U.S. patent application number 11/690886 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-11 for vented soffit assembly and method of installation.
This patent application is currently assigned to BENJAMIN OBDYKE INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to George Caruso, Michael S. Coulton, Joseph Opdyke.
Application Number | 20070234650 11/690886 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38561898 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070234650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Coulton; Michael S. ; et
al. |
October 11, 2007 |
Vented Soffit Assembly and Method of Installation
Abstract
A continuous, elongate, strip of openwork ventilation material
is provided in roll form and is unrolled and installed in a soffit
as a one-piece, continuous vent along a length of the soffit. The
opposite longitudinally-extending side edges of the ventilation
material are inserted within opposed, spaced-apart channels lining
the periphery of the soffit opening or are provided with
laterally-extending fastening strips that are fastened to boards
lining the soffit opening.
Inventors: |
Coulton; Michael S.; (North
Wales, PA) ; Caruso; George; (Ambler, PA) ;
Opdyke; Joseph; (Collegeville, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWSON AND HOWSON
SUITE 210
501 OFFICE CENTER DRIVE
FT WASHINGTON
PA
19034
US
|
Assignee: |
BENJAMIN OBDYKE
INCORPORATED
400 Babylon Road, Suite A
Horsham
PA
19044
|
Family ID: |
38561898 |
Appl. No.: |
11/690886 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60743809 |
Mar 27, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/152
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/095 |
International
Class: |
E04D 3/40 20060101
E04D003/40 |
Claims
1. A method of assembling a soffit in an eave of a roof, comprising
the steps of: supplying a continuous, elongate, strip of openwork
ventilation material in a spiral roll; unrolling said ventilation
material; positioning a continuous length of said ventilation
material in an elongate opening of a predetermined length in the
soffit; and securing opposite edges of said unrolled continuous
elongate ventilation material to the soffit such that said
ventilation material forms a one-piece, continuous soffit vent
within said opening.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
forming an opposed, parallel, spaced-apart pair of elongate,
longitudinally-extending channels within said elongate opening.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said securing step
includes supporting opposite longitudinally-extending side edges of
said unrolled continuous elongate ventilation material in said
channels.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said securing step
includes inserting an end of said ventilation material into an open
end of said channels and sliding said ventilation material in said
channels along a full length of said elongate opening.
5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of
cutting said continuous elongate ventilation material to a length
that substantially matches said full length of said elongate
opening.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said supplying step
includes supplying a spiral roll of an openwork ventilation
material that has opposite faces with alternating,
transversely-extending ridges and grooves.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein, when said ventilation
material is supported in said channels, said ridges and grooves of
said ventilation material extend transversely to said channels.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said channels are formed
by applying elongate plastic or metal clips or channels to opposed
surfaces of said soffit on opposite sides of said opening.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said securing step
includes fastening opposite longitudinally-extending side edges of
said unrolled continuous elongate ventilation material to the
soffit.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said supplying step
includes supplying a spiral roll of an openwork ventilation
material that has opposite faces with alternating,
transversely-extending ridges and grooves and opposite
longitudinally-extending side edges with fastening strips.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said fastening strips
are secured with a fastener, or are bonded, to opposing strips of
board applied along a length of said opening.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said ridges and grooves
of said ventilation material extend transversely across said
opening and wherein said fastening strips are substantially
planar.
13. A vented soffit assembly of a building structure, comprising:
an eave of a roof having an elongate, continuous ventilation
opening extending between an exterior wall of the building
structure and a fascia board of said eave; and a one-piece,
continuous strip of openwork ventilation material spanning a full
length and width of said opening; said strip of ventilation
material being sufficiently flexible to be stored and shipped in a
spiral roll and to be unrolled for installation within said
assembly.
14. An assembly according to claim 13, further comprising channels
that extend along at least a part of a periphery of said opening
and that receive peripheral edges of said strip of ventilation
material for supporting said strip of ventilation material in said
opening.
15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein said strip of
ventilation material has opposite faces with alternating,
transversely-extending ridges and grooves.
16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein said ridges and
grooves of said ventilation material extend substantially
perpendicular to said exterior wall and fascia board.
17. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said strip of
ventilation material is an undulating perforated web of
thermoplastic material or an undulating mat of fibers.
18. An assembly according to claim 17, wherein said channels are
formed by elongate plastic or metal clips applied to said exterior
wall and said fascia board.
19. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said strip of
ventilation material has opposite faces with alternating,
transversely-extending ridges and grooves and opposite
longitudinally-extending side edges with fastening strips.
20. An assembly according to claim 19, wherein said fastening
strips are fastened to strips of board extending on said sidewall
and said fascia board along said elongate opening.
21. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein said strip of
ventilation material is an undulating perforated web of
thermoplastic material having integrally-formed
substantially-planar fastening strips.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 USC
.sctn.119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/743,809,
filed Mar. 27, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a vent for installation
within an opening on the underside of a roof overhang of a building
structure and to a method of its installation.
[0003] It is useful, and in many locales a building code
requirement, that the attic area of a building underlying a roof be
provided with a means to permit air exchange. Such ventilation
prevents undue heat buildup, which can render the living quarters
of the building uncomfortable and impose unreasonable energy
requirements for cooling. Proper ventilation of the attic area also
preserves the structural integrity of the roof and roof
coverings.
[0004] A combination of ridge and soffit vents provides an example
of a means for providing the desired ventilation. The ridge vent
permits hot and/or humid air to rise up through the peak of the
roof, and the soffit vent enables ambient air to be drawn into a
lower part of the attic area to replace the hot and/or humid air
escaping through the ridge vent.
[0005] Examples of ridge vents are provided by U.S. Pat. No.
5,960,595 issued to McCorsley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,613 B1,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,472 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,432 and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,673,521 issued to Coulton et al., 6,277,024 B1 issued to
Coulton, and 4,942,699 issued to Spinelli and U.S. Patent
Application Publications Nos. 2005/0136831 A1 and 2005/0090197 A1
of Coulton. Each of the above referenced patents and published
applications are owned, or co-owned, by Benjamin Obdyke, Inc., the
assignee of the present application.
[0006] Examples of soffit vents are provided by U.S. Pat. No.
6,145,255 issued to Allaster, U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,592 issued to
Tamlyn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,086 issued to Dunn, U.S. Pat. No.
6,718,699 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,052 B1 issued to Larson, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,560,158 issued to Norton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,691 issued
to Lloyd-Jones, and D503,225 S issued to Rodolfo et al. and U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0124484 A1 of Martin. Also
see U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,817 issued to Morris et al., U.S. Pat. No.
6,468,453 B1 issued to Gaidjiergis et al., and U.S. Pat. No.
4,977,714 issued to Gregory, Jr. and U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2003/0005649 A1 of Austin et al.
[0007] Typically, installation of a soffit vent includes measuring
the width and length of an eave overhang, cutting one or more
substantially-rigid perforated aluminum or PVC panels to a desired
size, and installing the panel or panels to the eave overhang. If
more than one panel is required, installation typically also
requires the step of interlocking the ends of each adjacent pair of
panels. Another method includes cutting circular or rectangular
openings in sheets of plywood, oriented strand board, or other
wooden material and placing individual vents or screens over the
openings. However, this does not provide optimal intake ventilation
and provides areas of exposed wood requiring periodic maintenance,
such as painting, staining, cleaning, and the like.
[0008] While the soffit vents and vented eave assemblies disclosed
in the above referenced patents and published applications may
function in an acceptable manner, there continues to be a need for
alternatives with respect to the design, materials, and
installation of vented roof structures. To this end, a desired
soffit vent and vented soffit assembly should provide an
aesthetically-pleasing finish appearance and should permit
improvements with respect to the time, labor and ease of vent
installation. Further, a sufficient amount of intake air flow
should be provided without compromising resistance to pest and
weather infiltration, and the materials required to construct the
soffit structure should be inexpensive and capable of efficient
manufacture, storage, shipping, and handling.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a
method is provided for installing a vent within a soffit. A
continuous, elongate, strip of openwork ventilation material is
provided in roll form to a building site. The ventilation material
is unrolled at the site, and positioned within an elongate opening
in the soffit. The opposite edges of the ventilation material are
secured to the soffit along the elongate opening so that the
installed ventilation material forms a one-piece, continuous soffit
vent.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
ventilation material has opposite longitudinally-extending side
edges that are inserted within opposed, spaced-apart channels
extending along a least a part of the periphery of the opening to
thereby secure the ventilation material to the soffit. For example,
the method can include the steps of inserting the ventilation
material into an open end of the channels and sliding the
ventilation material along the full length of the elongate opening
until the ventilation material is properly positioned to cover the
opening.
[0011] According to an alternate embodiment, the ventilation
material has opposite longitudinally-extending side edges provided
in the form of fastening strips. In this case, the fastening strips
are nailed, stapled, adhesively bonded, or secured by other means
to the structure of the soffit surrounding the elongate
opening.
[0012] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a
vented soffit assembly of a building structure is provided. The
assembly includes an eave of a roof having an elongate, continuous
ventilation opening extending between a sidewall of the building
structure and a fascia board of the eave. A one-piece, continuous
strip of openwork ventilation material spans a full length and
width of the opening between the sidewall and the fascia board. The
strip of ventilation material is sufficiently flexible to enable it
to be stored and shipped in a spiral roll and to be unrolled for
installation within the assembly.
