Panel for attachment to a mounting surface of a building structure and method of making the same

A method of making a panel configured for attachment to a mounting surface of a building structure, the method comprising:

• introducing a mixture into a cavity of a continuous belt molding system, the cavity formed between a surface of a first belt and an opposing surface of a second belt;
• and
• molding the mixture in the cavity to form the panel;
• wherein the panel extends lengthwise along a longitudinal axis and has a width from a top edge surface to a bottom edge surface, wherein the panel comprises:
• an inner surface and an outer surface opposed to each other;
• wherein the inner surface comprises:
• a contact portion disposed on a first reference plane;
• a contour portion contoured toward the outer surface, away from the first reference plane, such that the contour portion defines a first channel and a second channel each extending lengthwise along an entire length of the panel, the first channel being separated from the second channel by a wall having a plurality of curves, each curve permitting fluid communication between the first channel and the second channel;
• and
• a lip adjacent the bottom edge surface, the lip disposed on a second reference plane offset from the first reference plane;
• wherein the lip is configured to receive an outer surface of a top edge of an adjacent panel;
• wherein the inner surface defines a flow path configured to direct flow of a fluid between the panel and the building structure, wherein the flow path includes the first channel, the second channel, and the plurality of curves of the contour portion;
• and
• wherein the surface of the first belt comprises a contact portion-forming section and a contour portion-forming section.

A method of making a panel configured for attachment to a mounting surface of a building structure, the method comprising:

• molding a composite polymer in a cavity of a mold formed by opposing surfaces of a first belt and a second belt;
• wherein the panel extends lengthwise along a longitudinal axis and comprises:
• a top edge surface and a bottom edge surface spaced from each other and offset from the longitudinal axis;
• and
• an inner surface and an outer surface opposed to each other;
• wherein the inner surface comprises:
• a contact portion disposed on a first reference plane;
• a contour portion contoured toward the outer surface, away from the first reference plane, such that the contour portion defines a first channel and a second channel each extending lengthwise along at least a portion of the panel, the first channel being separated from the second channel by a wall having a plurality of curves, each curve permitting fluid communication between the first channel and the second channel;
• and
• a lip adjacent the bottom edge surface, the lip disposed on a second reference plane offset from the first reference plane;
• wherein the lip is configured to receive an outer surface of a top edge of an adjacent panel;
• wherein the inner surface of the panel is defined by the surface of the first belt, and the outer surface of the panel is defined by the surface of the second belt;
• and
• wherein the inner surface defines a flow path configured to direct flow of a fluid between the panel and the building structure from the top edge surface to the bottom edge surface of the panel, wherein the flow path is defined by a plurality of voids in communication with each other, the plurality of voids including the first channel, the second channel, and the plurality of curves of the contour portion.