US 4,598,522 A · Interlocking panels

Abstract

Various forms of interlocking weatherproof roofing and siding panels are disclosed. The panels each comprise a background sheet of relatively thin material, in which are integrally formed one or more raised decorative elements such as simulated tile or shake elements. At the front or lower edge of each panel at least some of the decorative elements have a sunken or indented area integrally formed in the face thereof, with the rear or upper portion of each decorative element having a cooperatively disposed integrally formed protruding element. During installation, after a starter course is installed each panel of each successive course is retained in position at the front thereof by the interlocking of the protruding regions on at least some of the decorative elements thereon with the sunken region of the next lower course, and at the rear thereof by nails or staples passed through a nailing flange provided for that purpose, the fasteners being covered by the lower portion of the next higher course to provide an interlocking weatherproof system with hidden fasteners. The sunken regions and the protruding regions on the decorative elements are specifically limited in lateral extent to significantly less than the width of the front and back of the decorative elements to avoid any intersections between the edges of the decorative elements and the interlockers. Also, preferably the sunken regions and the protruding regions are gradual in lateral extent. These, plus other features of the panels, facilitate the manufacture thereof by injection molding or relatively low cost vacuum forming techniques by distributing material stretch during forming and avoiding excessive concentrated stretch in local areas. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A panel having decorative elements, and adapted to interfit with similar panels when installed, comprising a background sheet means vacuum formed to have;

at least one decorative element means extending upward from said background sheet means and integrally formed therewith, each said decorative element means having first and second ends, said first end being adjacent said front of said sheet means, and said second end being adjacent said rear of said sheet means, said first end of at least one of said decorative element means having an integrally formed recess therein;
said second end of at least one of said decorative element means having an integrally formed protrusion therein extending over less than the width of said second end of the respective said decorative element means so as to not intersect the edges thereof, said protrusion extending over said background sheet means and having a lower surface substantially parallel to and displaced from said background sheet means;
said protrusion and said recess being cooperatively proportioned whereby when said panel is installed with similar panels in a plurality of courses of panels, the protrusion on said second end of at least one of said decorative element means of one panel may extend into the recess on said first end of at least one of said decorative element means of the panel in the next course thereabove to interlock courses of panels together.

A panel having decorative elements, and adapted to interfit with similar panels when installed, comprising:

a background sheet of thermoplastic material having front, rear and first and second side edges, and having a film of ultraviolet radiation resistant material adhered to the top surface thereof, said background sheet being vacuum formed to have:
at least one decorative element means formed upward from said background sheet means and integrally formed therewith, each said decorative element means having first and second ends between said front edge and said rear edge of said sheet means, said first end of at least one of said decorative element means having an integrally formed recess therein extending over less than the width of said first end of the respective said decorative element means so as to not intersect the edges thereof, said second end of at least one of said decorative element means having an integrally formed protrusion therein extending over less than the width of said second end of the respective said decorative element means so as to not intersect the edges thereof, said protrusion extending over said background sheet means and having a lower surface substantially parallel to and displaced from said background sheet means;
said protrusion and said recess being cooperatively proportioned whereby when said panel is installed with similar panels in a plurality of courses of panels, the protrusion on one end of at least one of said decorative element means of one panel may extend into the recess on the other end of at least one of said decorative element means of the panel in another course to interlock courses of panels together.

In plurality, panels having decorative elements, and adapted to interfit with each other when installed, each said panel comprising:

a background sheet of thermoplastic material having front, rear and first and second side edges, and having a film of ultraviolet radiation resistant material adhered to the top surface thereof, said background sheet being vacuum formed to have:
a plurality of decorative element means formed upward from said background sheet means and integrally formed therewith to stimulate at least one course of elements, each said decorative element means having first and second ends, said first end being adjacent said front edge of said sheet means, and said second end being adjacent said rear edge of said sheet means, said first end of at least one of said decorative element means having an integrally formed recess therein extending over less than the width of said first end of the respective said decorative element means so as to not intersect the edges thereof, said protrusion extending over said background sheet means and having a lower surface substantially parallel to and displaced from said background sheet means;
said second end of at least one of said decorative element means having an integrally formed protrusion therein extending over less than the width of said second end of the respective said decorative element means so as to not intersect the edges thereof;
said protrusion and said recess being cooperatively proportioned whereby when said panels are installed in a plurality of courses of panels, the protrusion on said second end of at least one of said decorative element means of one panel may extend into the recesss on said first end of at least one of said decorative element means of the panel in the next course thereabove to interlock courses of panels together.

1 more element

A panel having decorative elements, and adapted to interfit with similar panels when installed, comprising:

a background sheet means;
at least one decorative element means extending upward from said background sheet means and integrally formed therewith, each said decorative element means having first and second ends, said first end being adjacent said front of said sheet means, and said second end being adjacent said rear of said sheet means, said first end of at least one of said decorative element means having an integrally formed recess therein extending over less than the width of said first end of the respective said decorative element means so as to not intersect the edges thereof:
said second end of at least one of said decorative element means having an integrally formed protrusion therein extending over less than the width of said second end of the respective said decorative element means so as to not intersect the edges thereof;
said protrusion and said recess being cooperatively proportioned whereby when said panel is installed with similar panels in a plurality of courses of panels, the protrusion on said second end of at least one of said decorative element means of one panel may extend into the recess on said first end of at least one of said decorative element means of the panel in the next course thereabove to interlock courses of panels together.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interlocking panels

Life of this patent

Interlocking panels

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51