GB2155516A

GB2155516A - Roof ridge ventilator

Info

Publication number: GB2155516A
Application number: GB08424965A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald Ernest Mason
Original assignee: BUCKLEY PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: BUCKLEY PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 1984-03-12
Filing date: 1984-10-03
Publication date: 1985-09-25
Also published as: CA1223769A; GB2155516B; GB8424965D0

Abstract

A roof ridge or hip ventilator for longitudinal location along a roof ridge or hip having openings for the passage of air through the roof surface, comprises: an elongate support member (38) adapted to be located longitudinally, straddling said ridge or hip openings; the support member having longitudinal side portions (40) for spacing roof ridge or hip cover elements above the roof surface, the side portions having means defining vent openings (42) for the passage of air therethrough; the support member also having a central inner portion (46) connecting the longitudinal side portions, said central inner portion having shield portions (48) located adjacent to the side portion vent openings to prevent precipitation passing inwardly through the support member; a longitudinal sealing skirt (66) attached to and downwardly depending from one of said shield portions, the sealing skirt being formed of flexible material to conform to the roof surface contour; and the central inner portion also having means defining vent openings (50) remote from the shield portions communicating with the ridge or hip openings and the side portion vent openings for the venting of air through the roof ridge or hip with the ridge or hip cover elements in place. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in roof ridge ventilating devices This invention relates to improvements in devices for ventilating roof spaces, such as attics, crawl spaces, and the like.

Roof spaces, such as attics, must be ventilated in most ciimates, or condensation and heat accumulation will cause considerable damage or discomfort, or inefficient heating and cooling, of the building usable space. In the past, dome or spot type ventilators have been used to provide localized ventilation in the roof surface, with additional vent openings or louvres lower down on the roof in the area of the soffit and fascia or in roof gables. A difficulty with these ventilators is that they are unsightly in appearance. Further, these dome ventilators are not as efficient as they could be, because they cannot usually be mounted in the best location which is usually at the peak or highest point on the roof.

As an improvement over the conventional dome ventilators, roof ridge ventilators have been used in the past. These ventilators are mounted right on the roof ridge with suitable vent openings being made in the roof ridge to allow air within the roof space to pass through the ridge and out through the ventilators.

While these roof ridge ventilators are efficient due to their mounting location, many of them are also unsightly in appearance. This is particularly important in the case of clay or concrete tile roofs where it is undesirable to have anything mounted on the roof to detract from the overall appearance of these roofs. Further, many of the prior art ridge ventilators are not completely weatherproof nor do they prevent the entry of pests as well as they should.

A roof ridge ventilator that overcomes these disadvantages is disclosed in applicant's copending United Kingdom patent application No. 8,307,900 filed March 22, 1983.

The present invention is a further improvement in that it greatly simplifies the construction of the roof, obviating the need for dentil slips, and it can conveniently be used along a roof hip where the roof surface is very irregular.

According to the invention, there is provided a roof ridge or hip ventilator for longitudinal location along a roof ridge or hip having openings for the passage of air through the roof surface, the ventilator comprising an elongate support member adapted to be located longitudinally, straddling the ridge or hip openings; the support member having longitudinal side portions for spacing roof ridge or hip cover elements above the roof surface, the side portions having means defining vent openings for the passage of air therethrough; the support member also having a central inner portion connecting the longitudinal side portions, said central inner portion having shield portions located adjacent to the side portion vent openings to prevent precipitation passing inwardly through the support member; a longitudinal sealing skirt attached to and downwardly depending from one of said shield portions, the sealing skirt being formed of flexible material to conform to the roof surface contour; and the central inner portion also having means defining vent openings remote from the shield portions communicating with the ridge or hip openings and the side portion vent openings for the venting of air through the roof ridge or hip with the ridge or hip cover elements in place.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a roof ridge showing a preferred embodiment of the roof ridge ventilator of the present invention installed thereon; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, but showing a modification to the sealing skirts of the Fig. 1 embodiment; Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig.

1 showing a roof ridge ventilator with lead sheet sealing skirts; Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a portion of the support member of the roof ridge ventilator shown in Fig. 1, but showing another embodiment of sealing skirt; Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the support member shown in Fig. 2 with some modifications to the vent openings; and Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a similar support member having no vent openings.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a portion of a roof ridge wherein a preferred embodiment of a roof ridge ventilator according to the present invention is installed and is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Throughout this desciption, primed reference numerals are used to indicate parts which are similar in the various embodiments. Ridge ventilator 10 is shown installed on a roof ridge 1 2 which is of conventional construction for a clay or concrete tile type roof, although ventilator 10 could be installed on a roof hip if desired. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "ridge" shall include a roof hip or any other peaked area of a roof.The construction of the tile roof per se is not considered to be part of the present invention and is described merely as a typical type of roof construction with which the roof ridge ventilator of the present invention can be used. However, to the extent that the typical tile roof construction has been modified by the invention, this is considered to be part of the invention in one of its aspects.

