Patents by Inventor Stephen W. Steffes
Stephen W. Steffes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10221575Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky
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Patent number: 10208482Abstract: A siding product may include a panel having a substantially rectangular structure with a simulated pattern on a front face thereof. The panel may be formed from a polymer and may include color variegation. The panel may have a hollow back and be a single shake configuration that does not simulate more than one shake or more than one course of siding. The siding product may include a panel having a front face with a simulated pattern. The panel can include a hollow back, 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 can have a plurality of reinforcement ribs on the hollow back that extend longitudinally in the x-direction and transversely in the z-direction. In a version, none of the reinforcement ribs extend laterally in the y-direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky
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Publication number: 20180117809Abstract: A method of injection molding a building product includes providing an injection mold with a plurality of gates located adjacent a perimeter of the injection mold. The method further includes commingling a first material and a second material into a flow, the second material comprising a color that contrasts with a color of the first material and injecting the commingled flow into the plurality of gates to form a building product. Thereafter, the method includes removing the building product from the injection mold. The second material extends through an interior of the building product and appears as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the building product to form a variegated grain appearance. The method also includes notching a portion of the building product, such that the building product has a substantially linear grain in an exposed portion thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Stephen W. STEFFES, Brian W. Kirn
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Publication number: 20180112416Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky
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Publication number: 20180100313Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Stephen W. STEFFES, David J. STUCKY, Andrew Clyde BRANDT, Robert D. SHAW, Nikki J. WHITNEY
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Publication number: 20180097471Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic arrays for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. Aspects of the present invention provide a variety of photovoltaic roofing elements and systems that include, for example, interlocking geometries to provide for water handling and integration with conventional roofing materials; and wire management features that can protect wiring and associated electrical components from physical and/or environmental damage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Robert D. Livsey, Joseph Charles Gombarick, Peter Chihlas, Husnu M. Kalkanoglu, Michael E. Blackburn, Stephen W. Steffes, Gregory F. Jacobs, Michael J. Noone
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Publication number: 20180056559Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Robert D. SHAW, David J. STUCKY, Travis R. ARBOGAST, Randall M. ELINSKI, Stephen W. STEFFES
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Patent number: 9884443Abstract: An injection molded product may include a corner shingle resembling a single course of tiles that differ in size. The corner shingle may be a semi-crystalline thermoplastic and having a wood grain direction. Streaks may be formed in the corner shingle that are substantially parallel to the wood grain direction. The streaks may extend through an interior of the corner shingle and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the corner shingle to form a variegated wood grain appearance. In addition, an injection molded vestige may be formed in the corner shingle. The injection molded vestige may be located adjacent a perimeter of the corner shingle, and may comprise the location at which material entered an injection mold through a gate.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn
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Patent number: 9885185Abstract: A siding product may include a panel having a substantially rectangular structure with a simulated pattern on a front face thereof. The panel may be formed from a polymer and may include color variegation. The panel may have a hollow back and be a single shake configuration that does not simulate more than one shake or more than one course of siding. The siding product may include a panel having a front face with a simulated pattern. The panel can include a hollow back, 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 can have a plurality of reinforcement ribs on the hollow back that extend longitudinally in the x-direction and transversely in the z-direction. In a version, none of the reinforcement ribs extend laterally in the y-direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky
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Patent number: 9869098Abstract: A manufactured panel includes a body having a front, back, top, bottom and side walls, the side walls extend between the front and back, and an interior volume located between the front, back, top, bottom and side walls. An insert having an interior portion is embedded within the interior volume of the body, and an exterior portion extends from the interior portion to an exterior of the body. The exterior portion includes stand-offs protruding from the body, such that at least some of the stand-offs are connected to each other inside the interior volume of the body. At least some of the stand-offs are independent and detached from each other on the exterior of the body.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Steffes, David J. Stucky, Andrew Clyde Brandt, Robert D. Shaw, Nikki J. Whitney
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Publication number: 20170362818Abstract: A corner siding product may include a plurality of panels. Each panel may include a front face with a simulated pattern and an inner wall formed along a perimeter of the panel. The corner siding product may further include a clip that is configured engage each panel to hold the panels together and form a corner.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: David J. STUCKY, Stephen W. Steffes
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Patent number: 9802346Abstract: A method of molding a building product may include providing an injection mold with a plurality of gates located adjacent a perimeter of the injection mold. The method may further include commingling a first material and a second material into a flow. The second material may be a color that contrasts with a color of the first material. The method may include injecting the commingled flow into the plurality of gates to form an injection molded building product, and removing the molded building product from the injection mold. In addition, the second material may extend through an interior of the molded building product and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the building product to form a variegated grain appearance.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Robert D. Shaw, David J. Stucky, Travis R. Arbogast, Randall M. Elinski, Stephen W. Steffes
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Patent number: 9765513Abstract: A corner siding product may include a plurality of panels. Each panel may include a front face with a simulated pattern, a hollow back, a longitudinal length extending in an x-direction, a lateral width extending in a y-direction, and a depth extending in a z-direction. In addition, the corner siding product may include a living hinge extending in the y-direction between the panels along side edges thereof. The corner siding product can have an uninstalled configuration wherein it is substantially planar. Embodiments of the corner siding product also can have an installed configuration wherein the living hinge permits the panels to be non-planar relative to each other, such that they are complementary in shape to a corner of a building.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: David J. Stucky, Stephen W. Steffes
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Patent number: 9755573Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic arrays for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. Aspects of the present invention provide a variety of photovoltaic roofing elements and systems that include, for example, interlocking geometries to provide for water handling and integration with conventional roofing materials; and wire management features that can protect wiring and associated electrical components from physical and/or environmental damage.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: CertainTeed CorporationInventors: Robert D. Livsey, Joseph Charles Gombarick, Peter Chihlas, Husnu M. Kalkanoglu, Michael E. Blackburn, Stephen W. Steffes, Gregory F. Jacobs, Michael J. Noone
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Publication number: 20170114548Abstract: A siding product may include a panel having a substantially rectangular structure with a simulated pattern on a front face thereof. The panel may be formed from a polymer and may include color variegation. The panel may have a hollow back and be a single shake configuration that does not simulate more than one shake or more than one course of siding. The siding product may include a panel having a front face with a simulated pattern. The panel can include a hollow back, 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 can have a plurality of reinforcement ribs on the hollow back that extend longitudinally in the x-direction and transversely in the z-direction. In a version, none of the reinforcement ribs extend laterally in the y-direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2016Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Stephen W. STEFFES, Robert D. SHAW, Brian W. KIRN, David J. STUCKY
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Patent number: 9482011Abstract: A siding product may include a panel having a substantially rectangular structure with a simulated pattern on a front face thereof. The panel may be formed from a polymer and may include color variegation. The panel may have a hollow back and be a single shake configuration that does not simulate more than one shake or more than one course of siding. The siding product may include a panel having a front face with a simulated pattern. The panel can include a hollow back, 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 can have a plurality of reinforcement ribs on the hollow back that extend longitudinally in the x-direction and transversely in the z-direction. In a version, none of the reinforcement ribs extend laterally in the y-direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky
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Publication number: 20160168861Abstract: A siding product may include a panel having a substantially rectangular structure with a simulated pattern on a front face thereof. The panel may be formed from a polymer and may include color variegation. The panel may have a hollow back and be a single shake configuration that does not simulate more than one shake or more than one course of siding. The siding product may include a panel having a front face with a simulated pattern. The panel can include a hollow back, 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 can have a plurality of reinforcement ribs on the hollow back that extend longitudinally in the x-direction and transversely in the z-direction. In a version, none of the reinforcement ribs extend laterally in the y-direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2016Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky
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Patent number: D792615Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Robert D. Shaw, David J. Stucky, Brian W. Kirn
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Patent number: D809671Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Steffes, David J. Stucky, Andrew Clyde Brandt, Robert D. Shaw, Nikki Whitney
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Patent number: D843601Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Steffes, David J. Stucky