Asphalt composition ridge cover with improved ridge bend

Abstract

Asphalt composition ridge cover formed from an approximately rectangular sheet of asphalt composition roofing material. The sheet of asphalt composition material is bent around a radius along a longitudinal centerline. The roofing material may be bent by pressing the roofing material into a resilient pad with a tool having the radius. The roofing material may include an accordion folded section to support an overlapping ridge cover. The accordion folded section may include a relief for the bend around a radius.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A ridge cover comprising a generally rectangular sheet of roofing material having an upper surface, an opposing lower surface, a first end, an opposing second end, a first edge, and an opposing second edge, the sheet of roofing material having a longitudinal centerline from a midpoint of the first end to a midpoint of the second end, the sheet of roofing material being bent around a radius along the longitudinal centerline such that the lower surfaces at the first and second edges are brought toward each other.  
     
     
         2 . The ridge cover according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first strip of adhesive substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the first edge, and a second strip of adhesive substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the second edge, wherein the first strip of adhesive is closer to the first end than the second strip of adhesive.  
     
     
         3 . The ridge cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the roofing material is folded an even number of times about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to cause multiple layers of the sheet of roofing material to form an accordion folded section between the first and second ends, each layer of the roofing material above a bottom layer in the accordion folded section being cut along the longitudinal centerline so that the roofing material can separate at the longitudinal centerline to facilitate the bending around a radius.  
     
     
         4 . The ridge cover according to  claim 3 , wherein a top layer in the accordion folded section is cut perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline substantially coincident to an edge of the accordion folded section furthest from a folded edge of the top layer to facilitate the bending around a radius.  
     
     
         5 . The ridge cover according to  claim 4 , wherein the bottom layer in the accordion folded section is cut perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline substantially coincident to a folded edge of the bottom layer to facilitate the bending around a radius.  
     
     
         6 . The ridge cover according to  claim 5 , wherein a layer above the bottom layer in the accordion folded section is cut out in an area adjacent the longitudinal centerline to provide a relief for the bend around a radius.  
     
     
         7 . The ridge cover according to  claim 3 , further comprising a first strip of adhesive substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the first edge, and a second strip of adhesive substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the second edge, wherein the first strip of adhesive is closer to the first end than the second strip of adhesive.  
     
     
         8 . The ridge cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the roofing material is bent around a radius by pressing the roofing material into a resilient pad with a tool having the radius.  
     
     
         9 . The ridge cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the roofing material is folded four times about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to form an accordion folded section between the first and second ends, the accordion folded section having: 
 a bottom layer contiguous with the roofing material that extends to the first end;    a first folded layer adjacent to the bottom layer, the first folded layer defining a generally rectangular first aperture having a width that extends to both sides of the longitudinal centerline and a length that extends between two fold lines that define the first folded layer;    a second folded layer adjacent to the first folded layer, the second folded layer defining a generally rectangular second aperture having a width that extends to both sides of the longitudinal centerline and a length that extends between two fold lines that define the second folded layer, the second width being less than the first width;    a third folded layer adjacent to the second folded layer, the third folded layer being slit along the longitudinal centerline;    and a top layer adjacent to the fourth folded layer and contiguous with the roofing material that extends to the second end, the top layer being slit along a line coincident with a folded edge of the accordion folded section closest to the second end with a length that extends to both sides of the longitudinal centerline and along the longitudinal centerline to the line coincident with the folded edge.    
     
     
         10 . A ridge cover comprising a generally rectangular sheet of roofing material having an upper surface, an opposing lower surface, a first end, an opposing second end, a first edge, and an opposing second edge, the sheet of roofing material having a longitudinal centerline from a midpoint of the first end to a midpoint of the second end, the sheet of roofing material including a thickening means midway between the first and second ends for supporting a first end of an overlapping ridge cover, the sheet of roofing material being bent around a radius along the longitudinal centerline such that the lower surfaces at the first and second edges are brought toward each other.  
     
     
         11 . The ridge cover according to  claim 10 , further comprising a first adhesive means substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the first edge for adhering the first end to roofing material below the ridge cover, and a second adhesive means substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the second edge and spaced apart from the first adhesive means for adhering the first end to roofing material below the ridge cover without adhering to the first adhesive means.  
     
     
         12 . The ridge cover according to  claim 10 , wherein the thickening means is configured for facilitating the bending around a radius.  
     
     
         13 . The ridge cover according to  claim 12 , wherein the thickening means includes a relief means for relieving the bend around a radius.  
     
     
         14 . The ridge cover according to  claim 13 , further comprising a first adhesive means substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the first edge for adhering the first end to roofing material below the ridge cover, and a second adhesive means substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the second edge and spaced apart from the first adhesive means for adhering the first end to roofing material below the ridge cover without adhering to the first adhesive means.  
     
     
         15 . A method of fabricating a ridge cover comprising: 
 providing a generally rectangular sheet of roofing material having a first end, an opposing second end, a first edge, and an opposing second edge, the sheet of roofing material having a longitudinal centerline from a midpoint of the first end to a midpoint of the second end; and    bending the sheet of roofing material around a radius along the longitudinal centerline such that the lower surfaces at the first and second edges are brought toward each other.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein bending further comprises pressing the roofing material into a resilient pad with a tool having the radius.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising heating the sheet of roofing material prior to bending such that the bending occurs while the sheet of roofing material is at least 150° F.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising heating the sheet of roofing material prior to bending such that the bending occurs while the sheet of roofing material is between 180° F. and 220° F.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein bending further comprises pressing the roofing material into a resilient pad with a tool having the radius.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 folding the sheet of roofing material an even number of times about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to cause multiple layers of the sheet of roofing material to form an accordion folded section between the first and second ends;    cutting the sheet of roofing material along and adjacent to the longitudinal center to provide a relief means in the accordion folded section for relieving the bend around a radius.