Interlocking Cladding Panel and Methods of Use

Abstract

A cladding panel for siding construction extends preferably vertically on a structure. The panel has an outer layer and an insulting layer. The panel may have an interlocking groove structure on one longitudinal edge and a cooperating tongue structure on an opposite longitudinal edge. The interlocking groove portion and interlocking tongue portion may have cooperating geometry such that like panels may be assembled together by engaging the tongue portion of one panel with the interlocking groove portion of another panel. The panels when assembled may be generally flush to one another with generally flat faces. The insulating layers of assembled panels may have cooperating geometry to enable the panels to lie flat against a structure with only the insulating layers contacting the structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interlocking cladding panel for siding construction on a structure comprising:
 an outer layer having opposite front and rear surfaces and an inner insulating layer mounted to the rear surface of the outer layer, at least a portion of the outer layer front surface forming a panel face, the panel face defining a plane, the panel face being exposed and the insulating layer being disposed against the structure when the panel is mounted to the structure, the panel having a length and width with opposite first and second longitudinal edges extending along the panel length and spaced apart to generally define the panel width, and opposite first and second lateral edges extending across the panel width and spaced apart generally defining the panel length, the panel first longitudinal edge having a web disposed generally transverse to the plane defined by the panel face and extending away from the panel face and generally toward the inner insulating layer, the first longitudinal edge web having an interlocking groove portion and a mounting surface portion for mounting the panel on the structure, the panel second longitudinal edge having an interlocking tongue portion disposed generally transverse to the plane defined by the panel face and extending away from the panel face and generally toward the inner insulating layer, the first longitudinal edge interlocking grove portion and the second longitudinal edge interlocking tongue portion having cooperating geometry such that a like panel is enabled to be assembled with the panel by engaging the second longitudinal edge interlocking tongue portion of the like panel with the first longitudinal interlocking groove portion of the panel.   
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer comprises the web. 
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 2  wherein the outer layer comprises the interlocking groove portion. 
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer comprises the interlocking tongue portion. 
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the insulating layer has a notch configured to receive the first longitudinal edge interlocking groove portion. 
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the insulating layer has a recess adjacent the second longitudinal edge configured to receive the first longitudinal edge web mounting portion when like panels are assembled. 
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the first longitudinal edge web comprises a locking projection extending between the interlocking grove and mounting portion. 
     
     
         8 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the web extends along a majority of the first longitudinal edge. 
     
     
         9 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the interlocking tongue portion extends along a majority of the second longitudinal edge. 
     
     
         10 . The panel of  claim 9  wherein the first longitudinal edge interlocking groove portion extends along a majority of the first longitudinal edge. 
     
     
         11 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal edge mounting portion is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the panel face. 
     
     
         12 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the web is generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the panel face. 
     
     
         13 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein the first longitudinal edge mounting portion is substantially perpendicular to the web. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a first interlocking cladding panel for siding construction on a structure, the first panel comprising:
 an outer layer having opposite front and rear surfaces and an inner insulating layer mounted to the rear surface of the first panel outer layer, at least a portion of the first panel outer layer front surface forming a first panel face, the first panel face defining a plane, the first panel face being exposed and the first panel insulating layer being disposed against the structure when the first panel is mounted to the structure, the first panel having a length and width with opposite first and second longitudinal edges extending along the first panel length and spaced apart to generally define the first panel width, and opposite first and second lateral edges extending across the first panel width and spaced apart generally defining the first panel length, the first panel first longitudinal edge having a web disposed generally transverse to the plane defined by the first panel face and extending away from the first panel face and generally toward the first panel inner insulating layer, the first panel first longitudinal edge web having an interlocking groove portion and a mounting surface portion for mounting the first panel on the structure, the first panel second longitudinal edge having an interlocking tongue portion disposed generally transverse to the plane defined by the first panel face and extending away from the first panel face and generally toward the inner insulating layer; and 
   a second interlocking cladding panel for siding construction on a structure, the second panel comprising:
 an outer layer having opposite front and rear surfaces and an inner insulating layer adhered to the rear surface of the second panel outer layer, at least a portion of the second panel outer layer front surface forming a second panel face, the second panel face defining a plane, the second panel face being exposed and the second panel insulating layer being disposed against the structure when the second panel is mounted to the structure, the second panel having a length and width with opposite first and second longitudinal edges extending along the second panel length and spaced apart to generally define the second panel width, and opposite first and second lateral edges extending across the second panel width and spaced apart generally defining the second panel length, the second panel first longitudinal edge having a web disposed generally transverse to the second panel face and extending away from the second panel face and generally toward the second panel inner insulating layer, the second panel first longitudinal edge web having an interlocking groove portion and a mounting surface portion for mounting the second panel on the structure, the second panel second longitudinal edge having an interlocking tongue portion disposed generally transverse to the second panel face and extending away from the second panel face and generally toward the second panel inner insulating layer; 
   wherein the first panel first longitudinal edge interlocking grove portion and the second panel second longitudinal edge interlocking tongue portion have cooperating geometry such that the second panel is enabled to be assembled with the first panel by engaging the second panel second longitudinal edge interlocking tongue portion with the first panel first longitudinal interlocking groove portion; and   wherein the plane defined by the first panel face is co-planar with the plane defined by the second panel face when the first and second panels are assembled together.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the insulating layers of the first and second panels adjacent the interlocking tongue portion and interlocking groove portion have cooperating geometry. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the insulating layer of each panel has a notch configured to receive the first longitudinal edge interlocking groove portion. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second panel insulating layer has a recess adjacent the second panel second longitudinal edge configured to receive the first panel first longitudinal edge web mounting portion when the first and second panels are assembled. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the insulating layers of the first and second panels are configured to be solely in contact with a surface of the structure when assembled and mounted on the structure. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the outer layer of each panel comprises the web. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the outer layer of each panel comprises the interlocking groove portion. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first longitudinal edge web of each panel comprises a locking projection extending between the interlocking grove and mounting portion. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the web of each panel extends along a majority of the first longitudinal edge of each panel. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the interlocking tongue portion of each panel extends along a majority of the second longitudinal edge. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the first longitudinal edge interlocking groove portion of each panel extends along a majority of the first longitudinal edge of each panel. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first longitudinal edge mounting portion of each panel is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the panel face of each respective panel. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the web of each panel is generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the panel face of each respective panel. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first longitudinal edge mounting portion of each panel is substantially perpendicular to the web of each respective panel.