Patent ID: 7441382

Claim:
A siding panel assembly, comprising: first and second siding panels, said second siding panel partially overlapping said first siding panel; at least two spaced clips hung from a top edge of said first siding panel, each clip including: a front nailing face having a first nailing aperture formed therethrough; a seat extending from a bottom edge of said nailing face disposed to receive the bottom edge of said second siding panel; and a hook member extending from a top edge of said nailing face and disposed to hang said clip from said top edge of said first siding panel, said hook member comprising a return leg extending substantially parallel to said front nailing face and having a second nailing aperture formed therethrough and aligned with said first nailing aperture, wherein said nailing face is sized to provide said partial overlap of said first siding panel by said second siding panel seated in said seat; and fastening means for securing said first siding panel to a wall of a structure, said fastening means disposed through said first and second nailing apertures of each of said spaced clips and through said first siding panel wherein said hook member includes at least one protrusion thereon disposed to provide an air gap between said first siding panel and said wall, said at least one protrusion comprising at least one vertical protrusion having a thickness tapered along its length.