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United States Patent Application	20090107084
Kind Code	A1
Hutchings; Robert	April 30, 2009

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Claims

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1. A system comprising:a clip configured to engage a top surface of a first course of siding and mount between a second course of siding and a wall, said clip having an engagement mechanism; anda tool configured to removably engage said engagement mechanism and having a support surface a predetermined distance from said top surface of said first course when engaged to said clip, said support surface being configured to engage a bottom surface of said second course of siding.

2. The system of claim 1, said clip being further configured to mount between a rear surface of said first course and said wall.

3. The system of claim 2, said clip further having an engagement tab configured to be wedged between said rear surface of said first course and said wall.

4. The system of claim 3, said clip further having a striking surface opposite said engagement tab.

5. The system of claim 1, said clip being further configured to mount between a rear surface of said second course and said wall.

6. The system of claim 1, said clip being stalled to said wall using a fastener.

7. The system of claim 1, said engagement mechanism comprising a first recess in said clip configured to accept a first prong from said tool.

8. The system of claim 7, said engagement mechanism comprising a second recess in said clip configured to accept a second prong from said tool.

9. The system of claim 8, said first recess and said second recess being on opposite sides of said clip.

10. The system of claim 1, said tool comprising a first arm and a second arm.

11. The system of claim 10, said tool further comprising a spring mechanism configured to force said first arm and said second arm to engage said engagement mechanism.

12. The system of claim 1, said tool having a selectable mechanism by which said predetermined distance may be changed.

13. The system of claim 12, said selectable mechanism comprising a rotating element, said rotating element having said support surface.

14. The system of claim 13, said rotating element having stops at predefined increments.

15. The system of claim 13, said rotating element having a continuously variable predetermined distance.

16. The system of claim 15, said tool comprising a locking mechanism for said rotating element.

17. A clip comprising:a tab configured to engage between a first course of siding and a wall;a reference surface configured to engage a top surface of said first course of siding; andan engagement mechanism configured to engage a removable tool, said removable tool having a reference surface at a predetermined distance from said top surface of said first course of siding when said clip is engaged to said top surface of said first course of siding.

18. The clip of claim 17 further comprising:a bendable element configured to bend when a second course of siding is installed and said removable tool is removed.

19. A tool comprising:an engagement mechanism for a clip mounted to engage a top surface of a first course of siding; anda reference surface configured to support a bottom surface of a second course of siding at a predetermined distance from said top surface of said first course of siding.

20. The tool of claim 19 further comprising:a holding surface adjacent to said reference surface configured to engage an exterior surface of said second course of siding while said second course of siding is engaged with said reference surface.

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Description

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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/971,302 filed 11 Sep. 2007 by Robert Hutchings entitled "Siding Installation System", the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference for all it discloses and teaches.

BACKGROUND

[0002]Many siding systems use overlapping courses of siding materials, such as clapboard and similar systems. During installation, a first course may be applied to an exterior wall, then subsequent courses may be applied with an overlap between each successive course. A quality installation has each course with a consistent overlap and with each course being straight and level with the next course.

SUMMARY

[0003]A siding installation system uses a clip that mounts on a course of siding and a removable tool that engages the clip and acts as a temporary support for a next course of siding. After the next course of siding is installed, the tool may be removed and the clip left in place. The clip may have several different embodiments, including versions that slide behind a lower course of siding and other embodiments that are fastened to an exterior wall. The clip may rest on the top surface of the lower course and have an engagement mechanism for the removable tool. The removable tool may clamp or otherwise engage the clip and have a support surface for the next course of siding. In some embodiments, the removable tool may have a changeable support surface so that different overlap distances may be used.

[0004]This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]In the drawings,

[0006]FIG. 1 is a side view illustration of an embodiment showing a siding installation system.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of a first embodiment showing a clip design

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a second embodiment showing a clip design

[0009]FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of an embodiment showing a siding installation system.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a front view illustration of an embodiment showing a siding installation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011]A system for installing siding uses a clip that mounts between the siding and a wall. The clip may be engaged by a removable tool, and the removable tool may act as a temporary support for a second course of siding. After the second course of siding is installed, the removable tool may be disengaged from the clip, and the clip may remain in place.

[0012]The clip may rest on the top surface of a lower course of siding. In some embodiments, the clip may have a tab or other mechanism by which the clip may slide between a lower course of siding and the wall surface. The clip may have a surface or other feature that may engage or contact the top surface of the siding and provide a known reference for an engagement mechanism for the removable tool.

[0013]The engagement mechanism may be any feature by which the removable tool may connect to the clip. In many embodiments, the engagement mechanism may be a recess, surface, or other mechanical feature by which a removable tool may engage the clip.

[0014]The removable tool may be any device that may engage the clip and provide a reference surface for installing a next course of siding. In many embodiments, the removable tool may be relatively rigidly engaged to the clip so that a heavy course of siding may be placed on the reference surface and supported while the course is installed to a wall by fastening or other methods.

[0015]Throughout this specification, like reference numbers signify the same elements throughout the description of the figures.

[0016]When elements are referred to as being "connected" or "coupled," the elements can be directly connected or coupled together or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when elements are referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled," there are no intervening elements present.

[0017]FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment 100 showing a side view of a siding installation system. Embodiment 100 is a simplified illustration that shows a siding installation system that has a clip that mounts behind a course of siding and a tool that engages the clip and provides support for a second course of siding. After installing the second course of siding, the tool may be removed and the clip may remain behind the second course of siding.

[0018]Embodiment 100 shows a wall 102 over which is applied several courses of siding. The siding 110, 112, and 114 may be individual courses of clapboard or other lap siding. In a typical exterior installation, the wall 102 may be a plywood or other sheet siding over which a vapor barrier, building paper, or other material is placed. The siding courses may be applied with an overlap between each course.

[0019]In many clapboard installations, each piece of clapboard siding may be between 4 and 10 inches tall, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, and several feet long, often as long as 12 or 14 feet long. Typical clapboard may be beveled so that the lower thickness is greater than the upper thickness. Other siding systems may have different dimensions.

[0020]Because the length of a piece of clapboard siding is very long, the installation of clapboard siding is often a two person job when the siding installation system of embodiment 100 is not in use. Each person may hold the siding at the proper overlap and parallel to the previous course, then nails or other fasteners are typically driven into the siding along the upper edge. The fasteners are typically placed in the area that will be covered by the next course of siding so that the fasteners will not be visible after installation is complete.

[0021]A high quality clapboard installation has each course with a constant and consistent overlap with a previous course, as well as keeping each course level with respect to the previous course.

[0022]Embodiment 100 is a siding illustration system that allows a reference surface to be placed at a constant offset from the top edge of a course of siding. The reference surface is part of a removable tool that engages a clip that is mounted against the top surface of the lower course of siding. The reference surface is often secure enough to support a course of siding such that the course of siding may be installed by a single person.

[0023]The clip 104 is illustrated as being mounted between the wall 102 and the inner surface of the course of siding 112. Tab 118 may secure the clip 104 between the wall 102 and the inner surface of the course of siding 112.

[0024]The clip 104 may mount against the upper surface of the course of siding 112 using a surface 117. The clip 104 may have an engagement mechanism 116 by which the tool 108 may engage the clip 104. The tool 108 may have a reference surface 126 that may support the course of siding 114 while the course of siding 114 is installed.

[0025]In many embodiments, the tool 108 may be comprised of two handles 122 and may hold in place with a spring mechanism 124. The tool 108 may engage one or more prongs or tabs into recesses in the clip 104 and may hang against the course of siding 112 while supporting the course of siding 114.

[0026]After the course of siding 114 is installed, the handles of the tool 108 may be squeezed, which may release the engagement mechanism 106 and the tool 108 may be removed from between the courses of siding 112 and 114. After installing the course of siding 114, the clip 104 may be left trapped between the courses.

[0027]The clip and tool system may provide a rugged yet accurate temporary holding mechanism that may support a course of siding prior to installation. The clip and tool system may engage the top surface of a lower course of siding using the surface 117 of clip 104, and provide a reference surface 126 that is a predetermined distance from surface 117. The tool 108 may grip the clip 104 in a secure enough manner that a carpenter may drop or slide a course of siding 114 onto the reference surface 126 without dislodging the tool 108 from the clip 104.

[0028]The clip and tool system may use a disposable clip 104 that may be made of a low cost plastic material, and may be manufactured using injection molding, for example. An injection molded clip 104 may be dimensionally consistent and also very inexpensive.

[0029]In many installations, clapboard and other lap siding is installed using fasteners at the top portion of the siding. An example is the fastener 142 that is installed below the overlap of course of siding 112. Because the siding overlaps another course below, the siding is slightly bent and forms a tight seal against the lower course. As such, the tool 108 has thin arms 120 that may slide out from between the courses of siding 112 and 114 when the tool 108 is disengaged from the engagement mechanism 116. After sliding the arms 120 from between the siding courses, the force applied by the course of siding 114 may press directly against the course of siding 112, causing the clip 104 to bend.

[0030]Clip 106 is illustrated in the bent position after installation. The clip 106 has an tab 138 that extends between the wall 102 and the course of siding 110 and an engagement mechanism 136 that may be used to engage the tool 108 in a manner similar to clip 104. The clip 106 has a bendable area 140 that may be a thin section designed to yield when the tool 108 is removed. The clip 106 may yield so that the courses of siding 110 and 112 may lay against each other. Some embodiments may not have such a bendable area.

