U.S. patent application number 09/773065 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-13 for shear diaphragm ventilation product and method of making same.
Invention is credited to Strait, Mark C..
Application Number | 20020072324 09/773065 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26874999 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020072324 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Strait, Mark C. |
June 13, 2002 |
Shear diaphragm ventilation product and method of making same
Abstract
A roof vent which may be mounted transversely across any roof
ridge and or roof hip regardless of its contours or roof angles. A
roof vent which may comprise of a combination pre-formed vent and
shear resistant roof element, which may provide both ventilation
from the interior of an attic space and provide a shear resistance
value to the roof diaphragm. A roof vent element which may provide
both attic ventilation and a shear value to the roof diaphragm. A
roof vent element to provide openings to allow for the passage of
air flow from the attic cavity to the outside atmosphere, a
pre-formed one piece product made from a variety of metals and or
plastics based upon installation requirements, said improved
product made to be a strap which can be made to contour to either
truss framing designs and or conventional roof framing designs. In
one embodiment the roof vent and shear element is installed as a
part of the roof wood sheathing diaphragm and then may have any
number of roof ridge vent products on the market installed over it
as with asphalt composition shingle systems. In another embodiment
the roof vent and shear element is installed as part of the roof
wood sheathing diaphragm and then may have any number of roof ridge
vent products on the market installed over it as with concrete and
or clay tile roofing systems, said concrete and or clay tile
roofing systems which may or may not be supported by wooden and or
metal batten systems and or any number of systems relating to
concrete and or clay tile roofing systems. This exemplary roof vent
addresses the need for providing a continuous ridge ventilation
system while at the same time providing roof diaphragm nailing
requirements as required by building codes. An improved product
which may be made from pre-formed metal composites and or plastics
based upon weather, geographic, seismic, building code requirements
and or other conditions which may prevail. An improved product
which can be pre-formed to match the contour of both conventional
and truss framed roof structures. A roof shear vent which may
comprise a pre-formed metal strap which is installed to the roof
framing members along the hip and or ridge of a roof. A roof shear
vent which may comprise a pre-formed plastic strap which is
installed to the roof framing members along the hip and or ridge of
a roof. A roof shear vent which may comprise holes, slots, or
breaks to allow for air flow through the vent. This exemplary roof
shear vent which may comprise of a contour which allows the
proposed invention to settle down into a slot cut in the wood
sheathing along the hip and or ridge of a roof and against the roof
framing members to which it is attached. Said roof shear vent which
may comprise a shape which may return vertically and then
horizontally back on top of the wood sheathing and to which it may
be fastened, said vent which may comprise a flange which runs
parallel to the wood sheathing and which covers the wood sheathing,
said roof vent element with said flange which may cover a roof
underlayment material of different compositions or roof overlayment
material of different compositions and which may provide a
termination point for said underlayment or overlayments, said roof
vent which may comprise a roof shear vent which may meet the
requirements for roof diaphragm nailing along the hip and or ridge
of a roof, a said roof vent element which may become a component of
the wood roof shear diaphragm system. A roof shear vent which may
comprise ventilation holes, slots and or breaks in which said
openings may vary in size and spacing as needed to allow for
different ventilation requirements, said vent in which the angle of
the vent apex may vary depending on application.
Inventors: |
Strait, Mark C.; (Simi
Valley, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARK C. STRAIT
1296 PATRICIA AVE.
SIMI VALLEY
CA
93065
US
|
Family ID: |
26874999 |
Appl. No.: |
09/773065 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60179109 |
Jan 31, 2000 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/365 ;
52/199 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 7/02 20130101; E04D
13/174 20130101; F24F 13/082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/365 ;
52/199 |
International
Class: |
E04B 007/00; E04H
012/28; F24F 007/02; F24F 013/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A ridge and hip vent for use on sloped roofs which runs
transversely across the hip and ridge of a roof regardless of its
contours or roof angles, said vent to also provide shear resistance
in the roof diaphragm system as a component of the wood sheathing
which is attached to the roof framing members, said vent element to
provide openings to allow for the passage of air flow from the
attic cavity to the outside atmosphere, a pre-formed one piece
product made from a variety of metals and or plastics based upon
installation requirements, said improved product made to be as a
strap which can be made to contour to either truss framing designs
and or conventional roof framing designs.
2. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises a
pre-formed metal strap which is installed to the roof framing
members along the hip and or ridge of a roof.
3. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises a
pre-formed plastic strap which is installed to the roof framing
members along the hip and or ridge of a roof.
4. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises
holes, slots, or breaks to allow for air flow through the vent.
5. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises a
contour which allows the proposed invention to settle down into a
slot cut in the wood sheathing along the hip and or ridge of a roof
and against the roof framing members to which it is attached.
6. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises a
shape which fits against the roof framing of claim 5 and wherein
said vent comprises a shape which returns vertically and then
horizontally back on top of the wood sheathing and to which it may
be fastened.
7. The roof shear vent of claim 1 and 5 wherein said vent has a
flange which runs parallel to the wood sheathing and which covers
the wood sheathing.
8. The roof shear vent of claim 1 and 7 wherein said vent flange
covers the roof underlayment or roofing felt and provides a
termination point for said underlayment or roofing felt.
9. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent may have any
number of roof ridge vent products on the market installed over it
as with asphalt composition shingle systems.
10. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent may have any
number of roof ridge vent products on the market installed over it
as with concrete and or clay tile roofing systems, said concrete
and or clay tile roofing systems which may or may not be supported
by wooden and or metal batten systems and or any number of systems
relating to concrete and or clay tile roofing systems.
11. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent meets the
requirements for roof diaphragm nailing along the hip and ridge of
a roof.
12. The roof shear vent of claim 1 and 10 wherein said vent becomes
a component of the wood roof shear diaphragm system.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of provisional
application Serial No. 60/179,109 filed Jan. 31, 2000 for Shear
Diaphragm Ventilation Product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a ventilation
device for a roofing structure, and specifically to a ventilation
device that also provides shear resistance to the roof
diaphragm.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] Roofing structures are required to provide for ventilation,
which is to allow for air movement from within the roof structure
cavity to ventilate out through the roof structure so a to provide
proper ventilation, to reduce the accumulation of heat and or
moisture, which maybe damaging to the roof structure, insulation,
and or mechanical equipment within the attic cavity. The reduction
in temperature beneath the exterior roof covering has also been
shown to extend the life of the roof covering and or the components
within the exterior roof covering.
[0004] The reduction in attic temperature is well known to reduce
the energy consumption of the building, as air conditioning
represents the largest consumption of electricity in summer months
and heating as the main consumption of energy in the winter. And so
reduction in attic temperature has become a main goal of State and
Federal Government energy policies for summer months, while
reducing heat loss in winter.
[0005] There are any number of ventilation products on the market
which provide attic ventilation. These consist of power driven and
passive ventilation products. All exterior roof mounted ventilation
products require the roof decking, which may consist of wooden
sheathing boards, plywood, oriented strand board, and or other
decking material to be cut open in some way so as to allow for air
movement from the interior attic space, through the decking,
sheathing boards, plywood, and or oriented strand board, and out
through the exterior roofing material system. The most effective of
these ventilation products is the continuous hip and or ridge
mounted ridge ventilation system, which is affixed to the and over
the primary roofing material.
[0006] To install the continuous ridge ventilation system, the
sheathing, decking, plywood, and or oriented strand board must
first be cut back along either side of the center line of the hip
and or ridge board, so as to provide an opening through which air
can flow. This opening slot may be of varying dimension as
specified by the product manufacturer. The roofing material system
is then installed up to and cut clean with this opening slot. The
continuous ridge vent product is then installed over this open
slot, and down over the roofing material system. The ridge vent
product is constructed so as to allow for air flow up through the
product, but so as not to allow wind driven rain, snow and or dust
to blow back into the attic cavity. The amount of air flow may vary
depending upon the design of the ridge vent product.
