Insulated/soffit rafter vent

Abstract

An insulated vent chute and blocking assembly which can be inserted between adjacently disposed roof rafters of a building construction having a pitched or flat roof, the roof supported by a building wall. The assembly comprises: a generally flexible insulated body having a roof facing surface, an attic space facing surface, the surfaces spaced apart from each other to define a pair of longitudinal rafter facing sides, a top and a bottom transverse end, the ends connecting the sides; and a reflective substrate covering the attic space facing surface, the substrate for reflecting heat away from the attic space facing surface and back into attic insulation. The assembly is fabricated from a flexible insulated material, and can assume an arcuate form in embodiments when the body is inserted between adjacently disposed roof rafters in the building construction with a pitched or flat roof such that the bottom transverse end can contact the top of the building wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A unitary insulated vent chute and blocking assembly insertable between adjacently disposed roof rafters of a building construction having a pitched or flat roof, the roof supported by a building wall, the assembly comprising:
 a generally flexible insulated body having a roof facing surface, an attic space facing surface, the surfaces spaced apart from each other to define a pair of longitudinal rafter facing sides, a top and a bottom transverse end, the ends connecting the sides, wherein the assembly is fabricated from a flexible insulated material effective to assume an arcuate fog in when the body is inserted between adjacently disposed roof rafters in the building construction with a pitched roof and the bottom transverse end contacts on the top of the building wall; and   a reflective substrate covering the attic space facing surface, the substrate for reflecting heat away from the attic space facing surface and back into attic insulation.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reflective substrate comprises a tab that extends beyond the transverse width of the body, the tab for sealingly attaching the assembly to adjacent roof rafters, to the top of the building wall, or both. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein the tab extends along entire length of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the material of the body comprises a semi-rigid or rigid foam material. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the semi-rigid or rigid foam material comprises one or a plurality of transverse cuts formed in the attic space facing surface, the transverse cut or plurality of cuts for allowing the assembly to bend or assume an arcuate form. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein one transverse cut is located proximate to the bottom transverse end. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the transverse cut is about 5 inches from the bottom transverse end. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein a plurality of transverse cuts are formed about 5 inches from the bottom transverse end and extend to about 10 inches from the bottom transverse end. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal length is between 3 and 4 feet and the transverse width is about 22 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the R-value of the assembly is made to match that of the R-value of the building wall. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the R-value of the assembly is between about R-10 to about R-26. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the body between the roof facing surface and the attic space facing surface is less than about 3 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the thickness is between 2 and 3 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reflective substrate is bonded to the attic space facing surface. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the reflective substrate comprises a reflective film, aluminum, a polymeric material, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the reflective film is made from moisture resistant material. 
     
     
         17 . A method for making a unitary insulated vent chute and blocking assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a generally flexible insulated body having a roof facing surface, an attic space facing surface, the surfaces spaced apart from each other to define a pair of longitudinal rafter facing sides, a top and a bottom transverse end, the ends connecting the sides;   providing a reflective substrate;   applying a bonding material to at least one of the attic space facing surface and the reflective substrate; and   layering the reflective substrate to the body so that the reflective substrate covers the attic space facing surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 forming one or a plurality of transverse cuts in the attic space facing surface before applying the bonding material. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the transverse cut or plurality of cuts are about 5 inches from the bottom transverse end, and the plurality of cuts extend to about 10 inches from the bottom transverse end. 
     
     
         20 . A method for establishing and maintaining air flow under a pitched or flat roof of a building construction between a soffit region and an attic space, the building construction comprising an exterior wall, a ceiling supported by the wall, a roof including a plurality of rafter trusses supported by the wall where each truss includes ceiling joist segments and two intersecting, but opposed, rafter segments, and a roof deck supported by the rafter segments, the method comprising:
 providing a unitary insulated vent chute and blocking assembly as defined in  claim 1 ;   sliding the assembly between adjacently disposed rafter segments so that the reflective substrate faces inwards and towards the building interior and so that the roof facing surface of the body faces outwards and towards the roof;   orienting the bottom transverse end so that it contacts the top of the wall;   bending the assembly so that the body assumes an arcuate form and forms an angle relative to the balance of the assembly that is approximates to the pitch of the roof; and   securing the assembly to adjacently disposed rafter segments.