Roof vent shield

Abstract

The roof vent shield is attached to the downslope side of an existing roof vent, to prevent the entrance of windblown moisture into the mouth of the vent. The shield includes an elongate panel disposed along the length of the vent, with the upper edges of the vent opening and panel forming a ventilation opening therebetween. The opposed ends of the panel include opposite vent attachment flanges, and the lower edge of the panel includes a roof attachment flange. The shield panel and its various attachment flanges may be formed of a single homogeneous sheet of material (galvanized steel, corrosion resistant steel, aluminum, etc.), or may be assembled from separate components at the time of manufacture. The shield panel is oriented at least generally normal to the plane of the roof when the device is installed, and may include reinforcing bends along its upper and lower edges for greater rigidity.

1 . A roof vent shield for attachment to an installed roof vent, the roof vent shield comprising:
 a shield panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an upper edge, and a lower edge opposite the upper edge;   a first roof vent attachment flange extending from the first end of the shield panel substantially normal thereto; and   a second roof vent attachment flange extending from the second end of the shield panel and substantially normal thereto.   
   
   
       2 . The roof vent shield according to  claim 1 , further including a roof attachment flange extending from the lower edge of the shield panel substantially normal thereto. 
   
   
       3 . The roof vent shield according to  claim 2 , further including:
 a lower intermediate web extending directly from the lower edge of the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and   a lower intermediate flange depending directly from the lower intermediate web substantially parallel to the shield panel, the roof attachment flange extending directly from the lower intermediate flange normal thereto and opposite the first and second roof attachment flanges.   
   
   
       4 . The roof vent shield according to  claim 2 , wherein the roof attachment flange further includes a doubled distal edge. 
   
   
       5 . The roof vent shield according to  claim 1 , further including:
 an upper intermediate web extending directly from the upper edge of the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and   a ventilation opening flange extending from the upper intermediate web substantially parallel to the shield panel.   
   
   
       6 . The roof vent shield according to  claim 5 , wherein the ventilation opening flange is doubled over at one end for additional thickness. 
   
   
       7 . The roof vent shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed in a single, homogeneous sheet of material. 
   
   
       8 . The roof vent shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed of material selected from the group consisting of galvanized sheet steel, corrosion resistant sheet steel, and aluminum sheet. 
   
   
       9 . A roof vent and roof vent shield therefor, comprising in combination:
 a roof vent having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an upper cover having a ventilation opening lip, and a roof vent entrance defined below the cover;   a roof vent shield having;
 a shield panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an upper edge, and a lower edge opposite the upper edge; 
 a first roof vent attachment flange extending from the first end of the shield panel substantially normal thereto, the first flange being attached to the first end of the roof vent; and 
 a second roof vent attachment flange extending from the second end of the shield panel substantially normal thereto, the second flange being attached to the second end of the roof vent, the ventilation opening lip of the roof vent and the upper edge of the shield panel defining a ventilation opening therebetween communicating with the roof vent entrance of the roof vent. 
   
   
   
       10 . The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to  claim 9 , wherein the roof vent comprises a slope type vent configured for attachment to the slope of a gabled roof below a ridge of the roof. 
   
   
       11 . The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to  claim 9 , further including a roof attachment flange extending from the lower edge of the shield panel substantially normal thereto. 
   
   
       12 . The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to  claim 11 , further including:
 a lower intermediate web extending directly from the lower edge of the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and   a lower intermediate flange depending directly from the lower intermediate web substantially parallel to the shield panel, the roof attachment flange extending directly from the lower intermediate flange normal thereto and opposite the first and second roof attachment flanges.   
   
   
       13 . The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to  claim 11 , wherein the roof attachment flange has a doubled distal edge. 
   
   
       14 . The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to  claim 9 , further including:
 an upper intermediate web extending directly from the upper edge of the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and   a ventilation opening flange extending from the upper intermediate web substantially parallel to the shield panel.   
   
   
       15 . The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to  claim 14 , wherein the ventilation opening flange is doubled over at one edge for additional thickness. 
   
   
       16 . The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to  claim 9 , wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed in a single, homogeneous sheet of material. 
   
   
       17 . The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to  claim 9 , wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed of material selected from the group consisting of galvanized sheet steel, corrosion resistant sheet steel, and aluminum sheet. 
   
   
       18 . The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to  claim 9 , further including a plurality of self-tapping screws securing the first and the second roof vent attachment flanges to the roof vent.