GB2124266A

GB2124266A - Ventilating roofs

Info

Publication number: GB2124266A
Application number: GB08220732A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Gustav Helmut Meyer
Original assignee: Catnic Components Ltd
Current assignee: Catnic Components Ltd
Priority date: 1982-07-16
Filing date: 1982-07-16
Publication date: 1984-02-15

Abstract

An elongate member 1 (e.g. formed from mild sheet steel) which is of L-shape in transverse cross-section is adapted (by a clip 6) for receiving a free edge of a soffit or eaves board and (by a limb 11) for connection with a part of a building at an angle to the soffit eaves board and has a plurality of elongate holes 5 which provide for passage of ventilating air through the member 1 in a direction transversely of the length of the member into, in use, a roof space while obviating or hindering the passage of foreign bodies such as insects, dirt and leaves from outside the building into the roof space. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus and method for ventilating buildings Technical field of invention The invention relates to apparatus and a method of ventilating buildings, particularly the roof space thereof.

Background art Buildings often have eaves which are finished on their undersurface as viewed with a soffit board, the edge remote from the building being connected with a fascia and/or guttering. This construction effectively blocks off any passage into the roof space above the soffit. While this is beneficial in preventing or hindering passage of dirt, insects and the like into the roof space, such blocking off also prevents the free circulation of air into the roof space which can result in rot formation and in any event can contravene building regulations. Leaving a gap between the soffitt and fascia and/or guttering unit provides for ingress of dirt, insects and the like.

Disclosure of invention It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for securing at or adjacent the roof of a building, comprising an elongate member adapted to be connected between a roof part and another part of the building adjacent the roof, and including means to provide for passage of air through the member in a direction transversely of the length of the member while obviating or hindering the passage of foreign bodies.

Using such apparatus it is possible to provide ventillation of a roof space while preventing ingress thereto of foreign bodies such as dirt, leaves, insects and the like.

The member may be adapted for connection with a soffit or eaves board by a clip which engages over a free edge of the board to support that edge.

The clip may be of channel section and may be along one edge of the elongate member.

Alternatively, there may be a plurality of such clips spaced apart along one edge of the elongate member.

The or each clip may be formed integrally with the elongate member. This construction is relatively simple and provides for forming the elongate member from a single piece of material such as sheet metal, for example mild steel.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of ventilating a building, comprising erecting a building and during erection installing at at least a position intermediate a wall and a roof part apparatus as hereinbefore defined.

Apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter defined, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 taken along the line A-A of that figure; Fig. 3 is to a smaller scale a side elevational view of part of a roof structure showing the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 in use; Fig. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow "B" in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is again to a smaller scale a side elevational view of part of another roof structure showing the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 in use.

In the drawings, like parts are indicated by like reference numerals.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown apparatus in the form of an elongate member 1 formed as by folding from a single sheet of foldable material such as a sheet mild steel which is adapted to be connected between a roof part such as soffit or eaves board 2 and another part 3 of the roof 4, the elongate member 2 including means in the form of a plurality of elongate through blinds bores or holes 5 to provide for passage of air through the member 2 in a direction transversely of the length of the member while obviating or hindering like passage of foreign bodies. The bores or holes 5 are small enough to prevent passage of insects, dirt, leaves etc.

The elongate member 2 is of "L"-shape in cross-section and has an open channel shaped edge 6 along one edge of the "L", and limb 7 of the channel being longer than the other limb 8.

The channel 6 is formed integrally by folding the edge of the strip of metal from which the member is made back on itself, then upwardly to form the web 9 of the channel then forwardly to provide for the longer limb 7. The limb 7 has holes 10 for receiving screws, nails or other securing means, and the vertical width (as viewed in Fig. 2) between the inner surface of the limbs 7 and 8 of the channel 6 is just sufficient to receive a soffit or eaves board 2 (Figs. 3-4). The channel 6 thus forms a clip for connection with an edge of the soffit or eaves board 2 for supporting same.

The upright (as viewed in Figs. 1, 2) limb 11 of the elongate member 2 has a series of holes 12 for receiving securing means such as nails, screws or the like.

In use, for example at an edge of an eave, the apparatus is secured as by nails through the holes 12 to the inner (right hand) face as viewed in Fig.

3 of a fascia board 13 and the edge of a soffit board 2 is received in the channel shaped clip 6, the remainder of the soffit board 2 being secured as by nailing to rafters (not shown). The holes or bores 5 are in a part of the limb 14 of the "L"shape between the limb 11 and the clip 6 and are generally unobstructed over the length of the elongate member 2, though the ends of the roof rafters 1 5 can be received at spaced intervals in the angle between the limbs 11 and 14 of the"L"shape. When in position air can circulate freely into the roof space as shown by the arrows X and Y, Fig. 3, while the apparatus prevents ingress of dirt, leaves, insects, etc. into the roof space.

The apparatus can be installed adjacent the outer wall 1 6 of the building, Fig. 5, where it has the same effect. Nails can be passed through the holes 12 to secure the associated edge of the soffit board 2 in the clip 6.

Although holes and nails have been described for securing the soffit, they can be replaced by tangs which are directed towards the web of the channel, so obviating withdrawal. Alternatively, holes and nails, or tangs, are not required if the channel provides a firm push fit with the soffit or eaves board.

The apparatus may be formed of any suitable material other than mild steel, for example plastics.

Claims (Filed on 15.7.83) 1. Apparatus for securing at or adjacent the roof of a building, an elongate member adapted to be connected between a roof part and another part of the building adjacent the roof, and including means to provide for passage of air through the member in a direction transversely of the length of the member while obviating or hindering the passage of foreign bodies.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the member comprising a clip by which the apparatus is adapted for connection with a free edge of a soffit or eaves board.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the clip being of channel section at one edge of the elongate member.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, there being a plurality of clips spaced apart along one edge of the elongate member.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, the or each clip being formed integrally with the elongate member.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the means to provide for passage of air comprising a plurality of perforations through the elongate member.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, the perforations comprising elongate blind bore or holes.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 6, the member being generally of "L"-shape in transverse cross-section with the elongate blind bores or holes being through one limb at the free edge of which the or each clip is situated.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, the or each clip being formed by bending the free edge back on itself, upwardly to form the web of the channel comprising the clip and then forwardly to provide a leg of the channel spaced from the one limb of the member to complete the channel.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, the leg projecting beyond the edge of the one limb.

1 Apparatus according to Claim 10, the leg of the clip comprising means for securing a soffit or eaves board in use.

1 2. Apparatus according to Claim 11, the means for securing comprising through holes for receiving screws, nails or like securing means.

1 3. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, made of mild sheet steel.

14. Apparatus for securing at or adjacent the roof of a building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A method of ventilating the roof space of a building, comprising erecting a building and during erection installing at at least a position intermediate a wall and a roof part thereof, apparatus according to any preceding claim.

16. A building including apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 14 or erected by a method according to Claim 1 5.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

into the roof space as shown by the arrows X and Y, Fig. 3, while the apparatus prevents ingress of dirt, leaves, insects, etc. into the roof space.

The apparatus can be installed adjacent the outer wall 1 6 of the building, Fig. 5, where it has the same effect. Nails can be passed through the holes 12 to secure the associated edge of the soffit board 2 in the clip 6.

Although holes and nails have been described for securing the soffit, they can be replaced by tangs which are directed towards the web of the channel, so obviating withdrawal. Alternatively, holes and nails, or tangs, are not required if the channel provides a firm push fit with the soffit or eaves board.

The apparatus may be formed of any suitable material other than mild steel, for example plastics.

Claims (Filed on 15.7.83)

1. Apparatus for securing at or adjacent the roof of a building, an elongate member adapted to be connected between a roof part and another part of the building adjacent the roof, and including means to provide for passage of air through the member in a direction transversely of the length of the member while obviating or hindering the passage of foreign bodies.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the member comprising a clip by which the apparatus is adapted for connection with a free edge of a soffit or eaves board.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the clip being of channel section at one edge of the elongate member.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, there being a plurality of clips spaced apart along one edge of the elongate member.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, the or each clip being formed integrally with the elongate member.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the means to provide for passage of air comprising a plurality of perforations through the elongate member.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, the perforations comprising elongate blind bore or holes.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 6, the member being generally of "L"-shape in transverse cross-section with the elongate blind bores or holes being through one limb at the free edge of which the or each clip is situated.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, the or each clip being formed by bending the free edge back on itself, upwardly to form the web of the channel comprising the clip and then forwardly to provide a leg of the channel spaced from the one limb of the member to complete the channel.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, the leg projecting beyond the edge of the one limb.

1 Apparatus according to Claim 10, the leg of the clip comprising means for securing a soffit or eaves board in use.

1 2. Apparatus according to Claim 11, the means for securing comprising through holes for receiving screws, nails or like securing means.

1 3. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, made of mild sheet steel.

14. Apparatus for securing at or adjacent the roof of a building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A method of ventilating the roof space of a building, comprising erecting a building and during erection installing at at least a position intermediate a wall and a roof part thereof, apparatus according to any preceding claim.

16. A building including apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 14 or erected by a method according to Claim 1 5.