U.S. patent application number 14/133926 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-26 for contoured mesh ridge vents.
This patent application is currently assigned to Building Materials Investment Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Building Materials Investment Corporation. Invention is credited to Adem Chich, Sudhir Railkar, Dave Scott, Walter Zarate.
Application Number | 20140179220 14/133926 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50975152 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140179220 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Railkar; Sudhir ; et
al. |
June 26, 2014 |
Contoured Mesh Ridge Vents
Abstract
Ridge vents and deck covers are disclosed that have a fibrous
mesh mat and a moisture barrier. The mesh mat may be contoured to
define a variety of structures and may have regions of relatively
higher fiber density and regions of relatively lower fiber density.
Solar cells may be exposed on the ridge vents to collect solar
energy when the vents are exposed to sunlight.
Inventors: |
Railkar; Sudhir; (Wayne,
NJ) ; Chich; Adem; (Kearny, NJ) ; Zarate;
Walter; (Prospect Park, NJ) ; Scott; Dave;
(Grove City, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Building Materials Investment Corporation |
Dallas |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Building Materials Investment
Corporation
Dallas
TX
|
Family ID: |
50975152 |
Appl. No.: |
14/133926 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61740085 |
Dec 20, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/365 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 10/50 20130101;
Y02E 10/40 20130101; H02S 20/23 20141201; Y02B 10/10 20130101; Y02E
10/44 20130101; F24S 20/69 20180501; Y02B 10/20 20130101; E04D
2001/305 20130101; E04D 13/172 20130101; E04D 13/174 20130101; E04D
3/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/365 |
International
Class: |
E04D 13/17 20060101
E04D013/17 |
Claims
1. A ridge vent comprising: an elongated moisture barrier having a
central portion and opposed edge portions; a fibrous mat material
depending from and extending along the length of the elongated
moisture barrier; the fibrous mat material defining at least a
first region of relatively lower resistance to the flow or air and
at least a second region of relatively higher resistance to the
flow of air; the at least one second region extending generally
along at least one of the edge portions of the moisture
barrier.
2. The ridge vent of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier comprises
a coating.
3. The ridge vent of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier comprises
a membrane.
4. The ridge vent of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises a layer
of fibrous materials that is sufficiently dense to prevent
penetration of water through the layer.
5. The ridge vent of claim 1 wherein the first region comprises an
air gap.
6. The ridge vent of claim 5 wherein the air gap extends generally
along the central portion of the moisture barrier.
7. The ridge vent of claim 6 wherein the air gap is generally
V-shaped to accommodate folding of the ridge vent along its central
portion.
8. The ridge vent of claim 1 wherein the at least one second region
comprises a second region extending along one of the edge portions
of the moisture barrier and another second region extending along
the opposite edge portion of the moisture barrier, the first region
being defined between the second regions.
9. The ridge vent of claim 8 wherein the second regions are
contoured.
10. The ridge vent of claim 9 wherein the second regions are
contoured to define spaced apart transversely extending
notches.
11. The ridge vent of claim 8 wherein the first region comprises an
air gap.
12. The ridge vent of claim 8 wherein the first region comprises a
region of fibrous mat material having a density less than the
density of the fibrous mat material in the second regions.
13. The ridge vent of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier is
scalloped to mimic the look of ridge cap shingles.
14. The ridge vent of claim 13 wherein each scallop has a land and
a riser and wherein the riser is air permeable to provide
ventilation through the risers.
15. The ridge vent of claim 13 wherein each scallop has a land and
a riser and further comprising an overhang extending outwardly from
each land to form a gap with the next adjacent land, the gap sized
to receive an edge of a ridge cap shingle.
16. The ridge vent of claim 1 wherein the at least one first region
is disposed beneath the elongated moisture barrier and the at least
one second region is located outboard of at least one edge portion
of the moisture barrier.
17. The ridge vent of claim 16 wherein the at least one second
region is contoured to define a wind baffle outboard of the edge
portion of the moisture barrier.
18. The ridge vent of claim 1 wherein the at least one first region
projects downwardly from the moisture barrier a distance greater
than the downward projection of the at least one second region to
define a plug extending generally along the central portion of the
moisture barrier, the plug configured to fit into a ridge slot.
19. The ridge vent of claim 18 further comprising a longitudinal
gap extending along the length of the plug to accommodate a ridge
beam extending along the ridge slot.
20. The ridge vent of claim in claim 1 further comprising solar
energy collectors disposed on an upper side of the moisture
barrier.
21. The ridge vent of claim 1 further comprising windows extending
through the moisture barrier and the mat material to admit light
through the ridge vent to be directed to the interior of a
building.
22. A ridge vent comprising an upper layer that is substantially
impermeable to water and a lower layer of an open weave mat
material that permits a flow of air therethrough, the lower layer
comprising a first region that is relatively less resistant to a
flow of air and a second region that is relatively more resistant
to a flow of air.
23. A ridge vent as claimed in claim 22 wherein the lower layer has
a contoured bottom surface.
24. A ridge vent as claimed in claim 22 wherein the first region
comprises a gap.
25. A ridge vent as claimed in claim 22 wherein the first region
comprises a less dense open weave mat material and the second
region comprises a more dense open weave mat material.
26. A ridge vent as claimed in claim 22 wherein the upper layer is
contoured to resemble ridge cap shingles.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Priority is hereby claimed to the filing date of U.S.
provisional patent application 61/740,085 filed on Dec. 20, 2012
and bearing the title Contoured Mesh Ridge Vents.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to attic ventilation and
more specifically to open weave mesh material that can be used to
cover a ridge slot along the ridge of a roof or a hip slot along a
hip of a roof to provide attic ventilation.
BACKGROUND
[0003] To ventilate an attic space, it is common to form a ridge
slot in the roof deck extending along a ridge of the roof and to
install a ridge vent over the ridge slot in conjunction with
installation of soffit ventilation. For hip roofs, it is common to
form a hip slot along a hip of the roof and cover the hip slot with
a hip vent to provide ventilation. This disclosure will be couched
primarily within the context of ridge vents for ease of
explanation, but the invention is applicable to hip vents and
indeed other attic ventilation devices. A ridge vent permits heated
air from the attic below to pass by convection through the ridge
slot and through the vent while preventing ingress of water,
insects, and vermin into the attic. One common type of ridge vent
is the so-called rollable mesh ridge vent. One rollable mesh ridge
vent that has been commercially successful is the ridge vent and
system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,579 of Rotter entitled Roof
Vent of Synthetic Fiber Matting. This patent is hereby incorporated
fully by reference. Generally, the Rotter ridge vent is a unitary
sheet construction of randomly aligned synthetic fibers that are
open and blended, randomly aligned into a web by airflow, joined by
phenolic or latex binding agents, and heat cured to produce an
air-permeable mat with a substantially constant fiber density
throughout. The vent is fabricated in substantial lengths and is
rolled into a roll for storage and shipment. For installation, the
vent is unrolled along a roof ridge covering a ridge slot and
secured to the roof decking on either side of the slot. Ridge cap
shingles are then installed atop the ridge vent to form a moisture
barrier and to present a traditional appearance. Warm air from the
attic below passes through the ridge slot, flows through the mesh
mat of the ridge vent, and exits along the edges of the ridge vent
to ambience.
[0004] While the Rotter ridge vent has proven successful, it
nevertheless suffers from certain inherent shortcomings. For
example, the fibrous mat material of the Rotter ridge vent has a
substantially constant fiber density throughout, and is air and
water permeable throughout. Thus, ridge cap shingles are required
to prevent water from penetrating through the mat and into the
attic below. The Rotter ridge vent also has a constant thickness
throughout, even though not all regions of the ridge vent require
this thickness for the vent to function properly. There is thus a
certain waste of material in such regions of the Rotter ridge vent.
Centering the Rotter ridge vent across a ridge slot also can be
imprecise since an installer generally centers the mat by eye,
which can result in more of the mat on one side of the ridge slot
than on the other side of the ridge slot. The Rotter ridge vent
also lacks wind baffles found on more expensive injection molded
plastic ridge vents, and such wind baffles can improve ventilation
efficiency. These are only a few examples of shortcomings of the
Rotter ridge vent.
