Patent Publication Number: US-8978323-B1

Title: Pitch adjustable ridge ventilator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a utility patent application taking priority from provisional application No. 61/820,736 filed on May 8, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to ventilation of buildings and more specifically to a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator, which may be adapted for use on roofs having different pitch angles. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Proper ventilation of a roof prevents premature failure of roofing materials (such as shingles) due to excessive heat; moisture due to condensation, thus preventing a major source of mold and mildew; and ice damming in cold climates, which also leads to premature failure of roofing materials. Some of the factors that dictate ventilation requirements include roof size, attic space area, length of roof ridge, length of roof eaves, pitch of roof, the amount of insulation below the roof, exposure to sun, climate, humidity and temperature extremes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,704,500 to Bonforte discloses a ventilated ridge roll. U.S. Pat. No. 3,073,235 to Smith et al. discloses roof ventilators. However, the prior art does not teach or suggest a ridge ventilator, which is specifically designed to be modified for roofs having different pitch angles. 
     Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator, which includes elements that may be angularly adjusted to fit the pitch of roofs having different pitch angles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator, which may be adapted for use on roofs having different pitch angles. The pitch adjustable ridge ventilator preferably includes a plurality of adjustable pitch members, a pair of perforated members, a pair of perforated support members and a pair of U-shaped drip members. Each adjustable pitch member includes a bottom flange, a vertical support and a top flange. The bottom flange extends outward from a bottom of the vertical support in one direction and the top flange preferably extends outward from a top of the vertical support in an opposite direction. The bottom flange and the vertical support include a slit in a middle thereof to allow an included angle of the adjustable pitch member to be adjusted to fit different pitch roofs. Each perforated member preferably includes a perforated plate, a turned-up end and a turned-down end. One end of the perforated plate is bent-up to create an acute angle with the perforated plate to form the turned-up end. The other end is bent-down to be substantially perpendicular with the perforated plate to form the turned-down end. 
     A second embodiment of the adjustable pitch member includes a pair of bottom flanges, a vertical support, a top flange and a pair of middle flanges. The bottom flange extends outward from a bottom of the vertical support in one direction and the top flange preferably extends outward from a top of the vertical support in an opposite direction. The pair of middle flanges are formed in substantially a middle of a height of the vertical support and at each end thereof. The pair of middle flanges extend outward from the vertical member. A slit is formed in a middle of the vertical support to allow an included angle of the second embodiment of the adjustable pitch member to be adjusted to fit different pitch roofs. 
     Each perforated support member includes a bottom support flange, a vertical support member and a top support flange. The bottom support flange extends outward from a bottom of the vertical support member in one direction and the top support flange preferably extends outward from a top of the vertical support member in an opposite direction. The plurality of adjustable pitch members, the pair of perforated members, and the pair of perforated support members are preferably attached to each other with mechanical clinching, but other methods may also be used to form a vent support assembly. Each U-shaped drip member preferably includes an angled plate, a bottom lip and a top fastening flange. The bottom lip extends inward from a bottom of the angled plate at an acute angle. The top fastening flange extends inward from a top of the angled plate at an obtuse angle. 
     The pitch adjustable ridge ventilator is preferably installed in the following manner. A ventilation opening is formed in a ridge of a roof. A bottom support flange of a first perforated support member is attached to a first side of the ventilation slot with a plurality of fasteners and a bottom support flange of a second perforated support member is attached to a second side of the ventilation slot with the plurality of fasteners. The roof sheathing is attached to a top of the top flanges of the adjustable pitch members with a plurality of roof fasteners. The top fastening flanges of the pair of drip members are placed over an end of the roof sheathing and the bottom lips are placed under the ends of the perforated members. A plurality of sheathing fasteners are used to attach the top fastening flanges to the roof sheathing. Each end of the pitch adjustable ridge ventilator is terminated with an end plate. Shingles are attached to a top of the roof sheathing. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator, which includes elements that may be angularly adjusted to fit the pitch of roofs having different pitch angles. 
     These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a roof with a ventilation opening for attachment of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a vent support assembly of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator before attachment to a roof in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adjustable pitch member of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of a vent support assembly utilizing a second embodiment of an adjustable pitch member of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator, before attachment to a roof in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of roof sheathing before attachment to top flanges of a plurality adjustable pitch members of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pair of U-shaped drip members before attachment to ends of roof sheathing of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second pair of U-shaped drip members being slipped under a first pair of U-shaped drip members and before attachment of the second pair of U-shaped drip members to roof sheathing of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an unfolded top member of an end plate of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an unfolded bottom member of an end plate of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an end plate assembled from top and bottom portions of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a partially exploded perspective view of an end plate before attachment to an end of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is perspective view of an end plate before attachment to an end of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an end view of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator attached to a roof in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 11   a  is an end view of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator with a second embodiment of an adjustable pitch member attached to a roof in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 11 , there is shown an end view of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator  1 . With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 11 , a ventilation opening  104  for attachment of a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator  1  is formed in a ridge  102  of a roof  100 . With reference to  FIGS. 2-4 , the pitch adjustable ridge ventilator  1  preferably includes a plurality of adjustable pitch members  10 , a pair of perforated members  12 ,  13 , a pair of perforated support members  14 ,  15  and a pair of U-shaped drip members  16 ,  17 . Each adjustable pitch member  10  includes a bottom flange  18 , a vertical support  20  and a top flange  22 . The bottom flange  18  extends outward from a bottom of the vertical support  20  in one direction and the top flange  22  preferably extends outward from a top of the vertical support  20  in an opposite direction. The bottom flange  18  and the vertical support  20  include a slit in a middle thereof to allow an included angle of the plurality of adjustable pitch members  10  to be adjusted to fit roofs with different pitch angles. A living hinge  24  is created in a middle of the top flange  22 . 
     Each perforated member  12 ,  13  preferably includes a perforated plate  26 , a turned-up end  28  and a turned-down end  30 . One end of the perforated plate  26  is bent-up to have an acute angle with the perforated plate  26  to form the turned-up end  28 . An inside of the acute angle of the turned-up end  28  is sized to receive an end of the adjustable pitch member  10 . The other end of the perforated plate  26  is bent-down to be substantially perpendicular with the perforated plate  26  to form the turned-down end  30 . Each perforated support member  14 ,  15  includes a bottom support flange  32 , a vertical support member  34  and a top support flange  36 . The bottom support flange  32  extends outward from a bottom of the vertical support member  34  in one direction and the top support flange  36  preferably extends outward from a top of the vertical support member  14 ,  15  in an opposite direction. The plurality of adjustable pitch members  10 , the pair of perforated members  12 ,  13  and the pair of perforated support members  14 ,  15  are preferably attached to each other with mechanical clinching  38 , but other methods may also be used to form a vent support assembly  2 . 
     Each U-shaped drip member  16 ,  17  includes an angled plate  40 , a bottom lip  42  and a top fastening flange  44 . The bottom lip  42  extends inward from a bottom of the angled plate  40  at an acute angle. The top fastening flange  44  extends inward from a top of the angled plate  40  at an obtuse angle. With reference to  FIG. 9 , an end plate  46  is used to seal ends of the pitch adjustable ridge ventilator  1 . With reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , the end plate  46  preferably includes a top member  48  and a bottom member  50 . The top member  48  includes a plate member  52 , a top flange  54  and a pair of side end flanges  56 . A top bend line  58  defines the plate member  52  and the top flange  54 . Side bend lines  60  define the plate member  52  and the pair of side end flanges  56 . A slit  62  is formed in a middle of the plate member  52 . The top flange  54  and the pair of end flanges  56  are folded inward relative to the plate member  52 . A top middle bend line  55  of the top flange  54  is folded to match the pitch angle of a roof. 
