# US 8,739,484 B2 · Roof panel systems for building construction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,484 B2 - Document ID: US8739484B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/373,743 - Filed: 2011-11-28 - Published: 2012-06-14 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-29 - Applicants: James P. Antonic - Inventors: James P. Antonic - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739484B2 ## CPC - E04B 7/04: supported by horizontal beams or the equivalent resting on the walls (E04B7/06 takes precedence) - E04B 7/22: the slabs having insulating properties, e.g. laminated with layers of insulating material - E04D 13/1681: {Insulating of pre-existing roofs with or without ventilating arrangements} - E04D 13/17: Ventilation of roof coverings not otherwise provided for (ventilation of rooms or spaces F24F) - E04F 13/007: {Outer coverings for walls with ventilating means} - E04F 17/04: Air-ducts or air channels {(heating in general F24; ventilating rooms in general F24F)} - F24F 7/02: Roof ventilation (ventilation of roof coverings E04D) - F24F 7/025: {with forced air circulation by means of a built-in ventilator} - F24S 20/67: in the form of roof constructions (in the form of shingles or tiles F24S20/69) - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - H02S 40/44: Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/67) - F03D 9/35: within towers, e.g. using chimney effects - F05B 2220/602: with energy recovery turbines - F24F 2005/0064: {using solar energy} - Y02A 30/272: Solar heating or cooling - Y02A 30/60: Planning or developing urban green infrastructure - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02B 10/70: Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies - Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers - Y02E 10/44: Heat exchange systems - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y02E 10/60: Thermal-PV hybrids - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Roof panels and roof panel assemblies, comprising roof panels and ridge beams, assemblies are disclosed for use in building construction. The roof panels and ridge beams comprise components formed of composite materials, and certain aspects of the invention include designs that provide for the absorption of solar heat and the promotion of hot air flow within the roof to heat the interior building or generate electricity, among other attributes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roof panel assembly for attachment to a building, said assembly comprising: a) a horizontal ridge beam for attachment to two or more load bearing columns or load bearing walls of said building or to an existing roof of said building, said ridge beam comprising a plenum configured for airflow movement therethrough; b) one or more roof panels secured to said ridge beam, each of roof panels having at least one chamber configured for airflow movement therethrough; c) a ridge beam top cap secured to said panels, said top cap extending the length of said ridge beam, and wherein said panel chamber runs perpendicular to said ridge beam such that said chamber is positioned in communication with said plenum of said ridge beam to accommodate air flow therethrough; and d) at least one hollow vertical member in communication with said ridge beam, said at least one vertical member having an inner chamber in communication with said ridge beam plenum and through which air is directed from said vertical member chamber into a building. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The roof panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one hollow vertical member is a chimney. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The roof panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said hollow vertical member includes a fan and an electricity generating alternator or generator, whereby as air flows through said vertical member, said fan turns to activate said electricity generating alternator or generator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The roof panel assembly of claim 1, further including an ozone generator air purification system within said ridge beam, whereby air flowing through said ridge beam is treated prior to entering the building through said at least one hollow vertical members of said ridge beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The roof panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one hollow vertical member is in communication the interior of said building, such that said air flow is diverted into said. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The roof panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said roof panel comprises: a) an exterior sheet and an intermediate sheet subjacent said exterior sheet spaced apart from one another to form a series of upper chambers therebetween; b) an interior sheet subjacent said intermediate sheet, said intermediate sheet and interior sheet spaced part to for a series of lower chambers therebetween; c) an eave edge and a ridge beam edge each having a sufficient opening to allow heated air to flow unidirectionally therethrough within said panel; and wherein said upper air chamber has a continually tapered configuration beginning at said eave edge and increasing to said ridge beam edge of said panel. ### Claim 7 A roof panel assembly for attachment to a building, said assembly comprising: a) a horizontal ridge beam for attachment to two or more load bearing columns or load bearing walls of said building or to an existing roof of said building, said ridge beam having a floor and two opposing side walls extending upward from said floor to form an inner channel with opposing terminal ends and an open top end; b) one or more roof panels secured to one of said side walls of said beam and one or more roof panels secured to the adjacent side wall of said beam, such that said roof panels are secured to said ridge beam at said first panel edges, and wherein each of said panels has upper and lower chambers and exterior sheet; c) a ridge beam top cap secured to the exterior sheets of said panels, said top cap extending the length of said ridge beam, and wherein said upper chamber and lower chamber run perpendicular to said ridge beam such that said upper chamber is in communication with said ridge beam channel to accommodate air flow from said upper chamber of said panels into said ridge beam channel; and d) at least one hollow vertical member in communication with said ridge beam, said at least one vertical member having an inner chamber in communication with said channel of said ridge beam to direct heated air flow therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, wherein said assembly further comprising end caps sealing the lower chambers at along each of a second edge of said panels and end caps sealing said panel assembly along front and rear ends of said roof panel assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, further including an air vent secured near each of a second panel edge to allow exterior air to flow therethrough into said roof panel and to screen out debris and pests. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The roof assembly of claim 7, wherein said upper chamber is tapered from said first edge of said panel to said second edge of said panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, wherein said at least one hollow vertical member is a chimney. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, said ridge beam further including a longitudinal member secured within said inner channel, said member having a rear end secured near the top edge of said ridge beam at a rear terminal end, and a front end secured near the ridge beam floor at a front terminal end of said beam to create upper and lower air plenums within said ridge beam through which air may flow from said roof panels. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, wherein said ridge beam floor of said inner channel is a sloped member extending near said top edge of said ridge beam at a rear terminal end toward a front terminal end of said beam to create a single triangular-shaped air plenum within said ridge beam through which air may flow from said roof panels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The roof panel assembly of claim 13, wherein said sloped member has a stair-stepped configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, wherein said upper chamber contains at least one pipe for distributing water. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, wherein said floor of said ridge beam comprises one or more openings penetrating therethrough for communication with an underlying heat register, and wherein an angled ridge beam plate positioned thereon has at least one opening penetrating therethrough to allow air to travel therethrough. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, wherein said hollow vertical member includes a fan and an electricity generating alternator or generator housed therein, whereby as air flows through said vertical member, said fan turns to activate said electricity generating alternator or generator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, further including an ozone generator air purification system within said channel of said ridge beam, whereby air flowing through said ridge beam channel is treated prior to entering the building through said at least one hollow vertical members of said ridge beam. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, wherein said at least one hollow vertical member is in communication the interior of said building, such that said heated air is diverted into said building to heat said building via said vertical member. ### Claim 20 The roof panel assembly of 7, wherein at least a portion of said panel chambers have a material coated thereon, layered therein, filled therewith, or secured thereto, said material selected from the group of insulation materials, fire proofing materials, sound attenuation materials, heat absorbing materials, and armor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, said panel having an exterior sheet, and wherein at least a portion of said exterior sheet includes a solar panel for generating electricity within said upper chambers. ### Claim 22 (depends on 7) The roof panel assembly of claim 7, one or more of said upper or lower chambers comprises water bladders for heating water within said chambers, said bladders further including a water inlet secured to a water tube and a water outlet secured to a second tube.