Siding installation apparatus and methods of using and making same

Abstract

The invention is directed to siding installation apparatus and methods of using such siding installation apparatus to install siding pieces on a structure. A siding installation apparatus includes a body having a first and second ends spaced apart from each other by a first dimension. The siding installation apparatus further includes a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from the body and spaced apart from each other along the first dimension of the body. Each of the projections is spaced apart from an adjacent projection by a first distance.

1 . A siding installation apparatus, comprising: 
 a body having first and second ends spaced apart from each other by a first dimension; and    a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from the body and spaced apart from each other along the first dimension of the body by a first distance, wherein one of the projections is spaced apart from the first end by a second distance approximately one-half the first distance and another one of the projections is spaced apart from the second end by the second distance.    
   
   
       2 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises ABS.  
   
   
       3 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises a plurality of holes.  
   
   
       4 . The siding installation  1 , further comprising an indicium configured relative to the first dimension to indicate a vertical installation orientation.  
   
   
       5 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first end includes a first interconnect element and the second end includes a second interconnect element.  
   
   
       6 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first interconnect element is configured to mate with a second interconnect element of an identical installation apparatus.  
   
   
       7 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first interconnect element comprises a boss and the second interconnect element comprises a hole.  
   
   
       8 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first interconnect element comprises a tongue and the second interconnect element comprises a groove  
   
   
       9 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body and the projections are integrally formed with each other.  
   
   
       10 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body and the projections comprises a polymeric material.  
   
   
       11 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a polymeric material.  
   
   
       12 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises ABS and calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       13 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body and the projections have a second dimension that extends transversely to the first dimension, the second dimension being about 8.0 feet to about 10.0 feet.  
   
   
       14 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the body comprises an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and the first dimension extends along the longitudinal axis; and    the projections project substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body.    
   
   
       15 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 1:   wherein each of the projections comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface; and    further comprising a fillet formed at the junction between the body and each of the first surfaces.    
   
   
       16 . A siding installation apparatus, comprising: 
 an elongated body having first and second ends spaced apart from each other by a first dimension, a first interconnect element at least proximate to the first end, and a second interconnect element at least proximate to the second end, wherein the first interconnect element is configured to mate with a second interconnect element of another siding installation apparatus; and    a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from the body and spaced apart from each other along the first dimension of the elongated body by a first distance.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the body further comprises a plurality of holes.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a first end projection is spaced apart from the first end by a second distance approximately one-half the first distance and a second end projection is spaced apart from the second end by the second distance.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the body comprises ABS and calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the body comprises approximately 20-25% calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising an indicium configured relative to the first dimension to indicate a vertical installation orientation.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the first interconnect element comprises a boss and the second interconnect element comprises a hole.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the first interconnect element comprises a pin and the second interconnect element comprises a cavity.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the first interconnect element comprises a tongue and the second interconnect element comprises a groove.  
   
   
       25 . A siding installation system, comprising: 
 a first siding installation apparatus having a body with first and second ends spaced apart from each other by a first dimension, and a plurality of projections projecting from the body and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal dimension of the body by a first distance, a first interconnect element proximate to the first end of the body, and a second interconnect element proximate to the second end of the body; and    a second siding installation apparatus having a body with first and second ends spaced apart from each other by a longitudinal dimension, a plurality of projections projecting from the body and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal dimension by a first distance, a first interconnect element proximate to the first end, and a second interconnect element proximate to the second end, wherein the first interconnect element of the first installation apparatus is configured to mate with the second interconnect element of the second installation apparatus.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the bodies of the first and second siding installation apparatus comprises ABS.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the bodies of the first and second siding installation apparatus further comprise 20-25% calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the bodies of the first and second siding installation apparatus further comprise a plurality of holes.  
   
   
       29 . A method of installing siding pieces on a structure, comprising: 
 attaching at least one siding installation apparatus to a surface of the structure, the at least one siding installation apparatus comprising a body having a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from the body and spaced apart from each other along an extent of the body, wherein individual projections have an upper surface and an opposing lower abutment surface;    abutting an upper edge of a first siding piece against the abutment surface of one of the projections;    driving at least one fastener through the first siding piece and into the structure;    abutting an upper edge of a second siding piece against the abutment surface of another one of the projections to overlap at least an upper portion of the first siding piece with the second siding piece; and    driving at least another fastener through the second siding piece and into the structure while the second siding piece is overlapped with the first siding piece.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29:   wherein the at least one siding installation apparatus comprises first and second siding installation apparatus spaced apart from each other, further wherein the body comprises a first elongated body associated with the first siding installation apparatus and a second elongated body associated with the second siding installation apparatus, further wherein the projections comprise a first plurality of projections projecting from the first elongated body and spaced apart from each other along the length of the first body by a first distance and a second plurality of projections projecting from the second elongated body and spaced apart from each other along the length of the second body by the first distance, longitudinal axes of each of the first and second bodies being oriented substantially parallel to each other and the projections of each of the first and second siding installation apparatus being generally aligned with each other to at least partially define projection sets;    wherein the act of abutting an upper edge of a first siding piece against the abutment surface of one of the projections comprises abutting the upper edge of the first siding piece against the abutment surfaces of one of the projection sets; and    wherein the act of abutting an upper edge of a second siding piece against the abutment surface of another one of the projections comprises abutting the upper edge of the second siding piece against the abutment surfaces of another one of the projection sets.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 providing an additional siding installation apparatus comprising a body having a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from the body and spaced apart from each other along an extent of the body, each of the projections having an upper surface and an opposing lower abutment surface; and    attaching the additional siding installation apparatus to the structure such that an end of the at least one siding installation apparatus abuts and/or is proximate to an end of the additional siding installation apparatus.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 providing an additional siding installation apparatus comprising a body having a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from the body and spaced apart from each other along an extent of the body, individual projections having an upper surface and an opposing lower abutment surface; and    attaching the additional siding installation apparatus to the structure such that the at least one siding installation apparatus is located laterally adjacent to the additional siding installation apparatus.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 providing an additional siding installation apparatus comprising a body having a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from the body and spaced apart from each other along an extent of the body, individual projections having an upper surface and an opposing lower abutment surface;    interlocking a portion of the at least one siding installation apparatus with a portion of the additional siding installation apparatus; and    attaching the additional siding installation apparatus to the structure.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the act of interlocking a portion of the at least one siding installation apparatus with a portion of the additional siding installation apparatus comprises interlocking a first interconnect element of the at least one siding installation apparatus with a second interconnect element of the additional siding installation apparatus.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the act of interlocking a portion of the at least one siding installation apparatus with a portion of the additional siding installation apparatus comprises interlocking a boss of the at least one siding installation apparatus with a hole of the additional siding installation apparatus.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: prior to the act of attaching at least one siding installation apparatus to a surface of the structure, uncoiling the at least one siding installation apparatus.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 29  wherein: 
 the first and second siding pieces each have a longitudinal dimension and a width;    the plurality of projections are spaced from an adjacent projection by a first distance; and    the act of abutting an upper edge of a second siding piece against the abutment surface of another one of the projections to overlap the first siding piece comprises abutting the upper edge of the second siding piece against the abutment surface of another one of the projections to overlap the first siding piece by a distance approximately equal to the difference between the width of the second siding piece and the first distance.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the surface comprises a wall of the structure.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the surface comprises a roof of the structure.  
   
   
       40 . A method of installing siding pieces on a structure, comprising: 
 attaching a first siding installation apparatus to the structure, the first siding installation apparatus comprising a first elongated body having a first longitudinal axis and a plurality of first projections projecting outwardly from the first body, the first projections being spaced apart from each other along the length of the first body, and individual first projections having an upper surface and an opposing lower abutment surface;    attaching a second siding installation apparatus spaced laterally apart from the first siding installation apparatus by a distance, the second siding installation apparatus comprising a second elongated body having a second longitudinal axis and a plurality of second projections projecting outwardly from the second body, the second projections being spaced apart from each other along the length of the second body, and individual second projections having an upper surface and an opposing lower abutment surface, wherein the second longitudinal axis is oriented at least substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis and individual second projections of the second body are at least generally aligned with corresponding individual first projections of the first body to at least partially define projection sets;    abutting an upper edge of a first siding piece against the first and second projections of one of the projection sets;    driving at least one fastener through the first siding piece and into the structure;    abutting an upper edge of a second siding piece against the first and second projections of another one of the projection sets to overlap at least a portion of the first siding piece with the second siding piece; and    driving at least another fastener through the second siding piece and into the structure while the second siding piece overlaps at least a portion of the first siding piece.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 providing a third installation apparatus having a third body and a plurality of third projections spaced apart from each other along the third body and a fourth siding installation apparatus, having a fourth body and a plurality of fourth projections spaced apart from each other along the fourth body;    attaching the third siding installation apparatus to the structure such that a lower portion of the third siding installation apparatus interlocks with an upper portion of the first siding installation apparatus; and    attaching the fourth siding installation apparatus to the structure such that a lower portion of the second siding installation apparatus interlocks with an upper portion of the fourth siding installation apparatus.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein: 
 attaching the third and fourth siding installation apparatus to the structure comprises positioning the third siding installation apparatus laterally apart from the fourth siding installation apparatus by the distance that the first and second siding installation apparatus are spaced apart; and    aligning individual third projections with corresponding individual fourth projections to projection pairs of the third and fourth installation apparatus.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41  wherein interlocking the third siding installation apparatus and the first siding installation apparatus comprises interlocking a male interconnect element of the first siding installation apparatus with the female interconnect element of the third siding installation apparatus.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41  wherein interlocking the fourth siding installation apparatus and the second siding installation apparatus comprises interlocking a male interconnect element of the fourth siding installation apparatus with the female interconnect element of the second siding installation apparatus.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the surface comprises a roof of the structure.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising attaching a third siding installation apparatus to the structure located between the first and second siding installation apparatus, the third siding installation apparatus comprising a third elongated body having a third longitudinal axis and a plurality of indicia spaced apart from each other along the length of the third elongated body, at least some of the indicia aligned with one of the projection sets.  
   
   
       47 . A siding installation apparatus, comprising: 
 a body having first and second ends spaced apart from each other by a first dimension;    a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from the body and spaced apart from each other along the first dimension of the body by a first distance; and    at least one indicium positioned on a portion of the body to indicate an installation orientation.    
   
   
       48 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the indicium comprises at least one alignment mark located on the body.  
   
   
       49 . The siding installation apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the indicium comprises a leveling apparatus.