Rain Screen Siding Clips for Ventilation and Moisture Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rain screen siding systems face issues with moisture absorption and deterioration of wooden siding boards due to close attachment to building walls, leading to cracking, rotting, and pest infestation, especially in wet climates, and lack flexibility in orientation.
Innovation Solution
A rain screen siding system that uses clips with tongues and channels to support siding boards diagonally or vertically, creating a ventilated air space for drainage and thermal insulation, with corner support structures and bottom support members to facilitate non-horizontal orientations and prevent exposure to elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If siding boards are fastened closely to the wall structure, then structural support is improved, but moisture accumulation and deterioration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces furring strips as intermediary elements between the siding boards and the wall structure. These strips create a spaced attachment system where siding boards are fastened to the furring strips rather than directly to the wall, establishing a ventilated air space that prevents moisture accumulation while maintaining structural support through the clip-and-channel connection system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If siding boards are spaced apart from the wall structure to allow ventilation, then moisture deterioration is reduced, but structural support and stability are weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into multiple functional components: clips attached to the wall structure, furring strips providing intermediate support, and channels on the siding boards that engage with the clips. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function - the clips provide anchorage, the furring strips create spacing and ventilation pathways, and the channels secure the siding boards - collectively maintaining both structural support and moisture protection.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional horizontal furring strips are used, then installation is simplified, but orientation flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The clip and channel connection system is designed to be dynamic and adaptable rather than fixed to a specific orientation. The clips can be attached to furring strips arranged in various configurations, and the channels on the siding boards engage with these clips regardless of the specific orientation. This allows the same basic system to accommodate horizontal, vertical, or diagonal siding installations by simply adjusting the orientation of the furring strips and clips.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents moisture accumulation, reduces thermal insulation needs, and extends the lifespan of siding boards by allowing ventilation and drainage, while enabling flexible orientations that avoid the limitations of horizontal furring strips.
Implementation Method 1
air can circulate between the siding boards and the weather barrier membrane, to help the inner faces of siding boards to shed moisture
Implementation Method 2
An air space between the siding boards and the underlayment membranes provides some thermal insulation in both hot and cold weather conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A rain-screen siding system for buildings, including clips to support siding boards parallel with a flat surface of a building wall structure but spaced apart from the building wall to allow air to circulate between the building wall structure and the siding boards. The clips include paired, opposed channels and the siding boards have tongues that fit into the channels. Drainage grooves are defined in the clips. Bottom support members may extend horizontally to support the siding boards at the bottom of the rain screen siding. Corner closing members are provided to protect end faces of siding boards at an exterior corner of a building wall.