SIDING WITH LOOSE PLASTIC FILM FACING
United States Patent 3866378
An architectural siding for buildings is composed of a rigid backerboard having at least the side which will be exposed to the weather covered with an adhered film of thin, flexible plastic material, secured to the backerboard only at unexposed edges or areas; this allows the backerboard and face sheet to expand and contract independently of each other which eliminates or minimizes the tendency of present siding to heat distortion (known as "canning") and to denting, since an object hitting the siding may dent the backerboard, but the flexible facing will in all ordinary cases recover and again present a smooth appearance. Since an inexpensive backerboard and film can be used, the cost of the siding can also be kept to a minimum.
US Patent References:
Siding for buildings
Elmendorf - March 1942 - 2276170
Covering strip for roofs and sidings
Robinson - October 1948 - 2450562
Roofing and siding
Anthony - September 1951 - 2568603
Window assembly
Donaldson - December 1957 - 2817399
Building construction
Adelt - April 1964 - 3127926
Siding for buildings
Elmendorf - March 1942 - 2276170
Covering strip for roofs and sidings
Robinson - October 1948 - 2450562
Roofing and siding
Anthony - September 1951 - 2568603
Window assembly
Donaldson - December 1957 - 2817399
Building construction
Adelt - April 1964 - 3127926
Application Number:
05/389145
Publication Date:
02/18/1975
Filing Date:
08/17/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
52/309.150, 52/556, 52/536
International Classes:
E04F13/18; E04D1/20; E04D1/10
Field of Search:
52/309,520,521,538,546,544,556,222 160/371
US Patent References:
| 3186129 | Ceilings or walls | June 1965 | Blood | |
| 3284967 | Laminated cover elements and flashing and sealing means therefor | November 1966 | Elliott | |
| 3408786 | Siding clip fastener means | November 1968 | Snyker | |
| 3460299 | LUMINOUS SOUND ABSORBING CEILING | August 1969 | Wilson | |
| 3695395 | METAL-CLAD ACOUSTICAL CEILING TILE AND ITS MANUFACTURE | November 1972 | Ollinger |
Primary Examiner:
Purser, Ernest R.
Assistant Examiner:
Raduazo, Henry
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Libman, Max L.
Parent Case Data:
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 187,960, filed Oct. 12, 1971 by Gerald Kessler, for Siding With Loose Plastic Film Facing and now abandoned.
Claims:
1. a. Architectural siding board for the exterior wall surface of a building comprising
2. a. Architectural siding board for the exterior wall surface of a building comprising
3. The invention according to claim 2,
4. The invention according to claim 3,
5. The invention according to claim 1,
6. a. Architectural siding board for the exterior wall surface of a building comprising
7. a. Architectural siding board for the exterior wall surface of a building comprising
2. a. Architectural siding board for the exterior wall surface of a building comprising
3. The invention according to claim 2,
4. The invention according to claim 3,
5. The invention according to claim 1,
6. a. Architectural siding board for the exterior wall surface of a building comprising
7. a. Architectural siding board for the exterior wall surface of a building comprising
Description:
Architectural siding, commonly known as clapboard, is widely used for building exteriors, being laid in courses with the lower edge of each course overlapping the upper edge of the next lower course so as to shed rain. Such siding is usually made of wooden strips which are applied horizontally to the exterior walls of the structure by nailing. However, wood has various disadvantages, among which is the need for periodic painting, and lately the use of other materials for siding has been increasing, such materials including cement-asbestos siding, which is fragile, a plywood backerboard covered with a tightly adhered film of plastic, etc.; other types are rigid plastic siding and aluminum siding which is either painted with vinyl or acrylic paint or has a film of plastic material known as "Tedlar" laminated adheredly to the aluminum. In some cases, the "Tedlar" is laminated to the rigid backerboard of wood or other suitable material.
All of the above types of siding have fairly serious drawbacks; some are very expensive and beyond the reach of moderate-cost housing; all of them are subject to denting when struck by a hard object such as a stone or even a ladder which is carelessly handled. In the case of old-fashioned wooden siding, such dents could usually be repaired which a little putty when repainting, but the new sidings are not intended to be repainted and so the dent is irreparable. Most new sidings and particularly metal siding, is subject to "canning," i.e., surface distortions from temperature differences on different parts of the siding which cause unsightly bulges and depressions at the visible surface of the siding.
The present invention solves this problem by providing a siding strip in the form of a backerboard which may be of any sufficiently rigid material such as plywood, rigid or foamed plastic, metal, etc., and a surface facing of flexible plastic sheeting which is not adhered to the backerboard at any point of the surface which is exposed when the siding is installed, but is attached to the backerboard only at unexposed locations of the siding. Since the flexible face sheet is not adhered to the backerboard, it and the backerboard can expand and contract independent of one another so that there is little or no "canning" effect which can be seen on the exterior surface of the siding. Furthermore, an object striking the siding may dent the backerboard, but the flexible face sheet will quickly recover due to its inherent elasticity and present its usual appearance, so that the dent will not be visible.
The method of attaching the flexible sheet to the backerboard may be varied, as will be shown below, and the invention may be applied to a wide variety of backerboards of different types.
The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing several courses of the new siding attached to a wall;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a different form of the invention; and
FIGS. 3-6 are similar sectional views respectively showing different forms of the invention.
FIG. 1 shows the principle of the invention in a simple form as applied to a wooden clapboard 2 of conventional type which is rabbetted as shown at 3 and 4 to produce an interlocking joint between adjacent courses of siding, leaving a hidden nailing surface 6 so that the siding may be secured to the building wall by nails 8. Each siding strip or course has a facing of flexible plastic sheeting 9 which is fastened to the strip only at its edges 11 and 12 by means of a suitable adhesive, indicated at 11a and 12a. This is a factory operation, so that the siding when installed is complete and requires no special skill or attention. It will be seen that if the backerboard has been dented, as indicated at 13, it will not show because the plastic sheet 9 has recovered its normal appearance, as it is not adhered to the backerboard at the exposed region of the siding, since it is not a rigid sheet, i.e., one which retains any configuration into which it has been bent.
FIG. 2 shows a plain shiplap type of siding which does not require the backerboard to be especially rabbetted or cut except for two slits or kerfs as shown at 16 and 17, each of which is adapted to retain one side 18 of the horizontal lock strip 19 of rigid material, preferably rigid plastic, although it couls also be metal; the other side 21 of the rigid lock strip 19 extends out to engage the outer side of the opposite strip of the next course, while the nails 22 lock the entire assembly firmly to the building. The flexible plastic sheet 23 is held at its horizontal edges in kerfs 16 and 17. Where the rigid lock strip is made of plastic, it is preferably made in one piece with the plastic sheet by conventional dual-extrusion techniques, so that the flexible sheet and the two lock strips are formed as one integral unit which is in a later step assembled with the pre-cut backerbaord to form the finished article; prior to the actual assembly, the slit or kerf 24 is preferably treated with a suitable adhesive 26 so that there is no danger of the lock strip coming out of the kerf in actual use. In the event that the backerboard 25 is dented, as shown at 27, the plastic film recovers as shown at 28, and the dent under it is not visible.
The backerboard may be made of ordinary wood boards, of synthetic board such as plywood, chipboard, hardboard (e.g., Masonite), etc., or plastic, preferably foamed plastic, or of metal such as aluminum. If desired, the plastic sheet may be in the form of a continuous sleeve as shown at 26, made loose enough to fit over the backerboard, and held tightly in place when the locking strips are inserted into their respective kerfs.
FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 5a and 6 show other forms of lock strips.
In FIG. 3, the strips 31 and 32 are bent so that the successive courses can be closer together and also to resist pulling out of the locker strip; otherwise the construction is like that of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows a backerboard with a re-entrant kerf at 42 which positively prevents the lock strips from being pulled out. In this form, the lock strip must be assembled by sliding it in from the end, or in the case of plastic backerboard, by forming the backerboard around the lock strips. Alteratively (or additionally), the kerf may be a simple slot with a barb on the end of the lock strip as shown at 43 - this construction is especially useful with foamed plastic backerboard.
In FIG. 5, a more elaborate type of locking strip is used, and the lower strip 51 is held by a slot or kerf 52 in the bottom edge of the backerboard, which is feasible only when thick backerboard is used.
FIG. 5a shows a variation of the theme of FIG. 5, in which the top lockerstrip 53, of extruded metal or plastic, is clipped over the top of the backerboard 54 after the flexible plastic sheet 55 is wrapped around the top. The hook portion 56 is also shown different to illustrate another possible variation.
FIG. 6 shows the invention applied to a metal backerboard 60, 60', which is formed by rolling or other pressure techniques, with the unadhered plastic sheet 62, 62' held at its edges in fold 63, 64 of the metal, which is pinched down on the sheet at these points as the last step in the formation of the unit, by known techniques.
Where the backerboard contains materials that could migrate or "bleed" to the surface, as in the case of resinous wood or chemicals such as asphalt impregnated into the backerboard as a preservative, it may be desirable to coat the backerboard with an impervious paint-like coating such as was or polyethelene to prevent such materials from reacting with the face sheet.
It will be understood that any thin plastic sheeting may be used for this invention which has the necessary characteristics, such as flexibility, water-proofness, and above all, sufficient flexibility and elasticity when stretched smoothly over a surface such as a backerboard, to recover from any denting as described above and resume its smooth appearance. Such plastic materials are widely available commercially and may in fact be purchased at practically any hardware store. Known examples of such materials are flexible sheets of vinyl, polypropyline, polyetheline, Tedlar, etc. This material is limp, slightly elastic, so that it can be stretched flat, and comes in various thicknesses, the preferred range for the present use being from 0.001 to 0.004 inch in thickness. It is available in a wide range of colors and finishes, e.g., simulated wood.
All of the above types of siding have fairly serious drawbacks; some are very expensive and beyond the reach of moderate-cost housing; all of them are subject to denting when struck by a hard object such as a stone or even a ladder which is carelessly handled. In the case of old-fashioned wooden siding, such dents could usually be repaired which a little putty when repainting, but the new sidings are not intended to be repainted and so the dent is irreparable. Most new sidings and particularly metal siding, is subject to "canning," i.e., surface distortions from temperature differences on different parts of the siding which cause unsightly bulges and depressions at the visible surface of the siding.
The present invention solves this problem by providing a siding strip in the form of a backerboard which may be of any sufficiently rigid material such as plywood, rigid or foamed plastic, metal, etc., and a surface facing of flexible plastic sheeting which is not adhered to the backerboard at any point of the surface which is exposed when the siding is installed, but is attached to the backerboard only at unexposed locations of the siding. Since the flexible face sheet is not adhered to the backerboard, it and the backerboard can expand and contract independent of one another so that there is little or no "canning" effect which can be seen on the exterior surface of the siding. Furthermore, an object striking the siding may dent the backerboard, but the flexible face sheet will quickly recover due to its inherent elasticity and present its usual appearance, so that the dent will not be visible.
The method of attaching the flexible sheet to the backerboard may be varied, as will be shown below, and the invention may be applied to a wide variety of backerboards of different types.
The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing several courses of the new siding attached to a wall;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a different form of the invention; and
FIGS. 3-6 are similar sectional views respectively showing different forms of the invention.
FIG. 1 shows the principle of the invention in a simple form as applied to a wooden clapboard 2 of conventional type which is rabbetted as shown at 3 and 4 to produce an interlocking joint between adjacent courses of siding, leaving a hidden nailing surface 6 so that the siding may be secured to the building wall by nails 8. Each siding strip or course has a facing of flexible plastic sheeting 9 which is fastened to the strip only at its edges 11 and 12 by means of a suitable adhesive, indicated at 11a and 12a. This is a factory operation, so that the siding when installed is complete and requires no special skill or attention. It will be seen that if the backerboard has been dented, as indicated at 13, it will not show because the plastic sheet 9 has recovered its normal appearance, as it is not adhered to the backerboard at the exposed region of the siding, since it is not a rigid sheet, i.e., one which retains any configuration into which it has been bent.
FIG. 2 shows a plain shiplap type of siding which does not require the backerboard to be especially rabbetted or cut except for two slits or kerfs as shown at 16 and 17, each of which is adapted to retain one side 18 of the horizontal lock strip 19 of rigid material, preferably rigid plastic, although it couls also be metal; the other side 21 of the rigid lock strip 19 extends out to engage the outer side of the opposite strip of the next course, while the nails 22 lock the entire assembly firmly to the building. The flexible plastic sheet 23 is held at its horizontal edges in kerfs 16 and 17. Where the rigid lock strip is made of plastic, it is preferably made in one piece with the plastic sheet by conventional dual-extrusion techniques, so that the flexible sheet and the two lock strips are formed as one integral unit which is in a later step assembled with the pre-cut backerbaord to form the finished article; prior to the actual assembly, the slit or kerf 24 is preferably treated with a suitable adhesive 26 so that there is no danger of the lock strip coming out of the kerf in actual use. In the event that the backerboard 25 is dented, as shown at 27, the plastic film recovers as shown at 28, and the dent under it is not visible.
The backerboard may be made of ordinary wood boards, of synthetic board such as plywood, chipboard, hardboard (e.g., Masonite), etc., or plastic, preferably foamed plastic, or of metal such as aluminum. If desired, the plastic sheet may be in the form of a continuous sleeve as shown at 26, made loose enough to fit over the backerboard, and held tightly in place when the locking strips are inserted into their respective kerfs.
FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 5a and 6 show other forms of lock strips.
In FIG. 3, the strips 31 and 32 are bent so that the successive courses can be closer together and also to resist pulling out of the locker strip; otherwise the construction is like that of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows a backerboard with a re-entrant kerf at 42 which positively prevents the lock strips from being pulled out. In this form, the lock strip must be assembled by sliding it in from the end, or in the case of plastic backerboard, by forming the backerboard around the lock strips. Alteratively (or additionally), the kerf may be a simple slot with a barb on the end of the lock strip as shown at 43 - this construction is especially useful with foamed plastic backerboard.
In FIG. 5, a more elaborate type of locking strip is used, and the lower strip 51 is held by a slot or kerf 52 in the bottom edge of the backerboard, which is feasible only when thick backerboard is used.
FIG. 5a shows a variation of the theme of FIG. 5, in which the top lockerstrip 53, of extruded metal or plastic, is clipped over the top of the backerboard 54 after the flexible plastic sheet 55 is wrapped around the top. The hook portion 56 is also shown different to illustrate another possible variation.
FIG. 6 shows the invention applied to a metal backerboard 60, 60', which is formed by rolling or other pressure techniques, with the unadhered plastic sheet 62, 62' held at its edges in fold 63, 64 of the metal, which is pinched down on the sheet at these points as the last step in the formation of the unit, by known techniques.
Where the backerboard contains materials that could migrate or "bleed" to the surface, as in the case of resinous wood or chemicals such as asphalt impregnated into the backerboard as a preservative, it may be desirable to coat the backerboard with an impervious paint-like coating such as was or polyethelene to prevent such materials from reacting with the face sheet.
It will be understood that any thin plastic sheeting may be used for this invention which has the necessary characteristics, such as flexibility, water-proofness, and above all, sufficient flexibility and elasticity when stretched smoothly over a surface such as a backerboard, to recover from any denting as described above and resume its smooth appearance. Such plastic materials are widely available commercially and may in fact be purchased at practically any hardware store. Known examples of such materials are flexible sheets of vinyl, polypropyline, polyetheline, Tedlar, etc. This material is limp, slightly elastic, so that it can be stretched flat, and comes in various thicknesses, the preferred range for the present use being from 0.001 to 0.004 inch in thickness. It is available in a wide range of colors and finishes, e.g., simulated wood.