Siding spacing and installation tool

Abstract

A siding panel spacing and installation tool includes a first side surface for aligning with a first siding panel, a second side surface for aligning with a second siding panel, and a top surface for positioning a third siding panel above at least one of the first and second siding panels in a level and partially overlapping manner.

1 . A tool for spacing and installing siding panels of different widths, said tool comprising:
 an elongated, generally rectangular main body having a top end, a bottom end, a front surface, a back surface, a first side surface and a second side surface;   a first ledge extending outward from the first side surface at a first distance from the top end of the main body, said first ledge having a generally orthogonal relationship with the first side surface; and   a second ledge extending outward from the second side surface at a second distance from the top end of the main body, said second ledge having a generally orthogonal relationship with the second side surface,   wherein the portion of the first side surface located between the top end of the main body and the first ledge is configured to position siding panels having a first vertical width against an outside surface, the portion of the second side surface located between the top end of the main body and the second ledge is configured to position siding panels having a second vertical width against an outside surface, and the top end comprises a generally planar shelf that is in communication with the vertical section of each of the first and second side surfaces, the top end being configured to physically position a third siding panel above at least one of the first and second siding panels.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said main body is constructed from an electrically non-conductive material. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said main body is constructed from a single piece of injection molded plastic. 
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first distance is different than the second distance. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first distance is approximately 6 inches, and the second distance is approximately 7 inches. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the main body includes an I-beam construction. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a retention apparatus secured to a bottom portion of the device. 
     
     
         11 . A tool for spacing and installing siding panels of different widths, said tool comprising:
 an elongated, generally rectangular main body having a top end, a bottom end, a front surface, a back surface, a first side surface and a second side surface;   a first ledge extending outward from the first side surface at a first distance from the bottom end of the main body, said first ledge having a generally orthogonal relationship with the first side surface; and   a second ledge extending outward from the second side surface at a second distance from the bottom end of the main body, said second ledge having a generally orthogonal relationship with the second side surface,   wherein the portion of the first side surface located between the top end of the main body and the first ledge is approximately 6 inches in length and is configured to position siding panels having a first vertical width against an outside surface, the portion of the second side surface located between the top end of the main body and the second ledge is approximately 7 inches in length and configured to position siding panels having a second vertical width against an outside surface, and the top end comprises a generally planar shelf that is in communication with the vertical section of each of the first and second side surfaces, the top end being configured to physically position a third siding panel above at least one of the first and second siding panels.   
     
     
         12 . A method of using a tool for spacing and installing siding panels of different widths, said method comprising:
 providing a tool for spacing and installing siding panels of different widths,   said tool comprising:
 an elongated, generally rectangular main body having a top end, a bottom end, a front surface, a back surface, a first side surface and a second side surface; 
 a first ledge extending outward from the first side surface at a first distance from the bottom end of the main body, said first ledge having a generally orthogonal relationship with the first side surface; and 
 a second ledge extending outward from the second side surface at a second distance from the bottom end of the main body, said second ledge having a generally orthogonal relationship with the second side surface, 
 wherein the portion of the first side surface located between the top end of the main body and the first ledge is configured to position siding panels having a first vertical width against an outside surface, the portion of the second side surface located between the top end of the main body and the second ledge is configured to position siding panels having a second vertical width against an outside surface, and the top end comprises a generally planar shelf that is in communication with the vertical section of each of the first and second side surfaces, the top end being configured to physically position a third siding panel above at least one of the first and second siding panels; 
   providing a plurality siding panels having a predetermined width, a top surface and a bottom surface,   providing an outside surface onto which the plurality of siding panels will be affixed,   affixing a first siding panel at a predetermined horizontal position on the outside surface,   positioning the tool in a vertical alignment traversing the width of the affixed first siding panel such that the first ledge of the tool is adjacent to and in physical communication with the bottom surface of the affixed first siding panel, and   positioning a second siding panel on the top end of the tool such that the second siding panel is substantially parallel to the first siding panel and a predetermined portion of the affixed first siding panel is covered by a predetermined portion of the second siding panel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined width of each of the siding panels is 8¼ inches. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined width of each of the siding panels is 7¼ inches. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the portion of the first side surface located between the top end of the main body and the first ledge is approximately 6 inches in length. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the portion of the second side surface located between the top end of the main body and the second ledge is approximately 7 inches in length.