Method of making a decorated extruded profile

1. A process for making a decorated extruded profile, comprising:

extruding a composition through an aperture in a die head to form an extruded member having a substantially constant cross-section along a longitudinal dimension and at least one surface to be decorated;

applying a decoration to the at least one surface to be decorated to provide a decorated surface;

extruding a coating material on to at least the decorated surface of the extruded member by passing the extruded member through a coating die to provide a layer of coating material on at least the decorated surface of the extruded-member while a floating support supports the extruded member and makes vertical adjustments to the extruded member to provide a substantially constant distance between the decorated surface of the extruded member and an adjacent surface of the coating die so that the layer of coating material maintains a substantially constant thickness on the decorated surface; and

embossing an embossing texture on to at least the decorated surface of the extruded member.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein applying a decoration comprises laminating a hot stamp foil layer to the at least one surface to be decorated.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the decoration provides a simulated wood grain pattern on the extruded member.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the embossing texture provides a simulated wood grain texture on the extruded member.

5. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

shaping the extruded member by applying a vacuum or pressure on one or more surfaces of the extruded member.

6. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

pulling the extruded member in a longitudinal direction through the process.

7. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

cutting the extruded member in a transverse direction to provide a member having a predetermined longitudinal dimension.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the floating support includes a height adjustment device operably coupled to a support device that includes one or more of a roller, belt, conveyor, and plate.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the height adjustment device includes one or more pneumatic cylinders and springs.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the extruded member comprises a rigid or cellular polymeric material.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the extruded member comprises at least one of polyvinyl chloride and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein applying a decoration comprises laminating a hot stamp foil layer to the at least one surface to be decorated.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the decoration provides a simulated wood grain pattern on the extruded member.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the embossing texture provides a simulated wood grain texture on the extruded member.

15. The process of claim 10 , further comprising:

shaping the extruded member by applying a vacuum or pressure on one or more surfaces of the extruded member.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein applying a decoration comprises laminating a hot stamp foil layer to the at least one surface to be decorated.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the decoration provides a simulated wood grain pattern on the extruded member and the embossing texture provides a simulated wood grain texture on the extruded member.

18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the extruded member comprises at least one of polyvinyl chloride and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride.

19. The process of claim 18 , further comprising:

pulling the extruded member in a longitudinal direction through the process.

20. The process of claim 5 , wherein said shaping includes applying pressure to one or more surfaces of the extruded member with one or more shaping rollers.