 polyester, an elastomeric material, or other synthetic resin.
Because numerous modifications of this invention may be made without departing
fi=om
the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the
embodiments illustrated
and described. Ratlier, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the
appended claims
and their equivalents.
