Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02364752 2005-O1-10
STAGGERED LOOK SHAKE SIDING
Field of the Invention
[002] This invention relates to the continuous manufacture of shaped
articles, such as siding panels having the appearance of real wood, such as
cedar shake.
Background of the Invention
[003] Continuous and semi-continuous processes for creating patterns
on extruded plastic sheets have been used in the building components industry
for a number of years. Some prior systems have disclosed rigid linked patterns
for forming shaped impressions in an extruded sheet material. Unfortunately,
such rigid shaped patterns tend to form unsightly horizontal seams in the
material. Other systems have used pattern forms on rotating cylindrical drums.
Although these processes are continuous, and do not produce horizontal seams,
they often require expensive additional equipment and instrumentation to align
the actuate surface of the pattern with the relatively flat surface of the
product,
and to avoid, or correct, unwanted bowing of the product.
[004] Because of the limitations on prior continuous processes, some
manufacturers have opted for injection or blow molding such products one at a
time. While this technique can provide the desired detail in texture and
surface
finish, it is limited to product sizes of about 4-5 feet in length and provide
product
thicknesses which are practically limited to greater than about .080 inches.
This
is generally because of the difficulty associated with flowing hot viscous
1
CA 02364752 2001-12-12
EXPRESS 1VIAIL LABEL NO.: EL554221406US D093z-00230
PATENT
polymer through thin cross-sectional profiles itt steel molds. Additionally,
because of the lmown
size limitations, the randomness of individual features on the surface of a
molded product is
limited. This is because only a relatively small number of pattern elements,
such as shingles, can
be molded into the relatively small surface area. When several of these
products axe aligned side
by side on a wall of a building, for example, it is sometimes obvious to see
the pattern repeated
over and over again.
[0005] One solution to these problems is disclosed in Bosler, U.S. Patent No.
5,314,325
dated lVlay 24, 1994. Bosler's invention provides a continuous vacuum forming
process which
uses a resilient mold belt for providing semi-continuous production of almost
unlimited lengths
of shaped polymeric articles. He further teaches a single cooling step whereby
the entire width of
the product is brought below the heat deflection temperature of the polymeric
material,
[0006] It has now been determined, however, that a single cooling stiep
reduces the
temperature of the edge portions below a comfortable range for subsequent
sizing and forming.
Accordingly, there remains a need for providing for the separate formation of
edge portioxts, such
as butt~dges and nail edges customarily used in the fabrica#ion of siding
panels.
Sa~of the laueafioa
[0007] The present invention provides an extruded siding panel, and method of
making
the same, comprising a sheet of polymeric material. The sheet includes a
molded central, portion
comprising a plurality of adjacent shingle impressions of substantially the
same length. Each of
the shingle impressions includes a bottom edge. At least one of the bottom
edges of the shingle
impressions is beveled to give the appearance of shingle impressions having
different lengths.
[000$] The siding panel embodiments, described herein, provide the appearance
of
shingles having different lengths without the need to form shingle impressions
having different
lengths. This feature promotes the appearance of a miscellaneous selection of
individual shingles
on any wall covered with the siding pattern. The formation of the beveled
edges is also easily
PIiI1784731 _ 1
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E~'RESS MAIL LABEL NO.: ELSS422x406US D0932-00230
PATENT
incorporated into a continuous extrusion process and in a pattern that
provides the
aforementioned appearance of miscellaneous shingle selection. The above and
other features of
' the present invention wi)1 be better understood from the following detailed
description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention that is provided in connection with the
accompanying.
drawings.
Brief e, cxi tion of the r. vri s
[0009] 'tee accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the
invention as
well as other information pertinent to the disclosure, in which;
FIG. 1 (a) is a partial diagramnnatic side plan view of a preferred apparatus
for ttae
continuous vacuum formGing of polymeric material of this invention;
FIG. 1(b) is the remaining portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1(a);
FIG. 2: is a top plan view of the mold belt portion of the apparatus of FIG.
