U.S. patent application number 12/520872 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-26 for soffit and fascia siding system.
Invention is credited to Gary Robert Monteer.
Application Number | 20100212234 12/520872 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42629667 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100212234 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Monteer; Gary Robert |
August 26, 2010 |
SOFFIT AND FASCIA SIDING SYSTEM
Abstract
A soffit and fascia system for use on an exterior of a building
that includes a soffit member, a soffit flashing, a fascia member,
and a fascia flashing. The soffit flashing is adapted to be secured
to an exterior of the building and to retain the rear portion of
the soffit member in a desired configuration with concealed
fasteners. The fascia flashing may be adapted to be coupled to the
fascia member in the lower portion thereof and adapted to at least
partially retain the forward portion of the soffit member in the
desired configuration. The soffit member may include two or more
soffit segments. The soffit member may further include at least one
soffit joint adapted to be disposed between a first soffit segment
and a second soffit segment and to couple the first and second
soffit segments together.
Inventors: |
Monteer; Gary Robert; (Eagle
Mountain, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANGUS C. FOX, III
4093 N. IMPERIAL WAY
PROVO
UT
84604-5386
US
|
Family ID: |
42629667 |
Appl. No.: |
12/520872 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
December 20, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US07/88285 |
371 Date: |
July 22, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11960393 |
Dec 19, 2007 |
|
|
|
12520872 |
|
|
|
|
60871239 |
Dec 21, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/95 ;
52/302.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 19/06 20130101;
E04D 13/152 20130101; E04D 13/158 20130101; E04F 13/0846
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/95 ;
52/302.6 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/70 20060101
E04B001/70 |
Claims
1-29. (canceled)
30. A modular siding system for covering a building substructure,
the modular siding system comprising: a plurality of soffit members
having a plurality of soffit-associated flashing members secured
thereto; a plurality of fascia members having a plurality of
fascia-associated flashing members secured thereto; and a plurality
of trim members having a plurality of trim-associated flashing
members secured thereto; wherein said soffit-associated flashings,
said fascia-associated flashings, and said trim-associated
flashings are directly secured to the building substructure, said
soffit members, said fascia members, and said trim members are not
directly secured to the building substructure, and said soffit
members, said fascia members and said trim members are spaced away
from the building substructure so as to leave an air gap between
the building substructure and said soffit members, between the
building substructure and said fascia members, and between the
building substructures and said trim members.
31. The modular siding system of claim 30, wherein said
soffit-associated flashings, said fascia-associated flashings, and
said trim-associated flashings are secured to the building
substructure with a plurality of fasteners.
32. The modular siding system of claim 31, wherein virtually all of
said plurality of fasteners are concealed.
33. The modular siding system of claim 30, wherein said air gap is
vented to an exterior atmosphere surrounding the building
substructure.
34. The modular siding system of claim 30, wherein said
soffit-associated flashing members provide for expansion and
contraction of intercoupled soffit members.
35. The modular siding system of claim 34, wherein said plurality
of soffit-associated flashing members, said plurality of
fascia-associated flashing members, and said plurality of
trim-associated flashing members are fabricated from a resilient
polymeric material.
36. The modular siding system of claim 35, wherein heat-related
expansion and contraction of said intercoupled soffit members does
not exceed memory characteristics of the soffit-associated flashing
members.
37. The modular siding system of claim 30, wherein said
soffit-associated flashings, said fascia-associated flashings, and
said trim-associated flashings accommodate heat-related expansion
and contraction of said soffit members, said fascia members and
said trim members, respectively, without permanent deformation.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to lap siding systems and
apparatus for use on the exteriors of residential and commercial
buildings. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to
soffit and fascia systems that may be used to provide an exterior
cover to soffit and fascia regions of a building.
[0002] Lap siding systems generally provide aesthetically pleasing,
low maintenance exteriors to a variety of buildings by attaching
overlapping horizontal or vertical boards or planks to the exterior
of a building. For simplicity, the term "plank" includes boards,
slats, and panels. Planks may be made of wood, cementitious
material, plastic, metal, glass, various types of fiber and filler
material, composites of these materials and other materials known
in the art.
[0003] A common problem in construction is that of weatherproofing
structural junctures in lap siding systems, such as between planks,
at corners, at junctions between planks and other structural
features such as windows and doors, and at junctions between planks
and other decorative features such as trim, appliques, and similar
features. Weatherproofing serves the goal of protecting the
underlying structure of the building from the damage associated
with water seepage that can result in flourishing termite, pest,
and mold populations. Damage resulting from water seepage may also
result in rotting, swelling, and warping of the planks of the lap
siding system, the trim, appliques, and other features, and/or the
underlying structure. Water seepage may also result in a reduction
of the effectiveness of insulation, cracks in the masonry,
loosening of the siding system from the underlying structure of the
building, and the like.
[0004] The standard practice in weatherproofing is to seal and back
the juncture with flashing. Typically, such flashing is made of
metal or vinyl and positioned under the juncture and affixed to the
underlying structure. This type of flashing is normally placed
along the entire seam created by the juncture.
[0005] The flashing is usually sealed against the underlying
structure with caulk. However, caulk tends to shrink over time.
Additionally, the weathering and dissimilar thermal expansion and
contraction of the flashing, siding, and caulk often leads to
failure of the seal so that water seeps behind the siding and may
result in water damage to the lap siding system and underlying
structure. Furthermore, the exposed junctions, caulk, and flashing
may be unsightly.
[0006] Another problem in the installation of a lap siding system
on a building is the difficulty in evenly attaching each plank or
other siding member of the siding system to the underlying
structure. The conventional method of installation requires
constant measuring of plank position and adjustment, which is
time-consuming. With some lap siding systems, a clearance between
the roof and the lap siding system of at least two inches may be
required. Flashing and counter flashing may be installed and
caulked to protect the gap from wind and water. However, this gap
may be unsightly and, like the junctions discussed above, the caulk
and flashing may fail so that water is able to seep behind the
flashing.
[0007] Conventional lap siding relies heavily on attempts to
weatherproof the structure by sealing the structure against the
exterior elements, such as by caulking the joints between planks
and at junctures where planks terminate at other structural or
decorative features, such as windows, doors, trim, or changes in
the contour of the underlying structure. However, time has shown
that a perfect and complete seal of a structure against the
elements is difficult and can have negative consequences for the
structure and its occupants. As one example, it is generally
accepted that homes need to breathe. Allowing a home to breathe is
believed to improve the longevity of the structure and improve the
living conditions in the home. In the attempts to seal a home
against the exterior elements, siding planks are generally placed
close together and caulking is applied between the siding planks
and/or between siding planks and other materials forming the
exterior of the structure. When these caulking seals are freshly
applied, assuming the seals are done correctly, the home cannot
breath. There is generally no air flow behind the siding planks or
other features.
[0008] Additionally, when one of these caulked seals fails and
allows a little bit of moisture to penetrate the exterior shell of
the structure, the moisture is effectively trapped between the
exterior shell and the underlying structure. As suggested above,
moisture can penetrate the exterior shell in a number of ways, such
as through the face nails and/or the joints between planks,
particularly when the caulking ages and weathers. Once the moisture
is trapped between the exterior shell and the underlying structure,
the moisture can lead to several problems including rotting of the
structure and/or siding planks, allowing mold to grow between the
siding planks and the structure, and attracting a variety of pests.
Because of the extremely limited airflow between the structure and
the siding planks, the moisture will not dry out very quickly. In
many circumstances, the moisture may not sufficiently dry out in
time to prevent the negative consequences of the moisture.
[0009] The soffit and fascia systems of conventional lap siding
systems have historically been the most time-consuming and
complicated aspects of the siding installation process,
particularly when these regions of the building are desirably
waterproofed and aesthetically pleasing. In the soffit and fascia
region of the building, siding elements meet at a variety of angles
and typically in small work areas that complicate the installers'
efforts.
SUMMARY
[0010] The apparatus and system of the present disclosure has been
developed in response to the present state of the art, and in
particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that
have not been fully solved by currently available lap siding
systems and apparatus. Thus, the present disclosure provides a lap
siding system and apparatus for providing an aesthetically
pleasing, low maintenance exterior to a variety of buildings.
[0011] In accordance with the technology as embodied and broadly
described herein in the preferred embodiment, a lap siding system
is provided. The lap siding system may include a soffit and fascia
system adapted to be installed in the soffit and fascia region of
the building. The soffit and fascia siding system may include one
or more flashings adapted to facilitate the installation of the
soffit and fascia siding. The one or more flashings of the present
disclosure may additionally be adapted to prevent, or at least
limit, moisture seeping or otherwise getting behind the soffit and
fascia siding members. Additionally or alternatively, the soffit
and fascia siding system may include one or more ventilation
features, which may be adapted to cooperate with ventilation
systems in other aspects of the lap siding system.
[0012] These and other features and advantages of the present
description will become more fully apparent from the following
description and appended numbered paragraphs, or may be learned by
the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In order that the manner in which the above-recited and
other features and advantages of the present disclosure are
obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description
of the present systems and methods briefly described above will be
rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these
drawings depict only typical embodiments of the systems and methods
and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope,
the present technology will be described and explained with
additional specificity and detail through the use of the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building at least
partially covered by a lap siding system;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of a soffit and fascia region of a
building including soffit and fascia siding members;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of a soffit flashing;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a side view of a fascia flashing;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a side view of a roofline flashing;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of soffit members including a
soffit vent connector;
[0020] FIG. 7 is an end view of soffit members including soffit
vent connectors;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a side view of a soffit vent connector disposed
between soffit members;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a soffit vent connector;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a soffit vent connector;
and
[0024] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative soffit vent
connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The presently preferred embodiments will be best understood
by reference to the drawings. It will be readily understood that
the components, as generally described and illustrated in the
figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of
different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed
description of the lap siding system, as represented in FIGS. 1
through 11, is not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure, as described in the appended numbered paragraphs, but
is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments.
[0026] FIG. 1 presents a perspective view of a building 100, which
is representative of the large diversity of buildings with which
the soffit and fascia siding system of the present disclosure may
be used. The soffit and fascia siding system may be used in
cooperation with a lap siding system that covers some or all of the
remaining exterior portions of the building 100. A diversity of lap
siding systems may be used in cooperation with the present soffit
and fascia siding systems. Exemplary aspects of lap siding systems
that may be used in cooperation with the soffit and fascia systems
of the present disclosure include those lap siding systems
disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/271,633, entitled
WEATHERPROOF LAP SIDING SYSTEM and U.S. Provisional Patent
Application 60/871,231, entitled VENTILATED LAP SIDING SYSTEM,
which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety for all purposes.
