Abstract:
A multi-layered roofing system and method of construction which replaces standard sloped or flat roof surfaces is herein disclosed. The system comprises a roof surface having a dual layer construction provided by two (2) layers of roof sheathing material which are separated by vented spacing members. A top layer of sheathing material is covered with a top layer of roofing felt, shingles, rolled roofing, or the like. The system utilizes various vented spacing channels, vented drip edge elements, and a vented ridge vent that provide for a ventilating gap within the roof. The ventilating gap runs the entire length of the roof and helps to moderate interior building temperatures, thereby improving energy efficiency.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on May 26, 2009, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to roof ventilation systems, and more particularly, to a ventilated roofing system and method of construction assembled upon a roof structure which enables a flow of air between parallel roofing layers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Improper building techniques are often the underlying culprit behind high energy costs, structural damage, and even health problems for the building inhabitants. Many of these problems are the direct result of improper ventilation. In the hot summer, direct sunlight overheats the roof, and creates a furnace effect in the attic. The air in the house, especially on the second floor if present, becomes unbearable. Excessive energy consumption from fans and air conditioning drives up electric bills. In the winter, condensation of humid air in the attic can lead to rotting of structural wood, deterioration of insulation, and result in mold and mildew leading to health problems. Finally, a lack of proper roof ventilation results in rapid aging of the roofing shingles, which may lead to leaks and home damage. 
     Various attempts have been made to address these problems. These attempts can be seen by example in several U.S. Patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,180, issued in the name of Grange, discloses a ventilated roof construction having a continuous corrugated baffle positioned between parallel roofing members. The baffle is provided to allow air flow from the fascia to the ridge to prevent the formation of ice dams. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,990, issued in the name of Paquette, discloses a ventilation system for roofs comprising an impermeable sheet having a series of openings on its surface and a series of roofing supports to provide a means to dry roofing insulation when there is a break in the vapor barrier protecting the insulation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,099, issued in the name of Harper, discloses a roof ventilation system comprising plurality of roof panels having an internal triangular shaped baffling for facilitating the flow of air from lower edge portions of the roof structure to the upper ridge portion. 
     Other solutions include ridge cap ventilators and roof construction, as can be seen by example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,314, issued in the name of Waggoner, which describes a roof ventilation apparatus and ventilation spacers for placement between fascia and roof sheathing, as can be seen by example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,551, which describes a ventilation spacer for roof construction. 
     While these devices may accomplish their specific intended purpose, each suffers from one (1) or more disadvantage or deficiency with respect to design, function, or effectiveness. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which roofing can be provided with complete and thorough ventilation in an effort to combat the above-mentioned problems. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the current lack and inherent problems in the art, the inventor has recognized the need for a novel roof ventilation system which provides roofs with improved ventilation properties and thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a system which allows a free and multidirectional flow of air from lower regions of a roof structure to upper regions of the roof structure without restrictions. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a system which provides more comfortable living spaces. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system which increases the insulation factor of roof structures. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system which can be used on sloped or flat roofs, having a low profile design which is structurally sound. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system which is passive and requires no power or moving parts to facilitate the flow of air. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system which is simple and intuitive to construct and install with little to no additional training. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system which is durable and economical to manufacture. 
     One (1) or more of these and other objects of the invention are achieved by a providing a ventilated roofing system for use with a roof structure having a first sheathing layer affixed atop a roof structure and extending from a ridge portion to an eave portion, a second sheathing layer disposed above the first sheathing layer in a parallel orientation and also extending from the ridge portion to the eave portion, a ridge sheathing layer comprising a plurality of an inverted V-shaped panels disposed above the second sheathing layer in a parallel orientation and extending a length of the ridge portion of the roof structure, a first plurality of vented channels affixed between a top surface of the first sheathing layer and a bottom surface of the second sheathing layer to form a first gap, a second plurality of vented channels affixed between a top surface of the second sheathing layer and a bottom surface of the ridge sheathing to form a second gap, and a plurality of vented drip edges capable of attachment to lower edge portions of the second sheathing layer or the ridge sheathing layer to cover the first and second gap. The system provides a flow of air between the eave portion and the ridge portion of the roof structure. 
     The first plurality of vented channels and the second plurality of vented channels each comprise a planar top panel, a pair of angled side panels which extend downwardly from the top panel and having a plurality of rectangular vent openings, and a horizontal fastening flange extending longitudinally along a bottom edge portion of each of the pair of side panels capable of attachment to the top surface of the first sheathing layer or a top surface of the second sheathing layer. 
     The plurality of vented drip edges each comprise a substantially planar top portion capable of laying flat against a top surface of a lower edge portion of the second sheathing layer or a top surface of a lower edge portion of the ridge sheathing layer, a substantially planar wall portion extending downwardly from the top portion having a plurality of louvered ventilation slots, and an outwardly deflected drip edge longitudinally extending along a bottom edge portion of the wall portion. 
     Yet another embodiment provides an independent extraction and storage clip comprising a solid base having a centrally disposed slot, in which the extraction and storage clip is sliding attached along a longitudinal axis of a separate flexible tube container. The slot being in contact with and flattening an exterior of the tube container for evacuating a quantity of viscous fluid from within the tube container. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the invention may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The invention can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a section view of the ventilated roofing system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cut-away perspective view of an ventilated roofing system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up perspective view of a vented channel portion  20  of the ventilated roofing system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up perspective view of a vented drip edge portion  40  of the ventilated roofing system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 ventilated roofing system 
               
