Shingle panel

Abstract

The shingle panel includes at least one shingle having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge and at least one backing affixed to the shingle with corresponding first, second, third and fourth edges. The first edge of the backing is substantially aligned with the first edge of the shingle, the second edge of the backing is offset the second edge of the shingle, the third edge of the backing is offset the third edge of the shingle and the fourth edge of the backing is offset the fourth edge of the shingle. The shingle panel may be tapered and include parallel grooves in the shingle and breathing grooves in the backing. The method for manufacturing the shingle panel includes pressing multiple backings on either side of a shingle board and separating the shingle board to produce multiple shingle panels.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A shingle panel, comprising: 
 at least one shingle having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge;    at least one backing affixed to the shingle, the backing having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge; and wherein: 
 the first edge of the backing is substantially aligned with the first edge of the shingle;  
 the second edge of the backing is offset the second edge of the shingle;  
 the third edge of the backing is offset the third edge of the shingle; and  
 the fourth edge of the backing is offset the fourth edge of the shingle.  
   
     
     
         2 . The shingle panel of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second edges of the backing is less than the distance between the first and second edges of the shingle.  
     
     
         3 . The shingle panel of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the third and fourth edges of the backing is substantially the same as the distance between the third and fourth edges of the shingle.  
     
     
         4 . The shingle panel of  claim 1 , wherein the backing is affixed to the shingle by glue.  
     
     
         5 . The shingle panel of  claim 1 , wherein the shingle has a thickness and the thickness is tapered from the second edge to the first edge of the shingle.  
     
     
         6 . The shingle panel of  claim 1 , wherein the shingle comprises at least one groove extending substantially between the first edge and second edge of the shingle.  
     
     
         7 . The shingle panel of  claim 1 , wherein the backing comprises at least one breathing groove substantially parallel with the third and fourth edges of the backing.  
     
     
         8 . The shingle panel of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one breathing groove extends from the first edge of the backing.  
     
     
         9 . A shingle panel, comprising: 
 a plurality of shingles, each shingle having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge, the plurality of shingles substantially adjacent each other such that the first edge of each shingle is substantially aligned with the first edge of the other shingles and the third edge of each shingle is substantially abutting the fourth edge of each adjacent shingle;    at least one backing affixed to the plurality of shingles, the backing having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge; and wherein: 
 the first edge of the backing is substantially aligned with the first edge of the plurality of shingles;  
 the second edge of the backing is offset the second edge of the plurality of shingles;  
 the third edge of the backing is offset the third edge of the plurality of shingles; and  
 the fourth edge of the backing is offset the fourth edge of the plurality of shingles.  
   
     
     
         10 . The shingle panel of  claim 9 , wherein the distance between the first and second edges of the backing is less than the distance between the first and second edges of at least one of the plurality of shingles.  
     
     
         11 . The shingle panel of  claim 9 , wherein the distance between the third and fourth edges of the backing is substantially the same as the distance between the third and fourth edges of at least one of the plurality of shingles.  
     
     
         12 . The shingle panel of  claim 9 , wherein the backing is affixed to the shingle by glue.  
     
     
         13 . The shingle panel of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of shingles has a thickness and the thickness is tapered from the second edge to the first edge of the shingle.  
     
     
         14 . The shingle panel of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of shingles comprises at least one groove extending substantially between the first edge and the second edge of the shingle.  
     
     
         15 . The shingle panel of  claim 9 , wherein the backing comprises at least one breathing groove substantially parallel with the third and fourth edges of the backing.  
     
     
         16 . The shingle panel of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one breathing groove extends from the first edge of the backing.  
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing a shingle panel, comprising: 
 affixing a first backing to a first side of at least one shingle board having first and second sides, wherein the first side of the shingle board is substantially opposite the second side of the shingle board;    affixing a second backing to the second side of the shingle board;    separating the shingle board between the affixed first and second backings to produce at least one shingle panel comprising at least one shingle associated with the first or second backing, the shingle having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge, the associated first of second backing having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge, and wherein the first edge of the associated first or second backing is substantially aligned with the first edge of the shingle;    producing an offset in the second edge of the first or second backing relative to the second edge of the shingle; and    producing an offset in at least one of the third and fourth edges of the first or second backing.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the distance between the first and second edges of at least one of the first and second backings is less than the distance between the first and second edges of the shingle.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the distance between the third and fourth edges of at least one of the first and second backings is less than the distance between the third and fourth edges of the shingle.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second backings are affixed to the shingle by glue.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second backings are compression pressed to the shingle.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second backings compression pressed to the shingle are allowed to cure for a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the shingle has a thickness; and    if a tapered shingle panel is desired, separating the shingle board between the affixed first and second backings at an angle relative to the first and second backings.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising if a breathing groove is desired, producing at least one breathing groove substantially parallel with the third and fourth edges of the backing in at least one of the first and second backings.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one breathing groove extends from the first edge of the backing.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein producing an offset in at least one of the third and fourth edges of the associated first or second backing comprises: 
 producing an offset in the third edge of the first backing relative to the third edge of the shingle; and    producing an offset in the fourth edge of the first backing relative to the fourth edge of the shingle.    
     
     
         27 . A method for installing a shingle panel system on a building exterior, comprising: 
 affixing a first shingle panel to the building exterior, the first shingle panel comprising at least one shingle having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge, a backing affixed to the shingle, the backing having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge, and wherein the first edge of the backing is substantially aligned with the first edge of the shingle, the second edge of the backing is offset the second edge of the shingle, the third edge of the backing is offset the third edge of the shingle and the fourth edge of the backing is offset the fourth edge of the shingle;    affixing a second shingle panel to the building exterior, the second shingle panel comprising at least one shingle having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge, a backing affixed to the shingle, the backing having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge, and wherein the first edge of the backing is substantially aligned with the first edge of the shingle, the second edge of the backing is offset the second edge of the shingle, the third edge of the backing is offset the third edge of the shingle and the fourth edge of the backing is offset the fourth edge of the shingle; and    wherein 
 the first shingle panel is affixed to the building exterior along the first edge of the shingle of the first shingle panel;  
 the second shingle panel is affixed to the building exterior along the first edge of the shingle of the second shingle panel; and  
 the second shingle panel is positioned relative the first shingle panel such that the first edge of the first and second shingle panels are substantially aligned, the third edge of a second shingle panel substantially abuts the fourth edge of the first shingle panel, and the offset of the third edge of the second shingle panel interlocks with the offset of the fourth edge of the first shingle panel.  
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 affixing a third shingle panel to the building exterior, the third shingle panel comprising at least one shingle having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge, a backing affixed to the shingle, the backing having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein the first edge is substantially opposite the second edge and the third edge is substantially opposite the fourth edge, and wherein the first edge of the backing is substantially aligned with the first edge of the shingle, the second edge of the backing is offset the second edge of the shingle, the third edge of the backing is offset the third edge of the shingle and the fourth edge of the backing is offset the fourth edge of the shingle; and    wherein 
 the third shingle panel is affixed to the building exterior along the first edge of the shingle of the third shingle panel; and  
 the third shingle panel is positioned relative the first and second shingle panels such that the second edge of the third shingle panel is aligned with the first edge of the first and second shingle panels such that the second edge of the third shingle panel overlaps the first edge of the first and second shingle panels substantially to the offset of the backing along the second edge of the third shingle panel.