GB2338001A

GB2338001A - Ridge tile ventilation apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2338001A
Application number: GB9811822A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Cameron Challinor
Original assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-03
Filing date: 1998-06-03
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-03
Also published as: GB2338001B; GB9811822D0

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for ventilating a ridge of a roof (10), the apparatus providing a ridge vent (28) which spans the junction between respective ends of adjacent ridge tiles (26) of the roof. The ridge vent (28) defines a path for the flow of air from one side of the tiles (26) to the other side through the junction.

Description

2338001 1 Ridge Ventilation Apparatus The application relates to an

apparatus for ventilating ridge tiles on roof s.

Roofs often include two sloping tiled sections which meet at an apex, a row of ridge tiles being provided along the apex. It is necessary that such roof ridges be ventilated to reduce condensation within the roof void. Roof ridges must also be resistant to uplift from wind.

It is known to vent roof ridges by allowing air to flow between the bottom of the ridge tiles and the uppermost roof tiles.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for ventilating a ridge of a roof, the apparatus providing means for spanning the junction between respective ends of adjacent ridge tiles of the roof and for defining a path for flow of air from one side of the tiles to the other side through the junction.

Preferably the apparatus further provides means for shielding the air flow path, to prevent rainwater or falling debris from entering the air flow path when the apparatus is in use.

Preferably the apparatus includes means for engaging the respective ends of the ridge tiles. These means may include arms for embracing the respective ends of the ridge tiles. A pair of arms including an upper and a lower arm may be provided on each respective side of the apparatus. The lower arm may include means for spacing the arm from the underside of the ridge tile, in use, to allow any trapped water to escape.

The apparatus may provide a base part and a cover part. Preferably at least one aperture is formed in the base part. Preferably the cover part overlies the aperture in the base part, in use.

2 The upper arm may be provided on the cover part and the lower arm on the base part. Alternatively the base part may be formed with spaced upper and lower arms opening to each respective side of the base part.

The base and cover parts may be engagable together. A projection provided on one of the base and cover parts may engage the other of the base and the cover parts and may be receivable within a recess within the other of the base and the cover parts. Preferably detent means are provided for maintaining the projection in the recess. The projection may be resilient. A plurality of projections may be provided. The projections may locate between the respective ends of the ridge tiles.

Preferably the projection extends from the cover member. The detent means may engage a portion of the base part. The detent means may engage under an inner corner of an arm of the base part.

A plurality of discrete air flow paths may be provided by the apparatus. The discrete air flow paths may be located between adjacent projections, in use.

Means may be provided for attaching the apparatus to a roof, to retain the ridge tiles on the roof. These means may include one or more holes passing through the apparatus, for receiving screws. The holes may be provided within the projections.

The base part may include walls extending between the proximal ends of the respective arms, the walls in use overlying outer surfaces of the ridge tiles. The walls may extend upwardly above the upper arm, in use. The cover may overlie the extending walls, and extend over the respective ends of the adjacent ridge tiles in a spaced relation thereto thereby defining a tortuous path for flow of air between the or each aperture of the base part and externally of the cover part.

Alternatively, the base part may include inner walls extending inwardly 3 and upwardly from a region of the lower ones of the arms, and the cover part may overlie the walls to present an outer surface substantially flush with the upper ones of the arms.

The cover may be arcuate in shape, as viewed along a row of ridge tiles.

The invention also provides an arrangement for ventilating a ridge of a roof, the arrangement comprising a plurality of ridge tiles each of which includes a main body part and one end part extending out of a plane of the body part, whereby said one end part of one tile can overlie the other end part of an adjacent tile and provide a path for flow of air from one side of the tiles to the other side through the junction defined by the adjacent end parts.

Preferably the other end part of each tile is formed substantially in or below the plane of the main body part.

The said one end part may include means for shielding the air flow path, to prevent rainwater or falling debris from entering the air flow path when the apparatus is in use.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described for the purposes of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view from above of a roof ridge incorporating a plurality of ridge vents according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective sectioned view of a ridge vent of Fig. 1 with a cover portion of the ridge vent in place; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective sectioned view of the ridge vent of Fig. 2 with the cover portion lifted; 4 Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic section through Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic section along the line V-V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic detail of a clip arrangement suitable for the ridge vent of Figs. 1 to 5; Figs. 7A and 7B are diagrammatic sections through a ridge vent according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic section through a ridge vent according to a third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic section through a ridge vent according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic section through a ridge vent according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic section through a ridge vent according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of an apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic section through the hatched centre of Fig. 12.

