Batten and wall system

Abstract

A wall (or roof) system includes: an exterior sheathing covers a frame, a plurality of spaced apart battens are affixed on the sheathing, and a siding in contact with the battens. Each batten includes: a backweb having two sides and a length, a plurality of elongated piers upstanding on each side of the backweb, each pier running the length of the backweb, and each pier having a distal surface, and a first air flow channel defined between adjacent piers and a horizontal pier cutting through adjacent piers. Air flows between airspaces created between the exterior sheathing and the siding by the batten. Air also flows through the first air flow channel and this air flow may reduce moisture entrapment between the batten and the siding or the exterior sheathing. The batten may also have a second air flow channel at an angle to the first air flow channel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wall system comprises:
 an exterior sheathing covers a frame;   a plurality of spaced apart battens are affixed on the exterior sheathing, each batten includes   a backweb having two sides and a length,   a plurality of elongated piers upstanding on each side of the backweb, each pier running the length of the backweb, and each pier having a distal surface, and   a first air flow channel defined between adjacent piers; and   a siding in contact with the distal surfaces of the battens,   wherein air flows between airspaces created by the batten between the exterior sheathing and the siding, and the air flows through the first air flow channel and the air flow through the first air flow channel reduces moisture entrapment between the batten and the siding or the exterior sheathing.   
     
     
         2 . The wall system of  claim 1  further comprising a second air flow channel, the second air flow channel is at an angle to the first air flow channel and is defined through adjacent piers. 
     
     
         3 . The wall system of  claim 2  wherein the second air flow channel is generally perpendicular to the first air flow channel. 
     
     
         4 . The wall system of  claim 1  wherein each pier has a cross-section shape being rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, and/or combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The wall system of  claim 1  wherein the batten is made of an extrudable thermoplastic. 
     
     
         6 . The wall system of  claim 5  wherein the thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, and polyamides. 
     
     
         7 . The wall system of  claim 1  wherein the battens are vertically disposed in the wall system. 
     
     
         8 . The wall system of  claim 1  further comprising a moisture barrier disposed between the exterior sheathing and the batten. 
     
     
         9 . A wall system comprises:
 an exterior sheathing covers a frame;   a plurality of spaced apart battens are affixed on the exterior sheathing, each batten includes   a backweb having two sides and a length,   a plurality of elongated piers upstanding on one side of the backweb, each pier running the length of the backweb, and each pier having a distal surface, and   a first air flow channel defined between adjacent piers, and   a second air flow channel, the second air flow channel is at an angle to the first air flow channel and is defined through adjacent piers; and   a siding in contact with the distal surfaces of the battens,   wherein air flows between airspaces created by the batten between the exterior sheathing and the siding, and the air flows through the first air flow channel and the air flow through the first air flow channel reduces moisture entrapment between the batten and the siding or the exterior sheathing.   
     
     
         10 . The wall system of  claim 9  wherein the second air flow channel is generally perpendicular to the first air flow channel. 
     
     
         11 . The wall system of  claim 9  wherein each pier has a cross-section shape being rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, and/or combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A batten for a wall or roof system comprises:
 a backweb having two sides and a length,   a plurality of elongated piers upstanding on each side of the backweb, each pier running the length of the backweb, and each pier having a distal surface, and   a first air flow channel defined between adjacent piers and a horizontal pier cutting through adjacent piers; and
 a siding in contact with the distal surfaces of the battens, 
   wherein air flows between airspaces created by the batten between the exterior sheathing and the siding, and air flows through the first air flow channel and the air flow through the first air flow channel reduces moisture entrapment between the batten and the siding or the exterior sheathing.   
     
     
         13 . The batten of  claim 12  further comprising a second air flow channel, the second air flow channel is at an angle to the first air flow channel and is defined by through adjacent piers. 
     
     
         14 . The batten of  claim 13  wherein the second air flow channel is generally perpendicular to the first air flow channel. 
     
     
         15 . The batten of  claim 12  wherein each pier has a cross-section shape being rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, and/or combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The batten of  claim 12  wherein the batten is made of an extrudable thermoplastic. 
     
     
         17 . The batten of  claim 12  wherein the thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, and polyamides. 
     
     
         18 . The batten of  claim 9  wherein the battens are vertically disposed in the wall system.