Fiber cement siding planks and methods of making and installing the same

• US 20030056458A1
• Filed: 04/03/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Hardie Technology Limited (James Hardie Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: James Hardie Technology Limited (James Hardie Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Terzian, Steve, Merkley, Donald J., Black, Andrew J., Gleeson, James A.
• Application Number:
  US10/117,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20030056458A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/541
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 1/002 assembled from preformed elements
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 13/02 with fibres or particles being present as additives in the layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 13/06 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 13/12 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/542 Shear strength
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/558 Impact strength, toughness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2607/00 Walls, panels
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2170/20 Compositions for hot melt adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 175/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0864 composed of superposed elements which overlap each other and of which the flat outer surface includes an acute angle with the surface to cover
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0896 with adhesive joining strips E04F13/0894, E04F13/0898 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/141 with an outer layer of concrete E04F13/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/148 with an outer layer of asbestos cement or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/16 of fibres or chips, e.g. bonded with synthetic resins , or with an outer layer of fibres or chips E04F13/0864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/131 Glass, ceramic, or sintered, fused, fired, or calcined metal oxide or metal carbide containing [e.g., porcelain, brick, cement, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24124 Fibers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249932 Fiber embedded in a layer derived from a water-settable material [e.g., cement, gypsum, etc.]

Abstract

In one embodiment, a siding plank assembly comprising an interlocking feature that allows the siding plank to be stacked with other siding planks in a manner such that a uniform and deep shadow line is created. The interlocking feature sets the gauge of the exposed plank face and allows for leveling of the plank during installation. The siding plank may be formed from an extrusion process or from the Hatschek process.

Claims

1. A plank assembly, comprising:

a fiber cement siding plank having a front surface, a back surface, an upper end and a lower end;

a region for fastening the siding plank to a mounting surface, the region being located on the front surface of the siding plank near the upper end; and

a locking overlap region on the back surface of the siding plank near the lower end, the locking overlap region allowing the fiber cement siding plank to be lowered over an adjacent siding plank in a manner such that the region for fastening of an adjacent plank is covered by the locking overlap region, and wherein the locking region sets the gauge of the exposed plank face and allows for leveling of the plank during installation.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber cement siding plank comprises a low density fiber cement plank having a density of about 1.2 g/cm³ or less.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plank includes a substantially flat front surface from the upper end to the lower end.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plank decreases in thickness from its lower end to its upper end.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a key portion indented into the front surface such that when an adjacent plank is stacked over the siding plank, the outer surfaces of the adjacent planks are substantially planar.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the key portion includes a key tip having two adjacent surfaces forming an angle with respect to each other.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the angle is approximately 30 to 85 degrees.

8. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the locking region includes a pair of adjacent surfaces making an angle with respect to each other.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the angle of the locking region is substantially equal to the angle of the key portion.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the siding plank further comprises a fixing indicator that indicates a predetermined region for placement of a fastener.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the siding plank has one or more continuous voids formed beneath the fixing indicator.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking region comprises a V-shaped lock.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the V-shaped lock comprises a lock inner angled surface, a lock inner surface, and a lock inner blunted surface.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the V-shaped lock comprises at least one compressible region that allows the plank to be interlocked with an adjacent plank during installation and provides lateral compensation for non-planar mounting surfaces.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the compressible region is made of an elastomeric material.

16. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the V-shaped lock and the fiber cement siding plank are extruded as a one-piece assembly.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the siding plank is partially hollow.

18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the siding plank is formed by an extrusion process.

19. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the siding plank is formed by a Hatschek process.

20. A fiber cement siding plank having a front surface, a back surface, an upper end and a lower end, comprising:

a region for fastening the siding plank to a mounting surface, the region being located on the front surface of the siding plank near the upper end; and

a locking overlap region on the back surface of the siding plank near the lower end, the locking overlap region allowing the fiber cement siding plank to be lowered over an adjacent siding plank in a manner such that the region for fastening of an adjacent plank is covered by the locking overlap region, and wherein the locking overlap region sets the gauge of the exposed plank face and allows for leveling of the plank during installation;

wherein the siding plank is formed by an extrusion process.

21. A fiber cement siding plank having a front surface, a back surface, an upper end and a lower end, comprising:

a region for fastening the siding plank to a mounting surface, the region being located on the front surface of the siding plank near the upper end; and

a locking overlap region on the back surface of the siding plank near the lower end, the locking overlap region allowing the fiber cement siding plank to be lowered over an adjacent siding plank in a manner such that the region for fastening of an adjacent plank is covered by the locking overlap region, and wherein the locking overlap region sets the gauge of the exposed plank face and allows for leveling of the plank during installation;

wherein the siding plank is formed by a Hatschek process.