A typical tile roof ridge 1 2 has a peak 14 (see Fig. 2) formed by roof trusses or rafters 16. Roof boards 18, which are typically formed of plywood, chipboard, fiberboard or felt or any other underlay material, are laid over rafters 1 6 to cover the roof but leaving the peak open to form longitudinally arranged ridge openings 20 between rafters 1 6 for the passage of air through the roof ridge. Battens 22 are mounted parallel to the roof ridge and are attached to roof trusses or rafters 1 6 in a conventional manner. Roof tiles 24 can be in any shape desired and are overlapped or interlocked to make the roof weatherproof.

Roof tiles 24 typically are countoured and thus have valleys 26 formed in or between the tiles when installed. Normally, dentil slips (now shown) are used to fill these valleys to give a flat longitudinal surface along the upper peripheral edges of each side of the roof, but the present invention obviates the need for such dentil slips, as described further below.

A central ridge batten 30 (see Fig. 2) is mounted at the peak of the ridge and is conventionally used for securing roof ridge or hip cover elements or ridge tiles 32 in position. As seen best in Fig. 1, ridge tiles 32 are overlapped and have openings 34 adjacent one end for attaching the ridge tiles 32 to ridge batten 30. Normally, ridge tiles 32 are wired to ridge batten 30, but they may be nailed in place using nails 36 as shown in the drawings.

The roof components described so far are those that are used in a conventional or typical tile roof construction. A preferred embodiment of the invention and the modification of the conventional roof construction to employ same will now be described below.

A preferred embodiment of the roof ridge ventilator has an elongate support member 38 which is mounted longitudinally along the roof ridge 1 2 to cover or straddle the roof ridge openings 20. Support member 38 has longitudinal, generally upright side portions 40 which support ridge tiles 32 in a spaced or raised position above the roof surface. The peripheral edges 41 of ridge tiles 32 are typically spaced 1 3 to 1 9 mm from the top surfaces of ridge tiles 32. Side portions 40 have vent openings or louvres 42 for the passage of air therethrough. As will be seen best in Fig. 2, these louvres are generally upwardly and outwardly opening to help prevent the entry of precipitation such as rain or snow coming in from under ridge tiles 32.

However, the louvres could be downwardly and outwardly opening as indicated by louvres 42 in Fig. 5. Side portions 40 also have spaced-apart, lower drain openings 44 located at the base or along the lower edge of each side portion for the escape of any moisture such as precipitation or condensation that should enter or form inside of side portions 40.

The support member 38 also has a central inner portion 46 connecting the lower edges of the longitudinal side portions 40. Central inner portion 46 has shield portions 48 located adjacent to the side portion vent openings or louvres 42 to prevent any precipitation that may pass inwardly through louvres 42 from also passing through the support member 38 and into the ridge openings 20. Central inner portion 46 also has vent openings or louvres 50 which are located remote from the lower edges of side portions 40 in communication with the side portion vent openings or louvres 42 and the ridge openings 20, so that air may be vented through the roof ridge with the ridge tiles in place. Central inner portion 46 is convex or of inverted Vshape and is connected to the bases or lower edges of the respective longitudinal side portions 40.As seen best in Fig. 2, the top or apex or crest 52 of inner portion 46 also supports the ridge tiles 32. Crest 52 is formed with top, spaced-apart slots 54 through which nails 36 pass to secure support member 38 and tiles 32 in position. It will be appreciated that louvres 50 are located adjacent to the top or crest 52 of support member 38, so that the shield portions 48 are located opposite the side portion vent openings or louvres 42 to prevent precipitation passing inwardly through support member 38 and into the roof ridge openings 20 as mentioned above. Louvres 50 are shown to be horizontally and outwardly opening, but they could be upwardly opening or some other arrangement if desired.

Support members 38 are formed of aluminum or galvanized sheet metal, plastics or other suitable corrosion or weather resistant material and are supplied in lengths approximately 2 metres long. The support members 38 are typically about 1 6 cm in width and 7 cm in height. It will be appreciated that the lengths and dimensions of the support members 38 can be chosen as desired. Further, the number and dimensions of the louvres can be modified as desired to give any desired air flow therethrough. Since the amount of air passing through the roof ridge is determined by the spacing between the ridge the peripheral edges 41 and the upper surfaces of roof tiles 24, the support member louvres need only be dimensioned so as not to restrict this flow.

