Abstract:
A cornice molding cap is provided as an accessory to cover or eliminate gaps created where cornice molding meets at a corner of a building. The cap covers gaps where cornice molding meets at a corner structure formed by two walls. The cap is particularly useful in exterior siding installations at corners not employing corner posts having receiver pockets for cladding material end edges. A method of finishing a corner molding installation is described, as is a system for finishing such installation, and an assembly including a unitary cornice molding corner cap.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/734,034, Filed Nov. 4, 2005. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to siding products generally, and more particularly relates to trim components for finishing corners of siding installations at an uppermost course adjacent to a soffit. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Various types of siding panels have long been used to clad the exteriors of buildings. Polymer based sidings, such as vinyl or polypropylene, have become very popular exterior finishing products primarily due to its relatively low cost and durability when compared to traditional materials such as wood or metal. Fiber cement siding products have also become very popular. In addition, polymeric and fiber cement siding products can also be provided in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Polymeric siding has an advantage in that it is more flexible and forgiving, and hence, will not deform plastically under minor impact loads. Polymeric siding is also easy to machine and cut and can be worked with common band tools at the construction site. 
   While the installation of exterior siding panels is relatively straightforward, installing siding as corner structures of the building requires more labor and expertise. Common finishing techniques for siding construction at corner structures involve the placement of corner accessories around a corner structure. For siding panels simulating a clapboard installation, typical corner accessories are corner posts with receiver pockets for concealing the ends of the courses of siding panels near the wall corner. The receiver pocket also allows for a margin of safety in spacing the ends of the siding panels from an abutment to accommodate thermal expansion of the siding panels and protects the end of the wall of the siding installation from water intrusion. 
   Wooden shingles and shakes are another class of very popular and attractive siding products used in the construction of homes, businesses and other structures. Unfortunately, these wooden products require constant maintenance, and are extremely expensive, as well as labor intensive to install. Further, as noted above, the durability of wooden products, such as those constructed From cedar, lags far behind that of products made of synthetic materials. Because of the popularity of the aesthetics of wood shingles and shakes, a considerable number of synthetic siding products have been created that simulate the wooden appearance of, for example, cedar shingles or cedar shale shingles. These siding products are typically formed from materials such as polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene. There are also fiber cement products available that simulate shake shingles. 
   Once siding panels are installed onto the exterior sheathing of a structure, it often becomes necessary to place a siding corner piece over the exposed ends of the siding panels. As an alternative to a conventional corner post with a receiver pocket, efforts have been made to match the ornamental appearance of the siding panel with the corner piece appearance, so as to avoid an unaesthetic or artificial looking final structure. Examples include the simulated shake siding corners described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,391 to Epstein, et al. entitled “Simulated Cedar Shake Construction,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,587 to Shaw, et al. entitled “Cedar Impression Siding Corner, the entireties of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Both Epstein and Shaw describe simulated cedar shake siding panels that are attached to the outside walls of a structure and a corner piece that may be used in conjunction with shake impression siding panels to provide the look of a corner having finished shakes with mitered joints. 
   As the siding installation process proceeds up the wall to the soffit, it will often be the case that a course of siding will need to be trimmed horizontally to the appropriate dimension to fit on the wall. A trim accessory piece is desirable to produce an aesthetically pleasing transition from the siding installed vertically up the wall to the soffit that meets the siding under the eave of the roof. This transition can be provided by installation of a cornice receiver strip above the upper edge of the uppermost siding panel adjacent the soffit area. A cornice molding strip is then installed in the receiver for covering the upper edge of the uppermost siding panel and producing an aesthetically pleasing transition to the soffit. 
   In cases where a corner post having a receiver pocket is used in the siding installation, the ends of the trim pieces will be concealed within the receiver pocket. However, for more decorative corners simulating shake impressions, such as, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,391 to Epstein and U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,587 to Shaw, there is no pocket to conceal the end of trim. In order to attain an aesthetically pleasing corner of the trim accessory, another approach is necessary. 
   One approach would be to trim the ends of the cornice molding to produce a mitered corner joint. However, this process is laborious and time consuming and requires special carpentry skills. It also would yield a tightly fitted corner joint that could be damaged by distortion caused by thermal expansion and contraction with dimensional changes of a polymeric cornice molding trim accessory. 
   Another approach is for the contractor in the field to finish the cornice molding at the outside corner by fabricating a corner cap out of coated aluminum coil and mounting it over the ends of the cornice molding strips at the corner structure adjacent the soffit. This approach, while potentially providing space to allow for a rougher end cutting of the cornice trim and allowing for dimensional changes of the strip, suffers from the need for time, labor, and special skills in metal working to produce an aesthetically pleasing corner cap. Also, an aluminum cap could be susceptible to denting and permanent deformation or other damage or dislodgement by impacts or winds. These difficulties have led some users to avoid the use of siding products that do not employ corner posts having siding receiver pockets and avoiding the use of exposed polymer based cornice molding strips that require a mitered joint finish at the corner. 
   Therefore, there remains a need for a corner piece that provides the appearance of a more natural termination of the cornice molding trim strip above the uppermost course of a siding installation employing an aesthetic corner piece, and a corner piece that is easy to use and install that accommodates thermal expansion and contraction of the trim strip and is less susceptible to damage or displacement by impacts or winds. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In embodiments of the present invention, a preformed cornice molding corner cap is provided for use in conjunction with a cornice molding strip as a part of an exterior siding installation at a corner structure provided by two mating walls. The corner cap is of unitary construction and has a top and bottom, a decorative exterior and an interior, an upper surface and a lower surface, and upper and lower retainer flanges. The cap includes first and second decorative exterior surfaces meeting at a corner, the exterior surfaces being aesthetically of complementary shape to a cornice molding trim accessory strip. The corner cap also includes first and second interior surfaces, the profiles of which are physically of complementary shape to the outer surface of the cornice molding accessory so as to receive an end of a cornice molding strip within the interior of the cornice molding corner cap. 
   The cornice molding corner cap cooperates with the cornice molding strip to cover the gap between cornice molding strips attached to adjacent walls mating at a corner structure, to give the appearance of a finished mitered corner of the decorative molding, and to cover the upper edge of an uppermost course of siding panel and siding corner piece, and to align ends of the cornice molding strips horizontally with each other and/or against an underside of a soffit under an eve of a roof. 
   In certain embodiments, the present invention also provides a method of finishing a corner of an uppermost course of a siding installation. In the method, an uppermost courses of siding panels on each of two adjacent walls that meet at a corner structure are installed, a siding corner piece is installed at the corner structure, first and second cornice molding strips are installed on each of the walls above the top edge of the uppermost courses of siding panels under an eave or soffit structure, with the ends of the cornice molding strips having a gap between them adjacent the corner and a gap between an end of each molding strip and the edge of the corner structure. A preformed cornice molding corner cap is provided and the corner cap is installed over the ends of each of the cornice molding strips, thereby concealing the gap between the ends of the cornice molding strips and between the ends of the strips and the edge of the corner structure, thus effectively covering the corner. In some instances when installing the cornice molding corner cap, the upper retainer flange of the cornice molding corner cap is hooked over the top edge of ends of the first and second cornice molding strips and the lower retainer flange is pivoted downward to become snap-fit and hooked under the bottom edge of the cornice molding strips to mount the cap in place in a snap-fitting relation. In other instances, the cornice molding corner cap is installed by sliding the cornice molding corner cap over the end of the first cornice molding strip until the cap overlaps and aligns with the surface of the second cornice molding strip adjacent to the corner, and snap inserting the second cornice molding strip into the interior of the corner cap by biasing the retaining flanges against the second cornice molding strip to widen a receiver channel for receiving the second cornice molding strip. 
   In certain embodiments, the present invention also provides a system and an assembly for the finishing of a corner of a siding installation having an uppermost course of siding on each of two adjacent walls that meet at a corner structure, a siding corner piece installed at the corner structure, and first and second cornice molding strips installed on each of the walls above the top edges of the uppermost courses of siding panels under an eave or soffit structure, with the ends of the cornice molding strips having a gap between them adjacent the corner. The system and the assembly further include a preformed cornice molding corner cap installed over the ends of each of the two cornice molding strips at the corner structure, thereby concealing the gaps between the ends of the cornice molding strips and covering the corner. The cornice molding corner cap accommodates thermal expansion of the cornice molding strip and is resistant to displacement. The corner cap also acts to create a barrier at the joint of the cornice molding trim to minimize intrusion of water or insects into the building structure at the top of the wall corner. 
   The preformed cornice molding corner cap, method, system and assembly enable easy finishing of corners of siding installations employing shake shingle impression siding, as well as, other siding installations employing finished corner pieces without the use of a corner post having a receiver pocket for siding panel ends. The preformed cornice molding corner cap is useful for trim applications on buildings clad with polymeric siding such as vinyl or polypropylene, fiber cement siding, or other types of siding, cladding or sheathing where a finished mitered corner trim appearance is desired. 
   Embodiments according to the invention include, but are not limited to the several embodiments of the invention that will now be described. 
   An article of manufacture comprises a unitary cornice molding corner cap having a top and a bottom, and an interior and an exterior, a top receiver flange and a bottom receiver flange, the cap being capable of receiving a first end of each of a first and second cornice molding strips within the interior of the cornice molding cap. 
   An article as described above wherein the cornice molding cap further comprises an injection molded cap formed from a material comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride polymers and copolymers, polypropylene polymers and copolymers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate copolymers and mixtures thereof. 
   A method of finishing a corner of an uppermost course of a siding installation, the method comprising the steps of installing the uppermost course of siding on each of two adjacent walls, the walls meeting at a corner structure; installing a siding corner piece at the corner structure; installing a first and a second cornice molding strip on each of the walls over a top edge of the uppermost course of siding panels, the top edge being under an eave or soffit structure, each of the first and second cornice molding strips having a first end proximate the corner structure, there being a gap between the first ends and the corner structure and a gap between the first ends of the first and second cornice molding strips; providing a cornice molding corner cap having a top and a bottom, and an interior and an exterior, and capable of accommodating the first end of each of the cornice molding strips within the interior of the cornice molding cap; and, installing the corner cap over the ends of each of the cornice molding strips, thereby concealing the gaps between the ends of the cornice molding strips. 
   In another embodiment of a method of finishing a corner of an uppermost course of a siding installation, the method comprises the steps of installing the uppermost course of siding on each of two adjacent walls, the walls meeting at a corner structure; installing a siding corner piece at the corner structure; installing a first and a second cornice molding strip on each of the walls over a top edge of the uppermost course of siding panels, the top edge being under an eave or soffit structure, each of the first and second cornice molding strips having a first end proximate the corner structure, there being a gap between the first ends and the corner structure and a gap between the first ends of the first and second cornice molding strips; providing a cornice molding corner cap having a top and a bottom, and an interior and an exterior, and capable of accommodating the first end of each of the cornice molding strips within the interior of the cornice molding cap; and, installing the corner cap over the ends of each of the cornice molding strips, thereby concealing the gaps between the ends of the cornice molding strips, the method further comprising attaching a cornice receiver to each of the adjacent walls; snapping the cornice molding into the cornice receiver; hooking the top of the cornice molding corner cap over the ends of the first and second cornice molding strips and snapping the bottom of the cornice molding cap into place. 
   In yet another embodiment of a method of finishing a corner of an uppermost course of a siding installation, the method comprises the steps of installing the uppermost course of siding on each of two adjacent walls, the walls meeting at a corner structure; installing a siding corner piece at the corner structure; installing a first and a second cornice molding strip on each of the walls over a top edge of the uppermost course of siding panels, the top edge being under an eave or soffit structure, each of the first and second cornice molding strips having a first end proximate the corner structure, there being a gap between the first ends and the corner structure and a gap between the first ends of the first and second cornice molding strips; providing a cornice molding corner cap having a top and a bottom, and an interior and an exterior, and capable of accommodating the first end of each of the cornice molding strips within the interior of the cornice molding cap; and, installing the corner cap over the ends of each of the cornice molding strips, thereby concealing the gaps between the ends of the cornice molding strips, the method further comprising sliding the cornice molding corner cap over the first end of the first cornice molding strip; aligning the corner cap with the first end of the second cornice molding strip; and, inserting the first end of the second cornice molding strip into the interior of the corner cap. 
