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  Vent baffle and perforation machineUSPTO Application #: 20060105699Title: Vent baffle and perforation machine Abstract: An adaptable vent baffle mountable to an underside of a roof deck and to a wall plate of a building structure between a pair of roof rafters having a rafter spacing for permitting ventilation between a soffit and an attic space of the building structure. A main body portion has a longitudinal axis and is positioned generally on a main body plane. A spacer extends from the main body portion and a tail portion is hingedly mounted to the main body portion. The main body portion and tail portion include first and second side edges and a baffle width is defined between the first and second side edges. At least one line of weakness extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis for modifying the baffle width to adapt to the rafter spacing. A perforating machine for forming perforated lines on the vent baffle is also disclosed. (end of abstract) Agent: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P. - Philadelphia, PA, US Inventors: Matt Kortuem, Palle Rye, Dave Rosten, Richard L. Partlow USPTO Applicaton #: 20060105699 - Class: 454260000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Ventilation, Having Inlet Airway, Through Roof Eaves Or Rafters The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060105699. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/811,632, filed Mar. 29, 2004 and titled, "Vent Baffle and Method of Installation", the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention is in the field of building construction materials and particularly relates to attic vent baffles commonly used in residential building structures to allow ventilation flow through soffit vents into an attic space. [0003] It is known to provide attic ventilation systems to properly ventilate the attic space often found in buildings. Ventilation of the attic space is desirable to help prevent formation of condensation along the interior surface of the roof, which can damage attic insulation and the building structure itself. Proper ventilation also helps to prevent premature melting of snow accumulated on a building roof. Such premature melting can lead to the formation of ice on the roof. Such ice formations can be both a safety hazard and can lead to roof damage. [0004] Known attic ventilation systems typically comprise a plurality of vents located in the underside, or soffit, of eaves extending from the building roof. Typically, air travels through the soffit vents into the attic space via an opening (herein referred to as the "roof-wall plate opening") between the underside of the roof deck and the top of the exterior wall of the building (the so-called "wall plate") and subsequently through an air flow channel formed by a vent baffle disposed adjacent the underside of the roof deck. Ventilation flow typically exits from the air flow channel into the attic space. The attic space may be provided with a separate roof vent to facilitate flow of air from the attic space to the outdoors. [0005] An attic ventilation system directs and controls the ventilation air flow, as otherwise uncontrolled air currents can be sufficiently strong to disturb placement of attic insulation, blowing the insulation about to create areas which are not properly insulated. Uncontrolled air currents circulating in the attic space can also negatively affect performance of the attic insulation by promoting increased convective heat transfer along the top surface of the insulation. [0006] An attic ventilation system also accommodates installation of attic insulation over the entire ceiling, as nearly as possible up to the roof-wall plate opening. To do this, ventilation systems preferably make some provision to block intrusion of insulation into the interior space of the eaves (such intrusion could lead to blockage of the soffit vents) while also providing an air flow channel to permit and control air flow through the soffit vents into the attic space. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,185 (Obermeyer) describes a known attic ventilation system and includes a rafter air infiltration block used in conjunction with a conventional roof vent board. The block of Obermeyer is a generally rectangular sheet of material having a plurality of tabs connected to a remainder of the sheet by a plurality of fold lines. The block of Obermeyer serves to prevent intrusion of insulation disposed proximate the roof-wall plate opening into the eave interior space, while the roof vent board provides an air flow channel to allow and control air flow from the soffit vents into the attic space. Installation of a roof ventilation system in accordance with the invention of Obermeyer requires installation of a roof vent board, as well as separate installation of the separate block component. Installation of the block component of Obermeyer requires the installer to fold the block component along multiple fold lines. The installation process is thereby complicated by the need to install two separate components and also by the need to fold the block component along multiple fold lines. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,040 (Best) discloses a ventilation panel comprising a rectangular sheet divided by a plurality of fold lines into a rectangular central portion, a pair of side edge portions and an end portion. When the side edge portions and end portions are folded into place, the ventilation panel of Best forms both an airflow channel and a roof-wall plate opening block. In order to install the ventilation panel of Best, it is necessary that the sheet be cut and folded at multiple locations, thus necessitating a relatively complicated and time-consuming installation process. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,861 (Eury) discloses a baffle board having side tabs and an end tab, each of the tabs being connected to a remainder of the baffle board by either perforated lines or score lines along which the tabs are bent relative to the remainder of the baffle board. Similar to the ventilation panel of Best, when the baffle board of Eury is folded into an installation configuration, the baffle board forms both an air flow channel and a roof-wall plate opening block. In order to install the baffle board of Eury, it is thus necessary to fold the board along multiple lines. It is further necessary for the installer to exercise judgment regarding the proper positioning of the baffle board (compare FIGS. 4 and 5 of Eury, which illustrate that an installer would be required to judge both the proper spacing of the baffle board from the underside of the roof deck and the proper angle of the baffle board relative to the roof). [0010] There is a need for a vent baffle that is inexpensively manufactured, effectively provides ventilation and insulation baffling, is quickly and easily installed, and that may be installed in a wide range of building configurations. The present invention satisfies this need. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] Briefly stated, in a first aspect the present application is directed to an adaptable vent baffle mountable to an underside of a roof and to a wall plate of a building structure between a pair of roof rafters having a rafter spacing for permitting ventilation between a soffit and an attic space of the building structure. The vent baffle includes a main body portion having a longitudinal axis and being positioned generally on a main body plane. A spacer extends generally perpendicularly from the main body relative to the main body plane and a tail portion is hingedly mounted to the main body portion. The main body portion and tail portion include first and second side edges extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. A baffle width is defined between the first and second side edges. At least one line of weakness extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis for modifying the baffle width to adapt to the rafter spacing. [0012] In another aspect, the present application is directed to a perforating machine for forming at least one perforated line on a polymeric sheet part having an indexing projection. The perforating machine includes a working table including a generally planar upper surface, an input end, an outlet end and a feed axis. A feed mechanism includes a feed component in releasable contact with the indexing projection to move the sheet part generally parallel to the feed axis between the input end and the outlet end. A drive mechanism drives the feed mechanism and at least one tool forms at least one line of weakness on the sheet part as the sheet part moves along the feed axis. [0013] In a further aspect, the present application is directed to a perforating machine for forming a plurality of perforation lines in a polymeric vent baffle sheet having at least one spacer extending from a first face and at least one side stiffener extending from a side surface of the at least one spacer. The perforating machine includes a working table including a feed axis, an inlet end and an outlet end. A feed belt includes teeth positioned a predetermined height from a working face of the working table. The teeth are in contact with the at least one side stiffener for moving the vent baffle sheet generally parallel to the feed axis from the inlet end to the outlet end. At least one perforating wheel is in contact with a surface of the vent baffle sheet to form at least one perforation line on the vent baffle sheet as the vent baffle sheet moves from the inlet end to the outlet end. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] The following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. [0015] In the drawings: [0016] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a roof, wall and ceiling of a building structure, showing a vent baffle in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention in an installed configuration to block a roof-wall plate opening of a first size; [0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through a roof, wall and ceiling of a building structure, showing the vent baffle of FIG. 1 in an installed configuration to block a roof-wall plate opening of a second size; [0018] FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of the vent baffle of FIGS. 1 and 2, oriented toward an exterior of the building structure and taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; [0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first face of the vent baffle of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown in an uninstalled configuration; [0020] FIG. 4A is a greatly magnified perspective view of the vent baffle taken from the circle 4A of FIG. 4 showing perforated lines at a corner portion of the vent baffle; Continue reading... Full patent description for Vent baffle and perforation machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vent baffle and perforation machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Vent baffle and perforation machine or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Remote autonomous intelligent air flow control system and network Next Patent Application: Duct Industry Class: Ventilation ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Vent baffle and perforation machine patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.35986 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
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