Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02510012 2005-06-15
SIDING PANEL ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is related to siding panel assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] "Stack-on" siding panel assemblies, in which a lower panel
supports an upper panel, are known. The siding panel assemblies are for
covering an exterior of a structure. Typically, each siding panel includes a
vinyl
housing or shell, with an insulation element positioned inside the housing.
Typically, the housing includes connection elements at its top and bottom ends
which are configured to mate with corresponding elements in the adjacent
panels
positioned above and below the panel respectively.
[0003] In the prior art, the lower panel is first attached to the structure.
The upper panel is mounted, or stacked, on the lower panel as the upper panel
is
secured on the structure adjacent to, and partially supported by, the lower
panel.
In known stack-on siding panel assemblies, expansion of the housing due to
increases in the ambient temperature often causes the vinyl housing of a panel
to
buckle.
[0004] There is therefore a need for an improved siding panel assembly
which overcomes or mitigates at least one of the defects of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In its broad aspect, the invention provides an assembly including
two or more siding panels. The assembly includes a lower panel and an upper
panel adapted for positioning on the lower panel. The lower panel has a first
arch which partially defines an upper end of the lower panel. Also, the upper
panel has a corresponding second arch which partially defines a lower end of
the
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upper panel. The second arch also defines a bight in which the first arch is
receivable. In addition, the lower panel includes an upwardly opening first
trough
positioned adjacent to the first arch, and the upper panel includes an
upwardly
opening second trough adjacent to the second arch and including two
substantially vertical portions joined by a curved part. The second trough is
receivable in the first trough so that the second trough rests upon the first
trough,
and the second arch is supported by the second trough to maintain the second
arch in a spaced apart relationship relative to the first arch to permit
expansion of
the panels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The invention will be better understood with reference to the
attached drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of a siding panel showing a housing and an
insulation element thereof;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the housing of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a side view of connection elements at a lower end of an
upper panel engaged with connection elements at an upper end of a lower panel,
drawn at a larger scale; and
Fig. 4 is a side view of connection elements of the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS)
[0007] Reference is first made to Figs. 1-3 to describe a preferred
embodiment of a siding panel assembly indicated generally by the numeral 20
(Fig. 3) in accordance with the invention. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the
assembly
20 includes two or more siding panels 22 (Fig. 1 ). The panels 22 are arranged
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so that a lower panel (identified as 24, in Fig. 3) is positioned adjacent and
below
an upper panel (identified as element 26 in Fig. 3), as will be described. In
the
preferred embodiment, the panel 22 includes a housing 28 with an insulation
element 30 positioned in the housing 28 (Figs. 1, 2). Preferably, the upper
panel
26 is adapted for positioning on the lower panel 24. Each panel 22 includes
connection elements 32 at an upper end 34 and at a lower end 36 of the panel
22. The connection elements 32 are preferably integrally formed in the housing
28, as will be described. In particular, the lower panel 24 preferably
includes a
first arch 38 which defines, at least partially, the upper end 34 of the lower
panel
36. Similarly, the upper panel 26 preferably includes a second arch 40 which
defines, at least partially, the lower end 36 of the upper panel 26. The
second
arch 40 also defines a bight 42 in which the first arch 38 is receivable. As
can be
seen in Fig. 3, the lower panel 24 also includes an upwardly opening first
trough
44 positioned adjacent to the first arch 38. Similarly, the upper panel 26
includes
an upwardly opening second trough 46 adjacent to the second arch 40. The
second trough 46 includes two substantially vertical portions 48, 50 joined by
a
curved part 52. In the preferred embodiment, the second trough 46 is
receivable
in the first trough 44 and rests upon the first trough 44 (Fig. 3). The second
arch
40 is supported by the second trough 46 to maintain the second arch 40 in a
spaced-apart relationship relative to the first arch 38, as will be described.
Because the first arch 38 and the second arch 40 are spaced apart by a gap 54
(Fig. 3), expansion of the panels 24, 26 is permitted by the gap 54.
[0008] Preferably, the housing 28 is formed of extruded polyvinylchloride,
as is known in the art. The insulation element 30 preferably is styrofoam
insulation, as is also known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the
insulation element is glued to the housing 28.
[0009] A siding assembly 120 of the prior art is shown in Fig. 4 for
comparison purposes. As can be seen in Fig. 4, an upper panel 126 includes, at
its lower end 136, a second arch 140 and a second trough 146. Similarly, the
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prior art assembly 120 includes a first arch 138 and a first trough 144. As
can be
seen in Fig. 4, when the upper panel 126 is positioned on the lower panel 124,
very little space is provided between the arches 138, 140 and between the
troughs 144, 146. The arches and the troughs are essentially mated so that
they
contact each other substantially along their respective lengths. Because of
this,
the housings of the prior art panels tend to buckle when they expand, for
instance, due to increases in ambient temperature.
[0010] In contrast, as can be seen in Fig. 3, when the upper panel 26 is
positioned on the lower panel 24, the trough 46 rests directly on the trough
44,
but a gap 54 is provided between the first arch 38 and the second arch 40.
Because of this gap 54, expansion of the panels 24, 26 is permitted.
[0011] As can be seen in Fig. 3, a connecting element 55 which connects
the vertical portion 48 and the second arch 40 is relatively long. This
extended
element 55 positions the second arch 40, to provide the gap 54.
[0012] In use, the lower panel 24 is secured to the structure by inserting
fasteners at a mounting portion at a top end 56 of a mounting portion 58 (Fig.
3).
After the lower panel 24 has been secured to the structure (not shown), the
upper panel 26 is positioned on the lower panel 24 as shown in Fig. 3. The
mounting portion is of the upper panel 26 (not shown) is then secured to the
structure using fasteners, as in known in the art.
[0013] It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention can
take many forms, and that such forms are within the scope of the invention as
claimed. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be
limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
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