DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Attention is directed to FIGS. 1 and 2, where perspective views are provided showing the use of a weather block section 20 (partially shown) in combination with low profile S-shaped tiles 22. In FIG. 3, the partially completed roofing system 30 as illustrated in FIG. 1 has been completed to provide one embodiment for a fully usable roofing system 40 including rafters 42, a central beam 44, a ridge beam 46, a roofing deck 48, a felt 50 on the roofing deck 48, first layer battens 52 and second layer battens 53, roofing tiles 22, weather block section 20 with securing nail 54, a sub-flashing ridge vent component 56, a top cap flashing ridge vent component 58, and a ridge cap tile 60.

[0027] Returning now to FIG. 1, the weather block 20 extends along a longitudinal axis for a length L between a first end 62 and a second end 64, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, includes three major components. First, a spacer portion 66 having an upper lateral edge 68 and a lower lateral edge 70 is provided. As shown, the spacer portion 66 is a planer component provided in a generally parallelepiped shaped thin sheet. Second, as illustrated in FIG. 1, downwardly extending from the upper lateral edge 68 of the spacer portion 66 is a backing portion 72. Third, downwardly extending from the lower lateral edge 70 of spacer portion 66 is a weather stop portion 73 having a length Z.

[0028] The backing portion 72 can be provided in a uniform height H₀ along the length L as suitable to approximate or slightly exceed the height H₁ between the peak 74 of a tile 22 and the bottom surface 76 of a valley portion 78 of a tile 22. As better seen by reference to weather block 20′ illustrated in FIG. 10. Here, a weather strip 20′ better adapted for use with a high profile tile roof is illustrated. But, in either the case of weather block 20 for low profile tile roofs or of weather block 20′ for high profile tile roofs, the backing portion 72 should be at least of height H₂ corresponding to the approximate height between the peak 74 of an upper tile or tile portion 22_U and the upper surface 80 of a valley portion 78 of a lower tile or tile portion 22_L. It is believed advantageous that the backing portion 72 be at least of the approximate height H₃ which corresponds to the distance between the peak 74 of a tile 22 and the average middle location 82 between (i) the upper surface 80 of a valley portion 78 of a tile 22 and (ii) the bottom surface 76 of a valley portion 78 of a tile 22. Additionally, extra height H₄, which corresponds to a small distance from the spacer portion 66 to the lip edge 94 at the upper most portion of the concave portion 96 of the undulate lower edge 100 of weather stop portion 73, may be added to any on of heights H1, H2 or H3, to provide an overall height H₀ for backing portion 72. On the other hand, as indicated in FIG. 2, the height H₄ may be zero.

[0029] The downwardly extending weather stop portion 73 has a lower edge portion 100, undulate in nature as depicted in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7, but which in any event is sized and shaped for close fitting mating engagement with the upper surface S of the upper row of tiles 22₁ against which the weather block 20 is installed. In order to secure the weather block 20 to a roof structure, nailing slots 110 are provided at spaced apart locations along the length L of the spacer portion 66. The nailing slots 110 can be in the form of elongate or oval shape as shown in FIG. 1, and in any event are sized and shaped to accommodate therethrough nails 54 of sufficient length to secure, through an aperture 114 defined by edge walls 116 in the tile 22 therebelow, the weather block 20 to the batten 52 and/or roof deck 48 located below the tile 22.

[0030] Weather block strips 20 can be advantageously manufactured out of suitable metal. In one embodiment, the weather block strips 20 can be configured in integral, one piece configurations wherein the spacer portion 66, the backing portion 72, and the weather stop portion 73 are all formed from a single piece of metal which is bent into a downwardly oriented U-shaped configuration. When fabricated from steel, the finished part can be provided with either a painted finish or a galvanized finish. Alternately, the weather block strips 20 or 20′ may be made from other metals, such as aluminum, which does not require a finish coating. Or, the weather block strips 20 or 20′ may be manufactured from non-metallic components. Lengths L of weather block strips 20 or 20′ may be of any convenient size, such as 4 foot, or incremental in desired lengths up to about 10 foot in length, or more.

