Post cladding assembly with sheet retaining means

An elongate modular post cladding element is adapted for cooperating with at least one other cladding element to cover a post. The cladding element includes a panel for being applied to the post, and having first and second opposed end edges and first and second opposed, longitudinally-extending side edges. A female fastener extends along the first side edge of the panel. A complementary male fastener extends along the opposed second side edge of the panel. The female fastener has spaced-apart surfaces forming a generally U-shaped groove having a depth at least twice as great as its width. The groove defines a position adjustment zone for receiving a selected portion of a male fastener of an adjacent cladding element to adjustably position the adjacent cladding element on the post. A retaining assembly provided for securing a flexible sheet material to the panel.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to a post cladding assembly including means
 for retaining a sheet material, such as a wire mesh screen or plastic
 film, used for enclosing an outdoor deck or porch. The invention is
 essentially maintenance free, is quickly and easily assembled, and is
 adjustable to accommodate minor size variations in the post.
 In addition to post cladding, the invention provides convenient means for
 securing a flexible wire mesh screen or plastic film between adjacent,
 spaced-apart posts of the outdoor deck or porch. The screen and film is
 readily attached to and removed from the post cladding without the use of
 special tools or penetrating fasteners.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a post cladding
 assembly which improves the appearance and weather-resistance of wood
 posts commonly used in outdoor decks and porches.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a post cladding assembly
 which requires relatively little maintenance.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a post cladding element
 which is quickly and easily applied to the post.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a post cladding assembly
 which is adjustable to accommodate slight size variations in the post.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a post cladding element
 which interconnects with like elements to form a cladding assembly.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a post cladding assembly
 which is permanently attached to the post using fasteners which are
 concealed.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a post cladding assembly
 which includes means for readily attaching a wire mesh screen or plastic
 film sheet to the post to enclose the area of the outdoor deck or porch.
 These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the
 preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing an elongate modular
 post cladding element adapted for cooperating with at least one other
 cladding element to cover a post. The cladding element includes a panel
 for being applied to the post, and having first and second opposed end
 edges and first and second opposed, longitudinally-extending side edges. A
 female fastener extends along the first side edge of the panel. A
 complementary male fastener extends along the opposed second side edge of
 the panel. The female fastener has spaced-apart surfaces forming a
 generally U-shaped groove. The groove has a depth at least twice as great
 as its width. The groove defines a position adjustment zone for receiving
 a selected portion of a male fastener of an adjacent cladding element to
 adjustably position the adjacent cladding element on the post. Retaining
 means are provided for securing a flexible sheet material to the panel.
 According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the retaining
 means includes a longitudinal channel formed with the panel, and an
 elongated flexible spline adapted for being inserted into the channel to
 wedge the flexible sheet material between the spline and the panel.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention,
 spaced-apart, inwardly extending shoulders are integrally formed with the
 channel and cooperating to secure the spline within the channel.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the male
 and female fasteners extend longitudinally from one end edge of the panel
 to the other.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the male
 and female fasteners are integrally-formed with the panel.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the male
 fastener includes at least one longitudinally-extending notch therein
 defining a weakness line for being cut to shorten a lateral dimension of
 the cladding element.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a
 longitudinally-extending attachment flange is formed adjacent the female
 fastener for receiving attachment means therethrough to the post for
 permanently mounting the cladding element to the post.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the
 cladding element is integrally-molded of a plastic material.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the
 retaining means includes a longitudinal channel formed with the panel, and
 a cap overlying the panel and including a longitudinally-extending,
 resilient connector strip for being inserted into the channel to hold the
 cap to the panel, thereby sandwiching the flexible sheet mat erial between
 the cap and the panel.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention,
 spaced-apart, inwardly extending shoulders are integrally formed with the
 channel and cooperate to hold the connector strip within the channel.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the
 connector strip has a generally V-shaped profile, and includes outwardly
 extending shoulders cooperating with the shoulders of the channel to
 further secure the cap to the panel.
 In another embodiment, the invention is a post cladding assembly including
 a plurality of post cladding elements for covering a post. Each of the
 post cladding elements includes a panel for being applied to the post, and
 having first and second opposed end edges and first and second opposed,
 longitudinally-extending side edges. A female fastener extends along the
 first side edge of the panel. A complementary male fastener extends along
 the opposed second side edge of the panel. The female fastener has
 spaced-apart surfaces forming a generally U-shaped groove having a depth
 at least twice as great as its width. The groove defines a position
 adjustment zone for receiving a selected portion of a male fastener of an
 adjacent cladding element to adjustably position the adjacent cladding
 element on the post. Retaining means are provided for securing a flexible
 sheet material to the panel.
