Siding having facing and backing portion with grooved and ribbed backing portion surface

• US 8,336,269 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• 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:
  US11/234,073
• Time in Patent Office: 2,650 Days
• Field of Search: 523/024, 523/098, 523/099, 428/156, 428/158, 428/159, 428/160, 428/167, 428/172
• US Class Current: 52/302.4
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2266/0228 Aromatic vinyl resin, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2419/00 Buildings or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/7069 by ventilating means for ventilating in floors E04B5/48, in ceilings E04B9/02, in building blocks E04C1/392, in building panels E04C2/521, in roofs E04D13/16; ventilating wall coverings E04F13/007
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/007 Outer coverings for walls with ventilating means
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0875 having a basic insulating layer and at least one covering layer
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/185 with an outer layer imitating natural stone, brick work, tiled surface or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves

Abstract

A backed paneling unit comprised of a backing portion that includes at least one rib. In an exemplary embodiment, a rib may be adjacent to a drainage groove or between adjacent drainage grooves. A rib may enable ventilation behind the backing portion. In addition, a rib may also assist with liquid drainage.

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 rib relative to said primary rear surface and having an upper surface that is substantially parallel to said primary rear surface, and at least one drainage groove relative to said primary rear surface and adjacent to said at least one rib;

wherein said at least one rib is adapted to facilitate ventilation between said backing portion and said underlying structure.

2. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one rib is adapted to extend generally downward when said paneling unit is installed.

3. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one rib is adapted to extend at approximately 60°

from horizontal when said paneling unit is horizontally installed.

4. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one rib has a depth of approximately 0.045 inch.

5. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one rib has a width of approximately 0.500 inch.

6. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one rib is approximately 1.0635 inches from a center of said at least one drainage groove.

7. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one rib extends between a pair of said drainage grooves.

8. The paneling unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one drainage groove extends from an edge of said backing portion to another edge of said backing portion.

9. A 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 rib relative to said primary rear surface and having an upper surface that is substantially parallel to said primary rear surface, and at least one drainage groove relative to said primary rear surface;

wherein said at least one rib is substantially parallel to said at least one drainage groove.

10. The paneling unit of claim 9 wherein said at least one rib is adapted to extend generally downward when said paneling unit is installed.

11. The paneling unit of claim 9 wherein said at least one rib is adapted to extend at approximately 60°

from horizontal when said paneling unit is horizontally installed.

12. The paneling unit of claim 9 wherein said at least one rib has a depth of approximately 0.045 inch.

13. The paneling unit of claim 9 wherein said at least one rib has a width of approximately 0.500 inch.

14. The paneling unit of claim 9 wherein said at least one drainage groove is adjacent to said at least one rib.

15. The paneling unit of claim 9 wherein said at least one rib is approximately 1.0635 inches from a center of said at least one drainage groove.

16. The paneling unit of claim 9 wherein said at least one rib extends between a pair of said drainage grooves.

17. The paneling unit of claim 9 wherein said at least one drainage groove extends from an edge of said backing portion to another edge of said backing portion.

18. A 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 rib relative to said primary rear surface and having an upper surface that is substantially parallel to said primary rear surface, and at least one drainage groove relative to said primary rear surface, said at least one rib and said at least one drainage groove extending from a top edge to a bottom channel of said backing portion;

wherein said at least one rib and said at least one drainage groove are substantially parallel.

19. The paneling unit of claim 18 wherein:

said at least one rib does not extend into said bottom channel; and

said at least one drainage groove extends into said bottom channel.

20. A siding panel comprising:

a siding material having a face and a back; and

a backer material applied to said back of said siding material, said backer material adapted to be installed adjacent to an exterior surface of a structure;

wherein said backer material includes a primary rear surface that is substantially planar, at least one depth portion relative to said primary rear surface, and at least one elevated portion relative to said primary rear surface and having an upper surface that is substantially parallel to said primary rear surface;

wherein said primary rear surface, said at least one depth portion, and said at least one elevated portion are adapted to be adjacent to said exterior surface of said structure when installed; and

wherein said at least one depth portion and said at least one elevated portion are adapted to facilitate fluid flow between said siding panel and said structure.

21. The siding panel of claim 20 wherein said siding material is vinyl.

22. The siding panel of claim 20 wherein said backer material is polystyrene foam.

23. The siding panel of claim 20 wherein said backer material is laminated to said siding material.

24. The siding panel of claim 20 wherein said fluid is air.

25. The siding panel of claim 20 wherein said fluid is water.