Tapered Roof Vent End Cap Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A tapered end cap for a two-sided ridge vent includes a shingle supporting surface, opposing first and second ends and opposing first and second edges. The end cap height of the shingle supporting surface at the first end is equivalent to a two-sided ridge vent. The end cap height of the shingle supporting surface at the second end is equivalent to the roof decks defining a peak or hip. The end cap conforms to a ridge or hip and allows a two-sided ridge vent to be applied to a peak or hip and to rectify leakage and appearance issues of two-sided ridge vents. The tapered end cap may be one sided.

1 . An end cap apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a. an end cap shingle supporting surface having a periphery, said periphery defining an end cap first end and an opposing end cap second end, said end cap shingle supporting surface having an underside and defining a longitudinal axis generally normal to said end cap first end, said periphery defining a first edge and an opposing second edge, said first and said second edges being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis;   b. a first tapered support and a second tapered support, said first tapered support being attached to said underside of said end cap shingle supporting surface proximal to said first edge, said second tapered support being attached to said underside of said end cap shingle supporting surface proximal to said second edge;   c. said first tapered support and said second tapered support in combination with said end cap shingle support surface defining an end cap height along said first edge and said second edge, said end cap height at said first end being equivalent to a height of two-sided ridge vent above a roof deck when said two-sided ridge vent is installed on a peak or a hip of a roof, said end cap height tapering from said end cap first end to said end cap second end so that said end cap height at said second end is less than said end cap height at said first end.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said end cap height at said second end is equivalent to a thickness of said end cap shingle supporting surface 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface defines a hinge, said hinge being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said end cap shingle supporting surface being bendable about said hinge, whereby said end cap shingle supporting surface is bendable to conform to an angle defined by an intersection of a first and a second roof deck defining a peak or a hip. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface defines a pre-determined bend, said pre-determined bend being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said predetermined bend being selected to conform to an angle defined by a first and a second roof deck when said first and said second roof decks intersect to define a peak or a hip. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface has a width at said end cap first end, said width at said end cap first end being substantially equal to a width of the two-sided ridge vent. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a. a plurality of channels, said plurality of channels communicating through said first tapered support or said second tapered support;   b. an interior volume defined by said first and said second tapered supports and said end cap shingle supporting surface in combination, said plurality of channels communicating from said interior volume through said first and said second tapered supports, said first and said second tapered supports in combination defining an opening communicating with said interior volume, said opening being configured for fluid communication with a slot defined by said intersecting first and second roof decks that define said peak or hip.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a filter, said filter covering an outside of said plurality of channels, said filter being configured to block water, debris and insects from entering said plurality of channels.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a baffle, said baffle being attached to a one of said first and said second tapered supports, said baffle being configured to reduce an effect of an atmospheric wind blowing into said channels.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a base, said base and said end cap shingle-supporting surface being composed of a polymer, said base being attached to said end cap shingle supporting surface, said base being configured to engage said peak or hip, said base defining said first and said second tapered supports and supporting said end cap shingle-supporting surface.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising:
 said two-sided ridge vent, said two sided ridge vent being elongated, said two sided ridge vent having a ridge vent end, the end cap being integrated with and defining said ridge vent end.   
     
     
         11 . A ventilated roof apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a peak or a hip, said peak or said hip being defined by an intersection of a first roof deck and a second roof deck, said first and said second roof decks being pitched, said first and said second roof decks defining a slot at said peak or hip, said slot communicating from an area under said roof decks through said roof decks, each of said roof decks having a roof deck surface;   b. an elongated two-sided ridge vent attached to said first and said second roof deck surfaces at said peak or hip, said two-sided ridge vent defining a ridge vent interior volume, said ridge vent interior volume being in fluid communication with said area under said roof decks through said slot, said roof vent interior volume being in fluid communication with an outside air, said two-sided ridge vent defining a ridge vent shingle supporting surface covering said slot, said ridge vent shingle supporting surface defining a ridge vent height above said roof deck surface, said two-sided ridge vent having a ridge vent end;   c. an end cap having an end cap shingle supporting surface, said end cap engaging and conforming to said roof deck surfaces of said first and said second roof decks at said peak or hip, said end cap shingle supporting surface defining an end cap first end and an end cap second end, said end cap first end being disposed immediately adjacent to said ridge vent end at said peak or hip, said end cap shingle supporting surface defining an end cap height above said roof deck surface of said first and second roof decks, said end cap height at said first end being equivalent to said ridge vent height, said end cap height at said second end being less than said end cap height at said first end, said end cap height being tapered between said first and said second ends.   
     
     
         12 . The roof apparatus of  claim 11 , the apparatus further comprising: One or more shingles, said one or more shingles spanning said ridge vent end, said end cap shingle supporting surface, and said roof deck surface at said peak or hip adjacent to said end cap second end, wherein said end cap height at said second end is adequately small that said shingle spanning said end cap second end and said roof deck surface at said peak or hip immediately adjacent to said second end will not be subject to stresses due to said end cap height at said second end that would cause failure of said shingle. 
     
     
         13 . The roof apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface has a periphery, said periphery defining said first end and said second end, said periphery defining a first edge and a second edge, said first and said second edges being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said end cap shingle supporting surface having an underside and defining a longitudinal axis generally normal to said first end, the apparatus further comprising:
 a. a first tapered support and a second tapered support, said first tapered support being attached to said underside of said end cap shingle supporting surface proximal to said first edge, said second tapered support being attached to said underside of said end cap shingle supporting surface proximal to said second edge; 
 b. said first tapered support and said second tapered support in combination with said end cap shingle support surface defining said end cap height at each location along said first edge and said second edge. 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface defines a hinge, said hinge being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said end cap shingle supporting surface being bendable about said hinge, whereby said end cap shingle supporting surface is bendable to conform to an angle defined by an intersection of said first and said second roof deck defining said peak or hip. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface defines a pre-determined bend, said pre-determined bend being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said predetermined bend being selected to conform to an angle defined by a first and a second roof deck when said first and said second roof decks intersect to define a peak or a hip. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface has a width at said end cap first end, said two-sided ridge vent having a ridge vent width, said end cap width being substantially equal to said ridge vent width. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a. a plurality of channels defined by said first tapered support and said second tapered support, said plurality of channels communicating through said first tapered support and said second tapered support;   b. an end cap interior volume defined by said first and said second tapered supports and said end cap shingle supporting surface in combination, said plurality of channels being in fluid communication with said interior volume, said interior volume being in fluid communication through said slot with said area under said roof.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a filter, said filter covering an outside of said plurality of channels, said filter being configured to block water, debris and insects from entering said plurality of channels.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a baffle, said baffle being attached to a one of said first and said second tapered supports, said baffle being configured to reduce an effect of an atmospheric wind blowing into said channels.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said peak or said hip comprises two said peaks, said two peaks intersecting at a point, said second end of said end cap shingle supporting surface being attached to a one of said peaks proximal to said point, said first end of said end cap being disposed distal to said point and attached to said one of said peaks, said end of said two-sided ridge vent being disposed immediately adjacent to said first end of said end cap and on said one of said peaks. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said end cap comprises one, two or three of said end caps, said second end of each of said end caps being attached to a one of said peaks proximal to said point, said first end of each of said end caps being attached to said one of said peaks distal to said point. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said peak or said hip comprises two said hips intersecting a one said peak at a point, said second end of said end cap being attached to a one of said peak or said two hips proximal to said point, said first end of said end cap being attached to said one of said peak or said two hips distal to said point, said end of said two-sided ridge vent being disposed immediately adjacent to said first end of said end cap and on said one of said peak or said two hips. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said peak or said hip comprises two said hips intersecting a one said peak at a point, said second end of said end cap being attached to a one of said hips proximal to said point, said first end of said end cap being attached to said one of said hips distal to said point, said end of said two-sided ridge vent being disposed immediately adjacent to said first end of said end cap and on said hip. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said peak or said hip comprises four said hips intersecting at a point, said second end of said end cap being attached to a one of said hips proximal to said point, said first end of said end cap being attached to said one of said hips distal to said point, said end of said two-sided ridge vent being disposed immediately adjacent to said first end of said end cap and on said hip. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said peak or hip intersects an obstacle, said second end of said end cap being attached to said peak or said hip proximal to said obstacle, said first end of said end cap being attached to said peak or said hip distal to said obstacle, said end of said two-sided ridge vent being disposed immediately adjacent to said first end of said end cap and on said peak or hip. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , said end cap comprising: a base, said base and said end cap shingle-supporting surface being composed of a polymer, said base being attached to said end cap shingle-supporting surface, said base engaging said peak or hip, said base supporting said end cap shingle-supporting surface. 
     
     
         27 . A method of providing exhaust ventilation for a roof, the method comprising:
 a. installing an elongated two-sided ridge vent on a peak or hip of a roof, said peak or hip being defined by an intersection of a first and a second roof deck, said peak or hip defining a slot communicating through said peak or hip, said two-sided ridge vent being disposed over said slot, said two-sided ridge vent being configured to allow exhaust air to pass from an area under said roof through said slot and through said two-sided ridge vent to an outside air, said two-sided ridge vent defining an end, said ridge vent defining a ridge vent shingle supporting surface, said ridge vent shingle supporting surfaced being supported at a ridge vent height above said first and said second roof decks;   b. installing an end cap on said ridge or hip, said end cap having an end cap shingle supporting surface, said end cap shingle supporting surface defining an end cap first end and an end cap second end, said end cap first end being disposed immediately adjacent to said ridge vent end at said peak or hip, said shingle supporting surface at said first end having an end cap height above said first and said second roof decks that is equivalent to said ridge vent height above said first and said second roof decks, said shingle supporting surface having said end cap height at said second end that is equivalent to said height of said first and said second roof decks, said end cap conforming to said first and said second roof decks at said peak or hip, said end cap height being tapered between said first end and said second end.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , the method further comprising: applying overlapping barrier shingles over said peak or hip, including over said end cap and said two-sided ridge vent. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface has a periphery, said periphery defining said first end and said second end, said periphery defining a first edge and a second edge, said first and said second edges being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said end cap shingle supporting surface defining a longitudinal axis generally normal to said first end, said end cap shingle supporting surface having an underside, said underside of said shingle supporting surface being attached to a first tapered support and a second tapered support, said first tapered support being proximal to said first edge, said second tapered support being proximal to said second edge, said first tapered support and said second tapered support in combination with said end cap shingle support surface defining said end cap height at each location along said first edge and said second edge between said first end and said second end. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface defines a hinge, said hinge being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said end cap shingle supporting surface being bendable about said hinge, whereby said end cap shingle supporting surface is bendable to conform to an angle defined by an intersection of said first and said second roof deck defining said peak or hip. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said end cap shingle supporting surface defines a pre-determined bend, said pre-determined bend being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said predetermined bend being selected to conform to an angle defined by a first and a second roof deck when said first and said second roof decks intersect to define said peak or a hip. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , the method further comprising: providing a plurality of channels through said first and said second tapered supports, said plurality of channels being in fluid communication with said slot and said outside air. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , the method further comprising: filtering an air moving through said plurality of channels by providing a filter covering said plurality of channels, said filter being configured to control entry of water, debris and insects through said channels. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , the method further comprising: providing a baffle, said baffle being attached to said first and said second tapered supports, said baffle being configured to reduce an effect of an atmospheric wind blowing into said channels. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said end cap includes a base, said base and said end cap shingle-supporting surface being molded from a polymer, said base being attached to said end cap shingle-supporting surface, said base engaging said peak or hip, said base defining said first and said second tapered supports.