Attic Soffit Ventilation System
An attic soffit ventilation system configured to enable ventilation of a building having an attic and a soffit is provided. The system comprises a vent attached over an opening in the soffit. The vent has a vent flange that extends through the soffit opening. The vent is configured to allow air from an area exterior to the building to enter through the soffit. A flow conduit is provided having a lower portion, an extension portion and an attic aperture. The lower portion is configured to align with and connect to the vent flange. The extension portion of the flow conduit extends into the attic to the extent that the attic aperture is positioned in a non-insulated attic space. Air from the area exterior to the building can flow though the vent and through the flow conduit to the attic space.
The present invention relates generally to building construction materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to building construction materials used in the ventilation of building attics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBuildings, such as for example residential buildings, are typically covered by a sloped roof. The interior portion of the building located directly below the sloped roof forms a space called an attic. If unventilated, condensation can form on the interior surfaces within the attic. The condensation can cause damage to various building components within the attic, such as for example insulation, as well as potentially causing damage to the building structure of the attic. Accordingly, it is known to ventilate attics thereby helping to prevent the formation of condensation. One example of a method of ventilating an attic includes the positioning of ridge vents at the roof ridge, which is the intersection of the uppermost sloping roof planes. The ridge vents cooperate with eave vents, positioned in the eaves, to allow a flow of air to enter the eave vents, travel through a space between adjoining roof rafters to the attic, travel through the attic and exit through the ridge vents. Some buildings include insulation horizontally positioned on the lower portion of the attic formed by ceiling joists. The positioning of the insulation can result in the space between adjoining roof rafters being blocked, thereby substantially preventing the flow of air from the eaves to the attic.
It would be advantageous if an attic ventilation system could cooperate with insulation positioned in the space between adjoining roof rafters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to this invention there is provided an attic soffit ventilation system configured to enable ventilation of a building having an attic and a soffit. The system comprises a vent attached over an opening in the soffit. The vent has a vent flange that extends through the soffit opening. The vent is configured to allow air from an area exterior to the building to enter through the soffit. A flow conduit is provided having a lower portion, an extension portion and an attic aperture. The lower portion is configured to align with and connect to the vent flange. The extension portion of the flow conduit extends into the attic to the extent that the attic aperture is positioned in a non-insulated attic space. Air from the area exterior to the building can flow through the vent and through the flow conduit to the attic space.
According to this invention there is also provided an attic soffit ventilation system configured to enable ventilation of a building having an attic and a soffit. The system comprises a vent attached over an opening in the soffit. The vent is configured to allow air from an area exterior to the building to enter through the soffit. A flow conduit is provided having a lower portion, an extension portion and an attic aperture. The lower portion is positioned above vent. The extension portion of the flow conduit extends into the attic to the extent that the attic aperture is positioned in a non-insulated attic space. Air from the area exterior to the building can flow through the vent and through the flow conduit to the attic space.
According to this invention there is also provided a method of enabling ventilation of a building having an attic and a soffit. The method comprises the steps of providing a soffit opening in the soffit, providing a flow conduit having a lower portion, an extension portion and an attic aperture, urging the flow conduit through the soffit opening and into the attic to the extent that the attic aperture is positioned in a non-insulated attic space, providing a vent, the vent having a vent flange; and attaching the vent to the soffit such that the vent flange extends through the soffit opening and connects to the lower portion of the flow conduit. Air from an area exterior to the building can flow through the vent and through the flow conduit to the attic space.
According to this invention there is also provided a flow conduit configured to enable ventilation of a building having an attic and a soffit. The flow conduit comprises a lower portion positioned above an opening in the soffit. A transition portion is connected to the lower portion. An extension portion connected to the transition portion and including an attic aperture. The extension portion of the flow conduit extends into the attic to the extent that the attic aperture is positioned in a non-insulated attic space. Air from the area exterior to the building can flow through the opening in the soffit and through the flow conduit to the attic space.
Various objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
The interior room 14 has an exterior wall 20. The exterior wall 20 is formed by the assembly of an interior wall covering 22, wall frame 24 and an exterior wall covering 26. The exterior wall 20 is configured to separate the interior room 14 from an outdoor area 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the interior wall covering 22 is made of drywall. In other embodiments, the interior wall covering 22 can be made of other suitable materials. In the illustrated embodiment, the exterior wall covering provides a protective and aesthetically pleasing covering to the sides of the building 12. The exterior wall covering 26 can be made of any suitable materials, such as for example brick, wood, or vinyl siding, sufficient to provide a protective and aesthetically pleasing covering to the sides of the building 12. The wall frame 24 provides a support for other construction materials. In the illustrated embodiment, the wall frame 24 is made from wood studs connected into a framework. Alternatively, the wall frame 24 can be made from other materials, such as for example metal studs, sufficient to provide a support for other construction materials. While the exterior wall 20 illustrated in
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Insulation 40 is installed in the attic space 16 over the ceiling 32 to insulate the interior room 14 of the building 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the insulation 40 is loosefil insulation. The loosefil insulation is made of glass fibers although other mineral fibers, organic fibers and cellulose fibers can be used. In one embodiment, the loosefil insulation 40 is distributed over the ceiling 32 by a blowing wool distribution machine that feeds the blowing wool pneumatically through a distribution hose. In other embodiments, the loosefil insulation 40 can be distributed by other suitable methods. In yet other embodiments, the insulation 40 can be other forms of insulation, such as for example blankets or bats, sufficient to insulate the interior room 14 of the building 12.
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As discussed above, it is desirable to provide ventilation from the outdoor area 28, through the eaves interior space 50, through the rafter opening 58 and into the attic space 16, as illustrated by the direction arrows in
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In other embodiments (not shown), the covering mechanism can be any device, structure or mechanism, such as for example a sliding extendable collar having a cover plate, sufficient to provide ready penetration of the insulation 40 and simultaneously substantially preventing insulation from entering the attic aperture.
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The principles and mode of operation of this invention have been described in its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the attic ventilation system may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope.
Claims
1. An attic soffit ventilation system configured to enable ventilation of a building having an attic and a soffit, the system comprising:
- a vent attached over an opening in the soffit, the vent having a vent flange extending through the soffit opening, the vent configured to allow air from an area exterior to the building to enter through the soffit; and
- a flow conduit having a lower portion, an extension portion and an attic aperture, the lower portion configured to align with and connect to the vent flange, the extension portion of the flow conduit extending into the attic to the extent that the attic aperture is positioned in a non-insulated attic space;
- wherein air from the area exterior to the building can flow through the vent and through the flow conduit to the attic space.
2. The system of claim 1 in which vent flange has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
3. The system of claim 1 in which the flow conduit includes an insertion portion connected to the extension portion.
4. The system of claim 3 in which the insertion portion of the flow conduit includes a covering mechanism.
5. The system of claim 4 in which the covering mechanism has a substantially conical shape.
6. The system of claim 4 in which the covering mechanism is connected to the insertion portion of the flow conduit by spacers.
7. The system of claim 6 in which the spacers form a gap between the covering mechanism and the insertion portion of the flow conduit.
8. The system of claim 4 in which the covering mechanism is connected to the insertion portion by a screen.
9. The system of claim 1 in which the lower portion of the flow conduit has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
10. The system of claim 1 in which the flow conduit includes a screen positioned over the attic aperture.
11. An attic soffit ventilation system configured to enable ventilation of a building having an attic and a soffit, the system comprising:
- a vent attached over an opening in the soffit, the vent configured to allow air from an area exterior to the building to enter through the soffit; and
- a flow conduit having a lower portion, an extension portion and an attic aperture, the lower portion positioned above vent, the extension portion of the flow conduit extending into the attic to the extent that the attic aperture is positioned in a non-insulated attic space;
- wherein air from the area exterior to the building can flow through the vent and through the flow conduit to the attic space.
12. The system of claim 11 in which the flow conduit includes an insertion portion connected to the extension portion.
13. The system of claim 12 in which the insertion portion of the flow conduit includes a covering mechanism.
14. The system of claim 13 in which the covering mechanism has a substantially conical shape.
15. The system of claim 13 in which the covering mechanism is connected to the insertion portion of the flow conduit by spacers.
16. The system of claim 15 in which the spacers form a gap between the covering mechanism and the insertion portion of the flow conduit.
17. The system of claim 13 in which the covering mechanism is connected to the insertion portion by a screen.
18. A method of enabling ventilation of a building having an attic and a soffit, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a soffit opening in the soffit;
- providing a flow conduit having a lower portion, an extension portion and an attic aperture;
- urging the flow conduit through the soffit opening and into the attic to the extent that the attic aperture is positioned in a non-insulated attic space;
- providing a vent, the vent having a vent flange; and
- attaching the vent to the soffit such that the vent flange extends through the soffit opening and connects to the lower portion of the flow conduit;
- wherein air from an area exterior to the building can flow through the vent and through the flow conduit to the attic space.
19. The method of claim 18 in which the flow conduit includes an insertion portion, wherein the insertion portion includes a covering mechanism.
20. A flow conduit configured to enable ventilation of a building having an attic and a soffit, the flow conduit comprising:
- a lower portion positioned above an opening in the soffit;
- a transition portion connected to the lower portion;
- an extension portion connected to the transition portion and including an attic aperture;
- wherein the extension portion of the flow conduit extends into the attic to the extent that the attic aperture is positioned in a non-insulated attic space;
- wherein air from the area exterior to the building can flow through the opening in the soffit and through the flow conduit to the attic space.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 13, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 17, 2009
Inventor: Lawrence J. Grubka (Westerville, OH)
Application Number: 12/139,047
International Classification: F24F 7/02 (20060101);