GB2186304A - Roof ventilator - Google Patents

Abstract

A roof void ventilator comprises a sloping weatherproof upper surface, front rear and base seating/locating surfaces, upper and lower locations for fixity to building constructions and locations to attach appendages such as fascia; fascia gutter; felt support/bird barrier/vent spacer, separate bird barrier and roof finish/flashing restraint piece and duct extender/roof finish/flashing support piece with integral or separate rear spacer. Air may pass through the ventilator unit in a horizontal and/or vertical manner and in any direction. The unit will relevant appendages is so formed as to be suitable in the following modes; over the fascia, corbelled brick without fascia, no fascia generally, soffit or no soffit, mono-pitch roofs and to form a roof to wall flashing/ventilator duct and so formed as to be suitable for any roof material for flat, pitched roofs, old or new. Figs. 2-11 show the alternative modes of use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Multi mode roof ventilator and appendages This invention relates to a multi mode roof ventilator and appendages.

To avoid condensation probiems most roof spaces require cross ventilation to which end various forms of roof ventilators have been designed. The designs are however limited in their use as they are individually related to specific constructions forming roof to wall junctions and roof junctures. Further more the designs of the ventilators are limited to the function of roof ventilation only. The proliferation of products of limited usage and often performing the same role as one another is uneconomic in production, storage and marketing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ventilator which can provide an air flow between the external environment and roof spaces and is usable in most constructions which form the junctions of roofs to walls and roof junctures.

One aspect of the invention is a main ventilator unit which in the prefered example has openings of such size as to provide adequate ventilation to flat or pitched roof voids, air can flow through the unit horizontally and/or vertically. A weather proof upper surface extends from a protruding flange at the top of the ventilator to a drip at the front edge of external operning(s). Preferably the shape of the upper surface and drip serve to shield the external operning(s) from the effects of weather.

In one mode of use the protruding flange at the top of the upper surface may be used to form a weather resistant linkage to a wall abutment. In all modes of use the protruding flange enables means of fixing the unit to adjacent construction. At three different positions, the protruding flange, the front drip and at the base of the external operning(s), means of forming weather resistant connections to various appendages may be provided.

Means of guarding the external or internal air flow opernings may be provided to the extent of preventing the ingress of all vermin and most larger insects without restricting the free area of ventilation to below current legislative standards.

It is desirable to provide a method of connecting and aligning adjoining individual ventilator units. The shape and strength of the units should be such that they can when required span between intermittent points of support and in doing so carry loads normal to their conditions of use.

In certain modes of use fixity of the units to adjacent constructions should be possible about the base of the external operning(s).

This fixity capability ideally also enables provision of a means of restraining most roof weathering and flashing materials to an appendage later described.

One appendage providing fixity via the protruding flange of the units to adjacent construction at the same time may create a bird barrier, ventilation spacer and felt support in pitch roof constructions. Secure linkage of the appendage to the flange is desirable. The appendage fixity point at the base of the external operning(s) should ideally take the form of a push fit clip in socket. The appendages to be clipped into this socket include a roof weathering and flashing support/ventilation duct former, a facia strip and a combined facia strip and integral rain gutter.

The proof weathering and flashing support/ventilation duct former enables roof weatherings and flashings to be linked to the base of the ventilator units there to be held in position via means for a restraint and weathering strip fixed to the base fixity point. The appendage extends the horizontal internal operning(s) of the units to either a flat or pitched roof void.

In the facia/ventilator mode the facia appendages may be fixed to the base fixity socket.

When the facia gutter appendage is desired and clipped into the base socket the drip at the top of the external opening(s) would be preferably designed so as to direct the discharge of any roof weathering discharging over the units into the correct design position for the gutter below. The base drip also has a profile to enable a bird barrier to be afixed when the ventilator is used for pitched roofs.

Each appendage could be provided with its own method of fixity to adjacent construction as well as to the base of fixity socket, the weatherproof upper surface drip and protruding flange on the ventilator units.

In one example of the ventilator units internal divider vanes may be positioned in parallel to the ends of the main body and at intervals along its length, such vanes would provide for points of cutting leaving a closed end when cut at the side of the vane furthest from the opposite end, the vanes would also serve to strengthen the connections between opernings. These vanes may be inclined or curved inward and away from the opernings in order to permit the smallest possible free ventilation area at each air flow operning(s) as required by current legislation.

It may be desirable to provide non setting sealant or jointing connectors between the main unit ventilator and another or at the juncture of appendages one with another.

The prefered embodiment should encompass all of the forgoing in such a manner as to permit the most universal use of the venti lator units either alone or in conjunction with the appendages.

To further describe the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred ventilator embodyment A together with a facia appendage B.

Figure 5 shows a section through embodyment A together with a combined facia gutter 18.

Figures 9 and 10 are sections through embodyment A together with appendage 16, the felt support/ventilation duct extension, and a flashings restraint clip is with support spacer 17. The figures relate to a flat and a pitched roof.

Figure 8 indicates a section through embodyment A with a felt support appendage 13 attached. Appendage 13 includes a insulation compressing upper part 14 to provide ventilation passage above the compressed insulation.

Figures 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 11 show use of embodyment A in various roof to wall junctions and roof junctures.

Fig. 2 combines embodyment A with a flat roof including firring pieces and traditional facia with a gutter attached. Fig. 3 covers the same use but with the ommision of the firring peices. Further variations of the flat roof construction as in Figs. 2 and 3 is made by replacing the traditional facia and gutter by appendages 12 and 18 respectively in Figs. 4 and 5.