 According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, first and
 second longitudinally extending ridges are integrally formed with the
 panel of the post cladding element, and are spaced apart for residing
 adjacent opposite longitudinal side edges of the cap upon attachment of
 the cap to the panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE
 Referring now specifically to the drawings, post cladding assemblies
 according to the present invention are illustrated in FIG. 1 and shown
 generally at reference numerals 10 and 10', respectively. The cladding
 assemblies 10 and 10' are particularly applicable for cladding standard
 4.times.4 and 2.times.4 wood posts commonly used in outdoor decks and
 porches. For square posts "P", the cladding assembly 10 is formed of four
 identical, elongate, modular post cladding elements 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D
 adapted for covering respective sides of the post. For 2.times.4 posts
 "P"', the cladding assembly 10' is formed of cladding elements 10A' and
 10B' identical to those applied to the square post "P" and smaller
 cladding elements 10C' and 10D' for covering the narrower sides of the
 post "P"'. The cladding assemblies 10 and 10' preferably extend the entire
 length of the posts and function to provide an aesthetic, generally
 maintenance-free exterior covering.
 The cladding elements 10A-10D and 10A'-10D' cooperate with elongated
 flexible splines 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, and 11F and caps 12A, 12B, 12C,
 and 12D, as described further below, to secure a plastic film 14 and/or
 wire screen 15 to the posts to enclose the outdoor deck or porch. The post
 cladding elements 10A-10D and 10A'-10D' and caps 12A-12D are preferably
 individually formed of extruded, U.V. stabilized, high-impact rigid PVC.
 The splines 11A-11F are preferably formed of a resilient plastic or rubber
 material.
 Description of Post Cladding Element 20
 A single post cladding element 20 according to the invention is shown in
 FIG. 2. The cladding element 20 includes a panel 22 having opposing end
 edges and opposing longitudinal side edges. The panel 22 defines
 spaced-apart locking channels 24, 25, and 26 extending parallel to the
 side edges and longitudinally from one end edge to the other. The locking
 channels 24, 25, and 26 include respective pairs of spaced shoulders 27A,
 27B, 28A, 28B, and 29A, 29B. A female fastener 30 is integrally-formed
 along the first side edge of the panel 22, and includes spaced walls 31
 and 32 forming a groove 33 oriented generally perpendicular to the
 exterior plane of the panel 22. A complementary male fastener 35 is
 integrally-formed along the opposed second side edge of the panel 22, and
 cooperates with a female fastener of an adjacent cladding element to
 interlock the two cladding elements together on adjacent sides of the
 post. Preferably, the female fastener 30 and male fastener 35 extend the
 entire length of the panel 22, and include respective engaging serrations
 (not shown).
 The groove 33 of the female fastener 30 has a generally U-shaped profile
 adapted for receiving the male fastener of an adjacent cladding element.
 The depth "y" of the groove 33 is preferably about 3-4 times greater than
 its width "x", such that the amount of male fastener received into the
 groove 33 can be adjusted within an adjustment zone defined by the
 distance "y" for increasing or decreasing the lateral coverage of the
 adjacent cladding element on the post. For added size adjustment, the male
 fastener 35 includes spaced notches 37 and 38 which define respective 10o
 weakness lines for being cut to shorten the lateral dimension of the
 cladding element 20. The notches 37, 38 preferably extend the entire
 length of the panel 22 from one end edge to the other.
 In addition, an attachment flange 39 is formed with the female fastener 30,
 and extends generally perpendicular to the plane of the panel 22 for
 receiving nails or other suitable attachment means, such as tacks,
 staples, or the like. The nails pass through the attachment flange 39 and
 into the wood post to permanently attach the cladding element to the post.
