U.S. patent application number 11/703229 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-07 for roof vent shield.
Invention is credited to Joe-John Fernandez, John W. Hunt.
Application Number | 20080188176 11/703229 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39676586 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080188176 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hunt; John W. ; et
al. |
August 7, 2008 |
Roof vent shield
Abstract
The roof vent shield is attached to the downslope side of an
existing roof vent, to prevent the entrance of windblown moisture
into the mouth of the vent. The shield includes an elongate panel
disposed along the length of the vent, with the upper edges of the
vent opening and panel forming a ventilation opening therebetween.
The opposed ends of the panel include opposite vent attachment
flanges, and the lower edge of the panel includes a roof attachment
flange. The shield panel and its various attachment flanges may be
formed of a single homogeneous sheet of material (galvanized steel,
corrosion resistant steel, aluminum, etc.), or may be assembled
from separate components at the time of manufacture. The shield
panel is oriented at least generally normal to the plane of the
roof when the device is installed, and may include reinforcing
bends along its upper and lower edges for greater rigidity.
Inventors: |
Hunt; John W.; (Fort Myers,
FL) ; Fernandez; Joe-John; (Fort Myers, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD.
P.O. BOX 15035, CRYSTAL CITY STATION
ARLINGTON
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
39676586 |
Appl. No.: |
11/703229 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/366 ;
454/367 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/0059 20130101;
F24F 13/222 20130101; E04D 13/17 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/366 ;
454/367 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/20 20060101
F24F013/20; F24F 7/02 20060101 F24F007/02 |
Claims
1. A roof vent shield for attachment to an installed roof vent, the
roof vent shield comprising: a shield panel having a first end, a
second end opposite the first end, an upper edge, and a lower edge
opposite the upper edge; a first roof vent attachment flange
extending from the first end of the shield panel substantially
normal thereto; and a second roof vent attachment flange extending
from the second end of the shield panel and substantially normal
thereto.
2. The roof vent shield according to claim 1, further including a
roof attachment flange extending from the lower edge of the shield
panel substantially normal thereto.
3. The roof vent shield according to claim 2, further including: a
lower intermediate web extending directly from the lower edge of
the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed
ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second
roof vent attachment flanges; and a lower intermediate flange
depending directly from the lower intermediate web substantially
parallel to the shield panel, the roof attachment flange extending
directly from the lower intermediate flange normal thereto and
opposite the first and second roof attachment flanges.
4. The roof vent shield according to claim 2, wherein the roof
attachment flange further includes a doubled distal edge.
5. The roof vent shield according to claim 1, further including: an
upper intermediate web extending directly from the upper edge of
the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed
ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second
roof vent attachment flanges; and a ventilation opening flange
extending from the upper intermediate web substantially parallel to
the shield panel.
6. The roof vent shield according to claim 5, wherein the
ventilation opening flange is doubled over at one end for
additional thickness.
7. The roof vent shield according to claim 1, wherein the shield
panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof
vent attachment flange are all formed in a single, homogeneous
sheet of material.
8. The roof vent shield according to claim 1, wherein the shield
panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof
vent attachment flange are all formed of material selected from the
group consisting of galvanized sheet steel, corrosion resistant
sheet steel, and aluminum sheet.
9. A roof vent and roof vent shield therefor, comprising in
combination: a roof vent having a first end, a second end opposite
the first end, an upper cover having a ventilation opening lip, and
a roof vent entrance defined below the cover; a roof vent shield
having; a shield panel having a first end, a second end opposite
the first end, an upper edge, and a lower edge opposite the upper
edge; a first roof vent attachment flange extending from the first
end of the shield panel substantially normal thereto, the first
flange being attached to the first end of the roof vent; and a
second roof vent attachment flange extending from the second end of
the shield panel substantially normal thereto, the second flange
being attached to the second end of the roof vent, the ventilation
opening lip of the roof vent and the upper edge of the shield panel
defining a ventilation opening therebetween communicating with the
roof vent entrance of the roof vent.
10. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to
claim 9, wherein the roof vent comprises a slope type vent
configured for attachment to the slope of a gabled roof below a
ridge of the roof.
11. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to
claim 9, further including a roof attachment flange extending from
the lower edge of the shield panel substantially normal
thereto.
12. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to
claim 11, further including: a lower intermediate web extending
directly from the lower edge of the shield panel normal thereto,
the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding
portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and
a lower intermediate flange depending directly from the lower
intermediate web substantially parallel to the shield panel, the
roof attachment flange extending directly from the lower
intermediate flange normal thereto and opposite the first and
second roof attachment flanges.
13. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to
claim 11, wherein the roof attachment flange has a doubled distal
edge.
14. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to
claim 9, further including: an upper intermediate web extending
directly from the upper edge of the shield panel normal thereto,
the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding
portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and
a ventilation opening flange extending from the upper intermediate
web substantially parallel to the shield panel.
15. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to
claim 14, wherein the ventilation opening flange is doubled over at
one edge for additional thickness.
16. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to
claim 9, wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment
flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed
in a single, homogeneous sheet of material.
17. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to
claim 9, wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment
flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed
of material selected from the group consisting of galvanized sheet
steel, corrosion resistant sheet steel, and aluminum sheet.
18. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to
claim 9, further including a plurality of self-tapping screws
securing the first and the second roof vent attachment flanges to
the roof vent.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to shields, guards,
protective panels, and the like. More specifically, the present
invention relates to a roof vent shield configured for installation
upon and adjacent to an existing roof vent.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Roof vents are installed virtually universally upon the
roofs of homes and other building structures in order to allow
humidity and heat that build up immediately beneath the roof to
escape. This maintains a drier and cooler environment in the attic
area immediately beneath the roof surface, resulting in fewer
problems with wood decay due to humidity and a reduction in air
conditioning costs in warmer climates.
[0005] Virtually all such roof vents include a ventilation opening
or passage along their downslope sides or ends, and nearly all
include some form of internal baffling to reduce the entrance of
windblown moisture (rain, snow, etc.) into the structure through
the vent opening. However, standard, conventional vents have proven
to be less than optimally effective at preventing the entrance of
windblown precipitation into the structure. The problem is that if
the wind happens to be blowing up the slope of the roof and into
the downslope vent opening, it can often carry smaller particles of
moisture into the vent opening, even carrying them beyond any
baffles installed within the vent. This is particularly true in the
case of snow, and the stronger the wind, the larger the particles
of moisture that may be blown into the interior of the structure
through the vent opening and past any baffling therein. While it is
possible to reduce the chance of the entry of moisture into the
structure by greatly increasing the convolutions in the air pathway
through the vent and/or reducing the sizes of the air pathways to
vary small diameters, the result is a large loss in ventilation
efficiency due to the restriction of airflow through such a
vent.
[0006] A vent assembly is found in Japanese Patent No. 55-33,523,
published on Mar. 8, 1980. This publication describes (according to
the drawings and English abstract) a ridge or crest vent assembly
having a laterally sliding cap or closure thereover. The sliding
cover is supported within a shallow V-shaped slot at each end of
the vent. The cover is normally centered upon its supports at the
centers of the V slots, allowing air to flow between the underlying
vent and the sides of the cover. When the wind is sufficiently
strong, it blows the cover downwind to cover the upwind side of the
vents.
[0007] Another example of a roof vent is found in Japanese Patent
No. 05-059,799, published on Mar. 9, 1993. According to the
drawings and English abstract, this publication describes a ridge
or crest vent having a large number of very small air channels
formed of a corrugated material.
[0008] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention
as claimed. Thus, a roof vent shield solving the aforementioned
problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The roof vent shield comprises an external panel having
opposite first and second ends with flanges extending therefrom for
attachment (e.g., by self-tapping screws, rivets, etc.) to the
sides of an existing roof vent. The lower edge of the panel
includes a lower edge flange providing for attachment to the
underlying roof structure. The vent attachment flanges provide
sufficient length to space the panel away from the vent opening
toward the downslope side of the roof, with the upper edge of the
vent shield panel and the upper edge of the vent defining a
ventilation opening or passage therebetween.
