RIDGE VENT

AERATEUR DE FAITE

English Abstract

Disclosed is a vent system for use with a shingle cap and with a roof structure having a ridge slot. The vent system comprises: a pair of elongate mats disposed, in use, on opposite sides of the ridge slot; and an elongate web extending between the mats and, in use, covering the ridge slot. The mats and the web are covered in use by the shingle cap. The mats have an open texture sufficient to allow venting of the roof to occur therethrough.

French Abstract

Linvention propose un système dévent à utiliser avec un couvre-bardeau et une structure de toit possédant une fente de faite. Le système dévent comprend : une paire de tapis allongés placés, en utilisation, sur des côtés opposés de la fente de faite; et une bande allongée sétendant entre les tapis et, en utilisation, couvrant la fente de faite. Les tapis et la bande sont couverts en utilisation par le couvre-bardeau. Les tapis possèdent une texture ouverte suffisante pour permettre quune ventilation du toit sy produise.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A vent system for use with a shingle cap and with a roof structure
having a ridge
slot, the vent system comprising:
a pair of elongate mats for providing ventilation, the mats having an open
texture
to allow venting of the roof to occur therethrough; and
an elongate web extending between the mats and defining a distance between the

mats, the web being sufficiently flexible to allow the distance between the
mats to be
varied, to allow the vent system to fit under shingle caps of different
widths;
wherein, in use, the mats are disposed on opposing sides of the ridge slot and
the
flexible web covers the ridge slot, and both the mats and the web are covered
by the
shingle cap.
2. The vent system according to claim 1, wherein the web is a felt.
3. The vent system according to claim 2, wherein the felt further defines a
backer for
each mat.
4. The vent system according to claim 3, wherein the mats are about 4.5
inches in
width and the felt is connected to the mats such that, when the mats are fully
separated
from one another, the mats are about 3 inches apart from one another and
joined by the
felt.
5. The vent system according to claim 1, wherein the mats and the web are
non-
wicking and define an effective barrier against wind-driven rain and against
insects.

Description

RIDGE VENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to the general field of roof ventilation systems. It
is particularly
related to roof ridge ventilators.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been a long known practice to ventilate attics under gable roofs by
running a vent
along the roof ridge.
Some structures place a type of porous material over the slot, which is then
covered by
the same roofing material as the rest of the roof, such as shingles or tiles.
For example,
United States Patent Islo. 5,167,579 teaches a fibrous mat as the porous
material, with
shingles nailed over the matrix leaving the side edges open to vent hot air.
This mat is a
non-woven synthetic fiber mesh of a type that has been used in other
applications for
scrubbers and polishers. To produce this known mat, synthetic fibers (usually
nylon or
polyester) are opened and blended, then randomly aligned into a web by
airflow. The
web is then treated with binding agents of water based phenolics and latexes.
The treated
web is then oven-cured to bind the fibers into a relatively rigid mat having a
significant
porous area between the random fibers.
Mat of this prior art type are typically sold in rolls having widths that
corresponds to
typical shingle caps. Thus, if a roofer uses shingle caps of varying widths,
that roofer
typically maintains multiple rolls of mat material, in varying corresponding
widths.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a vent system for use with a shingle cap and
with a roof
structure having a ridge slot and comprises a pair of elongate mats and an
elongate felt
defining a web. Each mat can be about 4.5 inches in width. The felt can define
a backer
for each mat and can be connected to the mats such that, when the mats are
fully
separated from one another, the mats are about inches apart from one another
and joined
by the felt. In use, the system is arranged with the mats disposed on opposite
sides of the
ridge slot, the felt covering the ridge slot and the shingle cap covering the
vent system.
By varying the position of the mats relative to the ridge slot, and thereby
varying the
slack in the felt, the system can be used with shingle caps of varying widths.
The mats
have an open texture sufficient to allow venting of the roof to occur
therethrough. The
mats can sufficiently resistant to compression that the installer can easily
feel when the
shingle is pressed firmly against the mat and sink the nail only until the
nail head is
against the shingle, leaving the cap raised about 5/8 inch above the
underlying roof
shingles. The mats and the felt can be non-wicking and can define an effective
barrier
against wind-driven rain and against insects.
= BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken at the ridge of a roof, showing a Prior
Art roof
ridge vent;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the Prior Art roof ridge vent of FIG. 1 being
installed on
the roof;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2 showing the Prior Art roof vent of FIG. 1
being
installed on the roof; and
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at the ridge of a roof, showing a roof
ridge vent
according to the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention represents an improvement over the roof ridge vent
described in
United States Patent No. 5,167,579 ["the '579 Patent"]. For ease of reference
the Prior
Art ridge vent described in the '579 Patent is shown in FIGs. 1 to 3. The
improved ridge
vent of the present invention is constructed and used in a manner generally
similar to that
vent described in the '579 Patent. For economy in language, only differences
in the
structure and differences in the use between the vent system of the present
invention and
the vent of the '579 Patent are hereinafter described.
In terms of improvement, it will be apparent that prior art ridge vents of the
general type
described in the '579 Patent are defined by a single width of fibrous,
breathable mat
material that is arranged to straddle a roof ridge slot.
Mats of this prior art type are typically sold in rolls having widths that
corresponds to
typical shingle caps. Thus, if a roofer uses shingle caps of varying widths,
that roofer
typically maintains multiple rolls of mat material, in varying corresponding
widths.
The vent system 20 of the present invention is for use with a tile or shingle
cap 22 and
with a roof structure having a ridge slot 24 and comprises a pair elongate
mats 26 and an
elongate web 28 defined by a felt. Each mat 26 can be about 4.5 inches in
width. The
felt 28 can define a backer for each mat 26 and be connected to the mats 26
such that,
when the mats are fully separated from one another, as shown in FIG. 4, the
mats 26 are
about 3 inches apart from on another and joined by felt 28.
In use, as shown in FIG. 4, the system 20 is arranged with the mats 26
disposed on the
shingle roof 30 on opposite sides of the ridge slot 24, the felt 28 covering
the ridge slot
24 and the shingle cap 22 covering the venting system 20 and secured to the
roof by nails
32. Although not shown, it will be understood that, by varying the position of
the mats
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relative to the ridge slot, and thereby varying the slack in the felt, the
system can be used
with shingle caps of widths narrower than that illustrated in FIG. 4 with no
associated
protrusion of the mats.
The improved vent system can be sold in rolls in a conventional manner.
Whereas but a single exemplary embodiment is herein shown and described, it
will be
evident that changes can be made. Accordingly, the invention should be
understood as
limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.
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Representative Drawing