[0013] The assembly and vent is suited for use in pre-fabricated
modular housing in which the eave overhang is typically of a
constant width enabling the vent to be readily slid along the
length of the eave overhang, or nailed thereto, during initial
construction of the modular house. The assembly and vent can also
be used during the initial construction or renovation of
conventional building structures.
[0014] The strip of ventilation material can have opposite faces
with alternating, transversely-extending ridges and grooves that,
when installed, extend substantially perpendicular to the sidewall
and fascia board. As an example, the strip of ventilation material
can be an undulating perforated web of thermoplastic material or an
undulating mat of fibers. Alternatively, a dimpled sheet of
thermoplastic material or mat of fibers can be utilized. In some
contemplated embodiments, the strip of ventilation material has
substantially-planar fastening strips or tabs extending laterally
therefrom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The present invention should become apparent from the
following description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
strip of ventilation material according to the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a vented soffit assembly
including the ventilation material of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly along line
3-3 in FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
strip of ventilation material according to the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a vented soffit assembly
including the ventilation material of FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
strip of ventilation material according to the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of a vented soffit
assembly according to the present invention; and
[0023] FIG. 8 is another alternate embodiment of a vented soffit
vent assembly according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The present invention is a system for providing a flow of
ventilating air beneath a roof structure 10 of a building. As best
illustrated in FIG. 2, the roof 10 typically extends to and
overhangs an exterior wall 12 of the building adjacent the front,
rear and/or sides of the building. The illustrated roof 10 is
slanted at an angle relative to the horizontal and forms one or
more peaks, or ridges, (not shown) adjacent an upper end thereof. A
vent (not shown), such as a ridge vent or the like, is located at
or near the ridge and allows hot humid air to rise into ambient
atmosphere through the roof 10. A lower part of the roof 10
provided by an eave, or overhang, 14 includes a soffit intake vent
16 enabling cooler ambient air to be drawn into the attic area to
replace the hot humid air escaping through the ridge vent.
[0025] The eave 14 includes a fascia board 18 that extends
substantially parallel to the wall 12 a spaced distance therefrom.
By definition, the soffit 20 is the underside of the eave 14 that
extends between wall 12 and fascia board 18. An elongate opening 22
is formed in the soffit 20 between the wall 12 and fascia board 18
and provides a path of ventilation therethrough. See arrows "A" in
FIG. 2. The air flow path "A" is directed upwardly toward the
underside 10a of the roof deck 10 where it communicates with the
attic area providing a supply of cool ambient air thereto.
Preferably, the opening 22 is continuous and extends substantially
the full length of the eave 14. Such a continuous soffit opening
increases the amount and flow rate of intake ambient air and
enhances uniform intake air distribution throughout the attic
area.
[0026] A strip of openwork ventilation material is installed within
the mouth of the soffit opening 22. The ventilation material
prevents debris, birds and other animals, insects, rain, snow and
the like from infiltrating into the attic space. The ventilation
material according to the present invention extends the full length
and width of the opening 22 and is provided as one continuous piece
without interruption and without the need for cutting, overlapping,
interlocking, and/or joining of separate sections in an end-to-end
or like configuration.
[0027] As best illustrated in FIG. 1, a ventilation material 24
according to the present invention is provided as an elongate,
indefinite-length strip of material capable of being stored and
shipped in a spiral roll 26 and capable of being unrolled into a
substantially planar configuration prior or during installation
within the soffit 20.
[0028] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the ventilation
material 24 is provided as an undulating strip of plastic having
perforations 28 providing ventilation passages. The undulations of
the strip 24 form ridges 30 and grooves 32 on each face, 34 and 36,
of the strip 24. In FIGS. 1-3, the ridges 30 on the upper face 34
are triangular in cross-section while the grooves 32 have a
trapezoidal cross-section. Lower face 36 has trapezoidal ridges 30
and triangular grooves 32. Of course, the cross-section of the
strip 24 can have uniform or non-uniform rounded grooves and
ridges, uniform or non-uniform squared grooves and ridges,
saw-toothed grooves and ridges, and/or any other configuration or
shape of undulations. For example, see ventilation material 24a
that is illustrated in FIG. 6. Yet other ventilation material
alternatives include the use of an undulating fibrous mat or
thermoplastic sheet or a fibrous mat having arrays of dimples or
the like projecting outwardly from one or both faces thereof.
