Roof ventilator and filter

Abstract

A roof ridge ventilator with filtering device to be installed under a cap shingle includes a one piece cover member of an elongated shape including a pair of flaps, each flap having one upper surface over which cap shingles are secured and also having downwardly facing lower surfaces, a pair of vents respectively secured to the lower surface of the cover member flaps, each vent including at least one set of shielded louvers having openings for deflecting air flow while maintaining a minimum free area for air passage such that the air flowing therethrough is substantially reduced in velocity to limit the infiltration of foreign matter. Longitudinally spaced supports extend substantially vertically to permit nailing onto the roof such that the vent does not collapse during installation and such that the net free area remains intact. A band of fibrous material positioned inboard of the vent to further prevent foreign matter for entering the attic.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A roof ventilator, comprising: 
 a cover member including a first surface over which shingles are secured and a second surface;    a first vent secured to the second surface of the cover member, the first vent having a first set of louvers, the first set of louvers being covered by the cover member when the roof ventilator is installed on a roof;    a plurality of supports extending from the second surface of the cover member at a height substantially equal to that of the first set of louvers; and    a filter coupled to the second surface of the cover member disposed between the center of the cover member and the first set of louvers.    
     
     
         2 . The roof ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the band of fibrous material is formed from coated natural fibers.  
     
     
         3 . The roof ventilator of  claim 2 , wherein the band of fibrous material includes a plurality of slits, the plurality of supports being fitted into the plurality of slits in the fibrous material.  
     
     
         4 . The roof ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein one or more supports of the plurality of supports include retainers extending from the end of the supports and over the filter device.  
     
     
         5 . The roof ventilator of  claim 4 , wherein the retainers contact corresponding supports of a second plurality of supports, the second plurality of supports extending from the second surface of the cover member.  
     
     
         6 . The roof ventilator of  claim 1 , further comprising a second set of louvers disposed between the center of the cover member and the plurality of supports.  
     
     
         7 . The roof ventilator of  claim 6 , wherein the band of fibrous material is disposed between the first and second set of louvers.  
     
     
         8 . A roof ridge ventilator comprising: 
 an elongate cover member having a first surface and a second surface;    a first set of louvers attached to the second surface of the cover member and disposed along one side of the cover member, the first set of louvers having a height;    a plurality of supports extending from the second surface of the cover member and at a height substantially equal to that of the height of the first set of louvers; and    a strip of fibrous material disposed adjacent to the first set of louvers and the plurality of supports.    
     
     
         9 . The ridge roof ventilator of  claim 8 , wherein the strip of fibrous material comprises natural fibers.  
     
     
         10 . The ridge roof ventilator of  claim 9 , wherein the strip of fibrous material includes a matting.  
     
     
         11 . The ridge roof ventilator of  claim 8 , wherein one or more supports of the plurality of supports include serrations configured to grip the fibrous material of the strip.  
     
     
         12 . The roof ridge of  claim 8 , further comprising a second set of louvers attached to the second surface of the cover member and located between the first set of louvers and the center of the cover member.  
     
     
         13 . The roof ventilator of  claim 12 , wherein the strip of fibrous material is disposed between the first and second set of louvers.  
     
     
         14 . A roof ventilator for use on a roof having an opening, the roof ventilator comprising: 
 a cover member of elongated shape including a pair of flaps, each flap having an upper surface over which cap shingles are secured and having a downwardly facing lower surface, wherein said cover member contains a longitudinal groove located centrally between the two outer edges of the flaps, the groove allowing the angle between the pair of flaps to be varied to accommodate roofs with various pitches; and    a pair of vents respectively secured to the lower surface of the flaps, each vent having a first set of louvers, wherein each flap includes: 
 a first plurality of supports spaced longitudinally on the flap and extending from the lower surface of the flap, the first plurality of supports being located between the first set of louvers and the groove;  
 a second plurality of supports spaced longitudinally on the flap and extending from the lower surface of the flap, the second plurality of supports being located between the first set of louvers and the groove; and  
 a band of fibrous material disposed between the first and second pluralities of supports.  
   
     
     
         15 . The roof ventilator of  claim 14 , wherein one or more supports of the first plurality of supports includes a retainer, each retainer extending from the end of the support and over the band of fibrous material.  
     
     
         16 . The roof ventilator of  claim 15 , wherein the retainers contact corresponding supports of the second plurality of supports.  
     
     
         17 . The roof ventilator of  claim 14 , wherein the fibrous material comprises natural fibers.  
     
     
         18 . The roof ventilator of  claim 14 , wherein supports of the first and second pluralities of supports include serrations contacting the fibrous material.  
     
     
         19 . The roof ventilator of  claim 14 , wherein each flap includes a second set of louvers located between the first set of louvers and the groove.