   In yet another embodiment of a method of finishing a corner of an uppermost course of a siding installation, the method comprises the steps of installing the uppermost course of siding on each of two adjacent walls, the walls meeting at a corner structure; installing a siding corner piece at the corner structure; installing a first and a second cornice molding strip on each of the walls over a top edge of the uppermost course of siding panels, the top edge being under an eave or soffit structure, each of the first and second cornice molding strips having a first end proximate the corner structure, there being a gap between the first ends and the corner structure and a gap between the first ends of the first and second cornice molding strips; providing a cornice molding corner cap having a top and a bottom, and an interior and an exterior, and capable of accommodating the first end of each of the cornice molding strips within the interior of the cornice molding cap; and, installing the corner cap over the ends of each of the cornice molding strips, thereby concealing the gaps between the ends of the cornice molding strips, wherein the providing step comprises molding the corner cap from a material comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride polymers and copolymers, polypropylene polymers and copolymers, polyethylene polymers and copolymers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate copolymers, acrylate ethylene styrene copolymers, and mixtures thereof. 
   In yet another embodiment of a method of finishing a corner of an uppermost course of a siding installation, the method comprises the steps of installing the uppermost course of siding on each of two adjacent walls, the walls meeting at a corner structure; installing a siding corner piece at the corner structure; installing a first and a second cornice molding strip on each of the walls over a top edge of the uppermost course of siding panels, the top edge being under an eave or soffit structure, each of the first and second cornice molding strips having a first end proximate the corner structure, there being a gap between the first ends and the corner structure and a gap between the first ends of the first and second cornice molding strips; providing a cornice molding corner cap having a top and a bottom, and an interior and an exterior, and capable of accommodating the first end of each of the cornice molding strips within the interior of the cornice molding cap; and, installing the corner cap over the ends of each of the cornice molding strips, thereby concealing the gaps between the ends of the cornice molding strips, wherein the providing step comprises molding of the corner cap using a process comprising injection molding. 
   In an embodiment of a siding installation having a corner structure, the siding installation comprises a first wall and a second wall, the walls meeting in a corner structure; a covering of siding material applied to each wall; a first cornice molding strip and a second cornice molding strip applied to each wall above an uppermost course of siding material, the cornice molding strips each having a first end proximate to the corner structure, the cornice molding strips having a gap between the first ends of each strip; a cornice molding cap installed over the first ends of each cornice molding strip, the cap covering the gap, the cap exhibiting a retention force of greater than about 5 lbs. 
   In an embodiment of a system for finishing a corner, the system comprises a cornice molding corner cap in combination with various other elements as disclosed and described herein. 
   The above and other features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention that is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the exterior of an exemplary cornice molding corner cap according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an inside perspective view of the interior of an exemplary cornice molding corner cap according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary cornice molding corner cap according to the present invention showing interior and exterior portions of the cap. 
       FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are each side elevation views of an exterior surface of the exemplary cornice molding corner cap of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are each side elevation views of an interior surface of the exemplary cornice molding corner cap of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an assembly including an exemplary cornice molding corner cap and a cornice molding trim accessory strip. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a cornice molding receiver strip. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a cornice molding trim accessory strip. 
       FIG. 10  is an end elevation view of a cornice molding trim accessory strip as in  FIG. 9  engaged in a cornice molding receiver strip as in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 11  is an end elevation view of a cornice molding trim accessory strip engaged in an F-channel cornice receiver strip. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a wall corner having a siding corner piece and F-channel cornice receiver strips attached thereon. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of cornice molding trim accessory strips being wall mounted and attached to the F-channel cornice receiver strips of  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an exemplary cornice molding corner cap according to the present invention attached to the F-channel cornice molding trim accessory strips of  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 15   a  is a perspective view of a wall corner having an exemplary uppermost course of siding panel mounted thereon, and an exemplary cornice receiver strip mounted thereon. 
       FIG. 15   b  is a perspective view of a wall corner having F-channel cornice receiver strips mounted thereon, and siding panels and a siding corner piece mounted thereon. 
       FIG. 15   c  is a perspective view of the wall corner of  FIG. 15   b,  wherein cornice molding trim accessory strips have been mounted to the walls meeting at the outside corner by F-channel cornice molding receiver strips. 
       FIG. 15   d  is a perspective view of an exemplary cornice molding corner cap according to the present invention attached to the cornice molding trim accessory strips of  FIG. 15   c.    
       FIG. 16   a  is a perspective view of a lateral force resistance test performed on an assembly including receiver strips, cornice molding trim accessory strips, and an exemplary cornice molding corner cap according to the present invention mounted on a wall corner. 
       FIG. 16   b  is a perspective view of the test of  FIG. 16  performed at a later stage of the lateral force resistance test. 
       FIG. 17   a  is a perspective view of a tensile force resistance test performed on an assembly including receiver strips, cornice molding trim accessory strips, and an exemplary cornice molding corner cap according to the present invention mounted on a wall corner. 
       FIG. 17   b  is a perspective view of the test of  FIG. 17  being performed at a later stage of the test. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In embodiments, the present invention provides a preformed cornice molding corner cap for use in conjunction with a cornice molding trim strip as a part of an exterior siding installation at a corner structure provided by two mating walls.  FIGS. 1 through 5  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a cornice molding corner cap  10  for covering a cornice molding trim accessory strip at an “outside corner” of a structure. By “outside corner”, it is meant that the corner piece is shaped to cover the cornice molding on an outwardly protruding or “outside” corner of a structure as opposed to an inwardly formed or “inside” corner of a structure (not shown). While  FIGS. 1 through 5  portray a cap for an outside corner, cornice molding corner caps of appropriate geometry to cover cornice molding trim strips at an inwardly formed corner or inside corner with many of the features and advantages of the cap for an outside corner are also contemplated. 
