Building exterior panels and method

Abstract

Exterior building siding for aesthetic and protection of the building against wind, rain and solar energy that includes attaching each horizontal plank from the top of the wall downwardly that includes a starting strip where each plank is interlocked to the plank above it. Each of the horizontal planks includes a top wall portion that fits snuggly into an “L-shaped” groove above it so that the panels can be firmly locked together vertically in a downwardly fashion to prevent any wind uplift against the siding or moisture intrusion.

1 . A building envelope component for protecting the exterior of a building from the elements comprising:
 a plank including an elongated body having a front surface and a flat back surface;   said plank having a top edge and a bottom edge;   said plank top edge having a male connector including a raised projection of a predetermined height and thickness that includes a portion of said plank front surface;   said top edge including an L-shaped recess formed between said male connector and said flat back surface;   said plank bottom edge including a back wall male projection, a front wall raised projection and a recessed channel formed between said back wall male projection and said front wall projection;   said plank bottom edge back wall male projection extending below said plank bottom edge front wall projection a sufficient distance to provide a bottom area projecting along said plank beyond said bottom edge front wall projection to receive one or more fasteners for connecting said plank to a building exterior surface; and   said top edge male projection sized to fit snuggly into the bottom edge recessed channel of a corresponding plank having the same top edge and bottom edge configuration for trapping and locking a lower plank to an upper plank.   
   
   
       2 . A building siding having a plurality of vertically trapped and locked planks fastened to the exterior of a building to protect the building from the elements, each plank comprising:
 an elongated plank body having a front surface and a flat back surface for engagement to the exterior of a building;   said plank body having a top edge that includes a male projection formed with a portion of said plank body front surface along the plank body length;   said plank body top edge including an L-shaped lip formed above said plank body back surface;   said plank body having a bottom edge having a central recess formed between said plank body front surface and said rear surface, said bottom plank body edge recess configuration being sized and shaped to trap and lock a lower plank having the same top edge configuration receiving said top edge male projection in a snug fit into said bottom edge recess of an adjoining plank; and   said plank bottom edge having a plank bottom edge back wall projection that extends beyond the plank body edge front wall projection a sufficient distance to provide a back wall area for receiving one or more fasteners to fasten the plank to a building exterior.   
   
   
       3 . Building exterior assembly for protecting the exterior of a building from the elements having a plurality of plank-shaped similarly configured building components, said components to be installed in a configuration trapped and locked to each other vertically on a building exterior from the top down, each component comprising:
 a first plait having a top edge and a bottom edge and a front face and a back face;   a male locking member protruding from the plank top edge;   said bottom edge having a trapping recess for receiving, trapping and locking the plank top edge male locking member of a lower positioned similarly configured plank to be trapped and locked to said upper plank; and   said first bottom edge protruding along the plank back side extending sufficiently below the plank bottom front surface edge and sized in area to permit the receipt of one or more fasteners for fastening said plank to the exterior of a building.   
   
   
       4 . A building envelope component as in  claim 1 , whereby the plank front surface is beveled. 
   
   
       5 . A building envelope component as in  claim 1 , including an elongated starter strip substantially rectangular in shape and having generally a J-shaped body in cross section and including an inverted recess sized to receive the plank top edge male connector snuggly formed by the J-shaped section, said body having a flat back wall for attachment to a building exterior wall.