[0007] The issue that the aforementioned continuous ridge vent
products do not address is the damage to the roof diaphragm that is
caused by the removal of the roof decking, sheathing, plywood, and
or oriented strand board, to allow for ventilation. The connection
of the roof sheathing, consisting of varying materials to the roof
rafters and the ridge beam of the roof structure is considered an
important structural component of the roof shear diaphragm. Most
national building codes require the roof sheathing and in
particular plywood and or oriented strand board to be fastened to
the roof framing as per engineering specifications set for by the
American Plywood Association.
[0008] By meeting these installation specifications building
engineers can design roof and building structures that will meet
certain building industry requirements for wind and seismic loads
depending upon the local building department requirements. The
existing manufacturers of continuous hip and ridge ventilation
products, currently on the market do not provide for a solution to
address this roof shear diaphragm issue, as is required by the code
bodies who have approved their ventilation products. This current
situation puts the installer/contractor in the position of having
to rectify the roof shear diaphragm issue and or any potential
liabilities for continuous ridge vent products that are installed
without addressing the roof shear diaphragm. The only current
remedy involves installing new framing components as may be
required by the local building official.
[0009] There is clearly a need for a product that addresses both
the need for ventilation, in this case a continuous hip and or
ridge mounted ventilation product, while providing for the
engineering requirements of the roof shear diaphragm. Moreover,
there is a need for a ventilation product which addresses the roof
shear diaphragm and is adaptable to a variety of pitched roofing
material systems. Whether the roofing system be asphalt composition
shingles, concrete or clay roof tiles, real or simulated slate,
metal, and or any number of pitched roofing material systems.
[0010] This continuous shear diaphragm ventilation product of the
current invention can be made from metal and or plastic depending
upon the specific engineering requirements.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome
the aforementioned shortcomings associated with the current
continuous hip and or ridge mounted ventilation products currently
available on the market.
[0012] The present invention provides a continuous hip and or ridge
ventilation product which provides for the roof shear diaphragm
engineering requirements that are required by national building
code enforcement bodies such as ICBO, SBCCI, and BOCA as well as
engineering specifications that have been established by the
American Plywood Association for the installation of plywood and or
oriented strand board.
[0013] These American Plywood Association engineering specification
are used by architects, designers and code enforcement officials
across the nation to provide for structures that will meet existing
code requirements for wind, seismic loads, and roofing material
resistance loads as may be needed depending upon the local
conditions.
[0014] These as well as additional advantages of the present
invention are achieved by providing a metal and or plastic
pre-formed product which will conform to the contour of both
conventional and truss framed roof structures. The pre-formed metal
and or plastic plate is installed to the roof framing members along
the hip and or ridge of a roof. The pre-formed metal and or plastic
plate contains ventilation holes which can be of a particular
design size and pattern to allow for the most ventilation while
maintaining the greatest structural integrity of the plate.
[0015] The metal and or plastic material is of a thickness that
will allow for the product to contour to the different pitches of
roofs, but will still provide the benefits hereto mentioned.
[0016] This continuous hip and or ridge mounted ventilation plate
is let into the roof opening slots in the roof sheathing or plywood
that have been removed to allow for air flow out of the attic
cavity. This letting into the roof sheathing is normally
accomplished by cutting the wood sheathing along both side of a hip
and or ridge beam with a power saw, then removing the sheathing
material. The shear diaphragm ventilation product of the current
invention is then installed in place of the sheathing that has been
removed. This continuous ridge ventilation and roof shear device is
fastened to the roof framing members, consisting of the roof
rafters and the hip and or ridge beam. The present invention
connects to the rafters on either side of the hip and or ridge beam
of the roof, as well as the hip and or ridge beam itself.
Continuous flanges that run length wise along both sides of the
shear ventilation device as a part of the current invention, rest
upon the top of the plywood sheathing or roof decking. Connection
to the roof structures is made by the use of nails, screws, and or
other fasteners as may be needed.
[0017] The present invention may also provide for the attachment of
the wooden and or metal hip and or ridge tile nailer, used to
fasten the hip and ridge tiles to the tile roof system. This
attachment is made by use of a metal clip which attaches through
the top of the metal and or plastic ventilation plate and into the
roof hip and or ridge beam, using nails, screws, and or other types
of fasteners as may be needed. This metal clip also elevates the
hip and or ridge nailer to a desired height as may be needed to
properly attach the hip and or ridge tiles.