[0005] Needs exist for fiber mesh attic vents and ridge vents in
particular that address these and other shortcomings of traditional
mesh ridge vents such as the Rotter ridge vent. It is to the
provision of a variety of mesh-type ridge vent configurations that
address these and other needs and that provide other advantages
that the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY
[0006] Briefly described, a plurality of mesh-type ridge vent
configurations are disclosed that each provides certain benefits
not currently found in commercial fiber mesh ridge vents. The
disclosed ridge vents may incorporate regions having relatively
lower fiber density to allow air to ventilate efficiently and
regions with higher fiber density to form moisture barriers,
support structures, or other structures of the vents. Disclosed
vents may have integral moisture barriers, alignment tabs, special
contours for functional and aesthetic advantages, interlocking
ends, solar panel integration, ambient light admittance, and other
unique features representing enhancements and improvements over
traditional Rotter style fiber mesh ridge vents. These and other
aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosed ridge vent
configurations 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
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mesh ridge vent having a
central fold notch formed there to facilitate accurate folding of
the ridge vent along its center line.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an end view of a mesh ridge vent having a central
space flanked by mesh material.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mesh ridge vent formed
with lateral slots allowing the ridge vent to be used on metal
roofs having standing seams.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mesh ridge vent with an
upper surface contoured to resemble ridge cap shingles.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an end view of a mesh ridge vent having relatively
more dense edges and a relatively less dense central portion.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mesh ridge vent with an
upper surface contoured to receive ridge cap shingles.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mesh ridge vent having a
depending tab sized to fit into a ridge slot to align and secure
the ridge vent.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mesh ridge vent having
depending tabs sized to fit into a ridge slot and to accommodate a
ridge beam.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a mesh ridge vent contoured
to form outboard wind baffles.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a section of mesh ridge
vent contoured on its ends to interface with like ridge vent
sections.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of two sections of the
mesh ridge vent of FIG. 10 joined together at their ends.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of two mesh ridge vent
sections joined at their ends with alternate interlocking end
configurations.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a mesh ridge vent with
exposed solar energy collectors arrayed along its upper
surface.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a mesh ridge vent formed
with openings for admitting light that may then be directed into a
home.
[0021] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a roof deck mat made of
mesh material for ventilating and cooling a roof deck.
[0022] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
a roof deck mat made of mesh material for ventilating and cooling a
roof deck.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Reference will now be made in more detail to the drawing
figures, which illustrate a variety of ridge vent and deck cover
configurations according to the invention. The disclosed products
incorporate air permeable portions formed from a sheet, strip, or
mat constructed of randomly aligned synthetic fibers that are open
and blended; randomly aligned into a web by airflow, air-laid
techniques, needling techniques, or other means; joined by phenolic
or latex binding agents; and heat cured to produce an air-permeable
mat. Such a mat is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,579 of Rotter
entitled Roof Vent of Synthetic Fiber Matting. This patent is
hereby incorporated fully by reference. The terms mat, mesh,
fibrous mesh, and similar terms may be used throughout this
disclosure to refer to air permeable fibrous mats.
[0024] The various ridge vents and deck cover configurations
disclosed herein also contemplate a fibrous mat in which selected
portions of the mat are formed with a relatively higher fiber
density and other portions of the mat are formed with a relatively
lower fiber density. Varying fiber density within fibrous mats can
be achieved in a number of known ways such as through needling
techniques and/or covering or exposing, as needed, classification
apertures in the distribution devices of an air-laid system, or by
the use of air streams, water jets, and the like to move fibers to
desired locations before the binder is applied and/or cured.
Regardless of the technique, the result can be a fibrous mat with
higher fiber density in some portions of the mat and lower fiber
density in other portions. Some of these fabrication techniques
also can be used to create structures such as notches, channels,
support features, wind baffles, and the like as a part of the
fabrication process.
[0025] The term "moisture barrier" will be used in the detailed
description below to refer to a layer or layers of material on or
in a fibrous mat that are substantially impervious to water or
moisture. This term should be understood to encompass any structure
or structures that can be used to prevent penetration of water
including, without limitation, a coating of water resistant
material applied by spraying, rolling, calendaring, or otherwise
onto a fibrous mat; a membrane attached, affixed, bonded, or
adhered to the fibrous mat; a layer of high fiber density on or in
