Ventilating radiant barrier

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to insulating and ventilating systems and more particularly pertains to a new ventilating radiant barrier for reducing the solar or thermal load into a home through a roof while also providing ventilation beneath the exterior of the roof to protect the roof from moisture damage.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] The use of insulating and ventilating systems is known in the prior art. More specifically, insulating and ventilating systems heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

[0006] Known prior art includes U. S. Pat. No. 5,303,525 by Magee; U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,050 by Wilson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,314 by Moore, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 372,545 by Schultz; U.S. Pat. No. 3,210,896 by Detman; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,015 by Seaburg et al.

[0007] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new ventilating radiant barrier. The inventive device includes a panel that has a pair of faces, a pair of end edges and a pair of side edges extending between the end edges of the panel. A first of the faces of the panel has a spaced apart pair of perforation rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The second face of the panel has a spaced apart pair of perforation rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The perforation rows of the second face of the panel are positioned between the perforation rows of the first face of the panel.

[0008] In these respects, the ventilating radiant barrier according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of reducing the solar or thermal load into a home through a roof while also providing ventilation beneath the exterior of the roof to protect the roof from moisture damage.

[0009] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of insulating and ventilating systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new ventilating radiant barrier construction wherein the same can be utilized for reducing the solar or thermal load into a home through a roof while also providing ventilation beneath the exterior of the roof to protect the roof from moisture damage.

[0010] The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new ventilating radiant barrier apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the insulating and ventilating systems mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new ventilating radiant barrier which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art insulating and ventilating systems, either alone or in any combination thereof.

[0011] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a panel that has a pair of faces, a pair of end edges and a pair of side edges extending between the end edges of the panel. A first of the faces of the panel has a spaced apart pair of perforation rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The second face of the panel has a spaced apart pair of perforation rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The perforation rows of the second face of the panel are positioned between the perforation rows of the first face of the panel.

[0012] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0013] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0014] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0015] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

[0016] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new ventilating radiant barrier apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the insulating and ventilating systems mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new ventilating radiant barrier which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art insulating and ventilating systems, either alone or in any combination thereof.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new ventilating radiant barrier which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new ventilating radiant barrier which is of a durable and reliable construction.

[0019] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new ventilating radiant barrier which is susceptible to low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible to low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such ventilating radiant barrier economically available to the buying public.

[0020] Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new ventilating radiant barrier which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

[0021] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new ventilating radiant barrier for reducing the solar or thermal load into a home through a roof while also providing ventilation beneath the exterior of the roof to protect the roof from moisture damage.

[0022] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new ventilating radiant barrier which includes a panel that has a pair of faces, a pair of end edges and a pair of side edges extending between the end edges of the panel. A first of the faces of the panel has a spaced apart pair of perforation rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The second face of the panel has a spaced apart pair of perforation rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The perforation rows of the second face of the panel are positioned between the perforation rows of the first face of the panel.

[0023] Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new ventilating radiant barrier that has perforated cuts along its sides to space the ventilating radiant barrier from the roof decking to create an air space for ventilating the roof structure without having to use furring strips to create the space.

[0024] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0025] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic breakaway perspective view of an installed new ventilating radiant barrier according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view taken from line 2—2 of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view taken from line 3—3 of FIG. 2.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention.

[0031] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new ventilating radiant barrier embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described.

[0032] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the ventilating radiant barrier generally comprises a panel that has a pair of faces, a pair of end edges and a pair of side edges extending between the end edges of the panel. A first of the faces of the panel that has a spaced apart pair of perforation rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The second face of the panel that has a spaced apart pair of perforation rows extending between the end edges of the panel. The perforation rows of the second face of the panel are positioned between the perforation rows of the first face of the panel.

[0033] In closer detail, the ventilating radiant barrier a generally rectangular panel 10 having a pair of substantially planar and generally rectangular faces 11,12, a pair of generally straight end edges 13,14 and a pair of generally straight side edges 15,16 extending between the end edges of the panel. The end edges of the panel are preferably extended substantially parallel to one another. The side edges of the panel are preferably extended substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the end edges of the panel. The panel preferably comprises a foamed insulating material. A first face 11 of the pair of the faces of the panel preferably has a heat reflecting surface substantially covering the first face of the panel. Ideally, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, the heat reflecting surface of the first face of the panel comprises a metallic foil outer layer 17 provided on the first face of the panel. The panel preferably has a thickness defined between the faces of the panel between about ¼ inch and 3 inches. Ideally, the thickness of the panel is about ½ inch.

[0034] The first face of the panel that has a spaced apart and substantially parallel pair of perforation rows 18,19 each comprising a plurality of perforation extending between the end edges of the panel. A first perforation row of the first face of the panel is positioned adjacent a first of the side edges of the panel while, similarly, a second perforation row of the first face of the panel is positioned adjacent a second of the side edges of the panel. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the first face of the panel is cut along each of the perforation rows of the first face of the panel to form a pair of outer fold lines 20 on a second of the faces of the panel extending between the end edges of the panel.

[0035] Similarly, the second face of the panel that has a spaced apart and substantially parallel pair of perforations rows 21 each comprising a plurality of perforation extending between the end edges of the panel. The perforation rows of the second face of the panel are positioned between the outer fold lines of the panel. A first perforation row of the second face of the panel is positioned adjacent a first of the outer fold lines of the panel and a second perforation row of the second face of the panel is positioned adjacent a second of the outer fold lines of the panel. Like the first face, the second face of the panel is cut along each of the perforation rows of the second face of the panel to form a pair of inner fold lines 22 on the second face of the panel extending between the end edges of the panel as shown in FIG. 4.

[0036] These perforation line defined a plurality of strips on the panel extending between end edges of the panel. This plurality of strips includes a pair of outer strips 23,24 and a pair of inner strips 25,26. A first of the outer strips is defined between the first side edge and the first outer fold line and a second of the outer strips is defined between the second side edge and the second outer fold line. A first of the inner strips is defined between the first outer fold line and the first inner fold line and a second of the inner strips is defined between the second outer fold line and the second inner fold line.

[0037] The inner and outer fold lines adjacent each side edge of the panel are folded accordion fashion (FIG. 4) such that each adjacent pair of inner and outer strips are stacked on the first face of the panel to form a pair of stacks 27,28 (FIG. 3) on the first face of the panel with the inner strips positioned adjacent the first face of the panel in each of the stacks. The panel that has a pair of substantially inner sides 29 extending between the end edges of the panel when the inner and outer strips of the panel are formed in the stacks. Each stack has a thickness about two times the thickness of the panel. Ideally, the thickness of each stack is about 1 inch.

[0038] A roof structure comprising a plurality of spaced apart and substantially parallel rafters 30,31, a roof decking 32 coupled to the rafters, a plurality of shingles 33 covering the roof decking. In use, the panel is positioned between an adjacent pair of rafters such that the first face of the panel faces the roof decking. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the outer strip in each stack of strips abuts an interior surface of the roof decking so that the first face of panel is spaced apart from the roof decking the thickness of the stacks.

[0039] Each adjacent pair of rafters has a spacing width defined therebetween. The panel that has an inner width defined between the inner fold lines of the panel. Ideally, the inner width of the panel is slightly less than the spacing width between the adjacent pair of rafters. This way, one of the inner sides of the panel abuts one of the rafters of the adjacent pair of rafters and the other of the inner sides of the panel abuts the other of the rafters of the adjacent pair of rafters such that the panel is frictionally held in position between the adjacent pair of rafters. In typical constructions the spacing width between rafters is either about 16 inches or about 24 and therefore, in an ideal illustrative embodiment, the inner width the panel should be slightly less than about 16 inches or slightly less than about 24 inches accordingly.

[0040] A layer of batting-type insulation 34 such as fiberglass batting insulation is positioned between the adjacent pair of rafters. The layer of batting-type insulation abuts the second face of the panel such that the panel is interposed between the roof decking and the layer of batting-type of insulation. A paper insulating backing sheet 35 is coupled to the layer of batting-type of insulation on a surface of the layer of batting-type of insulation opposite the panel such that the layer of batting-type of insulation is interposed between the panel and the backing sheet. A gypsum board 36 may then be coupled to the rafters so that the panel, the layer of batting-type of insulation, and the back sheet are interposed between the roof decking and the gypsum board.

[0041] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0042] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0043] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.