Backed building structure panel having grooved and ribbed surface

• US 8,225,568 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westlake Royal Building Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Exterior Portfolio, LLC (TTWF LP)
• Inventors: Mollinger, Paul J., Pelfrey, Paul R., Fairbanks, Larry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/745,955
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 523/024, 523/098, 523/09, 428/156, 428/158, 428/159, 428/160, 428/167, 428/172
• US Class Current: 52/302.4
• 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 13/0871 having an ornamental or specially shaped visible surface E04F13/0867 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0875 having a basic insulating layer and at least one covering layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24504 Component comprises a polymer [e.g., rubber, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24587 Oblique to longitudinal axis of web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

A backed paneling unit comprised of a backing portion that includes at least one of a depth portion and an elevated portion. An elevated portion and/or a depth portion may be formed using any suitable method including, but not limited to, molding, machining and heat stamping. Optionally, a backing portion may comprise a hydrophobic material. Such features may enable fluid flow (e.g., ventilation or liquid drainage) behind the backing portion.

Claims

1. A paneling unit adapted to be installed on an underlying structure, said paneling unit comprising:

a facing portion; and

a backing portion secured to said facing portion, said backing portion comprising a primary rear surface that is substantially planar, at least one elevated portion with an upper surface that is substantially planar relative to said primary rear surface, and at least one depth portion relative to said primary rear surface;

wherein said at least one depth portion is situated between adjacent elevated portions; and

wherein said primary rear surface and said at least one depth portion are adapted to form together at least one gap between said backing portion and said underlying structure.

2. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said backing portion comprises said at least one elevated portion having a depth of about 0.045 inches and a width of about 0.500 inches.

3. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said backing portion comprises said at least one depth portion having a depth of about 0.0625 inches and a width of about 0.1875 inches.

4. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said backing portion comprises a plurality of said at least one elevated portion spaced apart by about 3.25 inches.

5. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said backing portion comprises a plurality of said at least one depth portion spaced apart by about 2.0 inches.

6. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one of an elevated portion and a depth portion is diamond-shaped.

7. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one of an elevated portion and a depth portion is circle-shaped.

8. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one of an elevated portion and a depth portion is triangle-shaped.

9. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one elevated portion has an elevated shape selected from the group consisting of diamonds, circles, rectangles, ovals, ellipses, triangles, parallelograms, and other polygons.

10. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said facing portion is a siding panel adapted to be mounted on a substantially vertical surface of an underlying structure.

11. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said backing portion comprises a foamed plastic.

12. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein:

said facing portion is a vinyl siding panel; and

said backing portion comprises a foamed plastic selected from the group consisting of foamed polystyrene and foamed polyurethane.

13. The paneling unit of claim 1, wherein the depth portion includes a V-shaped groove portion.

14. The paneling unit of claim 13, wherein the V-shaped groove portion forms an angle of about 60 degrees.

15. A paneling unit adapted to be installed on an underlying structure, said paneling unit comprising:

a facing portion; and

a backing portion secured to said facing portion, said backing portion comprising a hydrophobic material with a primary rear surface that is substantially planar, at least one elevated portion with an upper surface that is substantially planar relative to said primary rear surface, and at least one depth portion relative to said primary rear surface;

wherein said primary rear surface and said at least one depth portion are adapted to form together at least one gap between said backing portion and said underlying structure;

wherein said at least one depth portion is situated between adjacent elevated portions; and

wherein said hydrophobic material is adapted to facilitate drainage of liquid between said backing portion and said underlying structure.

16. The paneling unit of claim 15 wherein said hydrophobic material is selected from the group consisting of paraffin wax, polyethylene, fluoropolymer, and any other low surface tension material.

17. The paneling unit of claim 15, wherein the depth portion includes a V-shaped groove portion.