Patent ID: 8707643

Claim:
A roofing element of the shingle, tile, or panel types, for mounting onto a roof of a building, wherein the roofing element is a unitary structure comprised of a heat-sensitive weatherproof, protective layer and a venting layer connected to the protective layer, wherein the protective layer is adapted for protecting the building from weather-related intrusions, which heat-sensitive protective layer can be raised to an undesirable temperature by a buildup of heat, with the venting layer having a plurality of continuous venting channels disposed below said heat-sensitive weatherproof, protective layer; with the roofing element being adapted to being disposed on a roof of a building; wherein the at least one heat-sensitive weatherproof, protective layer includes any of: (a) a layer having an asphalt component; (b) a layer having a metal component; and (c) a layer having a photovoltaic component; wherein the roofing element has an upper edge and a lower edge and side edges defining therebetween an upper headlap portion normally covered in the installed condition on a roof and a lower tab portion normally uncovered in the installed condition on a roof; wherein the roofing element is adapted to being disposed in overlying and underlying courses on a sloped roof of a building with its upper edge higher on the slope of the roof of the building than the lower edge of the roofing element with tab portions of the roofing elements in next-overlying courses covering headlap portions of roofing element in next-underlying courses; wherein the continuous venting channels are each comprised of channel passageways and channel wall portions, with the channel wall portions extending away from the protective layer, with the channel wall portions and the channel passageway portions extending from the lower edge of the roofing element to the upper edge of the roofing element through the entirety of the tab portion and headlap portion of the roofing element and; wherein when roofing elements are disposed on a sloped roof of a building, in courses, air flow can be vented beneath the protective layer of roofing elements beneath from course to course, wherein the continuous venting channels are provided with lateral openings through said side edges for continuous lateral venting of air therethrough from laterally adjacent element to laterally adjacent element when roofing elements are installed on a sloped roof.