U.S. patent application number 09/825033 was filed with the patent office on 2001-09-06 for ridge ventilation system.
Invention is credited to Headrick, J. Charles.
Application Number | 20010019941 09/825033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23634968 |
Filed Date | 2001-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010019941 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Headrick, J. Charles |
September 6, 2001 |
Ridge ventilation system
Abstract
A ridge ventilation system includes a plurality of ridge vent
sections joined together in end-to-end relationship covering the
open ridge of a roof. Each ridge vent section has a laterally
flexible central panel flanked by ventilation grids and wind
baffles. Attachment means are formed on the ends of each ridge vent
section for attaching the sections together and a drain trough on
one end of each ridge vent section is configured to underlie the
junction between two attached ridge vent sections to drain water
that may seep into the junction away from the open ridge of the
roof. Buttresses that support the wind baffles are configured to
hold nails for use in attaching each section to a roof.
Inventors: |
Headrick, J. Charles;
(Alpharetta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVEN D. KERR, ESQ.
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE
POST OFFICE BOX 7037
ATLANTA
GA
30357-0037
US
|
Family ID: |
23634968 |
Appl. No.: |
09/825033 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09825033 |
Apr 2, 2001 |
|
|
|
09412909 |
Oct 5, 1999 |
|
|
|
6227963 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/365 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 7/02 20130101; E04D
13/174 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/365 |
International
Class: |
F24F 007/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A ridge ventilation system for covering an open ridge of a roof
and promoting ventilation of a space beneath the roof, said ridge
vent system comprising: a plurality of elongated ridge vent
sections having ends, said plurality of ridge vent sections being
sized to cover and extend the length of the open ridge when arrayed
end-to-end on the ridge; each of said vent sections including a
laterally flexible central panel having edges, a width sufficient
to cover the open ridge of a roof, support ribs projecting
downwardly from said central panel for supporting said central
panel above and spaced from the roof, and a ventilation grid
extending along at least one edge of said central panel for
allowing air to escape from beneath said central panel to ventilate
the space beneath the roof; and attachment means formed on the ends
of each of said vent sections for attaching a plurality of said
vent sections together in end-to-end relationships to form a ridge
vent assembly sufficiently long to extend the length of the open
ridge of the roof.
2. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein
said attachment means comprises at least one male attachment member
formed on one end of each of said ridge vent sections and at least
one female attachment member formed on the other end of each of
said ridge vent sections, said male and female attachment members
being configured to couple together to attach ridge vent sections
together in end-to-end relationship.
3. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 2 and wherein
said male attachment member comprises a tab projecting from one end
of each ridge vent section and wherein said female attachment
member comprises a slot formed on the other end of each said ridge
vent section, said slot of one ridge vent section being configured
to receive said tab of a like ridge vent section for attaching
ridge vent sections together end-to-end.
4. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 3 and wherein a
spaced pair of tabs project from one end of each ridge vent section
and a spaced pair of slots are formed on the other end of each
ridge vent section for receiving the spaced pair of tabs of a like
ridge vent panel.
5. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 4 and further
comprising cooperating latches formed on said ends of each of said
ridge vent sections for locking ridge vent sections together when
said tabs are inserted in said slots.
6. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 5 and wherein
said latches comprises oppositely oriented wedges projecting from
the ends of each of said ridge vent sections, said wedges being
configured and positioned to slip past each other as said tabs of
one ridge vent section slip into said slots of another ridge vent
section and to snap into locking engagement when said tabs are
fully received in said slots.
7. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 1 and further
comprising drain means for diverting water that may seep into the
junction between ridge vent sections away from the open ridge of a
roof.
8. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein
said drain means comprises a laterally extending trough formed
along one end of each of said ridge vent sections, said trough
being sized and configured to underlie the junction between two
joined ridge vent sections to receive water and divert the water
toward said edges of said ridge vent sections.
9. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 1 and further
comprising end walls projecting downwardly from said central panel
of each of said ridge vent sections adjacent the ends thereof for
sealing against the entry of rain at the ends of said ridge vent
sections.
10. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 9 and wherein
said end walls are formed at least partially of sections to allow
said central panel to flex laterally to conform to the pitch of a
roof when covering the ridge of the roof.
11. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 10 and wherein
said each of said sections of said end wall has a generally
Omega-shaped cross section and wherein said end wall sections are
mutually movably interlinked and deformable to allow lateral
flexing of said central panel.
12. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 1 and further
comprising an upstanding baffle formed along and outboard of said
ventilation grid to generate a vortex for drawing air through said
ventilation grid.
13. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 12 and wherein
said baffle is supported by an array of buttresses.
14. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 13 and wherein
at least of some of said buttresses are configured to receive and
releasably hold fasteners for use in fastening said ridge vent
sections to a roof.
15. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 14 and wherein
said fasteners are nails.
16. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 12 and wherein a
trough is formed between said ventilation grid and said baffle and
further comprising weep holes formed along said trough for allowing
water to escape from said trough.
17. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in claim 16 and further
comprising an array of upstanding barriers positioned along said
tough, each of said barriers being aligned with a corresponding one
of said weep holes to prevent wind blown rain from being blown
through said weep holes and into said ventilation grid.
18. A ridge vent system for covering an open ridge of a roof and
promoting ventilation of a space beneath the roof, said ridge vent
system comprising: a plurality of elongated ridge vent sections
having ends, said plurality of ridge vent sections being sized to
cover and extend the length of the open ridge when arrayed
end-to-end on the ridge; each of said ridge vent sections having a
laterally flexible central panel with edges and a width sufficient
to cover the open ridge of a roof, support ribs projecting
downwardly from said central panel for supporting said central
panel above and spaced from the roof, a ventilation grid extending
along each edge of said central panel for allowing air to escape
from beneath said central panel to ventilate the space beneath the
roof, and an upstanding wind baffle extending along and outboard of
each of said ventilation grids, said baffle being supported by an
array of buttresses; at least some of said buttresses being
configured for releasably holding fasteners for use in fastening
said ridge vent section to a roof.
19. A ridge vent system as claimed in claim 18 and further
comprising fastening means formed on the ends of said ridge vent
sections for attaching said sections together in end-to-end
relationship to form a long ridge vent assembly.
20. A ridge vent system as claimed in claim 19 and further
comprising drain means for draining away water that may seep into
the junction between attached ridge vent sections.
21. A ridge vent system as claimed in claim 20 and wherein said
drain means comprises a trough formed on one end of each of said
ridge vent sections, said trough being positioned and configured to
underlie the junction between two attached ridge vent sections.
22. A ridge vent system as claimed in claim 21 and further
comprising an end wall depending from said central panel adjacent
each end of said ridge vent section, said end wall allowing said
central panel to flex laterally while preventing water from being
blown beneath said ridge vent section at its ends.
23. A ridge vent system as claimed in claim 22 and wherein said end
wall is formed by an array of mutually interlaced sections.
24. A ridge vent system as claimed in claim 23 and wherein each of
said mutually interlaced sections has a generally Omega-shaped
cross section.
25. In a ridge ventilation system wherein a plurality of ridge vent
sections are arranged end-to-end covering an open ridge of a roof,
the improvement comprising attachment means formed on the ends of
said ridge vent sections for attaching said ridge vent sections
together in end-to-end relationship.
26. In a ridge ventilation system wherein a plurality of ridge vent
sections are arranged end-to-end covering an open ridge of a roof,
the improvement comprising drain means for draining water that may
seep into the junctions between adjacent ones of said sections away
from the open ridge of the roof.
27. In a ridge ventilation system wherein a plurality of ridge vent
sections are arranged end-to-end covering an open ridge of a roof,
the improvement comprising means on each of said ridge vent
sections for releasably holding a plurality of fasteners for use in
fastening said ridge vent section to a roof.