[0027] As used herein the terms building and structure will be used
synonymously to identify an object to which a soffit and fascia
siding system may be applied. For example, the structures and
buildings may include residential homes, commercial buildings,
schools and other non-residential buildings, sheds, garages, boat
houses, dog houses, etc. The structures to which the soffit and
fascia siding systems may be applied may comprise a variety of
elements depending on the method of construction. For purposes of
description, the structure 100 will be described as including a
substructure at least part of which forms part or all of the
exterior skeleton of building. The term substructure will be used
herein to refer to that portion of the building to which one or
more members of the soffit and fascia siding system is
attached.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an exposed exterior 102 of a building 100
including a variety of components. As exemplary components, FIG. 1
illustrates a door 104, a window 106, a foundation 108, and soffit
and fascia elements 110. Additionally, the exposed exterior 102
includes a lap siding system 112. The lap siding system may include
several component parts. As discussed above, the lap siding system
may include conventional siding components and/or may include
components described in one or more of the applications
incorporated herein by reference. The door 104 and the window 106
illustrated in FIG. 1 are representative of the variety of doors
and windows that are or may become available for use. The
foundation 108 is representative of the variety of circumstances in
which a lap siding system may adjoin a different exterior material.
For example, lap siding systems 112 may be applied on the exterior
of a second level of a building while the first level of the
building is covered by brick, stucco, or some other material.
[0029] The soffit and fascia elements 110 are similarly
representative of the variety of circumstances in which an upper
portion of a building may extend further than the lower portion of
the building. Such a situation is most common at the roofline,
which is the common application of the term fascia. However, as
used herein, the term fascia may also be used to refer to the first
horizontal siding piece above a soffit 128. For example, when a
soffit 128 is created by an overhanging portion of a building, such
as a bay window or an extending room, the term fascia may refer to
the lowermost plank used in the siding applied to the upper portion
of the building, which in some installations may be an apron, a
siding plank, or other exterior member. The soffit and fascia
siding system 142 of the present disclosure provides components
adapted to provide an exterior covering to the soffit 128 and to
the fascia 130, or the lowermost vertical surface above the
corresponding soffit 128.
[0030] With continued reference to FIG. 1, lap siding systems 112
that may be used in cooperation with the soffit and fascia siding
systems 142 of the present disclosure may include planks 114, which
may be horizontal planks 116, vertical planks 118, or planks
configured otherwise. The exact configuration of each plank 114 and
its association with neighboring planks may vary based on its
intended orientation and usage. Additionally, plank siding systems
112 may include one or more complimentary members 120 adapted to
cooperate with the planks 114 to cover the exposed exterior 102 of
the building 100. The complimentary members 120 may include such
elements as corner trim members 122, door trim members 124, window
trim members 126, soffit members 128, and fascia members 130. In
some installations, it may be preferable to use a joint member 132
for decorative and/or functional purposes, which joint member may
be configured as a complimentary member 120. The lap siding system
112 may include additional complimentary members 120 and/or
additional planks 114.
[0031] The lap siding system 112 of the present disclosure may
provide numerous benefits to the building 100 it covers. For
example, the present lap siding system 112 may promote the
weatherproofing of the building through the use of flashings at
junctures between the planks 114 and between the planks 114 and
other elements of the plank siding system 112. Additionally, the
present lap siding system may facilitate the installation of the
planks 114 and other elements through the use of interlocking
members between the planks 114. Some aspects of these features will
be described herein; other aspects have been previously described
in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/271,633 entitled
WEATHERPROOF LAP SIDING SYSTEM, filed Nov. 10, 2005, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
[0032] As described above, a persistent problem in weatherproofing
buildings is the possibility for moisture to wick, seep, or
otherwise get behind the exterior materials and to become trapped
between the exterior materials and the substructure of the
building. Prior efforts have attempted to seal the exterior
completely through the use of caulking and sealing between the
various exterior materials. However, as discussed in the above
incorporated application, such weatherproofing efforts have been
less than fully successful, particularly when elements of
aesthetics and the impact of time are considered.
[0033] The lap siding systems 112 may additionally or alternatively
be adapted to utilize air, and particularly the possibility of
moving air, to increase the opportunities for any moisture trapped
between the exterior materials and the substructure to be dried out
before leading to the problems identified above, such as rot, mold,
and pests. Examples of such ventilated lap siding systems are
provided in U.S. Provisional patent application entitled VENTILATED
LAP SIDING SYSTEM, Application No. 60/871,231, filed Dec. 21, 2006.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the soffit and fascia
siding system 142 disclosed herein may include one or more
components adapted to cooperate with the ventilation features of
the remaining lap siding system components. Additionally or
alternatively, the present soffit and fascia systems 142 may be
adapted to provide for ventilation in the soffit 128 of the
building 100 while limiting or preventing moisture accumulation in
the soffit 128.
[0034] Turning now to FIG. 2, a side view of a soffit region 140 is
illustrated to show one exemplary configuration of the relationship
between various components of a soffit and fascia siding system
142, which may be used in cooperation with a lap siding system 112.
The illustrated soffit and fascia siding system 142 includes a
soffit member 128 and a fascia member 130. The illustrated soffit
and fascia siding system 142 further includes a soffit flashing
144, a fascia flashing 146, and an L-flashing 148. While some
implementations of soffit and fascia siding systems within the
scope of the present disclosure may include each of these
components, implementations including any one or more of these
components are also within the scope of this disclosure.
[0035] For example, some implementations may omit the L-flashing
148 in circumstances where the fascia member 130 is not positioned
adjacent to the roofline. Additionally or alternatively, some
implementations may include a soffit flashing 144 while omitting
the fascia flashing 146. Other such combinations of components are
within the scope of the present disclosure as well.
[0036] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the soffit member 128 extends from
proximate a first vertical wall 150 of the building 100 to
proximate a second vertical wall 152 of the building. As will be
seen in more detail in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7, the soffit
member 128 may be provided in a variety of widths (i.e., the
distance between the first and second walls of the building), a
variety of thicknesses, and a variety of lengths (i.e., the
extension of the soffit member perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2
and better shown in FIGS. 6 and 7).
[0037] As seen in FIG. 2, the soffit member 128 may be disposed in
association with a frieze board 154 positioned below the soffit
member. Alternatively, other exterior covering members may be
disposed below the soffit member 128. In installations including a
frieze board 154, the frieze board 154 may be coupled to the first
vertical wall 150 of the building through any conventional means or
may be coupled through the use of one or more flashings 158.
Additionally or alternatively, the frieze board 154 may be coupled
to another member of the substructure 156 of the building 100.
[0038] As illustrated, the frieze board 154 is coupled to the first
vertical wall 150 through the use of one or more flashings 158,
such as the soffit flashing 144 and or the frieze flashing 160. The
frieze flashing 160 is described in more detail in U.S. Provisional
Patent Application entitled Ventilated Lap Siding System, as
previously mentioned. For purposes of description here, the frieze
flashing 160 may facilitate the installation of the frieze board
154 without nails or other fasteners 166 through the exterior face
thereof. As illustrated, the frieze flashing 160 is coupled to the
frieze board 154 at the rear-side of the frieze board via a
fastener 166. The frieze flashing 160 then may be coupled to the
substructure 156 of the building 100 by fasteners 166 associated
with the frieze flashing extension 162 or some other element of the
frieze flashing 160. Additionally or alternatively, the frieze
flashing 160 may provide weatherproofing and/or ventilation
features to the siding system 112 and/or the soffit and fascia
system 142. For example, the one or more ventilation channels 260
may be provided through the support portion 164 of the frieze
flashing 160 to promote ventilation behind the frieze board
154.
[0039] FIG. 2 further illustrates that the frieze board 154 may be
coupled to the substructure 156 of the building by a soffit
flashing 144. The soffit flashing 144, similar to the frieze
flashing 160, be coupled to the rear side of the frieze board 154
with a fastener 166. The soffit flashing 144 then may be coupled to
the substructure 156 via a fastener 166 through the soffit flashing
extension 172. A variety of suitable fasteners 166 may be used to
couple the soffit flashing to the frieze board and/or the
substructure, including staples, nails, screws, adhesives and
pressure-fitted fasteners.
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 3, an enlarged view of the region
surrounding the soffit flashing 144 is shown for convenient view of
the elements therein, which elements are numbered with the same
reference numerals as the overall view shown in FIG. 2. The soffit
flashing 144 may also be provided with a support portion 164, which
may be similar to the support portion of the frieze flashing 160,
which may be adapted to properly position the frieze board 154
and/or to provide additional features, such as ventilation channels
260.
[0041] With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the soffit
flashing 144 will be described in greater detail. The soffit
flashing 144 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are exemplary of other soffit
flashings that may be used in the soffit and fascia systems 142 of
the present disclosure. Suitable variations within the scope of the
present disclosure may vary the dimensions of one or more
subcomponents of the soffit flashing and/or modify the relative
dimensions and/or relationships between the subcomponents. For
example, the support portion 164 may include support legs 174 of
greater or lesser lengths and/or of different shapes and
configurations.
[0042] Soffit flashings 144 may include a soffit channel 176
disposed between a soffit support arm 178 and a soffit retention
arm 180. The soffit support arm 178 may be an extension of the
support portion 164 and may provide a surface on which the soffit
member 128 may rest once the soffit member is installed. The soffit
support arm 178 and the soffit retention arm 180 may cooperate to
provide a soffit channel 176 adapted and sized to receive a soffit
member 128.
[0043] Additionally, the soffit channel 176 may provide an
expansion gap 254 located between the soffit member 128 and the
soffit flashing 144. The expansion gap 254 is provided to allow for
the natural expansion and contraction of the soffit member 128 due
to changes in the climate and temperature. In addition to providing
ventilation, the expansion gap 254 provides a physical space
between the soffit member 128 and the soffit flashing 144. During
expansion, the expansion gap 254 provides a space into which the
soffit member 128 may expand rather than buckling and/or dislodging
from the substructure 152, the fascia flashing 146 and/or the
fascia member 130. The expansion gap 254 in conjunction with the
soffit flashing 144 and the fascia flashing 146 provide sufficient
clearance between the soffit member 128, the substructure 156
whereby the soffit member 128 may expand and contract without
undesirable binds and/or rubbing on other components of the soffit
and fascia siding system 142.
[0044] For example, the soffit retention arm 180 may be spaced from
the soffit support arm 178 a distance approximating the thickness
of the soffit member 128. Additionally or alternatively, the soffit
retention arm 180 and the soffit support arm 178 may be spaced
apart slightly more or slightly less than the thickness of the
soffit member 128.
[0045] In one embodiment, and as illustrated, the soffit retention
arm 180 further comprises a soffit retention prong 182 for aiding
in reception and retention of a rearmost edge 206 of the soffit
member 128. The soffit retention prong 182 may be made of a
flexible material and/or may comprise a biasing material. The
soffit retention prong 182 may be adapted to be bent into a biased
position 182a upon the insertion of a soffit member 128. When the
soffit member 128 is thinner than the height of the soffit
retention channel 176, the soffit retention prong 182 may be
adapted to apply a biasing pressure on the soffit member 128 to
press the soffit member 128 against the soffit support arm 178. The
soffit retention prong 182 may cooperate with the soffit retention
arm 180 to retain the soffit member 128 in a desired position, such
as to prevent the soffit member from falling. The soffit retention
prong 182 may be implemented with a rigid or semi-rigid soffit
retention arm 180 and/or may be advantageously incorporated in
soffit flashings 144 having a flexible and/or biasing soffit
retention arm 180.
[0046] In addition to the soffit retention arm 180 as illustrated,
additional configurations may be utilized within the scope of the
invention. For example, the soffit retention arm 180 may be
constructed of a flexible material that may be moved away from
resting position by the insertion of a soffit member 128 to
accommodate the soffit member 128. In such configurations, the
soffit retention arm 180 may be biased to the initial resting
position, which creates a soffit channel somewhat narrower than the
soffit member 128, to thereby grip and enhance the retention of the
soffit member 128. The flexible soffit retention arm 180 may also
be preferred to allow for slight variations in the thickness of the
soffit member 128.
[0047] Additionally or alternatively, soffit retention arm 180, as
well as some or all of the remaining components of the soffit
flashing 144, may be made of a rigid material, such as a metal,
plastic, and/or composite material. When the soffit retention arm
180 is comprised of a substantially rigid material, the spacing for
the soffit channel 176 may be adapted to easily accommodate
predetermined soffit members 128. For example, if a soffit member
128 to be used with the soffit flashing 144 is about 0.75 inches
thick, the soffit retention arm 180 and the soffit support arm 178
may be adapted to be spaced apart by about 0.8125 inches. In some
installations of the soffit flashing 144 and the soffit and fascia
siding system 142 of the present disclosure, the soffit flashing
144 may not need to grip or otherwise secure the soffit member 128
within the soffit flashing 144.
[0048] For example, in some implementations, the soffit member 128
may be simply sandwiched between the soffit flashing 144 and the
fascia flashing 146 with the space between the two flashings being
sufficiently small to retain the soffit member 128 under most
circumstances. Additionally or alternatively, the soffit flashing
144 may include one or more soffit retention prongs 182, as
illustrated and previously discussed.
[0049] With continuing reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the soffit
flashing 144 can be seen to include a frieze lip 184. The frieze
lip 184 may be made of any suitable material and is preferably made
of the same materials as the remainder of the soffit flashing. The
frieze lip 184 may be configured as a rounded lip, as shown, or in
other suitable configurations. Similarly, the frieze lip 184 may be
short, such as less than 0.5 inches, or may be any suitable
length.
[0050] The frieze lip 184 may provide at least one functional
and/or aesthetic benefit to the soffit and fascia system 142. For
example, the frieze lip 184 may be adapted to provide a fitting to
hold the frieze board 154 in place as the soffit flashing 144 is
coupled to the frieze board 154. For example, the frieze lip 184
may include a tab 138 configured to engage a frieze groove 136
comprising a portion of the outer surface of the frieze board 154.
Additionally or alternatively, the interaction of the tab 138 and
the frieze groove 136 may provide additional weatherproofing
between the frieze board 154 and the soffit member 128.
[0051] Additionally or alternatively, the frieze lip 184 may
configure the soffit flashing 144 to act as a cap on the frieze
board 154 while the flashing is being attached to the frieze board
154. Finally, the frieze lip 184 may be configured to extend beyond
the frieze groove 136 thereby providing additional weatherproofing
as well as aesthetic shielding of the frieze groove 136. As
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the frieze lip 184 may be adapted to
provide a rounded and smoothed appearance to the joint between the
frieze board 154 and the soffit member 128. The frieze lip 184 may
be configured with alternative shapes and dimensions to provide a
custom joint appearance, such as scalloped, wavy, etc.
[0052] FIGS. 2 and 3 additionally illustrate that the soffit
flashing 144 may include one or more support ribs 186, such as
illustrated in cooperation with the soffit retention arm 180. The
support ribs 186 may be disposed in cooperation with any of the
members of the soffit flashing to provide structural strength to
the flashing. In some implementations of the present disclosure,
the soffit flashing 144, as well as the other flashings described
herein, may be provided for elongate flashings having lengths of
one foot, three feet, five feet, or any other suitable length for
the installation location, including lengths shorter than one foot
or of lengths between these exemplary lengths. The support ribs 186
may promote rigidity along the length of the soffit flashing 144 or
any other flashing 158.
[0053] For example, for purposes of transportation of the flashings
158 and/or to facilitate the installation of a flashing 158 on a
wall or other member, it may be desirable to have a rigid or
substantial rigid flashing 158. While the support ribs 186 may
promote rigidity, the soffit flashing 144 may remain somewhat
flexible along the length thereof depending on the materials
selected. Suitably configured and sized support ribs 186 may be
disposed in cooperation with any of the flashings 158 described
herein, whether or not illustrated as such.
[0054] Turning now to FIG. 4 and with continuing reference to FIG.
