U.S. patent application number 11/680173 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for roll baffle.
Invention is credited to ARTHUR A. DILLON.
Application Number | 20080202041 11/680173 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39714329 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080202041 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DILLON; ARTHUR A. |
August 28, 2008 |
ROLL BAFFLE
Abstract
The invention is a simple inexpensive improved method of
providing air flow from the outside soffit are into the attic. The
method provides 100% containment of blown insulation from blow over
into the soffit area. The physical material is extremely less than
other methods thus providing a much less material handling
transportation to the work site. Application is simpler and
requires less labor during installation.
Inventors: |
DILLON; ARTHUR A.; (Piketon,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARTHUR A. DILLON
103 TODD ALAN DRIVE
PIKETON
OH
20000
US
|
Family ID: |
39714329 |
Appl. No.: |
11/680173 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/178 20130101;
E04D 13/152 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/95 |
International
Class: |
E04B 7/00 20060101
E04B007/00 |
Claims
1. This invention forms an improved channel for air inflow as
indicated in the attached drawings and description. This protects
the attic insulation from immediate contact of moist air and
prevents the escape of insulation to the external source (soffit).
Another objective is to provide a more labor efficient installation
method. The current invention method reduces the labor necessary to
provide air inflow into the attic area. This invention is installed
as one continuous unit when initial construction of framing takes
place and roof and wall sheeting has been applied. No special
physical manipulation of individual pieces between each set of roof
rafters is required as in other inventions which increases labor
costs. Other inventions, requiring individual pieces between roof
rafters, are time-consuming and difficult due to inconvenient
reduced working areas during installation. Also, additional labor
cost is incurred to manipulate the size of manufactured pieces to
fit differing roof rafter spacing. Another object is to provide a
more cost efficient material. This invention is projected to reduce
building costs by providing a less expensive more compact material.
Other inventions require purchasing and transporting multiple
pieces of materials. Another object is to provide a physically
smaller amount of material in the creation of the air inflow gap.
Other inventions require several boxes of strips of material. These
inventions are a physically larger volume of material for
installers to acquire and transport. Another object is to prevent
the escape of insulation (especially blown insulation) from the
attic area outward to the exterior air source. Other methods allow
the escape of insulation increasing cost and reducing air inflow
into the attic area and countering the intent of providing air
inflow into the attic. Other inventions allow open spacing when
placed into the roof rafter channel area allowing insulation to
escape during and after installation This problem reduces the
allowable air inflow. These inventions also allow some types of
insulation to be attached to nails protruding from the roof
installation and reduce air inflow. Another object is to provide
maximum air inflow. Other inventions do not allow maximum air
inflow as the height of these inventions is less than the height of
the roof rafter thus not taking advantage of the entire cubic area
within the roof rafter spacing. While the current invention being
attached to the bottom of the roof rafter in a continuous manner
allows for maximum flow of air inflow between the rafters using the
entire cubic area provide by roof rafters as a channel. Another
object is to increase the efficiency of insulation by creating a
definite contained formation of insulation. This invention prevents
the escape of insulation and maintains the formation of the
insulation as originally installed thus allowing the insulation to
perform according to its normal insulating properties. Another
object of this invention is to protect the upper layer of
insulation from moisture entering the attic from the external
source. The installation of this invention channels air above the
insulation and not directly across the insulation as other
inventions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of endeavor relates to the ventilation process
providing air In-flow from an external source into the attic area
creating proper air balance in residential and commercial
buildings.
[0002] It has long since been a desire of builders to adequately
provide air inflow channeled from an exterior source (soffit) thru
the roof rafters into and out of the attic area. The creation of
proper air balance in the attic area addresses the concerns of ice
formation on the roof, removal of excess moisture and excess heat
from the attic area to maintain structural integrity and provide
correct conditions allowing the insulation to perform as
intended.
[0003] Residential and commercial building attics are insulated
using a variety of materials and methods. Containing the attic
fibers of insulation while facilitating maximum air inflow from the
outside source areas into the attic and out the roof vents is
extremely desirable.
[0004] Construction costs and higher energy rates necessitate
optimum insulation functionality including air balancing.
[0005] Various inventions made of plastic, foam, etc. have
attempted to provide proper air channeling from an outside source
between the roof rafters into the attic area.
[0006] Problems with these Inventions are:
[0007] These inventions require the use of multi-strips of material
that are individually placed between each set of roof rafters. The
cost is increased by the additional labor require to install
individual pieces between the roof rafters.