Referring in particular to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, longitudinal sealing skirts 64, 66 are attached to and downwardly depend from the inner shield portions 48 of support member 38.

Sealing skirts 66 are formed of flexible material such as rubber or polyvinylchloride.

Rubber is preferred because it is resilient or elastic. Sealing skirt 66 has a lower peripheral edge portion 68 that is scalloped or otherwise preshaped to conform to the contour of roof tiles 24. As seen best in Figs. 1 and 2, sealing skirt 66 completely fills the valleys 26 in the roof tiles 24 to prevent precipitation or foreign matter from passing under support member 38 and into the ridge openings 20.

In fact, sealing skirts 66 seal more tightly the harder the wind blows against them.

To retain sealing skirts 66 in position, longitudinal, C-shaped, downwardly opening retaining slots 70 are formed in the shield portions 48, and the sealing skirts 66 have upper peripheral beads 72 slideably located in slots 70 for longitudinal movement of the sealing skirts 66 relative to support member 38. Longitudinal movement of sealing skirts 66 allows the pre-shaped lower peripheral edge 68 to be aligned with the valleys 26 in roof tiles 24, especially where the valleys in the roof tiles on one side of the roof ridge are not in alignment with the valleys in the roof tiles on the other side of the roof ridge.

As seen best in Fig. 5 and 6, sealing skirts 66 have upper shoulder portions 74 that are thickened to help press sealing skirts 66 down into the valleys in the roof tiles and retain same therein. Alternatively, sealing skirts 66 could be of uniform thickness (except for beads 72) and other forms of reinforcement could be added to or incorporated into the material of the sealing skirts. A suitable material for sealing skirts 66 is E.D.P.M. rubber or neoprene having a Shore A hardness of about 60. The dimensions and shapes of the sealing skirts 66 depend on the type or contour of the roof tiles 24.

Fig. 4 shows a modified version of sealing skirt 66' wherein the upper shoulder portion 74' of the skirt is formed by wrapping the skirt around a cylindrical core 76 to form bead 72'. Core 76 could be any suitable flexible cord and the upper peripheral edges of sealing skirt 66' could be secured together using any convenient method, such as a suitable adhesive.

Referring next to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, sealing skirt 64 is formed of lead sheet material, typically about 10 kilograms per square meter. Sealing skirt 64 is attached to support member 38 in the area of shield portions 48 by locating the top peripheral edge 78 in a roll-formed slot 80 and crimping the rollformed slot to retain the top peripheral edge 78 in position. Sealing skirt 64 is uniform in width, and because the lead sheet is flexible ductile material, it can be shaped after installation of support member 38 to conform to the contour of the roof tiles 24 as seen in Fig.

3. As a result, it is not necessary to pre-shape the lower peripheral edge portion of sealing skirt 64 to conform to the roof surface contour. The lead sheet sealing skirts 64 are particularly useful where the roof tiles 24 have irregular contours, or where support members 38 are used along the hip of a roof.

In the case of the application to a roof hip, the valleys of the roof tiles would intersect the hip at an angle, and therefore, the lead sheet sealing skirts 64 would be particularly convenient to install, as the ductile sealing skirts 64 can be easily shaped to conform to any roof contour.

In Fig. 1, the pre-shaped rubber sealing skirts 66 are used in support members 38. In Fig. 3, the lead sheet sealing skirts 64 are used in support members 38. Fig. 2 shows a combination of sealing skirts 64, 66, but this is only for the purposes of illustration. Usually, support member 38 would only have one type of sealing skirt on both sides of the support member. Figs. 5 and 6 also show both types of sealing skirts 64, 66 in the same support member but this again is only for the purposes of illustration.

Referring again to Fig. 5, a support member 38' is shown which corresponds with support member 38 shown in Figs. 1 to 4, but it has downwardly and outwardly opening louvres 42, rather than upwardly and outwardly opening louvres 42' as in the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

In the case of most roofs, it is not necessary to have ridge venting along the entire length of the ridge or hip in order to satisfy the ventilation requirements. In order to match the amount of ventilation to the requirements, support members 84 as shown in Fig. 6 are used in conjunction with support members 38. Support members 84 have no vent openings or louvres in either the side portions 40' or the central inner portions 46'. Otherwise, support members 84 are indentical to support members 38 including lower drain openings 44. The dimensions and material used for support members 84 are otherwise the same as for support members 38.It will be appreciated that with the use of the non-louvred support members 84 in association with the louvred support members 38, the amount and location of the ridge venting for any particular roof can be chosen as desired, but the appearance of the roof is the same throughout.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the structures described. For example, the central inner portion 46, 46' of support members 38, or 84 could be other shapes or configurations, as could the type and dimensions of the louvres. Of course, the louvres could be replaced by simple vent openings or holes.

