Trim bands and trim band system for custom fitting siding

Trim bands and a trim band system for custom fitting siding is presented. The trim bands include a base band, a frieze band, a mid band, and an inside corner band which function to retain the rough edges of siding panels without exposing channels thereby providing a custom fit and enhanced aesthetic appearance. The trim bands are one piece continuous members which comprise varying numbers of portions which depend on the structural area of the building for which the trim bands are designed. The trim band system includes securing a plurality of trim bands to the exterior surface of a building followed by the placement and attachment of siding panels in conjunction with the trim bands to conceal all exposed edges of the siding panels without exposing channels or troughs formed within the trim bands.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the field of exterior building 
surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for 
custom fitting siding panels which uses individual trim bands to conceal 
siding edges or terminations while still allowing the system and siding 
panels to float on the house. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
The use of aluminum, vinyl, and steel siding panels on the exterior surface 
of buildings has become more commonplace due to the increased economy of 
such panels resulting from increased durability and decreased maintenance. 
Several starter strips, support strips, and cover strips which are 
designed for use with siding panels are known in the prior art. For 
example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,703 to Hilt discloses a sheet metal cover for 
window and door frames to be used in connection with the installation of 
siding. The cover comprises a metal band which is bent to form a channel 
for holding and concealing the edges of siding which surround the 
perimeter of a door or window frame on a house. Although the Hilt cover 
piece may be used in the present inventive system, the inventive system is 
an improvement over the Hilt cover piece in that it provides for a 
complete custom trim system for the edges of all existing siding panels 
which are attached to a house. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,781 to Chalmers et al. describes a siding system with 
support strips that are nailed to the house which function to support the 
siding panels. The support strips include both retainer strips and starter 
strips. The retainer strip comprises a horizontally extending mounting leg 
and a horizontally extending hook which depends from the leg and forms an 
inwardly and upwardly opening channel for engaging and holding edge 
portions of siding panels. The starter strip comprises a horizontally 
extending longitudinally upwardly opening channel flange that extends from 
a horizontally extending longitudinal upwardly projecting leg. A plurality 
of nail holes are spaced along an upper length of the retainer strip hook 
and the starter strip leg for attaching the strips to a building. 
Another piece designed for use with mounting siding panels is disclosed in 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,609 to Champagne. The Champagne patent describes a 
clip for installing the top out panel of vinyl siding. The clip comprises 
a continuous strip of metal having seven contiguous portions which define 
two vertically spaced downwardly opening gripping channels. The gripping 
channels engage the overlying top edge of a bottom siding panel and the 
bottom edge of a top out siding panel, respectively. 
The Port-O-Bender Operations Manual produced by Tapco Products Co., Inc. 
discloses a machine for bending sheet metal into desired trim shapes and 
designs. Several common trim shapes are disclosed which can be custom made 
on the job site with built in "J" channels or hemmed edges. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,309,453 to Hasenburger et al. discloses a prefabricated 
building wall which includes a bottom support sill and panel locking clips 
that ride in vertical frames. The bottom support sill includes 
longitudinally extending sections and lower strip portions which extend 
from the sections. The lower strip portion positioned on the outer side of 
the sill comprises an upwardly extending rib which functions as an 
attachment means for a siding panel. 
Strip configurations for starting and retaining roof and wall tiles are 
also disclosed in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,505 to Thompson 
describes a starter strip for laying tile roofs. The starter strip 
includes a base portion which is supported by the roof structure, a cover 
portion which extends downwardly from a front edge of the base portion to 
overlie an exposed portion of the roof, and a riser portion which extends 
upwardly from the front end of the base portion. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,245,785 to Jentzer et al. discloses a wall covering system 
which includes metal stamped wall tiles and a series of retaining strips 
to secure the tiles in place. The tile retaining strips are bent from 
sheet metal and constitute a base plate, a web extending from the base 
plate, and oppositely disposed rails which extend from the web and hook 
into the tiles. 
Another U.S. patent to Epstein et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,391, discloses a 
simulated cedar shake construction which includes bottom starter strips, 
top or gable strips, corners, and ridge caps. The bottom starter strip 
contains a nailing strip and a U-shaped channel. The bottom edges of the 
lower most shakes are fitted into the U-shaped channel. The gable strip 
comprises a U-shaped channel wherein one leg of the "U" contains an inward 
bend directed toward the other leg of the "U", and a nailing tab which 
extends from the bent leg. 
In summary, there are a number of strip members which are designed to 
start, retain, support, and cover the siding panels which are used in 
siding a building or home. However, no complete system is disclosed for 
custom fitting siding panels such that the siding panel edges on an entire 
surface of a home or building structure are internally concealed without 
the use of "J" type channels and underlying support structures. 
Furthermore, no trim components are disclosed without standard "J" type 
channels which function as base bands, frieze bands, mid bands, or inside 
corners on a structure. 
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and associated trim 
bands which function to accentuate the length, height, bulk, weight, and 
overall aesthetic effect of a building by providing a channel free siding 
system. There is also a need for an improved trim system containing trim 
bands for siding panels which is capable of being custom fit to any type 
of building. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide trim bands and 
a trim band system for custom fitting siding panels on a building or home. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide trim bands which 
simulate the length, height, bulk and weight of painted trim boards, and a 
trim band system for custom fitting siding which enhances the overall 
aesthetic effect of a building or home. 
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system 
for custom fitting siding that includes trim bands having furrows which 
internally conceal the edges of the siding thereby eliminating the 
cluttered look of using standard "J" type channels. 
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide trim bands 
and a trim band system for custom fitting siding which accommodates the 
moving or shifting of a structure over time by floating the trim band 
system and siding on the surface of the structure. 
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide trim bands 
and a trim band system which do not require an underlying support 
structure. 
The inventive trim bands contained in the trim band system of the present 
invention include a base band, a frieze band, a mid band, and an inside 
corner band. The base band is a generally a one-piece member having five 
continuous horizontally elongated planar portions which include a first 
vertical portion, a first horizontal portion extending from the first 
vertical portion to form a ledge, a second vertical portion extending 
downwardly from the ledge, a second horizontal portion extending from the 
back of the second vertical portion, and a third vertical portion 
extending upwardly from the second horizontal portion. 
The frieze band of the present invention is generally a one-piece member 
having six continuous horizontally elongated planar portions which include 
a first vertical portion, a first horizontal portion extending outwardly 
from the front surface of the first vertical portion, a second vertical 
portion extending downwardly from the first horizontal portion, a third 
vertical portion extending upwardly from and back against the second 
vertical planar portion, a second horizontal portion extending back and 
outwardly from the third vertical portion, and a fourth vertical portion 
extending downwardly from the second horizontal portion. 
The mid band of the present invention generally defines a one-piece member 
having seven continuous horizontally elongated planar portions including a 
first vertical portion, a first horizontal portion extending outwardly 
from the front surface of the first vertical portion, a second vertical 
portion extending upwardly from the first horizontal portion, a third 
vertical portion extending downwardly from and back against the front 
surface of the second vertical portion, a fourth vertical portion 
extending upwardly from and back against the back surface of the third 
vertical portion, a second horizontal portion extending outwardly from the 
back surface of the fourth vertical portion, and a fifth vertical portion 
extending downwardly from the second horizontal portion. 
The inside corner band of the present invention is generally a one-piece 
member having eight continuous vertically elongated vertical planar 
portions including a first portion, a second portion extending outwardly 
at a right angle from the front surface of the first portion, a third 
portion extending outwardly at a right angle from the front surface of the 
second portion, a fourth portion extending back against and adjacent to 
the front surface of the third portion, a fifth portion extending 
outwardly at a right angle from the front surface of the fourth portion, a 
sixth portion extending back against and adjacent to the back surface of 
the fifth portion, a seventh portion extending outwardly at a right angle 
from the back surface of the sixth portion, and an eighth portion 
extending outwardly at a right angle from the front surface of the seventh 
portion. 
The trim band system of the present invention for custom fitting siding 
panels includes the steps of fastening a plurality of trim bands to the 
exterior surface of a building and securing a plurality of siding panels 
to the exterior building surface so that all of the exposed edges of the 
siding panels are concealed within the trim bands. 
The objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the 
following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the 
invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides unique trim bands and a trim band system for 
custom fitting siding panels to the exterior surface of a building to 
produce what appears to be a channelless siding system. Referring now to 
the figures, where numerals represent various elements of the present 
invention, the unique trim bands of the present invention are shown in 
FIGS. 1-8. 
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the base band 10 of the present 
invention. The base band 10 generally comprises a one-piece member having 
at least five continuous portions which include a first horizontally 
elongated vertical planar portion 12, a first horizontally elongated 
horizontal planar portion 14, a second horizontally elongated vertical 
planar portion 16, a second horizontally elongated horizontal planar 
portion 18, and a third horizontally elongated vertical planar portion 20. 
A horizontally elongated lip member 22 may also be provided between the 
first horizontal portion 14 and the second vertical portion 16. 
The relationship of the continuous portions can be seen more clearly in 
FIG. 2 which depicts a side elevational view of the base band 10. The 
first vertical portion 12 comprises a first front surface 24 and a second 
back surface 26. The first horizontal portion 14 extends outwardly from 
the first front surface 24 of the first vertical portion 12 to form a 
ledge. The ledge may further comprise the lip member 22 which constitutes 
another continuous horizontally extending vertical planar member having a 
first front surface 28 and a second back surface 30. 
The second vertical portion 16 also comprises a first front surface 32 and 
a second back surface 34. The second vertical portion 16 extends from the 
lip member 22 such that the second back surface 34 of the second vertical 
portion 16 is folded back against and lies adjacent to the first front 
surface 28 of the lip member 22. If no lip member 22 is present, then the 
second vertical portion 16 extends downwardly from the first horizontal 
portion 14. 
The second horizontal portion 18 extends from the second back surface 34 of 
the second vertical portion 16 while the third vertical portion 20 extends 
upwardly from the second horizontal portion 18 to form a channel 35. The 
third vertical portion 20 comprises a first front surface 36 and a second 
back surface 38. 
The base band 10 is shown mounted to an exterior surface of a building 40 
with a lower most siding panel 42 in FIG. 2A. A starter clip 44 is 
attached to the exterior building surface 48 by nails 46, screws, or other 
similar attachment means. The base band 10 is secured to the exterior 
building surface 48 by attaching the first vertical portion 12 of the base 
band 10 to the exterior building surface 40 by nails 46 or other similar 
attachment means, and then hooking the channel 35 formed at the bottom of 
the base band 10 around the starter clip 44. 
Once the base band 10 is secured to the exterior building surface 40, the 
lower most siding panel 42 is positioned over the first vertical portion 
12 of the base band 10 just above the first horizontal portion 14 of the 
base band 10. The lower most siding panel is then attached to the exterior 
building surface 48 near its top end 48 so that the next siding panel 49 
can be positioned over the attachment point of the lower most siding panel 
42. 
Turning now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the frieze band 
50 of the present invention. The frieze band 50 generally comprises a one 
piece member having at least six horizontally elongated continuous planar 
portions which include a first vertical portion 52, a first horizontal 
portion 54, a second vertical portion 56, a third vertical portion 58, a 
second horizontal portion 60, and a fourth vertical portion 62. The frieze 
band 50 may also include a horizontally elongated third horizontal planar 
portion 64 having a first upper surface 66 and a second lower surface 68 
where the third horizontal member 64 extends from the first vertical 
portion 52 of the frieze band 50. 
The contiguous connection of the various portions comprising the frieze 
band 50 is illustrated in the side elevational view of the frieze band 50 
shown in FIG. 4. The first vertical portion 52 extends from the second 
lower surface 68 of the optional horizontally elongated third horizontal 
planar portion 64. The first vertical portion 52 comprises a first front 
surface 70 and a second back surface 72. The first horizontal portion 54 
extends from the first front surface 70 of the first vertical portion 52 
to form a channel 74 for receiving a soffit. 
The second vertical portion 56 extends downwardly from the first horizontal 
portion 54 and comprises a first front surface 76 and a second back 
surface 78. The third vertical portion 58 also has a first front surface 
80 and a second back surface 82. The second back surface 82 of the third 
vertical portion 58 is folded back against and lies adjacent to the second 
back surface 78 of the second vertical portion 56. 
The second horizontal portion 60 extends from the first front surface 80 of 
the third vertical portion 58 and the fourth vertical portion 62 extends 
downwardly from the second horizontal portion 60 thereby forming a second 
channel 84. The fourth vertical portion 62 comprises a first front surface 
86 and a second back surface 88. During actual use, a top portion of an 
upper most siding panel is positioned within the second channel 84 and 
adjacent to the first front surface 86 of the fourth vertical portion 62 
of the frieze band 50. 
