ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR ENCLOSING APERTURE IN HOUSE SIDING TO PREVENT OR DISCOURAGE ENTRY BY SMALL ANIMALS AND INSECTS

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for obstructing the open end of vertical corner channel pieces of siding often used in residential building applications. Siding terminates at the corners of buildings into a vertical corner channel piece that is typically open on its top and bottom ends. This opening provides opportunity for small animals to enter and damage the building. This invention comprises an enclosing cap with a bottom surface to obstruct the opening of the vertical corner channel piece and two exterior surfaces along with two interior pinching surfaces that secure the apparatus onto the siding piece. This enclosing cap provides an attractive and inexpensive solution to the problem of small animals entering spaces located underneath siding.

Claims

1. An enclosing cap for a siding corner channel comprising: a horizontally disposed bottom plate having a shape that includes at least one substantially right angle connecting two adjacent substantially straight edges; a pair of vertical side wall features protruding at substantially right angles to the bottom plate along the adjacent substantially straight edges and connected at a substantially right angle to one another; and means for securing the cap to the siding corner channel.

2. The cap as in claim 1, wherein the means for securing the cap comprises a second pair of vertical interior side walls protruding from the plate and positioned interior and generally parallel to the first pair of vertical wall features so as to pinch the siding corner channel between the pairs of vertical walls.

3. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the interior pair of vertical side walls are oriented each at a slight angle toward the exterior pair of vertical side walls so as to increase the pinch force on the siding corner channel.

4. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the top edges of each exterior vertical side wall bend toward the interior of the cap to increase the pinch force on the siding corner channel.

5. The cap as in claim 3, wherein the top edges of each exterior vertical side wall bend toward the interior of the cap to increase the pinch force on the siding corner channel.

6. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the interior vertical side walls are shaped with an elongated portion along the lateral edges extending upward away from the horizontal plate so as to create an area of increased pinch force on the siding between the interior and exterior vertical side walls.

7. The cap as in claim 3, wherein the interior vertical side walls are shaped with an elongated portion along the lateral edges extending upward away from the horizontal plate so as to create an area of increased pinch force on the siding between the interior and exterior vertical side walls.

8. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the top end of at least one exterior side wall has a lip extending from the top end of the exterior side wall toward the interior of the cap.

9. The cap as in claim 1, wherein the exterior vertical side walls bend toward the interior at their lateral edges to increase the contact with the siding corner channel and create a different aesthetic appearance.

10. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the exterior vertical side walls bend toward the interior at their lateral edges to increase the contact with the siding corner channel and create a different aesthetic appearance.

11. The cap as in claim 3, wherein at least one exterior vertical side wall is taller than at least one interior vertical side wall.

12. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the cap is constructed of resiliently elastic material.

13. The cap as in claim 3, wherein the cap is constructed of resiliently elastic material.

14. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the exterior vertical side walls extend down beyond the horizontal bottom plate.

15. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the exterior vertical side walls terminate into the horizontal bottom plate.

16. The cap as in claim 2, further comprising at least one small hole in the horizontal bottom plate to allow drainage.

17. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the cap is made of aluminum.

18. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the cap is made of plastic.

19. The cap as in claim 2, wherein the cap is made of vinyl.

20. An enclosing cap for a siding corner channel comprising: a horizontally disposed bottom plate having a shape that includes at least one right angle connecting two adjacent straight edges; a pair of vertical side wall features protruding at right angles to the bottom plate along the adjacent straight edges and connected at a right angle to one another; a second pair of vertical interior side walls protruding from the plate and positioned interior and generally parallel to the first pair of vertical wall features so as to pinch the siding corner channel between the pairs of vertical walls; wherein the interior pair of vertical side walls are oriented each at a slight angle toward the exterior pair of vertical side walls so as to increase the pinch force on the siding corner channel; wherein the exterior vertical side walls extend down beyond the horizontal bottom plate; further comprising at least one small hole in the horizontal bottom plate to allow drainage; and wherein the cap comprises plastic.