   Referring more specifically now to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the cornice molding corner cap  10  (alternatively,  430  in  FIG. 14  or  1230  in  FIG. 15   d ) is of unitary (i.e., one-piece) construction and with a body portion that has a top  11  and bottom  12 , a decorative exterior  13  and an interior  14 , an upper surface  15  and a lower surface  16 , first  20  and second  21  lateral edges, and upper and lower retainer flanges  23  and  26 . Upper and lower retainer flanges  23  and  26  each include therebetween a horizontal receiver channel  24  and  27  extending to an interior corner  22  each retainer flange having a lip  25  and  28 . The cap includes first  17  and second  18  decorative exterior surfaces meeting at a corner  22  wherein the corner  22  extends to the interior of the body portion, the exterior surfaces being aesthetically of complementary shape and exterior finish to complement that of a cornice molding trim accessory strip  41  (alternatively  90 ,  103 ,  111 ,  320 ,  321 ,  420 ,  421 ,  1120 ,  1121 ,  1220  or  1221  referred to elsewhere herein). The corner cap  10  also includes first  30  and second  31  interior surfaces, the profiles of which  32  and  33  are physically of complementary shape to the outer surfaces of the cornice molding trim accessory strips  41  so as to receive slidably horizontal cornice molding trim accessory strips  41  within the receiver channels  24  and  27  that extend laterally horizontal and through opposite sides of the cap  10 . In one presently preferred embodiment, the corner cap  10  has a dimension of about 2.6 inch between the upper and lower surfaces  15 ,  16  and a dimension of about 2 inches between each given lateral edge  20 ,  21  and the corner  22  measured while traveling horizontally across the upper surface  15  from the edge to the corner. 
     FIG. 6  discloses an assembly  40  including a cornice molding corner cap  10  engaged with a cornice molding trim accessory strip  41 .  FIG. 7  shows the assembly  40  from a different angle. The molding accessory strip  41  is assembled without fasteners while engaged horizontally slidably between and within the upper  24  and lower  27  receiver channels that open toward each other and are within the upper  23  and lower  26  retaining flanges of the cap  10 , the end  42  of the cornice molding accessory strip  41  and detailed portions of the cap within the interior  14  of the cap being shown in phantom. The molding accessory strip  41  is horizontally free without fasteners therethrough to move horizontally within and relative to the cap  10  due to environmental conditions, including but not limited to, thermal expansion and contraction, wind force and earth movement. The absence of fasteners avoids unsightly exposure thereof, as well as, avoids damage by hammer blows or screwdriver gouges, and permits ease of assembly by resiliently deflecting the flanges  23  and/or  26  of the cap  10  to widen the space between the upper and lower retaining flanges  23 ,  26 , and snap fit and latch the cap  10  over the strips  41 , by resilient return of the cap  10  to its original configuration prior to resilient deflection thereof. In this embodiment, the retainer flanges  23 , 26  have a dimension of about 0.25 inch from upper or lower surface  15 , 16  to flange lip  25 , 28 . In some embodiments, preferably the upper and lower retainer flanges  23 , 26  are between about 0.1 and 0.4 inch in dimension, more preferably about 0.1 to 0.3 inches. This dimension provides a balance in adequate mechanically latching onto the cornice molding accessory strip  41  without interfering with the functionality of other parts of the molding accessory strip  41 , such as, for example, a mounting flange  91  (alternatively  104  or  112  elsewhere herein) in use with a cornice molding trim accessory strip  41 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a section of cornice receiver strip  80  (alternatively  101 ,  910  or  1010  elsewhere herein) having a receiver channel  81  (alternatively  114 ,  102 ,  214 ,  314 ,  911  or  1011  elsewhere herein) and a fastening flange  82 . The receiver channel  81  has a retainer flange  84  for engaging a mounting flange  91 ,  104  or  112  from an accessory strip, such as, a cornice molding trim accessory strip  103 , alternatively  41 ,  90 ,  111 ,  320 ,  321 ,  420 ,  421 ,  1120 ,  1121 ,  1220  or  1221 , that is to be mounted to a surface by using the retainer flange  84  of the receiver strip  80 . In  FIG. 10 , the mounting flange  104 , alternatively  9  or  112 , is inserted into the receiver channel  81  by resiliently biasing the retainer flange  84  to move and widen the narrow entrance to the receiver channel  81 , followed by return movement of the retainer flange  84  due to stored spring energy to partially envelop the mounting flange  104  and interlock in place the accessory strip  103 . A ledge  85  is formed by doubling back the strip  80  at the entrance to the receiver channel  81 . The fastening flange  82  is equipped with fastening holes  83  to enable attachment to a wall by mechanical fasteners such as nails, screws, staples, rivets, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. Adhesives could also be used to attach a receiver strip  80  to a wall. The fastening holes  83  are preferably elongated horizontally as shown in  FIG. 8  to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the strip and ease fastener placement during installation. 
     FIG. 9  shows a cornice molding trim accessory strip  90  having an exterior surface  92  and an exterior surface profile  93 . The exterior surface  92  and the exterior profile  93  provide aesthetic benefit to a siding installation, for example, in the transition region between the wall and a soffit or eave  108  in  FIG. 15   d.  The cornice molding trim accessory strip  90  also has a mounting flange  91  (alternatively  104  or  112  referred to elsewhere herein) for attachment to a wall or other surface using a molding receiver strip  80  having a receiver channel  81  and a retainer flange  84 . The cornice molding trim accessory strip  90  has a projecting upper lip  94  defining an upper part of the profile  93  and an depending bottom  325  upturned at the end and providing a covering skirt or covering flange to cover and conceal an uppermost course of siding or siding panel  204 ,  205 ,  904 ,  1005 ,  1105 ,  1106 ,  1205  or  1206  and an uppermost part of a siding corner piece  2 - 8 ,  408 ,  1007 ,  1107  or  1207 . The upper lip  94  may abut a soffit  1208 ,  FIG. 15   d,  below and against which the molding strip is installed, and/or may also provide a geometric feature to aid in the attachment of other items or accessories such as, for example, the cornice molding corner cap  10  of the present invention, to the cornice molding strip. 
     FIG. 10  depicts an assembly  100  in which a cornice molding trim accessory strip  103  is attached to a cornice receiver strip  101 . The receiver channel  102  of  101  receives the mounting flange  104  of  103  in a friction fit to hold the cornice molding trim accessory strip  103  in place. The retainer flange  84  biases as a resiliently deflected cantilever beam against the mounting flange  104 . Subsequently, the assembly  100  is assembled with a cornice molding corner cap  10 , by snap fitting the cap  10  over the two cornice molding trim accessory strips  103  adjacent the corner. The upper retaining flange  23  is hooked onto and conforms tightly to the raised upper lip  94  of each accessory strip  103  and is wedged between the upper lip  94  and the doubled back flange  85  above the entrance to the receiver channel  102 . The corner cap  10  is present to cover a portion of the raised upper lip  94  without entering the receiver channel  102  to interfere with or distort the cornice receiver strip  101  or the F-channel cornice receiver strip  113 ,  FIG. 11 , whichever is used. Where the cap  10  is not present, the lip  94  is biased against the flange  85  by the inherent bias and friction fit of the mounting flange  104  and the retainer flange  84 . Thus the thickness of the upper retaining flange  23  on the corner cap  10  has a thickness that is readily covered by the lip  94  without opening the lip  94  to form a gap behind the lip  94 . The flange  26  at the bottom  12  of the cap  10  snap fits over the bottom  325  or  327  of the corresponding cornice molding trim accessory strip  320  or  321  and wedges between the bottom  325  or  327  and an uppermost course of siding panel described hereafter with reference to  204 ,  205 ,  904 ,  1005 ,  1006 ,  1205  or  1206  and between the bottom  325  or  327  and an uppermost course of siding corner piece described hereafter with reference to  208 ,  408 ,  1007 ,  1107  or  1207 . In the absence of the corner cap  10  the bottom  325  or  327  is turned inward with a rounded chamfer to emulate a chamfered trim board when viewed. The bottom  325  or  327  is biased by inherent cantilever beam resiliency in the strip  320  or  321  to engage the uppermost courses of siding panel and siding corner piece, and the bottom  325  or  327  is flexible to conform against surface dimension irregularities without causing a visibly noticeable gap. Accordingly, the thickness of the lower retaining flange  26  is sufficiently thin for being readily covered and conformed against by the bottom  325  or  327  without opening the bottom  325  or  327  to form a visibly noticeable gap behind the bottom  325  or  327 . 
     FIG. 11  depicts an assembly  110  in which a cornice molding trim accessory strip  111  is attached to an F-channel cornice receiver strip  113  (alternatively  211 ,  212 ,  311  or  312  elsewhere herein). The F-channel strip is equipped with a soffit receiver pocket  115  that serves to receive a soffit panel of a soffit  1208 ,  FIG. 15   d,  above the cornice molding trimmed siding installation. The receiver channel  114  of the F-channel cornice receiver strip  113  receives the mounting flange  112  in a friction fit to interlock and hold the cornice molding trim accessory strip  111  in place. Except for having the F-channel receiver strip  113  the F-channel cornice receiver strip  113  has the same features as the cornice receiver strip  80  (alternatively  101 ,  910  and  110  elsewhere herein). The cap  10  is subsequently assembled to the assembly  110  similarly as described with reference to  FIG. 10  wherein the cap  10  is assembled to the assembly  100 . The features of the cap  10  in the assembly  100  similarly apply to the assembly  110 . 
     FIGS. 12 to 14  show there are sequential steps in the installation and placement of a cornice molding corner cap of the present invention on a wall. In  FIG. 12 , an assembly  200  is presented including siding panels, siding corner pieces and cornice molding retainer strips. A first wall  201  and a second wall  202  meet at a corner structure  203  having a corner structure edge  210 . An uppermost course of siding panels  204  on the first wall  201  and an uppermost course of siding panels  205  on the second wall  202  are shown in phantom under a siding corner piece  208 . The first uppermost course  204  has an upper edge  206  and the second uppermost course  205  has an upper edge  207 . The ends of the phantom siding panels  204 , 205  are covered by siding corner piece  208 , the corner piece having an upper edge  209 . First and second cornice receiver strips  211  and  212 , each having a soffit receiver pocket  213  and a cornice receiver channel  214 , are attached to the first and second walls  201 , 202  by fasteners  215 . The cornice receiver strip is preferably spaced above the upper edge of the siding panels  206 , 207  by a gap of about 0.25 inch. The ends of the cornice molding receiver strips  221 ,  222  are spaced slightly back from the edge  210  of the corner structure  203 . This spacing allows for dimensional changes that may occur in the strips in use. A preferred spacing of the ends of the receiver strips  221 , 222  from the edge  210  is about 0.25 inch. Spacing of the ends from the edge could be greater, however, if desired, as long as there is a sufficient length of receiver strip mounted on the wall to retain a subsequently applied molding strip in place. 
   In  FIG. 13 , an assembly  300  is presented similarly to assembly  200  of  FIG. 12 , but with the addition of having had cornice molding strips  320 , 321  installed into cornice receiver channels  314  to mount the cornice molding accessory strips to the walls  301 , 302 . The first wall  301  and the second wall  302  meet at a corner structure  303  having a corner structure edge  310 . An uppermost course of siding panels  304  on the first wall  301  and an uppermost course of siding panels  305  on the second wall  302  are shown in phantom. The first uppermost course  304  has an upper edge and the second uppermost course  305  has an upper edge, the upper edges being not shown as they are covered by the cornice molding strip. The ends of the phantom siding panels  304 , 305  are covered by the uppermost course of siding corner piece  308 , the corner piece having an upper edge that is also concealed by the cornice molding strip. First and second cornice receivers  311  and  312 , each having a cornice receiver channel  314 , are attached to the first and second walls  301 , 302  by fasteners which are not shown, as they, too, are concealed by the cornice molding accessory trim strip. The cornice molding strips  320 , 321  are installed by being snapped into the receiver channels  314  of the receiver strips  311 , 312 . The cornice molding accessory strips each have a top  324 , 326 , a bottom  325 , 327  and ends  330 , 331 , respectively. The ends of the cornice molding receiver strips  314  and the ends  330 , 331  of the cornice molding accessory strips  320 , 321  are spaced slightly back from the edge  310  of the corner structure  303 . The ends of the two molding strips  330 , 331  have a gap  322  between them and the molding strips have a gap  323  between each end  330 , 331  and the edge  310  of the corner structure  303 . This spacing allows for dimensional changes that may occur in the strips in use. A preferred spacing of the ends of the receiver strips  311 ,  312  and the molding strips  320 , 321  from the edge  310  is about 0.25 inch. Spacing of the ends of the molding strips  320 , 321  from the edge  310  could be greater, however, if desired, as long as there is a sufficient length of cornice molding strip mounted on the wall at the corner to enter the receiver channels to be engaged by the retainer flanges  23 ,  26  of a subsequently applied cornice molding corner cap  10  and to hold the cap  10  in place in place. 