     The bottom member  50  includes at least two attachment flanges  64  and a bottom flange  66 . A bottom bend line  68  defines the at least two attachment flanges  64  and the bottom flange  66 . The bottom flange  66  is folded outward relative to the at least two attachment flanges  64 . A bottom middle bend line  70  of the bottom flange  66  is folded to match the pitch angle of a roof. The top and bottom members  48 ,  50  are assembled to each other by attaching the at least two attachment flanges  64  to the end plate  52  with a plurality of rivets  72 . A single rivet  74  is used to attach the end plate  52  to itself, after bending the top member  48  to the pitch angle of the roof. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5  and  11 , the pitch adjustable ridge ventilator  1  is preferably installed in the following manner. The ventilation opening  104  is formed in the ridge  102  of the roof  100 . The bottom support flange  32  of the first perforated support member  14  is attached to a first side of the ventilation slot  104  with a plurality of fasteners  76  and the bottom support flange  32  of the second perforated support member  15  is attached to a second side of the ventilation slot  104  with the plurality of fasteners  58 . A first roof sheathing  78  is attached to a first side of the top flanges  22  of the plurality of adjustable pitch members  10  with a plurality of roof fasteners  82 . A second roof sheathing  80  is attached to a second side of the top flanges  22  of the plurality of adjustable pitch members  10  with the plurality of roof fasteners  82 . The first and second roof sheathing  78 ,  80  is preferably fabricated from oriented strand board (OSB), but other materials may also be used. However, the first and second roof sheathing  78 ,  80  is typically supplied by installing contractor. 
     The top fastening flanges  44  of the pair of drip members  16 ,  17  are placed over an end of the roof sheathing  78 ,  80  and the bottom lips  42  are placed under the ends of the perforated members  12 ,  13 , respectively. The top fastening flanges  44  of the pair of drip members  16 ,  17  are attached to the roof sheathing  78 ,  80  with a plurality of fasteners  84 . With reference to  FIG. 5 , a length of the first and second U-shaped drip members  16 ,  17  are preferably spliced together by slipping one of two first U-shaped drip members  16  under an end of the other one of two first U-shaped drip members  16 . One of two, second U-shaped drip members  17  is slipped under an end of the other one of two second U-shaped drip members  17 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , the end plate  46  is preferably attached to one end of the pitch adjustable ridge ventilator  1  by attaching the plurality of fasteners  84  through the at least one top flange  54  and the pair of roof sheathing  78 ,  80 , and by attaching two fasteners  86  through the first and second angled plates  40  and the two side end flanges  56 . Shingles are finally attached to a top of the roof sheathing  78 ,  80 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 11   a , a pitch adjustable ridge ventilator  1 ′ includes the substitution of a plurality of adjustable pitch members  210  for the plurality of adjustable pitch members  10 . With reference to  FIG. 2   a , each adjustable pitch member  210  includes a pair of bottom flanges  212 ,  214 , a vertical support  216 , a top flange  218  and a pair of middle flanges  220 ,  222 . The pair of bottom flanges extend outward from a bottom of the vertical support  216  in one direction and the top flange  218  preferably extends outward from a top of the vertical support  216  in an opposite direction. The pair of middle flanges  220 ,  222  are formed in substantially a middle of a height of the vertical support  216  and at each end thereof. The pair of middle flanges extend outward from the vertical member. A slit  224  is formed in a middle of the vertical support  216  to allow an included angle of the adjustable pitch member  210  to be adjusted to fit roofs with different pitch angles. With reference to  FIG. 2   b , the included angle of the adjustable pitch member is changed by bending thereof at a living hinge  225 . A bend line  226  is formed adjacent the slit  224  to create a bend panel  228 . The bend panel  228  is bent inward to allow the change of the included angle. With reference to  FIG. 11   a , two fasteners  230  are inserted through the first and second middle flanges  212 ,  214  and anchored to the roof  100 . 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.