METHOD OF MAKING, TRANSPORTING AND INSTALLING SOFFIT MADE BY A MACHINE THAT CREATES CORRUGATED SHEET METAL SOFFIT WHICH SOFFIT IS COATED WITH VINYL MATERIAL WHICH VINYL MATERIAL COATS ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE ALUMINUM SHEET METAL PRIOR TO BEING FED THROUGH THE MACHINE THAT CREATES THE CORRUGATED SOFFIT
A method of making, transporting and installing soffit made by a machine that creates corrugated sheet metal soffit which soffit is coated with vinyl material which vinyl material coats one or both sides of the aluminum sheet metal prior to being fed through the machine that creates the corrugated soffit. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
1. Technical Field
The present application relates to a method of making, transporting and installing soffit made by a machine that creates corrugated sheet metal soffit which soffit is coated with vinyl material which vinyl material coats one or both sides of the aluminum sheet metal or other sheet metal such as galvanized or copper sheet metal or other sheet metal prior to being fed through the machine that creates the corrugated soffit.
2. Background Information
The present application is related to a soffit having scalloped cross-sections which is made by an apparatus such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,912, having inventors William Culina and Charles Klus, and issuing on Dec. 25, 1979.
As shown in FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,912, flat sheet-metal is fed into the machine shown in that figure and corrugated sheet metal is fed out.
The soffit according to the present application has in one possible embodiment a one inch pitch between peaks, and in another possible embodiment has a one-fourth inch pitch. These peaks have a one-fourth inch radius in one embodiment and a one-fourth inch diameter in another embodiment. The radii of the peaks and transitional curves between the peaks may have a radius of approximately three-eighths of an inch and seven-sixteenths of an inch.
OBJECT OR OBJECTSAn object of the present application may be to provide less waste of soffit during installation of soffit, and thus save money. Another object of the present application may be to achieve substantial savings in the steps of shipping, handling, loading, unloading, and installing soffit. Yet another object of the present application may be minimize potential damage to soffit during storage, transportation and installation steps in the use of the soffit. Still another object of the present application may be to increase convenience during storage, transportation and installation steps in the use of the soffit. A further object of the present application may be to save time, labor, and equipment during the process of installing soffit.
FIGS. 1BW, 2BW, 3BW, 4BW, 5BW, 8BW, 8ABW, 9BW, 10BW, 11BW, 12BW, and 13BW are black and white copies of the corresponding color photographs.
The soffit is made in typically fifty feet to one hundred feet rolls which are placed in a box with a hole or a slot on one upper edge to permit the soffit to be pulled out of the box by unrolling of the roll of soffit in the box as shown in
The same process of making the soffit and putting it into a box and installing the soffit can also be used for skirting on trailers which are used as homes. The skirting provides for an improved appearance of the house trailers where the skirting is used.
The skirting as shown in
In one embodiment of the present application, the soffit or equivalent is covered with vinyl which has a layer of sticky material such as an adhesive covering one side of the vinyl. The flat sheet is first cleaned with a detergent such as Dawn®, made by Proctor & Gamble of Cincinnati, Ohio, which detergent is applied to the sheet metal and then the vinyl with sticky side down towards the sheet metal is placed on the sheet metal. After which vinyl is squeegeed to remove bubbles and irregularities in the vinyl. Vinyl is in one possible embodiment then allowed to dry and the adhesive bond between the vinyl and the sheet metal is often allowed to cure for a period of time. In another possible embodiment of the present application, Con-tact® may be used. Con-tact® is manufactured by Kittrich Corporation, which has a corporate office at 14555 Alondra Boulevard, La Miranda, Calif. 90638.
The dimensions of the peaks in the soffit material and the semi-circular portions therein therebetween may be critical to the forming of the soffit. If the peaks are too sharp, that is the radius of curvature thereof is too small, the vinyl may be stretched and stressed to a degree that could cause failures or deformations in the vinyl.
The dimensions of the peaks in the soffit material and the semi-circular portions therein therebetween may be critical to the forming of the soffit. If the peaks are too sharp, that is the radius of curvature thereof is too small, the vinyl may be stretched and stressed to a degree that could cause failures or deformations in the vinyl.
The soffit shown in
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FIGS. 1BW, 2BW, 3BW, 4BW, 5BW, 8BW, 8ABW, 9BW, 10BW, 11BW, 12BW, and 13BW are black and white copies of the corresponding color photographs.
The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used in possible embodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalents thereof.
