Vented soffit panel

Abstract

A vented soffit panel is provided. The soffit panel includes a first panel section, a second panel section and a vent channel. The vent channel is positioned between the first and second panel sections and extends along a width of the soffit panel. The vent channel has a generally dove-tailed shape defined by a first sidewall extending from the first panel section at an acute angle relative thereto, a second sidewall extending from the second panel section at an acute angle relative thereto and a top wall extending between the first and second sidewalls. The top wall has at least one row of openings extending substantially along the width. The row of openings in the top wall being positioned such that when the panel is installed the row of openings are obscured from a view of an ordinary observer by at least one of the first and second panel sections.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vented soffit panel comprising:
 a first panel section; 
 a second panel section; and 
 a three-walled vent channel positioned between the first and second panel sections, the vent channel defined by a first sidewall extending from the first panel section at a first acute angle relative to the first panel section, a second sidewall extending from the second panel section at a second acute angle relative to the second panel section, and a top wall extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a third acute angle between the top wall and the first sidewall and a fourth acute angle between the top wall and the second side wall; 
 a first row of holes through the top wall disposed above and overlapping the first panel section, the first angle, second angle, third angle and fourth angle being substantially equal and defining a dovetail geometry of the three-walled vent channel such that the first row of holes is obscured from view by at least one of the first and second panel sections; and 
 a second row of holes through the first sidewall. 
 
     
     
       2. The vented soffit panel of  claim 1  wherein the first and second sidewalls each include at least two rows of holes. 
     
     
       3. The vented soffit panel of  claim 1  wherein the channel has a height and the top wall has an overall width that is at least three times the height of the channel. 
     
     
       4. The vented soffit panel of  claim 1  wherein the acute angles are each in the range of about 15-40 degrees. 
     
     
       5. The vented soffit panel of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a third row of holes through the top wall disposed above and overlapping the second panel section, the first angle, second angle, third angle and fourth angle defining the dovetail geometry of the three-walled vent channel such that the third row of holes is obscured from view by the second panel section; and 
 a fourth row of holes through the second sidewall. 
 
     
     
       6. The vented soffit panel of  claim 5 , wherein the holes each have a diameter in the range of about 0.080 to 0.100 inches and the first row of holes is offset from the third row of holes such that the spacing between the holes in each row is in the range of about 0.15-0.30 inches and the spacing between the first row holes and the third row of holes is in the range of about 0.10-0.20 inches. 
     
     
       7. A method of manufacturing a vented soffit panel comprising the steps of:
 passing a material through a rotary perforation machine to create a perforated blank having a first row of holes and a second row of holes extending substantially along a width of the perforated blank; and 
 folding the perforated blank to create a three-walled vent channel defined by first and second panel sections, the three-walled vent channel having a generally dove-tailed shape defined by a first sidewall extending from the first panel section at a first acute angle relative to the first panel section and a second sidewall extending from the second panel section at a second acute angle relative to the second panel section, and a top wall extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a third acute angle between the top wall and the first sidewall and a fourth acute angle between the top wall and the second side wall; 
 wherein the first row of holes extends through the top wall and is disposed above and overlapping the first panel section, the first angle, second angle, third angle and fourth angle being substantially equal and defining a dovetail geometry of the three-walled vent channel such that the first row of holes is obscured from view by at least one of the first and second panel sections; and 
 wherein the second row of holes extends through the first sidewall. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of folding the perforated blank includes creating a plurality of vent channels. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of folding the perforated blank includes creating at least two rows of holes in each of the first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of folding the perforated blank includes creating the channel having a height and the top wall having an overall width that is at least three times the height of the channel. 
     
     
       11. A vented soffit panel, comprising:
 first and second panel sections;   a vent channel positioned between the first and second panel sections, the vent channel defined by:
 a first sidewall extending from the first panel section at a first acute angle relative to the first panel section, and forming a first corner; 
 a second sidewall extending from the second panel section at a second acute angle relative to the second panel section, and forming a second corner; 
 a top wall extending between the first and second sidewalls, a third acute angle formed between the top wall and the first sidewall and a fourth acute angle formed between the top wall and the second side wall, wherein the first, second, third and fourth acute angles are substantially equal and the vent channel has a substantially dovetail geometry; and 
 an opening extending between the first and second corners and forming an exposed width that projects substantially perpendicular to the top wall; 
   a first row of holes disposed in the top wall vertically above the first panel section and laterally outside of the exposed width; and   a second row of holes disposed in the first sidewall.   
     
     
       12. The vented soffit panel of claim 11, wherein the second row of holes includes at least two rows of holes. 
     
     
       13. The vented soffit panel of claim 11, wherein the channel has a height and the top wall has an overall width that is at least three times the height. 
     
     
       14. The vented soffit panel of claim 11, wherein the first, second, third and fourth acute angles are each in the range of about 15-40 degrees. 
     
     
       15. The vented soffit panel of claim 11, further comprising:
 a third row of holes disposed in the top wall vertically above the second panel section and laterally outside of the exposed width; and   a fourth row of holes disposed in the second sidewall.   
     
     
       16. The vented soffit panel of claim 15, wherein each of the holes has a substantially circular shape with a diameter in the range of about 0.080 to 0.100 inches, and wherein the first row of holes is offset from the third row of holes such that the spacing between adjacent holes in the rows is in the range of about 0.15-0.30 inches and the spacing between the first row holes and the third row of holes is in the range of about 0.10-0.20 inches. 
     
     
       17. A method of manufacturing a vented soffit panel, comprising the steps of:
 passing a material through a rotary perforation machine to create a perforated blank having a first row of holes and a second row of holes extending substantially along a width of the perforated blank; and   folding the perforated blank to create a vent channel defined by first and second panel sections, wherein the vent channel has a generally dove-tailed shape defined by:
 a first sidewall extending from the first panel section at a first acute angle relative to the first panel section, and forming a first corner; 
 a second sidewall extending from the second panel section at a second acute angle relative to the second panel section, and forming a second corner; 
 a top wall extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a third acute angle formed between the top wall and the first sidewall and a fourth acute angle formed between the top wall and the second side wall, wherein the first, second, third and fourth acute angles are substantially equal; and 
 an opening extending between the first and second corners and forming an exposed width that projects substantially perpendicular to the top wall; 
   wherein the first row of holes are disposed in the top wall vertically above the first panel section and laterally outside of the exposed width; and   wherein the second row of holes are disposed in the first sidewall.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of folding the perforated blank includes creating a plurality of vent channels. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of folding the perforated blank includes creating the vent channel having a height and the top wall having an overall width that is at least three times the height of the channel. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 17, wherein the material is aluminum.