Patent Application
20110000156
The present disclosure is generally related to a lap trim system and method.
Siding is the outer covering or cladding of a building meant to shed water and protect from the effects of weather. Siding may be attached directly to the building structure or to an intermediate layer of sheathing. Siding may act as a key element in the aesthetic beauty of the building and directly impact its property value. Siding may be formed of horizontal boards or vertical boards. Siding is very versatile in style and can be used on a wide variety of buildings in any color palette desired. Various composite materials are also used for siding such as asphalt, asbestos, fiber cement, aluminum, etc. Composite sidings are available in many styles and can mimic the other siding options. Costs of composites tend to be lower than wood or masonry options, but vary widely as do installation, maintenance and repair requirements. The durability and environmental impact of composite sidings depends on the specific materials used in the manufacturing process.
Avoiding wind and rain infiltration through the joints of siding is a problem that has been addressed in the past by overlapping, by covering or sealing the joints, or by creating an interlocking joint such as a tongue-and-groove or rabbet. Siding in overlapping horizontal rows or “courses” is called clapboard. Since building materials expand and contract with changing temperature and humidity, it is not practical to make rigid joints between the siding elements. Thus, a particular difficult problem when installing siding is making corners watertight. In addition, the overlapping of the siding does not create a smooth surface causing further problems with preventing water intrusion into the building. Several trim pieces must be used to finish the corners and other areas making installation time consuming and expensive. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved trim system for use with siding that is watertight and easy to install.
It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed.
However, in view of the prior art at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.
In a particular embodiment, a lap trim system is disclosed. The trim system includes a pair of flanges joined along a longitudinal edge and extending generally at a right angle to each other. The pair of flanges are adapted to cover a corner formed by a plurality of pieces of overlapping siding, where a rear surface along a free edge of each flange may have at least one shoulder protruding from the rear surface of each flange in profile. In addition, the at least one shoulder of each flange is adapted to fit along a lower edge of at least one piece of the plurality of pieces of overlapping siding. A longitudinal drainage channel is formed between the pair of flanges by the shoulder protruding from the rear surface of each flange when the system is installed over the corner of siding. Thus, any moisture that does find its way behind the system is easily drained using the channel to reduce potential water damage and mold growth. The system may be used with any width and depth of siding by adapting the spacing and width of the shoulder. Similarly, any shape or size of trim or decorative element may be adapted to be used with the trim system.
In another particular embodiment, a lap trim method is disclosed. The method includes providing a composite material and configuring the composite material (e.g., foam) to form an architectural shape. A rear surface of the architectural shape may have at least one shoulder protruding from the rear surface of the architectural shape in profile, where the at least one shoulder is adapted to fit along a lower edge of at least one piece of a plurality of pieces of overlapping siding.
One particular advantage provided by embodiments of the lap trim system and method is that the system is watertight and fits snugly over the overlapping siding. The rear portion of the system has shoulders (or ledges) that are adapted to fit along the lower edge or lip of the siding. This is particularly advantageous in placing the system in a corner of the siding where two rows of siding intersect. The system is adapted to both inside and outside corners. The longitudinal drainage channel formed between the pair of flanges by the shoulder protruding from the rear surface of each flange when the system is installed over the corner of siding easily drains any moisture that may migrate behind the corner trim. Further, the system may be any desired length to cover any height of the siding that is formed by several rows. In addition, the system may be used as a decorative element. For example, the front of the system may be any decorative or aesthetic element such as a band, shutter, louver, bracket, column, cornice, crown molding, window/door surrounds, keystones, quatrefoils, lettering/numbers, signs, etc. The rear of the system is adapted to fit along the lower edges of the siding by having shoulders spaced to match the spacing and width of the siding.
Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure will become apparent after review of the entire application, including the following sections: Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and the Claims.
Referring to
Referring now to
A system 500 may also be used with an outside corner as illustrated in
A particular illustrative embodiment of a lap trim method is illustrated in
The lap trim method may be used as a decorative element. For example, the front of the system may be any decorative or aesthetic element such as a band, shutter, louver, bracket, column, cornice, crown molding, window/door surrounds, keystones, quatrefoils, lettering/numbers, signs, etc. Accordingly, the illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.52(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.
The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