 Description of Post Cladding Element 40
 A post cladding element 40 adapted for covering the narrower sides of the
 2.times.4 wood post "P"' is best shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6. The cladding
 element includes a panel 42 having opposing end edges and opposing
 longitudinal side edges. The panel 42 defines spaced-apart locking
 channels 44, 45, and 46 extending parallel to the side edges and
 longitudinally from one end edge to the other. The locking channels 44,
 45, and 46 include respective pairs of spaced shoulders 47A, 47B, 48A,
 48B, and 49A, 49B. A female fastener 50, identical to that previously
 described, is integrally-formed along the first side edge of the panel 42,
 and includes spaced walls 51 and 52 forming a groove 53 oriented generally
 perpendicular to the exterior plane of the panel 42. A complementary male
 fastener 55 is integrally-formed along the opposed second side edge of the
 panel 42, and cooperates with a female fastener of an adjacent cladding
 element to interlock the two cladding elements together on adjacent sides
 of the post. The male fastener 55 includes a notch 56 which defines a
 weakness line for being cut to shorten the lateral dimension of the
 cladding element 40. The notch 56 preferably extends the entire length of
 the panel 42 from one end edge to the other. An attachment flange 59 is
 formed with the female fastener 50, and extends generally perpendicular to
 the plane of the panel 42 for receiving nails or other suitable attachment
 means, such as tacks, staples, or the like. The nails (not shown) pass
 through the attachment flange 59 and into the wood post to permanently
 attach the cladding element 40 to the post.
 Attachment of the Wire Screen and Plastic Film to the Posts
 After assembly of the cladding elements 10A-10D and 10A'-10D' on the posts
 "P" and "P"', as shown in FIG. 1, the plastic film 14 and/or wire mesh
 screen 15 is attached to enclose the outdoor deck or porch area. While the
 following description refers only to the screen 15, it is understood that
 the means for attaching the plastic film 14 is identical.
 Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, with the cap 12 removed, the marginal edge
 portion of the screen 15 is first placed against the cladding element 20
 of the post "P" to cover the locking channel 24. The resilient spline 11
 is then forced into the channel 24 between the locking shoulders 27A and
 27B to tightly wedge the screen 15 between the spline 11 and the cladding
 element 20. The diameter of the spline 11 is sufficiently large relative
 to the channel 24 to secure the screen 15 to the cladding element 20. The
 locking shoulders 27A and 27B cooperate to hold the spline 11 in the
 channel 24, and to prevent the spline 11 from being inadvertently
 dislodged. If necessary, a hammer or other suitable tool may be used to
 force the spline 11A into the channel 24.
 After attaching the screen 15 the cap 12 is placed between laterally-spaced
 ridges 61 and 62 formed with the outside surface of the panel 22. The cap
 12 includes a generally v-shaped, longitudinally extending, resilient
 connector strip 65 integrally formed on its inside surface for being
 inserted into the locking channel 25 of the cladding element 20. The
 connector strip 65 preferably includes locking shoulders 66 and 67 which
 cooperate with the shoulders 28A and 28B to secure the cap 12 to the
 cladding element 20. The cap 12 provides an aesthetic covering for
 concealing the channels 24, 25, and 26, and cooperates with the ridges 61
 and 62 to further secure the screen 15 to the cladding element 20.
 Attachment of the screen 15 to cladding element 40 is best shown in FIGS. 5
 and 6. As previously described, with the cap 13 removed, the marginal edge
 portion of each screen 15 is first placed against the cladding element 40
 of the post "P"' to cover the locking channels 44 and 46, respectively.
 Resilient splines 11 are then forced into the channels 44 and 46 between
 the locking shoulders 47A, 47B and 49A, 49B to tightly wedge the screens
 15 between the spline 11 and the cladding element 40. The locking
 shoulders 47A, 47B and 49A, 49B cooperate to hold the splines 11 in the
 channels 44 and 46.
 After attaching the screen 15, the cap 13 is placed between spaced
 longitudinal ridges 71 and 72 formed with the outside surface of the panel
 42. The cap 13 includes a generally v-shaped, longitudinally extending,
 resilient connector strip 75 integrally formed on its inside surface for
 being inserted into the locking channel 45 of the cladding element 40. The
 connector strip 75 preferably includes locking shoulders 76 and 77 which
 cooperate with the shoulders 48A and 48B to secure the cap 13 to the
 cladding element 40. The cap 13 provides an aesthetic covering for
 concealing the channels 44, 45, and 46, and cooperates with the ridges 71
 and 72 to further secure the screen 15 to the cladding element 40.
 Post cladding assemblies 10 and 10' are described above. Various details of
 the invention may be changed without departing from its scope.
 Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the
 invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for
 the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of
 limitation--the invention being defined by the claims.