Rafter Guard

Abstract

The present invention provides a rafter cap having a top plane, side planes, and channels that protrude outward from the side planes. The rafter cap installs on the top edge of a rafter and may be made of material, or overlie material, that is able to envelope nail and screw shanks that pierce a subroof, and the rafter cap beneath it, as they affix the subroof to underlying rafters. The rafter cap, or material beneath it, may also able to expand into the holes the nails or screws create further sealing the holes preventing water from seeping through the rafter cap and contacting an underlying rafter. The channels of the rafter caps may unilaterally, or combination with rafter trays constructed to have their lateral edges insert into a rafter cap’s channel, direct water that has penetrated a subroof past the outer walls of a building.

I claim as my invention: 
     
         1 . A partial sleeve having a 1 st  plane that rests atop a rafter with the 1 st  plane having a 2 nd  plane that extends downward for a distance from the left or right lateral edge of the 1 st  plane with the 2 nd  plane having a 3 rd  plane extending outward from the lowest edge of the 2 nd  plane toward an adjacent rafter, for a distance, with the 3 rd  plane having a 4 th  plane extending upward from the left lateral edge of the 3 rd  plane with the 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th  plane forming a channel that is of a width less than that needed for the channel or any intrinsic or adjacent element of the channel to make contact with an adjoining rafter with the partial sleeve having a 5 th  plane that extends downward for a distance from the lateral edge of the first plane that is opposite the lateral edge of the 1 st  plane from which the 2 nd  plane extends. 
     
     
         2 . The partial sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein the downward extending 2 nd  and 5 th  planes of the partial sleeves angle inwardly toward the left and right sides of the rafter the sleeve partially covers as they descend down the sides of the rafter the partial sleeve partially covers. 
     
     
         3 . The partial sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein the 2 nd  and 5 th  planes have inward extending channels or ribs or shapes present on the inner rafter-contacting walls of the 2 nd  and 5 th  planes. 
     
     
         4 . The partial sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein a portion of the partial sleeve is corrugated allowing it to flex downward. 
     
     
         5 . A partial sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein the material the sleeve is formed of is self-sealing when punctured. 
     
     
         6 . A partial sleeve having a 1 st  plane that rests atop a rafter with the 1 st  plane having a 2 nd  plane that extends downward for a distance from the left or right lateral edge of the 1 st  plane with the 2 nd  plane having a 3 rd  plane extending outward from the lowest edge of the 2 nd  plane toward an adjacent rafter, for a distance, with the 3 rd  plane having a 4 th  plane extending upward from the left lateral edge of the 3 rd  plane with the 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th  plane forming a channel that is of a width less than that needed for the channel or any intrinsic or adjacent element of the channel to make contact with an adjoining rafter with the partial sleeve having a 5 th  plane that extends downward for a distance from the lateral edge of the first plane that is opposite the lateral edge of the 1 st  plane from which the 2 nd  plane extends with the partial sleeve having a portion of its 1 st  and 2 nd  and 3 rd  planes flared outward at a terminal end of the partial sleeve allowing the partial sleeve to overlie a portion of a successive partial sleeve without deforming the overlying partial sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The partial sleeve according to  claim 6  wherein partial sleeves are placed in succession overlying one another atop a rafter with a final partial sleeve extending past the outer wall of a building structure. 
     
     
         8 . A sleeve having a 1 st  plane that rests atop a rafter with the 1 st  plane having a 2 nd  plane that extends downward, for a distance, from the left lateral edge of the 1 st  plane with the 2 nd  plane having a 3 rd  plane extending outward from the lowest edge of the 2 nd  plane toward an adjacent rafter, for a distance, with the 3 rd  plane having a 4 th  plane extending upward, for a distance, from the left lateral edge of the 3 rd  plane with the 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th  planes forming a channel that is of a width less than that needed for the channel or any intrinsic or adjacent element of the channel to make contact with an adjoining rafter with the sleeve having a 5 th  plane that extends downward for a distance from the right lateral edge of the first plane with the 5 th  plane having a 6 th  plane extending outward from the lowest edge of the 5 th  plane toward an adjacent rafter, for a distance, with the 6 th  plane having a 7 th  plane extending upward from the right lateral edge of the 6 th  plane for a distance forming a channel that is of a width less than that needed for the channel or any intrinsic or adjacent element of the channel to make contact with an adjoining rafter with the left and right channels of the sleeve receiving the downward extending planes of a tray having a 1 st  plane having 2 nd  and 3 rd  planes extending downward from it’s left and right lateral edges for a distance from the first plane. 
     
     
         9 . The plane according to  claim 8  wherein the first plane of the tray has louvered openings having open air spaces that face away from the ridge of a roof.