[0031] Weather block strips 20 as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, may be utilized in conjunction with a ridge type ventilator system. Although one exemplary ridge type ventilator system is depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, the weather block described herein is useful in connection with the installation of tile roofs with various types of ridge ventilators, or, without ridge ventilators. For a brief understanding of details of such a roofing system, note that a longitudinally extending sub-flashing 56 is provided having apertures A therethrough. Roof rafters 42 have ridge ends 120 ending at a center beam 44. Above the center beam 38 is mounted a longitudinally running ridge beam 46 which extends across the roof system. The roof decking 48 is affixed above the upper side 122 of the rafters 42. Either through roof deck 48, or preferably above the upper end 49 of roof deck 48 and up to the side 124 of ridge beam 46, an air gap G is provided to allow air to flow upward or downward in the direction of reference arrows 126. Longitudinally extending sub-flashing 56, having a plurality of ventilation apertures A₁ therein is provided to span gap G. A top cap flashing 58 is mounted over the top 130 of ridge beam 46. The top cap flashing 58 is longitudinally extending to support a plurality of ridge cap tiles 60, as indicated in FIG. 9. In the embodiment shown in this FIG. 9, the top cap flashing 58 has a downwardly directed U-shaped center section 132 and a pair of opposing first and second outward wing portions 134 and 136, each of which may be bounded at the outer tip 140 thereof by a an upwardly directed flange portion F. Preferably, a sealant layer S is provided between the lower side 142 and 144 of wing portions 134 and 136, respectively, and the adjacent tiles 22.

[0032] The various figures provide general views of certain embodiments of weather block strips 20 and 20′, without limitation as to details of exact size, which may be provided as a convenience for stocking distributors and/or for contractor installation. In one set of exemplary dimensions for the weather block strips, as applied to low profile type tile roofs can be provided, as detailed in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. For example, a weather block strip 20 can be provided in a convenient length L, as described herein above, and with a width W of the spacer portion 66 of about 2.5 inches, and with a height H₀ of the backing portion 73 of about 2.25 inches, and with an overall height HW of the weather stop portion of about 2.375 inches, as formed into an integral, upside down U-shaped article. However, this is merely exemplary and the actual dimensions and sizes may be varied to suit individual needs, without varying from the more general teachings hereof.

[0033] A method of installing a weather block 20 on a ridge, or on a roof hip, can be easily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and to whom this specification is addressed. And the weather block can be used in a roofing method to provide weather protection in any undulating roofing system, whether S-tile type or opposing U-shaped tiles. A first step in a method of installation of an exemplary weather block in an undulating roof system is shown, wherein an upper roof tile row is provided. The tiles have an upper surface S. The second step in a method of installation of a weather block in an undulating type tile roof system is to provide a weather block strip 20 as disclosed herein. The weather block 20 is affixed so that the backing portion 72 is in abutting engagement with the upper end of the first row of tiles 22₁, and so that the lower end portion of the weather stop portion 73 is situated in close fitting engagement with the upper surface S of the adjacent tiles 22. Next, the weather strip 20 is secured to the roofing structure by a fastener such as nail 54. Finally, a ridge cap tile is provided to cover the ridge line, or hip line, as applicable.

[0034] It is to be appreciated that the novel weather block system provided by way of the present invention is a significant improvement in the state of the art of weather blocking systems for tile roofs. The weather block is lightweight, being normally manufactured of lightweight metal or other structurally strong material, and is capable of being easily packaged and shipped.

[0035] Importantly, the weather block for tile roofs allows installation of a weather tight ridge vent system even in locales where it has heretofore been impossible to do so and comply with building code requirements, since the combination weather block and a ridge vent system is fully capable of passing the most stringent regulatory tests for wind and wind driven rain resistance.

[0036] Although only a few exemplary embodiments and aspects of this invention have been described in detail, various details are sufficiently set forth in the drawing and in the specification provided herein to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use such exemplary embodiments and aspects, which need not be further described by additional writing in this detailed description. Importantly, the designs described and claimed herein may be modified from those embodiments provided without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided by this invention, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, this disclosure is intended to cover the structures described herein and not only structural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures. Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Thus having described some embodiments of the invention, though not exhaustive of all possible equivalents, what is desired to be secured by letters patent is claimed below. Therefore, the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims, and as indicated by the drawing and by the foregoing description, is intended to include variations from the embodiments provided which are nevertheless described by the broad interpretation and range properly afforded to the plain meaning of the claims set forth below.