Granted Patent B2

US 7,467,500 · App. 11/690,689 · Granted Dec 23, 2008

Abstract

Claims (70)

1. A siding panel unit comprising:

a siding panel comprising a first portion extending the longitudinal length of the siding panel, said first 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 portion;

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

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

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

3. The siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein said siding panel is comprised of polypropylene (PP).

4. The siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein said siding panel is comprised of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).

5. The siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein said siding panel is comprised of acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylic (ASA).

6. The siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein said siding panel is comprised of plastic resin selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, nylon, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polycarbonate, polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), thermoplastic olefins, other similar or conventional plastic resins, and alloys, blends, and coextrusions of these resins.

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

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

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

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

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

12. The siding panel unit of claim 1 wherein:

said first 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.

13. The siding panel unit of claim 1 further comprising a second portion extending the longitudinal length of the siding panel, said second 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 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 portion;

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

wherein said reinforcement panel is adjacent to said second portion.

14. The siding panel unit of claim 13 wherein a height of said first seam is at least about 0.5 inches.

15. The siding panel unit of claim 13 further comprising a third portion extending the longitudinal length of the siding panel, said third 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 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 portion;

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

wherein said reinforcement panel is adjacent to said third portion.

16. The siding panel unit of claim 15 wherein a height of said second seam is at least about 0.5 inches.

17. A siding panel unit comprising:

a siding panel comprising a first portion extending the longitudinal length of the siding panel, said first 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 portion;

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

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

18. The siding panel unit of claim 17 wherein said siding panel is comprised of vinyl.

19. The siding panel unit of claim 17 wherein said siding panel is comprised of polypropylene (PP).

20. The siding panel unit of claim 17 wherein said siding panel is comprised of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).

21. The siding panel unit of claim 17 wherein said siding panel is comprised of acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylic (ASA).

22. The siding panel unit of claim 17 wherein said siding panel is comprised of plastic resin selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, nylon, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polycarbonate, polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), thermoplastic olefins, other similar or conventional plastic resins, and alloys, blends, and coextrusions of these resins.

23. The siding panel of claim 17 wherein said reinforcement panel is comprised of foam.

24. The siding panel unit of claim 17 wherein said first portion has an average thickness in the range from about 0.040 inches to about 0.050 inches.

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

26. The siding panel unit of claim 17 wherein said radius curvature is at least about 117 inches.

27. The siding panel unit of claim 17 wherein said radius curvature is at least about 148 inches.

28. The siding panel unit of claim 17 wherein:

said first 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.

29. The siding panel unit of claim 17 further comprising a second portion extending the longitudinal length of the siding panel, said second 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 portion; and

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

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

wherein said reinforcement panel is adjacent to said second portion.

30. The siding panel unit of claim 29 wherein a height of said first seam is at least about 0.5 inches.

31. The siding panel unit of claim 29 further comprising a third portion extending the longitudinal length of the siding panel, said third 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 portion; and

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

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

wherein said reinforcement panel is adjacent to said third portion.

32. The siding panel unit of claim 31 wherein a height of said second seam is at least about 0.5 inches.

Assignments (11)