# US 11,028,594 B2 · Soffit panel attachment system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,594 B2 - Document ID: US11028594B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/819,884 - Filed: 2020-03-16 - Published: 2020-10-01 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-29 - Assignees: James Hardie Technology Limited - Applicants: James Hardie Technology Limited - Inventors: Jose Gonzalez; Kevin O'Leary; Benjamin Batres - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028594B2 ## CPC - E04D 13/152: with ventilating means {in soffits or fascias; (on the eaves of the roof E04D13/178)} - E04D 13/158: covering the overhang at the eave side, e.g. soffits, or the verge of saddle roofs - E04D 13/178: {on the eaves of the roof} - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) ## Abstract A soffit panel attachment device includes a central portion, an attachment surface, a plurality of flanges, and a plurality of openings extending through the central portion. The attachment surface extends perpendicularly from the central portion at a first end of the central portion. First and second flanges extend parallel to the central portion to form a U-shaped channel sized and shaped to receive a soffit covering material. Two soffit panel attachment devices may be installed in opposing configurations such that the U-shaped channels are positioned to support opposite ends of a soffit panel material. The plurality of openings may be a grid of hexagonal or circular openings that provide airflow paths across the soffit panel material such as from an exterior space into an attic space above the soffit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A soffit lining system, comprising: a first soffit panel attachment device coupled to a building substrate, the first soffit panel attachment device comprising a first attachment surface lying adjacent to the building substrate, a first central portion perpendicular to the building substrate and coupled to the first attachment surface at a first end of the first central portion, and a first plurality of flanges extending from the first central portion at a second end of the first central portion opposite the first end, the first plurality of flanges disposed parallel to the first central portion to form a first U-shaped channel aligned with the first central portion and opening away from the building substrate; a second soffit panel attachment device coupled to a framing member spaced outwardly from the building substrate, the second soffit panel device comprising a second attachment surface lying adjacent to the framing member, a second central portion parallel to the first central portion and coupled to the second attachment surface at a first end of the second central portion, and a second plurality of flanges extending from the second central portion at a second end of the second central portion opposite the first end, the second plurality of flanges disposed parallel to the second central portion to form a second U-shaped channel aligned with the second central portion and opening toward the first U-shaped channel, wherein the second soffit panel attachment device comprises a plurality of openings extending through the second central portion; and a soffit panel having a substantially planar surface comprising a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the soffit panel disposed at least partially within the first and second U-shaped channels, the first edge being disposed within the first U-shaped channel and resting on one of the first plurality of flanges, the second edge being disposed within the second U-shaped channel and resting on one of the second plurality of flanges, such that the first and second soffit panel attachment devices support the soffit panel along a length of the soffit panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are oriented perpendicular to the soffit panel to provide an airflow path between a space below the soffit panel and a space above the soffit panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The soffit lining system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings comprise a regularly spaced grid of circular openings covering at least 0.4 square inches of each square inch of total surface area of the grid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The soffit lining system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings comprise a regularly spaced grid of hexagonal openings covering at least 0.4 square inches of each square inch of total surface area of the grid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein the first soffit panel attachment device does not include a plurality of openings extending through the first central portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein the first soffit panel attachment device includes a plurality of openings extending through the first central portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The soffit lining system of claim 6, wherein the first soffit panel attachment device is substantially identical to the second soffit panel attachment device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings comprise a regularly spaced grid of hexagonal apertures. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings comprise a regularly spaced grid of circular apertures. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein individual apertures of the plurality of apertures are spaced apart by a distance of between approximately 0.2 inches and approximately 0.3 inches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second soffit panel attachment devices comprises a single integrally formed piece of a polymeric material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings generally define a ventilated area of the second central portion, and wherein the plurality of openings occupy at least 0.4 square inches of each square inch of the ventilated area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings has a diameter of between approximately ⅛ inch and approximately 1/16 inch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second attachment surfaces comprises a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, each aperture of the plurality of apertures sized and shaped to receive a mechanical fastener therethrough. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The soffit lining system of claim 1, wherein a length of each of the first and second soffit panel attachment devices is between approximately 2 feet and approximately 8 feet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The soffit lining system of claim 15, wherein the length of each of the first and second soffit panel attachment devices is approximately 4 feet.