Description

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive article in place on a residential house featuring horizontal and vertically disposed siding where the article is shown capping the bottom of a run of vertical corner channel.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a close up of the article shown in FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an article according to the invention where the article is mounted at the lower end of a vertical corner channel and is near the ground level of the building.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of an article according to the invention where the article is mounted on the lower end of a vertical corner channel piece of siding and is near the ground level of the building.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective, schematic view of an article according to the invention.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic, perspective view of an article according to the invention, with the same article as shown in FIG. 5 but rotated approximately ninety degrees.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a series of six views of the article, such as would be appropriate for machine drawing. FIG. 7A is a side view as is FIG. 7C, while FIGS. 7B and 7D are also side views from different perspectives. FIG. 7E is a bottom view of the invention and

[0019] FIG. 7F is a top view of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a photograph of the lower end of a typical vertical corner channel siding piece in a typical installation on a residential home without the invention in place.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a photograph of a side view of one embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 10 is a photograph of the same side view of a different embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 11 is a photograph of the top view of the second embodiment of the invention.

[0024] FIGS. 12 and 13 are photographs of two different embodiments of the invention installed on a short piece of corner channel siding that has not been installed on a building in order to show how the invention fits onto the corner channel piece.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components, FIGS. 1 through 7 show an article 10 according to the invention.

[0026] The article 10 or cap 10 is shown installed at the lower end of vertical corner channel 14. The numerous stacked pieces of horizontally disposed siding 12 terminate within vertical corner channel 14.

[0027] With continuing reference to FIG. 1, a typical residential home is shown with windows 18 and a door 20.

[0028] With continuing reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 2 provides a close up of the cap 10 in place on a vertical corner channel 14.

[0029] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a perspective and front view of a cap 10 according to the invention is shown. In this embodiment, the vertical corner channel 14 terminates just above the associated ground 24 thereby making it especially simple for small animals, such as mice, to enter into the chamber formed by the interior of the vertical corner channel 14. The cap 10 is helpful to close off this opening and prevent such small animals from entering. With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an embodiment of the cap 10 is shown. With reference to FIG. 5, the top of the cap 10 is open but with reference to FIG. 6, the bottom 28 of the cap is closed via surface 30. The bottom 28 is behind or on the backside of surface 30. The cap 10 features first and second side walls 34, 36.

[0030] With continuing reference to FIGS. 7A-7F, each orientation of the inventive device is illustrated.

[0031] With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-7, the benefits of the inventive article or cap 10 will now be described. First, it primarily acts as an effective barrier to rodents, bugs and insects, and other pests. With reference to FIG. 8, an end view of the vertically extending corner channel piece, such as that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is illustrated. This end view is shown without the inventive cap 10 so that the channel is shown. This interior channel is attractive to small rodents, insects, bugs, and other pests who enjoy traveling and living within such channel. Although it is known to provide a cap that slides into the siding corner channel piece, that cap does not close off the channel. Rather, it simply provides a decorative rounded end to the edges of the channel. The inventive article 10 not only provides the rounded edges which are desirable, but it also provides the floor or surface 30 to obstruct the interior of the channel.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 9, one embodiment of the invention is shown with the interior side wall 46 oriented parallel to the exterior side wall 36. This view also shows a lip feature 38 comprising a small bend or curve in the top end of the exterior side wall 36.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 10, another embodiment of the invention is shown with the interior side wall 46 oriented at an angle toward the exterior side wall 36. This view shows no lip feature in exterior side wall 36.

[0034] With reference to FIG. 11, an embodiment of the invention 10 is shown from the top view. This view shows the first exterior side wall 34 and the second exterior side wall 36 protruding from the horizontal bottom plate 30. This embodiment includes small holes 32 in the bottom plate to provide drainage when installed. Also shown are the first interior side wall 44 and second interior side wall 46, including their elongated tab features 48, 50 that increase pinch force on the corner channel siding piece.

[0035] With reference to FIG. 12, two separate embodiments 10 are shown installed on the ends of a short corner channel siding piece 14 from an exterior view, which is visible when the corner channel siding piece is installed on a building. Also shown are the first exterior side wall 34 and the second exterior side wall 36 of the invention 10 that show the orientation of each embodiment.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 13, two separate embodiments 10 are shown installed on the ends of a short corner channel siding piece 14 from an interior view. This surface of the corner channel piece 14 is against the building when installed and cannot be seen.

[0037] Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Further, the invention as that term is used in this document is what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other inventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.

[0038] Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: