Abstract:
A device and method for repairing damaged siding corner trim pieces is provided. The device includes a covering that may be installed over a broken section of siding corner trim without removing the siding that is joined at the corner piece. A method for repairing damaged siding corner pieces or upgrading the appearance of siding corner pieces includes placing a trim cover having mounting apertures over a broken section of corner trim, making apertures in the corner trim piece that align with the existing mounting apertures on the corner trim cover, and fastening the corner trim cover to the siding corner trim piece.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/938,299 filed on Feb. 11, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the construction of homes and other buildings. More particularly, the present invention relates to repairing corner trim elements or upgrading the appearance of corner trim elements that covering siding connections. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Vinyl siding is typically cut into long thin panels and mounted to the exterior surface of a building. The panels typically interlock with one another, simplifying the installation process and improving the durability of the siding. The panels mounted on each exterior surface typically extend the length of the wall and meet the panels from the adjacent exterior surface at a corner of the building. The corner area where the panels meet leaves an exposed area. This area is then typically covered by a corner trim piece that normally extends vertically from the base of the base of the building to the top of the corner. 
         [0004]    The corner trim piece is installed before the vinyl siding panels to facilitate the interlocking aspect of the siding panels. The ends of each siding panel lock into the corner trim piece, providing a secure and durable attachment to the exterior surface of the building. However, due to this interlocking mechanism, one cannot remove and replace the corner trim piece without first removing the interlocked vinyl panels. This siding removal and replacement process can be both time consuming and labor intensive. A device that provides a method for repairing corner trim pieces or upgrading the appearance of corner trim pieces that allows the vinyl siding and corner trim piece to remain attached to the building is therefore desired. 
         [0005]    Another drawback of standard vinyl siding corner trim is that it is typically mounted to a building corner with a gap left between the building and the corner trim piece. The surface of the trim piece that overlays this hollow area is prone to damage or breakage over time from inclement weather, landscaping tools such as lawnmowers and weed trimmers, falling branches, or general wear and tear. Damaged corner trim pieces expose additional structure of the building which can lead to further structural deterioration. Additionally, broken corner trim pieces can lead to decreased insulation of the building and affect the costs associated with heating or cooling a home or other structure. 
         [0006]    Currently, homeowners have limited options for replacing damaged vinyl corner trim without resorting to costly professional repair services. One option is to replace the entire corner trim piece. In order to do this, a homeowner must remove the siding panels that are locked into the corner trim piece and then remove the corner trim itself, which is usually nailed into the side of the building. This process is arduous and difficult for homeowners who are not skilled in home construction. Therefore, a method for quickly and easily repairing damaged siding corner trim or upgrading the appearance of corner trim without the need for removing the siding panels is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of vinyl siding corner trim now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a method and device for repairing or upgrading the appearance of vinyl siding corner trim wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when repairing or upgrading corner trim. 
         [0008]    One object of the present invention is to provide a method for repairing or upgrading the appearance of siding corner trim having the steps of removably securing a siding corner trim cover having mounting apertures over an area of existing corner trim, drilling apertures into the siding corner trim aligned with the mounting apertures on the siding corner cover, and fastening the covering to the existing siding corner piece. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a siding corner trim cover comprising an angled element, said angled element comprising a sheet of material having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said angled element further comprising integrally formed opposing wing members forming a substantially ninety degree angle, said opposing wing members comprising a plurality of mounting apertures, and said siding corner trim cover further comprising flanges extending inwardly from the outer edge of each wing member towards the interior surface of said angled element, said flanges extending inwardly towards the interior surface of said angled element. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the exterior surface of the siding corner repair cover. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the interior surface of the siding corner repair cover. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the exterior of a building having a damaged piece of siding corner trim. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of a siding corner trim cover according to the present invention attached to a piece of siding corner trim. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the corner trim cover. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for repairing damaged vinyl siding corner trim or upgrading the appearance of siding corner trim. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , perspective views of one embodiment of the present invention are shown. The corner trim cover  11  is preferably made from extruded vinyl, similar to standard vinyl siding. The corner trim cover  11  can be colored prior to manufacturing to match any existing siding color. 
