Patent Publication Number: US-7213346-B1

Title: Installation tool for horizontal siding boards

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The field of the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for aligning and installing horizontal siding boards. 
   Several tools for installing horizontal siding boards are presently available. Two of these are described in: 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,392 entitled “Method and means of installing siding” issued Nov. 27, 1984 to DeFino et al; and 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,767 entitled “Siding installation alignment tool” issued Apr. 29, 1997 to Colavito. 
   The apparatus and methods disclosed herein may provide functionality not provided by these previous tools, or may remedy deficiencies exhibited by these previous tools. 
   SUMMARY 
   An apparatus for installing siding boards comprises: a flattened central body member; a siding-engagement member at a first end of the body member; and a cam member rotatably engaged with the body member. The cam member rotates about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the flattened body member, and comprises a grip segment and a cam segment positioned between the body member and the grip segment. The body member and the siding-engagement member are arranged for engaging the top edge of a substantially horizontal installed first siding board with the body member against the front surface of the board and with the rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the board. The cam segment has a cross-sectional profile comprising an eccentrically curved engagement portion and a disengagement portion. The cam segment is sufficiently thick so as to enable an edge of a siding board to be received between the body member and the grip segment against the cam segment. The grip segment extends radially from the rotation axis by a distance exceeding the maximum radial distance between the eccentrically curved engagement portion of the cam segment and the rotation axis so as to retain a siding board received between the body member and the grip segment. The body member, the siding-engagement member, and the cam segment are arranged for enabling adjustment over a range of vertical overlap of the engaged top edge of the first board by a bottom edge of a second siding board received between the body member and the grip segment by rotation of the cam member among a plurality of rotational positions with the bottom edge of the second board engaged against the eccentrically curved engagement portion of the cam segment. The body member, the siding-engagement member, and the cam segment are arranged for enabling disengagement of the cam segment from the second board by rotation of the cam member so that the disengagement portion of the cam segment faces upward toward the bottom edge of the second board. 
   A method for installing siding comprises: engaging a first siding installation tool with the top edge of a substantially horizontal installed first siding board; engaging a second siding installation tool with the top edge of the first board at a position horizontally displaced from the engaged first installation tool; positioning a second siding board with its bottom edge received between the body member and the correspond grip segment of the installation tools with the bottom edge against the eccentrically curved engagement portions of the corresponding cam segments of the cam members of the installation tools; adjusting vertical overlap of the engaged top edge of the first board by the received bottom edge of the second board by rotating of the cam members of the installation tools; securing the second board to an installation surface; rotating the cam members of the installation tools so that corresponding disengagement portions of the cam segments face upward toward the bottom edge of the second board, thereby disengaging the cam segments from the second board; and disengaging and removing the installation tools from the first board. 
   Objects and advantages pertaining to siding installation and tools therefor may become apparent upon referring to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and disclosed in the following written description and/or claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary installation tool for horizontal siding boards. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the exemplary installation tool. 
       FIGS. 3A–3D  are side views of the exemplary installation tool. 
       FIGS. 4A–4D  are front, side cross-sectional, side, and back cross-sectional views, respectively, of a cam member of the exemplary installation tool. 
       FIGS. 5A–5C  are front, side, and back views, respectively, of a central body member and siding-engagement member of the exemplary installation tool.  FIG. 5D  is a back view of a retaining plate.  FIG. 5E  is a side view of the central body member and an alternative siding-engagement member. 
       FIGS. 6A–6C  are side, front, and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a cam-retaining member of the exemplary installation tool. 
       FIGS. 7A–7C  are side, back, and bottom views, respectively, of a pin for the exemplary installation tool. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the exemplary installation tool engaged with overlapping upper and lower siding boards. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the exemplary installation tool engaged with a lower siding board and disengaged from an overlapping upper siding board. 
   

   The embodiments shown and described in the drawings and description are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims. Distances, sizes, thicknesses, proportions, and so forth may be distorted for clarity and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an apparatus for installing siding boards comprises: a flattened central body member  102 ; a siding-engagement member  104  at a first end of the body member  102 ; and a cam member  200  rotatably engaged with the body member  102  so as to rotate about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the flattened body member  102 . The cam member  200  comprises a grip segment  204  and a cam segment  202 , with the cam segment  202  positioned between the body member  102  and the grip segment  204 . 
   The body member  102  and the siding-engagement member  104  (shown in detail in  FIGS. 5A–5E ) are arranged for engaging a top edge of a substantially horizontal installed first siding board  20  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . When thus engaged, the body member  102  is positioned against front surface of the board  20  and with the rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the board  20 . The apparatus may include a handle member  106  or any other suitable handle means at the second end of the body member  102 . 
   The siding-engagement member  104  may comprise a hook formed at the first end of the body member, the hook comprising a J-shaped hook ( FIGS. 5A–5C ) or an L-shaped hook ( FIG. 5E ). Any other suitable means may be employed for engaging the top edge of the board  20  with body member  102  against the front surface of the board and with the rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the first board. In one exemplary embodiment ( FIGS. 5A–5C ), the siding-engagement member  104  comprises a J-shaped hook, with the downward-projecting portion of the J-shaped hooked comprising an oblique isosceles triangular plate for facilitating disengagement of the installation apparatus from the top edge of the first board by tilting the body member sideways. Any other suitable means may be employed for enabling or facilitating disengagement of the installation apparatus from the top edge of the board, by tilting sideways, tilting outward, sliding upward, or by other suitable movements of the installation tool. 
   The cam member  200  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 4A–4D . The cam segment  202  has a cross-sectional profile comprising an eccentrically curved engagement portion  206  and a disengagement portion  208  ( FIG. 4D ). The cam segment  202  is sufficiently thick (distance labeled C in  FIG. 4B ) so as to enable a siding board  30  to be received between the body member  102  and the grip segment  204  with a lower edge of the board  30  against the cam segment  202  (as shown in  FIG. 8 ). Any other suitable means may be employed for receiving the edge of the siding board  30  between the body member  102  and the grip segment  204 . The grip segment  204  extends radially from the rotation axis by a distance (labeled D in  FIG. 4D ) exceeding the maximum radial distance (labeled E in  FIG. 4D ) between the rotation axis and the eccentrically curved engagement portion  206  of the cam segment  202  so as to retain the siding board  30  received between the body member  102  and the grip segment  204  (i.e. for preventing the received board  30  from simply sliding off of the cam segment  202 ). Any other suitable means may be employed for retaining the siding board  30  received between the body member  102  and the grip segment  204 . 
   The body member  102 , the siding-engagement member  104 , and the cam segment  202  are arranged for enabling adjustment over a range of vertical overlap of the siding boards  20  and  30 . The engaged top edge of the first board  20  is overlapped by a bottom edge of a second siding board  30  received between the body member  102  and the grip segment  204  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The overlap of the boards is adjusted by rotation of the cam member  200  among a plurality of rotational positions (some rotational positions illustrated in  FIGS. 3B–3D ) with the bottom edge of the second board  30  engaged against the eccentrically curved engagement portion  206  of the cam segment  202  (as in  FIG. 8 ). In the examples shown in the Figures, the cam segment  202  is arranged so that any point of contact between the eccentrically curved engagement portion  206  and the bottom edge of board  30  is substantially aligned horizontally with the rotation axis (e.g. the horizontal displacement of the contact point relative to a vertical plane containing the rotation axis is less than about the radius of pin  300 ; any other suitable limit for this horizontal displacement may be employed). In this horizontally aligned arrangement, the minimum overlap distance of the range (labeled F in  FIG. 3D ) is substantially equal to the distance between the rotation axis and the engaged top edge  22  of the first board  20  (labeled G in  FIG. 3D ) minus the maximum radial distance (labeled E in  FIGS. 3D and 4D ) between the rotation axis and the eccentrically curved portion  206  of the cam segment  202 . In this horizontally aligned arrangement, the maximum overlap distance of the range (labeled H in  FIG. 3C ) is substantially equal to the distance G between the rotation axis and the engaged top edge of the first board  20  minus the minimum radial distance (labeled A in  FIGS. 3C and 4D ) between the rotation axis and the eccentrically curved portion  206  of the cam segment  202 . Rotation of the cam member  200  enables adjustment of the overlap of the boards  20  and  30  between these minimum and maximum overlap distances (note the variation among  FIGS. 3B–3D ). Substantial horizontal alignment of the contact point and the rotation axis reduces or substantially eliminates torque on the cam member arising from the supported weight of the second board. Such torque could cause unwanted rotation of the cam member  200  and misalignment of the board  30 . Substantial horizontal alignment of the contact point and the rotation axis may be defined functionally: the limit for the horizontal displacement of the contact point may be determined by the supported weight of the board  30  and the torque necessary to cause unwanted rotation of cam member  200 . 
