Exterior siding panel with slidable fastening hem

Abstract

A siding panel is provided including a body portion for covering a structure's exterior, the body portion including a top lock disposed at a first end, a bottom lock disposed at a second end, and a connection member formed in a predetermined configuration; and a fastening hem for supporting the body portion, the fastening hem formed with a channel to receive the connection member to allow the body portion to move relative to the fastening hem during expansion and contraction when the siding panel is exposed to temperature changes. This sliding-type connection allows for rapid installation since the fastening hem can now be fastened tightly to a building exterior using any type of rapid firing-type installation device. Additionally, nailing slots of conventional siding panels are no longer needed since the body of the siding panel will float without movement of the fastening hem.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A siding panel comprising: 
 a body portion for covering a structure's exterior, including a top lock disposed at a first end and a bottom lock disposed at a second end, the body portion including a connection member formed in a predetermined configuration; and    a fastening hem for supporting the body portion, the fastening hem formed with a channel to receive the connection member to allow the body portion to move relative to the fastening hem.    
     
     
         2 . The siding panel as in  claim 1 , wherein the connection member is coupled to the top lock.  
     
     
         3 . The siding panel as in  claim 1 , wherein the connection member is disposed between the top lock and the bottom lock.  
     
     
         4 . The siding panel as in  claim 1 , wherein the fastening hem includes a fastening portion for fastening the siding panel to the structure's exterior.  
     
     
         5 . The siding panel as in  claim 4 , wherein the fastening portion of the fastening hem includes a uniform fastening face.  
     
     
         6 . The siding panel as in  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and fastening hem are extruded from the same material.  
     
     
         7 . The siding panel as in  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is extruded from a first material and the fastening hem is extruded from a second material.  
     
     
         8 . The siding panel as in  claim 1 , further comprising a stop for preventing over movement of the body portion.  
     
     
         9 . A siding panel comprising: 
 a body portion for covering a structure's exterior, the body portion including a connection means formed in a predetermined configuration; and    a fastening hem for supporting the body portion, the fastening hem formed with a channel means for receiving the connection means to allow the body portion to move relative to the fastening hem during expansion and contraction.    
     
     
         10 . The siding panel as in  claim 9 , further comprising a locking means for interlocking the siding panel to other siding panels.  
     
     
         11 . The siding panel as in  claim 9 , wherein the fastening hem includes a fastening means for fastening the siding panel to the structure's exterior.  
     
     
         12 . The siding panel as in  claim 11 , wherein the fastening means of the fastening hem includes a uniform fastening face.  
     
     
         13 . The siding panel as in  claim 9 , further comprising a stopping means for preventing over movement of the body portion.  
     
     
         14 . A method for installing a siding panel to a structure's exterior, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a body portion of a siding panel, including a top lock disposed at a first end and a bottom lock disposed at a second end, the body portion including a connection member formed in a predetermined configuration;    providing a fastening hem for supporting the body portion, the fastening hem formed with a channel to receive the connection member of the body portion;    slidingly engaging the fastening hem to the body portion to assemble the siding panel; and    fastening the siding panel to the structure's exterior, wherein the fastening hem is tightly secured to the structure's exterior.    
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 14 , wherein the fastening step further comprises providing a rapid firing-type installation device.  
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the fastening hem includes a fastening portion and the fastening step further comprises fastening the siding panel at any point along the fastening portion.  
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 14 , wherein the providing a body portion step further includes extruding the body portion from a first material.  
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 17 , wherein the providing a fastening hem step further includes extruding the fastening hem from a second material.  
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 14 , wherein the connection member is coupled to the top lock.  
     
     
         20 . The siding panel as in  claim 14 , wherein the connection member is disposed between the top lock and the bottom lock.