Panel lock structure

• US 4,399,643 A
• Filed: 12/01/1980
• Issued: 08/23/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Hafner
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Hafner
• Inventors: Hafner, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIDGILL JR, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US06/211,619
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 52/529-531, 52/547-551, 52/556, 52/276, 52/478, 52/520, 52/543, 52/519
• US Class Current: 52/530
• 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

Abstract

Several embodiments of wall covering are provided all of which are directed to providing an insulated wall covering including panels commonly called "siding". The wall covering is attached, by starting at the bottom of the wall and working upwards and is intended to provide a continuous insulating covering and to resist rattling and separation caused by building shrinkage. A starter strip or board is provided at the bottom of the covering to permit some movement to relieve compressive forces in the siding caused by building shrinkage. These forces are either transmitted directly from one piece of insulation to an adjacent piece of insulation, via structure forming part of associated siding panels, or by use of separate load transfer strips.

Claims

1. A building structure having an outer wall covering comprising:

a plurality of elongated insulated backer boards having upper and lower surfaces arranged substantially in contact with one another, the backer boards being attached to the building structure and arranged to transfer compressive vertical loads from each of the backer boards to adjacent backer boards;

a plurality of interlocked and elongated siding panels arranged in lapped relationship, each of these panels having rearwardly extending upper and lower lands and a main portion covering at least a substantial portion of the vertical extent of one of the backer boards, the panels being attached to the outer wall;

a starter structure attached to the outer wall and positioned at the bottom of the wall covering, the starter structure including an outwardly extending portion positioned immediately under a lowermost one of the backer boards and in engagement with the underside of this backer board and immediately above the lower land of the bottom one of the siding panels so that compressive loading in this backer board is relieved by the starter structure, the compressive loading also serving to lock the starter structure portion between the lowermost backer board and the lower land of the bottom panel to prevent separation of the panel from the starter structure as a result of the compressive loading in the backer board.

2. Building structure having an outer wall covering comprising:

a plurality of interlocked and elongated siding panels, at least the lowermost panel having a rearwardly extending land and a lip attached to the land which extends upwardly from the rear of the land;

a starter strip having a flange positioned on the building surface and attached to the building surface, a step extending generally horizontally and spaced outwardly from the flange above said land and outwardly of said lip, and a resilient leg extending downwardly and outwardly between the flange and the inner extremity of the step;

backer boards positioned behind the panels, the lowermost one of which has its lowermost extremity resting on the step thereby trapping the step between the backer board and the land, the lowermost panel being retained by engagement of the lip behind the step and by compressive loading in the backer board which is relieved by deflection of the leg and which enhances the engagement of the panel with the starter strip because said step is then trapped between the backer board and said land; and

means cooperating with upper locking structures of the panels to retain the wall covering against said outer wall.

3. A building structure having an outer wall covering comprising:

a plurality of elongated insulating backer boards having parallel longitudinal upper and lower surfaces and arranged substantially parallel with one another in spaced relationship on said outer wall;

a plurality of elongated siding panels arranged in lapped relationship and covering the backer boards, each of the panels having upper and lower locking structures engaged in corresponding locking structures of adjacent panels and each of the upper locking structures have a cap firmly engaged on the upper surface of an associated one of the backer boards, and a ledge rigidly coupled to the cap and supporting the lower surface of an upwardly adjacent backer board whereby compressive forces are transmitted from one backer board to an adjacent backer board by way of the associated ones of the caps and ledges, and the lower locking structure of the lowermost panel having a rearwardly extending land and a lip attached to the land which extends upwardly from the rear of the land;

a starter strip having a flange positioned on the building surface and attached to the building surface, a step extending generally horizontally and spaced outwardly from the flange above said land and outwardly of said lip, and a resilient leg extending downwardly and outwardly between the flange and the step so that the backer board behind this panel rests on the step with the step trapped between the backer board and the land, the panel being retained by engagement of the lip behind the step and by the compressive loading in the backer board which is relieved by deflection of the leg and which enhances the engagement of the panel with the starter strip because said step is then trapped between the backer board and said land; and

means cooperating with the upper locking structures of the panels to retain the wall covering against said outer wall.

4. A building structure having an outer wall covering comprising:

a plurality of elongated insulating backer boards having parallel longitudinal upper and lower surfaces and arranged substantially parallel with one another in spaced relationship on said outer wall;

a plurality of elongated siding panels arranged in lapped relationship and covering the backer boards, each of the panels having upper and lower locking structures engaged in corresponding locking structures of adjacent panels;

a plurality of load transfer strips each of which has a cap firmly engaged on the upper surface of one of the backer boards and a ledge supporting an upwardly adjacent one of the backer boards whereby compressive forces are transmitted from one backer board to an adjacent backer board by way of the associated one of the strips, and the lower locking structure of the lowermost panel having a rearwardly extending land and a lip attached to the land which extends upwardly from the rear of the land; and

a starter strip having a flange positioned on the building surface and attached to the building surface, a step extending generally horizontally and spaced outwardly from the flange above said land and outwardly of the lip, and a resilient leg extending downwardly and outwardly between the flange and the inner extremity of the step so that compressive loading in the backer board is are relieved by deflection of the leg, this compressive loading enhancing the engagement of the panel with the starter strip because said strip is then trapped between the backer board and said land.