Sealable ridge vent for tile roof

Abstract

A vent suitable for a tiled roof and including a vent member and a sealing member, the sealing member including a pleated, malleable material. The sealing member conforms to the uneven surface of the roof and seals the vent and roof from ingress of precipitation, particulates, and insects, while allowing the building to be ventilated. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to, and hereby incorporates by reference, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/739,822, filed 23 Nov. 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to roof vents and, in particular, this invention relates to vents for tiled roofs.

BACKGROUND

Adequate ventilation is necessary to ensure that the structural materials and roofs is not degraded by the presence of condensed moisture and the presence of wind blown precipitation, insects, particulates, and the like. However, tiled roofs have presented a particular challenge when vents are installed because the contours of tiled roofs are generally undulating with crests and troughs therein. To this end, it has often been necessary to install materials such as foam or the like beneath the vents, such that the foam will fill the contours presented by the tiles. Other materials, such as mortar, blown insulation, or expanding foams have also been used. However, these materials involve extra time and are often inefficient, expensive to install. In addition to being inefficient and adding extra expense, the materials used often degrade due to exposure to sunlight and weathering.

There is then a need for a vent with a feature conforming to the undulating contour of a tiled roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry by providing a vent with a feature conforming to the undulating contour of a tiled roof.

This invention provides a venting device for a tiled roof, the venting device comprising a vent member and a sealing member, the sealing member including a malleable material, capable of being configured and sealed to the undulations of the tiled roof.

It is a feature of the instant vent that the sealing member folds between a position substantially beneath the vent member and a position wherein a portion of the sealing member is substantially outboard the vent member. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the sealing member, when folded inwardly, occupies a minimum volume for efficient and economic storage and transport.

It is yet another feature of the instant vent that a portion of the sealing member may be configured between a folded and an unfolded configuration. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the sealing member may be folded for transportation and storage, then unfolded to be configured to, and seal, an undulating roof.

It is yet another feature of the instant vent that the sealing member has an undulating, convoluted configuration. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the sealing member can accommodate a convoluted roof configuration when portions of the convoluted sealing member are unfolded, or straightened, when being pressed against, or conformed to, the roof.

It is yet another feature of the instant vent that the sealing member is configurable to individual roof contours. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the instant vent may be configured to roof contours, which are not uniform. It is another advantage of the foregoing feature that the instant vent may be installed on roofs having non-identical opposing slopes, e.g., due to errors during installation.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, when considered in view of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the instant sealable tile ridge roof vent with the sealing members in an extended configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 1 with the sealing members in a folded configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 1 with one of the sealing members partially unfolded.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 1 showing an enlarged view of the partially unfolded sealing member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 1 showing an enlarged view of the folded sealing member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sealing member of the roof vent of FIG. 1 in a partially unfolded configuration.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the sealing member of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the sealing member of FIG. 6 in a folded configuration.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 1 being installed on a tiled roof.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 1 installed on a tiled roof.

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 1 installed on a tiled roof.

FIG. 12 is yet another perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 1 installed on a tiled roof, cap tiles disposed over the roof vent.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the instant roof vent in a partially unfolded configuration.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of lateral edges of the instant vent member and instant sealing member in an extended configuration.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 1, depicting the sealing member in an unfolded configuration.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of one embodiment of the three-ply material used in the manufacture of the vent member of this invention.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the three-ply material used in the manufacture of the vent member of this invention.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of an embodiment of a two-ply material used in the manufacture of the vent member of this invention.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary plan view depicting one method of defining the top and vent panels of the vent member of this invention.

FIG. 20 is a side view depicting one method of assembling the vent member of this invention.

FIG. 21 is plan view depicting another method of defining the top and vent panels of this invention.

FIG. 22 is a side view depicting another method of assembling the vent member of this invention.

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another embodiment of the vent member of this invention.

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary perspective view depicting yet another embodiment of the vent member of this invention.

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view showing still another embodiment of the vent member of this invention.

It is understood that the above-described figures are only illustrative of the present invention and are not contemplated to limit the scope thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used to practice the invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, dimensions, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Any references to such relative terms as front and back, right and left, top and bottom, upper and lower, horizontal and vertical, or the like, are intended for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the present invention or its components to any one positional or spatial orientation.

