Patent Publication Number: US-2015082731-A1

Title: Snap Lock Soffit System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application incorporates by reference and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/882,802 filed on Sep. 26, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to a snap lock soffit system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a plastic exterior soffit system that includes a simple snap locking fastener system to assist in installation. 
     As used herein, the term soffit generally refers to the exposed undersurface of an exterior overhanging section of a roof eave. However, it is understood that the term soffit, and the subject matter presented herein, applies to the underside of porches, arches, columns, stairs, etc. 
     In residential and commercial construction, the soffit is typically protected by one or more layers of material (aluminum, vinyl, wood, etc.), often screwed or nailed into position. The soffit is both functional and aesthetic. Functionally, the soffit protects the rafters from the weather. A ventilated soffit also allows appropriate airflow through the exterior of the building envelope. This can be useful in preventing moisture (and the accompanying rotting and mold) from accumulating along the interior of the building envelope. Aesthetically, the soffit provides a clean and coherent look to otherwise exposed undersurfaces of the building. 
     Due to its location and orientation, soffits can be awkward to install and maintain. Current soffit solutions have not integrated the fastening system into the design of the soffit panels, which then requires several accessory pieces to be used to fasten the soffit panels in place. Furthermore, the soffit panels are typically installed perpendicular to the direction of the overhang and need to be cut into many smaller pieces prior to installation. For these reasons and others, soffits can be time consuming and difficult to install and maintain. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a soffit system that is easier and quicker to install, as described herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To meet the needs described above and others, the present disclosure provides a soffit system that is simple to install and can be installed without requiring the additional accessory pieces that current systems need to complete installation. At the most general description, the snap lock soffit system includes a snap lock receiver rail that facilitates the system&#39;s snap lock functions, a plurality of snap fit soffit panels, and optional trim. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the soffit system, a snap lock receiver rail is installed horizontally between the sub fascia and the face of the exterior wall at a predetermined spacing. The snap lock receiver rail includes a plurality of snap lock receiver tabs onto which the soffit panels are snapped by simply pushing the soffit panels upward onto the snap lock receiver tabs. Because the soffit panels run parallel to the eave, less cutting and fitting is required, which significantly reduces the installation time required. An optional trim piece can be installed to make the transition between the soffit and the siding more aesthetically pleasing. To simplify the eave even further, an optional gutter system can be added eliminating the need for a sub-fascia. 
     In one embodiment, a snap lock soffit system includes: a receiver rail including; a receiver rail flange whose length and height define a first plane; an end fastening tab located at one end of the receiver rail whose width and height defines a second plane, wherein the first plane and second plane are perpendicular to each other, the end fastening tab including at least one fastening hole; and a plurality of snap lock receiver tabs depending from the receiver rail, the snap lock receiver tabs being spaced along the length of the receiver rail flange; and a soffit panel including: a plurality of retainer grooves each adapted to receive a corresponding snap lock receiver tab in a press fit locking configuration to secure the soffit panel to the receiver rail, the retainer grooves spaced along the length of the soffit panel; a fastening edge located at a first end along the length of the soffit panel, where in the fastening edge is aligned with the plane of the end fastening tab of the receiver rail when the soffit panel is secured to the receiver rail; and a soffit extension panel retainer groove located at a second end along the length of the soffit panel. 
     In one contemplated embodiment, the receiver rail flange includes a radiused end opposite to the end fastening tab and the length of the receiver rail extends past the length of the radiused end. In this embodiment, at least one receiver tab may depend from the receiver rail at a position further from the end fastening tab than the radiused end. 
     In another contemplated embodiment, the snap lock soffit system further includes an end hanger located the end of the receiver rail opposite to the end fastening tab, wherein the end hanger&#39;s width and height defines a third plane, where in the first plane and third plane are perpendicular to each other and the second plane and third plane are parallel to each other, the end hanger including at least one fastening hole. 
     The soffit panel may further include a frieze trim retainer groove for mating with a frieze trim. 
     An object and advantage of the soffit system is to provide a soffit installation solution that is simple and faster to install. 
     Another object and advantage of the soffit system is to hold the soffit panels securely in to the snap lock receiver rail while allowing them to float freely with respect to each other so as to be better suited for expansion and contraction between soffit panels with the changing of the weather. 
     Yet another object and advantage of the invention is to provide a system that is appropriate for installation across a variety of eaves locations and flexible enough to be installed without alterations on the majority of eave configurations. 
     Another advantage of the snap lock soffit system is that when installed with its optional gutter system, it becomes a complete installation from the drip edge of the roof to the top transition at the siding. 
     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of a snap lock soffit system embodying the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a snap lock receiver rail for use in the snap lock soffit system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation side view of the snap lock receiver rail shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the snap lock soffit system of  FIG. 1  mated to a gutter system to provide a complete installation from the roof&#39;s drip edge to the siding transition along the face of the building. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation side view of the snap lock receiver rail shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of a soffit panel with a J channel. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of a soffit panel extension. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a soffit panel with a frieze trim receiver. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of frieze trim that mates with the soffit panel with a frieze trim receiver shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a snap lock soffit system  10  installed at the undersurface of an exterior overhanging section of a roof eave. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the snap lock soffit system  10  includes a snap lock receiver rail  12  and a soffit panel  14 . As shown, the receiver rail  12  includes a series of snap lock receiver tabs  16 , an end fastening tab  18 , a stiffening flange  20 , a receiver rail flange  22 , and a radiused end  24 . The soffit panel  14  includes a series of retainer grooves  26  corresponding to the receiver tabs  16 , a fastening edge  28 , a J channel  30 , a decorative edge  32 , and a soffit extension panel retainer groove  34 . This embodiment of the soffit system  10  is intended to be installed in combination with a standard gutter and facia cover system  36 . Accordingly, the other contextual elements shown in  FIG. 1  include roof sheathing  38 , a truss tail  40 , sub-fascia  42 , a standard drip edge  44 , and wall sheathing  46 . 
     The construction shown in  FIG. 1  is a standard  12 ″ eave construction.  FIG. 1  shows how the snap lock receiver rail  12  is fastened between the sub-fascia  42  and the exterior wall construction  48  using a fastener (i.e., nail or screw, not shown) installed through the end fastening tab  18  and the wall sheathing  46 . The soffit panel  14  is then snapped on to the receiver rail  12 . The radiused end  24  of the receiver rail  12  enables the receiver rail  12  to fit comfortably under the truss tail  40  and short of the sub-fascia  42 . The stiffening flange  20  and receiver rail flange  22  provide the structural support for the receiver tabs  16 , which in turn support the soffit panel  14 . As shown, the fastening edge  28  mates with the wall sheathing  46 , the J channel  30  provides a channel into which the building&#39;s siding (not shown) may mate with the soffit panel  14 , and the decorative edge  32  may provide an aesthetically pleasing transition between the soffit panel  14  and the siding. 