     FIG. 14  shows assembly  400 , including first and second walls  401 , 402  that mate in a corner structure  403  having an edge  410 . First and second cornice molding strips  420 , 421  are mounted on the walls covering an upper edge of a siding corner piece  408 . A cornice molding corner cap  430  of the present invention is installed at the corner covering the ends of the cornice molding strips  420 , 421  and the upper edge of the siding corner piece  408 . The cornice cap  430  is installed by hooking the top of the cornice cap  430  over the end of the cornice molding strips  420 , 421  and pivoting the lower flanges  26  to engage and bias against the strips  420 , 421  and snapping the bottom  12  into place. Alternatively, the cap  430  is installed by sliding the cap  430  over the end of the first of the cornice molding strips  420  or  421  until the second of cornice molding strips  420  or  421  is aligned with the receiver channel of the cap  430 , and followed by inserting the second cornice molding strip  420  or  421  into the cap  430  by biasing apart the upper and lower flanges  23 ,  26  against the second cornice molding strip  420  or  421  and snap fitting the cap  430  onto and over the second cornice molding strip  420  or  421 . Further details of the cap  430  will be described with reference to the cap  1230  in  FIG. 15   d.    
   Another assembly  900  is shown in  FIG. 15   a,  in which a first wall  901  and a second  902  wall meet at a corner structure edge  903 . An uppermost course of siding panel  904 , the panel having an end edge  905  and a top edge  906 , is attached to the second wall  902  by a fastener  908  through fastener hole  907 . A cornice receiver  910  having a receiver channel  911  is attached to the wall  902  above the siding panel  904 . In finishing the upper edge  906  of uppermost course of siding  904 , the upper edge is trimmed for appropriate fit on the wall below the soffit area. A nail slot punch can be used to punch nail slots about 0.25 inch from the trimmed edge  905  of the siding panel so as to enable fastening of the panel to the wall in the case where the height of the top of the wall does not coincide with an integral number of courses of siding panel. Such nail slots are necessary for fastening when a preformed nail hem has been trimmed from the upper edge  906  of the panel  904 . The end edge  905  of the panel will later be concealed under a siding corner piece in completing the installation. The cornice receiver  910  is preferably spaced about 0.25 inch above the top edge  906  of the uppermost course of siding panels  904 . 
   In  FIG. 15   b,  the next step of finishing of a siding corner installation is shown as assembly  1000 . First and second walls  1001 , 1002  meet at a corner structure edge  1003 . Uppermost course of siding  1005  is attached to the first wall  1001  and uppermost course of siding  1006  is attached to the second wall  1002 . An uppermost siding corner piece  1007  is mounted on the corner, concealing the ends of the siding panels  1005 , 1006 . Cornice receiver strips  1010  having receiver channels  1011  are mounted on the wall at a position above the top edge of the uppermost courses of siding such that the ends  1012  of the cornice receiver strips are recessed or spaced slightly away from the corner structure edge  1003 . The receiver strips are attached by fasteners  1014  through fastener holes  1013 . Spacing of the receiver strips is preferably about 0.25 inch above the top edge of the siding panels. The spacing of the receiver strip ends  1012  away from the corner edge  1003  is preferably also about 0.25. 
   In  FIG. 15   c,  the resulting assembly  1100  of a further step in the finishing of a corner is presented. Adjacent a corner structure edge  1103  are provided an uppermost siding course  1105  on a first wall and an uppermost course of siding  1106  on a second wall, each course having a terminal end proximate to the corner structure edge, and having the terminal ends covered and concealed by an uppermost siding corner piece  1107 . The cornice receiver strips of  FIG. 15   b  have been covered by cornice molding strips  1120 , 1121 , each molding strip having an end  1122 , 1123  near the corner structure edge  1103 . The cornice molding strips are retained without fasteners and horizontally slidable in receiver channels of receiver strips analogously to the representation of  FIG. 13  into which the mounting flange of the molding strips were snapped. There is a gap  1125  between each cornice molding strip end and the corner structure edge. The gap allows for horizontal thermal expansion and contraction of the cornice molding strips during use without the possibility of contact or interaction of the ends with each other and without restraint by fasteners therethrough, either of which could result in distortion or buckling of the molding strips. The gap also allows for ease and speed of installation, as the length of the molding strip near the edge of the wall does not need to be as precise as in the case of the forming of a fine structure such as a mitered corner of the molding strip itself. The gap is preferably on the order of about 0.25 inch, but could vary to the extent that once a cornice molding corner cap (not shown in  15   c ) is installed, a sufficient portion of each of the molding strip ends  1122 , 1123  is contained within the cap to hold the cap in place. 
   In the assembly  1200  of  FIG. 15   d,  the cornice molding corner cap  1230  is in place at a wall corner covering the gap between the ends of two cornice molding strips  1220 , 1221  mounted on walls clad with uppermost courses of siding  1205 , 1206  and a siding corner piece  1207 . The molding strips  1220 ,  1221  and corner cap  1230  cover the uppermost edges of the siding panels  1205 ,  1206  and siding corner piece  1207  to create a finished wall corner. The cornice molding corner cap  1230  has an aesthetic aspect complementary to the cornice molding strips  1220 ,  1221 . Further, the cap  1230  is installed as described with reference to the cap  430  in  FIG. 14 , such that the body portion of the cap  1230  is in front of and concealing respective ends  1122 ,  1123  of the cornice molding trim accessory strips  1220 ,  1221 , while the respective ends  1122 ,  1123  are spaced apart from each other at the interior corner  22  of the body portion of the cap  1230  to allow for said expansion and contraction without engaging each other and without abutting the interior corner  22 . Further, in the cap  1230  the upper retainer flanges  23  are horizontally aligned with each other, and the lower retainer flanges  26  are horizontally aligned with each other, such that they interlock with and hold the cornice molding trim accessory strips  1220 ,  1221  in horizontal alignment with each other and in horizontal alignment against a soffit  1208 ,  FIG. 15   d,  over the passage of time to retain an aesthetic appearance, as well as a barrier to weather conditions. Further, the horizontally aligned flanges  23  and  26  will bias the ends of the molding trim accessory strips  1220 ,  1221  into horizontal alignment with each other when they have been installed slightly out of alignment.  FIG. 15   d  discloses an exemplary soffit  1208  against which the cap  1230  and cornice molding trim accessory strips  1220 ,  1221  abut. The soffit receiver pocket  115  or  213  of an F-channel cornice receiver strip  113 ,  211 ,  212 ,  311  or  312  receives a rear edge (not shown) of the soffit  1208 . The cap  1230  has a top  11  of sufficiently thin thickness to conform closely to the surface of the lip  94  such that the top  11  wedges between the lip  94  and the soffit  1208  without opening a visibly noticeable gap between the lip  94  and the soffit  1208 . 
   The cornice molding corner caps  10 ,  430 ,  1230  of the present invention, in addition to providing aesthetic beauty to an architectural structure, have further functional attributes. The cap is easy to handle and easy to install as a substitute for constructing a finished corner on horizontal ends of the cornice molding made by assembling the cornice receiver strips and the cornice molding trim accessory strips. Further, the cap avoids the need for fasteners at the corner, and solves a problem of how to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of a cornice molding at a corner thereof. The cap, because it is preformed, simplifies the process of finishing corner trim applications. The level of precision of trimming and carpentry work required at the end of a trim strip at a building corner is reduced as the ends of the trim pieces are covered by the corner cap. Caps of the invention can be easily hooked or snapped over the terminal ends of molding strips at the corner of a structure to attain a finished look. 
   The cap also serves the purpose of closing the cladding on a building structure. The gap at the end of trim strips is effectively covered. This covering prevents or reduces entry of insects and infiltration of water through the gap in the trim strip ends at the edge of a wall having an otherwise more open structure. The receiver channels in the cap allow the cornice molding strips to move freely to expand and contract as necessary with environmental changes such as thermal fluctuations or changes in humidity. 
   The cap also should resist displacement or dislodgement by forces to which it may be exposed. In windy areas, the cap should remain in place. The cap should not be easily removed or disconnected from the structure unintentionally by impacts. 
   To test the resistance to displacement, a cornice cap of the invention was mounted on cornice molding strips attached to a wall by an F-channel receiver strips nailed to a pair of strandboard walls having a 90 degree outside corner. The cornice molding strip was Cornice Molding, Product Code 55807, available from CertainTeed Corporation, Valley Forge, Pa. The receiver strip was Deluxe F-Channel, Product Code 52503, available from CertainTeed Corporation, Valley Forge, Pa. These experiments will now be described as Examples 1, 2 and 3. The same cornice molding strips and receiver strips were used in each of the examples. The experiments were carried out at ambient temperatures. These examples are provided to better disclose and teach articles and methods of the present invention. They are for illustrative purposes only, and it must be acknowledged that minor variations and changes can be made without materially affecting the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein. 
   EXAMPLE I 
   In a first trial, a force gauge with a hook was used to pull the cornice molding, in the absence of a cornice molding corner cap, from the receiver until the molding was dislodged from the receiver. The pulling force was directed perpendicularly away from the wall near the end of the molding strip. The force was measured to remove the molding from the receiver channel. 
   EXAMPLE 2 
   In a second trial, a cornice molding corner cap of the present invention was installed over cornice molding accessory strips mounted to the wall using F-channel receiver strips nailed to the wall. A pushing force was imposed against the cornice molding corner cap at a lateral edge of the cap adjacent to one of the molding strips in a direction parallel to a first molding strip toward the end of the molding strip covered by the cap. The force was applied to the cap until either the cap was dislodged or the second molding strip, perpendicular to the direction of the applied force, was forced out of the receiver strip. A force transducer was used to measure the imposed force through the course of the test.  FIGS. 16 and 16   b  depict the test in progress with assembly  500 ,  FIG. 16   b  being slightly later during the test than  FIG. 16 . A first cornice molding strip  501  was mounted on the wall by receiver strip  504 . Second cornice molding strip  502  was mounted on the adjacent wall around the corner by receiver strip  507 . Cornice molding corner cap  503  was installed in place over the ends of the two cornice molding strips  501 , 502 . Force transducer  505  was placed in contact with the edge of the corner cap and pushed in a direction indicated by the arrow  506 . The force was applied until the cornice molding strip  502  was dislodged from its receiver strip  507  resulting in the separation gap  508 . 
   EXAMPLE 3 
   In a third trial, a cornice molding corner cap of the present invention was installed over cornice molding accessory strips mounted to the wall using F-channel receiver strips nailed to the wall. A pulling force was imposed on the cornice molding corner cap using a force gauge with a hook fixture attached to the end of the force probe. The fixture was hooked over the top of the cap at the corner to engage a force on the cap. The force was imposed along an angle bisecting the legs of the corner and directly away from the wall. That is to say, the force was directed at an angle of 135 degrees from each of the two walls and in the same plane as the mounting of the two molding strips on the surface of the wall. The force was applied to the cap until either the cap was dislodged or at least one of the molding strips was forced out of its respective receiver strip.  FIGS. 17 and 17   b  depict the test in progress with assembly  600 ,  FIG. 17   b  being slightly later during the test than  FIG. 17 . First and second cornice molding strips  601 , 602  were mounted on an outside wall corner  612  having a first wall  610  and a second wall  611 , the walls having a 90 degree angle between the two walls at the corner  612 , by receiver strips  604 . Cornice molding corner cap  603  was installed in place over the ends of the two cornice molding strips  601 , 602 . Force transducer  605  was equipped with hook fixture that was hooked around the top edge of the cap and pulled in a direction indicated by the arrow  606 . The force was applied until the cornice molding strips  601 , 602  were dislodged from their receiver strips  607  resulting in a separation gap between the molding strips and the wall. 