Each of the additional features and methods disclosed herein may be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and methods to provide improved devices of this invention and methods for making and using the same. The following description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, specific combinations of features and methods disclosed in the following detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative embodiments of the invention. Thus, a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that individual components shown on various embodiments of the present invention are interchangeable to some extent and may be added or interchanged on other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Referring to the figures, a sealable vent for a tile roof ridge of this invention is indicated generally at 100 and includes a vent member 102 and a sealing member 104 extending from one of or each lateral edge of the vent member 102. FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a pair of sealing members present and FIG. 3 depicts a single sealing member attached to the second vent 114.

One embodiment of the vent member 102 is a top panel 110 attached to respective first and second vents 112 and 114 in a generally overlaying manner. The vents 112, 114, in turn, may be made from a plurality of vent panels 116 disposed in a parallel, generally contacting relation. A filtering fabric 118 may also be present. If present, the filtering fabric 118 may be attached to the vent member 102 so that an airflow egressing from a building through the vent member 102 must flow through the filtering fabric 118 before egressing the vent member 102. In the embodiment depicted, lateral ends of the filtering fabric 118 are attached to lower surfaces of the bottom-most vent panels 116. Air exchange is effected through airflow passages 120 formed from the corrugated material of the top panel 110, vent panels 116 and from a route 122 formed generally axially and longitudinally in the top panel 110. This and other exemplary and suitable vent members are disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,354, hereby incorporated by reference.

The sealing member 104, in the embodiment shown, is attached to the lower vent panel 116 of each first and second vent 112, 114 by an adhesive strip 130, e.g., including butyl adhesive. The sealing member 104 may be made from a malleable metal, such as aluminum or the like with a thickness providing the requisite malleability, resilience, and resistance to weathering. However, materials such as synthetic resins and fabrics having the requisite stiffness, malleability, stretch characteristics (e.g., “memory,” rubberized), and resistance to weathering and sunlight may be suitable for other embodiments. In the embodiment depicted, the sealing member 104 includes a folded section 132 and a sealing section 134 and is fashioned from a pleated or a corrugated material having wave-like convolutions 136 which may be characterized as having a trough 138, a crest 140, and a period or wavelength 144. Layers 145 of the folded section 132 are defined by creases 146, a crease 146 also separating the folded section 132 from the sealing section 134. Each crease 146 is formed by crushing the corrugated material axially, so as to flatten the troughs 138 and crests 140 along a generally longitudinal line.

An adhesive strip 148 is present on the lower surface of the lateral edge of each sealing section 134 and a strip of a release material 150 overlays the adhesive strip 148. The adhesive of the adhesive strip 148 may be made from a material such as butyl adhesive and the release material may comprise materials such as paper or a synthetic resin, optionally with a release material such as silicone.

The sealing member 104, after being creased and folded as described above, is attached to lateral edges of the first and second vent panels 112, 114 by means of applying the adhesive strip 130, e.g. about 2.54 cm wide and 0.1778 mm thick. The adhesive strip 148 may be applied to a lower surface of the sealing section 134 in an axial band, e.g., about 2.22 cm wide and about 4.76 mm thick. FIG. 1 shows the instant roof vent with the sealing sections 134 unfolded in a position to be configured to the contours of a tile roof. FIG. 2 shows the instant roof vent with the sealing sections 134 in a folded position suitable for storage or transport.

In use, the sealing members 104 of the roof ventilator 100 are folded outwardly as depicted in FIGS. 1, 9, 13, 14 and 15 and placed over the ridge of a tile roof 160 having slits along one or both sides of the roof ridge. The tile roof 160 includes a plurality of tiles 162, each tile 162 having a crest 164 and a trough 166. The release material 150 is separated from the adhesive strip 148. Portions of the sealing section 134 are then pressed against the tile from the configuration shown in FIG. 9 to the configurations shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, thereby “expanding” the sealing section 134 and adhering the sealing section 134 to the contours of the tile 162. Notably, portions of the corrugations in the sealing section 134 are unfolded to allow the sealing section 134 to “stretch” so that so that the sealing section 134 contacts and adheres to the tile troughs 166, as well as the crests 164, of the tiles 162, thereby completely sealing the undulating, tiled roof beneath the instant vent from precipitation, wind-blown particulate ingress, and invading fauna, such as insects. The instant vent may then be further secured as desired, then a cap tile 168 may be installed over the instant vent as shown in FIG. 12. Thusly positioned, the instant vent is hidden from view by the cap tile 168, yet allows air to egress the ventilated building, while preventing ingressing moisture, insects, and particulates via the applied sealing section 134.

