Imitation stone siding system

Abstract

Imitation stone ( 102 ) and a section of siding ( 100 ) are formed in a mold cavity ( 202 ) with a surface that follows a topography ( 206 ) of each of one or more natural stones ( 204 ), applying pigments ( 300 a ), ( 302 a ), ( 304 a ) and ( 306 a ) at different locations on the mold cavity ( 202 ) to replicate different colors of each natural stone ( 204 ) and to replicate a distribution of the different colors at different locations on the topography ( 206 ); and forming an imitation stone material in the mold cavity ( 202 ) to replicate the topography ( 206 ) of each natural stone on the imitation stone material, and to transfer the pigments ( 300 a ), ( 302 a ), ( 304 a ) and ( 306 a ) to the imitation stone material.

1 . A method for manufacturing imitation stone, comprising: 
 shaping a mold cavity with a surface that follows a topography of each of one or more natural stones;    applying pigments at different locations on the mold cavity to replicate different colors of each natural stone and to replicate a distribution of the different colors at different locations on the topography; and    forming an imitation stone material in the mold cavity to replicate the topography of each natural stone on the imitation stone material, and to transfer the pigments to the imitation stone material.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein; 
 the step of applying pigments at different locations on the mold cavity topography further comprises the step of, applying the pigments at different heights of the mold cavity to replicate different colors at different heights in the natural stone's topography.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, 
 the step of forming an imitation stone material in the mold cavity further comprises, molding the imitation stone material in the mold cavity.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, 
 the step of applying pigments at different locations on the mold cavity topography further comprises the step of, applying the pigments at different heights of the mold cavity to replicate different colors at different heights in the natural stone's topography; and    the step of forming an imitation stone material in the mold cavity further comprises, molding the imitation stone material in the mold cavity.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein; 
 the step of shaping a mold cavity with a surface that follows a topography of each of one or more natural stones further comprises, shaping the surface of the mold cavity directly against a natural stone to imbed the natural stone's topography in the surface of the mold cavity.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, 
 the step of shaping a mold cavity with a surface that follows a topography of each of one or more natural stones further comprises, mapping the topography to provide mapping data; and    using the mapping data as machine control data for shaping the surface of the mold cavity by machining or etching.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein; 
 the step of applying pigments on different locations on the mold further comprises the steps of;    applying a first pigment to areas of deepest heights of mold topography, followed by wiping the first pigment from areas of shallower heights of the mold topography;    followed by alternately applying pigment to areas of shallower heights of the mold topography and wiping the pigment from even shallower heights of the mold topography, thereby resulting in different pigments at different heights of the mold topography.    
   
   
       8 . Imitation stone comprising: 
 an imitation stone material having a replicating topography that replicates a topography of each of one or more natural stones; and    different pigments on the replicating topography, the different pigments replicating different colors of each of the one or more natural stones; and    the different pigments being distributed on the replicating topography of the imitation stone material to replicate a distribution of the different colors on the topography of each of the one or more natural stones.    
   
   
       9 . The imitation stone of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 the imitation stone material having a replicating profile that replicates a profile of each of the one or more natural stones; and    the imitation stone material forming an imitation mortar joint at the replicating profile.    
   
   
       10 . The imitation stone of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 the imitation stone material having a replicating profile that replicates a profile of each of the one or more natural stones.    
   
   
       11 . The imitation stone of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 the imitation stone material having a replicating profile that replicates the profile of each of the one or more natural stones; and    the imitation stone material forming an imitation mortar joint at the replicating profile.    
   
   
       12 . The imitation stone of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 the imitation stone material forming an imitation mortar joint at a replicating profile that replicates the profile of each of the one or more natural stones.    
   
   
       13 . Imitation stone siding, comprising: 
 a section of siding having an imitation stone material, the imitation stone material having a replicating topography that replicates a topography of each of one or more natural stones; and    different pigments on the replicating topography, the different pigments replicating different colors of each of the one or more natural stones; and    the different pigments being distributed on the replicating topography of the imitation stone material to replicate a distribution of the different colors on the topography of each of the one or more natural stones.    
   
   
       14 . The imitation stone siding of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 the imitation stone material having a replicating profile that replicates a profile of each of the one or more natural stones; and    the imitation stone material forming an imitation mortar joint at the replicating profile.    
   
   
       15 . The imitation stone siding of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 the imitation stone material having a replicating profile that replicates a profile of each of the one or more natural stones.    
   
   
       16 . The imitation stone siding of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 the imitation stone material having a replicating profile that replicates the profile of each of the one or more natural stones; and    the imitation stone material forming an imitation mortar joint at the replicating profile.    
   
   
       17 . The imitation stone siding of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 the imitation stone material forming an imitation mortar joint at a replicating profile that replicates the profile of each of the one or more natural stones.    
   
   
       18 . A mold die comprising: 
 a mold having a mold cavity to form imitation stone material;    a surface of the mold cavity being shaped with a replicating topography that replicates the topography of one or more natural stones; and    the replicating topography being adapted for receiving different pigments to replicate different colors on the topography of each of the one or more natural stones.    
   
   
       19 . The mold die of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a recess in the mold cavity to form imitation stone material into an imitation mortar joint.    
   
   
       20 . The mold die of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 different pigments on areas at different heights on the replicating topography.