Method and device for repairing vinyl siding

• US 5,475,963 A
• Filed: 07/22/1994
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Chelednik
• Original Assignee: Robert Chelednik
• Inventors: Chelednik, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENT, CHRISTOPHER T
• Application Number:
  US08/278,830
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 52/547, 52/545, 52/748, 52/514, 52/518, 52/745.21
• US Class Current: 52/545
• 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

A method and apparatus for securing disengaged, adjacent vinyl siding panels, the repair element having a generally planar body having a top edge of a thickness greater than the bottom edge, the planar body being slightly arcuate in shape, the top edge of the repair element being selectively frictionally engageable with a channel formed on the upper edge of a secured vinyl siding panel, the lower edge being engageable with the channel formed on the lower edge of the disengaged vinyl siding panel so as to resecure it to its adjacent vinyl siding panel.

Claims

1. The method of repairing housing siding of the type in which an array of siding panels which have been secured to a housing wall in overlapping relationship and where at least one panel has become disengaged from an adjacent panel as a result of a hook-shaped portion along the lower edge of said disengaged panel having shifted downwardly and having become disengaged from a cooperation hook-shaped portion on the upper edge of the underlying panel, comprising:

inserting beneath the lower edge of said disengaged panel and into the channel formed by said cooperative hook-shaped portion of said underlying panel, a repair element having an upper edge frictionally engageable with said channel and in snap fit engagement therewith and having a lower edge disposed from said upper edge, a distance sufficient to extend below said hook-shaped portion of said disengaged panel;

marking the correct length of said repair element by scoring a line utilizing said lower edge of said disengaged panel as a guide;

removing said repair element from said snap fit engagement;

cutting along said scored line to remove the excess length of said repair element;

reinserting said repair element into frictional, snap fit engagement with said channel of said underlying panel;

fitting said hook-shaped portion of said lower edge of said disengaged panel over the lower edge of said repair element.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method is repeated sequentially at predetermined intervals along the path of disengagement of said siding panels.

3. In combination with a pair of like, adjacent siding panels each of which is secured adjacent its upper edge to a housing wall one above the other with each having an upwardly hook-shaped portion along their lower edge and a downwardly-depending hook-shaped portion along their respective upper edge, said upwardly facing hook-shaped portion cooperable with said downwardly-depending hook-shaped portion of said adjacent panel, a repair element for reengaging adjacent panels having become disengaged, comprising:

a generally planar body having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges, said top edge having a thickness generally greater than said bottom edge, said thickness and cross-section of said top edge substantially equal to a channel formed by said downwardly-depending hook-shaped portion along said upper portion of said panel, said top edge and said bottom edge of said repair element being biased in convex curvature such that said bottom edge extends outwardly from said housing wall, said bottom edge of said repair element engageable with said upwardly-extending hook-shaped portion on said lower edge of said disengaged panel thereby reengaging said panels.