Siding panel with interlock

A system for interlocking to one another vertically separated courses of siding panels, the interlocking panel system comprising:

• a first and second panel each with,
• a) a front face with an upper ledge;
• b) a back face;
• c) an upper lock portion further comprising a riser segment contiguous with the back face of the panel, the riser segment transitioning into a bend fully reversing direction to form a nail hem segment, the nail hem segment terminating at a first bend leading to a first linear riser leg that transitions to a planar segment through a second bend, the planar segment terminating at a third bend leading to a second linear riser leg that terminates at a fourth bend forming the proximal end of a locking leg;
• and
• d) a lower lock portion disposed laterally opposite the upper lock portion, the lower lock portion further comprising a lower flange and a return leg,
• wherein the angle of the fourth bend is such that the locking leg extends downwardly and away from the fourth bend at an angle in the range of 30 to 40 degrees relative to the riser segment;
• and
• wherein, in operation, the return leg of the lower portion of the second panel is inserted beneath the proximal end of the locking leg of the first panel and the lower flange of the second panel is disposed atop the upper ledge of the first panel.