Roof vent having labyrinth features

Abstract

A roof vent construction which is comprised of an assembly including a cowl, a base, and a cowl retaining member. These elements provide a structure which provides cover for rain and discourages rain from entering the vent underneath the cowl, but nevertheless allows for suitable ventilation as needed. In one embodiment a configuration is used in which an external baffle is used which air passes before passing underneath a cowl. Once the air is passed underneath the cowl, the air then passes over one and one configuration two internal baffles before the air passes out of a pair of vent cavities defined by the base. In a second configuration, a cowl extends substantially to the leading edge of the construction. Air flows underneath the leading edge of the cowl and then passes over a large internal baffle, over a first small internal baffle, and finally over a second small internal baffle before passing through the vent cavities and out of the structure. Another invention relates to the use of two surface portions on the vent assembly, one surface portion configured to match a first course of tiles and the other surface portion configured to match a second course of tiles adjacent to said first course of tiles.

1 . A roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure including a plurality of tile members supported by a roofing support structure, said vent assembly configured to provide ventilation to said roof structure and comprising: 
 a base member configured to be attached to and supported by said roofing support structure, said base member including a ventilation hole and at least one rib below said ventilation hole; and    a cowl member including a leading edge, said cowl member configured to be mounted above said ventilation hole of said base member, said cowl member also configured to cover said rib,    such that a portion of air blowing up the incline of the roof structure has to pass along a labyrinth air flow path, said air flow path passing first underneath said leading edge of said cowl member and then over said rib, and finally through said ventilation hole.    
     
     
         2 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment of said base to said supporting roof structure is via nails.  
     
     
         3 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base further comprises an external baffle at the foot edge of the base, such that air first goes over the large external baffle and then underneath the cowl.  
     
     
         4 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a flat tile structure.  
     
     
         5 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         6 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “two humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         7 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “three humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         8 . A roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure including a plurality of tile members supported by a roofing support structure, said vent assembly configured to provide ventilation to said roof structure and comprising: 
 a base member configured to be attached to and supported by said roofing support structure, said base member including a ventilation hole and also including a front external baffle positioned proximate its front edge; and    a cowl member including a leading edge, said cowl member configured to be mounted above said ventilation hole of said base member while leaving said front external baffle of said base member exposed, said leading edge being positioned behind said external baffle,    such that a portion of air blowing up the incline of the roof structure has to pass along a labyrinth air flow path, said air flow path passing first over said front external baffle of said base member, underneath said leading edge of said cowl member, and finally through said ventilation hole.    
     
     
         9 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a flat tile structure.  
     
     
         10 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         11 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “two humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         12 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “three humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         13 . A roof vent assembly for positioning within a first generally horizontal course of roof tiles, said first course of tiles being adjacent to and below a second generally horizontal course of roof tiles, said vent assembly comprising: 
 A) a base defining at least one upwardly-directed surface portion and a vent portion, said surface portion of said base tending to blend in with at least some of the upper surfaces of said first course of tiles; and    B) a cowl attached to and suspended above said vent portion of said base, said cowl defining at least one surface portion tending to blend in with said second course of tiles.    
     
     
         14 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a flat tile structure.  
     
     
         15 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         16 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “two humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         17 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “three humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         18 . A roof vent assembly for positioning within a first generally horizontal course of roof tiles, said first course of tiles being adjacent to and below a second generally horizontal course of roof tiles, said vent assembly comprising: 
 A) a base defining at least one upwardly-directed surface portion and a vent portion, said surface portion of said base configured to substantially match at least some of the upper surfaces of said first course of tiles; and    B) a cowl attached to and suspended above said vent portion of said base, said cowl defining at least one surface portion configured to substantially match at least some of the upper surfaces of said second course of tiles.    
     
     
         19 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a flat tile structure.  
     
     
         20 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         21 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “two humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         22 . A vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “three humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         23 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly positioned within a first generally horizontal course of roof tiles, said first course of tiles being adjacent to and below a second generally horizontal course of roof tiles, said method comprising the steps of: 
 A) providing a base defining at least one upwardly-directed surface portion and a vent portion, said surface portion of said base configured to blend in with at least some of the upper surfaces of said first course of tiles; and    B) providing a cowl attached to and suspended above said vent portion of said base, said cowl defining at least one surface portion configured to blend in with at least some of the upper surfaces of said second course of tiles.    
     
     
         24 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a flat tile structure.  
     
     
         25 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         26 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “two humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         27 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “three humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         28 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly positioned within a first generally horizontal course of roof tiles, said first course of tiles being adjacent to and below a second generally horizontal course of roof tiles, said method comprising the steps of: 
 A) providing a base defining at least one upwardly-directed surface portion and a vent portion, said surface portion of said base configured to substantially match at least some of the upper surfaces of said first course of tiles; and    B) providing a cowl attached to and suspended above said vent portion of said base, said cowl defining at least one surface portion configured to substantially match at least some of the upper surfaces of said second course of tiles.    
     
     
         29 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a flat tile structure.  
     
     
         30 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         31 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “two humped” tile structure.  
     
     
         32 . A method for providing a roof vent assembly for use in connection with an inclined roof structure as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said vent assembly includes a combination of base and cowl that generally simulates a “three humped” tile structure.