1(a);
FIG. 3: is a side cross-sectional view taken through line 3-3 of FfG. 1 (b),
illusorating a
preferred final sizer device;
FIG. 4: is a partial fmnt perspective view of a siding panel produced by this
invexttion;
FIG, 5: is a partial front perspective view of an additional siding panel of
this invention;
FZG. 6: is a partial front perspective view of a preferred dentil molding of
this invention;
FIG. 7(a) is a paxtial front perspective view of a siding panel having a
shingle impression
with a beveled bottom edge;
FIG. 7(b) is a front perspective view of the siding panel of FIG. 7(a);
FAG. 7(c) is a cross-sectional view of the siding panel of FIG. 7{b) taken
along lines 7C-
7C;
FIG. 7(d) is a cross-sectional view of the siding panel of FIG. 7(b) taken
along lines 7D-
7D; and
FTG. 7(e) is an enlarged view of portion 7E of FiG. 7(c).
PH1\784731.1
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EX)PXtESS MA>(L LA,SEL NO.: Ef,S54221406US b~~~~0
PATENT
lh~ed lpescri lion of t a Inventi
C~~d] This invention provides improved methods and apparatus for forming the
edge
portions of vacuum formed continuous polymeric articles. As used herein, the
terms "heat
deflection temper2~turc" is the temperature at which a polymeric material
deflects 0.010 in. under
a load of 66 or 164 psi, as defined in A.STM test b 648. Also as used herein,
the term "polymeric
material" shall mean polymeric compositions which may include additives, such
as ultra-violet
light stabilizers, frllers, plasticizers, tints, and other additives, such as
glass of wood fiber, etc.
The term "molded" means any number of processes, or combinations thereof, for
forming an
impression in a polymeric material, including compression molding, transfer
molding, injection
molding, blow molding, autoclave molding, contact molding, pressure bag
molding, vacuum bag
molding, deep draw molding, lay-up moldiuig and spray molding, etc.
(ooxx~ The preferred method of this invention is best understood by reference
to the
FIGS. 1(a)-6, which will flow be explained. This method provides an apparatus
for continuous
vacuum forming of a hot plasticized material, including thermoplastic and
thermosetting
compositions, such as polyvinyl chloride ("P'VC"), polyethylene,
polypropylene, polyumthane,
epoxy, polyester, etc., or other similar materials. As shown in PTG 1a, the
Got plasticized
material is first extruded from an extruder 17 and is then disposed upon a
flexible rotating belt
means 18 disposed withiru housing 4.4. The rotating belt means 18 is suspended
between a first
drive roller 14 and a second idle roller 16 in a substantially horizontal
direction. 'The rotating
belt means x 8, shown in planar view in FIG. 2, preferably contains a porous
drive belt 15 to
facilitate flexing thereof and passing of air or vacuum pressure. rt is most
preferably made from
stainless steel mesh or other open forms, such as interlocking metal or
polymer sections, chain
link, screen or hinged segments of corrosion resistant material. The rotating
belt means 18 also
preferably includes a softer, resilient mold belt 12 containing a mold
impression 11, such as a
series of cedar shake shingle impressions 19. This process can provide great
detail in texture az~d
shape, formerly associated with injection or blow molding operations. The
resilient mold belt 12
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~xPRESS MAIL LABEL NO.: EL5542z1406US b0932-00230
PATENT
also includes a plurality of apertures I3, therethrough for passing air, such
as art applied vacuum
pressure.
[00X2] The first and second rollers I4 and 15 are spaced apart from one
another in a
generally horizontal direction such that the rotating belt means 1$ extends
between them, and
forms a substantially flat forming surface. The mold belt 12 is preferably
made of a resilient
flexible material such as rubber, or rubber-like material, such as silicone or
synthetic rubber.
[0013] The mold belt 12 and drive belt I5 can be fractionally engaged so that,
by driviag
the drive belt 15 with drive axle 28 and drive roller 14, the mold belt 12
moves as well. The
mold impression 1 I of mold belt 12 substantially retains its shape as it
spins, or stretches slightly,
so there is no need for multiple sections and seams. The mold impression I 1
preferably is one
continuous longitudinally extending pattern as shown best in FIG. 2.
