Specialized siding nail

Abstract

An arrangement and method of securing siding to a building and a specialized nail for securing siding to a building are disclosed. The nail comprises first and second elongate shanks and a head connected with respect to the shanks and extending transversely thereto with an outer surface for contact with a hammer during installation of the nail. The method involves providing a first siding panel having an edge and a first slot spaced from the edge by a first distance, hammering the first shank into the building, the first shank positioned in the first slot, and hammering the second shank into the building, the second shank positioned outside of the first slot. The arrangement comprises such a panel fixed to a building with such a nail.

1 . A method of securing siding to a building, the method comprising: 
 providing a first siding panel having an edge and a first slot spaced from the edge by a first distance;    providing a first specialized nail having a head and first and second elongate shanks extending therefrom;    hammering the first shank into the building, the first shank positioned in the first slot; and    hammering the second shank into the building, the second shank positioned outside of the first slot such that the first siding panel is secured to the building and the nail and panel cannot be disengaged without removing at least one of the shanks from the building or rupturing the slot.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second shank is positioned outside the edge of the first siding panel.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first siding panel includes a second slot spaced from the first slot by a second distance, the second shank being positioned in the second slot.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising 
 providing a second specialized nail having a head and first and second elongate shanks extending therefrom;    hammering the first shank of the second nail into the building, the first shank of the second nail positioned in the first slot; and    hammering the second shank of the second nail into the building, the second shank of the second nail positioned outside the edge of the first siding panel.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first shank is longer than the second shank and has a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion being positioned in the first slot and hammered into the building before the second shank is positioned outside of the first slot and hammered into the building.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the second shank is hammered into the building at the same time the proximal portion is hammered into the building.  
   
   
       7 . A building siding arrangement comprising: 
 a building;    a first siding panel having an edge and a first slot spaced from the edge by a first distance, the panel adjacent the building; and    a first specialized nail having a head and first and second elongate shanks extending therefrom, the first shank extending into the building and positioned in the first slot and the second shank extending into the building and positioned outside of the first slot such that a portion of the first siding panel is completely surrounded by the building, head, and shanks and cannot be disengaged without removing at least one of the shanks from the building or rupturing the slot.    
   
   
       8 . The arrangement of  claim 7  wherein the head is substantially circular and has a diameter of about ½ inches.  
   
   
       9 . The arrangement of  claim 7  wherein the head is substantially oval defining a major axis being about ½ inches long.  
   
   
       10 . The arrangement of  claim 7  wherein the first shank extends more deeply into the building than the second shank.  
   
   
       11 . A nail for use with siding panels and the like, the nail comprising: 
 a first elongate shank having distal and proximal ends separated by a first length, the first shank defining a first axis;    a second elongate shank having distal and proximal ends separated by a second length, the second shank defining a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis; and    a head connected with respect to the first and second proximal ends, the head extending transversely to the first and second axes and defining inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface for contact with a hammer during installation of the nail.    
   
   
       12 . The nail of  claim 11  wherein the inner surface of the head is perpendicular to the first and second axes.  
   
   
       13 . The nail of  claim 11  wherein the head is substantially circular.  
   
   
       14 . The nail of  claim 13  wherein the head has a diameter of about ½ inch.  
   
   
       15 . The nail of  claim 11  wherein the head is substantially oval-shaped and defines a major axis.  
   
   
       16 . The nail of  claim 15  wherein the head is about ½ inch long along the major axis.  
   
   
       17 . The nail of  claim 11  wherein the first length is longer than the second length.  
   
   
       18 . The nail of  claim 17  wherein the first length is between about 1½ inches and 1¾ inches and the second length is between about ½ inch and 1 inch.  
   
   
       19 . The nail of  claim 18  wherein the first shank and the second shank each have a thickness of about 3/32 inches.  
   
   
       20 . The nail of  claim 19  wherein the first shank and the second shank are separated by about 5/16 inches.