Factory-applied end gasket for lap siding

Abstract

An integrated end joint sealing system that is incorporated on the ends of pieces of siding, including, but not limited to, lap siding. Gasket material is factory-applied to one or both ends of a piece of siding. The gasket material may comprise a compressible, water-resistant or water-impermeable material, such as foam, rubber or the like, and may be sprayed or brushed on as a liquid, or affixed or attached to the ends as a solid material. It may be applied in a factory process pre-painting or pre-priming, during the painting process, or after the painting process. When the ends of respective pieces of siding are joined during installation, typically as butt ends to form an end-to-end linear butt joint, the gasket material seals the butt joint against air and/or water penetration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A siding end-joint sealing system, comprising:
 a plurality of pieces of siding, each piece with a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a top edge, a bottom edge, a length, a height, and a thickness, and a factory-applied first gasket seal integrated with the first end, extending for the height of the respective piece of siding and at least some or all of the thickness, and a factory-applied second gasket seal integrated with the second end, extending for the height of the respective piece of siding and at least some or all of the thickness;   wherein the plurality of pieces of siding are configured to be installed in a series of rows, each row comprising several pieces of siding affixed on a structural wall, panel or framing end-to-end, such that the first end of one piece of siding forms a joint with the second end of an adjacent piece of siding, and the respective first gasket seal and second gasket seal in the joint are in contact with each other;   wherein, after installation of the pieces of siding, the respective first gasket seal and second gasket seal provide an air penetration barrier in the joint.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the joint is a butt joint. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gasket seal extends across all of the thickness of the respective piece of siding, and the second gasket seal extends across all of the thickness of the respective piece of siding. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gasket seal extends across a first distance of the thickness of the respective piece of siding, and the second gasket seal extends across a second distance of the thickness of the respective piece of siding. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first distance and second distance are equal. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first distance and second distance together are equal to the thickness of the respective pieces of siding 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second gasket seals are rectilinear in cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gasket seal comprises a first pair of seal elements with a space therebetween, configured to receive the second gasket seal in said space when the joint is formed. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gasket seal comprises a first pair of seal elements with a first space therebetween, and a second pair of elements with a second space therebetween; and
 the second gasket seal comprises a first rectilinear element and a second rectilinear element;   wherein the first pair of seal elements are configured to receive the first rectilinear element in said first space, and the second pair of seal elements are configured to receive the second rectilinear element in the second space therebetween, when the joint is formed.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second gasket seals each comprise a flexible blade extending at an angle away from their respective first and second ends. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible blades extend at an angle towards the front side of the respective pieces of siding. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible blades extend at an angle towards the back side of the respective pieces of siding. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second gasket seals each has a thickness of 3/32″. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket seals are compressible. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket seals are made of the same material. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, after installation of the pieces of siding, the respective first gasket seal and second gasket seal provide a water or moisture penetration barrier in the joint. 
     
     
         17 . A siding product with factory-installed air seals, comprising
 a piece of siding with a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a top edge, a bottom edge, a length, a height, and a thickness   a factory-applied first gasket seal integrated with the first end, extending for the height of the respective piece of siding and at least some or all of the thickness;   wherein the first end is configured to form a joint end-to-end with an adjacent piece of siding, with the first gasket seal forming an air penetration barrier in the joint.   
     
     
         18 . The siding product of  claim 17 , further comprising a factory-applied second gasket seal integrated with the second end, extending for the height of the respective piece of siding and at least some or all of the thickness;
 wherein the second gasket seal on said adjacent piece of siding is in contact with the first gasket seal when the joint is formed, the first gasket seal and adjacent second gasket seal together forming an air penetration barrier in the joint.   
     
     
         19 . The siding product of  claim 18 , wherein the first gasket seal and adjacent second gasket seal together form a water or moisture penetration barrier in the joint.