System, method and apparatus for corner siding

• US 9,765,513 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CertainTeed Corp. (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: CertainTeed Corp. (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Stucky, David J., Steffes, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARLOW, ADAM G
• Application Number:
  US14/967,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20160168860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 52275, 522871, 522881, 52712
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/6803 Joint covers E04B1/6815 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0733 for corners
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/024 for outside use, e.g. imitating brickwork

Abstract

A corner siding product may include a plurality of panels. Each panel may include a front face with a simulated pattern, a hollow back, a longitudinal length extending in an x-direction, a lateral width extending in a y-direction, and a depth extending in a z-direction. In addition, the corner siding product may include a living hinge extending in the y-direction between the panels along side edges thereof. The corner siding product can have an uninstalled configuration wherein it is substantially planar. Embodiments of the corner siding product also can have an installed configuration wherein the living hinge permits the panels to be non-planar relative to each other, such that they are complementary in shape to a corner of a building.

Claims

1. A corner siding product, comprising:

a plurality of panels, each comprising a front face with a simulated pattern, a length extending in a longitudinal or x-direction, a width extending in a lateral or y-direction, a depth extending in a transverse or z-direction, and a living hinge contiguous with and generally extending in the lateral direction between the panels along side edges thereof;

the corner siding product has an uninstalled configuration wherein it is substantially planar, and an installed configuration wherein the living hinge permits the panels to be non-planar relative to each other, such that they are complementary in shape to a corner of a building;

wherein the living hinge has a thickness that is less than a panel wall thickness in the z-direction; and

further wherein the living hinge comprising a hinge body and hinge sides on opposite sides of the hinge body, the hinge body has the hinge body thickness, and the hinge body thickness is greater than a hinge side thickness in the z-direction.

2. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein the living hinge thickness is in a range of about 0.010 inches to about 0.040 inches, and the panel wall thickness is in a range of about 0.070 inches to about 1.010 inches.

3. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein the hinge body has a hinge body width that is greater than a hinge side width in the y-direction.

4. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein the hinge side thickness is in a range of about 0.010 inches to about 0.030 inches, and the corner siding product hinges along at least one of the hinge sides when in the installed configuration.

5. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein the living hinge has a length that is less than the panel length in the x-direction.

6. The corner siding product of claim 5, wherein a first slot is located between the panels adjacent the living hinge, and the first slot has a length that is less than the living hinge length in the x-direction.

7. The corner siding product of claim 6, wherein a second slot is located between the panels opposite the first slot, such that the living hinge is located between the first and second slots, and the first slot length is greater than a second slot length in the x-direction.

8. The corner siding product of claim 7, wherein each of the living hinge, first slot and second slot have a width, respectively, extending in the y-direction, that increases along the panel length in the x-direction.

9. The corner siding product of claim 7, further comprising a transverse slot adjacent the living hinge, the transverse slot intersects at least one of the first and second slots, and the transverse slot is substantially perpendicular to said at least one of first and second slots.

10. The corner siding product of claim 9, wherein the panels comprise a pair of transverse slots that respectively intersect the first and second slots adjacent the living hinge.

11. The corner siding product of claim 10, wherein the transverse slot that intersects the first slot is wider in the y-direction than the transverse slot that intersects the second slot.

12. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein each panel is tapered in at least two directions.

13. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels is only two panels.

14. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein the corner siding product consists of only one living hinge, a slot is formed in the corner siding product on each longitudinal end of the living hinge, and each slot is tapered.

15. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein the installed configuration comprises an outside corner defined as two panels forming a convex configuration for the front faces thereof.

16. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein the installed configuration comprises an inside corner defined as two panels forming a concave configuration for the front faces thereof.

17. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein, in the installed configuration, an angle is formed between the front faces of the panels, and the angle is at least about 45 degrees and not greater than about 270 degrees.

18. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein, in the installed configuration, the panels are not orthogonal to each other.

19. The corner siding product of claim 1, further comprising at least one clip or fastener to bind the panels together at the corner.

20. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein, in the installed configuration, the panels are substantially perpendicular.

21. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein each of the panels comprises a trapezoidal shape, a right trapezoidal shape or a rectangular shape.

22. The corner siding product of claim 1, wherein the panels are staggered relative to each other, such that they do not align in the x-direction.

23. A corner siding product, comprising:

a plurality of panels, each comprising a front face with a simulated pattern, a length extending in a longitudinal or x-direction, a width extending in a lateral or y-direction, a depth extending in a transverse or z-direction;

means for joining the panels together;

the corner siding product has an uninstalled configuration wherein the panels are substantially planar relative to each other, and an installed configuration wherein the means for joining the panels configures the panels non-planar relative to each other, such that they are complementary in shape to a corner of a building;

wherein the means for joining the panels has a thickness that is less than a panel wall thickness in the z-direction; and

further wherein the means for joining the panels comprising a hinge body and hinge sides on opposite sides of the hinge body, the hinge body has the hinge body thickness, and the hinge body thickness is greater than a hinge side thickness in the z-direction.

24. The corner siding product of claim 23, wherein the means for joining the panels together comprises at least one of a clip, fastener, snap features, adhesive or interlock system.

25. The corner siding product of claim 23, wherein the installed configuration is formed during manufacturing of the corner siding product.

26. The corner siding product of claim 23, wherein the installed configuration is formed after manufacturing of the corner siding product, and at a siding installation job site.

27. The corner siding product of claim 23, wherein the panels are staggered relative to each other, such that they do not align in the x-direction.