Referring to FIG. 16, one exemplary material which may be used to construct the vent member of this invention is a three-ply material 180, which is weatherproof and resistant to UV radiation in some embodiments. The material 180 depicted in FIG. 16 has first planar plies 182 and 184 and a second convoluted (fluted) ply 186 joined to the planar plies 182 and 184 to define the airflow passages 120. An alternative three-ply material is shown at 188 in FIG. 17 and includes first planar plies 190 and 192 and a second ply 194. In the embodiment shown, the second ply 194 includes a series of cross-walls 196 extending generally transversely (e.g., perpendicular) to the planar plies 190 and 192 to define the airflow passages 120. Referring to FIG. 18, a two-ply material 198 is shown having a first planar ply 200 and a second convoluted (fluted) ply 202. The first ply 200 and second ply 202 are joined together to form the airflow passages 120. Moreover, when two or more layers of the two-ply material are folded such that the convoluted plies 202 generally face and contact each other, another multiplicity of air passages 120 is formed therebetween. The foregoing materials 180, 188, and 198 may be formed from a high density polyethylene or other synthetic resin. However, these weatherproof materials may also be formed from corrugated paper board coated with a sealant such as an epoxy to protect the paper board from deterioration due to moisture and similar elements. In addition to being impervious to moisture, suitable materials may also resist deterioration from exposure to solar radiation and heat. Such corrugated polyethylene shown may be obtained from U.S. Corrulite, Inc., South Bay, Fla., Diversi-Plast Products, Inc. Golden Valley, Minn., and Fremont Direct Products, Ind. Fremont, Ohio.

FIG. 19 shows the vent member 102 of this invention may be formed from a unitary sheet 204. Sheet 204 is formed, e.g., from the above-described materials. A series of cut score lines 206 and 208 defined in the top panel 110 and vent panels 210, 212, and 214. The score lines 206 and 208, in the embodiment depicted, extend generally parallel to a longitudinal axis 216. FIG. 22 depicts the top panel 110 and vent panel 210 as being formed by extending the slit 206 in the first planar ply 182 and at least partially through the convoluted ply 186. The intermediate vent panel 212 is laterally adjacent the first formed vent panel 210 and is partially defined along the score line 208. The score line 208 is formed by extending the slit to the other first planar ply 184 and at least partially through the convoluted ply 186. Finally, intermediate panel 212 and a flanking panel 214 are defined completely by extending the score line 206 as described above. Having been defined by the score lines 206 and 208, the panels 210, 212, and 214 may be folded under the top panel 110 in a Z-fold technique.

Fasteners, such as staples 228, may then be placed into the top panel 110 and extended through each of the vent panels 210, 212 and 214 to secure the vent panels in place with respect to the top panel 110. FIG. 19 depicts one embodiment of the vent member of this invention as having a route 218 coextensive with the longitudinal axis 260. The route 218 may be defined on a lower surface 229 of the top panel 110 by removing a generally linear portion of the first planar ply 184 and an underlying portion of the second ply 186. The route 218 formed thusly may be generally arcuate in cross section. However, other cross-sectional confirmations are possible. For example, one alternate cross-sectional geometry may be generally square or rectangular. Any of the route geometries achieved may define interior openings for the air passages 120 in the top panel 110. These interior openings for the air passages 120 in the top panel 110 enable airflow in addition to the air passages in the vent panels 210, 212, and 214. The route defined in the top panel 110 also functions to allow this embodiment of the vent member of this invention to be folded easily and precisely along the longitudinal axis 216 during installation for conformance to the contours of a roof, e.g., at the ridge thereof.