28. In a ridge ventilation system wherein a plurality of ridge vent
sections are arranged end-to-end covering an open ridge of a roof
and wherein each ridge vent section has a laterally flexible
central panel flanked by ventilation grids with outboard wind
baffles, a drain trough being formed between each ventilation grid
and its corresponding wind baffle, the improvement comprising weep
holes formed along each of said drain troughs for promoting the
escape of water and upstanding barriers positioned along said drain
trough and aligned with said weep holes for preventing rain from
being blown through said weep holes and into said ventilation
grids.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates generally to attic ventilation and
more specifically to ridge vent systems for ventilating an attic
space through and elongated opening along the ridge of a roof.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is an important consideration when designing modern
buildings such as homes and offices that the attic space of the
building be well ventilated. Such ventilation reduces the searing
heat that can build up in the attic during summer months and
substantially reduces cooling costs and other problems associated
with such heat. Numerous devices have evolved over the years for
providing attic ventilation. Such devices include simple gable
vents to provide cross ventilation, passive roof vents located at
strategic positions along the slop of a roof, and active roof
ventilation systems, which traditionally include thermostats that
activate fans above a predetermined temperature to force hot air
out of the attic.
[0003] More recently, ridge ventilation or ridge vent systems have
become popular for ventilating the attic space of a building. Ridge
vent systems generally include a long opening formed along the apex
or ridge of a gable roof through which hot air, which naturally
rises, can escape the attic. A long ridge vent assembly spans the
length of and covers the opening and is designed to allow air to
escape while preventing rain water from entering through the
opening along the ridge. Early ridge vents were simple corrugated
covers that were attached to the roof covering the ridge opening
with traditional ridge cap shingling being applied over the
covers.
[0004] Recently, more sophisticated ridge vents have been
developed. Many of these more sophisticated vents include injection
molded vent sections that are attached to the roof end-to-end to
span and cover the opening along the open ridge of the roof. The
vent sections generally have transversely flexible center panels
flanked along either edge with a vent grate. The center panel is
held a short distance above the roof by depending supports to
define a space between the panels and the roof and the vent grates
extend generally downwardly from the edges of the panels to engage
the roof. Some systems include upstanding wind baffles outboard of
the vent grates. These baffles generate low-pressure vortices in
the region of the vent grates as a breeze blows across the roof to
draw hot air from beneath the vent sections to ventilate the attic.
Once installed, ridge cap shingling is installed over the center
panel portions of the ridge vent sections. Since rain water can
collect in the trough between the vent grates and the wind baffle,
many ridge vents are provided with weep holes located at intervals
along this trough to allow the water to escape and flow down the
roof.
[0005] While modern ridge vent systems are an improvement over
early ridge vents, they nevertheless are plagued with a variety of
problems and shortcomings inherent in their respective designs. For
example, since the individual ridge vent sections that form the
long ridge vent are attached to the roof one at a time and simply
positioned against an adjacent section, they can easily be attached
in such a way that their ends do not meet well and gaps are formed
at the junctions between adjacent sections. This can result in a
skewed or otherwise non-straight final vent assembly and can lead
to leaks at the junctions between the vent sections. Further, the
careful alignment and attachment of the ridge vent sections to the
roof can be a tedious and time consuming task requiring some skill
to master. This is undesirable for roofers, who generally desire to
work as fast as possible.
[0006] Other problems with existing ridge vent systems include the
tendency of rain water to be blown through the weep holes, through
the vent grates, and into the open ridge of the roof during rain
storms or other blowing rains. Also, since the vent sections are
supported from three-quarters of an inch to an inch above the roof,
standard roofing nails are not long enough to attach the sections
to the roof. Special long nails are required. This means that a
roofer must stock a supply not only of standard roofing nails but
also of long roofing nails for attaching the ridge vent sections to
the roof and for attaching ridge cap shingles atop the ridge vent.
