Hinged roof vent for attic

Abstract

A hinged roof vent panel is provided which includes a combination of hinged ridges that allow the panel to be cut and folded to form an insulation block which inhibits the flow of loosefill insulation which may block soffit vents and which provides suitable ventilation to inhibit condensation during cold periods and to allow acceptable airflow during warm periods. The vent panel is typically thermoformed from a thin sheet of extruded polystyrene foam into the shape described and claimed. The panel is relatively planar and stackable so that a large number of panels may be packaged together for shipping.

1 . A hinged roof vent panel, comprising: 
 an elongated panel including: 
 lateral flanges, each of said lateral flanges including a hinge;  
 lateral walls formed in said elongated panel extending from said lateral flanges; and  
 an insulation blocking wall spaced from said lateral flanges by said lateral walls and forming a ventilation trough;  
   wherein said lateral walls and said insulation blocking wall may be cut to form a hinged panel.    
     
     
         2 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one generally trapezoidal ridge extending the length of said panel, said trapezoidal ridge having a rectilinear base offset from said insulation blocking wall and said trapezoidal ridge being open from one end of the elongated panel to the other.    
     
     
         3 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one gusset formed along said lateral walls.    
     
     
         4 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one saddle formed along said insulation blocking wall.    
     
     
         5 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of gussets formed along said lateral walls; and    a plurality of saddles formed along said insulation blocking wall.    
     
     
         6 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of gussets formed along said lateral walls; and    a plurality of saddles formed along said insulation blocking wall, said saddles being adjacent said gussets.    
     
     
         7 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of insulation blocking walls spaced from said flanges by said lateral walls and forming a ventilation trough;    a base between said insulation blocking walls; and    a perforation in said base to allow the elongate panel to be divided without the use of a cutting tool.    
     
     
         8 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one generally trapezoidal ridge extending substantially the length of said panel, said trapezoidal ridge having at least one land formed therein, said land being level with said insulation blocking wall.    
     
     
         9 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a rectilinear base in said trapezoidal ridge offset from said insulation blocking wall and open from one end of the vent panel to the other.    
     
     
         10 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated panel is formed of an extruded foam polystyrene sheet.  
     
     
         11 . A hinged roof vent panel, comprising: 
 an elongated panel including: 
 lateral flanges, each of said lateral flanges including a hinge;  
 lateral walls formed in said elongate panel extending from said lateral flanges; and  
 a plurality of insulation blocking walls spaced from said flanges by said lateral walls and forming a ventilation trough;  
   wherein said lateral walls and said insulation blocking walls are cut to form a blocking portion and a vent portion with a second hinge therebetween.    
     
     
         12 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 at least one gusset formed along said lateral walls.    
     
     
         13 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 at least one saddle formed along said insulation blocking walls.    
     
     
         14 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of gussets formed along said lateral walls; and    a plurality of saddles formed along said insulation blocking wall, said saddles being adjacent said gussets.    
     
     
         15 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a base between said insulation blocking walls; and    a perforation in said base to allow the elongate panel to be divided without the use of a cutting tool.    
     
     
         16 . A hinged roof vent panel, comprising: 
 an elongated panel including: 
 lateral flanges, each of said lateral flanges including a hinge;  
 lateral walls formed in said panel extending from said lateral flanges; and  
 a plurality of insulation blocking walls spaced from said flanges by said lateral walls, each forming a ventilation trough;  
 at least one generally trapezoidal ridge extending substantially the length of said elongate panel positioned in each of said insulation blocking walls, each of said trapezoidal ridges having at least one land formed therein, said land being level with said insulation blocking wall.  
   wherein said lateral walls and each of said insulation blocking walls are cut to form a blocking portion, and a vent portion with a hinge therebetween.    
     
     
         17 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 at least one gusset formed along said lateral walls.    
     
     
         18 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 at least one saddle formed along said insulation blocking walls.    
     
     
         19 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of gussets formed along said lateral walls; and    a plurality of saddles formed along said insulation blocking walls, said saddles being adjacent said gussets.    
     
     
         20 . The hinged roof vent panel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a base between said insulation blocking walls; and    a perforation in said base to allow the elongate panel to be divided without the use of a cutting tool.