FIG. 21 depicts an alternative method of forming the vent member 102, hence top panel 110 and vent panels 210, 212, and 214 from the sheet 204. As in the case with the score lines 206 and 208, perforated lines 222 extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 216. However, in contrast to the score lines 206 and 208, perforated lines 222 are formed by a series of perforations 224 extending through the plies 182, 184, and 186. Interspersed between the perforations 224 are intact areas 226. The perforated lines 222, hence the perforations 224, thus define the top panel 110 and vent panels 210, 212, and 214. The perforations 224 further define exterior openings for the airflow passages 120. Once formed, the vent panels 210, 212, and 214 may be Z-folded under the top panel 110 as described above and may be secured together by means of a fastener, such as a staple, in a manner described above as well.

Referring to FIG. 22, yet another alternate method of forming the vent member 102 is depicted, in which the top panel 110 and vent panels 210, 212, and 214 are defined by being completely severed from the unitary sheet 204. Once severed, the vent panels 210, 212, and 214 may be stacked beneath the top panel 110 and secured thereto by means of fasteners, such as staples 228, or by equivalent means such as adhesives. Also depicted are additional vent panels 230 and 232 to demonstrate by illustration and not limitation that any number of vent panels may be present in various embodiments of the vent member of this invention. As formed by each of the methods described above, once assembled, the vent member of this invention, as described above, includes a top panel and one or more vent panels in a fixed, stacked, and contacting relation.

Another alternative suitable for some embodiments of the vent member of this invention is shown in FIG. 23 at 234 and includes first plies 236 and 238 and a second ply 240. The first plies 236 in 238 maybe planar or convoluted, depending upon the contour of the surface to which the vent member will be affixed. The second ply 240 may be a matting of individual filaments 241 of a plastic (synthetic resin) polymeric material, which may be resistant to degradation when exposed to precipitation, heat, and solar radiation. These filaments may include a nylon or other polymers. In contrast to the defined and discrete airflow passages described above, the filaments of this embodiment define intersecting and non-discrete airflow passages, which allow egress of air from buildings being vented by the vent of this invention.

In FIG. 24 another embodiment of the vent member of this invention is depicted generally at 242. The vent member 242 includes at least one first, generally planar ply 244. The first ply 244 is medially divided by a hinge 246 to enable the vent member 242 to easily conform to an apex or ridge line of a roof. Also included is a second ply 248. Not shown but present in some embodiments is a second first ply 244 which overlays the second ply 248. One of the first plies attaches to the sealing member of this invention in a manner similar to that described above. The second ply includes rows of spacer elements 250 proximate each lateral edge and a matting 252 disposed between two of the rows of spacer elements. The matting 252 may include the plastic (synthetic resin) filaments described above.

Referring to FIG. 25, another embodiment of the vent member of this invention is indicated at 254. The vent member 254 may be formed as a single-sheet, open work mat or web 256 of randomly convoluted polymeric (synthetic resin) filaments. The mat 256 has a longitudinal medial hinge or centerline 258 dividing the mat 256 into a pair of substantially identical, longitudinally-extending lateral flaps, or side portions 260 and 262, which, during installation, may be disposed at an angle to conform to a roof ridge. The mat 256 may have a substantially planar upper surface 264 and a substantially planar roof confronting lower surface 266. A plurality of cusps, or hollow spacer elements, 268 may be disposed in a plurality of longitudinal rows extending throughout the longitudinal flaps 260 and 262. Each cusp 268 projects downwardly from the upper surface 264 and has a basal portion 270, which may be co-planar with the upper face 264 and an apex portion 272 a spaced distance therefrom. The apex portions 272 form the roof confronting surface 266 of the mat 256. The cusps 44 space the face 264 of the mat 256 from the roof to provide of ventilation passageways therebetween. A strip of air permeable filter material 274 may be secured to the roof confronting surface 266 of the mat 256. The filter 274 permits air to egress the structure, while preventing insects, rain, snow, blowing foreign objects, and the like from ingress. The sealing members 104 may be attached to lateral portions of the filter 274. In some embodiments, a continuous length of filter material 274 is thermally or adhesively bonded to the apex portions 272 of the cusps 268 and may extend to the edge flanges 276 and 278 of the lateral flaps 260 and 262. Because the edge flanges 276 and 278 are substantially co-planar with the upper surface 264 of the mat 256 in this embodiment, weather and insects are prevented from ingress. The filter material 274 may also extend over, and cover, the slot formed in the roof so that insects or other foreign objects cannot ingress through the slot. The filtered material 274 may be a sheet-like fabric, such as non-woven polyester nylon or other synthetic resins. Alternatively, the filter material to be formed from needle-punched non-woven material, metal mesh screens, or the like, which would provide permeability through small spaces in their structures. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily comprehend that suitable synthetic resins for the components described herein may be selected from Handbook of Plastics, Elastomers, and Composites, Third Edition, Charles A. Harper, Editor in Chief, McGraw-Hill, New York (1996), hereby incorporated by reference.

The upper surface 264 of the mat 256 may be reinforced adjacent nail lines 280 and 282. Each nail line 280 and 282 extends in a longitudinal direction on one of lateral flap 262 and 264, respectively, and maybe located at a spaced distance from the centerline hinge 258 and edge flanges 276 and 278. The mat 256 may be reinforced with one or more strips of nail line reinforcement material 284, which may be bonded to the upper surface 264 of the mat 256. The nail line reinforcement material may be a sheet-like fabric material, such as non-woven nylon polyester, an elastomeric material, or other synthetic resin.

Because numerous modifications of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A ventilating device for a building with a roof, comprising:

a vent member allowing an airflow to egress the building therethrough;

at least one sealing member attached to the vent member; and

conformable to the contours of the roof and sealably attachable to the roof.

2. The ventilating device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of sealing members are attached to the vent member.

3. The ventilating device of claim 1, in which the vent member comprises a top panel, first vent, and second vent, each of the sealing members attached to a lower surface of one of the first and second vents.

4. The ventilating device of claim 3, further comprising a filtering fabric attached to said vent member.

5. The ventilating device of claim 3, further comprising a filtering fabric attached to the first and second vents.

6. The ventilating device of claim 3, in which a generally axial route is formed on an underside of the top panel.

7. The ventilating device of claim 1, wherein the sealing member comprises aluminum, synthetic resin, or fabric.

8. The ventilating device of claim 1, wherein the sealing member is generally convoluted.

9. The ventilating device of claim 1, in which the vent member comprises a weather proof material.

10. The ventilating device of claim 9, in which the vent member comprises a pair of first generally planar plies and a second ply disposed between the first plies to define a multiplicity of airflow passages.

11. The ventilating device of claim 10, in which the second ply is generally convoluted.

12. The ventilating device of claim 10, in which the second ply comprises a multiplicity of cross plies extending transversely between the first plies.

13. The ventilating device of claim 12, in which the cross plies extend generally perpendicularly to the first plies.

14. The ventilating device of claim 10, in which the second ply comprises a random mat of fibers.

15. The ventilating device of claim 14, in which the second ply further comprises a plurality of spacers disposed in rows.

16. A tiled roof, in combination with the ventilating device of claim 1, the ventilating device of claim 1 installed proximate the ridge of said tiled roof.

17. The combination of claim 16, in which the ventilating device is disposed over a pair of openings formed proximate the ridge of the tiled roof.

18. A method of manufacturing a vent for a roof, comprising:

forming a vent member; and

attaching a sealing member to the vent member, the sealing member including a generally malleable convoluted material and an adhesive layer present proximate a lateral edge thereof.

19. The method of claim 18, in which the vent member is formed from a weatherproof material comprising first and second plies defining a plurality of discrete airflow passages.

20. The method of claim 18, in which the vent member is formed from a weatherproof material comprising a pair of first plies and a second ply disposed between the first plies and defining a multiplicity of discrete airflow passages.

21. The method of claim 20, in which the second ply is generally convoluted or comprises a multiplicity of cross plies.

22. The method of claim 20, in which the second ply comprises a matting of filaments and in which the airflow passages are non-discrete.

23. A method of installing a vent on a tiled roof, comprising:

installing the ventilating device of claim 1 over an opening in said tiled roof, and

conforming and sealing said sealing member to the contours of the tiled roof.