U.S. patent application number 10/777036 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-08 for locking laps for vinyl siding.
Invention is credited to Hatkoff, Gerald.
Application Number | 20050193674 10/777036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34911336 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050193674 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hatkoff, Gerald |
September 8, 2005 |
Locking laps for vinyl siding
Abstract
The locking laps for vinyl siding secure adjacent siding panels
and prevent them from being removed from a building structure
during strong wind conditions. A locking lap assembly is secured at
the two ends of each siding panel to securely connect each siding
panel to adjacent siding panels. The locking lap assembly comprises
a locking lap and a spacing member. The spacing member is secured
to the rear surface of the siding panel. The locking lap member is
secured to the spacing member and extends beyond the end of the
siding panel. The spacing member provides a space between the
locking lap and the rear surface of the siding panel, to allow a
locking lap of an adjacent panel to be received between the locking
lap and the siding panel. The locking laps of two adjacent panels
overlap one another to provide a secure attachment of the adjacent
panels.
Inventors: |
Hatkoff, Gerald; (Grandy,
NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard C. Litman
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD.
P.O. Box 15035
Arlington
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
34911336 |
Appl. No.: |
10/777036 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/561 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 13/0864
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/561 |
International
Class: |
E04D 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A locking siding panel assembly, comprising: a plurality of
siding panels, each panel having a main body with a front surface,
a rear surface, a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of ends; a
locking lap assembly disposed along the back surface of each of
said panels at each end of said panels; whereby the locking lap
assembly locks adjacent siding panels together securely to prevent
them from being separated by wind.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said locking lap
assembly further comprises: a generally rectangular spacing member
having a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface being
secured to the rear surface of said panel; and a locking lap
member, having a front surface, a rear surface secured to the front
surface of the spacing member, an interior end secured to the
spacing member and an exterior end extending farther than the end
of said panels; whereby the spacing member provides a space between
the locking lap member and said panel for receiving the exterior
end of the locking lap member of an adjacent panel for
overlappingly locking two adjacent panels.
3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said panels are
single lap siding panels with the main body comprising a plurality
of longitudinally extending, generally flat and inclined panel
portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset step
portions.
4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said spacing member
comprises a shape conforming to the panels having a main body with
a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat body
portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset step
portions.
5. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said locking lap
member comprises a shape conforming to the panels having a main
body with a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat
body portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset
step portions.
6. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said spacing member
is secured to the rear surface of said panel by an adhesive
layer.
7. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said locking lap
member is secured to the front surface of said spacing member by an
adhesive layer.
8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of
said panels is textured to simulate natural wood grains.
9. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a
retaining lip extending along the bottom edge of each of said
panels on the rear surface of the panels.
10. The assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a curved
engaging member extending along the top edge of each of said panels
on the front surface of said panels, wherein the engaging member
engages the retaining lip of a vertically adjacent panel positioned
directly above to align the panels.
11. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a
fastener strip extending along the top edge of each of said panels,
said fastener having a plurality of fastener receiving holes for
receiving fasteners to secure said panels to a building
structure.
12. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said panels are made
from a material selected from the group consisting of vinyl,
polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, steel and extruded polymer
materials.
13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein said panels are
made from vinyl.
14. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said locking lap
assembly is made from a material selected from the group consisting
of vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, steel and extruded polymer
materials.
15. The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said locking lap
assembly is made from vinyl.
16. A locking lap assembly for securing adjacent siding panels
comprising: a generally rectangular spacing member having a front
surface and a rear surface, the front surface being secured to a
rear surface of a siding panel; and a locking lap member, having a
front surface, a rear surface secured to the front surface of the
spacing member, an interior end secured to the spacing member and
an exterior end extending farther than the end of said panels;
whereby the spacing member provides a space between the locking lap
member and the panel for receiving the exterior end of the locking
lap member of an adjacent panel for overlappingly securing two
adjacent panels.
17. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said spacing member
comprises a shape conforming to the panels having a main body with
a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat body
portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset step
portions.
18. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said locking lap
member comprises a shape conforming to the panels having a main
body with a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat
body portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset
step portions.
19. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said locking lap
member is secured to the front surface of said spacing member by an
adhesive layer.
20. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said locking lap
assembly is made from vinyl.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to building siding panels, and
more particularly to a system of siding panels having a locking lap
assembly for increasing the wind resistance of the siding
panels.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Vinyl and metal siding panels are increasingly used for
covering the exterior of building structures. Generally, the siding
panels are formed as single lap panels and provide a nailing strip
disposed along the top edge of the panels to fasten the panels to
the building structure. The panels also provide a tongue and groove
connection means for aligning and securing vertically adjacent
panels. In cases where a single panel is not long enough to extend
across an entire surface of a building, additional panels must be
positioned horizontally adjacent to one another. Typically the
horizontally adjacent panels overlap one another, but are not
secured to one another. This results in the siding panels often
being lifted from the building structure under high wind
conditions.
[0005] The following patent documents disclose existing exterior
siding systems.
[0006] United Kingdom Provisional Patent Specification No. 609,361
filed on Mar. 12, 1946 discloses a system for the external cladding
of framed buildings. The system provides a plurality of cladding
units with uprights that have gutter elements secured to them. The
gutter elements are secured to the uprights by bracket members. The
brackets then engage the plurality of cladding units.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,463 issued to Dickey et al. on Jan. 29,
2002 discloses siding panels. The siding panels are secured to the
exterior of a support structure for a building. The siding panels
are secured by a nail hem. A receiver is integrally formed in each
of the panels immediately below the nail hem to allow adjacent
panels to overlap. The overlapping of the panels aid in shedding
precipitation from the exterior of the panels.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,878 issued to Pliley, R. on Sep. 26,
2000 discloses a seamless siding system. The siding is made from a
planar material such as vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum or
steel. The siding is constructed in a continuous material strip
with fastener slots disposed along the edges of the strip. The top
and bottom fastener strips are used to secure the siding to the
building. A series of top fastener slots are disposed through the
planar material so that the siding can slide in response to thermal
expansion and contraction.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,318 issued to Kemerer, W. J. on Jul. 6,
1993 discloses molded protective exterior weather resistant
building panels. The building panels are formed from thermoplastic
material. The building panels provide fastener slots for fastening
the panels to the exterior of a building. Each panel provides an
upwardly projecting lip portion having an engageable groove along
the top of the panel and mounting hook disposed along the bottom of
the panel. The mounting hook of one panel engages the top lip and
groove on the panel positioned underneath. The mounting hooks and
engagement grooves allow the building panels to be easily aligned
during installation.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,302 issued to Coggan et al. on Nov. 13,
1990 discloses siding panels. The siding panels have a cover sheet
of hardboard fixed by an adhesive to a lower backboard layer of
foam resin. A layer of sealant is disposed on the top surface of
the cover layer. Each siding panel has a plurality of nail holes
disposed along its top surface for securing the panels to the frame
of a building. The fastener holes are elongated longitudinally to
permit expansion and contraction of the cover sheet. A locking
structure is disposed along the bottom edge of each panel.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,787 issued to Bukowski, S. on Sep. 12,
1989 discloses an interlocking corner structure for siding. The
panels are typical lap board type panels having a corner
overlapping hook portion that interlocks with a similarly shaped
end portion of an adjacent corner panel.
[0012] U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0092256 published on Jul.
18, 2002 to Hendrickson et al. discloses a fiber polymeric
composite siding unit. The individual siding units are
interconnected to adjacent units with a tongue and groove
mechanism. Adjacent side-by-side units are interconnected
end-to-end by an insert that is secured to the units by an adhesive
layer.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,774 issued to Pittman et al. on Oct. 21,
1986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,665 issued to Katz, H. on May 29, 1984,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,021 issued to Lewis, E. R. on Dec. 21, 1976,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,795 issued to Mattes, L. H. on Nov. 28, 1972,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,180 issued to Tischuk, W. on Jun. 6, 1972, U.S.
Pat. No. 3,520,099 issued to Mattes, L. H. on Sep. 16, 1968, U.S.
Pat. No. 3,458,962 issued to Kendall, J. R. on Aug. 5, 1969, U.S.
Pat. No. 3,304,676 issued to Sallie et al. on Feb. 21, 1967 each
disclose single lap overlapping siding panel systems.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,918 issued to Lewis, E. R. on Aug. 30,
1983 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,939 issued to Culpepper Jr., et al. on
Apr. 4, 1978 disclose backer boards for siding panels.
[0015] None of the above inventions and patents disclose a siding
panel system having a securing device for securing horizontally
adjacent siding panels to increase their overall wind
resistance.
