Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Wall – ceiling – floor – or roof designed for ventilation or... – With the vent or drain entirely along at least one...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2001-06-12
Chilcot, Richard (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Wall, ceiling, floor, or roof designed for ventilation or...
With the vent or drain entirely along at least one...
C052S783140, C052S798100, C052S533000, C052S537000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244007
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The outward exposure of roofs causes great amounts of heat to be developed at the roof and the underlying structure. To dissipate this heat ventilated roofing systems are well known. A roof cover may have a panel or series of panels overlying another panel or roof so that a space is created between the two. The upwardly sloping passageway formed between the two permits the upward circulation of air thus having a cooling effect. However, the cooling effect is minimized by barriers impeding the free flow of air.
In addition where there is a roof underneath an upper roof panel it is not intended to carry rain water. Where air is permitted to flow upwardly there is a venting arrangement which prevents water flow. U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,847 to Crookston is illustrative of a ventilated roofing system. The vent of Crookston permits air to flow but a shield excludes any moisture or rain from the lower roof panel. None of the openings are exposed to the ambient. It would be desirable to provide a roof with a more efficient cooling system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention vents a roof but departs from the prior art by permitting condensation to form and flow down a lower roof panel and providing for the flow of rain water. For ease of explanation an upper roof panel will be termed a sun shield and the lower roof panel a water roof. These terms help explain their respective functions in that the sun shield acts to shield the lower panel against the direct influence of the sun. The water roof functions to permit condensate water as well as rain water to flow downwardly along the water roof. The sun shield overlays the majority of the water roof area except for a portion at the top of the water roof so that the water roof is open and exposed to the elements at the top or apex of the roof. By contrast when a lower roof panel in the prior art is provided it is not open at the apex but is shielded from the elements at the apex.
As the sun warms the sun shield it shields the water roof with the result that there is a temperature differential between the two, with the exception, of course, at the upper exposed portion of the lower panel. This temperature differential is significant enough to cause a flow of air from the bottom of the roof to the top of the roof and exits at the opening.
According to the invention a series of panels are placed on a roof, each panel having two portions, a longer portion and a shorter portion. A succeeding panel's upper and shorter portion is placed over the preceding panel's longer portion, the process being repeated until the roof is completely covered. The first and last panels will have only one portion, such as a shorter panel for one and a longer panel for the other. As the upper panel is shorter than the lower panel the resulting gap provides an opening for air to exit. The series of panels may be made of metal, steel or any suitable material known in the art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 722918 (1903-03-01), Skeele
patent: 3310925 (1967-03-01), Le Brun
patent: 3412517 (1968-11-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 3660955 (1972-05-01), Simon
patent: 3852933 (1974-12-01), Guzzo
patent: 4373315 (1983-02-01), Farrant
patent: 4404784 (1983-09-01), Gorman et al.
patent: 4580384 (1986-04-01), Hutcheson
patent: 4819398 (1989-04-01), Dameron
patent: 5473847 (1995-12-01), Crookston
patent: 5765329 (1998-06-01), Huang
Chilcot Richard
Pellinen A. David
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