   The results of the testing of examples 1 through 3 are reported in the table below. The results provided in Table 1 show the estimated forces to dislodge either a cornice molding corner cap or a cornice molding strip. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
             
             
                 
               Average Force 
                 
             
             
               Example 
               (lbs) 
               Type of Displacement 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               1 
               7 
               Cornice molding removed from receiver 
             
             
               2 
               10 
               Cornice molding removed from receiver* 
             
             
               3 
               16 
               Cornice molding removed from receiver* 
             
             
                 
             
             
               *could not measure force to remove cap 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The results shown in Table 1 show that once the corner cap is installed, the corner cap is more resistant to displacement than the cornice molding strip itself under application of direct force in either a lateral pushing or pulling mode. Also, when the cornice molding corner cap is in place, it is more difficult to disengage the cornice molding strip from its receiver. The presence of the corner cap provides a more stable mechanical attachment means for the molding strip to the wall, resulting in a more stable trim application. Subsequent tests for blow off resistance under simulated high wind conditions were satisfactory for trim installations employing the cornice molding corner cap of the present invention. 
   Some dimensional aspects may be helpful in understanding the present invention. While the embodiment portrayed in a number of the figures has a height of about 2.6 inches and an upper face width of about 2 inches, other sizes are useful in accommodating cornice molding trims of various dimensions. Also, the retainer flange dimension requirements, some examples of which have been previously noted, will vary to adapt to the cornice molding strip configuration employed in an assembly, as well as to accommodate differences in flexural modulus of various materials that may be employed in producing the cornice molding corner caps of the present invention. In some embodiments, preferably the upper and lower retainer flanges  23 , 26  are between about 0.05 and 0.5 inch in dimension, more preferably about 0.1 to 0.3 inches. 
   With respect to thickness of the wall of the corner cap, in one especially preferred embodiment, the thickness of the shell of the main body corner cap is about 0.08 inch as measured at a lateral edge  20 , although some embodiments may have a shell thickness in the range from about 0.01 inch to about 0.3 inch, more preferably from about 0.04 to about 0.1 inches. Thicker shells employ more material can be difficult to flex during installation of the cap. Thinner shells can be more fragile, and more susceptible to damage during handling or in use. 
   Visual aspects of the molding cap are also important in producing particularly aesthetically appealing embodiments. For example, it is preferred that the gloss be moderately low, so as to avoid excessive sheen or shiny spots when viewing the part at natural viewing angles. It is preferred the gloss be between 5 and 40 measured at 60 degrees, more preferably between 10 and 30, and even more preferably about 20. Both gloss and color should be such that the appearance of the molding cap is aesthetically pleasing when used in combination with a cornice molding strip, the molding strip having its own gloss and color attributes. 
   Presently preferred materials useful for producing or manufacturing of the cornice molding corner caps are thermoplastic polymers, although thermoset polymers could be employed. Particularly preferred thermoplastics include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymers and copolymers, polypropylene (PP) polymers and copolymers, polyethylene polymers and copolymers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) copolymers, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) copolymers, acrylonitrile/ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber/styrene (AES) copolymers, and mixtures thereof. PVC, PP and ASA polymers are especially preferred, ASA based polymers even more so for darker colored articles, for example articles having a color with a value of L* in the 1976 CIE L*a*b* color scale of less than about 50. Polymer composite materials such as PVC or polyolefin polymers or copolymers filled with wood fiber or flour or a cellulose based fiber may also be employed in corner caps of the present invention. In some embodiments, it is desirable to use a first material having good weatherability as an outer layer on the exterior surface of the corner cap and a second material of lesser durability or weatherability, but providing a balance of more favorable economics or bulk material properties as the main portion of the corner cap body, disposed so as to be protected from the elements by the outer layer. As an example, some embodiments may employ a capstock of an ASA or AES based polymer over a core based on PVC polymers. Another exemplary approach would be to use a core formulated with a polymer having less expensive fillers and a capstock formulated with higher levels of light stabilizers and antioxidants. Recycled materials could be employed in part, or in whole, for such a main portion. Organic or inorganic coatings may also be useful for protective and/or decorative purposes as an outer layer of the corner cap. Such outer layers may be uniform in color or texture or may have variations or variegations for aesthetic effect. Other components useful in producing the corner caps are known in the art such as flow aids, modifiers, heat stabilizers, antioxidants, light stabilizers, colorants, pigments, fillers and the like. Colorants include both pigments and dyes. Light stabilizers include hindered amines and antioxidants include hindered phenols. 
   A variety of processes can be used to produce cornice molding corner caps of the present invention. These processes include typical ways of forming polymer materials into three dimensional shapes. Such processes include molding, forming, extrusion, coextrusion, compression molding, stamping, vacuum forming, injection molding, coinjection molding, casting, coating, foaming and the like, injection molding and vacuum forming being particularly preferred. Combinations of one or more of the aforementioned processes could also be employed, such as, for example, extrusion or coextrusion followed by vacuum forming or compression molding. Foaming could be with conventional blowing agents, such as chemical or physical blowing agents, or could be a microcellular foaming. 
   It will be understood that although the elements shown in the figures are relatively plain-surfaced, they may be shaped and decorated in any desired manner consistent with their interrelational functioning as described herein. Such decorations could include colors, appliqués, beveling, molding, shaping and the like, or other aesthetic treatments. 
   It will also be understood that by inverting the face of the structure through a symmetry plane transecting the corner of the cornice molding corner cap, an inside corner may be produced. That is to say that the angle between the decorative exterior faces of the corner cap could be about 90 degrees, rather than the approximately 270 degree angle shown in some of the figures included with this specification. In such an inside corner cap, the angle between the inside faces of the cap could be about 270 degrees as compared with the angle shown in some of the drawings being about 90 degrees. An inside corner could involve an angle of 90 degrees, or some other angle as desired for matching architectural detail, for example, having a larger angular sweep in a bay window area application, or a smaller angular sweep in an acute angular architectural detail. Similarly, the angle of an outside corner piece according to the invention could take on a range of values to accommodate architectural features encountered in a building structure. 
   Various other modifications can be made in the details of the various embodiments of the processes, compositions and articles of the present invention, all within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
   This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
   Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.