2, the soffit and fascia system 142 of the present disclosure also
includes a fascia flashing 146 that may be used in cooperation with
one or more of the components described herein. The fascia flashing
146 may provide a fascia channel 188 defined by a sub-fascia
backing arm 190 and a fascia backing arm 192. The sub-fascia
backing arm 190 and the fascia backing arm 192 may extend above a
sub-fascia base member 194 extending between the two backing arms
190, 192. The sub-fascia backing arm 190 may be configured to
comprise a support portion 164 to provide spacing between the
fascia member 130 and the sub-fascia member 196. Additionally or
alternatively, the spacing provided by the support portion 164 may
provide a ventilation channel 260 between the fascia member 130 and
the sub-fascia member 196. The sub-fascia base member 194 may also
be configured to comprise ventilation channels 260 to provide
airflow between the sub-fascia member 196 and the soffit member
128.
[0055] The sub-fascia backing arm 190 and the fascia backing arm
192 may have substantially the same lengths or may be provided with
different lengths as illustrated. The relative locations and
heights of the sub-fascia backing arm 190, the fascia backing arm
192, and the sub-fascia base member 194 may be varied to
accommodate sub-fascias 196 of various dimensions. For example, the
height of one or more of the backing arms 190, 192 and/or the
spacing between the backing arms 190, 192 may be selected to enable
the fascia flashing 146 to at least temporarily grip a sub-fascia
member 196, such as to facilitate the installation of the fascia
flashing 146 on a sub-fascia member 196.
[0056] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, it can be seen that the
fascia member 130 may be provided with one or more grooves and cuts
134 adapted to accommodate the fascia flashing 146. The grooves 134
in the fascia member 130 may be two-tiered as illustrated or may be
of any suitable configuration, including one or more tiers. The
grooves 134 in the fascia member 130 additionally may be adapted to
cooperate with the soffit member 128.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the fascia flashing 146 further
provides a soffit channel 198 defined below the sub-fascia base
member 194. To provide the soffit channel 198, the fascia flashing
146 may further include a soffit support arm 200. The soffit
support arm 200 may have any suitable length and may be constructed
of any suitable material. In some configurations, the soffit
support arm 200 may be shorter than the thickness of the fascia
member 130. The soffit support arm 200 may have a length sufficient
to provide a retention surface to maintain the soffit member 128 in
the horizontal position and to prevent the soffit member 128 from
falling.
[0058] With continuing reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the soffit
channel 198 is illustrated as being backed by a support rib 186. In
addition to the rigidifying effect of the support rib 186 as
previously described, the support rib 186 in the soffit channel may
additionally or alternatively providing a spacing function to
prevent the soffit member 128 from contacting the back wall 202 of
the soffit channel 198. The spacing provided by the support rib 186
may provide a ventilation channel 260 between the soffit member 128
and the fascia member 130. The support rib 186 may be any suitable
configuration and/or may be omitted entirely.
[0059] FIGS. 2 and 4 further illustrate that the fascia flashing
146 may include a soffit lip 204 adapted to modify the appearance
and/or the functional features at the joint between the soffit
member 128 and the fascia member 130. For example, the soffit lip
204 may provide a cleaner joint appearance and/or may reduce
moisture seepage into the joint. Additionally, the fascia member
130 may be configured to include a groove (not shown) for engaging
the terminal end of the soffit lip 204 in a manner similar to the
frieze groove 136 and the tab 138 of the soffit flashing 144.
[0060] With reference now to FIGS. 2-4, a method of installing the
soffit and fascia system 142 is described. As suggested by the
foregoing discussion, the frieze board 154 may be coupled to the
frieze flashing 160 and the soffit flashing 144 prior to coupling
the frieze board to the first wall 150. The use of the soffit and
frieze flashings 144, 160 may allow the frieze board 154 to be
installed without the use of fasteners 166 through the face of the
frieze board 154. Similarly, as suggested above, the fascia
flashing 146 may be coupled to the fascia member 130 by suitable
fasteners 166, as previously discussed.
[0061] The fascia flashing 146 coupled to a fascia member 130 may
be coupled to a sub-fascia member 196 by sliding the sub-fascia
member into the fascia channel 188. As suggested above, the fascia
channel 188 may be adapted to at least temporarily hold the fascia
130 and fascia flashing 146 in place. The fascia flashing 146 may
then be coupled to the sub-fascia member 196, through any suitable
fastener 166. The coupling of the fascia flashing 146 to the fascia
member 130 and the coupling of the fascia flashing 146 to the
sub-fascia member 196 may be sufficient to couple the fascia member
130 to the sub-fascia member 196. Additionally or alternatively,
the fascia member 130 may be further coupled to the sub-fascia
member 196 by an additional fastener 168 through the fascia member
130 and into the sub-fascia member 196, as shown in FIGS. 2 and
4.
[0062] With the frieze board 154 coupled to the first vertical wall
150 and the fascia member 130 coupled to the second vertical wall
152, the soffit member 128 may then be positioned between the two
to complete the soffit and fascia coverings 128, 130. As
illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the soffit member 128 may be installed by
inserting the rearmost edge 206 of the soffit member 128 into the
soffit channel 176 of the soffit flashing 144. The soffit channel
176 may be sufficiently deep to allow the soffit member 128 to be
inserted beyond the final installation depth. Accordingly, the
soffit member 128 may be inserted into the soffit channel 176 a
distance sufficient to allow the forward-most edge 208 of the
soffit member 128 to clear the fascia member 130. The soffit member
128 may then be moved into the horizontal position, or whatever
other desired angle is needed, and the forward-most edge 208 may be
inserted into the soffit channel 198 of the fascia flashing
146.