[0016] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention
as claimed. Thus locking laps for vinyl siding solving the
aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The laps for vinyl siding of the present invention provide a
device for securing adjacent siding panels and preventing them from
being removed from a building structure during strong wind
conditions. The present invention provides a system of siding
panels having a locking lap assembly secured to the siding panels.
The siding panels comprise typical single lap siding panels having
a mounting strip disposed along a top edge of each of the panels.
The mounting strip provides a plurality of fastener receiving holes
for mounting the siding panels to the exterior surface of a
building structure. Each of the panels has a curved engaging
portion extending along the top edge of the front surface. The
curved engaging portion engages a retaining lip that extends along
the bottom edge of the rear surface of each of the siding panels to
align vertically adjacent siding panels.
[0018] A locking lap assembly is secured at the two ends of each
siding panel to securely connect each siding panel to the
horizontally adjacent siding panels located on either side. The
locking lap assembly comprises a locking lap and a spacing member.
The spacing member is secured directly to the rear surface of the
siding panel. The locking lap member is secured to the spacing
member and extends beyond the end of the siding panel. The spacing
member provides a space between the locking lap and the rear
surface of the siding panel, to allow a locking lap of an adjacent
panel to be received between the locking lap and the siding panel.
The locking laps of two adjacent panels overlap one another to
provide a secure attachment of the adjacent panels.
[0019] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide a system of locking laps that securely attach adjacent
siding panels to prevent the siding panels from being separated
from a building structure during high wind conditions.
[0020] It is another object of the invention to provide a system of
locking laps that is reversible so that the direction of the laps
may be altered depending on the direction of the wind.
[0021] It is a further object of the invention to provide a system
of siding panels with locking laps that is aesthetically
pleasing.
[0022] Still another object of the invention is to provide a
locking lap assembly that may be easily secured to any existing
siding panels.
[0023] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which
is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its
intended purposes.
[0024] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a vinyl
siding system with locking laps according to the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of two adjacent panels of vinyl
siding.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of a vinyl siding panel having
the locking laps.
[0028] FIG. 4 is an exploded rear plan view of the vinyl siding
panel having the locking laps.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of adjacent panels of vinyl
siding attached together with the locking laps.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the panel shown in FIG.
3.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of two separated,
adjacent vinyl siding panels.
[0032] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] The present invention provides a locking lap assembly for
securely attaching adjacent siding panels that are mounted to the
exterior of a building structure. The locking lap assembly
increases the wind resistance of the siding panels. FIG. 1 is an
environmental perspective view of a siding panel system 10 mounted
to the exterior of a building B. The siding panel system 10
comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending siding panels 12
disposed horizontally along the building B. The siding panels 12
are arranged in rows, positioned vertically above one another, that
extend from the bottom of the building B to the top of the building
B. The number of panels 12 used depends on the exterior dimensions
of the building B.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of two adjacent siding panels
12, 12a. Each of the panels 12 in the siding panel system 10 have
identical features, therefore a description of only one panel is
necessary. The siding panel 12 comprises a front surface 14, a rear
surface 26 (shown in FIG. 3), a first end 22, a second end 24, a
top edge 18 and a bottom edge 20. Referring to FIG. 3, each of the
panels 12 further comprises a fastener strip 50 that extends along
the top edge 18 of the panel 12. The fastener strip 50 provides a
plurality of fastener receiving holes 52 for receiving fasteners to
mount the siding panel 12 to the building B.
[0035] Each of the panels, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, further
comprise a retaining lip 48 disposed along the bottom edge 20 on
the rear surface 26 of the panel 12. Each panel 12 also provides a
curved engaging member 54, which extends along the top edge 18 of
the panel 12 on the front surface 14. The engaging member 54 of the
panel 12 is received by the retaining lip 48 of a vertically
adjacent panel positioned directly above the panel 12. The engaging
member 54 and the retaining lip 48 align the vertically adjacent
panels 12.
