Locking laps for vinyl siding

Abstract

The locking laps for vinyl siding secure adjacent siding panels and prevent them from being removed from a building structure during strong wind conditions. A locking lap assembly is secured at the two ends of each siding panel to securely connect each siding panel to adjacent siding panels. The locking lap assembly comprises a locking lap and a spacing member. The spacing member is secured to the rear surface of the siding panel. The locking lap member is secured to the spacing member and extends beyond the end of the siding panel. The spacing member provides a space between the locking lap and the rear surface of the siding panel, to allow a locking lap of an adjacent panel to be received between the locking lap and the siding panel. The locking laps of two adjacent panels overlap one another to provide a secure attachment of the adjacent panels.

1 . A locking siding panel assembly, comprising: 
 a plurality of siding panels, each panel having a main body with a front surface, a rear surface, a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of ends;    a locking lap assembly disposed along the back surface of each of said panels at each end of said panels;    whereby the locking lap assembly locks adjacent siding panels together securely to prevent them from being separated by wind.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking lap assembly further comprises: 
 a generally rectangular spacing member having a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface being secured to the rear surface of said panel; and    a locking lap member, having a front surface, a rear surface secured to the front surface of the spacing member, an interior end secured to the spacing member and an exterior end extending farther than the end of said panels;    whereby the spacing member provides a space between the locking lap member and said panel for receiving the exterior end of the locking lap member of an adjacent panel for overlappingly locking two adjacent panels.    
   
   
       3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said panels are single lap siding panels with the main body comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat and inclined panel portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset step portions.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said spacing member comprises a shape conforming to the panels having a main body with a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat body portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset step portions.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said locking lap member comprises a shape conforming to the panels having a main body with a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat body portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset step portions.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said spacing member is secured to the rear surface of said panel by an adhesive layer.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said locking lap member is secured to the front surface of said spacing member by an adhesive layer.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the front surface of said panels is textured to simulate natural wood grains.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining lip extending along the bottom edge of each of said panels on the rear surface of the panels.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly according to  claim 9 , further comprising a curved engaging member extending along the top edge of each of said panels on the front surface of said panels, wherein the engaging member engages the retaining lip of a vertically adjacent panel positioned directly above to align the panels.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener strip extending along the top edge of each of said panels, said fastener having a plurality of fastener receiving holes for receiving fasteners to secure said panels to a building structure.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said panels are made from a material selected from the group consisting of vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, steel and extruded polymer materials.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said panels are made from vinyl.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking lap assembly is made from a material selected from the group consisting of vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, steel and extruded polymer materials.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said locking lap assembly is made from vinyl.  
   
   
       16 . A locking lap assembly for securing adjacent siding panels comprising: 
 a generally rectangular spacing member having a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface being secured to a rear surface of a siding panel; and    a locking lap member, having a front surface, a rear surface secured to the front surface of the spacing member, an interior end secured to the spacing member and an exterior end extending farther than the end of said panels;    whereby the spacing member provides a space between the locking lap member and the panel for receiving the exterior end of the locking lap member of an adjacent panel for overlappingly securing two adjacent panels.    
   
   
       17 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said spacing member comprises a shape conforming to the panels having a main body with a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat body portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset step portions.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said locking lap member comprises a shape conforming to the panels having a main body with a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally flat body portions interconnected by longitudinally extending offset step portions.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said locking lap member is secured to the front surface of said spacing member by an adhesive layer.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said locking lap assembly is made from vinyl.