Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Enclosure or cover – with supplemental fluid-guiding port...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-03-20
Gibson, Jr., Robert W (Department: 3634)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Enclosure or cover, with supplemental fluid-guiding port...
C052S199000, C454S365000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202372
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vents for installing in building roofs. In particular, the present invention relates to roof vents featuring improved resistance to failure due to the effects of wind or other external loads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are various designs in existence for providing ventilation for the areas beneath building roofs. The ventilation of such areas is desirable to reduce the accumulation of heat in the summer, and to reduce the accumulation of moisture during all times of the year. In providing ventilation, it is important to prevent the entry of water into the structure through the vent. Also, it is desirable to prevent debris and small animals from entering the structure through the vent.
Existing off-ridge roof vent designs are available in various configurations. One such design consists of simply a duct having a baffle mechanism over the top to prevent the entry of rain into the structure. A variation of this simple design is the turbine type roof vent, which consists of a rotating element on the exterior of the duct and interior baffles to prevent the entry of water into the building. However, both such designed provide only a limited area through which air and moisture may escape from the structure. Also, such designs typically extend a considerable height from the surface of the roof, making them vulnerable to being knocked from the roof by tree limbs, wires, or simply the wind itself.
Other designs fit more closely to the surface of the roof, and provide a long rectangular opening through which air and moisture may exit the structure. Generally, a slot is cut in the roof that is slightly smaller than the foot print of the vent. The slot then communicates with a passageway that, in profile, is generally in the shape of an inverted J. Thus, the opening of the vent faces down, towards the roofing surface. In this way, water is prevented from entering the structure. Such vents may also be provided with a mesh or screen covering the opening, to prevent the entry of debris or small animals into the structure.
However, existing low profile designs suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, such designs are vulnerable to damage by wind or by impacts from debris. This is because the relatively large area of the opening is unbraced throughout the center of the vent. As a result, even relatively mild winds are capable of exerting sufficient force to damage the device. Typically, damage from the wind to such vents is in the form of bent or deformed top pieces or hoods. Such damage makes the vent more easily penetrated by rain and debris, because portions of the vent opening are enlarged, and often results in deformation of those portions of the vent that interface with the surface of the roof, thus interfering with the proper sealing of the vent to the roof surface. Damage from debris or from careless workers walking on the roof often occurs as crushed or otherwise inwardly deformed top pieces or hoods. This type of damage impedes the movement of moisture and air through the vent and is unsightly. In addition, existing vents can be deflected by the wind or forces to an extent short of what is required to cause permanent damage to the vent. However, such deflection is undesirable for several reasons. Where the opening of the vent is enlarged, rain may more easily enter the structure through the vent. Where the opening of the vent is made smaller, the movement of air and moisture through the vent is impeded. Also, existing designs have a top piece or hood which offers little clearance between itself and the interior baffle, limiting the amount of air that can move through the slot.
Although the prior art describes designs for providing through-roof ventilation to structures, it would be advantageous to provide a design which provided a vent that resists deflection and bending caused by the wind or other forces. In addition, it would be advantageous to provide such a design which had a low profile, and which offered a relatively unimpeded flow of air and moisture from the area beneath the roofing surface to the outside atmosphere.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for providing through roof ventilation to a structure is disclosed. In particular, an apparatus for providing ventilation to the attic space of a structure, having improved flow characteristics and improved resistance to damage from wind or from crushing is disclosed. More particularly, the present invention provides an apparatus that resists deflection and bending due to the effects of the wind or other forces. The apparatus generally comprises left and right sidewalls at either end of a hood having a back flange for alignment with the roof's surface, a rear surface rising from the roof, a top, and a header extending from the top towards the roof surface. The header does not extend all the way to the roof surface, but instead forms a gap through which air may pass. The vent further includes a baffle extending from the left sidewall to the right sidewall in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the roof. The baffle is coincident with the roof on a first edge, and extends to a line between the sidewalls that is short of the top of the hood, such that a gap between the top of the baffle and the top of the hood is formed. This baffle thus prevents water that enters the vent through the gap between the header and the roof from entering the portion of the vent between the rear surface of the hood and the baffle, where air exits the attic and enters the vent, thus preventing water from entering the interior of the structure.
The roof vent of the present invention provides increased stiffness and resistance to damage from wind or from crushing by providing internal braces. Thus, a hood brace extends from the top of the baffle in a substantially vertical direction to interconnect with the top of the hood. In this way, an I-beam type structure is created inside the roof vent, enabling the roof vent to resist deformation or bending from even strong winds or other forces. More particularly, a structure is formed having the characteristics of two I-beam type structures stacked one on top of the other. In addition, a header brace is provided which extends from the top of the baffle to a distal edge of the header. Furthermore, the header is, when viewed in profile, generally in the shape of an I-beam structure. This provides great resistance to movement in response to bending or torsional forces applied to the header by the wind or other external effects. Where the roof vent is particularly long, a plurality of hood braces and header braces may be provided. In addition, header braces and hood braces need not be used in combination. In addition to the improved resistance to damage from external forces, the roof vent of the present invention provides increased flow volumes by providing a deep (or tall) header. The depth of the header allows more space between the top of the hood and the top of the baffle, without compromising the resistance of the vent to intrusion by water.
In one embodiment, the roof vent of the present invention features screen or wire mesh material between the top of the baffle and the edge of the header. In a preferred embodiment, the screen rests on top of screen support clips also running between the top of the baffle to the edge of the header.
In a preferred embodiment, the top of the baffle includes a forwardly extending rain return portion or shelf. The rain return offers further resistance to intrusion by water into the interior of the structure by forming a more convoluted path between the interior of the structure and the outside atmosphere. In yet another embodiment, the header brace is formed such that it is crimped about an exterior lip of the header, improving the resistance of the hood to damage from wind. In a further embodiment, the hood brace is affixed to the baffle by crimping at a first end, and to the interior surface of the hood by adhesive.
According to one
Gibson, Jr. Robert W
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
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