     One skilled in the art of eave and soffit construction will readily recognize that a series of receiver rails  12  may be installed along the length of the eave construction to provide a corresponding number of connection points for one or more soffit panels  14 . The soffit panels  14  may overlap each other, enabling a free range of lateral movement between adjacent soffit panels  14 , which prevents warping or other damage that can occur when adjacent soffit panels  14  are unable to move with respect to each other. This also provides a very quick and easy installation process in that the soffit panels  14  do not need to be cut to size or otherwise manipulated for installation. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show additional details of the receiver rail  12  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  shows the receiver rail  12  rotated  90  degrees from its position in  FIG. 1 . As shown, the receiver rail  12  includes the elements shown in  FIG. 1  (snap lock receiver tabs  16 , an end fastening tab  18 , a stiffening flange  20 , a receiver rail flange  22 ) as well as one or more fastening holes  50  to enable the end fastening tab  18  to easily be secured to the wall sheathing  46  using a screw or similar fastener  52 . In  FIG. 3 , a fastener  52  is shown through the end fastening tab  18 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the receiver rail  12 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the soffit system  10  mates to a gutter system  36  to provide a complete installation from the roof&#39;s drip edge  44  to the siding transition along the face of the building. The receiver rail  12  differs from that shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and is further illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , this embodiment of the receiver rail  12  includes a radiused stiffening flange  54  that connects to an end hanger  56  and further includes a gutter retainer tab  58 . This configuration of the soffit system  10  eliminates the need for the sub-fascia  42  shown in  FIG. 1 . This configuration of the soffit system  10  also is adapted to mate with a gutter system  34 . The gutter system  36  shown in  FIG. 4  is the gutter system taught in U.S. Pat. No. 8,549,791, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the receiver rail  12  may be installed by fastening the end hanger  56  to the truss tail  40  and by fastening the end fastening tab  18  to the wall sheathing  46 . Then, the drip edge  46  may be secured to the roof sheathing  38  such that the gutter system  36  can be connected to the retaining rail  12  and the drip edge  46 . 
     The gutter system  36  shown in  FIG. 4  includes a gutter body  60 , including a gutter back wall  62  and a gutter guard  64 , protecting the gutter channel  65 . A pivot joint  66  is formed by the mating of the drip edge  46  and the gutter back wall  62  spans the end hanger  56  to interface with the gutter retainer tab  58  at a lower matting portion  70 . This is merely one example of a gutter system  36  that may be integrated with the soffit system  10  and other variations of appropriate gutter systems  36  will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the disclosure provided herein including the incorporation by reference of U.S. Pat. No. 8,549,791. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 4 , the soffit panel  14  mates with a frieze trim  72  at a frieze trim retainer groove  74 . This enables a snap-fit connection between the frieze trim  72  and the soffit panel  14 . The frieze trim  72  completes the span from the drip edge  46  to the exterior wall construction  48 . The frieze trim  72  is designed in such a way that it binds with the soffit panel  14  and forces the bottom edge of the frieze trim  72  tight against the siding below. As a result, the soffit system  14  in connection with the gutter system  36  provides an integrated solution for constructing eaves, particularly without the need for sub-facia  42 . 
       FIGS. 6-9  show various embodiments of the soffit panel  14  and frieze trim  72 .  FIG. 6  is an example of a soffit panel  14  with a J channel  30 . The J channel  30  may make it easier to mate the soffit panel  14  with the siding of the building. 
       FIG. 7  is an example of a soffit extension panel  76  that includes a snap bulb  78  that mates with the soffit extension panel retainer groove  34  to join the soffit panel  14  and the soffit extension panel  76  together in a snap-fit manner. Because the soffit extension panel  76  also includes a soffit extension panel retainer groove  34 , additional soffit extension panels  76  may be linked to form an even larger span of soffit panels  14  and soffit extension panels  76 . 
       FIG. 8  is an example of a soffit panel  14  with a frieze trim retainer groove  74  and  FIG. 9  is an example of a frieze trim  72 . As shown, the frieze trim  72  includes a male snap end  80  that mates with the frieze trim retainer groove  74  and a bottom edge  82  that is to be placed in tension against the siding below, when installed. The frieze trim  72  further includes a decorative edge  32 . The shape of the frieze trim  72  shown in  FIG. 9  is merely one of countless examples of frieze trim  72  that could be used. The key factors are the male snap end  80 , the aesthetic body (e.g., the decorative edge  32 ), and the bottom edge  82 . 
     While not shown explicitly, the soffit panels  14  may be perforated other otherwise ventilated to provide appropriate attic (or other) ventilation. 
     It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. For example, various embodiments of the method and portable electronic device may be provided based on various combinations of the features and functions from the subject matter provided herein.