               
                 20 
                 vented channel 
               
               
                 22 
                 side panel 
               
               
                 24 
                 top panel 
               
               
                 26 
                 flange 
               
               
                 28 
                 vent opening 
               
               
                 30 
                 fastener aperture 
               
               
                 40 
                 vented drip edge 
               
               
                 42 
                 upper structure 
               
               
                 44 
                 drip edge 
               
               
                 46 
                 louver 
               
               
                 100 
                 first sheathing layer 
               
               
                 110 
                 second sheathing layer 
               
               
                 115 
                 fastener 
               
               
                 120 
                 roof structure 
               
               
                 122 
                 fascia board 
               
               
                 125 
                 roof rafter 
               
               
                 130 
                 truss 
               
               
                 135 
                 gutter 
               
               
                 140 
                 top covering roofing materials 
               
               
                 150 
                 air flow 
               
               
                 200 
                 ridge vent assembly 
               
               
                 210 
                 ridge sheathing 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a ventilated roofing system (herein described as the “system”)  10  and a method of installation and construction thereof, which provides a means for constructing a roof assembly resulting in improved energy efficiency and operational characteristics. The system  10  is envisioned to be provided as new construction or as a replacement of standard flat or sloped shingled roof surfaces. The system  10  comprises a dual-layer sheathing construction further comprising a lower first sheathing layer  100  and an upper second sheathing layer of roof sheathing material, such as plywood, being separated by a matrix of vented channels  20 . The second sheathing layer  110  is covered with conventional top covering roofing materials  140  such as roofing felt, shingles, rolled roof membrane, or the like. The system  10  also comprises a vented drip edge  40  to cover side openings formed between sheathing layers and being adjacent to a fascia board area  120 . The vented channels  20  and vented drip edge  40  are utilized to form a ridge vent assembly  200  along a ridge portion of a roof structure  120 , thereby establishing a continuous path of air flow  150  in all directions between eave and ridge portions of the roof structure  120 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a section and a cut-away view of the system  10 , respectively, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The system  10  comprises a bottom layer of first sheathing  100 , a plurality of vented channel lengths  20 , an upper layer of second sheathing  110 , a plurality of vented drip edge sections  40 , and a layer of top covering roofing materials  140 . The first sheathing layer  100  is fastened to a building roof substructure  120 , the roof substructure  120  typically comprising fascia boards  122 , rafters  125 , trusses  130 , gutters  135 , and the like, in a conventional manner using common roofing fasteners  115  such as nails, screws, or the like. A matrix of vented channels  20  are fastened to a top surface of the first sheathing layer  100  using common roofing fasteners  115  being arranged in a rectangular matrix pattern at right angles. The second sheathing layer  110  is subsequently affixed to top surfaces of the vented channel sections  20  and fastened to using roofing fasteners  115 . The second sheathing layer  110  is applied in a parallel orientation with respect to the subjacent first sheathing layer  100  and separated by the vented channels  20 , thus forming a gap of approximately two (2) inches to establish and provide for the air flow  150 . The vented channels  20  each comprise integral rectangular vent openings  28  therethrough, thus allowing the flow of air  150  to move freely between the sheathing layers  100 ,  110  (see  FIG. 3 ). The first  100  and second  110  sheathing layers comprise common roof decking materials such as one-half (½), five-eighths (⅝), or three-quarter (¾) inch thick plywood or equivalent materials. 
     The system  10  also comprises a ridge vent assembly  200  to allow the air flow  150  to also pass freely through a ridge portion of the roof structure  120 . The ridge vent assembly  200  comprises a pair of vented channels  20  being arranged in a parallel manner along a roof peak and fastened to a top surface of the second sheathing layer  110  along a partial length of or an entire length of the roof peak. The vented channels  20  are subsequently covered using ridge sheathing  210  approximately six (6) to twelve (12) inches wide; forming an inverted “V” shape in a conventional manner. The ridge sheathing  210  is covered with top covering roofing materials  140  such as felt paper, shingles, rolled roofing, and the like. The ridge sheathing  210  preferably comprises similar sheathing materials as the aforementioned first  100  and second  110  sheathing layers. 
     The vented drip edge  40  provides aesthetic and weather-resistant functions in a similar manner as common drip edge products common in the industry; however, each length of vented drip edge  40  comprises a plurality of louvers  46  along an integral vertical surface positioned perpendicularly to the flow of air  150 , thereby providing the air flow  150  a means through the system  10 . The vented drip edge  40  is affixed to top surfaces of the second  110  and ridge  210  sheathing portions in a conventional manner using roofing fasteners  115  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). 