   The body member  102 , the siding-engagement member  104 , and the cam segment  202  are also arranged for enabling disengagement of the cam segment  202  from the second board  30  by rotation of the cam member  200  so that the disengagement portion  208  of the cam segment faces upward toward the bottom edge  32  of the second board  30  ( FIGS. 3A and 9 ). This enables the installation tool to be moved upward or tilted sideways to disengage the siding-engaging member  104  from the top edge of the first board  20 . In the exemplary embodiments shown in the Figures, the disengagement portion  208  of the cam segment  202  is substantially flat. The minimum radial distance A between the rotation axis and the eccentrically curved engagement portion  206  is greater than or equal to the perpendicular distance (labeled B in  FIG. 4D ) between the rotation axis and the substantially flat disengagement portion  208  of the cam segment  202 . 
   Any suitable means may be employed for rotatably engaging the cam member  200  with the body member  102 , and for defining the rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the flattened body member. In the exemplary embodiments shown in the Figures, a pin  300  engaged at a first end thereof with a hole  108  in the body member  102  defines the rotation axis and serves to rotatably engage the cam member  200  with the body member  102 . The body member  102  may include a plurality of holes  108  for engaging the first end of the pin  300 . The holes  108  are positioned at differing vertical positions, thereby enabling selection of a desired vertical position for the adjustment range of the vertical overlap of the siding boards  20  and  30 . Any other suitable means may be employed for selecting from among differing vertical positions a vertical position for the adjustment range of the vertical overlap of the siding boards  20  and  30 . 
   It may be desirable for the vertical separations between adjacent holes  108  of the body member  102  (or between adjacent vertical positions otherwise selected for the adjustment ranges) to each be less than or about equal to a difference between the maximum radial distance (labeled E) and the minimum radial distance (labeled A) between the rotation axis and the eccentrically curved engagement portion  206  of the cam segment  202 . In this way the ranges of the vertical overlap of the siding boards  20  and  30  provided by rotation of the cam member  200  at each of the different vertical positions substantially continuously cover a larger overall range of achievable siding board overlap. In one example, the centers of holes  108  may be separated by about 0.25 inches, while the difference between the minimum and maximum radial distances between the rotation axis and the eccentrically curved engagement portion  206  of the cam segment  202  may be about 0.25 inches or larger. Adjustment to the minimum overlap at one pin/hole position results in about the same overlap as adjustment to the maximum overlap at the next lower pin/hole position, resulting in substantially continuous adjustability over the combined ranges. Any other suitable distances or separations may be employed. Any desired number of holes, pin positions, or adjustment range positions may be employed; four such positions are shown in the Figures. 
   The installation apparatus may further comprise a mechanism or any other suitable means for substantially preventing unwanted rotation of the cam member  200  at a plurality of continuous or discrete rotational positions thereof. For example, the installation tool may further comprise a spring-biased detent mechanism arranged for retaining the cam member  200  at a selected one of a plurality of discrete rotational positions. The detent mechanism enables rotation of the cam member  200  among the plurality of rotational positions by sufficient torque applied by a user to the grip segment  204 . Any other suitable means may be employed for retaining the cam member in a selected one of a plurality of discrete rotational positions and for enabling rotation of the cam member among the plurality of rotational positions by sufficient torque applied by a user to the grip segment. Alternatively, the installation tool may further comprise a locking mechanism or any other suitable locking means movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, with the locking mechanism substantially preventing in the locked position rotation of the cam member  200 , and allowing in the unlocked position rotation of the cam member  200  among a plurality of continuous or discrete rotational positions. Examples of such locking means may include, but are not limited to: locking screws or fasteners, quick-release mechanisms (as used on bicycle axles, for example), clamps, friction or brake mechanisms, locking pins, and so on. 
   In an exemplary embodiment, the spring-biased detent mechanism  400  may comprise: the pin  300  substantially non-rotatably engaged at a first end thereof with one of the holes  108  in the body member  102 ; a cam-retaining member  402  positioned with the cam member  200  between the body member  102  and the cam-retaining member  400 ; and a spring member  404 . In the example shown, pin  300  is non-rotatably engaged with one of holes  108  by flange  302  and retaining plate  108   a ; any other suitable means may be employed. The spring member  404  is engaged with the pin  300  (by threaded knob  404   a  engaged with threaded end  304  of pin  300  in the example shown; any other suitable means may be employed) and with the cam-retaining member  402  for biasing the cam-retaining member  402  against the cam member  200 . The cam-retaining member  402  is substantially non-rotatably engaged with the pin  300  (by pin  406  in this example; any other suitable means may be employed) and is movable axially along the pin  300 . The detent mechanism  400  further comprises a set of radial ridges  410  and a corresponding set of radial grooves  412 . One of the sets (ridges  410  in the example shown) is formed on a surface of the cam member  200  facing the cam-retaining member  402  ( FIGS. 4A–4B ), while the other of the sets (grooves  412  in the example shown) is formed on a surface of the cam-retaining member  402  facing the cam member  200  ( FIGS. 6A–6C ). Engagement of the ridges  410  with the grooves  412  substantially prevents rotation of the cam member  200 , while disengagement of the ridges  410  from the grooves  412  enables rotation of the cam member  200 . Biasing of the cam-retaining member  402  against the cam member  200  by spring member  404  engages the ridges  410  with the grooves  412  and substantially prevents rotation of the cam member  200 . Application of sufficient torque by the user to the grip segment  204  results in disengagement of the ridges  410  from the grooves  412  (by axial movement of the cam-retaining member  402  along the pin  300  against the tension of spring member  404 ) and thereby enables rotation of the cam member  200 . Adjustment of the tension of spring member  404  (by threaded knob  404   b  on threads  304  in the example shown; any other suitable means may be employed) in turn adjusts the applied torque required for disengaging the ridges  410  from the grooves  412  and allowing rotation of the cam member  200 . 
   A method for installing siding comprises: engaging a first siding installation tool with a top edge of a substantially horizontal installed first siding board; engaging a second siding installation tool with the top edge of the first board at a position horizontally displaced from the engaged first installation tool; positioning a second siding board with a bottom edge thereof received between the corresponding body members and grip segments of the installation tools, with the bottom edge against the corresponding eccentrically curved engagement portions of the corresponding cam segments of the installation tools ( FIG. 8 ); adjusting vertical overlap of the engaged top edge of the first board by the received bottom edge of the second board by rotating the cam members of the installation tools; securing the second board to an installation surface; rotating the cam members of each of the installation tools so that corresponding disengagement portions of the cam segments face upward toward the bottom edge of the second board, thereby disengaging the cam segments from the second board ( FIG. 9 ); and disengaging and removing the first and second installation tools from the first board. 
   For purposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, the conjunction “or” is to be construed inclusively (e.g., “a dog or a cat” would be interpreted as “a dog, or a cat, or both”; e.g., “a dog, a cat, or a mouse” would be interpreted as “a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or any two, or all three”), unless: i) it is explicitly stated otherwise, e.g., by use of “either . . . or”, “only one of . . . ”, or similar language; or ii) two or more of the listed alternatives are mutually exclusive within the particular context, in which case “or” would encompass only those combinations involving non-mutually-exclusive alternatives. It is intended that equivalents of the disclosed exemplary embodiments and methods shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure and/or appended claims. It is intended that the disclosed exemplary embodiments and methods, and equivalents thereof, may be modified while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims.