Siding joinery

Abstract

A panel system includes elongated panels coupled together at a seam portion with respective interlocking portions at corresponding vertical ends to provide a substantially planar surface. In siding panel systems, joined siding panels are provided in vertically arranged rows that further couple together along adjacent horizontal edges of the respective rows of siding panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel system comprising a pair of panels coupled by a coupling means at adjacent vertical ends of a first panel of the pair of panels and a second panel of the pair of panels, wherein an outer surface of the first panel and an outer surface of the second panel together provide a substantially planar row outer surface, wherein the coupling means interlocks the panels as a single composite panel, wherein the composite panel moves horizontally as a single unit during shifting, contraction or expansion. 
     
     
         2 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is a first rectangular projection adjacent a first rectangular receiving groove on the vertical end of the first panel coupled to a complimentary first rectangular projection adjacent a first rectangular receiving groove on the vertical end of the second panel. 
     
     
         3 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is a first non-perpendicular parallelogram projection adjacent a first non-perpendicular parallelogram receiving groove on the vertical end of the first panel coupled to a complimentary first non-perpendicular parallelogram projection adjacent a first non-perpendicular parallelogram receiving groove on the vertical end of the second panel. 
     
     
         4 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is a first rectangular projection adjacent a first rectangular receiving groove on the vertical end of the first panel coupled to a complimentary first retractable projection adjacent a first receiving groove on the vertical end of the second panel. 
     
     
         5 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is a saw-tooth flange projection on the vertical end of the first panel coupled by an adhesive to a complimentary saw-tooth flange projection on the vertical end of the second panel. 
     
     
         6 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is an arrow-head shaped projection on the vertical end of the first panel coupled to a complimentary receiving recess on the vertical end of the second panel. 
     
     
         7 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is an ratcheted tongue-shaped projection on the vertical end of the first panel coupled to a complimentary ratcheted tongue-shaped recess on the vertical end of the second panel. 
     
     
         8 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is a tongue projection on the vertical end of the first panel coupled by an adhesive to a complimentary groove recess on the vertical end of the second panel. 
     
     
         9 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is a first lap flange projection on the vertical end of the first panel coupled by an adhesive to a complimentary first lap flange projection on the vertical end of the second panel. 
     
     
         10 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is a first lap flange projection on the vertical end of the first panel coupled by a mechanical cleat including barbs to a complimentary first lap flange projection on the vertical end of the second panel, wherein the barbs of the mechanical cleat deform adjacent surfaces of the first lap flange projection of the first panel and first lap flange projection of the second panel. 
     
     
         11 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is a mechanical cleat coupled to parallel outer surfaces of both a first panel and a second panel of the pair of panels, wherein the barbs of the mechanical cleat deform the outer surfaces of the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
         12 . The panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is selected from the group consisting of adhesives, welds, mechanical fasteners, melt-bonds, and magnets.