         [0017]    The corner trim cover  11  comprises an interior surface  14  that contacts the underlying corner trim and an exterior surface  12  that protects the underlying corner of the building from damage and allows for increased insulative properties. The corner trim cover  11  further comprises two integrally formed and opposing wing members  17 . The wing members  17  are joined at an angle  16  to form a substantially ninety degree angle with respect to one another. The corner trim cover  11  can be cut to fit any building size, or may be trimmed and used as a patch over just the damaged area of corner trim. In one embodiment of the invention, the corner trim cover  11  is pre-cut to a length of ten feet. The consumer can then cut the corner trim cover  11  to a smaller size if desired. The corner trim cover  11  is preferably made from a single sheet of extruded vinyl. This allows for inexpensive manufacture and increased durability due to the one-piece construction of the present invention. 
         [0018]    The corner trim cover  11  also comprises mounting apertures  13 . The mounting apertures  13  provide a stable connection between the corner trim cover  11  and the underlying damaged corner trim. The mounting apertures  13  are equidistant from the angle  16  and are equally spaced along the length of corner trim cover  11  on each wing member  17 . The space between the edges of the wing members  17  can be varied during manufacture in order to fit a particular size of siding corner trim. Ideally, one embodiment of the invention has wing members  17  whose edges are four inches apart from another while another embodiment of the invention has wing members  17  with edges that are six inches apart in order to fit standardly-sized corner trim. However, the present invention can be manufactured at a variety of sizes to fit any particular corner trim. 
         [0019]    The corner trim cover  11  further comprises flanges  15  extending from the distal ends of the wing members  17 . The flanges  15  curve inwardly at an acute angle that is preferably substantially 45 degrees towards the interior surface  14  of the corner trim cover  11 . When mounted over a corner trim piece, the flanges  15  provide additional support for the corner cover  11 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of a damaged piece of siding corner trim is shown. A house  20  having vinyl siding  21  and a corner trim piece  22  has a damaged section of corner trim  23 . The underlying area revealed due to the damaged area  23  is no longer insulated by the corner trim  22 . The open area leaves the underlying structure of the building prone to additional damage. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view of a corner trim cover  30  attached to a piece of corner trim  32  is shown. A corner trim piece  32  has nailing flanges  33  and is secured via nails to a corner of a house  31 . Vinyl siding panels  34  are locked into to the corner trim  32  in such a way that removal of the corner trim piece  32  would first require removal of the siding panels  34 . A corner trim cover  30  is mounted over the corner trim  32 . The corner trim cover  30  has flanges  36  that help to secure it to the corner trim  32 . The flanges  36  curve inwardly and fit in place under the corner trim projections  42  and above the vinyl siding  34 . The shape of the wings  35  and the flanges  36  is such that the interior surface of the corner trim cover  30  rests flush against the corner trim piece  32 , ensuring a durable weatherproof covering. 
         [0022]    In order to use the corner trim cover, a method of operation is provided herein. A user first selects a length of corner trim cover  30  according to the present invention. The cover  30  may be pre-cut to specific lengths by a manufacturer or the user may cut the trim cover to a desired length using a circular saw, a utility knife, tin snips, or another suitable cutting instrument. Once a user selects a piece of corner trim cover  30 , a user must then drill mounting apertures  38  into the siding corner trim  32 . Ideally, the mounting apertures  38  are made by removably securing the trim cover  30  to the corner trim  32  in the desired position that corresponds with the final mounting position, marking the location for the mounting apertures  38  on the corner trim  32 , removing the corner trim cover, and drilling the holes for the mounting apertures  38  into the corner trim  32 . The user may removably secure the trim cover  30  using tape or a similar removable attachment device. A user may also drill the mounting apertures  38  through the existing mounting apertures  40  of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Once the mounting apertures  38  are drilled into the corner trim  32 , the user may mount the corner trim cover  30 . The corner trim cover is then preferably fastened over the existing trim using a push fastener  39 . The push fasteners  39  require no tools and provide an easy mechanism for installing the trim cover. The push fasteners  39  are preferably made of the same material as the corner trim cover  30  and can also be manufactured in the same color as the corner trim cover  30  so that the push fasteners  39  blend in with the trim cover  30  when observed from afar. However, other types of fasteners may be used, such as screws, nails, or the like. 
         [0024]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0025]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.