This can be a problem if, for instance, a roofer forgets to stock
the special nails or runs out during installation of the ridge vent
sections. The entire roofing project can be held up in these
circumstances until a supply of the special long roofing nails can
be obtained. Finally, even when the vent sections are carefully
joined together, water leaks can still occur at the junctions
between the vent sections, especially as the ridge cap shingles age
and begin to leak.
[0007] Accordingly, there continues to exist a need for an improved
ridge vent system that addresses and solves the problems associated
with current systems. Such an improved system should be easier and
quicker to install than current systems, should eliminate water
leakage at vent section junctions and through the weep holes of the
vent sections, and should eliminate the need for roofers to stock
and maintain special roofing nails designed to attach the vent
sections to a roof. It is to the provision of such an improved
ridge vent system that the present invention is primarily
directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Briefly described, the present invention, in one preferred
embodiment thereof, comprises a unique and improved ridge vent
system for ventilating the attic space beneath the roof of a
building. The ridge vent system is designed to span and cover the
open ridge of the roof and is formed from a plurality of elongated
preferably injection molded ridge vent sections having ends. The
ridge vent sections are sized to cover and extend the length of the
open ridge of a roof when the sections arrayed end-to-end along the
ridge. Each ridge vent section is formed with a laterally flexible
central panel having edges and a width sufficient to cover the open
ridge of a roof. Support ribs project downwardly from the central
panel for supporting the central panel above and spaced from the
roof. A ventilation grid extends along at least one edge and
preferably both edges of the central panel for allowing air to
escape from beneath the central panel to ventilate the attic space
beneath the roof. Upstanding wind baffles flank the ventilation
grids for creating low pressure vortices during a breeze to draw
air through the ventilation grids for enhancing ventilation of the
attic.
[0009] Attachment means are formed on the ends of each ridge vent
section for attaching a plurality of ridge vent sections together
in end-to-end relationship to form a ridge vent structure
sufficiently long to extend the length of and cover the open ridge
of the roof. In the preferred embodiment, the attachment means
comprises a pair of tabs projecting from end of each ridge vent
section and a corresponding pair of slots formed on the other end
of each ridge vent section for receiving the tabs of an adjacent
ridge vent section. Mating latches are formed on the ends of the
ridge vent sections to lock the sections together when the tabs of
one section are fully received in the slots of an adjacent section.
Thus, the sections can be joined and locked securely together in
end-to-end relationships.
[0010] Drain means in the form of a laterally extending trough is
formed on one end of each ridge vent section. The trough is sized
and positioned such that it underlies the junction between its vent
section and an adjacent vent section when the sections are joined
together. In the event of water seepage at the junction, the water
is captured in the trough underlying the junction and directed
laterally to the edges of the section and away from the open ridge
of the roof. In this way, if a leak develops in the ridge cap
shingles, water does not leak through the ridge vent system and
into the attic.
[0011] Each ridge vent section is further formed with end walls
that project downwardly from the central panel of the vent section
adjacent each end thereof. The end walls isolate the individual
vent sections to prevent cross ventilation along the length of a
ridge and, more importantly, for the ridge vent sections at the
ends of a long ridge vent system, prevents rain from being blown
through the ends of the sections. In order that the end walls not
interfere with the lateral flexibility of the central panels of the
sections, they are formed at least partially by an array of
mutually interlocked alternately oriented Omega-shaped end wall
sections that deform as the central panel is flexed to conform it
to the pitch of a roof during installation.
[0012] A drain trough is defined between the ventilation grid and
the upstanding outboard wind baffle of each ridge vent section. The
trough receives rain water shed from the ridge cap shingles. A
plurality of weep holes are located at spaced intervals along the
wind baffles to allow collected water to flow out of the drain
trough and onto the roof. An array of upstanding barriers are
formed in the drain trough with each barrier of the array being
aligned with a corresponding one of the weep holes. The barriers
block rainwater that otherwise might be blown through the weep
holes, into the ventilation grid, and into the open ridge of the
roof in a rainstorm and thus prevent leakage into the attic that
sometimes can occur with prior art ridge vents in severe
storms.