Referring in particular to Figs. 1 and 4, a tiled pitched roof 10 includes first and second sloping sections 12 and 14 respectively. Each sloping section 12, 14 of the roof 10 includes rafters 18 which mount wooden battens 20. The battens 20 are affixed to the rafters at spaced intervals so as to extend horizontally. The battens support roofing tiles 22. The uppermost courses 24 of the roofing tiles 22 do not meet, and the gap between these courses of tiles is bridged by a row of ridge tiles 26. In the arrangement illustrated, the ridge tiles 26 are attached to the rafters 18 by wires 27, visible in Fig. 4, and cemented down onto the uppermost courses 24 of the roofing tiles 22. However, other fixing arrangements may be used.

Prior art ridge ventilation systems have provided a path for air flow between the bottom edges of the ridge tiles 26 and the upper faces of the adjacent roof tiles 24 in a region generally indicated by the reference numeral 2 5 in Fig. 1. In contrast, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, ventilation is provided by allowing air flow between adjacent ridge tiles 26 as described below.

Ridge vents 2 8 span the junctions between the ridge tiles 2 6, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 to 5. Each ridge vent 28 includes a base portion 30 and a cover portion 32, each moulded from plastics material such as polypropylene or polyvinylchloride and having a wall thickness of about 2mrn. The base portion 30 is formed in two halves joined by cross-members 34 stretching between baffle walls 35. The cross-members 34 are visible in Fig. 5. Each half of the base portion 30 includes a pair of arms 36 which embrace an end of a ridge tile 26. The arms 36 include inwardly protruding portions 38 for engaging the ridge tile 26 and keeping the base portions 30 in place thereon.

The cover portion 32 of each ridge vent 28 is mounted on its respective base portion 30 in the position shown in Fig. 2, such that air may flow along the tortuous path marked with arrows in Fig. 2. This provides ventilation to the area underneath the ridge tile 26. The cover portion 32 is releasably mounted on the base portion 30 by clip arrangements 40 shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The clip arrangement 40 is shown in more detail in Fig. 6, and includes a first resilient plastics portion 42, moulded as part of the cover portion 32 and a second resilient plastics portion 44 moulded as part of the base portion 30. Only an upper part of the portion 44 is shown. The first plastics portion 42 includes a peg consisting of flexible arms 46 and a detent cap 48. The arms 46 6 may be pushed into a socket 50 in the second plastics portion 44, the arms initially being squeezed together and subsequently springing apart due to their resilience such that the detent cap 48 clips into place in the recess 50. The first portion 44 may be removed from the recess 50 by pushing the arms 46 together.

Several such clip arrangements are provided on each ridge vent. The first portions 42 are formed on the underside of a central region of the cover portion 32, and the second portions 42 are formed on the cross-members 35.

When the cover portion 32 is in place on the base portion 30, it prevents rainwater and debris such as leaves and twigs from entering the body of the ridge vents 28 and acts as a wind baffle.

Fig. 3 illustrates the ridge vent 2 8 with the cover portion 3 2 lifted away from the base portion 30, to show the shape of the base portion 30 more clearly.

Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention. A ridge vent 28 includes a base portion 30, which is formed in two halves, each generally L-shaped in section. Each half of the base portion 30 includes an arm 36 and a wall 3 5. The arm 26 is spaced from the underside of its respective ridge tile and includes baffles 3 7 to control the flow of any water passing into the ridge vent.

A cover portion 32 overlies the base portion 30. The cover portion 32 includes resilient projections 52 which extend from a central region thereof. The projections 52 are received within complementary recesses 54 provided between the two halves of the base part 30. Each projection 52 includes a detent 56 which snaps into place under a bottom corner 58 of its respective recess 54 to retain the cover and base portions 32, 30 together. A plurality of such projections 52 are provided, each being received within a complementary recess 54.

7 The boundaries of the recesses 54 form cross members, extending between the two halves of the base portion 30 and holding these two halves together.

Between the boundaries of adjacent recesses 54, gaps are formed, and it is these gaps which allow the flow of air through the ridge vent 28. The cover portion 32 includes openings 59 in fluid communication with these gaps, which complete the air flow path.

Within each projection 52 is a generally cylindrical hole 60. This receives a screw (not shown) which can be used to affix the ridge vents 28 to the roof structure of a building and thereby to fix the ridge tiles to the roof structure.

Figs. 8 to 11 illustrate alternative embodiments of a ridge vent according to the invention. Corresponding parts have been given the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 to 7. The cross-members and clip arrangements have been omitted for clarity.

The ridge vent of Fig. 8 includes a cover portion 32 which is mounted flush with the uppermost part of the base portion 30. This gives a neater appearance and mininlises wind lift. However, air flow rates may be lower than in other embodiments and debris may fall into a gulley 62. In this embodiment, instead of the baffle wall 35, an inner wall 64 extends inwardly and upwardly from the region of the lower arm.

The ridge vent of Fig. 9 provides better air flow and has no gulley for debris, but its wind lift is higher.

The curved profile of the cover portion of Fig. 10 provides relatively low wind lift, as well as including no gulley to catch debris. The embodiment of Fig. 11 provides even lower wind lift by extending the cover portion laterally beyond the base portion and reducing its minimum height above the ridge tile.

8 There is thus provided a convenient ridge ventilation system which incorporates vents into the members which connect the ridge tiles together. The ridge vents are straightforward to fit and provide good ventilation.

Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. The ridge vents may be modified to fit different shapes of ridge tiles, for example tiles having different radii of curvature or being angled rather than curved. The ridge vents, particularly the cover portions, may be coloured to match the different types of ridge tile.

As an alternative to the above described embodiment, ridge tiles may be provided which fit together in such a way that ventilation may take place between the tiles. In this case, no separate ridge vent members are necessary. The tiles overlap with one another as illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 12 and 13.

A modified ridge tile 64 according to the invention includes an end portion 66 which is raised so as to overlie the end portion of the adjacent tile. Elongate projections 68 lie along the underside of the raised end portion 66, and air flow takes place therebetween. The air flow is shown by the arrows in Fig. 13, which is a cross-section through the hatched centre of Fig. 12. Additional holes 70 may be provided as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 13, to provide additional ventilation.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

9

Claims

1. Apparatus for ventilating a ridge of a roof, the apparatus providing means for spanning the junction between respective ends of adjacent ridge tiles of the roof and for defining a path for flow of air from one side of the tiles to the other side through the junction.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further provides means for shielding the air flow path, to prevent rainwater or falling debris from entering the air flow path when the apparatus is in use.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the apparatus includes means for engaging the respective ends of the ridge tiles.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means for engaging the respective ends of the ridge tiles includes arms for embracing the respective ends of the ridge tiles, a pair of arms including an upper and a lower arm being provided on each respective side of the apparatus.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the lower arm includes means for spacing the arm from the underside of the ridge tile, in use, to allow any trapped water to escape.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the apparatus including a base part and a cover part wherein at least one aperture is formed in the base part.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the cover part overlies the aperture in the base part, in use.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein an upper arm is provided on the cover part and a lower arm on the base part.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the base part is formed with spaced upper and lower arms opening to each respective side of the base part.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 9 wherein the base and cover parts are engagable together.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein a projection provided on one of the base and cover parts may engage the other of the base and the cover parts and may be receivable within a recess within the other of the base and the cover parts, detent means being provided for maintaining the projection in the recess.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the projection is resilient.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein a plurality of projections are provided, the projections being locatable between the respective ends of the ridge tiles.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the projection extends from the cover member and the detent means engages under an inner corner of an arm of the base part.

15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a plurality of discrete air flow paths are provided by the apparatus.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the discrete air flow paths are located between adjacent projections, in use.

17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means for attaching the apparatus to a roof, to retain the ridge tiles on the roof.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the apparatus for attaching the ridge tiles to the roof includes one or more holes passing through the 11 apparatus, for receiving screws.

19. Apparatus according to claim 6 when appended to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the base part includes walls extending between the proximal ends of respective arms, the walls in use overlying outer surfaces of the ridge tiles, the walls extending upwardly above the upper arm, in use.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the cover overlies the extending walls, and extends over the respective ends of the adjacent ridge tiles in a spaced relation thereto thereby defining a tortuous path for flow of air between an aperture in the base part and externally of the cover part.

21. Apparatus according to claim 6 when appended to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the base part includes inner walls extending inwardly and upwardly from a region of the lower ones of the arms, and the cover part may overlie the walls to present an outer surface substantially flush with the upper ones of the arms.

22. Apparatus according to claim 6 or any of claims 7 to 21 when appended to claim 6 wherein the cover is arcuate in shape, as viewed along a row of ridge tiles.

23. An arrangement for ventilating a ridge of a roof, the arrangement comprising a plurality of ridge tiles each of which includes a main body part and one end part extending out of a plane of the body part, whereby said one end part of one tile can overlie the other end part of an adjacent tile and provide a path for flow of air from one side of the tiles to the other side through the junction defined by the adjacent end parts.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the other end part of each tile is formed substantially in or below the plane of the main body part.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the said one end part may 12 include means for shielding the air flow path, to prevent rainwater or falling debris from entering the air flow path when the apparatus is in use.

26. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings.

27. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 7A and 7B of the drawings.

28. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings.

29. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings.

30. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 10 of the drawings.

31. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 11 of the drawings.

32. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings.

33. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the sarne invention as any of the preceding claims.