[0036] According to certain preferred embodiments of the present
invention, the panels 12 are single lap panels that have a main
body comprising longitudinally extending, generally flat and
inclined main body portions interconnected by longitudinally
extending offset step portions, as shown in FIG. 7. The present
invention is not limited to being used with single lap panels, and
may be used with any type, shape or size siding panels. For
example, the panels 12 may also comprise beaded panels, four inch
double panels and five inch double panels. The panels 12 of the
present invention are preferably made from a vinyl or more
particularly, polyvinyl chloride. The panels 12, however, are not
limited to being made from vinyl and may be made from any suitable
siding panel material including, but not limited to, aluminum,
steel and extruded polymer materials.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 2, the siding panel system 10 further
comprises a locking lap assembly 30 for securing together
horizontally adjacent siding panels 12 and increasing the wind
resistance of the panels 12. Each panel 12 comprises a siding lap
disposed adjacent to the first end 22 and the second end 24 of the
panel 12. The siding laps on each end of the panel 12 are
identical. FIG. 3 shows a siding lap disposed adjacent to the
second end 24 of the panel 12. The siding lap comprises a locking
lap member 32 and a spacing member 34.
[0038] FIG. 4 is an exploded rear plan view of a siding panel 12.
The spacing member 34 comprises a generally rectangular body having
a front surface 40 and a rear surface 42. The rear surface 42 of
the spacing member 34 is secured to the rear surface 26 of the
panel 12. The locking lap member 32 comprises a generally
rectangular main body having a front surface 36, a rear surface 38,
an interior edge 46 and an exterior edge 44. The rear surface 38,
along the interior edge 46, of the locking lap member 32 is secured
to the front surface 40 of the spacing member 34. As shown in FIG.
3, the exterior end 44 of the locking lap member 32 extends beyond
the end of the panel 12. FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the
panel 12 showing the spacing member 34 disposed between the locking
lap member 32 and the panel 12. The spacing member 34 provides a
space between the locking lap member 32 and the panel 12.
[0039] The spacing member 34 is preferably secured to the rear
surface 26 of the panel 12 by an adhesive. The locking lap 32 is
also preferably secured to the front surface 40 of the spacing
member 34 by a layer of adhesive.
[0040] The shape of the main body of the spacing member 34 and the
locking lap 32 will conform to the shape of the panel 12 being
used. As shown in FIG. 6, the shape of the spacing member 34 and
the locking lap 32 conform to the shape of the single lap panel 12
of the preferred embodiment. According to certain preferred
embodiments of the present invention, the spacing member 34 has a
main body with a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally
flat body portions interconnected by longitudinally extending
offset step portions. The locking lap 32 has a main body with a
plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat body portions
interconnected by longitudinally extending offset step portions.
The shape of the spacing member 34 and the locking lap 32 will
vary, however, depending on the type of panel 12 being used.
[0041] FIG. 5 shows two adjacent siding panels 12, 12a secured
together by the locking lap assembly 30. The exterior end 44a of
the adjacent panel 12a is received between the locking lap 32 and
the rear surface 26 of the first panel 12. The locking lap 32 of
the first panel 12 overlaps the locking lap 32a of the adjacent
panel 12a. The first panel 12 is received between the locking lap
32a and the rear surface 26a of the adjacent panel 12a. The first
panel 12 and the adjacent panel 12a slide over one another until
the exterior ends 44,44a of the locking laps 32,32a contact the
spacing members 34,34a respectively. The locking laps 32,32a and
the panels 12,12a overlap one another to secure the adjacent panels
12,12a together. This overlapping connection increases the wind
resistance of the siding panels 12,12a. FIG. 7 shows the adjacent
panels 12,12a separated from one another and depicts how the
exterior surface 44a of the adjacent panel 12a is received in the
space created between the first panel 12 and the locking lap 32 by
the spacing member 34.
[0042] The locking lap assembly 30 is reversible to adapt to the
direction of the wind. Particularly, the adjacent panels 12,12a may
be arranged so the exterior end 44 of the first panel 12 is
received into the space between the adjacent locking lap 32a and
the rear surface 26a of the adjacent panel 12a.
[0043] The spacing member 34 and the locking lap 32 are preferably
made from a vinyl material and particularly from polyvinyl
chloride. The spacing member 34 and the locking lap, however, may
also be made from any suitable siding material including, but not
limited to, aluminum, steel and extruded polymer materials.
[0044] According to one aspect of the present invention, the front
surface 14 of the panels 12 is textured to improve the aesthetic
appearance of the siding panel assembly 10. The texture on the
front surface 14 of the panels 12 preferably simulates natural wood
grains.
[0045] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *