Outside corner unit for a siding system

Abstract

A corner unit for a siding system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the unit has a plurality of pairs of integral receivers for receiving and covering the ends of adjacent first and second siding strips terminating adjacent to the corner of a dwelling or other stable support structure. The unit also includes a plurality of pairs of outwardly projecting portions that simulate the appearance of overlapping structural members at the corners. Each adjacent receiver and outwardly projecting portion in a different horizontal plane may also have an integral connector portion that simulates the appearance of grout or chinking. When used with siding strips having a similar portion simulating grout or chinking, the realism of the overall simulation at the corner of the dwelling and along the adjacent walls is enhanced. The unit may also be formed of a single piece of material, such as injection molded plastic, to facilitate installation.

In the claims:  
     
         1 . A siding system component capable of covering both a first end of a first siding strip and an adjacent second end of a second siding strip at an outside corner of a stable support structure, comprising: 
 a body having at least one integral pair of receivers, each receiver having an oversized opening for receiving and at least partially covering one of the first and second ends of the adjacent first or second siding strip, and at least one pair of outwardly projecting portions for simulating the appearance of a pair of overlapping structural members projecting in different directions from adjacent to the corner,    whereby the partial covering of the first and second siding strips by the oversized openings in each integral receiver, respectively, simulates the appearance of a continuous log or timber extending adjacent to the corner.    
     
     
         2 . The siding system component according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of pairs of integral receivers and a plurality of pairs of outwardly projecting portions are provided, one of each said pairs each being substantially aligned in a common horizontal plane.  
     
     
         3 . The siding system component of  claim 2 , wherein an integral portion is provided between each adjacent pair of receivers and each adjacent pair of outwardly projecting portions in different horizontal planes, whereby said integral portions between the receivers and the projecting portions align in common horizontal planes to simulate the appearance of grout or chinking between the receivers and outwardly projecting portions, respectively.  
     
     
         4 . The siding system component according to  claim 1 , wherein the receivers include an outer surface having indicia simulating the appearance of a log or timber.  
     
     
         5 . The siding system component according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the outwardly projecting portions simulates the appearance of a cut end of a log or timber.  
     
     
         6 . The siding system component according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outwardly projecting portions forming one of the simulated structural members is hollow and communicates with at least one of the pair of receivers, wherein at least one of the first or second ends of the first or second siding strips may pass through the receiver and at least partially into the hollow outwardly projecting portion.  
     
     
         7 . The siding system component according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of each siding strip are outwardly bowed relative to a vertical plane to simulate the shape of a log or timber and the opening in each receiver is similarly sized and shaped for receiving the outwardly bowed ends.  
     
     
         8 . The siding system component according to  claim 1 , further including at least one fastener receiving section for receiving a fastener for securing the component to the stable support structure.  
     
     
         9 . The siding system component according to  claim 8 , wherein the fastener receiving section includes either a tab projecting from the component adjacent to one or more of said receivers or a lip extending vertically along at least one side portion of the component.  
     
     
         10 . The siding system component according to  claim 1 , wherein a centerline of one of the pair of simulated structural members is orthogonal to a centerline of the other second simulated structural member.  
     
     
         11 . The siding system component according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is fabricated from a plastic material using an injection molding process.  
     
     
         12 . A system for at least partially covering an outside corner of a dwelling defined by first and second adjacent walls, comprising: 
 a plurality of first siding strips for attachment to the first wall;    a plurality of second siding strips for attachment to the second wall;    a corner unit having a plurality of pairs of integral extending elements, at least one of said extending elements being positioned adjacent to an end of one of said first and second siding strips, and said corner unit further having a plurality of pairs of outwardly projecting integral portions for simulating the appearance of a pair of overlapping structural members projecting in different directions from adjacent to the corner.    
     
     
         13 . The siding system according to  claim 12 , wherein each pair of said extending elements is positioned in a different substantially horizontal plane.  
     
     
         14 . The siding system according to  claim 12 , wherein each pair of projecting portions simulating structural members extends in a different horizontal plane.  
     
     
         15 . The siding system according to  claim 14 , wherein adjacent pairs of projecting portions simulating structural members in different horizontal planes each have an integral portion formed therebetween to simulate the appearance of grout or chinking.  
     
     
         16 . The siding system according to  claim 12 , wherein each pair of said extending elements comprises a pair of receivers, each of said receivers having an opening for receiving and at least partially covering one of the first and second siding strips.  
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the siding strips is outwardly bowed relative to a vertical plane and the opening in each receiver is sized and adapted to receive and cover a portion of the outwardly bowed siding strip.  
     
     
         18 . The siding system according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said extending elements abuts an end of one of said first and second siding strips.  
     
     
         19 . A method for covering the corner of a dwelling, comprising: 
 securing a corner unit adjacent to the corner, said corner unit including a plurality of pairs of integral extending elements and a plurality of pairs of integral outwardly projecting portions simulating the appearance of overlapping structural members projecting from the corner;    positioning at least one first siding strip adjacent to a first one of said extending elements and securing the siding strip to a first wall of the dwelling;    positioning at least one second siding strip adjacent to a second one of said extending elements and securing the siding strip to a second wall of the dwelling adjacent to the first wall.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the extending elements comprises a receiver having an opening, and the method further includes inserting an end of one of said first or second siding strips into said opening.