Abstract:
An improved panel siding installation device enables a worker installing panel siding on a building structure such as a house to accurately and efficiently measure the distance between edges of adjacent siding panels. This distance is known as the “reveal distance” of the lap siding. In addition to accurately measuring the distance between edges of siding panels, the present invention also supports the siding panel while it is being installed. This support provides some assistance to the installation worker and enables an installation working to more quickly and accurately install siding panels on a structure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to and claims priority from provisional application No. 61/576,447 filed on Dec. 6, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a device for installing siding panels on a structure or building and in particular, this invention relates to a device that supports and balances a siding panel while a worker is installing the siding panel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Siding is the outer covering or cladding of a house meant to shed water and protect from the effects of weather. On a building that uses siding, it may act as a key element in the aesthetic beauty of the structure and directly influence its property value. Siding may be formed of horizontal or vertical boards, shingles, or sheet materials. In all four cases, avoiding wind and rain infiltration through the joints is a major challenge, met by overlapping, by covering or sealing the joint, or by creating an interlocking joint such, as a tongue-and-groove. Since building materials expand and contract with changing temperature and humidity, it is not practical to make rigid joints between the siding elements. 
     Siding may be made of wood, metal, plastic (vinyl), cement, or composite materials. It may be attached directly to the building structure (studs in the ease of wood construction), or to an intermediate layer of horizontal planks called sheathing. 
     In the housing industry, teams of two installers generally apply siding to a house or other building. This allows each member of the team to measure the proper overlap of siding and then attach the siding to the side of the home. Generally, the length of the siding prevents one person from performing the job alone. If one person could properly attach the siding, productivity would increase. 
     Many tools exist to assist persons in installing siding on houses. One such tool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,853. This tool is a siding application tool that includes an overlap portion having upper and lower ends, an L-shaped hook portion that forms a generally right-angle hook with the upper end of the overlap portion, an L-shaped retainer portion that forms a generally right-angle retainer with lire lower end of the overlap portion, and a plate member that extends from the L-shaped retainer portion that is generally perpendicular to the plane of the overlap portion. The L-shaped hook portion includes an upper bearing surface, and the L-shaped retainer portion includes a lower hearing surface. The upper and lower hearing surfaces are generally parallel with the plate member. 
     Another siding installation tool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,021. The tool includes a body having a handle said a pair of vertically spaced-apart seat assemblies that define a seat distance there between. The lower seat assembly is adapted to engage the lower portion of a previously installed siding piece, and the upper seat assembly is adapted to support the lower portion of a siding piece to be installed at the determined reveal distance relative to the previously installed siding piece. The reveal distance is at least substantially defined, by the seat distance. In some embodiments, the tool enables two or more installers to with one hand properly hold and provide for level alignment of the piece of lap siding to be installed, while at the same time enabling the installer&#39;s to mechanically fasten the same with the other hand. In some embodiments, the tool is adjustable to accommodate a range of reveal sizes. 
     A portion of a face  110  of a building is shown in  FIG. 1  with lap siding installed thereupon. As shown, three pieces of lap siding am at least partially shown and generally indicated at  114 ,  116  and  118 . Each piece of Ian siding includes a bottom edge, or downwardly oriented surface,  120  and a face  122 . The faces  122  include an exposed portion  124  and an occluded portion  126 , which is covered, or overlapped, by the piece of lap siding installed above it. It should be understood that the top-most piece of lap siding installed on face  110  may not have an occluded portion or that occluded portion  126  may be formed, by a piece of molding or trim, as opposed to another piece of lap siding. The distance between adjacent edges  120  is referred to as the “reveal” or “reveal distance”  128  of the lap siding and corresponds to the generally vertical length of the exposed portions  124  of the pieces of lap siding. The dimensions of the reveal, may vary, with four, five, six, seven and eight inch reveals being common. Typically, each piece of lap siding is at least four feet in length, and lap siding is often at least six, eight, ten, twelve or more feet in length. Lap siding may be formed of any suitable material, including wood, composites, metal, vinyl, and the like. It should be understood that the length, height, reveal, mid materials of construction of the lap siding may vary and that the scope of the present invention, should not be limited to a particular range of values for these variables. Instead, a lap siding tool constructed according to the present invention may be sized to accommodate any particular type of lap siding. Although several Cools are available to assist in the installation of siding, there remains a need for an improved siding installation tool that can measure the position of the siding arid can assist the worker in the installation of the siding. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises an improved panel siding installation device. The device enables a worker installing panel siding on a building structure such as a house to accurately and efficiently measure the distance between edges of adjacent siding panels. This distance is referred to as the “reveal” or “reveal distance” of the lap siding. The reveal distance corresponds to the generally vertical, length of the exposed portions of the pieces of lap siding. In addition to accurately measuring the distance between edges of siding panels, the present invention also supports the siding panel while it is being installed. This support provides some assistance to the installation worker and enables an installation working to more quickly and accurately install siding panels on a structure. 
