BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to siding for a building structure, and more specifically to siding attachment devices for a building structure.
2. Description of the Background Art
Many types of buildings include some form of siding. Siding is generally used as an exterior surface to keep out moisture and prevent decay, protect the building, and also to provide an attractive or durable appearance of the building structure.
In the prior art the siding is generally supplied as panels that are applied starting from the bottom of the building structure, and are generally nailed onto studs of the building. Generally, one nail is used per stud.
However, there are several problems in the siding application according to the prior art. First, the siding must be applied in a manner that is substantially level. This is done to insure that the siding is installed evenly. It is also important for an appearance aspect. In addition, the prior art siding process is relatively slow and some carpentry expertise is needed. Further, the nailing of siding panels directly to the exterior wall of a structure has the tendency to trap wind-blown moisture against the wall, thereby creating a condition for rot and decay to develop. Finally, the use of numerous nails in the prior art siding process creates numerous opportunities for water to enter the holes and rot the walls.
Therefore, a need remains in the art for improvements in siding attachment devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A siding attachment strip is provided according to one embodiment of this invention. The siding attachment strip may be adapted to retain a plurality of siding panels on a building structure. The siding attachment strip may consist of an elongate body, a number of siding top edge clips, and a number of finger slots.
The siding top edge clips may be spaced along the elongate body at regular intervals, according to the size of the panel to be installed. The siding top edge clips may either be attached to the elongate body or may be punched out of the elongate body. Furthermore, the siding top edge clips may protrude from the face of the elongate body and then may curve to be parallel to the elongate body. This shape may allow the siding top edge clips to grip the top edge of a siding panel.
The finger slot channels may be at predetermined locations along the elongate body and may be located directly above the siding top edge clip. Each finger slot channel may be capable of receiving a fastener, such as a bolt or a clip that may be attached to the siding panel.
Furthermore, a wall of siding panels that may be installed on the wall of a building structure is provided according to another embodiment of this invention. The wall of siding panels may be made up of multiple parallel siding attachment strips, one or more alignment bars attached perpendicularly to the siding attachment strips, and a number of siding panels attached to the siding attachment strips.
A method of installing siding onto a building structure is also provided in this invention. The method of installing siding may consist of the steps of fastening siding attachment strips to a building structure, inserting a siding panel into the siding top edge clips of the siding attachment strips, and inserting a fastener attached to the siding panel into the finger slot channels of the siding attachment strips.
A method of creating and installing a wall of panel siding in one unit is also provided in this invention. The method of creating and installing a wall of panel siding may consist of the steps of arranging a number of siding attachment strips parallel to each other at equal distances, placing one or more alignment bars perpendicularly across the siding attachment strips, aligning a pre-drilled hole in the alignment bars with the mounting holes of the siding attachment strips, inserting a fastener through the pre-drilled holes in the alignment bars into the mounting holes of the siding attachment strip; installing the panel siding onto the siding attachment strips, placing the unit against a wall in the final location, and fastening the unit to the wall.
A system for a rainscreen moisture management system on the exterior of a building structure is also provided in an embodiment of this invention. The system may include a number of siding attachment strips as described above. The siding attachment strips may have a spacing block placed behind the mounting holes that may be used to adjust the distance the siding attachment strips are placed from the wall. The system may further include a number of siding panels that may be attached to the siding attachment strips. The siding panels may be spaced so that there is a gap between adjacent siding panels. Finally the system may include a starter strip that may have a number of slots, and may be mounted along a bottom edge of the building.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a siding attachment strip according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 shows various cross-sectional shapes of the body of the siding attachment strip.
