Abstract:
A vent suitable for a tiled roof and including a vent member and a sealing member, the sealing member including a pleated, malleable material. The sealing member conforms to the uneven surface of the roof and seals the vent and roof from ingress of precipitation, particulates, and insects, while allowing the building to be ventilated. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to, and hereby incorporates by reference, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/739,822, filed 23 Nov. 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to roof vents and, in particular, this invention relates to vents for tiled roofs.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Adequate ventilation is necessary to ensure that the structural materials and roofs is not degraded by the presence of condensed moisture and the presence of wind blown precipitation, insects, particulates, and the like. However, tiled roofs have presented a particular challenge when vents are installed because the contours of tiled roofs are generally undulating with crests and troughs therein. To this end, it has often been necessary to install materials such as foam or the like beneath the vents, such that the foam will fill the contours presented by the tiles. Other materials, such as mortar, blown insulation, or expanding foams have also been used. However, these materials involve extra time and are often inefficient, expensive to install. In addition to being inefficient and adding extra expense, the materials used often degrade due to exposure to sunlight and weathering.  
         [0004]     There is then a need for a vent with a feature conforming to the undulating contour of a tiled roof.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     This invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry by providing a vent with a feature conforming to the undulating contour of a tiled roof.  
         [0006]     This invention provides a venting device for a tiled roof, the venting device comprising a vent member and a sealing member, the sealing member including a malleable material, capable of being configured and sealed to the undulations of the tiled roof.  
         [0007]     It is a feature of the instant vent that the sealing member folds between a position substantially beneath the vent member and a position wherein a portion of the sealing member is substantially outboard the vent member. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the sealing member, when folded inwardly, occupies a minimum volume for efficient and economic storage and transport.  
         [0008]     It is yet another feature of the instant vent that a portion of the sealing member may be configured between a folded and an unfolded configuration. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the sealing member may be folded for transportation and storage, then unfolded to be configured to, and seal, an undulating roof.  
         [0009]     It is yet another feature of the instant vent that the sealing member has an undulating, convoluted configuration. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the sealing member can accommodate a convoluted roof configuration when portions of the convoluted sealing member are unfolded, or straightened, when being pressed against, or conformed to, the roof.  
         [0010]     It is yet another feature of the instant vent that the sealing member is configurable to individual roof contours. It is an advantage of the foregoing feature that the instant vent may be configured to roof contours, which are not uniform. It is another advantage of the foregoing feature that the instant vent may be installed on roofs having non-identical opposing slopes, e.g., due to errors during installation.  
         [0011]     These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, when considered in view of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the instant sealable tile ridge roof vent with the sealing members in an extended configuration.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the roof vent of  FIG. 1  with the sealing members in a folded configuration.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the roof vent of  FIG. 1  with one of the sealing members partially unfolded.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof vent of  FIG. 1  showing an enlarged view of the partially unfolded sealing member of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof vent of  FIG. 1  showing an enlarged view of the folded sealing member of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of the sealing member of the roof vent of  FIG. 1  in a partially unfolded configuration.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the sealing member of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the sealing member of  FIG. 6  in a folded configuration.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof vent of  FIG. 1  being installed on a tiled roof.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the roof vent of  FIG. 1  installed on a tiled roof.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is another perspective view of the roof vent of  FIG. 1  installed on a tiled roof.  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is yet another perspective view of the roof vent of  FIG. 1  installed on a tiled roof, cap tiles disposed over the roof vent.  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the instant roof vent in a partially unfolded configuration.  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of lateral edges of the instant vent member and instant sealing member in an extended configuration.  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the roof vent of  FIG. 1 , depicting the sealing member in an unfolded configuration.  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is a fragmentary sectional view of one embodiment of the three-ply material used in the manufacture of the vent member of this invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the three-ply material used in the manufacture of the vent member of this invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is a fragmentary sectional view of an embodiment of a two-ply material used in the manufacture of the vent member of this invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 19  is a fragmentary plan view depicting one method of defining the top and vent panels of the vent member of this invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 20  is a side view depicting one method of assembling the vent member of this invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 21  is plan view depicting another method of defining the top and vent panels of this invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 22  is a side view depicting another method of assembling the vent member of this invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 23  is a fragmentary perspective view showing another embodiment of the vent member of this invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 24  is a fragmentary perspective view depicting yet another embodiment of the vent member of this invention.  
         [0036]      FIG. 25  is a fragmentary perspective view showing still another embodiment of the vent member of this invention. 
     
    
       [0037]     It is understood that the above-described figures are only illustrative of the present invention and are not contemplated to limit the scope thereof.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0038]     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used to practice the invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, dimensions, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.  
         [0039]     Any references to such relative terms as front and back, right and left, top and bottom, upper and lower, horizontal and vertical, or the like, are intended for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the present invention or its components to any one positional or spatial orientation.  
         [0040]     Each of the additional features and methods disclosed herein may be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and methods to provide improved devices of this invention and methods for making and using the same. The following description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, specific combinations of features and methods disclosed in the following detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative embodiments of the invention. Thus, a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that individual components shown on various embodiments of the present invention are interchangeable to some extent and may be added or interchanged on other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.  
         [0041]     Referring to the figures, a sealable vent for a tile roof ridge of this invention is indicated generally at  100  and includes a vent member  102  and a sealing member  104  extending from one of or each lateral edge of the vent member  102 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a pair of sealing members present and  FIG. 3  depicts a single sealing member attached to the second vent  114 .  
         [0042]     One embodiment of the vent member  102  is a top panel  110  attached to respective first and second vents  112  and  114  in a generally overlaying manner. The vents  112 ,  114 , in turn, may be made from a plurality of vent panels  116  disposed in a parallel, generally contacting relation. A filtering fabric  118  may also be present. If present, the filtering fabric  118  may be attached to the vent member  102  so that an airflow egressing from a building through the vent member  102  must flow through the filtering fabric  118  before egressing the vent member  102 . In the embodiment depicted, lateral ends of the filtering fabric  118  are attached to lower surfaces of the bottom-most vent panels  116 . Air exchange is effected through airflow passages  120  formed from the corrugated material of the top panel  110 , vent panels  116  and from a route  122  formed generally axially and longitudinally in the top panel  110 . This and other exemplary and suitable vent members are disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,354, hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0043]     The sealing member  104 , in the embodiment shown, is attached to the lower vent panel  116  of each first and second vent  112 ,  114  by an adhesive strip  130 , e.g., including butyl adhesive. The sealing member  104  may be made from a malleable metal, such as aluminum or the like with a thickness providing the requisite malleability, resilience, and resistance to weathering. However, materials such as synthetic resins and fabrics having the requisite stiffness, malleability, stretch characteristics (e.g., “memory,” rubberized), and resistance to weathering and sunlight may be suitable for other embodiments. In the embodiment depicted, the sealing member  104  includes a folded section  132  and a sealing section  134  and is fashioned from a pleated or a corrugated material having wave-like convolutions  136  which may be characterized as having a trough  138 , a crest  140 , and a period or wavelength  144 . Layers  145  of the folded section  132  are defined by creases  146 , a crease  146  also separating the folded section  132  from the sealing section  134 . Each crease  146  is formed by crushing the corrugated material axially, so as to flatten the troughs  138  and crests  140  along a generally longitudinal line.  
         [0044]     An adhesive strip  148  is present on the lower surface of the lateral edge of each sealing section  134  and a strip of a release material  150  overlays the adhesive strip  148 . The adhesive of the adhesive strip  148  may be made from a material such as butyl adhesive and the release material may comprise materials such as paper or a synthetic resin, optionally with a release material such as silicone.  
         [0045]     The sealing member  104 , after being creased and folded as described above, is attached to lateral edges of the first and second vent panels  112 ,  114  by means of applying the adhesive strip  130 , e.g. about 2.54 cm wide and 0.1778 mm thick. The adhesive strip  148  may be applied to a lower surface of the sealing section  134  in an axial band, e.g., about 2.22 cm wide and about 4.76 mm thick.  FIG. 1  shows the instant roof vent with the sealing sections  134  unfolded in a position to be configured to the contours of a tile roof.  FIG. 2  shows the instant roof vent with the sealing sections  134  in a folded position suitable for storage or transport.  
         [0046]     In use, the sealing members  104  of the roof ventilator  100  are folded outwardly as depicted in  FIGS. 1, 9 ,  13 ,  14  and  15  and placed over the ridge of a tile roof  160  having slits along one or both sides of the roof ridge. The tile roof  160  includes a plurality of tiles  162 , each tile  162  having a crest  164  and a trough  166 . The release material  150  is separated from the adhesive strip  148 . Portions of the sealing section  134  are then pressed against the tile from the configuration shown in  FIG. 9  to the configurations shown in  FIGS. 10, 11  and  12 , thereby “expanding” the sealing section  134  and adhering the sealing section  134  to the contours of the tile  162 . Notably, portions of the corrugations in the sealing section  134  are unfolded to allow the sealing section  134  to “stretch” so that so that the sealing section  134  contacts and adheres to the tile troughs  166 , as well as the crests  164 , of the tiles  162 , thereby completely sealing the undulating, tiled roof beneath the instant vent from precipitation, wind-blown particulate ingress, and invading fauna, such as insects. The instant vent may then be further secured as desired, then a cap tile  168  may be installed over the instant vent as shown in  FIG. 12 . Thusly positioned, the instant vent is hidden from view by the cap tile  168 , yet allows air to egress the ventilated building, while preventing ingressing moisture, insects, and particulates via the applied sealing section  134 .  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIG. 16 , one exemplary material which may be used to construct the vent member of this invention is a three-ply material  180 , which is weatherproof and resistant to UV radiation in some embodiments. The material  180  depicted in  FIG. 16  has first planar plies  182  and  184  and a second convoluted (fluted) ply  186  joined to the planar plies  182  and  184  to define the airflow passages  120 . An alternative three-ply material is shown at  188  in  FIG. 17  and includes first planar plies  190  and  192  and a second ply  194 . In the embodiment shown, the second ply  194  includes a series of cross-walls  196  extending generally transversely (e.g., perpendicular) to the planar plies  190  and  192  to define the airflow passages  120 . Referring to  FIG. 18 , a two-ply material  198  is shown having a first planar ply  200  and a second convoluted (fluted) ply  202 . The first ply  200  and second ply  202  are joined together to form the airflow passages  120 . Moreover, when two or more layers of the two-ply material are folded such that the convoluted plies  202  generally face and contact each other, another multiplicity of air passages  120  is formed therebetween. The foregoing materials  180 ,  188 , and  198  may be formed from a high density polyethylene or other synthetic resin. However, these weatherproof materials may also be formed from corrugated paper board coated with a sealant such as an epoxy to protect the paper board from deterioration due to moisture and similar elements. In addition to being impervious to moisture, suitable materials may also resist deterioration from exposure to solar radiation and heat. Such corrugated polyethylene shown may be obtained from U.S. Corrulite, Inc., South Bay, Fla., Diversi-Plast Products, Inc. Golden Valley, Minn., and Fremont Direct Products, Ind. Fremont, Ohio.  
         [0048]      FIG. 19  shows the vent member  102  of this invention may be formed from a unitary sheet  204 . Sheet  204  is formed, e.g., from the above-described materials. A series of cut score lines  206  and  208  defined in the top panel  110  and vent panels  210 ,  212 , and  214 . The score lines  206  and  208 , in the embodiment depicted, extend generally parallel to a longitudinal axis  216 .  FIG. 22  depicts the top panel  110  and vent panel  210  as being formed by extending the slit  206  in the first planar ply  182  and at least partially through the convoluted ply  186 . The intermediate vent panel  212  is laterally adjacent the first formed vent panel  210  and is partially defined along the score line  208 . The score line  208  is formed by extending the slit to the other first planar ply  184  and at least partially through the convoluted ply  186 . Finally, intermediate panel  212  and a flanking panel  214  are defined completely by extending the score line  206  as described above. Having been defined by the score lines  206  and  208 , the panels  210 ,  212 , and  214  may be folded under the top panel  110  in a Z-fold technique.  
         [0049]     Fasteners, such as staples  228 , may then be placed into the top panel  110  and extended through each of the vent panels  210 ,  212  and  214  to secure the vent panels in place with respect to the top panel  110 .  FIG. 19  depicts one embodiment of the vent member of this invention as having a route  218  coextensive with the longitudinal axis  260 . The route  218  may be defined on a lower surface  229  of the top panel  110  by removing a generally linear portion of the first planar ply  184  and an underlying portion of the second ply  186 . The route  218  formed thusly may be generally arcuate in cross section. However, other cross-sectional confirmations are possible. For example, one alternate cross-sectional geometry may be generally square or rectangular. Any of the route geometries achieved may define interior openings for the air passages  120  in the top panel  110 . These interior openings for the air passages  120  in the top panel  110  enable airflow in addition to the air passages in the vent panels  210 ,  212 , and  214 . The route defined in the top panel  110  also functions to allow this embodiment of the vent member of this invention to be folded easily and precisely along the longitudinal axis  216  during installation for conformance to the contours of a roof, e.g., at the ridge thereof.  
         [0050]      FIG. 21  depicts an alternative method of forming the vent member  102 , hence top panel  110  and vent panels  210 ,  212 , and  214  from the sheet  204 . As in the case with the score lines  206  and  208 , perforated lines  222  extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  216 . However, in contrast to the score lines  206  and  208 , perforated lines  222  are formed by a series of perforations  224  extending through the plies  182 ,  184 , and  186 . Interspersed between the perforations  224  are intact areas  226 . The perforated lines  222 , hence the perforations  224 , thus define the top panel  110  and vent panels  210 ,  212 , and  214 . The perforations  224  further define exterior openings for the airflow passages  120 . Once formed, the vent panels  210 ,  212 , and  214  may be Z-folded under the top panel  110  as described above and may be secured together by means of a fastener, such as a staple, in a manner described above as well.  