     The siding installation device of the present invention comprises a bottom lip surface that engages an installed siding panel. A top surface positioned a determined distance from the bottom lip supports the siding panel that is being installed. This distance between the bottom lip and top support surface is the reveal distance or distance between the siding panel edges. In an embodiment of the present invention the distance between the top support and bottom lip can be adjusted to accommodate various sizes of siding panels. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view of siding panels installed on a housing wall. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of an adjustable siding installation tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention m a dosed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the adjustable siding installation tool of  FIG. 2  in an extended position. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of an alternate embodiment of the adjustable siding installation tool of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of a non-adjustable siding installation tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a non-adjustable siding installation tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention showing extension edges. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of the steps in the implementation of the siding Installation tool of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improved siding installation tool, to facilitate the efficient installation of siding on building structures. As previously mentioned, in the installation of siding, teams of two installers generally apply siding to a house or other building. This approach allows each member of the team to measure the proper overlap of siding and then attach the siding panels to the side of the home. Currently, an installer has to mark a location on an installed siding panel, then position the new panel that is to be installed at the mark. For accurate installation, the marks for both installers must be at the same level. This means each worker must measure the exact same distance for proper alignment of the siding panel to be installed. The workers must also measure level on the siding panel, after installation, in ensure that the siding panel, alignment is accurate. This process of marking the siding panel, positioning the new panel on the markings and then measuring fee level of the newly installed siding panel is very time-consuming and inefficient The present invention enables each siding installer to measure and position a new siding panel for installation without the need to mark an installed siding panel or measure the level of tire newly installed siding panel. 
       FIG. 2  shows a preferred embodiment of the siding installation, tool of the present invention. This tool can indicate the position of a siding panel that is to be installed based on the position of an already Installed siding panel. As indicated in  FIG. 1 , an installed siding panel overlaps the siding panel directly beneath it. When a siding panel overlaps another siding panel, the exposed portion of the overlapped siding panel is used to determine the position of the siding panel to be installed. With the tool of the present invention, the installer is able to identify the location on the installed siding panel in order to position the new siding panel that will be installed. 
     The tool in  FIG. 2  comprises a ruler element  202  to measure the distance from the bottom of an installed siding panel to the position for the bottom of the next siding panel to be installed (“fee revealed distance”). This element has a linear or straight rectangle shape and can have measurement markings  220  along its edge to indicate different distances. At the bottom of the ruler element is a base  204 . This base has an extended, portion  206  with a flat surface that can engage the bottom edge of an installed siding panel. A handle  214  attaches to the ruler element to enable fee installer to hold and maneuver the installation tool. The handle can have a generally linear shape or it can contain recesses to accommodate the fingers of the worker. A handle with recesses for the worker&#39;s fingers will enable the worker to maintain a more secure grip of the handle. The ruler element  202  can have a hollow internal channel that holds a ruler extension component  208 . This ruler extension component is slidably attached to the ruler dement  202  and can move linearly (usually vertically) in relation to the ruler element. The ruler extension component provides for the capability to adjust the length of the installation tool as needed for various sixes of siding panels. The ruler extension component  208  also has a locking pin  216  that can extend and engage various notch holes  216  of the ruler element to secure the rater extension at a desired distance. The locking pin can be a spring function such that the pin can be depressed while the ruler extension is being adjusted. Once the worker has reached the desired adjustment, the locking pin is aligned with the desire notch hole  210 . The locking pin extends out through the notch hole to lock the ruler extension in position. The top of the ruler extension component comprises a lid extension  212  that extends outward from the ruler element in the same direction as the extended base portion  206 . This top extension can also have a bat top surface that is capable of supporting a siding panel that is to be installed. The top lid extension can optionally have a rubber material  222  affixed to the surface to increase friction and more securely support the siding panel resting on the top lid. The top lid extension  212  and bottom extension  206  define the measurement of the exposed portion of the installed siding panel. In  FIG. 2 , the ruler extension locking pin engages the bottom notch hole  210 . This position is considered the closed position of the installation tool as opposed to a position where the ruler extension  208  is extended upward and where the locking pin  216  of the ruler extension engages another notch hole  210  on the ruler element. 