X0014] A vacuum box 20, or boxes, cooperates with a plurality of apps 13 in
the
mold belt 12 and the open spaces in the drive belt 15 to draw a vacuum against
the bottom
surface of. the extruded sheet 10. The drive belt 15 can optionally include
longitudinal and lateral
I5 sections impregnated with polymenic or resilient rubberlike matczial which
is relatively
impervious to air flow. Such sections provide a plurality of vacuum openings,
such as circles, or
rectangles, etc., through which air can pass through the open weave metallic
material of the
preferred drive belt r 5. Preferably the plurality of apet'tures r 3 defined
in the mold belt 12 are in
open conununicatioz~ with respect to the vacuum sections of the drive belt
portion 15. This
facilitates drawing down of the hot extruded sheet 10 onto the mold impression
11 when vacuum
box 20 is engaged. As the hot plastic is drawn onto the mold impression 11,
ftae detail is pressed
into a central region defined by "A". Preferably the lateral edge portions 26
and 27 one not
vacuum formed. Lateral edge portion 26 defined by dimension "C" and lateral
edge portion 27,
defined by dimension "17", can then be made into a nail edge or butt edge, by
mechanical
deformation, when the plastic is still hot. Alternatively, when thermosetting
compositions are
used, the material to be farmed would be less than fully set, and would not be
hot_
p~lw&s~s r. r
CA 02364752 2001-12-12
EgP'RESS MA1~, LABEL NO.: E~S5422140GUS 0~3~~
EAZ'EN~'
[0015 The described apparatus is ideally suited for PVC siding formulations. A
g~
representative formulation is shown in Table 1 below:
CQMI'D~NT AMOUNT BASED OIV 100 PARTS PVC $Y
WEIGHT
PVC Resin (K-67, i.v. = 0.92)X00.0
Organotin Stabilizer 1.0
Acrylic Process Aid 1.0
Impact ModiOer
Titanium Dioxide I0.0
IO Calcium Carbonate
Calcium Stearate L0-1.5
Parai~n'V~rax Lo-1.5
Oxidized Polyethylene ~ 0-0,g
IS [00x6] To facilitate formation of i~he final shaped product 30 exiting the
apparatus of this
embodiment, a cooling station may be included, such as one that includes water
spt~ay aozxles 22,
a water spray 24; and water collectors 36 and 38. With preferred vinyl
corupositio~ns the hot
extruded sheet x0 is about 290-325°F as it approaches the rotating belt
18. This is almost twice
the heat deflection temperature of 160-170°F typical for such
compositions.
20 [00I7] The extruded sheet 10, made from the preferred PVC composition,
preferably
remains above its heat deflection temperature while it is being plastically
deformed during
vacuum fornning in the preferred mold impression 11. If the temperature of the
polymer dmps
much below the heat deflection temperature for thermoplastic compositions,
vacuum forming
becomes impracticable. This is not a concern with compression or transfer
molding. In the
25 fabrication of vinyl siding products, using vacuum forming, it is preferred
that the central
PtI11784731.1
CA 02364752 2005-10-27
patterned sheet portion represented by dimension "A" be cooled by water
cooling in the cooling station. Waste water is then suctioned from the top
surface of the product through separate vacuum devices or apertures 13 and
is collected in water collectors 36 and 38. Alternatively, air or another
gaseous
medium can be used to selectively cool the extruded sheet.
In the preferred embodiment of this method, a pair of lateral edge
portions 26 and 27, "C" and "D", are not cooled, but remain at a temperature
of about 250°F while the central patterned sheet portion "A" is cooled
to about
140°-150°F. This enables the lateral edge portions 26 and 27 to
be plastically
deformed by mechanical means while still hot. When fabricating siding panels,
one edge portion, for example, dimension "C", should be at least about .75-
1.5 inches for producing a butt edge and a second portion, for example,
dimension "D", should be at least about 2.0-4.0 inches for the hanger edge.
Preferred shapes for such edges are described by butt edges 103 and 105
and nail edges 104 and 106 shown in FIG. 4 and 5.
Alternatively, the pair of lateral edge portions 26 and 27 can be formed
at least partially simultaneously with the vacuum formation of the central
patterned sheet portion "A". As such, the butt and hanger edges can be
formed during, immediately before, or immediately after vacuum forming the
central patterned portion, so that the entire sheet is above the heat
deflection
temperature for at least a portion of the time the surfaces are being formed
together. Then the entire extruded sheet can be cooled substantially
simultaneously. This would save on further down stream operations and
shorten the length of the processing apparatus.
The vacuum box 20 as shown in FIG. 1 a may, alternatively, take the
form of a plurality of individual vacuum devices for forming the hot
plasticized
material in multiple step operations as desired. The vacuum box 20 may also
include individual vacuum chambers to form the hot plasticized material
against the mold belt 12 in successive or separate steps within the same
processing apparatus. Communication of vacuum pressure from the vacuum
box 20 to the apertures 13 in the mold impression 11 is significantly enhanced
by the vacuum sections formed in the drive belt portion 15, as shown in
Bosler, U.S. Pat. 5,314,325.
7
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E~I'RESS MAfI. LABEL NO.: EL554221,406~JS DOg~~~
PATENT
[0021] As shown in FIG. 4-6 the vacuum forming apparatus is preferably
utilized for
forming longer extending individual products such as siding panels 100 and 10I
or lentil
moldings 102. Alternatively, if a single pattern is used continuously around
the outside of the
mold belt 12, extremely long final products can be formed, such as 1U-50 ft in
length, which is
much longer than the distance between the idle rolIe~r 16 and drive roller 14,
and much larger
than presently known injection molded products, which have significant length
limitations, due
to the resistance of hot polymer flow in thin mold sections and mold and labor
costs.
[0022] The vacuum fording apparatus is capable of such improved operation itl
View of
the flexible resilience of the rotating belt 18 as well as the horizontally
extending profile of the
mold impression 11 during draw down of the hot plasticized material by vacuum
box 26.
[0023] Most prior art devices utilize cylindrical molds against which the hot
plasticized
material is drawn. The cylindrical aspect of such forms provide significant
difficulty is the
removal of the anal product. For example, it has been found that the arcuate
configuration of
drum-like molds renders the pattern less than desirable for siding
applications, due to distortion
I5 and registration problems. Additionally, the final product must be removed
from the cylindrical
mold prior to cooling thereof, or it will result in unwanted curvature.
Additional steps are
generally required, which adds machinery and labor costs, resulting in a
product which can be
excessively expensive. The present method provides a means for eliminating
these additional
steps by allowing cooling of the product when in contact with the fittaI mold
izl x substantially
horizontal plane.
[0024] The present method is particularly useful for forming vinyl siding or
other long
continuous products and it is also specifically useful for embossing the
surfarce tbereof as desired
for simulating texture, far example. 1'he rubberized surface of the mold belt
I2 meatls is
particularly useful for facilitating removal of cooled product from the mold
and also for
maintaining vacuum sealed contact between the vacuum box 26 and the mold belt
12 during
processing.
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EXPIItESS IVfAIL Z,Ag~L NO.: EL55422~406US
PATENT
[4025) The apertures 13 defined within the mold belt 12 preferably have small
holes of
approximately .030-040 in. ~ Such holes are desirably located in a pattern
some~~ close to one
another to facilitate drawing of the preferred hot plasticized vinyl
composition downwardly in
fin secuzement with respect to the mold imp~essioa 11. The mold impression 11
has been
found to be useful for forming texture, protrusions or depressions as desired
in the final product.
[OOZE] Additional processing stations can be included after initial formation
of the
product which can include foam lining slang the top surface of the extruded
sheet 10, such as by
spraying a foamed polyurethane emulsion onto the back of a PVC cedar shake
siding panel, for
example. Subsequent vacuum and mechanical forming operations can also be
accomplished for
fabricating the final edges of the product, or to add texture ox additional
features. It is preferred
that such steps are taken while the polymer section to be formed is still hot,
and more preferably,
when it is above its heat deflection temperature.
[0027] Prefezxed supplemental farming steps will now be described. With
~efesence to
F,1G. 1 (a), 1 (b) and 3, this invention provides shaping, forming and cutting
steps fox making
IS individual shaped polymeric articles, such as siding paneis 100 and 101,
and dentil molding 1.02,
shown in FrGS. 3-5.
[0025] As the preferred extruded sheet 10 leaves the mold belt 12 beyond idle
roller 16, it
preferably has a relatively cool central pattern sheet portion having a
temperature of about 140°F,
and a relatively hot pair of lateral edge portions 26 and 27, having a
temperature of about 250° F
for the preferred PYC compositions. This moving extruded sheet 10 then
preferably contacts a
first pre-sizer 30 having the thiclrness of about 1 inch and exhibiting a
panel shape. The pre_s~er
is located along bath lateral edges 2G and 27 of the extruded sheet 10 and is
designed to begin
shaping the butt edges 103 and 105 and hanger edges 104 and 106, far
exarttple, by curling these
edges. A second pre-sizer 32 having a thickness of about 4 inches, and also
exhibiting a panel
25 shape, further f4rms these edges while the lateral edge portions 26 and 27
are desirably still
above their heat deflection temperature.
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EGRESS MAIL LABEL NO.: EL554221406US D0932-00230
FATENT
[0029] With reference to FIG. I (b) in particular, the extruded sheet 10 is
then subjected to
a final sizer 40 for substantially finishing the mechanical deformation of the
lateral edges 26 and
27. A cross-section of the final sizer is shown in HIG. 3. 'This device
includes a series of
adjustable bloelcs and plates. ~'he final sizer 40 of the preferred embodiment
includes a pair of
lateral forming block mechanisms 48 and 52 which can be lever operated for a
variety of
products and sizes. The final sizer 40 also includes top and bottom forming
plates 54 and 56 to
maintain the planax nature of the product while the edges are being formed.
[0034] It is desirable that the butt edges 103 and 105 and nail edges 104 and
Ip5 of this
embodiment be subjected to cooling after~formation. This can be accomplished
as shown in FrG.
I O 1 (b), by permitting c4oling water 42 to migrate, or be driven or pumped
into the Trnal sizer 40. In
the preferred embodiment, the cooling water 42 from the final quench tank 46
is allowed to leak
back into the final sizer 40 in order to accomplish this goal, The cooling
water 42 quickly
quenches the produce below its heat deflection temperature, so that the newly
formed edge
portions are quenched to hold their shape. Excess cooling water 42 can be
drained by vacuum
pump 34 and either removed from the system or recycled back into the quench
tank 46,
[003x] Following the final sizer operation, the now fully formed extruded
sheet x0 is
immersed in a quench tank 46 to reduce its tennperature to about that of
ambient air, or
approximately 70-75°F. The continuous sheet is then removed from the
quench tank 46 and a
preferred punch press 60 is used to mechanically form a plurality of fastener
apertures 64 and 68,
shown in the siding panels 100 and 101.
[0032] Following the production of fastener aperrutes 64 and 68, the product
can be
pulled with the pulley machine (not shown) to a cut-off station which severs
the now cooled,
formed extruded sheet into individual lengths of shaped polymeric articles.
[0033] It is understood that the above process can be modified in numerous
respects
without detracting from the invention's benefits. Numerous other molding steps
are equally
effective in generating the stepped or staggered look of the shakes of this
invention. For
example, transfer molding of sheet material, injcctzon molding and compression
molding using
pH 1178473 [.1 10
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EXPRESS MAIL )(,ABEL NO.: EL554221~t06US DQ93~~0
PA~~'ENT
the same molded designs are commercially acceptable. Adjustments can also be
Made in the
quench tank 4f to lift, raise, or otherwise get rid of bends and bows in the
product before it
reaches ambient temperature. The location, size and number of the water
nozzles 27 can vary
fxom about 2 or 3 to over 6 in the central portion of the sheet for cooling
various types of formed
impressions. Alternatively, the entire cross-sectiozt of the shaped polymeric
article I00 including
edge portions 26 and 27, can be molded or mechanically formed while khe
extruded sheet IO is
above its heat deflection temperature on the flexible rotating belt 1$. This
could shorten the
overall length of the device considerably, by eliminating the floor space
otherwise necessary for
one or more lateral edge sizing operations.
[0434] An additional advantage of positioning of a drive belt portion 15
between rollers
14 and 16 and the mold belt portion 18 is to facilitate tracking between the
two belts and the two
rollers. Ofith the use of the preferred woven stainless steel drive belt 15
arid a silicone-based
rubber mold belt 1$, there will be some small amount of sliding movement
between the belts.
This slight rnovemettt has been found to be particularly helpful in
maintaining tracking between
IS the belts arid the rollers.
[0035] There are many aspects of the apparatus of the present inveattion fat
tend to
unpack the belts. Some of these include the high temperature of the polyr~ner
and the difference
in distance between the axis of the rollers 14 and 16. Tracking is also made
more diffrcuit due to
the different elasticity and coefficients of thermal expansion of the
preferred silicone and steel
belts. To alleviate untracking, the amount of friction between the metal weave
belt and the
resilient silicon nabber belt should be high enough to assure poweriag
thetebetweea but low
enough to allow for some sliding movement to compensate for some of the
tracking
irregularities.
[003G] From the foregoing, it can be realized that the side provides apparatus
and
methods for continuous vacuum forming shaped polymeric articles almost without
any length
limitations. The products can be made extremely thin, well below ttte
thickness limitations of
molded products, and preferabl~r about .030-.125 inches in thickness, at a
substantial savings
pt~las4~3i. ~ 11
CA 02364752 2001-12-12
lx~>;~ss lv~u,1~A>g~z, rro.: ~>r~sa2zxao6us ~o~~z,-oo230
PA1'.EN~'
. from injection molding operations. The present invention also provides a
randomness of visual
aesthetics, such as a randomness of individual shingles of a cedar shake
siding pattern, w]uch is
at least 10-50% greater than care be accomplished with 4-5 foot lengths of a
similarly configured
molded product using the same size shingles.
[003'7] FIGS. 7(a)-7(e) illustrate another exemplary siding panel according to
the pit
invention having a center portion with a plurality of individual shingle
impressions 201 of a
cedar shake siding pattern formed thereon. While extrusion and belt vacuum
forming ~
preferred, these panels can be fortxted by any number of ways, including
injection moldiag,
transfer molding, and compression molding, to name a few. Adjacent shingle
impressions 201a,
20Ib, and 20Ic have substantially the same lengths, designated generally as
dimensions "1r" in
FiG. 7(b). .
LOOS) Frach of the shingle impressions 201x, 201b, and 20Ic include a bottom
edge 202a,
203b, and 202c, respectively. Bottora edge 202b is beveled relative to the
substantially flat
bottom edges 202x, 202c of shingle impressions 201x, 201c. The beveled edges
may be formed
into the mold impression 11 of a cedar shake siding pattern for transfer to
the surface of extruded
sheet 10. The beveled bottom edge 202b gives the appearance that shingle
impt~ession 201b has a
different length than shingle impressions 202a, 202c, even though the shingle
impressions 201
have substantially the same lengths. These beveled edges provide a more
aesthetically pleasing
and realistic appearance through shadow effects when illuminated and compared
with the ether
jagged appearance provided by a siding pattern utilizing shingle impressions
that actually have
different lengths.
(4039] FIG. 7{c) and FIG. 7(d) illustrate that the exemplary siding panel 200
of the
present invention has a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness_ An
extremely realistic
shingle impression, and preferably a cedar shake siding pattern, may be vacuum
formed by the
process described above to provide siding having a uniform thickness but still
having an
embossed non-planar facade.
PH11784731.1 I2
CA 02364752 2001-12-12
DRESS MAIL LABEL NO.: »L554221406US
PAT'RNT
[0040] It should be understood that FIG, 7(a) is only illustrative of a
shingle impression
having a beveled bottom edge, and the pi,esent invention is not limited to the
siding pattern of
shingle impressions shown in FIG. 7{a). Rather, siding panels of significant
lengths (e.g., 10' or
greater) may be formed using the process described above. Many possible
shingle impression
patterns, therefore, are possible. Alternating shingle impressions may have
beveled bottom
edges. Other periodic patterns may also be used, such as every third or
fourth, etc. . . shingle
impression having a beveled bottom edge. Alternatively, ton-periodic attd
seemingly random
pattern may be chosen. For example, a siding panel having ten adjacent shingle
impressions may
include successive bottom edges as follows: beveled, beveled, not beveled, not
beveled, not
beveled, beveled, not beveled, beveled, beveled, not beveled. The appearance
of a random
selection of individual shingles becomes particularly prominent when
relatively long pieces of
siding according to the present invention are used together to cover a
structure.
[0041] Fuzther, each beveled bottom edge need not be identical. Rather, the
length
(designated as "F'~, angle, or combination thereof, of the beveled bottom;
edges may vary. This
variation in beveled edges may also accompany a variation in shingle width. $y
doing so, the
appearance is given that cedar shake shingles of miscellaneous lengths were
selected and
asse~nnbled during siding application, particularly when a structure is viewed
as whole.
[0042] Although various embodiments have been illustrated, this is for the
purpose of
describing, and not limiting the invention. 'Various modifications will become
apparent to one
skilled in the art and are within the scope of this invention described in the
attached claims,
PFi11784731.I 13