[0031]The tool 108 may have a reference surface 126 that, in conjunction with a holding surface 128, may support the course of siding 114 prior to installation. The reference surface 126 may support the bottom surface of the course of siding 114 at the proper installed overlap with respect to the course of siding 112. The holding surface 128 may serve as a stop or guide that may prevent the course of siding 114 from falling off of the reference surface 126.

[0032]In many installations, a carpenter may install two, three, or more clips at the top surface of the course of siding 112 and engage a tool 108 in each clip. The tool 108 may be designed with a spring mechanism 124 that may force two arms to cinch together into the engagement mechanism 116 and remain securely in place. After several tools are hung on the siding from the clips, the carpenter may place a piece of siding onto the tools so that the siding rests on the reference surface 126 of each tool. The carpenter may then install fasteners along the upper portion of the course of siding 114, then the carpenter may squeeze the handles 122 of each of the tools 108 and remove the tools from between the previous course of siding and the newly installed course of siding. The carpenter may repeat the process with another course of siding.

[0033]In many embodiments, the tool 108 may be outfitted with a rotatable element 130 that may have two or more reference surfaces 126 and 134 that provide different overlap distances between courses. In some cases, the rotatable element 130 may rotate about a rotation axis 132 to select a different reference surface.

[0034]Some such embodiments may have a locking mechanism configured to keep the rotatable element 130 from becoming dislodged. A locking mechanism may be any type of locking mechanism such as a ball plunger detent mechanism, locking screw, or other type of lock.

[0035]Since the overlapping courses of siding are generally installed with some pressure applied from the upper course to the lower course, the two courses may pinch the arms of the removable tool during removal. Hence, the thin cross section of the arms of the tool 108 may make such removal easier.

[0036]In some embodiments, the clip 104 may be molded in the collapsed state as clip 106. In such an embodiment, the clip 104 may be installed as illustrated between the course of siding 112 and the wall 102. When the tool 108 is engaged to the engagement mechanism 116, the clip 104 may bend into the position as shown in embodiment 100. After the tool 108 is removed, the clip 104 may bend back to its original shape as clip 106, and remain in such a state, allowing the course of siding 114 to fully press against and form a seal with the course of siding 112.

[0037]FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of an embodiment 200 of a slip-in clip design. Embodiment 200 may be used in a similar manner as clips 104 and 106 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0038]Embodiment 200 is an example of a clip that may be manufactured from injection molded plastic. The clip 202 may have a tab 204 that may wedge between an installed course of siding and a wall such that the surface 206 contacts and aligns with the top surface of the installed course of siding. The clip may have a striking surface 210 that may be used to lightly tap the clip with a hammer to cause the surface 206 to rest against the upper surface of an installed course of siding.

[0039]The engagement mechanism 208 in this embodiment is a pair of holes that may receive prongs from the tool. The engagement mechanism 208 may include a matching pair of rectangular holes on the opposite side.

[0040]The engagement mechanism 208 is a mechanism by which the clip 202 may attach to and engage a removable tool. Many different engagement mechanisms may be used. In embodiment 200, the clip 202 has two rectangular recesses into which malt fit mating features from a removable tool. Other clip embodiments may use various other shaped mechanical engagement features that may mate with or accept features on a removable tool.

[0041]The engagement mechanism may allow a removable tool to securely and ruggedly attach to the clip, so that the tool may hang over a first course of siding and provide a support for the lower edge of a second course of siding. In many embodiments, the removable tool may have thin arms that may separate to disengage from the clip, and slide from between the two courses of siding.

[0042]Further, the pressure between courses of siding may cause the clip 202 to collapse or bend so that the clip 202 may allow the two courses of siding to form a tight seal between the courses. The clip 202 may have a bendable area that may yield after installation as described in FIG. 1 and illustrated as clip 106.

[0043]FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of an embodiment 300 of a fastened clip design. Embodiment 300 may be used in a similar manner as clips 104 and 106 as illustrated in FIG. 1, but may attach to a wall using a fastener hole 310. In some embodiments, the clip 302 may be installed by a staple or other fastening system applied through the tab 304.

[0044]Like embodiment 200, the clip 302 has a surface 306 that may rest against the upper surface of a first course of siding. The clip 302 may be held in place while a fastener is installed through the tab 304.

[0045]After installation, a tool may engage the engagement mechanism 308 so that the tool may provide a reference surface to support a second course of siding. The engagement mechanism 308 is different from the engagement mechanism 208, but operates in the same manner by engaging reciprocal features on a removable tool. The engagement mechanism 308 has a single rectangular recess into which a mating feature on at removable tool may be received. The engagement mechanism 308 is another design by which a removable tool may be installed and held in place while siding is being installed.

[0046]The clip 302 may be designed for a specific thickness of siding. In many embodiments, the chip 302 may be designed so that the distance from the surface that mates the wall to the inside surface of the engagement mechanism 308 is approximately the thickness of the siding 314.

[0047]Similar to the clip 202, the clip 302 has a bendable area 312 that may collapse after a course of siding is attached and the removable tool is removed.

[0048]Clips 202 and 302 are merely two examples of different designs of clips that may be used with a removable tool to aid in the installation of lap siding. Other designs may or may not have collapsible or bendable areas, may have different shapes, and may have different engagement mechanisms by which a removable tool may engage the clip.

[0049]FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of an embodiment 400 showing a clip and tool system. The system includes the clip 202 with a removable tool 406. The removable tool 406 is illustrated engaged to the clip 202.

[0050]The clip and tool system of embodiment 400 illustrates a removable tool 406 that may engage an engagement mechanism 208 and be held in place using a spring mechanism 418. The removable tool 406 may be disengaged from the clip 202 by squeezing the handles 420 and 422.

[0051]During normal use, the clip 202 may be installed such that the surface 206 males up with and engages the top surface of a first course of siding. The clip 202 is designed such that the tab 204 may slide behind the first course of siding and may be held in place by the friction or squeezing forces between the first course of siding and a wall.

[0052]The tool 406 may be engaged to the clip 202 by squeezing the handles 420 and 422, which may rotate arms 412 and 414 about a hinge point 416. The squeezing action of the handles 420 and 422 may overcome the tension provided by the spring mechanism 418.

[0053]As the handles 420 and 422 are squeezed, the arms 412 and 414 may come apart and the ends of the arms may be positioned to engage the engagement mechanism 208 of the clip 202. The handles 420 and 422 may be released, engaging the arms 412 and 414 into the engagement mechanism 208. The spring mechanism 418 may cause the handles 420 and 422 to spread and may keep the arms 412 and 414 engaged with the clip 202.

[0054]When the tool 406 is installed, the reference surface 424 may be a predetermined distance from the surface 206. Since the surface 206 is installed against the upper surface of a first course of siding, the distance between the surface 206 and the reference surface 424 is a predetermined distance that is the overlap distance between two courses of siding.

[0055]When the tool 406 is engaged to the clip 202, the tool 406 may remain in place while a carpenter places a course of siding onto the reference surface 424. The holding surface 426 may ensure that the course of siding remains in place.

[0056]In a typical installation scenario, a carpenter may install one, two, or more clips and tools onto a course of siding. The tools may be hanging along the edge of a course of siding and provide a mechanism to hold the next course of siding in place. The carpenter may drop the next course of siding onto the tools, and the tools may be securely attached to the clips so that the impact of a course of siding striking the reference surface doers not dislodge the tools.

[0057]The tool 406 may have a rotating element 428 that may have two or more reference surfaces positioned at different offset distances from the surface 206. The tool 406 is illustrated with reference surfaces 424 and 432 on the rotating element 428. By rotating the rotating element 428 about the rotation axis 430, the second reference surface 432 may be selected that has a different offset distance from the surface 206 and may provide a different overlap distance between successive courses of siding.

[0058]In some embodiments, a rotating element may have many different reference surfaces. One such embodiment may have a rotating element with a spiral shaped or variable offset rotating element. In such an embodiment, a carpenter may dial the rotating element to a desired overlap distance and lock the rotating element in place.

[0059]Some embodiments may have a locking device attached to the rotating element 428 to secure the rotating element 428 in position. Such a locking device may be a spring detent mechanism, a locking screw, or other mechanism.

[0060]Some embodiments may not have a rotating element 428 and may have a reference surface 424 that is not adjustable. Other embodiments may have a reference surface 424 that may be adjustable using a different mechanism, such as a sliding mechanism or other designs.

[0061]FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment 500 showing the clip and tool system of FIG. 4. Tool 406 is illustrated engaged to the clip 202. Clip 202 is illustrated with the tab 204, surface 206, and engagement mechanism 208.

[0062]The tool 406 is illustrated with the arms 412 and 414 engaged with the engagement mechanism 208 of the clip 202. The arms 412 and 414 are joined at the hinge point 416. The spring mechanism 418 applies a spring tension that forces the handles 420 and 422 apart, which causes the arms 412 and 414 to engage the engagement mechanism 208.

[0063]The rotating element 428 may be mounted on the arm 414 and may include reference surfaces 424 and 432. When the rotating element 428 is rotated about the rotation axis 430, one of the reference surfaces 424 and 432 may be selected to give different offset distances from surface 206 and allow for different overlap between successive courses of lap siding.

[0064]The foregoing description of the subject matter has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject matter to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments except insofar as limited by the prior art.

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