Peel and stick vents, soffits and ridges

Abstract

Peel-and-stick vents, particularly roof vents having an adhesive layer with a release liner disposed on a surface for adherence to a roof surface wall, floor or other substrate having a ventilation opening.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to roof vents for covering the opening of the roof ridge and more particularly to roof ridge vents and soffits applied via a peel-and-stick mechanism for venting of a building or other structure while preventing insects and environmental elements, such as water and snow, from entering the structure through the ventilator and which can be made to fit a variety of pre-existing and newly constructed buildings.

BACKGROUND

Vents for attics or crawl spaces of buildings are commonly perforated or louvered with openings and placed in the underside of eaves of an overhanging roof or fascia and on roof ridges. The vent openings allow air to flow into the attic to equalize the interior attic temperature and pressure with that of the outside environment. The equalization helps to prevent degradation of the roof structure, reduces the accumulation of condensation in the insulating material covering the floor of the attic thereby increasing the efficiency of heating and cooling of the living space in the building covered by the roof structure. A roof ridge ventilator overlays a roof ridge slot along the length of the roof. The roof ventilator is generally for exhausting air from the space below the roof.

A soffit or eave is the exposed undersurfaces of any exterior overhanging section of a roof eave. A soffit vent is typically an air inlet source located at the downslope eave or in the soffit of a roof assembly. Soffit vents typically comprise perforated, louvered or baffled vent openings in the underside of the eaves of an overhanging roof or the fascia covering the ends of roof rafters when the roof has no soffit or has very narrow soffit. Soffit vents are commonly part of an attic ventilation system that may comprise roof vents, ridge vents, gable vents, power vents, roof louvers, turbines and the like.

A soffit vent is typically used in conjunction with a roof ridge ventilator overlying the open roof along the length of the roof for exhausting the air from the space below the roof and the ceiling of the attic, i.e., as the air entering the attic through the soffit vent mixes with the warmer air in the attic, it has to be expelled through an opening in the roof ridge where the lighter, warmer air accumulates. Desirably, the volume of air intake through the soffit ventilator should be balanced by the volume of air exhaust through the roof ridge ventilator.

Ventilation systems should provide against insects and other unwanted elements entering the attic space of buildings. While larger perforations in soffit and roof ridge ventilation panels would produce a desired flow of air through the attic space, they would also allow ingress to insects therein to form insect colonies.

In addition to having good ventilation of the attic space and preventing ingress of water, snow and insects into the attic space, ventilation systems should have structural strength and stability to withstand the effects of the elements, including high wind; strong structural support against collapse or warping, such as might occur by the accumulation of snow or ice or by weight of the installers accidentally stepping on the roof ridge ventilator; ease of installation; and low costs.

Presently, roof vents and soffits are adhered to a roof surface by mechanical means such as nails and/or staples. Oftentimes, these fastening means do not provide a uniform and complete attachment of the vent to the roof surface. Since the vents are secured only at specific points where the nails and staples pass through the vent into the roof surface, the vents may allow water seepage into the attic, and may also be prone to flutter in windy and inclement weather conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides vents, particularly roof vents having an adhesive layer with a release liner disposed on a surface for adherence to a roof surface wall, floor or other substrate having a ventilation opening. The “peel-and-stick” vents in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprise a vent having an exposed side and an unexposed side; slats through said vent to permit the passage of air through said vent; an adhesive layer applied on a peripheral area of said unexposed side of said vent; and a release liner disposed on said adhesive layer.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus and methods of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the unexposed side (rear) of a vent in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exposed side (front) of the vent of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the unexposed side of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides roofing vents which are adhered to a roof substrate or other surface via an adhesive on the undersurface of the vent and covered with a release liner. A vent 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. For simplicity throughout this specification, the term “vent” is used to encompass all types of roofing vents including ridge vents, soffit vents, intake vents, undereave vents, louver vents, as well as wall vents, foundation vents and floor vents.

Vent 10 has an exposed side 12 and an unexposed side 14. The unexposed side 14 is shown in the view illustrated in FIG. 1. Vent 10 may take on a variety of shapes and sizes and may include, but is not limited to, perforated screens, expanded metal and slotted plates. Vent 10 is typically provided with a number of slats 16 to allow ventilation and the passage of air from within the house to the outside environment. Slats 16 of vent 10 can be fixed or movable, horizontal, vertical or inclined, and admit air while helping to shed rain. Slats 16 may run the length of vent 10 or may be arranged in columns as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Slats 16 direct the flow of air and wind blown air through the vent and into the house or building upon which vent 10 is affixed to. Slats 16 may take any of a variety of shapes.

Unexposed side 14 is the side which is adhered to a roofing substrate or other surface. Unexposed side 14 includes one or more layers of adhesive 18 disposed thereon. Advantageously, adhesive 18 is positioned about the periphery of unexposed side 14 so as not to interfere with slats 16. Adhesive layer 18 may be a butyl compound or other waterproofing compound such as single component PVAc (polyvinyl acetate) water-resistant adhesive, water-resistant polyvinyl acetate adhesive, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate)-hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive atactic polypropylene (APP) base pressure sensitive tapes, polyurethane adhesives, thermoplastic adhesive film based with co-polyamides, thermoplastic adhesive film based with mixed polyolefin and co-polyamide, animal base adhesive, asphaltic base adhesive styrol or verstat acrylate types, neoprene rubber cementic base adhesive. Use of adhesive layer 18 in accordance with the present invention provides a water resistant, strong and uniform adherence of vent 10 to the roof surface and eliminates flutter.

