Cladding element

Abstract

A cladding element, for use in a building envelope, comprising a first face, a second face and a plurality of edges. One or more of the plurality of edges includes a mating feature configured to resist moisture passage between cladding elements when the cladding elements are installed on a wall or other structure. The mating features of each cladding element including one or more beveled edges designed to improve mating between the cladding elements and the overall aesthetic appearance of the mating interface between adjacent cladding elements when installed on a wall or other structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cladding system comprising a plurality of cladding elements, the system comprising:
 a first cladding element having a planar front face and a first mating edge comprising a first concave arcuate beveled surface intersecting the planar front face of the first cladding element at an angle t 1  along a first edge of the planar front face of the first cladding element; and   a second cladding element having a planar front face and a second mating edge comprising a second concave arcuate beveled surface intersecting the planar front face of the second cladding element at the angle t 1  along a second edge of the planar front face of the second cladding element;   wherein the first concave arcuate beveled surface and the second concave arcuate beveled surface together form an arcuate v-groove extending along a length of the first and second cladding elements between the front face of the first cladding element and the front face of the second cladding element, the arcuate v-groove being symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the planar front faces of the first and second cladding elements.   
     
     
         2 . The cladding system of  claim 1 , wherein the first mating edge further comprises a first abutment face intersecting the first concave arcuate beveled surface and wherein the second mating edge further comprises a second abutment face intersecting the second concave arcuate beveled surface, the second abutment face abutting the first abutment face. 
     
     
         3 . The cladding system of  claim 2 , wherein the first concave arcuate beveled surface intersects the first abutment face at a second angle smaller than t 1  relative to a plane parallel to the planar front face, and wherein the second concave arcuate beveled surface intersects the second abutment face at the second angle. 
     
     
         4 . The cladding system of  claim 2 , wherein the first concave arcuate beveled surface intersects the first abutment face at an angle greater than 90° relative to the first abutment face, and wherein the second concave arcuate beveled surface intersects the second abutment face at an angle greater than 90° relative to the second abutment face. 
     
     
         5 . The cladding system of  claim 2 , wherein the first mating edge further comprises a recessed planar surface intersecting the first abutment face, the recessed planar surface extending parallel to and away from the planar front face of the first cladding element. 
     
     
         6 . The cladding system of  claim 5 , wherein the second mating edge further comprises a rear-facing planar surface intersecting the second abutment face, the rear-facing planar surface extending parallel to and toward the planar front face of the second cladding element. 
     
     
         7 . The cladding system of  claim 6 , wherein the rear-facing planar surface of the second mating edge is spaced from the recessed planar surface of the first mating edge to define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The cladding system of  claim 7 , wherein the gap has a thickness sized to accommodate at least one of a sealant, an adhesive, an insulator, and a head of a fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The cladding system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first cladding element and the second cladding element further comprises a channel feature having a shape corresponding to the arcuate v-groove. 
     
     
         10 . The cladding system of  claim 9 , wherein the channel feature comprises a recess in the planar front face of the at least one of the first cladding element and the second cladding element, the channel feature disposed parallel to the first mating edge and the second mating edge. 
     
     
         11 . A cladding element comprising:
 a planar front face;   a first mating edge comprising a first concave arcuate beveled surface intersecting the planar front face at an angle t 1  along a first edge of the planar front face; and   a second mating edge opposite the first mating edge, the second mating edge comprising a second concave arcuate beveled surface intersecting the planar front face at the angle t 1  along a second edge of the planar front face opposite the first edge;   wherein, when the cladding element is disposed adjacent to a substantially identical second cladding element, the first concave arcuate beveled surface of the cladding element and the second concave arcuate beveled surface of the second cladding element together form an arcuate v-groove extending along a length of the cladding element and the second cladding element between the front face of the cladding element and the front face of the second cladding element, the arcuate v-groove being symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the planar front faces of the cladding element and the second cladding element.   
     
     
         12 . The cladding element of  claim 11 , wherein the first mating edge further comprises a first abutment face intersecting the first concave arcuate beveled surface and wherein the second mating edge further comprises a second abutment face intersecting the second concave arcuate beveled surface, the second abutment face configured to abut the first abutment face when the cladding element is disposed adjacent to the substantially identical second cladding element. 
     
     
         13 . The cladding system of  claim 12 , wherein the first concave arcuate beveled surface intersects the first abutment face at a second angle smaller than t 1  relative to a plane parallel to the planar front face, and wherein the second concave arcuate beveled surface intersects the second abutment face at the second angle. 
     
     
         14 . The cladding system of  claim 12 , wherein the first concave arcuate beveled surface intersects the first abutment face at an angle greater than 90° relative to the first abutment face, and wherein the second concave arcuate beveled surface intersects the second abutment face at an angle greater than 90° relative to the second abutment face. 
     
     
         15 . The cladding system of  claim 12 , wherein the first mating edge further comprises a recessed planar surface intersecting the first abutment face, the recessed planar surface extending parallel to and away from the planar front face of the first cladding element. 
     
     
         16 . The cladding system of  claim 15 , wherein the second mating edge further comprises a rear-facing planar surface intersecting the second abutment face, the rear-facing planar surface extending parallel to and toward the planar front face of the second cladding element. 
     
     
         17 . The cladding system of  claim 16 , wherein the recessed planar surface of the first mating edge is recessed relative to the planar front face by a distance greater than a thickness between the planar front face and the rear-facing planar surface so as to define a gap when cladding element is disposed adjacent to the substantially identical second cladding element. 
     
     
         18 . The cladding system of  claim 17 , wherein the gap has a thickness sized to accommodate at least one of a sealant, an adhesive, an insulator, and a head of a fastener. 
     
     
         19 . The cladding system of  claim 11 , wherein the cladding element further comprises a channel feature having a shape corresponding to the arcuate v-groove. 
     
     
         20 . The cladding system of  claim 19 , wherein the channel feature comprises a recess in the planar front face disposed parallel to the first mating edge and the second mating edge.