Patent Application
20140260061
The following disclosure relates to interlocking siding used in siding construction on a structure. The siding has an outer layer with front and rear surfaces. The front layer is exposed and the rear layer has an insulating layer mounted thereto. The panels may be arranged generally vertical on the structure.
As used herein, the terms “left,” “right”, “top,” “bottom”, “front,” and “rear” are used for convenience of describing elements in the views of the drawings and are not meant to be limiting in any sense.
An interlocking panel 20 is used for a siding construction on a structure 100. The panel 20 has an outer layer 22 and an insulating layer 24. The outer layer 22 has front and rear surfaces 26,28, and the insulating layer 24 is mounted to the rear surface 28 of the outer layer. The insulating layer 24 may be bonded or adhered to the rear surface 28 of the outer layer 22. The insulating layer may provide the panel with an insulation value of R−10. A portion of the outer layer front surface 26 forms a panel face 30. The panel face 30 is preferably flat and defines a plane. The panel face 30 may be exposed when mounted on the structure with the insulating layer disposed against the structure. The outer layer front surface may have a surface texture resembling wood or stone as may be desired. The outer layer 30 may be formed from vinyl or aluminum or other material commonly used for siding construction on a structure.
The panel 20 has a length L and a width W. When mounted on the structure, the panel may be arranged such that the length L is generally vertical relative to the structure and the width W is generally horizontal relative to the structure. The length L has opposite first and second longitudinal sides 32,34 extending along the panel length L. The longitudinal sides are spaced apart to generally define the panel width W. The panel 20 also has opposite first and second lateral sides 36,38 extending across the panel width W. The first and second lateral sides 36,38 are spaced apart and generally define the panel length L. As shown in the drawings, the lateral sides 36,38 form the top and bottom peripheral edges of the panel and the longitudinal sides 32,34 form the left and right peripheral edges. The section of panel shown in the drawings is illustrative and may have any length L or width W and is not limited to the dimensions or relative scale shown in drawings. The length L may be a length approximating the height of a typical one story as used in construction so that one panel may be used to cover the entire height of the story. The width W may be any convenient width considering handling, weight or manufacturing requirements.
The panel first longitudinal edge (i.e., the “right” edge in
The second longitudinal edge 34 (i.e., the left edge in FIGS. 3,4) of the panel 20 may have an interlocking tongue portion 50. The outer layer 20 may be formed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the panel face 30 rearwardly towards the insulating layer 24 to form the interlocking tongue portion. The outer layer 20 may extend from the panel face 30 rearwardly toward the inner insulating layer 24 and after a certain rearward distance reverse direction back toward the front surface of the panel at an acute angle to form a tapered head of the interlocking tongue portion. The tapered head of the interlocking tongue portion 50 may have a geometry that complements a geometry of the interlocking groove portion 42 of the first longitudinal edge to enable like panels to be assembled together. The tapered head of the tongue portion 50 may be configured to engage the locking projection 48 disposed between the first longitudinal edge interlocking groove portion 42 and mounting surface portion 44. The tongue portion 50 and/or groove portion 42 may be formed from a resilient material to enable the tapered head of the tongue portion to be deflected as necessary during insertion of the tongue into the groove to form the interlocked assembly.
The insulating layer 24 may have a notch 60 formed adjacent the panel first longitudinal edge 32. Preferably, the notch 60 accommodates the web and/or the interlocking groove portion 42 of the panel first longitudinal edge 32. To provide maximum insulating capability, the insulating layer 24 may extend adjacent to the mounting surface portion 44 of the first longitudinal edge. The insulating layer may abut the mounting surface portion 44 to form a flat reference surface to enable the panel to be mounted to a structure 100 with mechanical fasteners 46 (FIGS. 9,10). The insulating layer 24 may have a recess 62 adjacent the second longitudinal edge 34. The recess 60 is dimensioned and configured to receive the first longitudinal edge web mounting portion of a like panel when like panels are assembled. As shown in
As shown in the drawings, the web 40 extends along the entire length of the first longitudinal edge 32. Alternatively, the web may be intermittently spaced along the longitudinal edge. Alternatively, the web may extend along a majority of the longitudinal edge. As shown in the drawings, the interlocking tongue portion 50 extends along the entire length of the second longitudinal edge 34. Alternatively, the tongue portion may be intermittently spaced about the second longitudinal edge. In such a configuration the tongue portion may be formed in a pattern that cooperates with the interlocking groove of the first longitudinal edge to enable like panels to be assembled. In an alternative construction, the tongue portion may be intermittently spaced along the second longitudinal edge and the interlocking groove may extend along the entire first longitudinal edge. The interlocking cooperating features of the first and second interlocking edges need only be arranged in a manner to allow like panels to be assembled.
As shown in the drawings, the web 42 and interlocking tongue portions 50 extend perpendicularly to the panel face. Alternatively, the web and tongue portions may be formed at acute angles relative to the panel face. The drawings show the mounting surface portion 44 substantially parallel to the plane defined by the panel face 30. Alternatively, the mounting portion may be formed at an acute angle relative to the panel face.
As described herein, when like panels are assembled, the like adjacent panels are generally coplanar and/or mounted flush relative to each other. Because the panels are mounted flush or coplanar to one another, there is improved streamlining and resistance to wind. Also, because the panels lay flatter against the structure, there is improved streamlining and resistance to wind. The interlocked panels provides less air and water migration. Additionally, because the seams of the interlocked panels may be arranged vertically, any water ingress into the seam may be easily drained. Because the panels are arranged vertically, any variation in color or shade between adjacent panels is less likely to be perceived relative to traditional horizontal siding installations.
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In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that several advantages are achieved and attained. The embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best examples and their practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
