Patent ID: 7748190

Claim:
An interconnected clapboard system comprising: a first clapboard and a second clapboard, wherein each of the first clapboard and the second clapboard comprises: a front side opposite to a back side, wherein the front side comprises a groove formed at a border between an overhang strip of the clapboard and a base of the clapboard, wherein the overhang strip comprises a top edge which defines an uppermost portion of the clapboard, and wherein the base defines a lowermost portion of the clapboard, and further wherein the back side of the base comprises a tongue; and a cleat comprising: a plate comprising a planar front side opposite to a planar back side, wherein the plate is equally divided crosswise into a first half and a second half, wherein the first half comprises an exposed lateral edge and the second half comprises an exposed lateral edge, wherein the two exposed lateral edges are opposite to each other, and further wherein each of the first half and the second half of the plate comprises: a plurality of protrusions, wherein each protrusion extends from the planar front side at a base region and terminates at a tip, wherein a distance between the base region of each protrusion and its respective tip comprises a height of the respective protrusion; and wherein the plate further comprises a first flange extending from the exposed lateral edge of the first half of the plate, and a second flange extending from the exposed lateral edge of the second half of the plate, wherein each of the first flange and the second flange extend from the back side of the plate, and wherein each of the first flange and the second flange comprises a hooked portion separated from the back side of the plate by a groove; wherein the protrusions on the first half of the plate are sunk into the back side of the base of the first clapboard, and wherein the hooked portion of the first flange is positioned over the top edge of the overhang strip of the second clapboard such that the top edge of the overhang strip of the second clapboard fits within the groove of the cleat which is formed between the hooked portion of the first flange and the back side of the plate, and the back side of the plate faces the front side of the overhang strip of the second clapboard, and further wherein the tongue of the first clapboard is disposed within the groove of the second clapboard.