Abstract: A hip, ridge or rake shingle comprised of a plurality of panels sandwiched on each panel portion side of a layer of shingle material, such that each panel portion can be folded along a fold line, and wherein tabs are provided for each panel portion, adapted to be bent backwardly upon themselves, sandwiching thickening panels therebetween. The shingles can be laid up on a hip, ridge or rake of a roof, to yield desirable thickened features.

Abstract: Algae-resistant roofing granules include inert base particles with an exterior coating including high-surface area silver as a biocide.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for producing a continuous filament reinforced thermoplastic profile having consistent cross section. A continuous reinforcing filament is pre-wetted with a first thermoplastic resin and introduced into a die, where it is contacted with a second thermoplastic resin extruded from an extruder at melt state. The temperature of the die is carefully controlled so that the pre-wetted filament and first resin do not cure or solidify until after they have contacted and mixed with the second thermoplastic resin. The mixture temperature is then controlled to make a substantially solidified profile pre-shape. A capping layer comprising a third thermoplastic resin is then co-extruded onto the outer surface of the pre-shape. A multistage die for bringing together the filament and thermoplastic resins and for maintaining appropriate temperatures at each stage of the profile-forming process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for producing a continuous filament reinforced thermoplastic profile having consistent cross section. A continuous reinforcing filament is pre-wetted with a first thermoplastic resin and introduced into a die, where it is contacted with a second thermoplastic resin extruded from an extruder at melt state. The temperature of the die is carefully controlled so that the pre-wetted filament and first resin do not cure or solidify until after they have contacted and mixed with the second thermoplastic resin. The mixture temperature is then controlled to make a substantially solidified profile pre-shape. A capping layer comprising a third thermoplastic resin is then coextruded onto the outer surface of the pre-shape. A multistage die for bringing together the filament and thermoplastic resins and for maintaining appropriate temperatures at each stage of the profile-forming process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A roofing membrane with high solar heat reflectance includes a bituminous base sheet, a tie-layer with a reinforcement material, and a solar heat-reflective upper layer.

Abstract: A roofing membrane with high solar heat reflectance includes a bituminous base sheet, a tie-layer with a reinforcement material, and a solar heat-reflective upper layer formed from a powder coating filled with a solar heat-reflective pigment.

Abstract: A simultaneously molded plurality of composite shingles or double walled shingles or other substantially planar exterior building products are provided, each being comprised of two or more layers of thermoplastic shingle material, such that a weatherable capstock material is provided outside a core material, in the form of a composite parison that is then blow molded in a hollow mold, to produce novel shingles. Ventilation and/or insulation can be provided to a hollow interior between spaced apart walls of a double walled shingle.

Abstract: The invention includes a composition for an optical fiber coating. An inventive composition includes a non-thiol functional adhesion promoter and less than about 0.5 pph of a strength additive containing a thiol functional group. The invention further includes an optical fiber coated with the inventive composition. A second inventive composition includes a photo-polymerizable composition which contains an adhesion promoter and a non-silicon containing strength additive containing at least about one thiol functional group. A third inventive composition includes a photo-polymerizable composition which has a silane containing adhesion promoter and a strength additive containing at least about one halide functional group. The invention also includes an optical fiber coated with the inventive coating and methods of making an optical fiber including the inventive coating.

Abstract: A siding panel product is provided comprising a first polymeric siding panel having a butt end and a top end, a front surface comprising a plurality of front faces defined between the top and butt ends and separated by at least one shoulder surface to define a stepped contour, and a rear surface. An insulation backing is coupled to the rear surface of the siding panel. The insulation backing comprises at least first and second insulation members coupled to the rear surface of said siding panel. The first insulation member has a bottom edge thereof coupled proximate to the stepped contour and the second insulation member has a top edge thereof coupled proximate to the stepped contour.

Abstract: A product comprises a fiber cement substrate, and a porous, closed cell foam joined to a substantial portion of a major surface of the fiber cement substrate.

Abstract: A post cladding assembly, a cladded building assembly and method of cladding a building structure using the cladding assembly are provided. The post cladding assembly includes at least one cladding panel and at least one connection element, wherein the connection element includes an androgynous means for engaging the at least one cladding panel to secure the at least one cladding panel to a building structure.

Abstract: A cladding assembly comprises first and second cladding panels, each having top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, and a corner connection element disposed to couple a pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels together. The corner connection element includes top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of female connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of male connectors for mating with the female connectors, or wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of male connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of female connectors for mating with the male connectors of the corner connection element.

Abstract: An impact resistant shingle is provided, wherein the base mat is impregnated with an asphaltic material, with an asphaltic material on the upper surface of the shingle, and wherein another asphaltic material is disposed on the rear surface of the shingle, which other asphaltic material is softer with greater elongation than the asphaltic material used elsewhere in the shingle, such that crack resistance is afforded because energy from impact on the shingle is dissipated.

Abstract: A process of simultaneously molding either a plurality of shingles or double walled shingles or other substantially planar exterior building products is provided, such that a blow moldable thermoplastic material is provided, of a composite parison that is then blow molded in a hollow mold, to produce novel shingles according to the process. Ventilation and/or insulation can be provided to a hollow interior between spaced apart walls of a double walled shingle.

Abstract: A process of simultaneously molding either a plurality of composite shingles or double walled shingles or other substantially planar exterior building products is provided, each being comprised of two or more layers of thermoplastic shingle material, such that a weatherable capstock material is provided outside a core material, in the form of a composite parison that is then blow molded in a hollow mold, to produce novel shingles according to the process. Ventilation and/or insulation can be provided to a hollow interior between spaced apart walls of a double walled shingle.

Abstract: An infrared-reflective material is applied directly to the bituminous surface of a roofing product to increase the solar heat reflectance of the product, even when deep-tone roofing granules are used to color the product. The infrared-reflective material can be applied as a powder or in a carrier fluid or film, and can be applied along with infrared-reflective roofing granules.

Abstract: A locking security arrangement is provided for both mounting an electronic component on and locking the component to a bracket assembly. A threaded shaft removably mounted on a tumbler of a lock assesmbly by threaded engagement in an aperture is inserted through a non-circular aperture in the bracket assembly. The shaft is advanced into a threaded aperture in a housing of the electronic component until a non-circular portion of a housing of the lock assembly approaches and then enters the non-circular aperture. A key inserted in the tumbler permits continued rotation of the threaded shaft through rotation of the tumbler relative to the lock assembly housing in response to turning movement of key, to continue advancing the threaded shaft into the threaded aperture in the housing of the electronic component until the non-circular portion of the housing of the lock assembly is completely seated within the non-circular aperture.