The purpose of the statements about the technical field is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the technical field is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the technical field of this patent application. However, the description of the technical field may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference into this specification.
The background information is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background information for this patent application. However, the background information may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the background information are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein.
The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the object or objects is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the object or objects of this patent application. However, the description of the object or objects may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein, and in the Declaration (if any) attached hereto, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein except for the exceptions indicated herein.
The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately summarize this patent application. However, portions or all of the information contained in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
It will be understood that the examples of patents, published patent applications, and other documents which are included in this application and which are referred to in paragraphs which state 331 “Some examples of . . . which may possibly be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present application . . . ” may possibly not be used or useable in any one or more embodiments of the application.
The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published patent applications and other documents either incorporated by reference or not incorporated by reference.
All of the references and documents cited in any of the documents cited herein, except for the exceptions indicated herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein except for the exceptions indicated herein. All of the documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited anywhere in the present application.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,912, issued on Dec. 25, 1979, to William CULINA and Charles KLUS, and having the title “Apparatus and methods for forming panels having scalloped cross-sections,” is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein, except for the exceptions indicated herein.
The patents, patent applications, and patent publications listed above in the preceding paragraph are herein incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety except for the exceptions indicated herein. The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents, publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information relating to technical features of one or more embodiments, which information may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this application. However, words relating to the opinions and judgments of the author and not directly relating to the technical details of the description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently, preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure, necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually, expediently, ideal, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect, require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the above-mentioned words in this sentence, when not used to describe technical features of one or more embodiments of the patents, patent applications, and patent publications, are not considered to be incorporated by reference herein.
The description of the embodiment or embodiments is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant's option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.
The purpose of the title of this patent application is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the general nature of this patent application. However, the title may not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b):
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- A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
- A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
The embodiments of the invention described herein above in the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the invention.
Claims
1. A method of making soffit and transporting and installing soffit, said method comprising the steps of:
- mixing a dishwashing detergent, such as, original Dawn with water to a consistency which will spread easily on sheet metal and upon a vinyl sheet, such as, contac, being applied to the sheet and prevent the adhesive vinyl sheet from sticking to the sheet-metal immediately, thereby, permitting the vinyl sheet to be positioned on a sheet-metal;
- applying the detergent such as dishwashing detergent to at least one surface of flat aluminum alloy sheet metal;
- applying a sheet of vinyl with an adhesive on one side of the sheet of vinyl over the dishwashing detergent to the flat aluminum sheet metal;
- smoothing the vinyl sheet onto the flat aluminum sheet metal;
- squeegeeing with a squeegee over the applied vinyl sheet and removing bubbles and wrinkles from the vinyl sheet;
- running the vinyl coated sheet metal made of aluminum alloy through a corrugating machine which machine comprises at least two rollers, the first of which rollers comprises a series of peaks having a first diameter and a series of specially semicircular spaces in between the peaks which semicircular spaces have a substantially larger diameter than said first diameter, the second roller comprising a series of at least partially circular elements being configured to mate with the semicircular spaces of the first roller;
- forming corrugated soffit;
- rolling the corrugated soffit in rolls that are sufficient to cover at least one side of the house as soffit;
- placing the soffit after rolling into a cardboard box or other box that has a slot in one corner such that the rolled soffit extends from the bottom of the box substantially straight through said slot;
- loading the soffit disposed in the box onto a vehicle;
- transporting the box with the soffit disposed therein to a desired location;
- moving the box with the soffit disposed therein to a location where soffit is going to be installed in the house;
- moving the box to a position where the soffit is aligned with the guides in the house which are configured to receive soffit from the box containing soffit;
- drawing soffit through said slot in said box and pulling a length of soffit from said box;
- raising an end of said soffit sufficiently high to be inserted in the guides under the overhang of a roof of the building;
- aligning the end of the soffit with the guides under the overhang of the roof;
- pushing the end of the soffit between the guides under the overhang of the roof;
- continuing pushing the soffit between the guides until a desired length of soffit is between the guides to cover the between the wall of the house and the overhang portion of the roof of the house;
- cutting the soffit to length with a cutting instrument;
- repeating the installation steps of the first side of the house by installing soffit on another side of the house between guides on the other side of the house; and
- repeating the installation steps of the step immediately above until all desired sides of the house have soffit installed.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 11, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 3, 2014
Inventor: William CULINA (Connellsville, PA)
Application Number: 13/792,719
International Classification: B21D 13/04 (20060101);