Siding panel and support strip assembly and method of production
First Claim
1. A method of producing a series of elongated siding panels each comprising a panel member and a longitudinally extending support strip attached thereto, comprising the steps of:
- extruding a plastic material into an extrusion having a predetermined cross-section and moving in a longitudinal direction;
severing said extrusion along its length while it continues to move in said longitudinal direction, thereby separating said extrusion into two portions, with one of said portions corresponding to the panel members and said other portion corresponding to the support strips;
progressively slidably connecting said one portion to said other portion while they continue to move in said longitudinal direction, whereby said one portion is longitudinally slidable relative to said other portion; and
thentransversely cutting the slidably connected portions, while they continue to move in said longitudinal direction, at longitudinally spaced intervals, thereby forming a plurality of support strips each longitudinally slidably attached to a respective panel member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An elongated siding panel and a longitudinally extending panel attachment and support strip have overlapping edge portions with longitudinally spaced slots receiving corresponding hook-shaped tabs to form loose positive connections. The slots have a length longer than the tabs to provide for limited longitudinal movement of the panel relative to the support strip. The panel and strip are preferably formed from an extruded flat strip of semi-rigid plastics material, and the continuously formed panel and support strip are progressively notched and punched at longitudinally spaced intervals to form the slots and tabs and expansion slots. The notched and punched support strip is progressively severed from the panel, twisted on a longitudinal axis, and the tabs are progressively inserted into the slots for hooking the overlapping edge portion of the panel. The upper portion of the support strip is generally flat with longitudinally spaced holes for receiving fasteners, and the notches extend to the upper portion of the support strip. The expansion slots and notches permit the support strip to expand and contract without pulling on the fastener.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of producing a series of elongated siding panels each comprising a panel member and a longitudinally extending support strip attached thereto, comprising the steps of:
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extruding a plastic material into an extrusion having a predetermined cross-section and moving in a longitudinal direction; severing said extrusion along its length while it continues to move in said longitudinal direction, thereby separating said extrusion into two portions, with one of said portions corresponding to the panel members and said other portion corresponding to the support strips; progressively slidably connecting said one portion to said other portion while they continue to move in said longitudinal direction, whereby said one portion is longitudinally slidable relative to said other portion; and
thentransversely cutting the slidably connected portions, while they continue to move in said longitudinal direction, at longitudinally spaced intervals, thereby forming a plurality of support strips each longitudinally slidably attached to a respective panel member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of producing a series of elongated siding panels each comprising a panel member and a longitudinally extending support strip attached thereto, comprising the steps of:
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extruding a plastic material into an extrusion having a predetermined cross-section and moving in a longitudinal direction; severing said extrusion along its length while it continues to move in said longitudinal direction, thereby separating said extrusion into two portions, with one of said portions corresponding to the panel members and said other portion corresponding to the support strips; progressively slidably connecting said one portion to said other portion while they continue to move in said longitudinal direction, whereby said one portion is longitudinally slidable relative to said other portion; limiting the movement of the slidably connected portions at longitudinally spaced intervals along the slidably connected portions; and
thentransversely cutting the slidably connected portions, while they continue to move in said longitudinal direction, at longitudinally spaced intervals, thereby forming a plurality of support strips each longitudinally slidably attached to a respective panel member. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification