Exterior wall panel with enhanced interior facing surface

Abstract

An insulation backing for use in a siding product or an insulated siding panel that includes a backing member composed of a closed cell polymeric material. The insulation backing or backing member including a rear face having a planar surface and at least one geometric region that deviates from the planar surface.

1 . An insulated siding panel for mounting on a wall, the panel comprising: 
 a backing member having a rear face and an opposed front face, the backing member composed of a closed cell polymeric material, the rear face of the backing member including a planar surface and at least one region that deviates geometrically from the planar surface; and    a siding layer affixed to the front face of the backing member.    
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the geometric region on the rear face of the backing member includes at least one element extending outward from the planar surface.  
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the at least one outwardly extending element includes an elongated ridge.  
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 2 , wherein an outer surface of the outwardly extending element is defined by closed polymeric cells.  
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 2 , wherein the backing member further comprises first and second edges adjoining the rear face, the outwardly extending element extending laterally along the planar surface from the first edge to the second edge.  
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 2  wherein the outwardly extending element defines a grid pattern.  
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the geometric region on the rear face of the backing member includes at least one element forming a depression in the planar surface.  
     
     
         8 . The panel of  claim 7 , wherein the depression is in the form of at least one of a groove and a channel defined in the planar surface of the backing member.  
     
     
         9 . The panel of  claim 8 , wherein the grooves and channels define a grid pattern.  
     
     
         10 . The panel of  claim 7 , wherein an outer surface of the depression is defined by closed polymeric cells.  
     
     
         11 . The panel of  claim 7 , wherein the depression extends laterally along the planar surface from a first edge to a second edge of the panel.  
     
     
         12 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the geometric region is defined by closed polymeric cells.  
     
     
         13 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the front face of the panel is defined by closed polymeric cells.  
     
     
         14 . The panel of  claim 1  further comprising at least one raised protrusion extending from the front face proximate a first edge of the panel; and 
 at least one detent formed in the back face proximate a second edge of the panel for receiving the raised protrusion extending from the front face when two separate panels are joined together.    
     
     
         15 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the surface contour of the front face substantially coincides with an inner contour of the siding layer.  
     
     
         16 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the panel has a length between 4 and 24 feet.  
     
     
         17 . An insulation backing for use with a siding product, the insulation backing comprising: 
 a central core composed of a closed cell expanded polymeric foam;    a front face region adapted to contact the siding product, the front face region in contiguous contact with the central core and composed of closed cell expanded polymeric foam; and    a rear face region in contiguous contact with the expanded foam central core and composed of closed cell expanded polymeric foam, wherein the rear face region includes at least one geometric element defined therein.    
     
     
         18 . The insulation backing of  claim 17  wherein the geometric element is at least one of a groove, channel, and outward projection.  
     
     
         19 . The insulation backing of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the groove, channel, and outward projection extends laterally along the rear face from a first edge to a second edge of the insulation backing.  
     
     
         20 . The insulation backing of  claim 17 , wherein the geometric element defines a grid pattern.