Granted Patent B2

US 7,204,062 · App. 09/751,185 · Granted Apr 17, 2007

Abstract

Claims (64)

1. A vinyl siding panel unit comprising:

a vinyl siding panel comprising a first substantially planar portion extending the longitudinal length of the vinyl siding panel, said first substantially planar portion comprising:

a first edge and a second edge;

a width of at least about 4.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge; and

a slight curvature between said first edge and said second edge such that said slight curvature has a surface variance of less than about 0.05 inches relative to an imaginary straight line connecting said first edge and said second edge; and

a reinforcement panel adjacent to said first substantially planar portion;

wherein said surface variance is determined prior to said first substantially planar portion being positioned adjacent to said reinforcement panel; and

wherein said vinyl siding panel unit simulates the appearance of straight face siding.

2. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein said reinforcement panel is comprised of foam.

3. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein said first substantially planar portion has an average thickness in the range from about 0.040 inches to about 0.050 inches.

4. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein said first substantially planar portion has said width of at least about 6.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge.

5. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein said surface variance is less than about 0.04 inches.

6. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein said surface variance is less than about 0.03125 inches.

7. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein:

said first substantially planar portion has said width of at least about 6.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge; and

said surface variance is less than about 0.04 inches.

8. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 1 further comprising a second substantially planar portion extending the longitudinal length of the vinyl siding panel, said second substantially planar portion comprising:

a first edge and a second edge;

a width of at least about 4.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge of said second substantially planar portion; and

a slight curvature between said first edge and said second edge such that said slight curvature has a surface variance of less than about 0.05 inches relative to an imaginary straight line connecting said first edge and said second edge of said second substantially planar portion;

wherein said second substantially planar portion is connected to said first substantially planar portion by a first seam to define a stepped contour; and

wherein said reinforcement panel is adjacent to said second substantially planar portion.

9. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 8 wherein a height of said first seam is at least about 0.5 inches.

10. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 8 wherein said first substantially planar portion is substantially similar in curvature to said second substantially planar portion.

11. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 8 further comprising a third substantially planar portion extending the longitudinal length of the vinyl siding panel, said third substantially planar portion comprising:

a first edge and a second edge;

a width of at least about 4.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge of said third substantially planar portion; and

a slight curvature between said first edge and said second edge such that said slight curvature has a surface variance of less than about 0.05 inches relative to an imaginary straight line connecting said first edge and said second edge of said third substantially planar portion;

wherein said third substantially planar portion is connected to said first substantially planar portion by a second seam to define a stepped contour; and

wherein said reinforcement panel is adjacent to said third substantially planar portion.

12. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 11 wherein a height of said second seam is at least about 0.5 inches.

13. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 11 wherein said first substantially planar portion, said second substantially planar portion, and said third substantially planar portion are substantially similar in curvature.

14. A vinyl siding panel unit comprising:

a vinyl siding panel comprising a first substantially planar portion extending the longitudinal length of the vinyl siding panel, said first substantially planar portion comprising:

a first edge and a second edge;

a width of at least about 4.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge; and

a radius curvature between said first edge and said second edge of at least about 85 inches; and

a reinforcement panel adjacent to said first substantially planar portion;

wherein said radius curvature is determined prior to said first substantially planar portion being positioned adjacent to said reinforcement panel; and

wherein said vinyl siding panel unit simulates the appearance of straight face siding.

15. The vinyl siding panel of claim 14 wherein said reinforcement panel is comprised of foam.

16. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 14 wherein said first substantially planar portion has an average thickness in the range from about 0.040 inches to about 0.050 inches.

17. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 14 wherein said first substantially planar portion has said width of at least about 6.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge.

18. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 14 wherein said radius curvature is at least about 117 inches.

19. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 14 wherein said radius curvature is at least about 148 inches.

20. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 14 wherein:

said first substantially planar portion has said width of at least about 6.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge; and

said radius curvature is at least about 117 inches.

21. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 14 further comprising a second substantially planar portion extending the longitudinal length of the vinyl siding panel, said second substantially planar portion comprising:

a first edge and a second edge;

a width of at least about 4.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge of said second substantially planar portion; and

a radius curvature between said first edge and said second edge of said second substantially planar portion of at least about 85 inches;

wherein said second substantially planar portion is connected to said first substantially planar portion by a first seam to define a stepped contour; and

wherein said reinforcement panel is adjacent to said second substantially planar portion.

22. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 21 wherein a height of said first seam is at least about 0.5 inches.

23. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 21 wherein said first substantially planar portion and said second substantially planar portion are substantially similar in curvature.

24. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 21 further comprising a third substantially planar portion extending the longitudinal length of the vinyl siding panel, said third substantially planar portion comprising:

a first edge and a second edge;

a width of at least about 4.0 inches from said first edge to said second edge of said third substantially planar portion; and

a radius curvature between said first edge and said second edge of said third substantially planar portion of at least about 85 inches;

wherein said third substantially planar portion is connected to said first substantially planar portion by a second seam to define a stepped contour; and

wherein said reinforcement panel is adjacent to said third substantially planar portion.

25. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 24 wherein a height of said second seam is at least about 0.5 inches.

26. The vinyl siding panel unit of claim 24 wherein said first substantially planar portion, said second substantially planar portion, and said third substantially planar portion are substantially similar in curvature.

Assignments (11)