Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Lapped multiplanar surfacing; e.g. – shingle type – Interfitted sections
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-28
2002-04-16
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Lapped multiplanar surfacing; e.g., shingle type
Interfitted sections
C052S539000, C052S529000, C052S545000, C052S549000, C052S553000, C052S557000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06370832
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to interlocking panels with enhanced ruggedness and improved wind resistance, and in particular, to panels having channel nailing hems primarily intended for use as siding on houses and other structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Siding composed of vinyl or other plastic material is a common medium for use as an external covering of a structure. Such siding is fabricated as elongate panels having connectors formed along the lengths of the upper and lower edges. In use, the siding panels are arranged in horizontal interlocking tiers. In general, siding panels include a top lock that is configured to interlock with a bottom lock of another panel. A nailing hem comprising a series of slots for receiving nails to attach the panel to an underlying structure is generally provided near the top lock of each panel.
A premium siding panel will frequently be formed by a pair of materials fused together. The outer layer or capstock is composed of a weather, wear and impact resistant material which also provides a good appearance. The underlayer or substrate is composed of a stiffer material to increase the strength of the panel. A focus of vinyl siding development has been improved resistance to winds. When a building is buffeted by winds, the stress concentration occurs at the nail slots in the nailing hem, and various configurations have been proposed to improve the attachment of the panel to the underlaying wall.
Conventional nailing hems can be classified into three general categories: single thickness, multiple thickness and rollover. Examples of single thickness nailing hems are illustrated in
FIGS. 1A-2B
. In
FIGS. 1A-1B
and
2
A-
2
B, conventional siding panel
10
includes a top lock
12
, a nailing hem
14
, a bottom lock
16
, and a medial body
18
. Body
18
ordinarily has a pair of faces
20
,
22
separated by a center butt
24
. Top lock
12
is bent to form a dogleg protrusion
26
which extends downwardly over the upper face
20
of the siding panel to form a groove
28
. Bottom lock
16
has a channel-like shape. The distal wall
30
of the bottom lock is inclined back toward the lower face
22
of the body. The distal wall
30
of one panel is snugly fit within groove
28
of another panel to interlock the adjacent siding panels. Nailing hem
14
extends upward from top lock
12
and is provided with elongated slots
32
into which siding nails N or staples or screws are driven to attach the panel to an underlaying wall.
In general siding nails are not driven into the wall fully so that the nail head undersurface does not bear against the nailing hem. This clearance accommodates movement of the panels which occur due to fluctuations in temperature and other environmental conditions. In general, when nails N are driven through the nail slots, and the installed panels are exposed to winds, the panel will tend to move in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
1
B. This forces the panel against the nail head and the nail head exerts a load on a flat surface of the panel. The nail slot is thus the locus of a stress concentration, and eventually the slot can open further and ultimately can tear due to wind load.
The panel of
FIGS. 1A-1B
has a conventional lock geometry, and the panel of
FIGS. 2A-2B
has a more robust lock geometry in which the top lock occupies much more of the space in the channel-like bottom lock.
Examples of nailing hems configured of a double thickness of siding material are shown in
FIGS. 3A-3B
and
4
A-
4
B. Double thickness nailing hems are formed by providing additional panel material in a folded-over configuration. Siding panel
10
of
FIGS. 3A-3B
includes a variation on the top and bottom locks as well. Top lock
12
has an integrally formed double thickness nailing hem
14
above the lock structure, and a triangular cross-section lock with a free leg
34
opposite the upper face
20
. Bottom lock
16
has on its distal wall
30
an integrally formed hook
36
at its tip. When adjacent panels are interconnected, hook
36
of the bottom lock slides past free leg
34
of the adjacent lock and fits snugly against upper face
20
as shown in FIG.
3
B. Nailing hem
14
is provided with elongated nail slots to receive siding nails N or staples. Another embodiment of a double thickness nailing hem
14
is shown in
FIGS. 4A-4B
which shows a reinforced dog-leg type top lock
12
. The lock structure in this type of panel is configured so that the top lock occupies much of the space in the channel shape of the bottom lock so that the top lock abuts against lower face
22
of the adjacent panel. The top lock is also reinforced with an additional strip of material to enhance the rigidity of the panel, particularly in the lock area. Again, as with single thickness nailing hems, siding nails N are driven only to the extent that the undersurface of the nail head does not contact the nailing hem. While the double thickness nailing hem provides improved strength, the stress concentrations around the nail slot are still present and pose the same problems as the single thickness. That is, when subject to high winds, the nail head will tend to further open the slots and can ultimately lead to failure.
Examples of nailing hems with a rollover shape are shown in
FIGS. 5A-5B
and
6
A-
6
B. Panel
10
illustrated in
FIGS. 5A-5B
has a conventional lock structure with nailing hem
14
extending above top lock
12
. Nailing hem
14
has an open roll
40
formed at its top end. Siding nails N or staples or screws are driven to secure panel
10
to the extent that the undersurface of the nail head bears against roll
40
. The panel illustrated in
FIGS. 6A-6B
also has a conventional lock structure with nailing hem
14
extending above the top lock. Nailing hem
14
has a closed roll
42
formed at its top end. Siding nails N are driven to secure panel
10
to the extent that the undersurface of the nail head bears against roll
42
. In both of these types of nailing hems, elongate slots are provided for siding nails N. In these rollover nailing hems, much of the force that the nails exert on the nailing hems are borne by the roll portions to alleviate the stress concentrations on the nail slots. However, rollover nailing hems are an imperfect solution because upon wind loading, the panels tend to move and the nail head tends to exert a load on the flat surfaces around the nail slots making tearing and failure more likely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to interlocking panels having a channel nailing hem above the top lock. A channel nailing hem provides improved nail holding capacity which translates to increased wind resistance, and more rigidity to the panel. The panel has a top lock, a medial body portion, and a bottom lock. The locks are complementary in shape so that they interlock with other panels of like construction.
The rigidity of the panel can be further enhanced by forming the panel with areas of increased substrate thickness along selected portions of the panel. Another way is to affix an additional strip of material to at least one of the lock portions or other panel portion for rigidifying the panel. The strip can be of the same material as the panel or a higher strength material, and can be co-extruded with the panel. Greater rigidity enables easier installation of the panels in an interlocked manner. The panels of the present invention can even be installed by one person. Moreover, the present invention provides a stronger overall construction which permits the use of the panels as siding in coastal areas and other environments which have wind load requirements. In those situations, vinyl siding must exhibit increased nail holding capability.
In one aspect of the invention, the channel in the nailing hem has an open rectangular cross-section above the top lock with elongated slots in the base of the channel. When siding nails, staples or screws are driven into the nail slots, the undersurface of the nail or screw head bears against the surfaces formed by the sides of
McGarry Benjamin L.
Mowery Jack Thomas
A Phi Dieu Tran
Associated Materials Inc.
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Friedman Carl D.
LandOfFree
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