the hinged ridge vent cover 1 of the present invention has a rigid elongated left surface 2 and a rigid elongated right surface 4 joined by a hinge 6 . the rigid surfaces 2 , 4 are preferably made of plywood approximately four feet long , seven inches wide , and five eighths inches thick . other material of comparable rigidity , strength and size are also contemplated . the hinge 6 is slightly less than four feet long ; and is preferably made of aluminum . the hinge 6 has an outer receiving member 8 and an inner rotating member 10 . the members 8 , 10 rotate relative to one another along the radial axis . the members 8 , 10 are connected together by inserting member 10 into member 8 at an end and sliding it along the longitudinal axis , allowing the right surface 2 and left surface 4 to be translated relative to one another . as more clearly seen in fig2 , hinging members 8 , 10 each have hinge plates 12 , 13 respectively , with ridges 14 that lie adjacent to and contact the right and left rigid surfaces 2 , 4 . each hinge plate 12 , 13 has through holes 16 that accommodate ⅜ inch screws ( not shown ) for securing the hinge plates to the underside of the rigid surfaces 2 , 4 . copper drip edges 18 , 19 are fitted over the lower edges of rigid surfaces 2 , 4 respectively . the drip edges 18 , 19 are l shaped , approximately four feet long , five eighths inches wide , with an outside surface 20 that extends approximately one and one quarter inches up the outside of the respective rigid surface covers 2 , 4 . an inside surface 22 of the drip edge extends approximately five eighths of an inch up the underside of rigid surfaces 2 , 4 . the copper drip edges 18 , 19 fit snugly over the lower edges of the rigid surfaces 2 , 4 respectively and are affixed to the surfaces 2 , 4 with staples 24 or some other convenient fastening means . the drip edges 18 are preferably made of copper . the non - corroding characteristics of copper make copper a good choice for use with long lasting roofing material such as slate . the drip edge may be composed of any other water impermeable material with similar characteristics . the rigid surfaces 2 , 4 provide support for slate or other heavy , loose laid roofing material . the plywood construction of the rigid surface provides a solid mounting surface that accommodates standard roofing fasteners such as nails and screws , for example the rigid surfaces 2 , 4 , may be made from any other wood or plastic rigid material . a variety of hardwoods , softwoods , composite woods , metals and plastics is contemplated . the hinge 6 is preferably made of aluminum and is constructed to slideably engage . other similar non - corrosive metals such as copper or iron , or plastic are also contemplated . the use of a soft lightweight material , such as aluminum , allows a roofer to easily cut the hinge 6 and rigid surfaces 2 , 4 using standard roofing tools . the use of a slideably engagable hinge 6 has several advantages . it allows a roofer to separate the left surface 4 from the right surface 2 , and translate the left surface 4 relative to the right surface 2 , and interleave the left and right surfaces as will be described in more detail hereinafter . other kinds of hinges like slideable hinges , or bending surfaces , such as pinned hinges , ball and socket hinges , flexible metal connecting surfaces , inter - locking flexible joints and connecting fabric , may also be used , but without the distinct advantage of the preferred embodiment . the dimensions of the rigid surfaces 2 , 4 , the hinge 6 , the drip edges 18 and the screws 16 , 26 are exemplary . the preferred dimensions work well with ridge vents on slate shingle roofs . the four foot length of the rigid surface is manageable , while the seven inch width adequately covers the ridge vent . for heavy shingles other than slate , rigid surfaces 2 , 4 having four foot lengths and six inch widths are preferred . fig3 shows a pitched roof shingled and vented . rows of shingles 28 have been applied leaving a narrow vent strip 30 at the roof ridge peak . on the right side , the last course of shingles 28 has been applied leaving a few inches of the roof exposed forming the right side of the narrow vent strip 30 . on the left side , a nail strip 32 has been added to accommodate a final short course of shingles 28 . a few inches of the roof remain exposed on the left side forming the left side of the narrow vent strip 30 . a flexible venting material 34 ( described above ) allows heat to escape while preventing water from entering . fig4 shows the hinged ridge vent cover i applied to the roof ridge shown in fig3 . the left rigid surfaces 4 and right rigid surfaces 2 are staggered relative to one another forming an inverted v shaped structure with the hinges 6 at the peak . to lay the staggered rigid surfaces 4 , 2 , sixteen inches of a starting rigid surface 36 is removed . subsequent left and right rigid surfaces are laid end to end with the left surfaces shifted into the space provided by the removed portion of the first rigid surface 36 . the rotating member 10 of the hinge 6 attached to the left rigid surface 4 slides into the receiving member 8 of the hinge 6 attached to the first right rigid surface 38 . at the end of the ridge line , any excess from the final rigid surface is cut off . four or more three inch screws 26 are screwed through each one of the left and right rigid surfaces 2 , 4 into the shingles 28 and the roof nail strip . drip edges 18 are fitted over the lower edges of the left and right rigid surfaces 4 , 2 and fastened with a staple gun . the series of staggered interlocking hinged rigid surfaces provide a ridge vent structure across the entire ridge line . the screws 26 secure the ridge vent cover to the roof preventing uplift and blow off . the left and right rigid surfaces 2 , 4 provide convenient and sturdy mounting surfaces for heavy tile , like slate for example . in the illustrated embodiment the rigid surfaces are staggered by sixteen inches . different stagger lengths could be used . the screw 26 size and spacing are only exemplary , as are the drip edge size and spacing . any suitable roofing fasteners or equivalent may be used . fig5 shows a water proof membrane 39 applied over the ridge vent cover . the water proof membrane 39 extends over the drip edge . an end closure 40 may be used at the gable ends of the pitched roof to waterproof the ridge edges . fig6 shows loose laid roofing shingles 28 , such as slate , applied over the water proof membrane ( not shown ) and fastened to the ridge vent cover . two 1½ screws concealed by the shingle layering penetrate the shingles 28 , the water proof membrane and the hinged ridge vent cover securing the shingles to the roof . the ridge vent cover of the present invention provides a stable mounting platfrom for heavier loose laid shingles , and prevents up - lift from heavy winds .