Pultruded Siding Panels with Interlock Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional siding materials like wood, vinyl, and metal suffer from issues such as warping, denting, and reduced insulating value, while weather barriers and sheathing require separate installation steps, increasing construction time and labor.

Innovation Solution

Pultruded building products that combine the functions of exterior siding, weather-tight barrier, and structural sheathing, featuring interlock joint assemblies and profiles that eliminate the need for installation slots and provide enhanced structural support, thermal stability, and dent resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If vinyl siding is used, then the siding is lightweight and easy to install, but it warps due to high thermal expansion and solar heat gain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesiding weightVSAvoidsiding dimensional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials (fiberglass reinforced polyester or vinyl resin) to create siding that combines the lightweight advantage of vinyl with the dimensional stability of fiber-reinforced composites. The fiberglass reinforcement provides structural integrity and resistance to thermal expansion while maintaining the material's light weight and ease of installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If metal siding is used, then the siding provides good structural strength, but it dents easily from impacts and reduces wall insulating value

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesiding strengthVSAvoiddent resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs fiber-reinforced polymer composites that provide both structural strength and dent resistance. The fiberglass reinforcement embedded in the polymer matrix creates a material that is both strong and resistant to impact damage, eliminating the denting problem associated with thin metal siding while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters by using thicker-gauge thermoset or thermoplastic polymers reinforced with fibers, creating a siding material that has both the strength of metal and the dent resistance of more robust materials, while also providing thermal insulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If fiber cement siding is used, then the siding provides good durability, but it is heavy and requires separate installation of weather barriers and sheathing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesiding durabilityVSAvoidsiding weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses fiber-reinforced polymer composites that provide durability comparable to fiber cement but with reduced weight. The fiberglass reinforcement in a polymer matrix creates a material that is both durable and lighter than traditional fiber cement siding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single siding panel, including weather resistance, structural sheathing capability, and insulation support, eliminating the need for separate weather barrier and sheathing installations required by traditional fiber cement siding systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If traditional siding materials are used, then the installation process is simple, but it requires separate steps for sheathing and weather barriers, increasing construction time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidconstruction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of siding, weather barrier, and structural sheathing into a single integrated panel system. The siding panels can be installed directly over the building frame without requiring separate installation of weather barriers or sheathing, significantly reducing construction time and labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal siding panel that performs multiple functions simultaneously: providing exterior cladding, acting as a weather barrier, serving as structural sheathing, and offering thermal insulation support. This multi-functional design simplifies the installation process by eliminating the need for multiple separate components and installation steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7856790B2Pultruded building product

Publication Date: 2010.12.28 TECTON PRODS LLC

AI summary

A building product is configured for attachment to a surface of a building. In one example, the building product includes a siding product including a first side and a second side. In one example, the siding product is a pultruded product. A first engagement feature is disposed on or near the first side. A second engagement feature is disposed on or near the second side. The second engagement feature is configured to selectively frictionally engage with the first engagement feature of another similar siding product such that any curvature in the siding product increases frictional engagement between the siding product and the other similar siding product. In one example, the building product includes a spacer clip for attachment of the building product to the surface of the building.