[0029] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the strip of
ventilation material 24 is secured to the soffit 20 by being
inserted in at least a pair of opposed longitudinally-extending
channels 38. For example, the opposed channels 38 can extend along
and adjacent to the fascia board 18 and the wall 12 so that the
channels 38 are capable of receiving the opposite
longitudinally-extending side edges 40 of the strip of ventilation
material 24. See FIG. 2. The remainder of the ventilation material
24 spans the full width and length of the soffit opening 22 without
interruption. Preferably, each channel 38 is continuous; however,
the channels 38 can also be discontinuous.
[0030] The channels 38 in FIG. 2 are provided by separate elongate,
plastic or metal, clips 42 that define U-shaped channels. The clips
42 can be applied adjacent to or directly on the wall 12 and fascia
board 18. During installation of the ventilation material 24 in the
soffit 20, the side edges 40 of the ventilation material 24 can be
inserted into an open end of the channels, and thereafter, the
ventilation material 24 can be slid the entire length of the soffit
opening 22. Alternatively, the ventilation material 24 can be
temporarily positioned in a bowed position allowing its opposite
side edges 40 to resiliently expand laterally into the channels
38.
[0031] Preferably, the height "B" of the channels 38 is slightly
shorter than the height "H" of the undulating strip of ventilation
material 24. Thus, when the ventilation material 24 is positioned
within the channels 38, the flexible, resilient undulations are
slightly tensioned by the walls of the channels 38 and are thereby
secured thereto without the use of fasteners or the like.
Alternatively, staples, nails, adhesives or like fasteners can by
used to secure the ventilation material 24 to the channels 38.
[0032] Other alternatives for providing channels 38 within the
soffit 20 are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. For example, channels
can be provided by closely affixed strips of wood 42a or the like.
Yet another example is to drill grooves 44 within boards or the
like 46 that are applied to the wall 12 and fascia board 18.
[0033] An alternate embodiment of a strip of ventilation material
48 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and
5. At least one fastening strip 50 extends laterally from each
longitudinally-extending side edge 52 of the strip of ventilation
material 48. The fastening strip 50 can be provided as one
continuous substantially-planar flange, or can be formed of a
plurality of separate tabs. Preferably, the fastening strips 50 are
formed integrally with the strip of ventilation material 48. In
use, a pair of opposed strips of wood 54 or the like are secured to
the wall 12 and fascia board 18, and the fastening strips 50 are
secured thereto with a fastener, such as a nail or staple. See FIG.
5. The fastening strips 50 can engage and be secured to an upper
surface 54a, or an underside 54b, of the boards 54.
[0034] Turning to another aspect of the present invention, a method
of installing a soffit vent includes supplying a continuous,
elongate, strip of openwork ventilation material, 24, 24a, or 48,
in roll form to a building site or like construction area. The
ventilation material is unrolled and its opposite
longitudinally-extending side edges are positioned and supported
within an opening 22 of the soffit 20. The ventilation material
forms a one-piece, continuous soffit vent along the full length of
the soffit opening 22.
[0035] The method can include the step of forming an opposed,
parallel, spaced-apart pair of elongate, longitudinally-extending
channels 38 along a predetermined length of the soffit 20. The
ventilation material is unrolled and its opposite
longitudinally-extending side edges 40 are positioned and supported
within the channels 38. For example, the ventilation material can
be inserted into an open end of the channels 38 and slid along the
full length of the channels 38. Alternatively, the ventilation
material can be bowed to permit its side edges 40 to be
simultaneously inserted laterally into the channels 38 until the
ventilation material resiliently expands to its full width.
[0036] As an alternative to the use of channels, the strip of
ventilation material 48 can have fastening strips 50 that are
nailed or stapled to a confronting surface of the soffit 20. For
example, the laterally extending fastening strips 50 can be
supported on top of the boards 54 or the like, or can be nailed or
stapled to the board 54 from underneath the board 54.
[0037] Preferably, the ventilation material has ridges 30 and
grooves 32 that extend substantially perpendicular to the wall 12
and fascia board 18 when the vent is installed to the soffit. The
strip of ventilation material can be provided in an indefinite
length and can be cut to a desired length that matches the length
of the soffit opening 22.
[0038] The soffit vent of the present invention can be utilized in
new construction as well as in existing soffit structures. For
example, in an existing structure, an elongate, continuous opening
22 can be cut in the soffit and channels 38 or boards 52 can be
installed. Thereafter, the ventilation material can be installed as
discussed above. In new construction, such as the construction of a
pre-fabricated modular structure, a continuous overhang can be
provided at a constant width and the soffit vent of the present
invention can be readily installed therein.
[0039] While a preferred soffit vent, assembly, and method of
installation have been described in detail, various modifications,
alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the vent, assembly, and method according to the
present invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *