Patent ID: 7562505
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: E04F

Abstract:
1. A siding panel assembly for use in external siding of a building structure, comprising: a first panel component including a body having a front face a portion of which defines an exposed face of the siding panel assembly, and a rear face, the first panel component having a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the first panel component and a lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a second panel component including a body having a front face a portion of which defines an exposed face of the siding panel assembly, and a rear face, the second panel component having a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the second panel component and a lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second panel component being separate from and slidably engageable with the first panel component to form the panel assembly, the first panel component including a channel having a width extending along the lateral axis, the channel being located on the rear face of the first panel, the channel having an interior cavity and a slot opening formed on the bottom of the channel, the slot opening having a thickness dimension and permitting access to the interior of the channel from the bottom of the first panel, the second panel component having a locking lip formed at an end of the body and adapted for receipt within the cavity of the channel of the first panel component, the locking lip having a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the slot opening such that the first and second panel components may be connected to each other by sliding the locking lip into the channel cavity in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first panel component with a portion of the body of the second panel component extending through the slot opening, the locking lip having a width in the lateral direction that is less than the width of the channel so as to define a sliding gap, the gap permitting the locking lip of the second panel component to slide freely within the channel of the first panel component in a direction substantially parallel to the lateral axis of the first panel component while the first and second panel components remain connected to each other; the assembly permitting relative lateral movement between the first and second panel components for accommodating changes in the building structure; wherein the channel includes a rear leg that extends downward past the slot opening and the bottom of the body of the first panel component to define a planar support member, and wherein a support member lip is formed on a lower end of the planar support member and projects forwardly, the support member lip adapted to contact the rear face of the second panel component for providing support for a portion of the second panel component at a location spaced apart from the connection between the locking lip and the channel.