Ventilation system for roof

Abstract

A roof vent and a roof structure are described. A roof vent can include a baffle with a cross-section where a first portion extends upward from a bottom plate and a second portion extends from the first portion to define a space between the bottom plate and the second portion. A roof structure may or may not have a roof deck, and comprises a plurality of roof cover elements with a radiant barrier layer underneath the top surfaces of at least some of the roof cover elements. In another embodiment, a roof structure may comprise more sheathing layer vent members than roof cover layer vent members. In yet another embodiment, a roof structure may comprise a layer of roof tiles with at least one vent member, the vent member comprising lateral end portions of a base member with a non-planar profile to engage a similar profile of an adjacent roof cover element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roof vent comprising:
 a roof cover layer vent member comprising a bottom plate and a top plate having downslope edges spaced apart to define a gap between the plates, wherein the bottom plate comprises an opening to allow airflow between the gap and a space below the bottom plate, and wherein the bottom plate and the top plate are connected to each other upslope of the opening; and   a baffle connected to the bottom plate and positioned between the bottom plate and the top plate, wherein at least a portion of the baffle is positioned between the downslope edge and the opening, said portion of the baffle comprising a cross-section having a first portion extending upward from the bottom plate and a second portion extending from the first portion in a downslope direction away from the opening, to define a space between the bottom plate and the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . The roof vent of  claim 1 , further comprising a sheathing layer vent member having an aperture through which air from an attic may be ventilated, the sheathing layer vent member configured to be installed at an opening in a sheathing layer of a roof, with the aperture aligned with the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The roof vent of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle comprises first, second, and third sidewalls joined together, the first and second sidewalls positioned on opposite sides of the opening and oriented generally transverse to the downslope edge of the bottom plate, and the third sidewall positioned downslope of the opening and oriented generally parallel to the downslope edge of the bottom plate. 
     
     
         4 . The roof vent of  claim 3 , wherein the third sidewall comprises a U-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The roof vent of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second sidewalls comprise an L-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . A roof structure comprising:
 a roof deck; and   a layer of roof cover elements spaced above the roof deck to define an air layer between the roof deck and the layer of roof cover elements, at least some of the roof cover elements having a radiant barrier, wherein the radiant barriers are underneath the top surfaces of said roof cover elements.   
     
     
         7 . The roof structure of  claim 6 , wherein the radiant barrier comprises a carrier layer and a material adapted to reflect solar radiation, said material being on at least one side of the carrier layer. 
     
     
         8 . The roof structure of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier layer comprises bubble wrap. 
     
     
         9 . The roof structure of  claim 7 , wherein the material adapted to reflect solar radiation is on two sides of the carrier layer. 
     
     
         10 . The roof structure of  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the roof cover elements are roof vent members. 
     
     
         11 . The roof structure of  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the roof cover elements comprise tiles or shingles. 
     
     
         12 . The roof structure of  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the roof cover elements comprise steel. 
     
     
         13 . The roof structure of  claim 6 , wherein each of the radiant barriers includes a material that reflects solar radiation, wherein gaps are formed between the material and lower surfaces of plate elements of the roof cover elements below which the radiant barriers are installed. 
     
     
         14 . A plurality of roof cover elements, at least some of the roof cover elements comprising:
 a body having an engagement structure for engaging the body or bodies of one or more other ones of said roof cover elements in accordance with a repeating engagement pattern, such that the bodies are configured to collectively cover at least a portion of a roof when so engaged with one another; and   a radiant barrier on or within the body, wherein the radiant barrier is underneath the top surfaces of at least some of the roof cover elements.   
     
     
         15 . The plurality of roof cover elements of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the roof cover elements comprises a roof vent member having said engagement structure for engaging the body or bodies of one or more other ones of said roof cover elements in accordance with said repeating engagement pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The plurality of roof cover elements of  claim 14 , wherein at least some of the roof cover elements comprise tiles or shingles. 
     
     
         17 . The plurality of roof cover elements of  claim 14 , wherein at least some of the roof cover elements comprise steel. 
     
     
         18 . A roof structure comprising:
 a plurality of rafters;   a plurality of battens over the rafters without a roof deck between the battens and the rafters;   a plurality of roof cover elements supported by the battens; and   a radiant barrier underneath the top surfaces of at least some of the roof cover elements.   
     
     
         19 . The roof structure of  claim 18 , wherein the radiant barrier comprises a carrier layer and a material adapted to reflect solar radiation, said material being on at least one side of the carrier layer. 
     
     
         20 . The roof structure of  claim 19 , wherein the carrier layer comprises bubble wrap.