Preformed roof ventilation system

Abstract

A preformed roof ventilation system comprised of a panel including a middle section and flanged lateral edges. The middle section and flanged lateral edges forming a vent trough. The panel is installed on top of roof framing members prior to the addition of roof sheathing so that the flanged lateral edges can be secured between the roof framing members and the roof sheathing. The panel in combination with the roof sheathing creates a vent channel for channeling air from soffit vents along the underside of the roof sheathing and out of the attic through a ridge vent. The panel may further comprise a baffle flap with a living hinge that is adjustable to any pitched roof. The baffle flap forms a barrier to stop insulation from the attic from getting into the eave space and obstructing the soffit vents. Reinforcing elements and a formed grid pattern may be integrated along the length of the panels to increase the stiffness of each panel. Vent channel supports may also be integrated with the panel to aid in keeping the vent channel at a constant height after applying insulation. Additional panels can be added to extend the length of the vent channel.

1 ) A roof ventilation system for mounting between roof framing members and roof sheathing, comprising:
 a panel including:   a) a roof side, an attic side, a first end and a second end;   b) a vent trough formed from a first flanged lateral edge, a middle section and a second flanged lateral edge, wherein each said flanged lateral edge has a canted section, wherein each flanged lateral edge has a flat edge section extending outward parallel to said middle section;   c) an array of vent channel supports dimensioned to extend from said middle section to a plane defined by said flat edge sections of said first and second flanged lateral edges; and   d) a plurality of reinforcing elements spanning between and perpendicular to said first and second flanged lateral edges.   
     
     
         2 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each vent channel support is surrounded on all sides by said middle section. 
     
     
         3 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said middle section includes a formed grid pattern. 
     
     
         4 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said canted sections of said flanged lateral edges includes a formed grid pattern. 
     
     
         5 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said panel further includes a registration tab on said first flanged lateral edge and a corresponding registration gap on said second flanged lateral edge. 
     
     
         6 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of panels laid adjacent to each other, wherein said registration tab registers with said corresponding registration gap of an adjacent panel when said panels are laid upon the roof framing members. 
     
     
         7 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said first flanged lateral edge include a plurality of said registration tabs. 
     
     
         8 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said panel is secured to the roof framing members through said plurality of registration tabs. 
     
     
         9 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 5 , where said second flanged lateral edges include a plurality of registration gaps. 
     
     
         10 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , whereby when said first and second lateral edges are secured between the top of roof the roof framing members and the roof sheathing, a vent channel is formed between the roof sheathing and said panel. 
     
     
         11 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing element includes at least one stiffening wall that extends upward from and substantially perpendicular to the roof side to provide stiffness. 
     
     
         12 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said panel further includes a baffle flap at said first end. 
     
     
         13 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said baffle flap is connected to said first end by a hinge. 
     
     
         14 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the width of said panel is substantially equal the space between roof framing members plus the thickness of two roof framing members. 
     
     
         15 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said panel further includes a first interlocking element at said first end. 
     
     
         16 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said first interlocking element includes a channel support. 
     
     
         17 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said first interlocking element includes a reinforcing element spanning between said first and second flanged lateral edges. 
     
     
         18 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said panel further includes a second interlocking element located adjacent to said second end. 
     
     
         19 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said second interlocking element includes a channel support. 
     
     
         20 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said second interlocking element includes a reinforcing element spanning between said first and second flanged lateral edges. 
     
     
         21 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a continuation component installed along the length of the roof framing members to extend the length of said vent trough. 
     
     
         22 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said continuation panel has a first interlocking element at said first end that interlocks with a second interlocking element of a said panel. 
     
     
         23 ) A roof ventilation system for mounting between roof framing members and roof sheathing, comprising:
 a panel including:   a) a roof side, an attic side, a first end and a second end;   b) a vent trough formed from a first flanged lateral edge, a middle section and a second flanged lateral edge, wherein each said flanged lateral edge has a canted section, wherein each said flanged lateral edge has a flat edge section extending outward parallel to said middle section; and   c) an array of vent channel supports dimensioned to extend from said middle section to a plane defined by said flat edge sections of said first and second flanged lateral edges, each said vent channel support intersecting the plane at a single apex.   
     
     
         24 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein each vent channel support is surrounded on all sides by said middle section. 
     
     
         25 ) A roof ventilation system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said array of vent channel supports are at least one from the group including domes, cones and pyramids. 
     
     
         26 ) An insulation dam for creating a barrier between attic space and eave space, the attic and eave space bounded by roof framing members and roof sheathing, said insulation dam comprising:
 a) a flat and rectangular top panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first top panel edge and second top panel edge, said top panel having a width that spans greater than the width between the roof framing members;   b) a baffle flap having a top blocking edge and opposite frame edges, said blocking panel attached at said top blocking edge by a hinge to said bottom edge of said top panel; said blocking panel spanning the width between the roof framing members;   c) a baffle flap tab extending from each of said opposite frame edges of said baffle flap, each said baffle flap tab having a fold line where it meets each said opposite frame edge, whereby when said insulation dame is installed each said baffle flap tab bends toward the eave space and orients to attach substantially parallel to the inside of the roof framing members; and   d) a baffle flap gap between said top panel and each said baffle flap tab, said baffle flap gap dimensioned so that said baffle flap tabs do not stick into the plane of the roof sheathing when secured to the roof framing members.   
     
     
         27 ) An insulation dam as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the width of said top panel is less than the width between roof framing members plus the width of two roof framing members. 
     
     
         28 ) An insulation dam as recited in  claim 26 , wherein each said baffle flap tab is a rectangular baffle flap tab. 
     
     
         29 ) An insulation dam as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said hinge is a living hinge.