Compensating clip for siding

Abstract

A siding panel system is provided including a clip device located between overlapping and interlocking siding panels to restrain movement of a horizontal siding panel which may become disengaged from an adjacent lower course of siding due to wood floor joist shrinkage in the vertical direction. The siding panels generally have a fastening portion along the upper edge and a longitudinal groove opening away from the upper edge on the panel face below the fastening portion. A hooked flange portion along the lower panel edge projects at an angle toward the panel back for engagement with the groove on the face of an adjacent panel. The clip device includes an upper fastening leg having a generally vertically elongated opening therethrough and an integral medial leg projecting downwardly from the terminal end of the fastening leg and outwardly from the building structure. An integral lower depending leg projects at an angle toward the back of the clip and toward the building structure from the terminal end of the medial leg. The clip includes a means for attaching the lower depending leg of the clip to the lower hooked flange portion of the lower course of siding panel to secure the siding panel to the building structure when panels are disengaged by relative vertical displacement of the panels. The compensating clip device may be individual clip members or an elongated strip form.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.