Abstract:
The Vinyl Siding Outside Corner Mounting Block, made of molded plastic, nailed approximately two feet apart to the outside verticle corner of a structure with one 8d box nail, makes the application of the vinyl siding outside corners simple, fast and accurate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Vinyl siding outside corner mounting block is used in the field of construction, both residential and commercial, with the application of vinyl siding to the exterior of a building. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide an outside corner mounting block for use with siding which allows the siding outside corner and outside corner mounting block to be easily and quickly mounted to a structure. 
     More specifically, the present invention provides an outside corner mounting block that comprises a molded plastic body having an angled configuration. The molded plastic body forms an angle that matches the angle of the outside corner of the structure to which it is to be attached, and includes an integral mounting support that allows the molded plastic body to be quickly and easily secured to the corner of the structure. The integral mounting support includes an aperture that is sized to allow a fastener, such as a nail, screw, or other similar fastener, to be received therein to attach the outside corner mounting block to the structure. As such, the present invention may be quickly and easily attached to the structure using standard fasteners. 
     According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing standard siding outside corners, such as vinyl siding outside corners, to the outside corner mounting block without the use of fasteners or adhesives to hold the siding outside corner in position while it is permanently attached to the structure by the installer. The method comprises snapping the outside corners over the outside corner mounting block, which then holds the outside corner secure to the structure, while allowing the outside corner to be shifted vertically into its final position and then permanently attached to the structure. 
     When utilizing the present invention to mount vinyl siding outside corners to a structure, the outside corner mounting blocks of the present invention are nailed to the vertical outside corners of the structure approximately two feet apart before mounting the vinyl siding outside corners. The vinyl siding outside corners are then snapped into place over the outside corner mounting blocks, and the vinyl siding outside corners are then aligned and nailed to the structure. 
     The advantages of the present invention are that the outside corner mounting blocks allow for the proper straight, square, and plumb alignment of the siding outside corners, eliminating the need for separately measuring, snapping chalk lines, and maintaining the alignment of the outside corners while securing the outside corners to the structure. The outside corner mounting blocks of the present invention are easy to use, guaranty accuracy, and allow installers to save time when mounting the outside corners. 
     Additionally, when the outside corner mounting block is used on the very top or bottom of the outside corner, the outside corner mounting block fully blocks the gap between the outside corner of the structure and the siding outside corner, thereby preventing mice, rats, and other vermin from crawling between the outside corner and the siding outside corner and gaining entry into the structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a outside corner mounting block embodying features of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an alternative perspective view of the outside corner mounting block of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the outside corner mounting block of  FIG. 1  attached to a corner of a structure. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the outside corner mounting block of  FIG. 1  attached to a corner of a structure showing the siding outside corner secured to the outside corner mounting block. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the outside corner mounting block  10  of the present invention comprises a body  12  having an angled configuration that matches the angle of the outside corner to which it is to be attached. Preferably, for a standard 90-degree outside corner, the outside corner mounting block  10  has an L-shaped configuration, with an angle of approximately ninety (90) degrees between the two sides of the L. The body  12  of the outside corner mounting block  10  is generally constructed of injection molded plastic. 
     The body  12  includes two inner walls  14   a ,  14   b , two side walls  16   a ,  16   b , a top sealing wall  18 , a bottom sealing wall  20 , and an integral mounting support  22 . The two inner walls  14   a ,  14   b  are adjacent to each other and meet at an angle that matches the angle of the outside corner to which the outside corner mounting block  10  is to be attached. Preferably, for a standard 90-degree outside corner, the inner walls  14   a ,  14   b  meet at an angle of ninety (90) degrees. However, if the outside corner has an angle that is different than ninety (90) degrees, the inner walls  14   a ,  14   b  of the body  12  may be configured to match such an angle. 
     Each of the two side walls  16   a ,  16   b  of the body  12  are adjacent to one of the inner walls  14   a ,  14   b  of the body  12 . The side walls  16   a ,  16   b  are configured to provide additional strength and rigidity to the outside corner mounting block  10  and to separate and support the top sealing wall  18  and the bottom sealing wall  20 . The side walls  16   a ,  16   b  also provide a surface onto which the siding outside corner  100  may be snapped onto the outside corner mounting block  10 . The dimensions of the side walls  16   a ,  16   b  are selected such that the edges of the siding outside corner  16   a ,  16   b  are held flush against the wall  102  of the structure  104  to which the siding outside corner  100  is to be attached when the siding outside corner  100  is attached to the outside corner mounting block  10 . 
     The body  12  also includes an integral mounting support  22  that allows the body  12  to be secured to the corner of the structure  104 . Preferably, the integral mounting support  22  is immediately adjacent to the portion of the body  12  where the two inner walls  14   a ,  14   b  meet. The integral mounting support  22  includes an aperture  24  for attaching the outside corner mounting block  10  to the wall  102  of the structure  104  to which the outside corner mounting block  10  is to be attached, and also provides the body  12  of the outside corner mounting block  10  with additional strength and rigidity. More specifically, the integral mounting support  22  provides the top sealing wall  18  and the bottom sealing wall  20  with additional support, such that the top sealing wall  18  and the bottom sealing wall  20  are substantially prevented from flexing. 
     The aperture  24  defined by the integral mounting support  22  is sized to allow a fastener  26 , such as a nail, screw, or other similar fastener, to be received therein in order to secure the outside corner mounting block  10  to the structure  104 . As such, the outside corner mounting block  10  of the present invention may be quickly and easily attached to the structure  104  using standard fasteners. 
     The dimensions for the body  12  of the outside corner mounting block  10  may be selected such that that outside corner mounting block  10  may be used with any siding known in the art. For example, preferably, for standard vinyl siding outside corners, the outside corner mounting block may have a height of approximately three (3) inches, a width of approximately two (2) inches, and a thickness of approximately one (1) inch. 
     The outside corner mounting block  10  of the present invention may be used in conjunction with the application of vinyl siding, and other similar siding, to both residential and commercial structures. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in order to use the present invention, a plurality of the outside corner mounting blocks  10  are secured to the outside corner of the structure  104  approximately two (2) feet apart with the fastener  26 , such as a nail, screw, or similar fastener, before any other siding is applied to the adjacent walls  102  of the structure  104 . The siding outside corner  100  may then be snapped into place over the outside corner mounting blocks  10  and secured to the structure  104  with standard siding fasteners, such as a nails, screws, or similar fasteners. Once the siding outside corner  100  has been secured to the structure  104 , the siding may be applied to the walls of the structure  104 . 
     The outside corner mounting block  10  of the present invention may be produced by a factory in the plastic molding business in any way generally known in the art. Preferably, the outside corner mounting block  10  may be mass produced using molds and any injection-type plastic known in the art by injecting the injection-type plastic into the mold. The outside corner mounting block  10  may then be distributed through building material suppliers or siding suppliers. 
     It will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the size, configuration, or dimensions of the outside corner mounting block may be adjusted to accommodate siding from different manufacturers, or to accommodate outside corners having different predetermined angles. 
     While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention, as defined in the appended claims, without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that the present invention will include any embodiments falling within the description of the appended claims.