[0018] The advantages associated with the shear diaphragm
ventilation product of the present invention are achievable when
used in conjunction with different types of pitched roof support
structures, roofing overlayments, roofing material systems and or
continuous hip and or ridge mounted ventilation products.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The features of the present invention, which are believed to
be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of
operation, together with further advantages, may best be understood
by reference to the following description, taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings in which the reference numerals designate
like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective top sectional view of a preferred
embodiment of the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the
preferred embodiment of the shear diaphragm ventilation product of
the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the
preferred embodiment being installed on an exemplary roof structure
in accordance with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of
the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is another exemplary configuration of the shear
diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention which can be
used on another exemplary type of roof structure in accordance with
the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the shear vent
diaphragm ventilation Product of the present invention of FIG. 3 in
a later stage of the installation process;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a cutaway, perspective view of the shear diaphragm
ventilation product of the present invention being installed on an
exemplary type of roof structure in accordance with the present
invention; and
[0027] FIG. 6 is a cutaway, perspective view of the shear vent
diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention being
installed on another exemplary type of roof structure application
in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] The following description is provided to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the
best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his
invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles
of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to
provide a shear diaphragm ventilation product which provides for
ventilation while meeting the requirements of the roof shear
diaphragm.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective top-sectional view of
a preferred embodiment of the shear diaphragm ventilation product
of the present invention is illustrated. The shear ventilation
product 10 consists of a continuous metal and or plastic plate,
which are formed by pre-forming the plate along consistent
longitudinal lines, so as to create a pre-formed plate that is
universally useful with the most varied roof decking thickness and
roof pitches.
[0030] The ventilation plate 10 includes two continuous parallel
ventilation strips 25 which may or may not be separated by a
continuous solid area of the ventilation strip 27, which may be
attached to the hip and or ridge board 13 by use of a variety of
fasteners, and when attached will be horizontal to the top surface
of the hip and or ridge board 13.
[0031] The two continuous solid areas 29 are formed 90 degrees to
25 and to the two continuous flanges 31. Both 25 and 31 follow the
same angle or pitch of the roof to which the ventilation strip is
attached. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the shear ventilation
plate 10 of FIG. 1, showing ventilation strip 25 and flange 31.
[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary cross sectional view of a
preferred embodiment of the shear ventilation plate 10, in an
installed application upon a roof structure. The ventilation plate
10 is installed with sections 25 against the roof rafters 11 and
section 27 against the hip and or ridge board 13. The roof
sheathing and or decking is cut back in parallel with the hip and
or ridge board 13 to allow for a slot or opening for air to move
from the attic cavity and exhaust out to the exterior atmosphere
18, through the two continuous parallel ventilation strips 25. The
shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 is pre formed at a 90 degree
angle along two continuous solid areas 29 which may or may not rest
against the plywood sheathing 15. The continuous flanges 31
preferably cover the top surface of the roof decking 15 and the
roof underlayment 19. The shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 of
the current invention is fastened to the roof structure in a
preferred embodiment through the continuous flanges 31, through the
plywood sheathing 15 and into the roof rafters 11, and through
section 27 into the top of a hip and or ridge board 13 by use of
nails or screws as may be needed. In addition the flanges 31 may be
screwed or nailed to the plywood sheathing or roof decking along
the length wise edges of flanges 31 that run between roof rafters
11. The shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 of the present
invention can be roll formed in a preferred embodiment using
standard light gage steel which may be treated for corrosion
resistance by galvanizing or other means, or made from stainless
steel, aluminum, or copper. The gage or thickness of the
ventilation plate 10 and fastening detail will be determined by
building design requirements. The length of the present invention
will be determined by ease of cartage, trucking and or handling,
but the invention can be manufactured to different lengths.
[0033] This present invention may also be constructed through an
extrusion formed process and or injection molded as is well know to
those in the plastics industry to meet building design requirements
for a shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 of the current
invention.
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a dimensional view of the preferred
embodiment of the current invention 10 as well views of the
aforementioned FIG. 1, and FIG. 2. Also shown is note#1 of 10 which
refers to the hole size and spacing of ventilation strips 25. 5 is
another cross view of 10 which illustrates note# 2 which references
the angle between 27 and 25 which may vary depending upon the roof
pitch. FIG. 5 is another exemplary configuration of the shear
diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention which can be
used on another exemplary type of roof structure in accordance with
the present invention. In this preferred embodiment 9 of the shear
diaphragm ventilation product 10, section 27 of FIG. 1 has been
eliminated so as to allow the current invention to be installed on
roof structures that have this type of contour at their apex.
Fastening requirements are the same as shown installed in FIG. 3
with the exception of section 27. Also shown is a side view and top
view which are the same as FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 with the exception of
27. Also shown is note# 1 of 9 which refers to the hole size and
spacing of ventilation strips 25. 4 is another cross view of 9
which illustrates note# 2 which references the angle between the
two ventilation strips 25 which may vary depending upon the roof
pitch.
[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates a cutaway perspective view of the current
invention installed upon a roof structure. In this preferred
embodiment of the shear ventilation plate 10 any number of asphalt
shingle, wood shake or wood shingle; real or man made, slate; real
or man made, metal roofing, and or any other pitched roof system
may incorporate the current invention. Also any number of currently
manufactured continuous hip or ridge mounted roof ventilation
products used in the aforementioned roof systems may be easily
installed over the shear ventilation plate 10 of FIG. 5 or FIG. 4
shear vent plate 9 by those familiar to standard roofing
applications. The ventilation strip areas 25 can be increased or
decreased as needed to accommodate local building code requirements
for ventilation. In a preferred embodiment the hole sizes, slots or
other opening configurations of 25 are designed to provide the
maximum ventilation per square inch while maintaining the highest
roof shear diaphragm value of the ventilation plate 10 to the roof
structure.
[0036] The shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 and as shown in
FIG. 5. shear vent plate 9 of the current invention replaces a
portion of the plywood sheathing 15 located immediately next to the
roof hip and or ridge board 13. Since the plywood sheathing serves
as a structural element transferring the roof shear loads induced
by seismic and wind load activities to the building shear walls,
the said metal and or plastic ventilation plate 10 and or of FIG. 5
is of comparable strength to provide structural integrity for the
roof structure. A preferred ventilation opening is a round hole
with a preferred 60 degree hole pattern configuration. Although
other opening sizes and configurations may be used in the current
invention. FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the shear
diaphragm ventilation product 10 of the present invention being
installed on another exemplary type of roof structure application
in accordance with the present invention. In this preferred
embodiment any number of concrete and or clay roof tile systems can
incorporate the current invention.
[0037] Shown in FIG. 6 is a hip or ridge tile nailer board clip 51
which is used to fasten the hip or ridge tile nailer 55 as well as
to adjust the nailer 55 to the preferred height depending upon the
style of tile being used. The nailer board clip 51 also allows the
installer to use a smaller dimensioned wood and or steel hip or
ridge tile nailer 55 than is currently used because the nailer no
longer has to rest upon the roof structure but instead is affixed
to the nailer board clip 51. The nailer board clip 51 is fastened
to the hip and or ridge board 13 through the top solid area 27 of
the ventilation strip 10 with screws and or nails. The advantage of
the tile nailer board clip 51 when installed upon the shear
ventilation plate 10 is a secure mechanical attachment for the
ridge tile nailer 55. A current method for attachment of the ridge
tile nailer board is to toe nail through the nailer board into the
plywood sheathing of the roof deck. This method does not provide
for a sound attachment. And this type of attachment can fail from
wind or seismic loads. As can be seen in the foregoing, the goal of
the current invention is to provide a shear diaphragm ventilation
product, which the inventor believes is novel, which will be
adaptable to any kind of pitched roof application. The current
invention is both a structural element of the roof structure and
roof shear diaphragm while providing roof ventilation and other
benefits as already mentioned at the same time. The inventor is not
aware of any product that provides the benefits of the present
invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred
embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that,
within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be
practiced other than as specifically described herein.
* * * * *