[0013] The upstanding outboard wind baffles are supported by an
array of spaced buttresses. Each of the buttresses is shaped to
define a pair of slots sized to receive and releasably hold a pair
of special roofing nails needed to secure the ridge vent sections
to the roof and to secure ridge cap shingles over the ridge vent
sections. As a roofer secures the ridge vent system of this
invention to the ridge of a roof, the special roofing nails needed
are provided and readily available. The roofer need only remove the
nails from the buttresses as they are required. Preferably, a
sufficient number of nails are provided on each ridge vent section
to attach the section to the roof and to attach ridge cap shingles
over the central panel of the section. Thus, the roofer is freed
from the responsibility of stocking and maintaining the required
special roofing nails and a sufficient number of such nails is
always readily available as the ridge vent system is installed and
covered with ridge cap shingles.
[0014] Thus, a unique and significantly improved ridge vent system
is now provided that successfully addresses the problems and
shortcomings of the prior art. With the ridge vent system of this
invention, ridge vent sections are securely joined together in
end-to-end relationship to form the long ridge vent before being
attached to the roof. Accordingly, the entire vent system can be
accurately positioned as one unit along the ridge and skewed joints
between sections are eliminated. Water seepage through the ridge
cap shingles is shed away from the junctions between sections to
eliminate leakage into an attic and a unique flexible end wall on
the sections prevents rain from being blown into the ends of the
ridge vent system. Further, since the special roofing nails
required for installation of the system are carried by the ridge
vent sections themselves, roofers are freed from the responsibility
of stocking the special nails. These and other features, objects,
and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent
upon review of the detailed description set forth below taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, which are
briefly described as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ridge vent section that
embodies principles of the present invention in a preferred
form.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the ridge vent
section of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the opposite end of the
ridge vent section of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of one end of the ridge vent
section of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the opposite end of the
ridge vent section of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view illustrating two ridge vent
sections joined together at respective ends to form a part of the
ridge vent system of this invention.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one end of the ridge vent
section of FIG. 1 with hidden lines visible to illustrate the
various elements of the section.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the ridge vent
section of FIG. 1 illustrating the ventilation grid, weep holes,
upstanding barriers, and buttresses formed to hold special roofing
nails.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring now in more detail to the drawing figures, wherein
like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several
views, FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate one preferred embodiment of a
ridge vent section that, when joined end-to-end with like sections,
forms the ridge vent system of this invention. The ridge vent
section 11 preferably is injection molded from appropriate ABS or
PVC plastic material and comprises an elongated central panel 12
having ends 13 and 14 and edges 16 and 17. The central panel 13 is
sufficiently thin to be laterally flexible across its width so that
the vent section can be flexed or bent into a generally inverted V
or U shape to conform the vent section to the pitch of a roof at
the ridge thereof. In this way, the ridge vent section can be
attached to a roof covering the open ridge of the roof. To enhance
the flexibility of central panel 12, score lines 15 can be formed
along the length of the panel if desired, although such score lines
are optional and need not be present for the panel to be flexed.
When attached to a roof covering the ridge thereof, the central
panel is held a predetermined distance such as, for example, three
fourths of an inch to an inch, above the roof by a set of support
ribs 38 (FIG. 4) that depend from the underside of the central
panel 12.
[0024] A ventilation grid 18 is formed along the edge 16 of the
central panel and extends generally downwardly therefrom. As better
illustrated in FIG. 2, the ventilation grid 18 is formed by a
plurality of spaced apart ribs that define openings through which
hot air entering the space beneath the central panel from the attic
can escape into ambiance. A grid structure other than downwardly
extending spaced ribs might also be employed so long as the
aggregate area of the openings is sufficient to provide free flow
of air from beneath the central panel. A ventilation grid 18 is
also formed along the other edge 17 of the central panel and is
formed with the same configuration as the grid that is visible in
FIG. 1. Alternatively, a ventilation grid might only be formed
along one edge of the central panel if desired to accommodate other
types of roofs such as hip roofs or to provide ventilation at a
location other than along the ridge of a roof. However, the
preferred embodiment described herein is intended for use as a
ridge vent along the apex of a gable roof and thus is provided with
ventilation grids along both edges.
