Patents by Inventor Brian W. KIRN

Brian W. KIRN 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).

  • Patent number: 11732483
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: CertainTeed LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, David J. Stucky, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn
  • Publication number: 20230167645
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building surface panels, for example, suitable for covering a support structure of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a building surface panel including a hollow panel body, a fastening strip attached to the panel body, and an overhang attached to the panel body and extending along the lower side of the building surface panel. The building surface panel includes a rear-facing engagement surface disposed at the upper side of the building surface panel and a front-facing engagement surface disposed at the lower side of the building surface panel. The front facing engagement surface is configured to engage a rear facing engagement surface of a lower neighboring building surface panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Robert L. Goetz, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky, Mark G. Suchnya, Jason Ferris, Mark J. Dunmire
  • Publication number: 20220154473
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to flat siding panels that form a visible surface over a support structure. The siding panel includes a panel body having a front wall extending across the length and height of the panel body. Each of an upper wall, lower wall, first side wall, and second side wall extends rearward from the front wall along edges of the panel body. The panel body also includes a support projection disposed between the upper wall, lower wall, first side wall, and second wall and extending rearward from a rear surface of the front wall. A fastening strip is coupled to the upper wall of the panel body. An upper lock is disposed along a top edge of the panel body, and a lower lock is disposed along a bottom edge of the panel body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn
  • Patent number: 11220825
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is an exterior cladding panel including a first end, a second end, and a series of locking clips extending from a front face of the exterior cladding panel and positioned along the first end of the exterior cladding panel. The exterior cladding panel also includes a locking leg extending from a rear face of the exterior cladding panel and positioned along a middle portion between the first end and the second end. The exterior cladding panel also includes a series of simulated shingles positioned in a single course between the first end and the second end, including a series of gaps separating adjacent shingles. Each gap extends lengthwise from the second end to the middle portion of the exterior cladding panel, and includes a first width that differs from a second width of at least one adjacent gap in the series of gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: CertainTeed LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn
  • Publication number: 20210301542
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, David J. Stucky, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn
  • Publication number: 20210229330
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen W. STEFFES, Brian W. KIRN
  • Patent number: 11035128
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CertainTeed LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, David J. Stucky, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn
  • Patent number: 11007690
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn
  • Patent number: 10934719
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a siding panel end plug including a body having a front face, a rear face, a side face connecting the front face and rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a hollow space located between the front face, rear face, and side face. The siding panel end plug further includes a first locking mechanism disposed on the top edge and a second locking mechanism disposed on the bottom edge. The first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism facilitate both locking and unlocking of the siding panel end plug from a second siding panel end plug and a third siding panel end plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CertainTeed LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn
  • Patent number: 10870993
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to wall coverings or cladding, for example, suitable for covering and protecting the external surface of walls. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a system for a wall covering including first, second, and third polymer panels. Each of the polymer panels including a visible body extending from a respective support structure, where the visible body includes a front surface that extends across a width of the panel and has a textured contour that replicates a single masonry unit. The textured contours of the first, second, and third panels are different, and the size of the first panel is different from the size of the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: CertainTeed LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn
  • Patent number: 10604944
    Abstract: A method of making a siding product is disclosed and includes molding a panel, wherein the panel comprises a substantially rectangular structure having a simulated pattern on a front face thereof and a hollow back, and the panel comprises a single shake configuration that does not simulate more than one shake or more than one course of siding, wherein the panel comprises a plurality of recesses and fastener locations on the front face thereof, and the hollow back comprises a pad opposite each recess and fastener location, each recess and pad having a thickness in a depth direction, wherein the hollow back comprises a plurality of short ribs extending in the longitudinal direction, each short rib having a longitudinal length that is less than a length of the hollow back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky
  • Patent number: 10487515
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky
  • Publication number: 20190301178
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to wall coverings or cladding, for example, suitable for covering and protecting the external surface of walls. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a system for a wall covering including first, second, and third polymer panels. Each of the polymer panels including a visible body extending from a respective support structure, where the visible body includes a front surface that extends across a width of the panel and has a textured contour that replicates a single masonry unit. The textured contours of the first, second, and third panels are different, and the size of the first panel is different from the size of the second panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn
  • Publication number: 20190301173
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is an exterior cladding panel including a first end, a second end, and a series of locking clips extending from a front face of the exterior cladding panel and positioned along the first end of the exterior cladding panel. The exterior cladding panel also includes a locking leg extending from a rear face of the exterior cladding panel and positioned along a middle portion between the first end and the second end. The exterior cladding panel also includes a series of simulated shingles positioned in a single course between the first end and the second end, including a series of gaps separating adjacent shingles. Each gap extends lengthwise from the second end to the middle portion of the exterior cladding panel, and includes a first width that differs from a second width of at least one adjacent gap in the series of gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn
  • Publication number: 20190284816
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a siding panel end plug including a body having a front face, a rear face, a side face connecting the front face and rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a hollow space located between the front face, rear face, and side face. The siding panel end plug further includes a first locking mechanism disposed on the top edge and a second locking mechanism disposed on the bottom edge. The first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism facilitate both locking and unlocking of the siding panel end plug from a second siding panel end plug and a third siding panel end plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn
  • Publication number: 20190169857
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Dtucky
  • Patent number: D863604
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil J. Sexton, Brian W. Kirn, Ryan L. Applegate
  • Patent number: D943120
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventors: Neil J. Sexton, Brian W. Kirn, Ryan Lee Applegate
  • Patent number: D979101
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: CERTAINTEED LLC
    Inventors: Neil J. Sexton, Brian W. Kirn, Ryan Lee Applegate
  • Patent number: D1010163
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CertainTeed LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Brian W. Kirn