Siding system with connecting arrangement

Abstract

A siding system is arranged as individual interconnectable pieces, each representing an individual piece of natural building material, such as brick or stone. The individual pieces are preferably made of injection-molded plastic and include vertical interlocking mechanisms and horizontal alignment mechanisms which cooperate with the vertical interlocks. Good esthetics, as well as good weather proofing, are provided by maintaining a flat panel surface against a supporting wall or substrate.

1 . A siding system for a substrate, including a plurality of individual, interconnectable pieces, each said piece comprising:
 a) a top surface comprising a portion representing an individual piece of natural building material;   b) side walls supporting said top surface at one end of said side walls; and,   c) at least one flange extending from an end of said side walls opposite said top surface and approximately perpendicular to said side walls, said flange comprising an interconnecting system.   
   
   
       2 . The siding system of  claim 1 , wherein said interconnecting system comprises means for connecting each said flange to said substrate. 
   
   
       3 . The siding system of  claim 1 , wherein said side walls are contiguous. 
   
   
       4 . The siding system of  claim 1 , wherein said flanges extend in four directions from said side walls. 
   
   
       5 . The siding system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) a contoured surface attachable to said top surface to simulate an individual piece of a natural building material.   
   
   
       6 . The siding system of  claim 1 , wherein said interconnecting system comprise means for connecting said flanges to flanges of adjacent individual pieces. 
   
   
       7 . The siding system of  claim 6 , wherein said means for connecting said flanges comprise apertures in said flanges. 
   
   
       8 . The siding system of  claim 6 , wherein said means for connecting said flanges comprise a vertical connection arrangement and a horizontal connection arrangement. 
   
   
       9 . The siding system of  claim 8 , wherein said vertical connecting arrangement and said horizontal connecting arrangement operate in conjunction with each other to connect to adjacent vertical and horizontal individual pieces. 
   
   
       10 . The siding system of  claim 9 , wherein said horizontal connection arrangement comprises complementary offset and overlapping flanges. 
   
   
       11 . The siding system of  claim 9 , wherein said vertical connection arrangement comprises at least one friction-fit device. 
   
   
       12 . The siding system of  claim 11 , wherein said vertical friction fit device comprises a vertical connecting flange and at least one holding tab extending parallel to said connecting flange. 
   
   
       13 . The siding system of  claim 12 , wherein said holding tab is spaced from vertical connecting flange by a thickness of a connecting flange from a vertically adjacent individual piece. 
   
   
       14 . The siding system of  claim 13 , wherein said flanges are ⅛″ in thickness. 
   
   
       15 . The siding system of  claim 5  further comprising:
 e) a rear surface arranged to interface with said substrate holding said individual piece level on said substrate.   
   
   
       16 . The siding system of  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of said individual pieces are interconnectable to provide a panel having a uniform rear surface against the said substrate. 
   
   
       17 . The siding system of  claim 12 , wherein said vertical connecting arrangement comprises a plurality of said holding tabs, and is arranged to hold two adjacent individual pieces. 
   
   
       18 . A method of applying siding to a substrate using a plurality of individual, interconnectable pieces, each representing an individual piece of natural building material, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) connecting a plurality of said individual pieces together in a shape and size to form a panel to cover said substrate; and   b) attaching said panel to said substrate, matching size and shape of said substrate.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of assembling said pieces includes attaching two vertically adjacent individual pieces to a first individual piece. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of mounting comprises placing a uniform panel surface on said substrate.