[0010] The shield panel is oriented generally normal to the plane
of the roof panel, when the shield is installed to the vent and
underlying roof structure. The upper and lower edges of the shield
panel are preferably bent and formed to provide additional strength
and rigidity for the panel. The shield panel and its two opposed
vent attachment flanges may be formed from a single sheet of
material (e.g., galvanized steel, corrosion resistant steel,
aluminum sheet, etc.), or may alternatively be formed as separate
components and fastened together (e.g., spot welded, riveted, etc.)
at the time of manufacture.
[0011] These and other features of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a roof vent
shield according to the present invention, showing the shield
attached to the downslope side of a conventional vent upon a tile
roof.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side elevation in section of a sloped roof
having a vent installed thereon, showing the installation of a roof
vent shield according to the present invention thereto.
[0014] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The present invention comprises a shield adapted for
installation to an existing slope-type roof vent upon a gabled roof
of a structure. The shield secures to the sides of the existing
vent and also to the roof of the structure, and shields the roof
vent opening from the entry of windblown moisture and debris
therein. The roof vent shield may be installed at the time of
installation of the roof vent, if so desired, but the shield is a
separate component from the vent per se, and may be installed at
any time after the roof vent has been installed.
[0016] FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively provide environmental perspective
and side elevation sectional views of the roof vent shield 10 of
the present invention installed upon, and secured to, a roof vent V
and roof. The roof vent shield 10 may be installed with any type of
roof to which the roof vent V has been installed, e.g., the tile
roof TR of FIG. 1 or the shingle covered roof SR of FIG. 2.
[0017] The roof vent V shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is conventional,
comprising a slope-type vent adapted for installation upon the
slope of a gabled roof, as opposed to a ridge-type vent. However,
it will be seen that the vent shield 10 may be installed
immediately downslope of the vent opening of either type of vent,
as desired. The slope vent V has opposite first and second ends E1
and E2 and an upper cover C with a ventilation opening lip L (FIG.
2) defining an underlying roof vent exit E between the lip L and
underlying surface of the roof. (The roof vent opening or exit E is
normally an exit for air being vented from the structure, but it
could serve as the entrance for undesired windblown precipitation
and/or debris if not for the present shield.) The roof vent V
further includes an internal baffle B, intended to preclude
entrance of wind blown moisture and debris through the interior of
the vent V and roof opening RO (FIG. 2).
[0018] The roof vent shield 10 is an elongate shield panel 12
having a length or span substantially equal to that of the roof
vent V in order to span the entire width of the roof vent V and its
vent entrance opening E. The shield panel 12 includes mutually
opposed first and second ends, respectively 14 and 16, and mutually
opposed upper and lower edges, respectively 18 and 20, defining the
dimensions of the panel 12. First and second roof vent attachment
flanges 22 and 24 extend from the respective first and second ends
14 and 16 of the panel 12 substantially normal thereto and parallel
to one another. As the span of the shield panel 12 is adapted to
closely match the span or width of the roof vent V, it will be seen
that the two attachment flanges 22 and 24 fit closely about the
corresponding ends E1 and E2 of the roof vent V, capturing the roof
vent V therebetween. The roof vent attachment flanges 22 and 24 are
secured to the corresponding ends E1 and E2 of the roof vent V by
conventional fasteners 26, e.g., self-tapping screws, blind rivets,
etc.
[0019] The shield panel 12 and its two attachment flanges 22 and 24
may be formed of separate components and assembled together (e.g.,
spot welded, etc.) at the time of manufacture, but may also be
stamped or otherwise formed of a single, homogeneous sheet of
material, as the material and sheet thickness of the components 12,
22, and 24 are preferably essentially identical to one another. The
material from which the present roof vent shield 10 is formed may
be galvanized steel sheet, as is used in the formation of the
majority of sheet metal components in roofing, heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning, or may alternatively be formed
of a lighter metal, such as aluminum sheet, or a more durable and
corrosion resistant material, such as corrosion resistant
("stainless") steel. Other materials have been used in the roofing
industry, including copper sheet and plastic, and the roof vent
shield 10 may also be formed from such materials.