the mat; a layer of fibers containing sufficient amounts of resins
to close the spaces between the fibers; a water impervious mat of
fibers adhered or otherwise fixed to an underlying air permeable
fibrous mat; and any other structure or material that forms a
barrier to the entry of moisture. For the sake of clarity and
brevity, the term "moisture barrier" when used below is intended to
encompass any and all of these structures, materials, and
techniques for substantially preventing the passage of water and
moisture, whether used alternatively or in combination with each
other.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a ridge vent 21 comprising an air
permeable mat 22 having a moisture barrier 26 forming the top or
exposed surface of the ridge vent. A longitudinally extending notch
28 is formed in the mat 22 extending generally along the centerline
of the ridge vent 21. The notch 28 is generally V-shaped in the
illustrated embodiment, but may be of any other useful shape as
needed. The notch 28 divides the mat 22 into first and second
sections 23 on either side of the notch. The notch 28 facilitates
the bending of the ridge vent 21 along its center line for
installation along the ridge of a roof covering a ridge slot. The
notch 28 can be formed by cutting the mat during fabrication, by
attaching the first and second sections 23 to the moisture barrier
26 as separate pieces, or by modifying the needling or air-laying
process or using air or fluid jets to displace fibers during
fabrication so that fibers are not present in the area of the
notch.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a lateral cross sectional view of a ridge vent 31
having a moisture barrier 32 and a pair of fiber mesh strips 34 and
36 depending therefrom. An open gap 37 is defined between the mesh
strips and this open gap overlies a ridge slot when the ridge vent
31 is installed along the ridge of a roof. The mesh strips 34 and
36 may be attached to the moisture barrier 32 by any appropriate
means such as, for example, a peel-and-stick membrane 33 as shown
in the illustrated embodiment. If the moisture barrier 32 is a
layer of dense fibers, it may be adhered with adhesive or may be
formed as a unitary layer during the air-laid or other process used
to fabricate the ridge vent 31.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ridge vent 41 having a
moisture barrier 42 and a pair of mesh strips 44 and 46 depending
from the edge portions of the moisture barrier. An open gap is
formed between the mesh strips 44 and 46 as in the embodiment of
FIG. 2 and overlies a ridge slot when the ridge vent 41 is
installed. Laterally extending depressions or notches 47 are formed
in the mesh strips 44 and 46. In this embodiment, the lateral
notches are generally curved in shape, but this is not a limitation
and they may be otherwise configured. The ridge vent 41 is
configured to be installed along the ridge of a tin or metal roof
having upstanding ridges or standing seams. The laterally extending
notches 47 are spaced, sized, and configured to fit over and rest
against the ridges or standing seams to form a barrier against
windblown rain and vermin. In the illustrated example, the moisture
barrier 42 is formed of a layer of dense fibers and binders that
prevent penetration of water.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a ridge vent 51 formed of an
air permeable fiber mesh material 52. The mesh material 52 is
shaped on its underside during the fabrication process to define a
pair of depending legs separated by a gap 53. The gap 53 overlies a
ridge slot when the ridge vent 51 is installed along the ridge of a
roof. The upper side of the mesh material 52 is formed during
fabrication to define a series of sloped lands 56 and risers 57.
The lands 56 are covered with a moisture barrier 55, but the mesh
material 52 is left exposed on the risers 57. When the ridge vent
51 is installed along the ridge of a roof, the gap 53 overlies a
ridge slot formed along the ridge and the lands and risers mimic
the look of ridge cap shingles installed along the ridge. Thus,
ridge cap shingles need not be installed atop the ridge vent as is
the case with traditional mesh ridge vents; although ridge cap
shingles may be installed. If installed, one edge of each ridge cap
shingle preferably overhangs the riser of its land to help shield
the riser from windblown rain and the like. Further, heated air
from the attic space below can rise through convection into the gap
53 from where it can vent to ambience both laterally along the
edges of the ridge vent and longitudinally through the risers 57 of
the ridge vent, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4. Improved
ventilation and appearance are thus aspects of the ridge vent
configuration of FIG. 4.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a lateral cross section of a ridge vent 61 of
another configuration. The ridge vent 61 has a moisture barrier 67
from which a fiber mesh mat 62 depends. The mesh mat 62 is
continuous across the width of the ridge vent, but is formed during
fabrication with a relatively less dense central portion 63 and
relatively more dense edge portions 64. The relatively less dense
central portion 63 is less resistant to the flow of hot air from an
attic space below while the relatively more dense portions 64 allow
the air to escape to ambience while preventing windblown rain and
insects from entering the attic through the ridge vent. As
described above, the different fiber densities of the mesh mat 62
may be formed through any of a variety of techniques including
needling techniques, air-laid techniques, blowing techniques, or
combinations thereof.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a ridge vent 71 that
embodies principles of the invention disclosed herein in yet
another configuration. The ridge vent 71 comprises a mesh mat 72
that is shaped and configured during fabrication to define on its
underside a gap 73 flanked by a pair of depending edges portions.