[0063] Following insertion of the forward-most edge 208 into the
soffit channel 198, the soffit member 128 may be moved forward in
the soffit channel 198 of the fascia flashing 146 to abut the
support rib 186 or to some other distance sufficient to rest within
the soffit channel 198. The soffit member 128 may then be suitably
positioned between the first vertical wall 150 and the second
vertical wall 152.
[0064] For example, the configuration of the soffit flashing 144
and the fascia flashing 146 may be adapted to provide sufficient
retention strength on the soffit member 128 to not require
additional fasteners. Additionally or alternatively, the soffit
member 128 may be more permanently installed through the use of one
or more fasteners 166 through the soffit member 128 and into the
sub-fascia member 196. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the
fastener 168 securing the soffit member 128 to the sub-fascia
member 196 may be countersunk a suitable distance and may be capped
by a suitable plug 210, which may be configured to resemble the
soffit member 128 or which may be merely caulking or similar
material.
[0065] While the installation of a soffit and fascia system 142
according to the present disclosure may proceed substantially as
described above, appropriate variations may be made depending on
the components used. For example, one or more of the components of
the present disclosure may be used independent of the other
components, which may allow for variations in the equipment and
steps used to couple the soffit member 128 and the fascia member
130 to the building 100. However, such variations are within the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0066] Turning now to FIG. 5, an additional flashing 158, shown as
an L-flashing 148, may be used in cooperation with the soffit and
fascia system 142 of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG.
2, some installations of the soffit and fascia systems 142 may be
at the roofline of a building 100. In such configurations, it may
be desirable to provide a roofline flashing 212 at the top of the
fascia member 130 to protect the materials of the fascia member
130. The L-flashing 148 may provide such a protective flashing.
[0067] The L-flashing 148 is one example of a suitable flashing 158
that may be used at the top of the fascia member 130. Other
flashing configurations may be used depending on the relationship
between the fascia member 130 and the adjacent members of the
building 100. For example, the L-shaped flashing 148 includes a
horizontal leg 214 and a vertical leg 216 joined at a 90.degree.
angle to form an L-shape.
[0068] Alternative flashings may include two or more legs or
portions joined at any suitable angle. FIGS. 2 and 5 further
illustrate that the bottom region 198 of the roofline flashing 212
may be adapted to divert water away from the fascia member 130,
such as by the inclusion of a foot portion 218. The foot portion
218 may extend away from the vertical leg 216 at any suitable angle
220, such as an angle between about 100.degree. and about
170.degree.. The roofline flashing 212 may be made of any suitable
material including metal, plastic, and/or composite material and
may be secured to the substructure 156 with a fastener 166.
[0069] As discussed above, each of the flashings 158, the soffit
member 128, and the fascia member 130 discussed above may have a
suitable length extending in the direction perpendicular to the
plane of the illustrations shown in FIGS. 2-5. FIG. 6 provides a
perspective view of a portion of a soffit member 128. As seen in
FIG. 6, the soffit member 128 may have a length extending in the
direction of arrows 222 and a width extending in the direction of
arrows 224. The soffit member 128 may be provided in multiple
soffit segments 226 coupled together by a soffit joint 228.
[0070] FIGS. 6-8 illustrates an example of two soffit segments 226
coupled by a soffit joint 228. Each of the soffit segments 226 may
be of identical lengths or may be provided in varied lengths to
accommodate different installation spaces. Soffit segments 226 may
be provided in lengths 222 ranging from about 1 foot to about 4
feet long or more. Conventionally, the soffit segments will have a
width 224 ranging from about 12 inches to about 30 inches, with
more common lengths ranging from about 18 inches to about 24
inches, depending on the dimensions of the installation location.
Similarly, the soffit segments may have a thickness 230, which may
range from about 0.5 inches thick to about 1.0 inches thick.
[0071] In some implementations, the soffit segments 226 may be
provided with one or more grooves 232. The grooves 232 may be
provided in the side of the soffit segment 226 that will be exposed
after installation to provide the look of a lap siding system,
similar to the appearance shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 provides a plan
view from the front and/or rear of a soffit member 128 illustrating
the appearance of a soffit segment 226 after it is installed in a
horizontal position. As suggested above, the present soffit and
fascia systems 142 may be adapted to allow the soffit member 128 to
be disposed at orientations other than horizontal, however,
horizontal will likely be the most common orientation. As shown in
FIG. 7, the soffit segment 226 is divided into four substantially
equal soffit portions 234 by the soffit grooves 232. Additionally,
as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, each soffit segment 226 may be coupled
to an adjacent soffit segment 226 by a soffit joint 228, which is
better illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 6-11.
[0072] The soffit and fascia system 142 of the present disclosure
may include soffit members 128 according to the description
provided above or any other suitable soffit members. As discussed
above, the soffit member 128 may be provided by one or more soffit
segments 226, which may be joined by soffit joints 228. In some
aspects of the present disclosure, conventional soffit joints 228
may be used to couple two soffit segments together. Additionally or
alternatively, ventilated soffit joints 236 may be used in aspects
of the present disclosure, such as shown in perspective view in
FIG. 6.
[0073] Ventilated soffit joints 236 according to the present
disclosure may be configured in any suitable manner. One exemplary
configuration is shown in FIGS. 6-8. FIGS. 6-8 illustrate a
ventilated soffit joint 236 disposed between two adjacent soffit
segments 226a, 226b. The ventilated soffit joint 236 is also shown
in FIG. 9, where it is shown in a top and/or bottom plan view
separate from the soffit segments 226. These figures will be
described together to illustrate at least some of the features of
the exemplary ventilated soffit joint 236.
[0074] As illustrated, ventilated soffit joints 236 may include a
body segment 238 extending between coupling flanges 240. The body
segment 238 may have a length adapted to coordinate with the width
224 of the soffit segments 226, such as within the range of from
about 18 inches to about 36 inches or any other suitable length
depending on the soffit 128 in which the soffit vent 236 will be
installed. The body segment 238 may similarly have a width 200
between the coupling flanges 240 of any suitable dimension, such as
from about one inch to about three inches. The body segment 238 may
have a single thickness across its length and width or it may be
configured to have varied thicknesses, such as greater thickness at
the edges near the coupling flanges 240 as illustrated in FIGS. 7
and 8. Exemplary thicknesses may range from about 0.1 inches to
about 0.5 inches and may be selected based on the conditions in
which the ventilated soffit joint 236 will be installed, based on
the dimensions of the soffit segments 226 it will be coupling, or
based on other factors.
[0075] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 9, it can be seen that an
exemplary ventilated soffit joint 236 includes a plurality of vent
holes 242 through the body segment 238. The vent holes 242 may be
oval in shape as illustrated or of any other suitable shape or
configuration. For example, in some implementations, the ventilated
soffit joint 236 may include vent holes adapted to allow air flow
through the soffit joint while preventing the passage of other
materials, such as branches, rocks, or other substances that may be
carried by wind. The relative size of and spacing between the vent
holes 242 may similarly be adapted and customized according to
various parameters to provide a ventilation channel 260 within the
soffit members 128.
[0076] With continuing reference to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, the
ventilated soffit joints 236 may additionally include coupling
wings 244 extending outwardly from the coupling flanges 240. The
coupling wings 244 may be semi-circular coupling rings 246 as best
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, or may be any other suitable
configuration. With more particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 8, the
relationship between the coupling wings 244 and the soffit segments
226 illustrates the coupling function of the ventilated soffit
joint 236. As illustrated, the ends of the soffit segments 226a,
226b include a triangular-shaped coupling groove 248, which is
adapted to accommodate the coupling rings 246. The coupling groove
248 and/or the coupling wings 244 may be adapted to accommodate
and/or fit within the other. Accordingly, the configuration of the
coupling groove 248 and/or the coupling wings 244 may vary and
still be within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0077] The semi-circular coupling rings 246 may be configured to be
installed into the soffit member 128 by sliding the coupling ring
246 lengthwise into the coupling groove 248. Additionally or
alternatively, the semi-circular coupling rings 246 may be adapted
to be somewhat flexible to allow the ring to pass directly into the
coupling groove through laterally applied coupling force along
arrow 250. In such configurations, the coupling ring 246 may resist
insertion and removal to a degree such that consider coupling force
must be applied along a particular direction, or series of
directions to facilitate the insertion and to complicate the
removal, thereby significantly reducing the chance for
unintentional decoupling of the soffit joint 228 from the soffit
segment 226 once installed. Similarly, coupling wings 244 of other
configurations may facilitate the coupling of the components while
rendering the decoupling relatively difficult so as to avoid
unintentional decoupling.
[0078] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate schematic perspective views of
exemplary ventilated soffit joints 236 showing at least two
variations that may be incorporated in the coupling wings 244 while
staying within the present disclosure. FIG. 10 illustrates a
perspective view of the ventilated soffit joint 236 of FIGS. 6-9
including the semi-circular coupling rings 246. FIG. 11 illustrates
a substantially similar ventilated soffit joint 236 having coupling
wings 244 configured as an alternating series of arched coupling
arms 252. Similar to the soffit joint 236 including semi-circular
coupling rings 246, the ventilated soffit joint 236 of FIG. 11 may
be adapted to be installed by sliding the coupling arms length-wise
through a coupling groove 248 in the edge of the soffit segments
226. Additionally or alternatively, the coupling arms 252 may
provide coupling wings 244 of greater flexibility, allowing for
easier insertion into the coupling groove via the laterally applied
coupling force 250.
[0079] For example, the ventilated soffit joint 236 may be
installed into the coupling groove 248 of a soffit segment 226 from
one end to the other such that only one coupling arm 252 is being
compressed into the coupling groove 248 at a time. Once the
coupling arms 252 are all inserted into the groove 248, it is much
more difficult for a series of winds or other unintentionally
applied forces to apply the same sequential forces to effect the
removal of the coupling arms 252 one at a time.
[0080] FIG. 11 is one example of the variations that may be applied
to the coupling wings 244 to facilitate the coupling of the soffit
joints to the soffit segments while still providing sufficient
coupling strength to avoid unintentional decoupling of the soffit
segments. Other suitable variations and combinations of the
elements discussed in connection with FIGS. 6-11 are contemplated
whether in the soffit joints 228, such as in the coupling wings
244, or in the soffit segments 226, such as in the coupling grooves
248.
[0081] It is believed that the disclosure set forth above
encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility.
While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred
form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated
herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous
variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions
includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations
of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties
disclosed herein. The principles of the present disclosure may be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from its
structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly
described herein. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope
of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended numbered
paragraphs, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes
that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the
numbered paragraphs are to be embraced within their scope.
Similarly, where the description and/or the following numbered
paragraph recites "a" or "a first" element or the equivalent
thereof, such description should be understood to include
incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor
excluding two or more such elements.
* * * * *