FIG. 3 is a side fragmentary view showing the siding panels attached to the siding attachment strip according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of the holding tool supporting a siding panel;
FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of a completed panel support structure;
FIG. 6 is a cut away side view of a portion of a siding attachment strip attached to a wall via a support clip;
FIG. 7 is a front view of a support clip in use;
FIG. 8 is a side view of a siding starter strip according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view showing the complete system installed on the wall of a building, including the rainscreen according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 10 is a side view of one embodiment of the trim adaptor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a fragmented perspective view showing a siding attachment strip 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. The portion of the siding attachment strip 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes an elongate body 101, one or more siding top edge clips 130, one or more finger slot channels 110, and one or more lateral scoring marks 120. The siding attachment strip 100 preferably includes a plurality of siding top edge clips 130 and a plurality of finger slot channels 110 disposed in a regular pattern on the body to accommodate one or more standard siding panels thereon. In one embodiment, the siding top edge clip and the finger slot channel may be about three-quarter inch to about one and a half inches apart, and repeat every 8, 9, or 10 inches along the siding attachment strip 100, for example. Other spacings may be used, according to the type and size of siding panel desired to be attached to a building structure.
FIG. 2 shows various cross-sectional shapes of the body 101 of the siding attachment strip 100. The siding attachment strip 100 may include hems, flanges, and/or ribs in order to provide rigidity and strength. The body of the siding strip 100 is preferably U-shaped in cross-section including a front face 105 and two side portions 106, as shown in FIG. 1.
The siding attachment strip 100 is preferably made of a sheet material such as aluminum or steel sheet metal, for example, but also may be made of vinyl, fiberglass, etc. In one embodiment, the siding attachment strip 100 is formed of a 22 gauge sheet metal. In addition, the siding attachment strip 100 may include a weather-protecting coating, such as galvanization, for example. The siding attachment strip 100 may further include one or more lateral scoring marks 120 (optional) that may be used by an installer to snap or break off the siding attachment strip 100 at predetermined locations.
Each siding top edge clip 130 is formed to achieve a rounded and substantially right-angled bend, and engages the top edge of a siding panel 340 (see FIG. 3 discussed below). The siding top edge clip 130 may include a curved lip edge 131 that curves away from the body 101 of the siding attachment strip 100 and eases entry of the top of the siding panel 340 into the siding top edge clip 130. The siding top edge clip 130 may be punched out of and formed of the same material of the siding attachment strip 100. The siding top edge clip 130 may be partially punched out, and a non-punched connection portion may retain the siding top edge clip 130 to the elongate body 101 of the siding attachment strip 100.
In an alternate embodiment, the siding top edge clip 130 may be fastened to the siding attachment strip 100 by one or more spot-welds, by adhesive, or by a fastener such as a nail, screw, rivet, or snap-in fastener attachment that engages a hole (not shown) in the siding attachment strip 100.
The siding attachment strips 100 may also have one or more mounting holes 514 (see FIG. 5 discussed below). The plurality of mounting holes 514 pass through the siding attachment strip 100 and may be used to mount the siding attachment strip 100 to a building structure (not shown). The plurality of mounting holes 514 may be counter sunk or otherwise recessed, and may even be threaded for receiving any manner of threaded fastener. Alternately, fasteners can be formed as part of the strip.
In use, a plurality of siding attachment strips 100 may be mounted to a plurality of studs, to an underlying sheeting, or to other support members of the building structure. The siding attachment strips 100 are preferably mounted in a substantially vertical orientation, but can also be oriented horizontally. After a plurality of siding attachment strips 100 are mounted so as to be substantially parallel and level, a plurality of siding panels then may be installed without concern for leveling and aligning each individual siding panel.
FIG. 3 is a cut away side view showing an embodiment of the siding attachment strip 100 in use. The siding attachment strip body 101 is preferably mounted against the building structure with the side portions 106 being directed toward the structure so that the front face 105 is spaced away from the building structure. Siding panels 340, such as fiber cement siding panels, wood siding panels, or other type of composite material siding panels, may be then installed on the building structure. The siding panels 340 may be slid into the siding top edge clips 130, which then grip the top edges of the siding panels 340. A fastening device 350, which may be inserted through the siding panel 340 or may be attached to the back of the siding panel 340, may be inserted into the finger slot channel 110. The fastening device 350 prevents the siding panel from moving vertically, horizontally, or lengthwise with respect to the siding attachment strip 100 (i.e., it substantially prevents the siding panel 340 from moving toward or away from the siding attachment strip 100).
FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of a holding tool 484. The holding tool 484 is preferably made of a sheet material such as aluminum or steel sheet metal, for example, but also may be made of vinyl, fiberglass, etc. The holding tool 484 has an upper portion 474 that is adapted to engage the finger slot channel 110. In one embodiment, the upper portion 474 of the holding tool 484 has a first section that bends away from the main body of the holding tool 484 and a second section that bends away from the first section so that the second section is substantially parallel to the main body of the tool 484. The upper portion 474 of the holding tool 484 may be adapted so that when the first section engages the finger slot channel 110 the main body 484 stays clear of the siding top edge clip 130. The holding tool 484 also has a lower portion 494 that may support the lower edge of the siding panel 340 before the siding panel 340 is ready to be installed onto the siding attachment strip 100. The lower portion 494 in a preferred embodiment is bent substantially perpendicularly away from the main body of the holding 484. The lower portion 494 and the upper portion 474 are both bent away from the main body of the holding tool 484 in the same direction from the main body.
The holding tool 484 may allow one person to install a heavy siding panel 340, i.e. fiber cement, composite or wood siding panels. Multiple holding tools 484 may be utilized to support varying sized panels. Furthermore, the length of the holding tool 484 may vary depending on the size of the siding panels 340. The holding tool 484 may also have a pre-drilled hole (not shown) that allows a fastener 350 to pass through the holding tool 484 and engage the siding panel 340.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a portion of the skeletal structure of a completed wall of siding attachment strips 100 to support the siding panels 340 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention The structure may consist of two or more siding attachment strips 100 arranged parallel to one another at regularly spaced intervals. One or more alignment bars 504 may be placed perpendicularly to the siding attachment strips 100 to facilitate equal spacing and alignment. The alignment bars 504 may have holes 524 drilled through them spaced at regular intervals corresponding to desired distances between the siding attachment strips 100. The holes 524 in the alignment bars 504 may be lined up with mounting holes 514 in the siding attachment strips 100. Fasteners, such as screws, clips, nails, bolts, etc. may be placed through the holes 524 in the alignment bars 504 and engage the mounting holes 514 in the siding attachment strips 100 to hold the alignment bars 504 to the siding attachment strips 100. In one preferred embodiment, this structure is assembled on the floor and then lifted by hand or machine and attached to a wall by screwing the siding attachment strips 100 to the wall via the mounting holes 514. By screwing the siding attachment strips 100 to the wall only in the locations of the mounting holes 514, the number of holes made in the wall is limited, thereby reducing the chances of water penetrating the wall and rotting it. In one embodiment, the structure is installed onto the wall in its final location before the siding panels 340 are attached. In another embodiment, the siding panels 340 are attached before the structure is installed in its final location.
In another embodiment (not shown), the length of the alignment bar may be the distance between adjacent siding attachment strips 100. The alignment bar may engage the siding top edge clip 130. The alignment bar may also have one or more built in levels to assist in aligning adjacent siding attachment strips 100 on a wall.
In another embodiment (not shown), the alignment bar may consist of a plate preferably made of a sheet material such as aluminum or steel sheet metal, for example, but also may be made of vinyl, fiberglass, etc. The alignment bar may have one or more holes drilled through the plate corresponding to different spacing of the siding attachment strips 100. The holes may be large enough to allow a screw or other fastener to pass completely through them and engage the mounting hole 514 of the siding attachment strips 100. The alignment bar may also have a built-in level.
FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of a siding attachment strip in use according to one embodiment. Support clips 626 are attached to a wall 606 via a fastener 656 through a mounting hole 727 (see FIG. 7 discussed below) in the support clip 626. The support clips 626 may consist of a flat back portion that abuts a wall and a lower support portion that holds a siding attachment strip 100. The lower support portion may consist of a first section that is substantially perpendicular to the back portion and a second section that is substantially perpendicular to the first portion. The back portion and second section of the support portion may be substantially parallel to each other and may be both on the same side of the first section of the support portion.