When installed, the gap 73 overlies a ridge slot formed along the
ridge of a roof and the depending edge portions rest on the
shingles of the roof to each side of the ridge slot. The upper
surface of the mesh mat 72 is formed to define a series of sloped
lands 77 that extend to exposed edge portions 78. A slot 79 is
formed between the edge portion 78 of each land and the top surface
of the next land. The exposed surfaces of the lands 77 may have a
moisture barrier 76 formed on or fixed thereto, but such a moisture
barrier is not a requirement. During installation, the ridge vent
71 is rolled out along the ridge of a roof and positioned such that
the gap 73 overlies a ridge slot formed along the roof ridge. The
ridge vent 71 can then be attached to the roof deck with fasteners
driven through the edge portions of the vent and into the roof deck
below. Ridge cap shingles can be installed by sliding each ridge
cap shingle into a corresponding slot 79, temporarily bending back
the overlying edge portion 78, and installing roofing nails through
the ridge cap shingle and into the roof deck below. The edge
portion can then be laid back down to overlie the edge of the ridge
cap shingle and hide the nails with which the ridge cap shingle was
installed.
[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates a contoured ridge vent of another
configuration according to aspects of the disclosure. The ridge
vent 81 comprises a moisture barrier 82 from which a fiber mesh mat
83 depends. The mesh mat 83 is contoured during fabrication to
define air permeable edge portions 84 and 85 and a depending
central plug 86. If desired, the central plug may comprise a region
of relatively lower fiber density and the edge portions may
comprise regions of relatively higher fiber density. The central
plug 86 is sized to extend into a ridge slot formed along the ridge
of a roof when the ridge vent 81 is installed along the ridge. In
this way, the central plug fills the ridge slot and insures that
the ridge vent 81 is properly positioned and centered along the
ridge of a roof. The configuration of FIG. 7 is designed to be used
with a roof structure that does not include a central ridge beam.
FIG. 8, on the other hand, represents the same concept for use with
a roof structure having a central ridge beam extending beneath its
ridge. More specifically, a gap 99 is formed along the depending
plug of the fiber mesh mat and this gap fits over the central ridge
beam below when the plug is extended onto a ridge slot.
[0033] FIG. 9 illustrates a ridge vent of yet another configuration
embodying aspects of the invention. The ridge vent 101 comprises a
moisture barrier 102 forming an upper surface of a mesh mat 103.
The mat 103 is formed during fabrication to define a pair of
upstanding wind baffles 104 and 106 along its outboard edges. Edge
portions of the air permeable mat 103 are exposed just inboard of
the wind baffles and heated attic air can escape from an attic
below through these exposed edge portions, as indicated by the
arrow in FIG. 9. The wind baffles 104 and 106 can be formed by any
of the methods discussed above and, as known in the art, help to
draw air out of the attic by creating vortices during a breeze. The
wind baffles 104 and 106 may comprise regions of relatively high
fiber density while the remainder of the mat 103 may comprise a
region of relatively low fiber density, also accomplished through
any of the fabrication techniques discussed above.
[0034] FIG. 10 illustrates another ridge vent that embodies aspects
of the invention. Many mesh-type ridge vents in the market are
stored and shipped in spiral rolls of long sections of vent.
However, there are some advantages to ridge vents made in
relatively short sections of, for example, 4 feet, which are
shipped stacked atop one another in boxes. Molded plastic ridge
vents generally are formed in such short sections and stacked for
shipment. FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a mesh-type ridge vent
that is made in relatively short sections that can be shipped in
stacked configurations rather than in rolled configurations. The
ridge vent section 111, which may be about 4 feet long, comprises a
mesh mat 110 topped by a substantially impervious moisture barrier
112. A first end 113 of the ridge vent section is formed with an
upwardly facing rabbet and a second end 114 of the ridge vent
section is formed with a downwardly facing rabbet. These rabbets
facilitate the joining of like ridge vent sections end-to-end along
the ridge of a roof. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, when
two ridge vent sections are joined at their ends, the downwardly
facing rabbet 114 of one section meshes with the upwardly facing
rabbet 113(a) of the other ridge vent section. This forms a shiplap
joint 116 between the two sections. Caulk or other adhesive may be
applied to the surfaces of the rabbets to join the two ridge vent
sections together with a moisture resistant joint.
[0035] FIG. 12 illustrates a ridge vent configuration similar to
that of FIGS. 10 and 11. Here, however, rather than rabbets, one
end of each ridge vent is formed with an upwardly facing interlock
having a ridge and a trough and the other end is formed with a
downwardly facing interlock having a complementary ridge and
trough. When two ridge vents are joined together end-to-end, the
ridge of the upwardly facing interlock nestles within the trough of
the downwardly facing interlock as indicated with reference numeral
119 in FIG. 12. At the same time, the ridge of the downwardly
facing interlock nestles within the trough of the upwardly facing
interlock as indicated with reference numeral 120 in FIG. 12. This
forms a more secure and better aligned joint between the two ridge
vent sections. Caulking or adhesive may be used to secure the joint
if desired, and the ridges and troughs improve the moisture
penetration resistance of the joint.
[0036] FIG. 13 illustrates a ridge vent embodying another aspect of
the invention exemplified herein. The ridge vent 121 comprises a
fiber mesh mat 122 with a moisture barrier 123 formed on the upper
surface. The mesh mat 122 may have differing fiber densities as
discussed above or may be configured or otherwise shaped in any way
such as those ways discussed above. An array of solar energy
collectors such as solar cells 124 is disposed along the upper
exposed surface of the ridge vent 121 for collecting energy from
the sun and converting that energy to electrical energy. The solar
cells 124 may be electrically coupled together with an appropriate
wiring grid contained within the moisture barrier of the ridge vent
and connections may be provided for electrically coupling a length
of solar ridge vent to a main electrical grid of a building. Solar
cells may be applied to only one half of the ridge vent 121 for
installations where a roof ridge extends east-to-west and only one
side receives sunlight. Alternatively, solar cells may be applied
to each side of the ridge vent 121 for installations where a roof
ridge extends north-to-south or is otherwise oriented so that both
sides of the ridge vent receive sunlight.
[0037] FIG. 14 illustrates another ridge vent configuration
according to aspects of the invention. The ridge vent 131 includes
an air permeable fiber mesh mat 132 having a moisture barrier 133
formed on or attached to the upper surface thereof. The mat in the
drawing is of uniform thickness, but may be formed in any
configuration with or without varying density, as described above.
Arrays of windows 134 are formed in the ridge vent 131 and
communicate therethrough. The windows 134 are rectangular in the
illustrated embodiment, but may be formed with other shapes as
needed or desired. The windows 134 function to reduce the weight of
the ridge vent 131 while not interfering with the ventilation
properties of the vent. Further, the windows admit light through
the ridge vent. This light can be captured beneath the ridge vent
and directed to the inside of a home or other structure using known
devices such as light tunnels or fiber optic lighting systems. A
transparent or translucent ridge cap or cover may be applied to the
top of the ridge vent 131 to prevent water penetration if desired
or transparent panes may be mounted in the windows for similar
purposes.
[0038] FIG. 15 illustrates a manifestation of the invention that is
not a ridge vent, but rather a ventilating roof cover to be
installed between a roof deck and roof shingles. The roof cover 141
includes a fiber mesh mat 143 having a moisture barrier 142 formed
on, attached to, or otherwise incorporated on its upper surface.
The mesh mat 143 is formed or configured with a series of
ventilation channels 144 that extend from a lower portion of a roof
deck to an upper portion of the roof deck when the roof cover is
installed as shown in FIG. 15. The roof cover is then covered with
roof shingles in the traditional manner. As the roof shingles heat
in the sun, the heat is transferred to the air within the
ventilation channels. This causes the air to flow by convection
toward the upper portion of the roof, where it can be expelled to
ambience as indicated by the upper arrow in FIG. 15. This, in turn,
draws cool air into the ventilation channels from the lower portion
of the roof as indicated by the lower arrow in FIG. 15. The result
is that the roof deck is continually ventilated and cooled, the
shingles are maintained at a lower temperature in hot sun, and less
heat is transferred to the attic space below. The fiber density of
the mesh of the roof cover is selected so that the mat supports the
weight of the shingles above and withstands installation of the
shingles.
[0039] FIG. 16 is an alternate embodiment of a roof cover for
ventilation of a roof deck exposed to the sun. The roof cover 151
includes a fiber mesh mat 153 that is formed with regions 154
having higher fiber density and regions 156 having lower fiber
density. The mesh mat 153 may have a moisture barrier on its upper
surface. The roof cover of FIG. 16 functions in a manner similar to
that of FIG. 15, except that instead of ventilation channels, the
mesh mat has regions of lower fiber density extending from a lower
portion of the roof to an upper portion of the roof. The regions of
higher fiber density support the roof cover and weight of shingles
above while the regions of lower fiber density allow for the
relatively free flow of ventilation air beneath the roof cover as
indicated by the arrows in FIG. 16.
[0040] The invention has been described herein in terms of
preferred embodiments and methodologies considered by the inventors
to represent the best modes of carrying out the invention. It will
be understood by the skilled artisan; however, that a wide range of
additions, deletions, and modifications, both subtle and gross, may
be made to the illustrated and exemplary embodiments without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in
the claims.
* * * * *