     The system  10  enables the air flow  150  to travel in any direction between the sheathing layers  100 ,  110 ,  210 ; however, during warm or sunny conditions, it is envisioned that the flow of air  150  will typically enter the system  10  through the vented drip edge portion  40  along a lower edge and move upwardly through the vented channels  20  and exit through the vented ridge vent assembly  200 , thereby effectively cooling the roof system  10  and consequently the entire building structure  120 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a close-up perspective view of the vented channel portion  20  of the system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Each vented channel  20  comprises a pair of side panels  22 , a top panel  24 , a pair of fastening flanges  26 , and a plurality of vent openings  28 . The vented channel  20  is envisioned being made of extruded or formed plated sheet metal having approximately sixteen (16) or eighteen (18) gauge thickness and being capable of supporting anticipated typical loading from snow, ice, and the like, upon the building structure  120 . The vented channel  20  comprises a cross-sectional shape of an inverted “U” having slightly diverging side panel portions  22  so as to form a symmetrical trapezoidal structure, thereby providing a strong structure capable of withstanding both compressive loads and side loading conditions. The vented channel  20  further comprises horizontally extending fastening flanges  26  integrally formed along bottom edges of the side panel portions  22 . The flanges  26  further compromise a plurality of equally-spaced fastener apertures  30  for attachment to the sheathing  110 ,  210  using the fasteners  115 . The vented channel  20  is envisioned being introduced in various standard lengths such as six (6), eight (8), and ten (10) feet long which may be cut to length, so as to fit a particular application. The vent opening portions  28  of the vented channel  20  comprise equally-spaced rectangular openings along both side panels  22 , thereby enabling ample movement of the air flow  150  therethrough and establishing a continuous flow of air  150  between the bottom edge fascia  122  and the ridge vent assembly  200  portion of the system  10  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a section view and a close-up perspective view of the vented drip edge portion  40  of the system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The vented drip edge  40  further comprises an extruded or formed metal or plastic shape having a generally “T”-shaped upper structure  42 , an outwardly angled lower drip edge portion  44  and a plurality of parallel louvers  46  penetrating a vertical side surface. The vented drip edge  40  comprises a similar shape and function as conventional drip edge products common in the industry; however, the vented drip edge  40  comprises the louvered outwardly facing surface  46  which allows the flow of air  150  through the vented drip edge  40  to cool the roof system  10  and subjacent building structure  120  (see  FIG. 1 ). The louvers  46  comprise linear outwardly angled penetrations approximately one-eighth (⅛) to one-quarter (¼) of an inch apart and arranged in a parallel horizontal orientation. A top horizontal surface of the upper structure portion  42  of the vented drip edge  40  is utilized to fasten the vented drip edge  40  to the first sheathing layer  110  and the ridge sheathing  210  using fasteners  115  in an expected manner. The vertical portion of the upper structure  42  is positioned to cover the gap formed between the first  100  and second  110  sheathing layers and also the second  110  and ridge  210  sheathing layers. The vented drip edge  40  extends downward from the second sheathing layer and is secured to a top edge region of the fascia board area  122  or extends downward from the ridge sheathing  210  and is secured to the second sheathing layer  110 ; depending upon the location and application (see  FIG. 2 ). The vented drip edge  40  is envisioned being introduced in various standard lengths such as six (6), eight (8), and ten (10) feet long and may be cut to a desired length. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the system  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     A method of installing the system  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: installing a first sheathing layer  100  upon a roof structure of rafters  125  and trusses  130  in a conventional manner; arranging a plurality of lengths of vented channels  20  at right angles and at appropriate spacing therebetween, based upon anticipated roof loading specifications; securing the vented channels  20  to the first sheathing layer  20  using common fasteners  115 ; fastening the second sheathing layer  110  to top surfaces of the vented channels  20  using common fasteners  115 ; constructing the ridge vent assembly  200  by installing a pair of vented channels  20  in a parallel arrangement along an open ridge area as previously described; fastening the ridge sheathing  210  to the vented channels  20  to form an inverted “V”-shaped structure  200  using the fasteners  115 ; affixing lengths of the vented drip edge  40  along all lower and side fascia board areas  122  of the first  100  and second  110  sheathing layers, and along side portions of the ridge vent assembly  200 , using common fasteners  115 ; installing conventional top covering roofing materials  140  upon the second  110  and ridge  210  sheathing layers using felt paper, shingles, rolled roofing, or the like; and, benefiting from increasing a thermal efficiency of a building structure  120  resulting from an improved air flow  150  passing through the present roofing system invention  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.