A release liner 22 (shown peeled-away in FIG. 1) is typically positioned upon adhesive layer 18 to facilitate transport and shipping of vent 10. Release liner 22 liner may be made of kraft paper, a film-based, waxed, polycoated or polymeric film or some other sheet material which has a major surface that is in contact with the adhesive composition. Release liner 22 may be treated with a silicone, a fluorocarbon polymer such as TEFLON® or some other release agent with non-sticking properties that enables the release liner to be easily peeled away from the adhesive composition.

In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a scrim 20, filter, or air permeable material may be applied to unexposed side 14 to regulate the passage of air and particulates through vent 10 (FIG. 1). Scrims are is typically a woven, nonwoven, or knitted fabric composed of continuous strands of material used for reinforcing or strengthening membranes. Scrim 20 may be fabricated from polypropylene, polyethylene and/or plastic, but is not limited in this respect and other strands are contemplated by the present invention. The passage of air and/or particulates through vent 10 can be regulated by the thickness and degree of strands which make up scrim 20. The incorporation of scrim 20 with vent 10 further strengthens vent 10 applied to a surface and reduces flutter and wind uplift of the vent.

FIG. 3 illustrates unexposed side 52 of a ridge vent 50 which is generally positioned at the highest point on the roof along the horizontal line where two roof areas intersect, and which typically runs the length of the roof. Ridge vents allow the escape of warm and/or moist air from the attic area or rafter cavity. Like vent 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2, unexposed side 52 of ridge vent 50 in FIG. 3 also comprises a plurality of slats 54 and in some embodiments, a scrim 56, filter or air permeable material. One or more layers of adhesive 58 are applied about the periphery of unexposed surface 52. A release liner 60 (shown peeled away in FIG. 3) is positioned on adhesive 58 to facilitate storage and transport of ridge vent 50. When ridge vent 50 is to be applied on a roof ridge, release liner 60 is simply peeled off and ridge vent is secured to the roof surface by adhesive 58.

In accordance with the alternative embodiment of the present invention, vent 10 may include on unexposed side 14 layers of double-sided adhesive tape having a release liner on the tape to prevent exposure until use.

The present invention also contemplates wall, floor and ceiling vents having an adhesive layer and release liner on a surface for adherence to a wall, such as within a house or office. Wall, floor and ceiling vents may be utilized for heating and air conditioning purposes.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A peel-and-stick vent, comprising:

a. a vent having an exposed side and an unexposed side;

b. slats through said vent to permit the passage of air through said vent;

c. an adhesive layer applied on of said unexposed side of said vent; and

d. a peel-and-stick release liner disposed on said adhesive layer.

2. The peel-and-stick vent as recited in claim 1, wherein said vent is selected from the group consisting of roof ridge vents, soffit vents, intake vents, undereave vents, louver vents, as well as wall vents, foundation vents and floor vents.

3. The peel-and-stick vent as recited in claim 1, wherein said adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of a butyl compound or other waterproofing compound such as single component PVAc (polyvinyl acetate) water-resistant adhesive, water-resistant polyvinyl acetate adhesive, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate)-hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive atactic polypropylene (APP) base pressure sensitive tapes, polyurethane adhesives, thermoplastic adhesive film based with co-polyamides, thermoplastic adhesive film based with mixed polyolefin and co-polyamide, animal base adhesive, asphaltic base adhesive styrol or verstat acrylate types, and neoprene rubber cementic base adhesive.

4. The peel-and-stick vent as recited in claim 1, wherein said adhesive layer is applied on a peripheral area of said unexposed side of said vent.

5. The peel-and-stick vent as recited in claim 1, wherein said release liner is selected from the group consisting of waxed paper, polycoated paper, film-based paper or plastic.

6. The peel-and-stick vent as recited in claim 1, further comprising a scrim applied to said unexposed side of said vent.

7. A peel-and-stick vent, comprising:

a. a vent having an exposed side and an unexposed side;

b. slats through said vent to permit the passage of air through said vent;

c. a scrim disposed on said unexposed side of said vent;

d. an adhesive layer applied on a peripheral area of said unexposed side of said vent; and

e. a peel-and-stick release liner disposed on said adhesive layer.

8. The peel-and-stick vent as recited in claim 7, wherein said vent is selected from the group consisting of roof ridge vents, soffit vents, intake vents, undereave vents, louver vents, as well as wall vents, foundation vents and floor vents.

9. The peel-and-stick vent as recited in claim 7, wherein said adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of a butyl compound or other waterproofing compound such as single component PVAc (polyvinyl acetate) water-resistant adhesive, water-resistant polyvinyl acetate adhesive, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate)-hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive atactic polypropylene (APP) base pressure sensitive tapes, polyurethane adhesives, thermoplastic adhesive film based with co-polyamides, thermoplastic adhesive film based with mixed polyolefin and co-polyamide, animal base adhesive, asphaltic base adhesive styrol or verstat acrylate types, and neoprene rubber cementic base adhesive.

10. The peel-and-stick vent as recited in claim 7, wherein said adhesive layer is applied on a peripheral area of said unexposed side of said vent.

11. The peel-and-stick vent as recited in claim 7, wherein said release liner is selected from the group consisting of waxed paper, polycoated paper, film-based paper or plastic.