Board and Batten Siding System

Abstract

A siding system has first and second pieces that are cast from cementitious material. The pieces interconnect and are applied to a structure to create a board and batten pattern. A first board piece has forwardly projecting ridges along each long side. A second piece is a board flanked by two battens that are integral with and an extension of the board. The battens of the second piece interconnect with the ridges on the first piece to create the board and batten pattern. Cast corner pieces finish the corners of the sided structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/595,960, filed Feb. 7, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety including all figures, tables and drawings.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Board and batten siding has a distinctive pattern. Best know for its use on rustic buildings and barns, board and batten siding is now being used with more non-traditional and modern architecture. To create the pattern, boards are placed side by side and battens are placed over the seams between the boards. The siding can be oriented vertically or horizontally.

Efforts have been made to make board and batten siding applicable to a variety of new settings. Siding panels have been constructed to speed installation (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,382); while siding components have been constructed from different materials to address issues of wear (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,204,176; 6,122,877; and 7,600,356). A need however remains for a board and batten system that is easy to install and uses materials that provide a long-lasting siding solution.

All patents, patent applications, provisional patent applications and publications referred to or cited herein, are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent with the teachings of the specification.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves a siding system of pieces cast from engineered cementitious composite that interconnect to form a board and batten pattern. A first board piece has forwardly projecting ridges near each long side bordered by narrow flanges. The flanges allow concealed attachment of the first piece. The second piece is a board flanked by two hollow battens. The battens interlock the projecting ridges of the first piece to form the pattern. The interlocking pieces form a secure, water repellant, tight and lasting fit. Each piece is reversible allowing a piece to be flipped and cut producing less waste in installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective partial view of a structure sheathed with a preferred embodiment of the siding system of the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the siding system of the subject invention applied to a structure and showing the fastening pattern of the system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a first piece of the siding system of the subject invention.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the first piece shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a second piece of the siding system of the subject invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the second piece shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a corner piece of the siding system of the subject invention.

FIG. 8 is an end view of a preferred embodiment of the corner piece shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a corner piece of the siding system of the subject invention.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the corner piece shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The siding system of the subject invention comprises two pieces cast of engineered cementitious composite. A board piece interlocks with a second piece which is flanked by two shaped battens. The interlocked pieces form a board and batten pattern.

Siding pieces of the siding system of the subject invention are cast in molds from engineered cementitious composite (ECC). In the exemplified embodiment, the siding pieces are cast from glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC). One skilled in the art would recognize an appropriate composition of ECC, including GFRC, to convey properties for a siding application. The molds are taken from cedar boards or other wood textures and created to have the detailed grain of a cedar or other board. The ECC can be rolled or pressed into the molds to insure that the grain detail is transferred to each molded piece. Glass fiber reinforced concrete is preferred for the siding pieces because unlike other concrete composites that contain wood chips and/or pulp cut ends of a GFRC piece absorb water only minimally and will not deform.

Each molded piece has an exterior face that exhibits the mold grain and an interior back. The elongated siding pieces have opposing long side edges and opposing ends. The first piece 10 of the siding system of the subject invention is a board piece (FIGS. 3 and 4). The piece has opposing sides 12 and 14, opposing ends 16 and 18, an exterior face 20, and an interior back 22. Along each long side ridges 24 project from the exterior face 20 of the piece. The ridges interlock with the second piece of the siding system. In a preferred embodiment, the ridges are set in from each edge of the side to provide a fastening strip or flange 26 to attach the siding piece to the structure S to be sided. Preferably, the ridges run continuously the length of the siding piece. This provides a tight seam when interlocked with an adjacent piece. Applicants note however that the ridges can be discontinuous.

The exterior face 28 of the second siding piece 30 of the siding system of the subject invention resembles an elongated board piece 32 flanked by two battens 34 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The battens run along opposing edges 36, 38 of the piece. The second piece also has opposing ends 40, 42. The battens are integral with and an extension of the center board 32 piece. The interior back 44 of the battens are recessed to interlock with the projecting ridges 24 of the first siding piece 10. One skilled in the art would recognize that the second siding piece 30 could be used with a flat board to create a board and batten pattern. In the exemplified embodiment however alternating and installing a first piece 10 and a second piece 30 along the surface of a structure S creates the board and batten pattern (FIG. 1). Siding pieces can be attached to the structure by any means practical, including, but not limited to, nailing, screwing, gluing. FIG. 2 shows a preferred fastening pattern to attach the siding pieces of the subject invention to a structure. Nails, or screws 46 placed through the flange 26, or ridge 24 attach the first piece to the structure. Attachment of the first piece is hidden when the ridge and flange are covered by the hollow batten 34. The second piece 30 is attached to the structure by screwing or nailing 46 through the hollow batten 34. Corner pieces 48 also cast of GFRC can be applied to the corners of a structure being sided with the system to complete the pattern. Siding pieces can meet at a corner are configured to complete the pattern of the board and batten siding system by either being placed over board pieces that meet at a corner (FIGS. 7 and 8) or by being captured beneath the hollow battens of adjacent pieces (FIGS. 9 and 10).

Siding pieces are elongated and are preferably the length of commercial siding pieces. Siding pieces can vary in widths to provide any desired look or pattern. The system of the subject invention can be installed like other siding products. The subject system however is easier and faster to install than creating a conventional board and batten system. To create a conventional board and batten pattern, boards are applied to the surface of the structure and then the required batten width for each seam must be measured, cut and installed. The system of the subject invention creates a board and batten pattern by simply alternating two siding pieces across the face of the structure. Instead of the batten hiding the seam, the seams of the integral battens of the second piece connecting with the first board piece are largely hidden. An additional advantage of the system of the subject invention is that siding pieces are reversible. Because each piece is symmetrical, pieces cut around gables can be flipped and used which reduces waste.

The siding system of the subject invention provides a simple, tight, and easy to install means of creating a board and batten pattern. Siding pieces can be supplied finished or unfinished. Being only required to alternate two siding pieces reduces installation mistakes. The pieces molded of glass fiber reinforced concrete are durable, resistant to water and present a pleasing and realistic wood pattern.

It is understood that the foregoing examples are merely illustrative of the present invention. Certain modifications of the articles and/or methods may be made and still achieve the objectives of the invention. Such modifications are contemplated as within the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A siding system comprising:

a first siding piece cast of cementitious material, the first siding piece comprising opposing side edges and opposing ends, a face, and a back, ridges disposed proximate each side edge projecting from on the face of the first siding piece; and

a second siding piece cast of cementitious material, the second siding piece comprising opposing side edges and opposing ends, a face, and a back, hollow battens disposed along each side edge, the battens projecting from the face of the second piece and hollow in the back of the second piece;

wherein the first piece is attached to a structure, a second piece is placed adjacent the first piece so one hollow batten of the second piece interlocks with one projecting ridge of the first piece to create a board and batten pattern.

2. The siding system of claim 1, wherein said projecting ridges are continuous along said each opposing side edge of said first piece.

3. The siding system of claim 1, wherein said projecting ridges are discontinuous along said each opposing side edge of said first piece.

4. The siding system of claim 1, wherein said projecting ridges of said first piece are disposed inside the opposing side edges to create a flange between said projecting ridges and said opposing side edges.

5. The siding system of claim 1, further comprising corner pieces.

6. The siding system of claim 5, wherein said corner pieces comprise opposing side edges and ridges are disposed along each side edge of said corner piece.

7. A siding system comprising:

a first siding piece cast of cementitious material, the first siding piece comprising opposing side edges and opposing ends, a face, and a back, ridges disposed inside each side edge projecting from the face of the first siding piece to form a flange between the projecting ridges and the opposing side edges; and

a second siding piece cast of cementitious material, the second siding piece comprising opposing side edges and opposing ends, a face, and a back, hollow battens disposed along each side edge, the battens projecting from the face of the second piece and hollow in the back of the second piece;

wherein the first piece is attached to a structure, a second piece is placed adjacent the first piece so one hollow batten of the second piece interlocks with one projecting ridge of the first piece to create a board and batten pattern.

8. The siding system of claim 7, wherein said projecting ridges are continuous along said each opposing side edge of said first piece.

9. The siding system of claim 7, wherein said projecting ridges are discontinuous along said each opposing side edge of said first piece.

10. The siding system of claim 7, further comprising corner pieces.

11. The siding system of claim 10, wherein said corner pieces comprise opposing side edges and ridges are disposed along each side edge of said corner piece.

12. A siding piece cast of cementitious material, the siding piece comprising opposing side edges and opposing ends, a face, and a back, hollow battens disposed along each side edge, the battens projecting from the face of the piece and hollow in the back of the piece.