[0020] It will be seen particularly in FIG. 2 of the drawings that
the two attachment flanges 22 and 24 have sufficient length to be
securely attached to the corresponding ends E1 and E2 of the roof
vent V using a plurality of fasteners 26, while still spacing the
shield panel 12 away from the entrance opening E of the roof vent
V. The span between the shield panel 12 and the roof vent entrance
or exit opening E, or more precisely between the vent opening lip L
of the roof vent V and the ventilation opening flange (discussed
further below) of the roof vent shield 10, defines a ventilation
opening 28 therebetween, which communicates with the vent exit or
entrance opening E of the roof vent V through the interior of the
vent V to the roof opening RO cut through the sheathing S.
[0021] A lower intermediate web 30 extends from the lower edge 20
of the shield panel 12 substantially normal to the shield panel 12.
The two opposite ends 32 and 34 of the lower intermediate web 30
are closely adjacent to, and extend along, the corresponding
proximate portions of the two attachment flanges 22 and 24, i.e.,
in the same direction as the flanges 22 and 24 relative to the
shield panel 12. A lower intermediate flange 36 depends from the
lower intermediate web 30 in the opposite direction from the shield
panel 12 substantially parallel thereto. A roof attachment flange
38 extends from the lower intermediate flange 36 substantially
normal to the flange 36 and shield panel 12 and in a direction
opposite the two vent attachment flanges 22 and 24.
[0022] Thus, the lower intermediate web 30 and lower intermediate
flange 36 form an offset or "joggle" between the roof attachment
flange 38 and the lower edge 20 of the shield panel 12, with this
offset serving to stiffen the panel 12 and roof attachment flange
38. Alternatively, the roof attachment flange 38 could be bent to
extend directly from the lower edge 20 of the shield panel 12, if
so desired. The roof attachment flange 38 preferably includes a
doubled, folded-under distal edge portion 40, again to provide
additional stiffening and strength for the flange 38. The roof
attachment flange 38 provides for the attachment of the shield 10
to the underlying roof structures by means of fasteners 26 of any
suitable type. Conventional caulking, sealants, etc. would normally
be used between the roof attachment flange 38 and the underlying
roof surface, but are not shown in the drawings for clarity in the
drawings.
[0023] The upper edge 18 of the shield panel 12 may also include
one or more additional bent or folded flanges extending therefrom
to stiffen and strengthen the structure. In FIGS. 1 and 2, an upper
intermediate web 42 extends from the upper edge 18 of the shield
panel 12 substantially normal to the shield panel 12. The two
opposite ends 44 and 46 of the upper intermediate web 42 are
closely adjacent to, and extend along, the corresponding proximate
portions of the two attachment flanges 22 and 24, i.e., in the same
direction as the flanges 22 and 24 relative to the shield panel
12.
[0024] A ventilation opening flange 48 extends from the upper
intermediate web 42, substantially normal to the upper intermediate
web and parallel to the shield panel 12. The ventilation opening
flange 48 defines the edge of the ventilation opening 28 opposite
the vent opening lip L of the roof vent V. As in the case of the
roof attachment flange 38 extending from the lower edge 20 of the
shield panel 12 (by means of the intervening web and flange), the
ventilation opening flange 48 also preferably includes a folded
over portion 50 to provide a doubled thickness. As the ventilation
opening flange 48 is somewhat narrower than the roof attachment
flange 38, the doubled portion 50 extends for substantially the
entire width of the ventilation opening flange 48.
[0025] In conclusion, the roof vent shield 10 provides a great
improvement for the roof vent by greatly reducing the entrance of
windblown precipitation and/or debris into the vent opening. A
conventional roof vent in combination with the roof vent shield
provides the best of both worlds, i.e., relatively free flow of air
through the vent, while simultaneously shielding the vent opening
from windblown precipitation and/or debris. Accordingly, the roof
vent shield will prove to be a most desirable accessory for homes
and other building structures incorporating roof vents.
[0026] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *