Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a siding panel including a front face, a rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side, and a second side. The siding panel also includes a first locking mechanism disposed on the rear face of the siding panel adjacent the top edge, and configured to interlock with a second locking mechanism of a second siding panel, the first locking mechanism being formed as a protrusion. The siding panel further includes a second locking mechanism disposed on the rear face of the siding panel being formed as a generally C-shaped portion having a groove. The second locking mechanism is configured to interlock with a first locking mechanism of a third siding panel. The siding panel is secured to a surface by a fastener.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a method of manufacturing a siding panel including providing a siding panel having a front face, a rear face, top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, providing a support member having a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges, a first face, and a second face, applying adhesive on a first face of the support member from one side edge of the support member to the other side edge of the support member, placing the support member on the rear face of the siding panel so the support member extends substantially from the first side edge to about ½ in. to about 2¼ in. away from the second side edge, completely securing the two side edges of a support member to the rear face of the siding panel, and laminating the support member to the siding panel.

Abstract: An injection molded product is disclosed and includes a shingle resembling a cedar shingle tile formed from an amorphous or semi-crystalline thermoplastic and having a wood grain direction. The injection molded product also includes streaks in the shingle that are substantially parallel to the wood grain direction and the streaks extend through an interior of the shingle and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the shingle to form a variegated wood grain appearance. The injection molded product further includes an injection molded vestige in the shingle. The injection molded vestige is located adjacent to a perimeter of the shingle and the injection molded vestige comprises a location at which material entered an injection mold through a gate.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a siding system including a first panel having a first end and a second end, where the second end of the first panel includes a locking clip, and where the second end of the first panel forms a first portion of a channel. The siding system also includes a second panel having a first end and a second end, where the first end of the second panel includes a locking leg sized to engage the locking clip of the first panel, and where the first end of the second panel forms a second portion of the channel when the first panel and the second panel are engaged. The system also includes a batten sized to be removably engaged within the channel.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a method of manufacturing a siding panel including providing a siding panel having a front face, a rear face, top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, providing a support member having a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges, a first face, and a second face, applying adhesive on a first face of the support member from one side edge of the support member to the other side edge of the support member, placing the support member on the rear face of the siding panel so the support member extends substantially from the first side edge to about ½ in. to about 2¼ in. away from the second side edge, completely securing the two side edges of a support member to the rear face of the siding panel, and laminating the support member to the siding panel.

Abstract: A method of fabricating panels includes providing an insert having an interior portion with a top portion and a positioning stop opposite the top portion, and an exterior portion including a fastener hem. Further, the method includes placing the insert in a mold such that only the fastener hem and the positioning stop contact the mold and centering the insert in the mold with the top portion and the positioning stop. The method also includes filling the mold with a casting material such that the interior portion is submerged in the casting material including the top portion, but some of the positioning stop is not submerged in the casting material, curing the casting material to form a panel on the insert, and removing the panel form the mold.

Abstract: An injection molded product is disclosed and includes a shingle resembling a cedar shingle tile formed from an amorphous or semi-crystalline thermoplastic and having a wood grain direction. The injection molded product also includes streaks in the shingle that are substantially parallel to the wood grain direction and the streaks extend through an interior of the shingle and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the shingle to form a variegated wood grain appearance. The injection molded product further includes an injection molded vestige in the shingle. The injection molded vestige is located adjacent to a perimeter of the shingle and the injection molded vestige comprises a location at which material entered an injection mold through a gate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating panels includes providing an insert having an interior portion with a top portion and a positioning stop opposite the top portion, and an exterior portion including a fastener hem. Further, the method includes placing the insert in a mold such that only the fastener hem and the positioning stop contact the mold and centering the insert in the mold with the top portion and the positioning stop. The method also includes filling the mold with a casting material such that the interior portion is submerged in the casting material including the top portion, but some of the positioning stop is not submerged in the casting material, curing the casting material to form a panel on the insert, and removing the panel form the mold.

Abstract: An injection molded product is disclosed and includes a shingle resembling a cedar shingle tile formed from an amorphous or semi-crystalline thermoplastic and having a wood grain direction. The injection molded product also includes streaks in the shingle that are substantially parallel to the wood grain direction and the streaks extend through an interior of the shingle and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the shingle to form a variegated wood grain appearance. The injection molded product further includes an injection molded vestige in the shingle. The injection molded vestige is located adjacent to a perimeter of the shingle and the injection molded vestige comprises a location at which material entered an injection mold through a gate.

Abstract: A siding panel includes a hanger section adjacent to an upper edge and a lower locking section adjacent to a lower edge. When installed, the lower locking section of an upper siding panel partially overlaps, extends into, and interlocks with a hanger section of a lower siding panel in an interference fit.

Abstract: A siding panel includes a hanger section adjacent to an upper edge and a lower locking section adjacent to a lower edge. When installed, the lower locking section of an upper siding panel partially overlaps, extends into, and interlocks with a hanger section of a lower siding panel in an interference fit.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a siding system including a first panel having a first end and a second end, where the second end of the first panel includes a locking clip, and where the second end of the first panel forms a first portion of a channel. The siding system also includes a second panel having a first end and a second end, where the first end of the second panel includes a locking leg sized to engage the locking clip of the first panel, and where the first end of the second panel forms a second portion of the channel when the first panel and the second panel are engaged. The system also includes a batten sized to be removably engaged within the channel.

Abstract: A siding product is disclosed and includes a panel comprising a front with a simulated wood grain, a hollow back opposite the front, a longitudinal length extending in an x-direction, a lateral width extending in a y-direction, and a transverse depth extending in a z-direction. The panel includes a hanger clip on the front that has a hanger clip length that extends longitudinally in the x-direction, the hanger clip length is at least about 50% of the longitudinal length of the panel, and a butt leg on the hollow back. Moreover, the butt leg of the panel is configured to engage the hanger clip of a lower panel without interlocking, such that they do not engage each other with positive snap action engagement.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is an exterior cladding panel including one or more courses of simulated shingles, a locking clip extending from a front face of the exterior cladding panel, and a locking leg extending from a rear face of the exterior cladding panel. The exterior cladding panel also includes a first plurality of tabs extending from a top edge of the exterior cladding panel, where each tab in the first plurality of tabs includes at least one projection extending approximately perpendicular to the front face. A respective top end of each tab in the first plurality of tabs extends a common distance from the top edge of the exterior cladding panel. A second plurality of tabs extends from the top edge of the exterior cladding panel, where a respective top end of each tab in the second plurality of tabs extends the common distance from the top edge.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a method of manufacturing a siding panel including providing a siding panel having a front face, a rear face, top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, providing a support member having a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges, a first face, and a second face, applying adhesive on a first face of the support member from one side edge of the support member to the other side edge of the support member, placing the support member on the rear face of the siding panel so the support member extends substantially from the first side edge to about ½ in. to about 2¼ in. away from the second side edge, completely securing the two side edges of a support member to the rear face of the siding panel, and laminating the support member to the siding panel.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a siding panel including a front face, a rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side, and a second side. The siding panel also includes a first locking mechanism disposed on the rear face of the siding panel adjacent the top edge, and configured to interlock with a second locking mechanism of a second siding panel, the first locking mechanism being formed as a protrusion. The siding panel further includes a second locking mechanism disposed on the rear face of the siding panel being formed as a generally C-shaped portion having a groove. The second locking mechanism is configured to interlock with a first locking mechanism of a third siding panel. The siding panel is secured to a surface by a fastener.

Abstract: A siding product is disclosed and includes a panel comprising a front with a simulated wood grain, a hollow back opposite the front, a longitudinal length extending in an x-direction, a lateral width extending in a y-direction, and a transverse depth extending in a z-direction. The panel includes a hanger clip on the front that has a hanger clip length that extends longitudinally in the x-direction, the hanger clip length is at least about 50% of the longitudinal length of the panel, and a butt leg on the hollow back. Moreover, the butt leg of the panel is configured to engage the hanger clip of a lower panel without interlocking, such that they do not engage each other with positive snap action engagement.

Abstract: A siding product is disclosed and includes a panel having a plurality of simulated courses of simulated shingles including a front, back, top, bottom and sides. The siding product also includes a hanger clip that extends from the front of the panel and a butt leg that extends from the back of the panel. The butt leg is configured to engage the hanger clip of a lower panel in two courses of panels. Further, the siding product includes a fastener slot having a fastener plane of reference and only one fastener depth stop (FDS) that abuts the fastener slot. The only one FDS comprising a stop plane of reference displaced forward from the fastener plane of reference by at least about 0.030 inches, and not greater than about 0.125 inches.