Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Sheetlike element assembled parallel to existing wall,...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-09-18
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Sheetlike element assembled parallel to existing wall,...
C052S235000, C052S775000, C052S546000, C052S506080, C052S489100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metal fixture assembly for installation of vertical sidings, and a construction and a method for the installation of the same.
2. Description of the Related Arts
A metal fixture assembly is employed for installation of vertical board sidings using for example ceramic siding boards to be anchored to a building frame. Such ceramic siding boards are attached to a building frame with the longitudinal length thereof being oriented in the vertical direction.
As a conventional metal fixture for the vertical siding, a flashing
9
which is bent-formed into an S-shape in cross section is known, as shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9
. The flashing is a material which drains rainwater attached to the siding to a surface of the siding therethrough.
The flashing
9
is interposed between upper and lower sidings
71
and
72
, with an upper folded-back portion
91
thereof in contact with a rear surface of a bottom portion
723
of the upper siding
72
, and with a lower folded-back portion
92
of the flashing
9
in contact with a front surface of a top portion
712
of the lower siding
71
.
The flashing
9
and the upper siding
72
are fixed to a furring
6
with a nail
8
through a horizontal furring strip
96
. Similarly, the lower siding
71
is fixed to the furring
6
with another nail
8
. Reference numeral
61
of
FIG. 8
denotes building paper.
However, such a conventional metal fixture has the following problems.
That is, the sidings
71
and
72
vertically adjacent to each other cannot be fixed to the furring
6
with the flashing
9
since its use is originally for weathering. Thus, as described above, the sidings
71
and
72
are fixed to the furring
6
by nailing with the nails
8
. Consequently, the heads of the nails
8
are exposed on the surface of each of the sidings
71
and
72
, resulting in a degraded external appearance.
In order to solve the problem, after the sidings
71
and
72
are fixed to the furring
6
, nail heads are coated with retouching paint or covered with a kneehole panel. In this case, however, much time and labor are required.
Moreover, because the flashing
9
is mounted between the sidings
71
and
72
(horizontal joint) as greatly exceeding width thereof, it protrudes onto the surface of the siding
72
, which degrades an appearance of the horizontal joint.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a metal fixture assembly capable of fixing vertical sidings vertically adjacent to each other to a furring. It is another object of the present invention to provide a construction of installed vertical sidings that is excellent in its appearance and weathering. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vertical siding installation method.
There is provided a metal fixture assembly for installation of a vertical siding arranged between vertical sidings vertically adjacent to each other, including a fastening metal fixture to be fixed to a furring, an upper metal fitting provided between the fastening metal fixture and the upper siding and fittingly fixed on a bottom portion of the upper siding, and a lower metal fitting provided between the fastening metal fixture and the lower siding and fittingly fixed on a top portion thereof, wherein the fastening metal fixture has a fixing part to be fixed to the furring, a supporting part projecting-formed from the fixing part to support the sidings, an upper locking part provided between the fixing part and the supporting part which locks the upper metal fitting, and a lower locking part provided therebetween which locks the lower metal fitting.
The key feature of the present invention is that the upper and lower metal fittings fittingly fixed on the top and bottom portions of the siding are arranged to be locked to the fastening metal fixture to be fixed to the furring.
The metal fixture assembly of this invention is used in fixing vertical sidings which are vertically adjacent to each other to a furring, as being arranged between those sidings. In fixing sidings on a furring with this metal fixture assembly, for example, there is provided a method in which an upper metal fitting and a lower metal fitting are fittingly fixed to top and bottom portions of the sidings, respectively, and the metal fittings and a fastening metal fixture are locked, thereby installing the sidings one by one from bottom to top. The method is detailed hereinafter.
The upper metal fitting is fittingly fixed on a bottom portion of the siding, and the lower metal fitting is fittingly fixed on a top portion thereof. The lower locking part of the fastening metal fixture is locked to the lower metal fitting, and then the fastening metal fixture is fixed to the top portion of the siding through the lower metal fitting.
Then, the upper metal fitting fittingly fixed on the bottom portion of the siding is locked to the upper locking part of another fastening metal fixture previously fixed to a furring. In this manner, the supporting part of the fastening metal fixture supports the siding.
Then, the fastening metal fixture fitted on the top portion of the siding through the lower metal fitting is fixed to the furring. In this manner, the siding is fixed to the furring.
Then, another siding to which the upper and lower metal fittings and the fastening metal fixture have been fixed is installed one by one upward the siding fixed on the furring in the similar method.
The method of installing vertical sidings on the furring by using the inventive metal fixture assembly is not limited to the above-described method.
According to the present invention, it is possible to securely install the sidings on the furring, by making the sidings to be supported by the fastening metal fixture fixed to the furring through the upper and lower metal fittings.
Further, no nails are required to be driven into the sidings because the installation of the sidings can be achieved by fitting the metal fittings to the sidings, locking the metal fittings and the fastening metal fixture thereto, and fixing the fastening metal fixture on the furring. Thus, the head of the nail is not exposed on the surface of the siding and this leads to an improved siding appearance.
Preferably, the metal fitting is fittingly fixed on the siding with an adhesive agent, screws, or the like. According to this, a gap is not formed between the metal fitting and the siding. Thus, rainwater does not penetrate inward from the gap between the metal fitting and the siding. Therefore, penetration of rainwater and the like into buildings can be prevented, leading to a further improved weathering.
The metal fitting can be locked to the fastening metal fixture, with a space formed between the fastening metal fixture and the metal fitting. Thus, with the siding fixed to the furring, it is possible to function the space as an air pocket. Namely, even though a s light gap is formed between the fastening metal fixture and the metal fitting and even though rainwater penetrates thereinto, it is possible to prevent rainwater from penetrating inward from the space.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4625481 (1986-12-01), Crandell
patent: 4648231 (1987-03-01), Laroche
patent: 6055787 (2000-05-01), Gerhaher et al.
patent: 6098364 (2000-08-01), Liu
patent: 6202377 (2001-03-01), Krieger
patent: 61-147824 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 8-93177 (1996-04-01), None
Friedman Carl D.
Nichiha Co., Ltd.
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Varner Steve
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