Ridge vents for a roof

Abstract

A ridge vent panel configured for installation over a peak of a roof comprises two longitudinal edges; two lateral sides; a ridge vent interior section bounded by the two longitudinal edges and the two lateral sides; two longitudinal series of vent openings provided along and proximate the respective two longitudinal edges; and a ridge cap supporting section. The ridge cap supporting section is provided in the ridge vent interior section between the two longitudinal series of vent openings, the ridge cap supporting section. The ridge cap supporting section comprises a ridge cap supporting section central region provided between two ridge cap supporting section edge regions. On average the ridge cap supporting section central region has a smaller thickness than the two ridge cap supporting section edge regions.

1 . A ridge vent panel configured for installation over a peak of a roof, the panel comprising:
 two longitudinal edges;   two lateral sides;   a ridge vent interior section bounded by the two longitudinal edges and the two lateral sides;   two longitudinal series of vent openings provided along and proximate the respective two longitudinal edges;   a ridge cap supporting section provided in the ridge vent interior section between the two longitudinal series of vent openings, the ridge cap supporting section comprising a ridge cap supporting section central region provided between two ridge cap supporting section edge regions; and   wherein on average the ridge cap supporting section central region has a smaller thickness than the two ridge cap supporting section edge regions.   
     
     
         2 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 , wherein on average the smaller thickness of the ridge cap supporting section central region is about 60% of a thickness of the two ridge cap supporting section edge regions plus or minus 10%. 
     
     
         3 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 , wherein the ridge cap supporting section central region extends substantially from a first of the two lateral sides to a second of the two lateral sides and substantially between the two longitudinal series of vent openings. 
     
     
         4 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a panel top surface and a panel bottom surface, and wherein on the panel top surface the two ridge cap supporting section edge regions bear an indication of a nailing zone for nailing ridge caps. 
     
     
         5 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 , wherein the ridge cap supporting section comprises a panel top surface and a panel bottom surface, and further comprising two series of flexible struts provided along and proximate respective two longitudinal edges of the ridge cap supporting section central region on the panel bottom surface. 
     
     
         6 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 , wherein the two ridge cap supporting section edge regions each comprise a preformed oval shaped aperture which extends through a thickness of the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The ridge vent of  claim 6 , wherein the oval shaped preformed aperture is located approximately in the center of the panel with respect to a longitudinal dimension of the panel. 
     
     
         8 . The ridge vent of  claim 7 , wherein the preformed oval shaped aperture comprises an aperture top opening which is essentially flush with a top surface of the ridge cap supporting section edge region and an aperture bottom opening which is formed in an aperture tunnel provided on a bottom surface of the panel below a bottom surface of the ridge cap supporting section. 
     
     
         9 . The ridge vent of  claim 8 , further comprising a tunnel connection web which extends in a plane of a width of the panel to connect the aperture tunnel to a longitudinal edge of the panel in alignment with a louvre that defines at least one of the vent openings. 
     
     
         10 . The ridge vent of  claim 7 , wherein the preformed aperture is located proximate a lateral side of the panel. 
     
     
         11 . The ridge vent of  claim 10 , wherein the preformed oval shaped aperture extends through a tunnel that extends below a bottom surface of the ridge cap supporting section. 
     
     
         12 . A ridge vent panel configured for installation over a peak of a roof, the panel comprising:
 two longitudinal edges;   two lateral sides;   a panel top surface and a panel bottom surface;   a ridge vent interior section bounded by the two longitudinal edges and the two lateral sides;   two longitudinal series of vent openings provided along and proximate the respective two longitudinal edges;   a ridge cap supporting section provided in the ridge vent interior section between the two longitudinal series of vent openings, the ridge cap supporting section comprising a ridge cap supporting section central region provided between two ridge cap supporting section edge regions; and   two series of flexible struts provided along and proximate respective two longitudinal edges of the ridge cap supporting section central region and spaced away from the longitudinal edges.   
     
     
         13 . The ridge vent of  claim 12 , wherein a plurality of the flexible struts comprise a strut tail section and a strut spine section. 
     
     
         14 . The ridge vent of  claim 13 , wherein the strut tail section of the flexible struts extends from the panel bottom surface for a greater distance than the strut spine section of the flexible struts. 
     
     
         15 . The ridge vent of  claim 13 , wherein in a plane transverse to a width of the panel the strut tail section has a central axis which is inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the panel. 
     
     
         16 . The ridge vent of  claim 13 , wherein in a plane transverse to a width of the panel the strut spine section tapers away from the strut tail section toward the bottom surface of the panel. 
     
     
         17 . The ridge vent of  claim 12 , wherein a series of flexible posts are provided on the panel bottom surface on the ridge cap supporting section edge portion, the flexible posting be provided adjacent to louvers which define the two longitudinal series of vent openings, wherein the series of flexible posts are provided at a first interval along a longitudinal direction of the panel, and wherein with respect to the longitudinal direction the flexible struts are provided in staggered manner with respect to the first interval. 
     
     
         18 . The ridge vent of  claim 12 , wherein a series of flexible posts are provided on the panel bottom surface on the ridge cap supporting section edge portion, the flexible posting be provided adjacent to louvers which define the two longitudinal series of vent openings, wherein the series of flexible posts are provided at a first interval along a longitudinal direction of the panel, and wherein with respect to the longitudinal direction at least one flexible strut is provided essentially midway between two adjacent flexible posts. 
     
     
         19 . A ridge vent panel configured for installation over a peak of a roof, the panel comprising:
 two longitudinal edges;   two lateral sides;   a panel top surface and a panel bottom surface;   a ridge vent interior section bounded by the two longitudinal edges and the two lateral sides;   two longitudinal series of vent openings provided along and proximate the respective two longitudinal edges;   a ridge cap supporting section provided in the ridge vent interior section between the two longitudinal series of vent openings, the ridge cap supporting section comprising a ridge cap supporting section central region provided between two ridge cap supporting section edge regions;   a resilient cantilever finger provided on at least one of the two lateral sides in at least one of the two ridge cap supporting section edge regions.   
     
     
         20 . The ridge vent of  claim 19 , wherein an oval shaped preformed aperture extends through a thickness of the panel in one of the two ridge cap supporting section edge regions. 
     
     
         21 . The ridge vent of  claim 20 , wherein the preformed oval shaped aperture extends through a tunnel that extends below a bottom surface of the ridge cap supporting section. 
     
     
         22 . The ridge vent of  claim 21 , wherein the tunnel is defined by a segment of one of the two lateral sides and a semi-oval tunnel wall. 
     
     
         23 .    
     
     
         24 . The ridge vent of  claim 22 , wherein the segment of the one of the two lateral walls extends for only a portion of a height of the panel, and wherein a recess is provided below the segment in a height dimension of the panel. 
     
     
         25 . The ridge vent of  claim 23 , wherein the resilient cantilever finger is provided in the recess.