FIG. 7 is a front view of a support clip 626 in use. The support clips 626 are preferably made of a sheet material such as aluminum or steel sheet metal, for example, but also may be made of vinyl, fiberglass, etc. The siding attachment strip 100 may have a support channel 767 punched out of the elongate body 101. The support channel may be located adjacent to the finger slot channel 110. The support clip 626 may engage the siding attachment strip 100 via the support channel 767. A support clip fastening device (not shown) may be used to secure the siding attachment strip 100 to the support clip.
FIG. 8 is a side view of a siding starter strip 851 according to one embodiment of the invention. The starter strip may include a flange 864 and a siding fold 861. The flange 864 may include one or more venting holes 831 covered with bug screens (not shown). The siding starter strip 851 may also include a foundation cap (not shown). The siding starter strip 851 may be a first component installed onto two or more siding attachment strips 100 during a siding installation process. The siding starter strip 851 therefore is a bottom-most component, and preferably rests on or contacts a foundation or sill of the building structure. When installed, the siding fold 861 of the starter strip 851 engages and locks onto the bottom-most pair of siding top edge clips 130 at the bottom of the siding attachment strips 100.
FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of a portion of one embodiment of a rainscreen system 900 in accordance with another aspect of the invention. The siding attachment strips 100 may be attached directly to the wall 909 of the building structure, or may be attached at a predetermined distance to the wall 909 of a building structure with the use of one or more spacer blocks 919. The spacer block 919 is preferably attached to the back of the siding attachment strip 100 via adhesive, but may be attached by any means known in the art. Alternately, the spacer block 919 may be formed integrally with the siding attachment strip 100. The spacer block 919 may have a waterproof self-sealing membrane. When a fastener 929, such as a screw is used to attach the siding attachment strip 100 to the wall 909 it may pass through a pre-drilled hole in the spacer block 919 that is covered with the waterproof self-sealing membrane. The waterproof self-sealing membrane may seal the hole caused by the fastener 929 in the wall 909 thereby making it less likely that water or other elements will penetrate the wall 909.
The spacer block 919 is preferably made of plastic or foam but can be made of metal, fiber, etc. The spacer block 919 may be adjustable up to three inches or may come in different sizes to create different size spaces 960 between the wall 909 and the siding attachment strip 100. The space 960 contains dead air and may equalize the pressure on the exterior walls and may stop wind driven rain from entering the exterior and interior walls of a structure. Furthermore, when the siding panels 340 are attached to the siding attachment strip 100, there may be a gap of approximately one thirty-second inch to one eighth inch between adjacent siding panels 340. The gap between siding panels 340 may equalize the pressure caused by wind driven rain and, thus, may cause capillary action of the rain to flow downward and out through the holes 831 in siding starter strip 851.
FIG. 10 is a side view of a trim adaptor 1000 in accordance with another aspect of the invention. The trim adaptor 1000 may be comprised of a back portion 1001, a slot 1041 for receiving the top of the siding attachment strip 100, and a front portion 1021. The trim adaptor 1000 may also have venting holes (not shown) to allow vapor to escape from interior walls. The trim adaptor may be used at the top of walls or under window sills.
The devices and method described above are particularly applicable to fiber cement, wood or composite siding but may be used for building structures using vinyl, steel, fiberglass, or any other type of siding. The invention differs from the prior art in that the prior art siding installation is typically done by a single nail through a slot in the top of the siding, with one nail being used per stud. Therefore, the installer must have some skill in alignment and nailing and must pay attention to maintaining a proper alignment for each siding panel that is installed. Furthermore, the large number of nails used in the prior art allows for numerous opportunities for water to enter the nail holes and rot the wall or allow mold to grow. The lack of a space between the wall and the siding in the prior art allows the water to pool and rot the wall.
While the invention has been described in detail above, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments as described. It is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments described herein without departing from the inventive concepts.
Patent Application
20070056238
