Building ridge vent system

Abstract

A ridge vent system is provided including a ridge vent having opposing exterior sidewalls that each define multiple fastener recesses that extend inward from the exterior sidewalls and downward from a top plate. The ridge vent can include ventilation elements within the exterior sidewalls and/or fastener recesses. The ridge vent can include an air permeable filter membrane that can be secured to bottom walls of the fastener recesses to impair environmental elements from entering a structure therethrough, yet still provide air flow out the vent. The ridge vent can be in sheet or roll form, depending on the application. The ridge vent can provide enhanced attic ventilation and/or airflow through the ridge vent, while still providing fastener recesses that facilitate rapid and efficient application of fasteners therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ridge vent for a roof of a building, the ridge vent comprising:
 a body including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a longitudinal axis;   a top plate extending from the first side toward the second side and including a first top plate side, a second top plate side and a bending region between the first top plate side and the second top plate side;   a first exterior sidewall extending downward from the top plate on the first side, the first exterior sidewall defining a first plurality of ventilation elements, the first exterior sidewall and the first top plate side cooperatively defining a first recess that extends inwardly from the first exterior sidewall and downward from the first top plate side, the first recess being bounded by a first bottom wall and a first recess wall extending from the first bottom wall to the first top plate side, the first bottom wall including a first bottom wall upper surface that faces upward into the first recess, and a first bottom wall lower surface that faces downward, under the first recess;   a second exterior sidewall extending downward from the top plate on the second side, the second exterior sidewall defining a second plurality of ventilation elements, the second exterior sidewall and the second top plate side cooperatively defining a second recess that extends inwardly from the second exterior sidewall and downward from the second top plate side, the second recess being bounded by a second bottom wall and a second recess wall extending from the second bottom wall to the second top plate side, the second bottom wall including a second bottom wall upper surface that faces upward into the second recess, and a second bottom wall lower surface that faces downward, under the second recess, the second bottom wall lower surface separated by a first span from the first bottom wall lower surface; and   a filter membrane joined with the body and extending across the first span, the filter membrane including a first side edge having a first side margin and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, the second side edge having a second side margin,   wherein the first side margin is joined with the first bottom wall lower surface,   wherein the second side margin is joined with the second bottom wall lower surface,   wherein the filter membrane includes a first filter membrane end and a first end margin,   wherein the filter membrane includes a second filter membrane end and a second end margin,   wherein the body includes a first end wall adjacent the first end of the body,   wherein the body includes a second end wall adjacent the second end of the body,   wherein the first end margin of the filter membrane projects beyond the first end wall of the body by at least ⅛ inch,   wherein the second end margin of the filter membrane projects beyond the second end wall of the body by at least ⅛ inch.   
     
     
         2 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first side margin is bonded to the first bottom wall lower surface,   wherein the second side margin is bonded to the second bottom wall lower surface,   wherein the filter membrane is free from attachment to the top plate, the first exterior sidewall and the second exterior sidewall between the first recess and the second recess on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         3 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first exterior sidewall and the first top plate side cooperatively define a third recess that extends inwardly from the first exterior sidewall and downward from the first top plate side, the third recess being bounded by a third bottom wall and a third recess wall extending from the third bottom wall to the first top plate side, the third bottom wall including a third bottom wall upper surface that faces upward into the third recess, and a third bottom wall lower surface that faces downward, under the third recess,   wherein the second exterior sidewall and the second top plate side cooperatively define a fourth recess that extends inwardly from the second exterior sidewall and downward from the second top plate side, the fourth recess being bounded by a fourth bottom wall and a fourth recess wall extending from the fourth bottom wall to the second top plate side, the fourth bottom wall including a fourth bottom wall upper surface that faces upward into the fourth recess, and a fourth bottom wall lower surface that faces downward, under the fourth recess,   wherein the third bottom wall lower surface is separated by a second span from the fourth bottom wall lower surface,   wherein the first bottom wall lower surface is separated by a first distance from the third bottom wall lower surface,   wherein the second bottom wall lower surface is separated by a second distance from the fourth bottom wall lower surface,   wherein the filter membrane is joined with the third bottom wall lower surface and extends across the second span and across the longitudinal axis to the fourth bottom wall lower surface, to which the filter membrane is joined,   wherein the filter membrane extends across the first distance and is joined with the first bottom wall lower surface and the third bottom wall lower surface,   wherein the filter membrane extends across the second distance and is joined with the second bottom wall lower surface and the fourth bottom wall lower surface.   
     
     
         4 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the filter membrane is suspended distal from the top plate a first distance within the first span,   wherein the first distance is configured to change to a second distance when the ridge vent is applied to a roof ridge, with the first top plate side and the second top plate side changing angular orientation relative to one another in so doing.   
     
     
         5 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the filter membrane is operable in a slack mode in which the filter membrane is under no tension within the first span between the first recess and the second recess before the ridge vent is installed relative to a roof ridge,   wherein the filter membrane is operable in a taut mode in which the filter membrane is under tension within the first span between the first recess and the second recess when the ridge vent is installed relative to the roof ridge.   
     
     
         6 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first end margin of the filter membrane projects beyond the top plate,   wherein the second end margin of the filter membrane projects beyond the top plate.   
     
     
         7 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first bottom wall lower surface is configured to move toward the second bottom wall lower surface when the ridge vent is installed relative to a roof ridge, so that the first span decreases upon the installation relative to the roof ridge.   
     
