Soffit panel attachment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11028594-B2
Application number	US-202016819884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2020
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A soffit panel attachment device includes a central portion, an attachment surface, a plurality of flanges, and a plurality of openings extending through the central portion. The attachment surface extends perpendicularly from the central portion at a first end of the central portion. First and second flanges extend parallel to the central portion to form a U-shaped channel sized and shaped to receive a soffit covering material. Two soffit panel attachment devices may be installed in opposing configurations such that the U-shaped channels are positioned to support opposite ends of a soffit panel material. The plurality of openings may be a grid of hexagonal or circular openings that provide airflow paths across the soffit panel material such as from an exterior space into an attic space above the soffit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A soffit lining system, comprising:
a first soffit panel attachment device coupled to a building substrate, the first soffit panel attachment device comprising a first attachment surface lying adjacent to the building substrate, a first central portion perpendicular to the building substrate and coupled to the first attachment surface at a first end of the first central portion, and a first plurality of flanges extending from the first central portion at a second end of the first central portion opposite the first end, the first plurality of flanges disposed parallel to the first central portion to form a first U-shaped channel aligned with the first central portion and opening away from the building substrate;
a second soffit panel attachment device coupled to a framing member spaced outwardly from the building substrate, the second soffit panel device comprising a second attachment surface lying adjacent to the framing member, a second central portion parallel to the first central portion and coupled to the second attachment surface at a first end of the second central portion, and a second plurality of flanges extending from the second central portion at a second end of the second central portion opposite the first end, the second plurality of flanges disposed parallel to the second central portion to form a second U-shaped channel aligned with the second central portion and opening toward the first U-shaped channel, wherein the second soffit panel attachment device comprises a plurality of openings extending through the second central portion; and
a soffit panel having a substantially planar surface comprising a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the soffit panel disposed at least partially within the first and second U-shaped channels, the first edge being disposed within the first U-shaped channel and resting on one of the first plurality of flanges, the second edge being disposed within the second U-shaped channel and resting on one of the second plurality of flanges, such that the first and second soffit panel attachment devices support the soffit panel along a length of the soffit panel.

2. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings are oriented perpendicular to the soffit panel to provide an airflow path between a space below the soffit panel and a space above the soffit panel.

3. The soffit lining system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of openings comprise a regularly spaced grid of circular openings covering at least 0.4 square inches of each square inch of total surface area of the grid.

4. The soffit lining system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of openings comprise a regularly spaced grid of hexagonal openings covering at least 0.4 square inches of each square inch of total surface area of the grid.

5. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein the first soffit panel attachment device does not include a plurality of openings extending through the first central portion.

6. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein the first soffit panel attachment device includes a plurality of openings extending through the first central portion.

7. The soffit lining system of claim 6 , wherein the first soffit panel attachment device is substantially identical to the second soffit panel attachment device.

8. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings comprise a regularly spaced grid of hexagonal apertures.

9. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings comprise a regularly spaced grid of circular apertures.

10. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein individual apertures of the plurality of apertures are spaced apart by a distance of between approximately 0.2 inches and approximately 0.3 inches.

11. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second soffit panel attachment devices comprises a single integrally formed piece of a polymeric material.

12. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings generally define a ventilated area of the second central portion, and wherein the plurality of openings occupy at least 0.4 square inches of each square inch of the ventilated area.

13. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein each opening of the plurality of openings has a diameter of between approximately ⅛ inch and approximately 1/16 inch.

14. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second attachment surfaces comprises a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, each aperture of the plurality of apertures sized and shaped to receive a mechanical fastener therethrough.

15. The soffit lining system of claim 1 , wherein a length of each of the first and second soffit panel attachment devices is between approximately 2 feet and approximately 8 feet.

16. The soffit lining system of claim 15 , wherein the length of each of the first and second soffit panel attachment devices is approximately 4 feet.

Assignees

• Hardie James Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Gonzalez Jose
• O'Leary Kevin
• Batres Benjamin

Classifications

• E04D13/158

  covering the overhang at the eave side, e.g. soffits, or the verge of saddle roofs · CPC title

• E04D13/152 Primary

  with ventilating means {in soffits or fascias; (on the eaves of the roof E04D13/178)} · CPC title

• E04D13/178

  on the eaves of the roof · CPC title