     The siding installation tool of the present invention can be comprised of various materials. The materials can include rubber, plastic or metal. Because some of the embodiments of the present invention are mechanical In that a user has the ability to alter or adjust the reveal, distance of the siding tool, some materials may be suitable or preferable. For example, a tool comprised of an aluminum material may be more suitable for mechanical embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , shown, is the siding installation tool of  FIG. 2  adjusted to an extended position. As shown, the ruler extension  208  is extended upward such that the locking pin  216  engages the second notch hole upward. When the locking pin  216  engages the second notch hole upward, the installation is locked into place at the new position. The added length, of the installation tool resulting from the extension-is indicated by  318 . With this adjustment, the lid  212  of the ruler extension  208  provides an indicator for a different height of siding panel from the illustration in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  also shows the top and bottom side of the base  204  of the bottom extension  206 . As mentioned, this bottom lip will engage the bottom edge of the already installed siding panel. With the ability of the installer to adjust the distance between the bottom lip  206  and the top lid extension  212 , the sliding installation tool of the present invention can accommodate various sizes of siding. 
     An alternate embodiment to the series of notch holes at discrete intervals is to have a groove that extends the length of the series of notch holes. Instead of inserting a pin into a notch hole, in this embodiment, a screw is inserted into the groove. The screw slides along the length of the groove and can be tightened at any desired length. With this embodiment, the user is not limited to specific measurement designations. 
       FIG. 4  is a view of an alternate embodiment of the adjustable siding installation tool of the present invention. In this embodiment, the handle element  214  has a different design. The base of portion  204  of this design is substantially similar to the designs in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In addition, the other features of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  are the same as in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . This embodiment also has the same functionality and capabilities as the designs in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a non-adjustable siding installation tool embodiment of the present Invention. This tool has top and bottom edges  502  and  504  and can have a symmetrical design. Grooves  506 ,  508  and  510  provide the means to better handle the tool.  FIG. 6  gives a side view of this embodiment of the installation tool. This view shows extended top and bottom edges  602  and  604  that will engage the edges of the siding panels. Similar to the adjustable design, in operation, the bottom edge  504  of the tool engages the bottom edge of an installed siding panel. The top end/edge of the tool  502  indicates the position of the next siding panel to be installed. As with the adjustable design, the top edge  502  will also be able to support the siding panel during installation. In the implementation of the siding tool of the present invention, siding installers do not need to physically measure and mark the siding panels to determine the proper position of the siding panels during Installation. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the steps in the implementation of the siding installation tool of the present invention. In operation, the present Invention is designed to measure the distance between adjacent bottom edges of the siding panels as shown in  FIG. 1 . The revealed edge of the siding panel  128  is this measured distance of the tool of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , this distance will be the distance between the extended portion  206  and the top lid  212 . In the implementation of the tool of the present invention, in step  702 , the installer determines the revealed distance between the previously installed siding panel and the next siding panel to be installed. After the installer determines this distance, in step  704 , the installer will adjust the installation tool to the determined distance. In practice, depending on the determined measurement, the tool may already be at the determined distance, if adjustments to the installation tool are needed, the adjustments will be as previously described. Next, in step  706 , the installer will position the base extension  206  of the installer tool against the bottom edge of the siding panel that is immediately such that the base extended portion  206  engages the bottom edge of the siding panel. In step  708 , the installer then places a siding panel that is to be installed on the top surface of the top lid extension  212 . At this point, the top lid  212  indicates the position for the next siding panel. The top lid  212  is designed such that the top lid has a surface area that can also support the siding panel to be installed. At this point, the new siding panel that is to be installed is resting on the installation tool of the present invention. With each installer having one of the present installation tools, in step  710 , the siding panel is secured to the building structure. Installers can use tools such as nail guns and staplers to secure the siding panel. With the siding panel installed, the installers repeat the installation method of the present invention. 
     This invention provides significant advantages over the current art. The invention has been described in connection with its preferred embodiments. However, it is not limited thereto. Changes, variations and modifications to the basic design may be made without departing from the inventive concepts in this invention, in addition, these changes, variations and modifications would be obvious to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the foregoing teachings. All such changes, variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of this invention.