     
         8 . A ridge vent for a roof of a building, the ridge vent comprising:
 a body including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a longitudinal axis;   a top plate extending from the first side to the second side and including a first top plate side, a second top plate side and a bending region;   a first exterior sidewall extending downward from the top plate on the first side, the first exterior sidewall defining a first plurality of ventilation elements, the first exterior sidewall and the first top plate side cooperatively defining a first recess bounded by a first bottom wall including a first bottom wall upper surface that faces upward into the first recess, and a first bottom wall lower surface that faces downward, under the first recess;   a second exterior sidewall extending downward from the top plate on the second side, the second exterior sidewall defining a second plurality of ventilation elements, the second exterior sidewall and the second top plate side cooperatively defining a second recess bounded by a second bottom wall including a second bottom wall upper surface that faces upward into the second recess, and a second bottom wall lower surface that faces downward, under the second recess, the second recess separated by a first span from the first recess; and   a filter membrane joined with the body, the filter membrane being air permeable;   wherein the filter membrane is disposed a first height from the top plate along the longitudinal axis before the ridge vent is installed relative to a roof ridge,   wherein the filter membrane is disposed a second height from the top plate along the longitudinal axis when the ridge vent is installed relative to the roof ridge,   wherein the first height is greater than the second height.   
     
     
         9 . The ridge vent of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the filter membrane is a sheet that is spaced from the top plate to form a void between the sheet and the top plate around the first recess and the second recess.   
     
     
         10 . The ridge vent of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the filter membrane is operable in a penetration mode in which a fastener projects through the first bottom wall, the filter membrane, and into the roof ridge to secure the ridge vent to the roof ridge.   
     
     
         11 . The ridge vent of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the second bottom wall lower surface is separated by the first span from the first bottom wall lower surface,   wherein the filter membrane is joined with the body along the first bottom wall lower surface and the second bottom wall lower surface.   
     
     
         12 . The ridge vent of  claim 8 ,
 wherein a first end margin of the filter membrane projects beyond the top plate,   wherein a second end margin of the filter membrane projects beyond the top plate.   
     
     
         13 . The ridge vent of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first bottom wall lower surface is configured to move toward the second bottom wall lower surface when the ridge vent is installed relative to a roof ridge, so that the first span decreases upon the installation relative to the roof ridge.   
     
     
         14 . The ridge vent of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the filter membrane extends free from attachment to the body beyond the first end and the second end in a cantilevered manner.   
     
     
         15 . A ridge vent system for a roof of a building, the ridge vent system comprising:
 a first ridge vent comprising:
 a body including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a longitudinal axis, the body placed over an elongated opening along a ridge of a roof between a first roof surface and a second roof surface; 
 a top plate extending from the first side toward the second side and including a first top plate side, a second top plate side and a bending region between the first top plate side and the second top plate side, the bending region overlapping the elongated opening such that the first top plate side and the second top plate side are parallel to the first roof surface and the second roof surface respectively; 
 a first exterior sidewall extending downward from the top plate on the first side, the first exterior sidewall defining a first plurality of ventilation elements, the first exterior sidewall and the first top plate side cooperatively defining a plurality of first recesses each bounded by a first bottom wall including a first bottom wall upper surface that faces upward into a respective first recess, and a first bottom wall lower surface that faces downward, under the respective first recess; 
 a second exterior sidewall extending downward from the top plate on the second side, the second exterior sidewall defining a second plurality of ventilation elements, the second exterior sidewall and the second top plate side cooperatively defining a plurality of second recesses each bounded by a second bottom wall including a second bottom wall upper surface that faces upward into a respective second recess, and a second bottom wall lower surface that faces downward, under the respective second recess, each second bottom wall lower surface separated by a first span from a respective first bottom wall lower surface across the longitudinal axis; and 
   a filter membrane joined with the body and spanning the first span,   a plurality of first fasteners, each projecting through a respective first bottom wall, through the filter membrane and into the first roof surface to secure the first top plate side to the first roof surface;   a plurality of second fasteners, each projecting through a respective second bottom wall, through the filter membrane and into the second roof surface to secure the second top plate side to the second roof surface; and   a shingle placed over the top plate, the shingle covering at least one of the plurality of first recesses and at least one of the plurality of second recesses on opposite sides of the bending region;   wherein the first top plate side is disposed at an angle of 15 degrees to 60 degrees offset relative to the second top plate side.   
     
     
         16 . The ridge vent system of  claim 15  comprising:
 a third fastener projecting through the shingle, through the first top plate side, through the filter membrane and into the first roof surface to secure the shingle over the top plate, the third fastener distal from the plurality of first recesses; and 
 a fourth fastener projecting through the shingle, through the second top plate side, through the filter membrane and into the second roof surface to secure the shingle over the top plate, the fourth fastener distal from the plurality of second recesses. 
 
     
     
         17 . The ridge vent system of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the filter membrane is joined with the first bottom wall lower surface and extends across the first span and across the longitudinal axis to the second bottom wall lower surface, to which the filter membrane is joined.   
     
     
         18 . The ridge vent of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the filter membrane is disposed a first height from the top plate along the longitudinal axis before the first ridge vent is installed relative to the ridge of the roof,   wherein the filter membrane is disposed a second height from the top plate along the longitudinal axis when the first ridge vent is installed relative to the ridge of the roof,   wherein the first height is greater than the second height.   
     
     
         19 . The roof ridge vent of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the filter membrane is bonded to the first bottom wall lower surface of each of the plurality of first recesses before installation of the first ridge vent relative to the ridge,   wherein the filter membrane is bonded to the second bottom wall lower surface of each of the plurality of second recesses before installation of the first ridge vent relative to the ridge,   wherein the filter membrane draws taut when the first ridge vent is installed relative the ridge.   
     
     
         20 . The roof ridge vent of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the filter membrane is a sheet that is spaced from the top plate to form a void between the sheet and the top plate around the plurality of first recesses and the plurality of second recesses.