[0008] Roof rafter differ in their spacing. Given differing spacing
between the roof rafters, the manufacturing cost is impacted
unfavorably by the need to design and manufacture these spacers to
allow variability. Also, installation labor is increased by the
need to physically adjust the individual spacers on the
construction site to fit the desire spacing based on individual
building architecture.
[0009] These and other inventions do not provide full air inflow
from external sources to the attic area because their construction
under utilizes the cubic space between the roof rafters. There
height is less than the height of normal rafter construction and
therefore does not take advantage of the full air pocket between
the rafters. Also, their structure prohibits air inflow as the
nature of their structure decreases air inflow.
[0010] Their construction also allows insulation to pass into the
external air source by forming an open-air channel underneath them
that is ultimately blocked by insulation. Before this area is block
insulation (blown) passes to the exterior source (soffit) reducing
air inflow. Also, this open-air channel underneath these inventions
exposes the insulation directly to moisture reducing the
effectiveness of the insulation factor.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0011] It is the intent of this invention to create a new excellent
channel for maximum continuous air inflow from the exterior
ventilation area into the attic area and provide a barrier for
insulation containment in the attic area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top view of the Roll Baffle (1) invention. This
view is a flat drawing of the invention showing a portion of the
invention composed of the first few feet of a full-length piece of
approximately 50 feet. The remainder of the piece is a repetition
of the first few feet shown. Perforated rectangular slots (2) along
the one edge of the length are positioned on 8'' centered spacing
(10). The perforated area is 1-1/2'' wide (11) and 10'' in height
(12). The overall width of the invention is approximately 36'' and
running approximately 50' in length.
[0013] The invention can be composed of various materials such as,
plastic film, paper or fabric. The thickness will vary with
material. Drawing FIG. 1 a is of typical plastic film with a
thickness of approximately 4 mil (9). Other dimensional
specifications are listed in the `List of Reference Numerals`.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an ISO view of the Roll Baffle (1) showing the
perforated slot (2), 8'' spacing of the slots (10), slot width of
1-1/2'' (11), 10'' perforated slot height (12). Typical length is
50' and typical width is 36'.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an installed position example of the Roll Baffle
(1) without showing the building structure. The drop down area (17)
extends downward along the inside of the exterior studded wall
while the Roll Baffle upper portion (16) extends upward being
attached to the lower side of the studding.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows typical application of the Roll Baffle (1). It
is shown in position as in FIG. 3 but as attached to a typical
frame structure with exterior studded walls (6), roof rafters (15)
and ceiling joists (5). The perforated slots (2) are torn as needed
to fit the architectural design in the appropriate place so as to
allow the lower portion of the Roll Baffle (17) to fit around the
union of the ceiling joists (5) and roof rafters (15) immediately
above the exterior wall studding (6). The upper portion of the Roll
Baffle (16) extends upward from the lower portion (17) and attached
to the lower side of the roof rafters (15). The Roll Baffle is
attached to the bottom of the roof rafters using common staples (4)
or other means of attachment. As attached the upper portion of the
Roll Baffle (16) forms a continuous air channel within the roof
rafters (15) allowing the full cubic area within the rafters to be
used as a channel for air inflow (3) from the outside area to the
inside attic.
[0017] The Roll Baffle runs continuously from the end of the
building (13) to the opposite end of the building (14) providing
maximum air inflow (3) from the entire outside structure to the
attic area.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows the application of typical ceiling finished
material such as drywall (7). After the installation of the
finished drywall (7) or other ceiling materials the Roll Baffle (1
) will form a barrier maintaining the insulation in the attic area
and providing a channel for maximum air (3) inflow from the outside
source into the attic area. FIG. 6 further shows the external air
inflow-(3 ) as it enters from the outside source and flows along
the top side of the Roll Baffle (1) and into the attic area.
NUMERAL INDEX
[0019] 1. Roll Baffle [0020] 2. Perforated slot [0021] 3. Air flow
[0022] 4. Staples [0023] 5. Ceiling joists [0024] 6. Wall studs
[0025] 7. Drywall [0026] 8. Insulation [0027] 9. Typical thickness
4 mil. [0028] 10. Spacing [0029] 11 Perforated width [0030] 12
Perforated height [0031] 13. Ending of building [0032] 14. Opposite
end of building [0033] 15. Roof rafter [0034] 16. Roll Baffle upper
portion [0035] 17. Roll Baffle lower portion
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0036] This invention is a continuous sheet of plastic or other
material cut and perforated in such a manner as to allow it to be
attached where the roof rafters join the ceiling joists resting on
the exterior wall. The invention is attached in this area to the
bottom of the roof rafters and to the inside of the exterior
studding and while passing downward around the ceiling joists.
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