Patent ID: 7748183

Claim:
A system for attaching panels to a vertical building surface comprising: a) one or more panels, each panel with an exterior surface and a back surface, the exterior surface adapted to face away from a vertical building surface to which the panel is attached, and the back surface adapted to face toward the vertical building surface; b) an upper interlocking member at the upper end of each panel; c) a lower interlocking member at the lower end of each panel; d) a side interlocking member at each side of each panel; e) weep channels recessed within the back surface of each panel to allow for water drainage; and f) air chambers recessed within the back surface of each panel to allow for air circulation, wherein the contact between the upper and lower interlocking members of vertically adjacent panels forms a modified tongue and groove joint, with a contact angle of between 22.5 and 77.5 degrees and the angled surface of the upper interlocking member is oriented towards the vertical building surface, wherein the air chambers are larger than the weep channels, and wherein at least one of the weep channels vertically connects at least two of the air chambers.