[0025] The ridge vent section 11 is further formed with upstanding
wind baffles 19 and 21 located along and outboard of the
ventilation grids 18. These wind baffles have been found to
generate relatively low pressure vortices in the regions of the
ventilation grids during even mild breezes blowing across a roof.
Such lower pressure regions function to draw air through the
ventilation grids and significantly enhance the air flow through
the open ridge of the roof to improve ventilation of the attic. In
the illustrated embodiment, the wind baffles are formed with a
bottom section and a top section that is outwardly angled with
respect to the bottom section. While this design functions well,
other baffle designs are also possible within the scope of the
present invention.
[0026] As best seen in FIG. 7, a drain trough is formed between the
ventilation grids and their respective wind baffles and each drain
trough preferable has a narrow flat floor 41 that extends between
the bottom of each ventilation grid and the bottom of its wind
baffle. The flat floor adds stability and provides a secure foot
upon which the rent section rests when attached to a roof. The wind
baffles are supported by an array of spaced buttresses 22, which
extend between each ventilation grid and its wind baffle to support
and reinforce the wind baffle. The buttresses 22 preferably are
extensions of the support ribs 38 (FIG. 7) to provide enhanced
strength and to promote plastic flow during the injection molding
process, although this is not a requirement of the invention. The
buttresses 22 can be formed in any convenient shape, one of which
is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. Most preferably, however, the
buttresses are shaped to receive and hold special roofing nails, as
illustrated in FIG. 8 and as described in greater detail below.
[0027] Rainwater that falls on the ridge cap shingles covering the
central panel 12 when the ridge vent system of this invention is
installed spills into the drain trough between the ventilation
grids 18 and their respective wind baffles. An array of weep holes
25 are formed along the bottom edge of the wind baffles 19 to allow
this water to escape from the drain trough and onto the roof to be
drained away. As illustrated in FIG. 2, an array of upstanding
barriers 35, project upwardly from the floor 41 of the drain trough
with each of the barriers 34 being located adjacent to and aligned
with a corresponding one of the weep holes 25. During a rainstorm,
high winds can tend to drive water through the weep holes 25. When
this occurs, the blowing water encounters the barriers 34 and is
disrupted and disbursed by the barriers so that it can drain back
onto the roof through the weep holes 25. Thus, the barriers 34
prevent windblown rain from entering through the weep holes,
through the ventilation grid, and into the open ridge of a roof
into the attic below.
[0028] Attachment means are formed on the ends of the vent section
12 for attaching vent sections together in end-to-end relationship
to form a ridge vent system sufficiently long to span the open
ridge of a roof. In the preferred embodiment, the attachment means
comprises a pair of slots 28 formed at one end 14 of the vent
section and a corresponding pair of tabs 29 projecting from the
other end 13 of the section. The slots 28 are well illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 4 and the tabs are well illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5.
The slots 28 are positioned and oriented to be pressed onto and
capture the tabs of an adjacent vent section as best illustrated in
FIG. 6 to attach two vent sections securely together at their
ends.
[0029] Upwardly facing wedge-shaped latches 31 (FIG. 2) are formed
on the one end 14 of the vent section and oppositely or downwardly
facing wedge-shaped latches 32 (FIG. 3) are formed on the other end
13 of the vent section. These oppositely facing latches are
positioned and configured for mutual latching engagement with each
other when the tabs 29 of one vent section are fully received into
the slots 28 of an adjacent joined vent section to lock the two
sections together (See FIG. 6). In this way, when the vent sections
are joined end-to-end by means of their slots and tabs, they become
securely locked together by the latches. This is highly
advantageous when installing a long multi-section ridge vent system
because all of the sections of the system can be securely attached
together at their ends and the entire unit can then be positioned
and properly adjusted along the open ridge of a roof before being
fastened to the roof. This represents an improvement over prior art
installation methods wherein each section is attached to the roof
independently, which can result in skewed or misaligned sections
and in junctions between sections that are not tight.
[0030] A downwardly extending end wall 26 is formed adjacent the
one end 14 of the vent section 12. The end wall 26 functions both
to isolate joined vent sections from each other to inhibit
cross-ventilation and to provide a barrier against windblown rain
at the ends of a long ridge vent formed of connected ridge vent
sections. The central portion of the end wall 26 is defined by an
array of oppositely oriented generally Omega-shaped sections 27
that are mutually interlinked as best illustrated in FIG. 4. Since
the Omega-shaped sections are interlinked and partially overlap as
shown, they present a continuous barrier to windblown rain to
prevent the rain from being blown beneath the extreme end section
of an array of joined vent sections. In this regard, the end wall
prevents leakage under the ridge vent system and into the open
ridge of a roof.
[0031] In addition to preventing leakage at the ends of a long vent
assembly, the interlinked Omega-shaped sections allow the central
panel 12 of each section to be flexed to cover the ridge of a roof
and conform to the pitch of the roof on either side thereof.
Specifically, as the central panel is flexed, the free ends of the
Omega-shaped sections engage each other. As the panel is flexed
further, the curved or arched portions of the Omega-shaped
sections, because of their curved shape, compress to smaller
diameters as required to accommodate the flexing of the panel. The
result is an end wall that is substantially impervious to windblown
rain while at the same time accommodating the full range of flexing
necessary to conform the ridge vent section to the pitch of a
roof.
[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 3, a similar depending end wall 36 is
formed adjacent the other end 13 of each ridge vent section. The
end wall 36 is similar in all respects to the end wall 26 and has a
central portion that is defined by an array of mutually
interlocking generally Omega-shaped sections 37. As with
Omega-shaped section 27, the Omega-shaped sections 37 present a
substantially impervious barrier to wind blown rain at the other
end of a ridge vent assembly while at the same time accommodating
flexing of the ridge vent sections to conform the sections to the
pitch of a roof to which they are attached.
[0033] A transversely extending drain member 33 is formed at the
end 13 of each of the ridge vent sections (best illustrated in FIG.
3). The drain member 33 is configured to define a small trough that
is positioned to underlie the junction between two adjacent ridge
vent sections when the sections are joined together by means of the
attachment tabs 29, slots 28, and latches 32. While the junction
between two such joined sections is held together relatively
tightly by these attachment mechanisms, water that may seep under
the ridge cap shingles covering the central panel of the ridge vent
may nevertheless leak through one or more of the junctions. In this
event, the water is captured in the underlying trough of the drain
member 33, which directs the water toward the edges of the ridge
vent where it simply is deposited on the shingles of the roof and
shed away. Accordingly, leakage at the junctions of joined together
ridge vent sections is eliminated and the possibility of a leak
through the open ridge and into the attic below is eliminated.
[0034] FIG. 7 best illustrates the configuration of the downwardly
projecting support ribs 38, which support the central panel 12 of
each ridge vent section a predetermined distance above a roof to
which the sections are attached. The support ribs 38 are seen to
extend inwardly a predetermined distance from the ventilation grids
of the ridge vent section, where they terminate in wedge-shaped
stabilization fins 40. The stabilization fins 40 reinforce the free
ends of the support ribs 38 to prevent bending thereof and are
wedge-shaped to present a minimum obstruction to the flow of air
from beneath the central panel toward the ventilation grids of the
ridge vent section.
