Snap lock soffit system

A snap lock soffit system includes: a receiver rail including; a receiver rail flange; an end fastening tab located at one end of the receiver rail; and a plurality of snap lock receiver tabs depending from the receiver rail, the snap lock receiver tabs being spaced along the length of the receiver rail flange; and a soffit panel including: a plurality of retainer grooves each adapted to receive a corresponding snap lock receiver tab in a press fit locking configuration to secure the soffit panel to the receiver rail, the retainer grooves spaced along the length of the soffit panel; a fastening edge located at a first end along the length of the soffit panel, where in the fastening edge is aligned with the plane of the end fastening tab of the receiver rail when the soffit panel is secured to the receiver rail; and a soffit extension.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to a snap lock soffit system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a plastic exterior soffit system that includes a simple snap locking fastener system to assist in installation.

As used herein, the term soffit generally refers to the exposed undersurface of an exterior overhanging section of a roof eave. However, it is understood that the term soffit, and the subject matter presented herein, applies to the underside of porches, arches, columns, stairs, etc.

In residential and commercial construction, the soffit is typically protected by one or more layers of material (aluminum, vinyl, wood, etc.), often screwed or nailed into position. The soffit is both functional and aesthetic. Functionally, the soffit protects the rafters from the weather. A ventilated soffit also allows appropriate airflow through the exterior of the building envelope. This can be useful in preventing moisture (and the accompanying rotting and mold) from accumulating along the interior of the building envelope. Aesthetically, the soffit provides a clean and coherent look to otherwise exposed undersurfaces of the building.

Due to its location and orientation, soffits can be awkward to install and maintain. Current soffit solutions have not integrated the fastening system into the design of the soffit panels, which then requires several accessory pieces to be used to fasten the soffit panels in place. Furthermore, the soffit panels are typically installed perpendicular to the direction of the overhang and need to be cut into many smaller pieces prior to installation. For these reasons and others, soffits can be time consuming and difficult to install and maintain.

Accordingly, there is a need for a soffit system that is easier and quicker to install, as described herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To meet the needs described above and others, the present disclosure provides a soffit system that is simple to install and can be installed without requiring the additional accessory pieces that current systems need to complete installation. At the most general description, the snap lock soffit system includes a snap lock receiver rail that facilitates the system's snap lock functions, a plurality of snap fit soffit panels, and optional trim.

In an exemplary embodiment of the soffit system, a snap lock receiver rail is installed horizontally between the sub fascia and the face of the exterior wall at a predetermined spacing. The snap lock receiver rail includes a plurality of snap lock receiver tabs onto which the soffit panels are snapped by simply pushing the soffit panels upward onto the snap lock receiver tabs. Because the soffit panels run parallel to the eave, less cutting and fitting is required, which significantly reduces the installation time required. An optional trim piece can be installed to make the transition between the soffit and the siding more aesthetically pleasing. To simplify the eave even further, an optional gutter system can be added eliminating the need for a sub-fascia.

In one embodiment, a snap lock soffit system includes: a receiver rail including; a receiver rail flange whose length and height define a first plane; an end fastening tab located at one end of the receiver rail whose width and height defines a second plane, wherein the first plane and second plane are perpendicular to each other, the end fastening tab including at least one fastening hole; and a plurality of snap lock receiver tabs depending from the receiver rail, the snap lock receiver tabs being spaced along the length of the receiver rail flange; and a soffit panel including: a plurality of retainer grooves each adapted to receive a corresponding snap lock receiver tab in a press fit locking configuration to secure the soffit panel to the receiver rail, the retainer grooves spaced along the length of the soffit panel; a fastening edge located at a first end along the length of the soffit panel, where in the fastening edge is aligned with the plane of the end fastening tab of the receiver rail when the soffit panel is secured to the receiver rail; and a soffit extension panel retainer groove located at a second end along the length of the soffit panel.

In one contemplated embodiment, the receiver rail flange includes a radiused end opposite to the end fastening tab and the length of the receiver rail extends past the length of the radiused end. In this embodiment, at least one receiver tab may depend from the receiver rail at a position further from the end fastening tab than the radiused end.

In another contemplated embodiment, the snap lock soffit system further includes an end hanger located the end of the receiver rail opposite to the end fastening tab, wherein the end hanger's width and height defines a third plane, where in the first plane and third plane are perpendicular to each other and the second plane and third plane are parallel to each other, the end hanger including at least one fastening hole.

The soffit panel may further include a frieze trim retainer groove for mating with a frieze trim.

An object and advantage of the soffit system is to provide a soffit installation solution that is simple and faster to install.

Another object and advantage of the soffit system is to hold the soffit panels securely in to the snap lock receiver rail while allowing them to float freely with respect to each other so as to be better suited for expansion and contraction between soffit panels with the changing of the weather.

Yet another object and advantage of the invention is to provide a system that is appropriate for installation across a variety of eaves locations and flexible enough to be installed without alterations on the majority of eave configurations.

Another advantage of the snap lock soffit system is that when installed with its optional gutter system, it becomes a complete installation from the drip edge of the roof to the top transition at the siding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of a snap lock soffit system10installed at the undersurface of an exterior overhanging section of a roof eave. As shown inFIG. 1, the snap lock soffit system10includes a snap lock receiver rail12and a soffit panel14. As shown, the receiver rail12includes a series of snap lock receiver tabs16, an end fastening tab18, a stiffening flange20, a receiver rail flange22, and a radiused end24. The soffit panel14includes a series of retainer grooves26corresponding to the receiver tabs16, a fastening edge28, a J channel30, a decorative edge32, and a soffit extension panel retainer groove34. This embodiment of the soffit system10is intended to be installed in combination with a standard gutter and facia cover system36. Accordingly, the other contextual elements shown inFIG. 1include roof sheathing38, a truss tail40, sub-fascia42, a standard drip edge44, and wall sheathing46.

The construction shown inFIG. 1is a standard 12″ eave construction.FIG. 1shows how the snap lock receiver rail12is fastened between the sub-fascia42and the exterior wall construction48using a fastener (i.e., nail or screw, not shown) installed through the end fastening tab18and the wall sheathing46. The soffit panel14is then snapped on to the receiver rail12. The radiused end24of the receiver rail12enables the receiver rail12to fit comfortably under the truss tail40and short of the sub-fascia42. The stiffening flange20and receiver rail flange22provide the structural support for the receiver tabs16, which in turn support the soffit panel14. As shown, the fastening edge28mates with the wall sheathing46, the J channel30provides a channel into which the building's siding (not shown) may mate with the soffit panel14, and the decorative edge32may provide an aesthetically pleasing transition between the soffit panel14and the siding.

One skilled in the art of eave and soffit construction will readily recognize that a series of receiver rails12may be installed along the length of the eave construction to provide a corresponding number of connection points for one or more soffit panels14. The soffit panels14may overlap each other, enabling a free range of lateral movement between adjacent soffit panels14, which prevents warping or other damage that can occur when adjacent soffit panels14are unable to move with respect to each other. This also provides a very quick and easy installation process in that the soffit panels14do not need to be cut to size or otherwise manipulated for installation.

FIGS. 2 and 3show additional details of the receiver rail12shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 2shows the receiver rail12rotated 90 degrees from its position inFIG. 1. As shown, the receiver rail12includes the elements shown inFIG. 1(snap lock receiver tabs16, an end fastening tab18, a stiffening flange20, a receiver rail flange22) as well as one or more fastening holes50to enable the end fastening tab18to easily be secured to the wall sheathing46using a screw or similar fastener52. InFIG. 3, a fastener52is shown through the end fastening tab18.

FIG. 4illustrates an alternative embodiment of the receiver rail12. As shown inFIG. 4, the soffit system10mates to a gutter system36to provide a complete installation from the roof's drip edge44to the siding transition along the face of the building. The receiver rail12differs from that shown inFIGS. 1-3and is further illustrated inFIG. 5.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, this embodiment of the receiver rail12includes a radiused stiffening flange54that connects to an end hanger56and further includes a gutter retainer tab58. This configuration of the soffit system10eliminates the need for the sub-fascia42shown inFIG. 1. This configuration of the soffit system10also is adapted to mate with a gutter system34. The gutter system36shown inFIG. 4is the gutter system taught in U.S. Pat. No. 8,549,791, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

As shown inFIG. 4, the receiver rail12may be installed by fastening the end hanger56to the truss tail40and by fastening the end fastening tab18to the wall sheathing46. Then, the drip edge46may be secured to the roof sheathing38such that the gutter system36can be connected to the retaining rail12and the drip edge46.

The gutter system36shown inFIG. 4includes a gutter body60, including a gutter back wall62and a gutter guard64, protecting the gutter channel65. A pivot joint66is formed by the mating of the drip edge46and the gutter back wall62spans the end hanger56to interface with the gutter retainer tab58at a lower matting portion70. This is merely one example of a gutter system36that may be integrated with the soffit system10and other variations of appropriate gutter systems36will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the disclosure provided herein including the incorporation by reference of U.S. Pat. No. 8,549,791.

As further shown inFIG. 4, the soffit panel14mates with a frieze trim72at a frieze trim retainer groove74. This enables a snap-fit connection between the frieze trim72and the soffit panel14. The frieze trim72completes the span from the drip edge46to the exterior wall construction48. The frieze trim72is designed in such a way that it binds with the soffit panel14and forces the bottom edge of the frieze trim72tight against the siding below. As a result, the soffit system14in connection with the gutter system36provides an integrated solution for constructing eaves, particularly without the need for sub-facia42.

FIGS. 6-9show various embodiments of the soffit panel14and frieze trim72.FIG. 6is an example of a soffit panel14with a J channel30. The J channel30may make it easier to mate the soffit panel14with the siding of the building.

FIG. 7is an example of a soffit extension panel76that includes a snap bulb78that mates with the soffit extension panel retainer groove34to join the soffit panel14and the soffit extension panel76together in a snap-fit manner. Because the soffit extension panel76also includes a soffit extension panel retainer groove34, additional soffit extension panels76may be linked to form an even larger span of soffit panels14and soffit extension panels76.

FIG. 8is an example of a soffit panel14with a frieze trim retainer groove74andFIG. 9is an example of a frieze trim72. As shown, the frieze trim72includes a male snap end80that mates with the frieze trim retainer groove74and a bottom edge82that is to be placed in tension against the siding below, when installed. The frieze trim72further includes a decorative edge32. The shape of the frieze trim72shown inFIG. 9is merely one of countless examples of frieze trim72that could be used. The key factors are the male snap end80, the aesthetic body (e.g., the decorative edge32), and the bottom edge82.

While not shown explicitly, the soffit panels14may be perforated other otherwise ventilated to provide appropriate attic (or other) ventilation.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. For example, various embodiments of the method and portable electronic device may be provided based on various combinations of the features and functions from the subject matter provided herein.