         [0051]     Referring to  FIG. 22 , yet another alternate method of forming the vent member  102  is depicted, in which the top panel  110  and vent panels  210 ,  212 , and  214  are defined by being completely severed from the unitary sheet  204 . Once severed, the vent panels  210 ,  212 , and  214  may be stacked beneath the top panel  110  and secured thereto by means of fasteners, such as staples  228 , or by equivalent means such as adhesives. Also depicted are additional vent panels  230  and  232  to demonstrate by illustration and not limitation that any number of vent panels may be present in various embodiments of the vent member of this invention. As formed by each of the methods described above, once assembled, the vent member of this invention, as described above, includes a top panel and one or more vent panels in a fixed, stacked, and contacting relation.  
         [0052]     Another alternative suitable for some embodiments of the vent member of this invention is shown in  FIG. 23  at  234  and includes first plies  236  and  238  and a second ply  240 . The first plies  236  in  238  maybe planar or convoluted, depending upon the contour of the surface to which the vent member will be affixed. The second ply  240  may be a matting of individual filaments  241  of a plastic (synthetic resin) polymeric material, which may be resistant to degradation when exposed to precipitation, heat, and solar radiation. These filaments may include a nylon or other polymers. In contrast to the defined and discrete airflow passages described above, the filaments of this embodiment define intersecting and non-discrete airflow passages, which allow egress of air from buildings being vented by the vent of this invention.  
         [0053]     In  FIG. 24  another embodiment of the vent member of this invention is depicted generally at  242 . The vent member  242  includes at least one first, generally planar ply  244 . The first ply  244  is medially divided by a hinge  246  to enable the vent member  242  to easily conform to an apex or ridge line of a roof. Also included is a second ply  248 . Not shown but present in some embodiments is a second first ply  244  which overlays the second ply  248 . One of the first plies attaches to the sealing member of this invention in a manner similar to that described above. The second ply includes rows of spacer elements  250  proximate each lateral edge and a matting  252  disposed between two of the rows of spacer elements. The matting  252  may include the plastic (synthetic resin) filaments described above.  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIG. 25 , another embodiment of the vent member of this invention is indicated at  254 . The vent member  254  may be formed as a single-sheet, open work mat or web  256  of randomly convoluted polymeric (synthetic resin) filaments. The mat  256  has a longitudinal medial hinge or centerline  258  dividing the mat  256  into a pair of substantially identical, longitudinally-extending lateral flaps, or side portions  260  and  262 , which, during installation, may be disposed at an angle to conform to a roof ridge. The mat  256  may have a substantially planar upper surface  264  and a substantially planar roof confronting lower surface  266 . A plurality of cusps, or hollow spacer elements,  268  may be disposed in a plurality of longitudinal rows extending throughout the longitudinal flaps  260  and  262 . Each cusp  268  projects downwardly from the upper surface  264  and has a basal portion  270 , which may be co-planar with the upper face  264  and an apex portion  272  a spaced distance therefrom. The apex portions  272  form the roof confronting surface  266  of the mat  256 . The cusps  44  space the face  264  of the mat  256  from the roof to provide of ventilation passageways therebetween. A strip of air permeable filter material  274  may be secured to the roof confronting surface  266  of the mat  256 . The filter  274  permits air to egress the structure, while preventing insects, rain, snow, blowing foreign objects, and the like from ingress. The sealing members  104  may be attached to lateral portions of the filter  274 . In some embodiments, a continuous length of filter material  274  is thermally or adhesively bonded to the apex portions  272  of the cusps  268  and may extend to the edge flanges  276  and  278  of the lateral flaps  260  and  262 . Because the edge flanges  276  and  278  are substantially co-planar with the upper surface  264  of the mat  256  in this embodiment, weather and insects are prevented from ingress. The filter material  274  may also extend over, and cover, the slot formed in the roof so that insects or other foreign objects cannot ingress through the slot. The filtered material  274  may be a sheet-like fabric, such as non-woven polyester nylon or other synthetic resins. Alternatively, the filter material to be formed from needle-punched non-woven material, metal mesh screens, or the like, which would provide permeability through small spaces in their structures. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily comprehend that suitable synthetic resins for the components described herein may be selected from Handbook of Plastics, Elastomers, and Composites, Third Edition, Charles A. Harper, Editor in Chief, McGraw-Hill, New York (1996), hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0055]     The upper surface  264  of the mat  256  may be reinforced adjacent nail lines  280  and  282 . Each nail line  280  and  282  extends in a longitudinal direction on one of lateral flap  262  and  264 , respectively, and maybe located at a spaced distance from the centerline hinge  258  and edge flanges  276  and  278 . The mat  256  may be reinforced with one or more strips of nail line reinforcement material  284 , which may be bonded to the upper surface  264  of the mat  256 . The nail line reinforcement material may be a sheet-like fabric material, such as non-woven nylon polyester, an elastomeric material, or other synthetic resin.  
         [0056]     Because numerous modifications of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.