[0035] As mentioned above, and as shown clearly in FIG. 7, the
buttresses 22, which support the wind baffles 19 and 21, preferably
are formed as extensions of the support ribs 38 for increased
strength and enhanced material flow during the injection molding
process. Nail holes 24 are formed along the length of each ridge
vent section for attaching the section to a roof with special
extra-long roofing nails. As illustrated in FIG. 7, these nail
holes preferably, but not necessarily, are formed at and as a part
of selected ones of the support ribs 38. In this way, the nail
holes are reinforced by and reinforce the support ribs and extend
all the way to a roof so that the ridge vent panel is securely
attached but not deformed when nails are driven firmly into a roof
through the nail holes 24.
[0036] FIG. 8 illustrates yet another unique feature of the present
invention. As discussed above, one problem with prior art ridge
vent systems is that their installation requires special extra-long
roofing nails, which roofers must stock and maintain specifically
for attaching ridge vent sections to a roof and for attaching ridge
cap shingles over the top of the ridge vent sections. The present
invention eliminates this burden on roofers by providing the
required special nails on the ridge vent sections themselves.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 8, the buttresses 22, which support the
wind baffles, are formed with at least one and preferably a pair of
upwardly projecting slots 42 that are slightly narrower than the
girth of a nail 43. These specially shaped buttresses are spaced
apart along the ridge vent section a distance slightly shorter than
the length of the nails. During the manufacturing process, pairs of
special roofing nails 43 required to attach the ridge vent section
to a roof are inserted in the slots 42 of adjacent buttresses 22 as
illustrated. Since the slots 42 are slightly narrower than the
nails 43, the nails are held firmly but removably in place within
the slots, preferably in side-by-side relationship as shown.
[0038] In practice, a sufficient number of nails are provided to
attach one ridge vent section to a roof and to attach the requisite
number of ridge cap shingles to the roof covering the central panel
of the ridge vent section. During installation, a roofer need only
position the ridge vent along the ridge of a roof, adjust its
position properly, and attach it to the roof by removing nails as
required from their slots on the buttresses and driving them into
the roof through the nail holes 24 of the ridge vent sections. When
ridge cap shingles are to be attached over the central panels of
the ridge vent sections, a sufficient number of nails remain and
again are removed and used as needed to attach the ridge cap
shingles.
[0039] While the nails are shown carried by the buttresses in FIG.
8, it should be understood by those of skill in the art that the
nails might just a well be carried on the ridge vent sections in
other ways such as, for example, by being taped to the bottom or
top of each section or otherwise attached to the panels.
Nevertheless, locating the nails on the buttresses as shown is
considered by the inventor to be the best mode of carrying out the
invention.
[0040] The ridge vent system described above is used as follows to
provide attic ventilation. First, the ridge of the roof is left
open or cut to form an opening having a width less than the width
of the central panel of the ridge vent sections and having a
predetermined length. A plurality of ridge vent sections are then
joined together in end-to-end relationship to form a ridge vent
assembly sufficiently long to span the open ridge of the roof. The
ridge vent assembly is then positioned and adjusted on the ridge of
the roof. When properly positioned, the ridge vent assembly is
attached to the roof by removing nails as required from their
stowed positions on the buttresses and driving them through the
nail holes in the ridge vent sections and into the roof. In this
regard, the nail holes are located to fall on either side of the
opening in the ridge of the roof so that the nails will find their
marks in the roof decking on either side of the ridge opening.
[0041] When the ridge vent assembly is attached to the roof, ridge
cap shingles are applied in the usual way covering the central
panels of the joined ridge cap sections. For this purpose, a
sufficient number of special length roofing nails remain in their
berths on the buttresses to complete the ridge cap installation.
With the ridge cap shingles applied, the ridge vent system is
complete and superior roof ventilation is achieved.
[0042] The invention has been described herein in terms of
preferred embodiments and methodologies. It will be understood by
those of skill in the art, however, that a variety of additions,
deletions, and modifications might well be made to the illustrated
embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as set forth in the claims.
* * * * *