In Figs. 6 and 7 pitched roof construction is shown but with the variation of appendage 12 facia and traditional facia respectively. When the omition of a facia is required embodyment A may be linked to appendage 13 as shown in Fig. 8. Figs. 6 and 7 also show appendage 19 a indipendent bird barrier.

To provide cross flow ventilation at the opposite end of rafters or joists which have ventilation via say facia ventilation at one end embodyment A may be linked to appendage 16. This appendage supports roof flashings and extends the horizontal air flow operning(s) down to a pitched or flat roof void. The protruding flange is shown fixed into a abuting wall to form a weather resistant flashing. Fixity/restraint clip 15 would be used to restraint any roof flashing placed onto appendage 16 in position. Spacer piece 17 could be used to space appendage 16 from the abuting wall.

The length of appendage 16 enables variation of the height of fixity of embodyment A so that it will always be brick courseable.

In mono pitch roofs ventilation can be achieved at the top end of the rafters by use of embodyment A as shown.

Claims (23)

1. A multi-mode ventilator unit which comprizes an uppermost weather proof surface, means of attaching appendages at or about the top, front and bottom of the unit, provision for aligning the unit to building construction, opernings so positioned as to enable air to pass through the unit horizontally and or vertically in any direction and provisions, to enable fixity of the unit to building construction at or about the top and bottom of the unit.

Optional appendages possessing compatible means of attaching them to the unit and performing the functions of a facia, facia gutter combined, felt support and ventilation spacer with bird barrier, a bird barrier, roof finish or flashing restraint and weathering strip and a roof finish or flashing support forming a ventilation duct with a separate or integral spacer piece to its rear.

2. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in claim 1, which has a protrusion at or about its base to which appendages may be attached and through which fixity directly or indirectly to building construction may be attained, such protrusion also provides a masking and weathering affect to the junction of the base of the unit to building construction and serves as a means of aligning and locating the unit to building construction.

3. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in claims 1 and 2 which has a protrusion at or about its top to which appendages may be attached and through which fixity directly or indirectly to building construction may be attained, such protrusion in one or more modes of use is capable of forming a weather proof junction between the top of the weather proof upper surface and walling forming part of building construction and such protrusion serves as a means of aligning and locating the unit to building construction.

4. A multimode ventilation unit as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3 which has means for attaching appendages to the front edge of the uppermost weather proof surface. Such means of attachment also enables secure placement of weather resisting, accessories at abutments of units which placed end to end.

5. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in claims 2, 3 and 4 whereby the means of attachment between the appendages and the positions for attachment provided by the unit may achieve weather resistance and secure attachment between the unit and the appendages.

6. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in the preceeding claims which is so shaped that the uppermost weather proof surface discharges rainwater in the proper position for gutters and forms a weather sheild to any external facing ventilation operning.

7. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in claim 6, which has means of preventing the passage of most large insects and vermin through at least one plane of ventilation openings.

8. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in claims 6. and 7. whereby internal divider vanes are provided which are caperble of forming an end to the unit if it were cut across front to back.

9. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in claim 8 which is provided with means whereby the units will self align and hold to one another when positioned end to end, such provision may be included in the divider vanes also.

10. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in claim 9. to which chamfered edges may be provided to the ends of the uppermost weather proof surface to recieve a weathering sealant at the junction of one unit to another.

11. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in any preceeding claim which is so shaped, has such configuration of divider vanes, includes continuous strengthening members throughout its length and is generally designed so as to be caperble of sustaining loads normal to its use when supported at intervals.

12. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in claim 11 whose shape inciudes provision to create seatings which align and locate the unit to building construction at the base, rear, top and front of the unit.

13. A multimode ventilator unit as claimed in claims 11. and 12. whereby the unit shape provides minimum legislative ventilation amounts in all modes of use and encompasses all previous claims in the smallest practicable size of unit.

14. An appendage (12) as shown in Fig. 4 which has means of achieving secure attachment to the ventilation unit as claimed in claims 1 to 13 which when attached forms a combined ventilator and facia, such facia may be so shaped to suit various building constructions.

15. An appendage (18) as shown in Fig. 5 which has means of achieving secure attachment to the ventilator unit as claimed in claims 1 to 13 which when attached forms a combined ventilator, facia and integral rainwater gutter.

16. An appendage (20/13/14) as shown in Fig. 8 which has means of achieving secure attachment to the ventilator unit as claimed in claims 1 to 13 which when attached ferms a combined ventilator, bird barrier, roof felt support and insulation spacer enabling maintenance of airflow to the roof.

17. An appendage (19) as shown in Fig. 6 which has means of achieving secure attachment to the ventilator unit as claimed in claims 1 to 13 which when attached forms a combined ventilator and bird barrier.

18. An appendage (16) as shown in Figs.

(9 & 10) which has means of achieving secure attachment to the ventilator unit as claimed in claims 1 to 13 which when attached forms a ventilator and duct, the outer face of which is formed by the appendage and the inner face formed by a wall, such appendage being spaced of the wall.

19. An appendage (17) as shown in Figs.

9 and 10 which spans appendage (16) from any abutting wall and has means of enabling fixity too appendage (16).

20. An appendage (16) as claimed in claim 18 which provides support to roof finishes or flashing materials when placed against its outer vertical surface.

21. An appendage (15) as shown in Figs.

9 & 10 which has means of achieving secure attachment to the ventilator unit as claimed in claims 1 to 13 which when attached holds in position roof finishes of flashings placed against the outer face of appendage (16).

22. An appendage (15) as claimed in claim 21 which creates a weather resistant cover to roof finishes or flashings placed against the outer surface of appendage (16).

23. Ventilator units and appendages substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 indicating multi mode usage.