A perspective view of the mid band 90 of the present invention is shown in 
FIG. 5. The mid band 90 generally comprises a continuous one piece member 
having at least seven horizontally elongated contiguous planar portions 
which include a first vertical portion 92, a first horizontal portion 94, 
a second vertical portion 96, a third vertical portion 98, a fourth 
vertical portion 100, a second horizontal portion 102, and a fifth 
vertical portion 104. 
FIG. 6 illustrates the contiguous connection of the portions which comprise 
the continuous one piece mid band 90. The first vertical portion comprises 
a first front surface 106 and a second back surface 108. The first 
horizontal portion 94 extends outwardly from the first front surface 106 
of the first vertical portion 92 and the second vertical portion 96 
extends upwardly from the first horizontal portion 94 to form a first 
channel 110. 
The second vertical portion 96 comprises a first front surface 112 and a 
second back surface 114 and the third vertical portion 98 comprises a 
first front surface 116 and a second back surface 118. The first front 
surface 112 of the second vertical portion 96 is folded back against and 
adjacent to the second back surface 118 of the third vertical portion 98. 
The fourth vertical portion 100 also comprises a first front surface 120 
and a second back surface 122 with the second back surface 122 being 
folded against and positioned adjacent to the second back surface 118 of 
the third vertical portion 98. 
The second horizontal portion 102 extends outwardly from the first front 
surface 120 of the fourth vertical portion 100 and the fifth vertical 
portion 104 extends downwardly from the fourth vertical portion 100 to 
form a second channel 124. During use, the mid band 90 is placed on a mid 
portion of the exterior surface of a building and siding panels are 
positioned within the first and second channels 110, 124 such that a 
bottom portion of a siding panel is placed within the first channel 110 
and a top portion of a siding panel is placed in the second channel 124. 
Once the siding panels are positioned and secured, the first and second 
channels 110, 124 are not visible. 
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the inside corner band 126 of the 
present invention. The inside corner band 126 generally comprises a one 
piece member having at least eight vertically elongated continuous planar 
portions which include a first portion 128 having a first front surface 
130 and a second back surface 132, a second portion 134 having a first 
front surface 136 and a second back surface 138, a third portion 140 
having a first front surface 142 and a second back surface 144, a fourth 
portion 146 having a first front surface 148 and a second back surface 
150, a fifth portion 152 having a first front surface 154 and a second 
back surface 156, a sixth portion 158 having a first front surface 160 and 
a second back surface 162, a seventh portion 164 having a first front 
surface 166 and a second back surface 168, and an eighth portion 170 
having a first front surface 172 and a second back surface 174. 
As illustrated in FIG. 5, which shows a top elevational view of the inside 
corner band 126, the second portion 134 extends from the first front 
surface 130 of the first portion 130 at a right angle to the first portion 
130. The third portion 140 extends at a right angle form the first front 
surface 136 of the second portion 134 to form a first channel 176 for 
retaining the side edges of siding panels (See FIG. 9). 
The second back surface 150 of the fourth portion 146 is bent back against 
and positioned adjacent to the first front surface 142 of the third 
portion 140. The fifth portion 152 extends outwardly at a right angle from 
the first front surface 148 of the fourth portion 146, and the first front 
surface 160 of the sixth portion 158 is bent back against and positioned 
adjacent to the second back surface 156 of the fifth portion 152. 
The seventh portion 164 extends outwardly at a right angle from the second 
back surface 162 of the sixth portion 158 and the eighth portion 170 
extends outwardly at a right angle to the first front surface 166 of the 
seventh portion 164 to form a second channel 178. The second channel 178 
functions to retain the side edges of siding panels in the same way as the 
first channel 176. 
FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a portion of the trim band system in 
use. As previously described, siding panels 180 are positioned within the 
base band 10, frieze band 50, and inside corner band 126 to provide a trim 
and siding system which appear to be channelless. 
The trim bands of the present invention are preferably comprised of bent 
sheet metal, extruded plastic, or extruded vinyl. 
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, 
it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various 
modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the 
spirit of the present invention. Therefore, all suitable modifications and 
equivalents fall within the scope of the invention.