Ridge ventilation system

Abstract

A ridge ventilation system includes a plurality of ridge vent sections joined together in end-to-end relationship covering the open ridge of a roof. Each ridge vent section has a laterally flexible central panel flanked by ventilation grids and wind baffles. Attachment means are formed on the ends of each ridge vent section for attaching the sections together and a drain trough on one end of each ridge vent section is configured to underlie the junction between two attached ridge vent sections to drain water that may seep into the junction away from the open ridge of the roof. Buttresses that support the wind baffles are configured to hold nails for use in attaching each section to a roof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ridge ventilation system comprising:
 a plurality of ridge vent sections configured to be arranged end-to-end covering an open ridge of a roof;   each of said ridge vent sections having a laterally flexible central panel flanked by ventilation grids; and   a plurality of fasteners removably secured to each of said ridge vent sections, said fasteners being positioned to be removed by an installer of said ridge ventilation system for use in fastening said ridge vent sections to a roof.   
     
     
       2. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein A ridge ventilation system comprising:
 a plurality of ridge vent sections each having ends and longitudinal edges and being configured to be arranged end-to-end covering an open ridge of a roof; 
 each of said ridge vent sections having a laterally flexible central panel flanked by ventilation grids that extend along and inboard of the longitudinal edges of the ridge vent; and 
 a plurality of fasteners located between the longitudinal edges of at least some of the ridge vent sections and being removably secured to the ridge vent sections at a series of first locations, said fasteners being positioned to be removed by an installer of said ridge ventilation system for use along said ridge vent sections at locations different from the first locations for fastening said ridge vent sections to a roof; 
 each of said ridge vent sections further comprises comprising wind baffles positioned outboard of said ventilation grids for creating a relatively low pressure region in the vicinity of said ventilation grids in response to a breeze blowing past said ridge vent section, said fasteners being removably secured to said ridge vent sections between at least one of said wind baffles and the corresponding ventilation grid. 
 
     
     
       3. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein each of said wind baffles is supported by an array of buttresses extending between said wind baffle and the corresponding ventilation grid, at least some of said buttresses being configured for releasably holding said fasteners. 
     
     
       4. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 3  and wherein said fasteners are nails and wherein said at least some of said buttresses are formed with notches sized to receive and removably secure said nails. 
     
     
       5. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 2  and further comprising a drain trough formed between each of said ventilation grids and its corresponding wind baffle, weep holes formed along each of said drain troughs for promoting the escape of water from said drain troughs, and upstanding barriers positioned along said drain troughs and aligned with said weep holes for preventing rain from being blown through said weep holes and into said ventilation grids. 
     
     
       6. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 5  and wherein said fasteners are removably secured to said ridge vent sections between at least one of said wind baffles and the corresponding ventilation grid. 
     
     
       7. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 6  and further comprising an array of buttresses extending between at least one of said wind baffles and the corresponding ventilation grid for supporting said wind baffle, at least some of said buttresses being configured for releasably holding said fasteners. 
     
     
       8. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 7  and wherein at least some of said buttresses are formed with notches sized to receive and removably hold said fasteners. 
     
     
       9. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 8  and wherein said fasteners comprise nails. 
     
     
       10. A ridge ventilation system comprising:
 a plurality of ridge vent sections each having ends and longitudinal edges and being configured to be arranged end-to-end covering an open ridge of a roof; 
 each of said ridge vent sections having a laterally flexible central panel flanked by ventilation grids; and 
 a drain for diverting water that may seep into the junction between a pair of end-to-end ridge vent sections away from the open ridge of a roof; 
 said drain comprising a laterally extending trough integrally formed on and extending along one end of each of said ridge vent sections, said trough being sized and configured to underlie the junction between two joined ridge vent sections to receive water and divert the water toward said ventilation grids of said ridge vent sections. 
 
     
     
       11. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 10  and wherein said drain comprises a laterally extending trough formed along one end of each of said ridge vent sections, said trough being sized and configured to underlie the junction between two joined ridge vent sections to receive water and divert the water toward said ventilation grids of said ridge vent sections. 
     
     
       12. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 10  and further comprising a plurality of fasteners removably secured to each of said ridge vent sections between the longitudinal edges thereof, said fasteners being positioned to be removed by an installer of said ridge ventilation system for use in fastening said ridge vent sections to a roof. 
     
     
       13. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 12  and wherein said plurality of fasteners are removably secured to each of said ridge vent sections along said ventilation grids thereof. 
     
     
       14. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 13  and further comprising wind baffles positioned outboard of said ventilation grids for creating a relatively low pressure region in the vicinity of said ventilation grids in response to a breeze blowing past said ridge vent section, said fasteners being removably secured to said ridge vent sections between at least one of said wind baffles and the corresponding ventilation grid. 
     
     
       15. A ridge ventilation system as claimed in  claim 14  and further comprising an array of buttresses extending between at least one of said wind baffles and the corresponding ventilation grid for supporting said wind baffle, at least some of said buttresses being configured for releasably holding said fasteners.