Similar modifications could be made to the side portions and their vent openings. It is important, however, that the side portion vent openings be located adjacent to the shield portions of the central inner portion, so that precipitation does not pass inwardly through the support member and into the roof ridge openings. The type of precipitation of concern is driving rain or snow which could enter the roof ridge from outside. It is also desirable to prevent foreign matter such as dirt, leaves or pests, such as insects, rodents or birds from passing or being blown under or through the roof ridge tiles and into the ridge openings, so the louvres or openings should be dimen sioned to prevent this.

Although the roof ventilators of the present invention have been described for use in association with peaked roofs, it will be appre ciated that the ventilator of this invention could be used with other roofs, such as flat roofs, and with other roof constructions, such as asphalt or wood shinges or shakes, or slate or metal roof tiles or other roof system materials. In the drawings, the roof ventilators have been shown having sealing skirts 64 or 66 depending from both sides of the support members. However, only one sealing skirt could be used if the application required this, or if other means such as dentil slips were used to fill the valleys in the roof tiles.

Claims

1. A roof ridge or hip ventilator for longitudinal location along a roof ridge or hip having openings for the passage of air through the roof surface, the ventilator comprising: an elongate support member adapted to be located longitudinally, straddling said ridge or hip openings; the support member having longitudinal side portions for spacing roof ridge or hip cover elements above the roof surface, the side portions having means defining vent openings for the passage of air therethrough; the support member also having a central inner portion connecting the longitudinal side portions, said central inner portion having shield portions located adjacent to the side portion vent openings to prevent precipitation passing inwardly through the support member; a longitudinal sealing skirt attached to and downwardly depending from one of said shield portions, the sealing skirt being formed of flexible material to conform to the roof surface contour; and the central inner portion also having means defining vent openings remote from the shield portions communicating with the ridge or hip openings and the side portion vent openings for the venting of air through the roof ridge or hip with the ridge or hip cover elements in place.

2. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing skirt has a lower peripheral edge portion pre-shaped to conform to the roof surface contour.

3. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing skirt is formed of flexible ductile material, so that it can be shaped after installation of the support member to conform to the roof contour.

4. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said inner portion shield portions include means defining a longitudinal, Cshaped, downwardly opening retaining slot, and wherein the sealing skirt has an upper peripheral bead slidably located in said slot for longitudinal movement of the sealing skirt relative to the support member.

5. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sealing skirt is formed of resilient material.

6. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sealing skirt is formed of lead sheet material.

7. A roof ridge ventilator as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a second, longitudinal, flexible sealing skirt, one of said sealing skirts being attached to and downwardly depending from each of said inner portion shield portions.

8. A roof ridge ventilator as claimed in claim 7 wherein the sealing skirts are formed of flexible ductile material, so that they can be shaped after installation of the support member to conform to the roof contour.

9. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 8 wherein the sealing skirts are formed of lead sheet material.

1 0. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 2, 3, or 7 wherein the support member is one of a plurality of longitudinally arranged support members, some of said support members having no vent openings, thereby permitting the amount and location of roof ridge ventilation to be preselected.

11. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 7 wherein the support member is located on and straddles the roof ridge or hip openings, roof ridge or hip cover elements are located on the support members and are spaced above the roof surface by the support member, the support member central inner portion has means defining longitudinally spaced-apart fastener openings; and further comprising fastening means connected between the roof ridge or hip cover elements and the roof ridge or hip and passing through said spaced-apart fastener openings for attachment of the support member and the roof ridge or hip cover elements to the roof.

1 2. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 1 where the central inner portions of the support members are of inverted generally Vshape, and wherein the side portions have lower edges, the central inner portion being connected to the lower edges of the respective longitudinal side portions, the central inner portions having means defining top, spacedapart slots for the passage of fasteners therethrough for the attachment of the support members to the roof.

1 3. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 1 2 wherein the side portions further include spaced-apart drain openings located at the base thereof.

1 4. A roof ventilator substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A roof ventilator according to claim 14, modified substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 6. A roof ventilator according to claim 14, modified substantially as herein described with reference to and shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A roof ventilator according to claim 14, modified substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.