Cladding assembly and method of cladding posts

Abstract

A cladding assembly comprises first and second cladding panels, each having top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, and a corner connection element disposed to couple a pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels together. The corner connection element includes top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of female connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of male connectors for mating with the female connectors, or wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of male connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of female connectors for mating with the male connectors of the corner connection element.

1 . A cladding assembly, comprising: 
 first and second cladding panels, each having top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides; and    a corner connection element disposed to couple a pair of adjacent lateral sides of said first and second cladding panels together at a corner in cladding a building structure, said corner connection element comprising top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, 
 wherein said corner connection element comprises a pair of female connectors disposed at its lateral sides and said pair of adjacent lateral sides of said first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of male connectors for mating with said female connectors, or  
 wherein said corner connection element comprises a pair of male connectors disposed at its lateral sides and said pair of adjacent lateral sides of said first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of female connectors for mating with said male connectors of said corner connection element.  
   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said corner connection element and cladding panels comprise a thermoplastic polymer.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said corner connection element and cladding panels comprise polyvinyl chloride, a polyolefin, polystyrene, polypropylene, an acrylic, an ABS polymer or an ASA polymer.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said female connectors are generally ‘U’ shaped.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of female connectors and male connectors each comprise a plurality of protrusions disposed on respective surfaces thereof for engaging each other when said male and female connectors are mated.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said assembly comprises four of said cladding panels and four of said corner connection elements.  
   
   
       7 . A cladded building assembly, comprising: 
 a building structure; and    a cladding assembly secured to said building structure, said cladding assembly comprising: 
 first and second cladding panels, each having an outwardly-facing surface and an inwardly-facing surface, top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides; and  
 a corner connection element disposed to couple a pair of adjacent lateral sides of said first and second cladding panels together at a corner in cladding a building structure, said corner connection element comprising an outwardly-facing surface and an inwardly-facing surface, top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, 
 wherein said corner connection element comprises a pair of female connectors disposed at its lateral sides and said pair of adjacent lateral sides of said first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of male connectors for mating with said female connectors, or  
 wherein said corner connection element comprises a pair of male connectors disposed at its lateral sides and said pair of adjacent lateral sides of said first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of female connectors for mating with said male connectors of said corner connection element.  
 
   
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said building structure comprises a pre-installed post.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said corner connection element and cladding panels comprise a thermoplastic polymer.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said corner connection element and cladding panels comprise polyvinyl chloride, a polyolefin, polystyrene, polypropylene, an acrylic, an ABS polymer or an ASA polymer.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said female connectors are generally ‘U’ shaped.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said pair of female connectors and male connectors each comprise a plurality of protrusions disposed on respective surfaces thereof for engaging each other when said male and female connectors are mated.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said assembly comprises four of said cladding panels and four of said corner connection elements.  
   
   
       14 . A method of cladding a building structure, comprising the following steps: 
 aligning at least a first and second cladding panels along said building structure, each having an outwardly-facing surface and an inwardly-facing surface, top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides;    providing at least one corner connection element, said corner connection element disposed to couple a pair of adjacent lateral sides of said first and second cladding panels together at a corner in cladding a building structure, said corner connection element comprising an outwardly-facing surface and an inwardly-facing surface, top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides; and    securing said at least one corner connection element to said first and second cladding panels, whereby said building structure is clad,    wherein said corner connection element comprises a pair of female connectors disposed at its lateral sides and said pair of adjacent lateral sides of said first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of male connectors for mating with said female connectors, or    wherein said corner connection element comprises a pair of male connectors disposed at its lateral sides and said pair of adjacent lateral sides of said first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of female connectors for mating with said male connectors of said corner connection element.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of installing a trim or molding section proximate to said top or bottom edges of said cladding panels.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said corner connection element and cladding panels comprise a thermoplastic polymer.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said corner connection element and cladding panels comprise polyvinyl chloride, a polyolefin, polystyrene, polypropylene, an acrylic, an ABS polymer or an ASA polymer.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said female connectors are generally ‘U’ shaped.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said pair of female connectors and male connectors each comprise a plurality of protrusions disposed on respective surfaces thereof for engaging each other when said male and female connectors are mated.  
   
   
       20 . The method  claim 14 , wherein said assembly comprises four of said cladding panels and four of said corner connection elements.