Interlocking panel and method of making the same
First Claim
1. A plastic panel comprising a first upper connector portion having a channel shape with a projecting wall and an elongate inclined wall extending upward from said projecting wall, a medial main portion, and a second lower connector portion also having a channel shape defined by an L-shaped projection having a substantially horizontal arm and an upstanding arm, said first and second connector portions being complementary in shape to enable interlocking with other panels of like construction such that at least a portion of said projecting wall of said upper connector portion abuts against said horizontal arm of said lower connector portion and a portion of said inclined wall abuts against said medial main portion, and at least one strip of high strength material is coextruded with at least one of the panel portions for rigidifying said panel.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plastic siding panel which includes an upper connector, a medial main portion, and a lower connector. The connectors are complementary in shape so that they interlock with other siding panels of like construction. At least one of the connectors include a strip of high strength material for rigidifying the siding panel. The siding panels are fabricated by extruding a monolithic, substantially planar sheet composed of three different materials. Two of the materials are formed as layers which extend over the entire sheet. The third material is a high strength material adapted to rigidify the siding panel. After extrusion, the sheet is formed into a siding panel having a main portion, an upper connection and a lower connection.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A plastic panel comprising a first upper connector portion having a channel shape with a projecting wall and an elongate inclined wall extending upward from said projecting wall, a medial main portion, and a second lower connector portion also having a channel shape defined by an L-shaped projection having a substantially horizontal arm and an upstanding arm, said first and second connector portions being complementary in shape to enable interlocking with other panels of like construction such that at least a portion of said projecting wall of said upper connector portion abuts against said horizontal arm of said lower connector portion and a portion of said inclined wall abuts against said medial main portion, and at least one strip of high strength material is coextruded with at least one of the panel portions for rigidifying said panel.
- 7. A plastic siding panel comprising three regions including a first connector portion having a channel shape defined by an L-shaped projection having a substantially horizontal arm and an upstanding arm, a medial main portion and a second connector portion also having a channel shape with a projecting wall extending outward from said medial main portion and an elongate inclined wall extending upward from said projecting wall and inward toward said medial main portion, said first and second connector portions being complementary in shape to enable interlocking with other siding panels of like construction such that at least a portion of said projecting wall of said second connector portion abuts against said horizontal arm of said first connector portion and a portion of said inclined wall abuts against said medial main portion, all three regions of said siding panels being formed of a first material adapted for external use and a second material adapted for internal use, said first and second materials being fixed together to form two layers of the siding panel, and a third high strength material coextruded with at least one of said first and second materials for rigidifying said siding panel.
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18. A method of forming a plastic siding panel comprising:
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extruding a monolithic, substantially planar sheet composed of three difference materials, two of said materials being formed as layers extending over the entire sheet such that one of said two materials defines one side of said member and the other of said two materials defines the other side of said member, a third of said materials being a high strength material formed as at least one discrete strip covering a portion of at least one said two materials; and forming said planar member into a siding panel having a main portion, an upper connector portion having a channel shape with a projecting wall and an elongate inclined wall extending upward from said projecting wall and a lower portion also having a channel shape defined by an L-shaped projection having a substantially horizontal arm and an upstanding arm, said upper and lower connector portions being complimentary in shape to enable interlocking with other panels of like constructions such that at least a portion of said projecting wall of said upper connector portion abuts against said horizontal arm of said lower connector portion and a portion of said inclined wall abuts against said main portion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification