Exterior cladding panel

Abstract

An example exterior cladding panel includes a reveal surface. The reveal surface comprises a first end portion and a second end portion. A first end connector is adjacent the first end portion of the reveal surface. A second end connector is adjacent the second end portion of the reveal surface. The first end connector is configured to be connected to a second end panel connector of a first panel of an adjoining first course to define a first space between the reveal surface and a reveal surface of the first panel. The second end connector is configured to be connected to a first end panel connector of a second panel of an adjoining second course to define a second space between the reveal surface and a reveal surface of the second panel. The first space and/or the second space are adjustable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exterior cladding panel comprising:
 (a) a reveal surface comprising a first end portion and a second end portion;   (b) a first end connector adjacent the first end portion of the reveal surface; and   (c) a second end connector adjacent the second end portion of the reveal surface,   wherein:   the first end connector is configured to be connected to a second end panel connector of a first panel of an adjoining first course to define a first space between the reveal surface and a reveal surface of the first panel,   the second end connector is configured to be connected to a first end panel connector of a second panel of an adjoining second course to define a second space between the reveal surface and a reveal surface of the second panel, and   the first space and/or the second space are adjustable.   
     
     
         2 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end connector comprises a first groove and a second groove, each configured to mate with a first rib of the second end panel connector of the first panel, and   the first space is greater when the first groove is mated with the first rib than when the second groove is mated with the first rib.   
     
     
         3 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the second end connector comprises a second rib configured to mate with each of a third groove and a fourth groove of the first end panel connector of the second panel, and   the second space is greater when the second rib is mated with the third groove than when the second rib is mated with the fourth groove.   
     
     
         4 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first groove and the second groove each extend continuously along the first end connector, and   the second rib extends continuously along the second end connector.   
     
     
         5 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first groove and the second groove each extend continuously along the first end connector, and   the second rib extends intermittently along the second end connector.   
     
     
         6 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the second end connector comprises a second end trough that includes a second end trough rear wall, the second end trough rear wall comprising the second rib, and   the second end connector is configured to be connected to the first end panel connector of the second panel by the second end trough fitting over a first end panel connector trough of the first end panel connector, the first end panel connector trough comprising the third groove and the fourth groove.   
     
     
         7 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second end trough rear wall comprises a connected end and a free end, the second rib being near the free end,   the connected end of the second end trough rear wall contacts a fastening flange of the first end panel connector when the second end trough is fitted over the first end panel connector trough and the second rib is mated with the third groove or the fourth groove.   
     
     
         8 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 7 , wherein the free end of the second end trough rear wall extends forwardly from the connected end. 
     
     
         9 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first end connector further comprises a third groove configured to mate with the first rib of the second end panel connector of the first panel, and   the first space is greater when the second groove is mated with the first rib than when the third groove is mated with the first rib.   
     
     
         10 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end connector comprises a first rib and a second rib, each configured to mate with a first groove of the second end panel connector of the first panel, and   the first space is greater when the first rib is mated with the first groove than when the second rib is mated with the first groove.   
     
     
         11 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the second end connector comprises a second groove configured to mate with each of a third rib and a fourth rib of the first end panel connector of the second panel, and   the second space is greater when the third rib is mated with the second groove than when the fourth rib is mated with the second groove.   
     
     
         12 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first end connector further comprises a third rib configured to mate with the first groove of the second end panel connector of the first panel, and   the first space is greater when the second rib is mated with the first groove than when the third rib is mated with the first groove.   
     
     
         13 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end portion comprises an upper end portion of the reveal surface,   the second end portion comprises a lower end portion of the reveal surface,   the first space comprises a first vertical space, and   the second space comprises a second vertical space.   
     
     
         14 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end portion comprises a right side portion of the reveal surface,   the second end portion comprises a left side portion of the reveal surface,   the first space comprises a first horizontal space, and   the second space comprises a second horizontal space.   
     
     
         15 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end connector comprises a broad groove configured to mate with a rib of the second end panel connector of the first panel, and   the first space is adjustable by varying a position of the rib within the broad groove.   
     
     
         16 . An exterior cladding panel comprising:
 (a) a reveal surface comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion;   (b) an upper connector adjacent the upper end portion of the reveal surface, the upper connector comprising a first groove and a second groove, both the first groove and the second groove extending horizontally; and   (c) a lower connector adjacent the lower end portion of the reveal surface, the lower connector comprising a first rib, the first rib extending horizontally,   wherein:   the upper connector is configured to be connected to a lower panel connector of an upper panel of an adjoining upper course to define an upper vertical space between the reveal surface and a reveal surface of the upper panel, the first groove and the second groove each being configured to mate with a second rib of the lower panel connector, the second rib extending horizontally   the lower connector is configured to be connected to an upper panel connector of a lower panel of an adjoining lower course to define a lower vertical space between the reveal surface and a reveal surface of the lower panel, the first rib being configured to mate with each of a third groove and a fourth groove of the upper panel connector, both the third groove and the fourth groove extending horizontally,   the upper vertical space is greater when the first groove is mated with the second rib than when the second groove is mated with the second rib, and   the lower vertical space is greater when the first rib is mated with the third groove than when the first rib is mated with the fourth groove.   
     
     
         17 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first groove and the second groove each extend continuously along the upper connector, and   the first rib extends continuously along the lower connector.   
     
     
         18 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the lower connector comprises a lower trough that includes a lower trough rear wall, the lower trough rear wall comprising the first rib, and   the lower connector is configured to be connected to the upper panel connector of the lower panel by the lower trough fitting over an upper panel connector trough of the upper panel connector, the upper panel connector trough comprising the third groove and the fourth groove.   
     
     
         19 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the lower trough rear wall comprises a connected end and a free end that extends forwardly from the connected end, the first rib being near the free end, and   the connected end of the lower trough rear wall contacts a fastening flange of the of the upper panel connector when the lower trough is fitted over the upper panel connector trough and the first rib is mated with the third groove or the fourth groove.   
     
     
         20 . The exterior cladding panel of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the upper connector further comprises a fifth groove configured to mate with the second rib, the fifth groove extending horizontally, and   the upper vertical space is greater when the second groove is mated with the second rib than when the fifth groove is mated with the second rib.