ROLL BAFFLE
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.
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.
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.
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.
Construction costs and higher energy rates necessitate optimum insulation functionality including air balancing.
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.
Problems with these Inventions are:
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.
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.
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.
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 INVENTIONIt 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.
The invention can be composed of various materials such as, plastic film, paper or fabric. The thickness will vary with material. Drawing
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.
- 1. Roll Baffle
- 2. Perforated slot
- 3. Air flow
- 4. Staples
- 5. Ceiling joists
- 6. Wall studs
- 7. Drywall
- 8. Insulation
- 9. Typical thickness 4 mil.
- 10. Spacing
- 11 Perforated width
- 12 Perforated height
- 13. Ending of building
- 14. Opposite end of building
- 15. Roof rafter
- 16. Roll Baffle upper portion
- 17. Roll Baffle lower portion
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.
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 28, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 28, 2008
Inventor: ARTHUR A. DILLON (Piketon, OH)
Application Number: 11/680,173
International Classification: E04B 7/00 (20060101);