US-12618246-B2 - Exterior trim system

US12618246B2US 12618246 B2US12618246 B2US 12618246B2US-12618246-B2

Abstract

Trim system devices and methods for building surfaces, such as exterior surfaces with building panels. In embodiments, a top trim panel is snap fit onto a base trim panel after the building panel has been installed. The trim system readily assembles and overhangs relatively rigid building panels without tools or precision cuts. In some embodiments, the trim system may be mounted at a building corner.

Inventors

Matthew J. Will
Lawrence Preston Karstetter, JR.

Assignees

Freedom Metals Manufacturing, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230323

Claims (8)

1 . A trim system comprising: a base trim panel comprising a base portion configured to be mounted to a building surface, and a receiver arm extending substantially orthogonally away from a first side of the base portion comprising a receiver portion at a distal end thereof, wherein the receiver portion provides a convex surface configured to engage a retention portion of a top trim panel, and the top trim panel comprising an outer portion comprising a first outer leg and a second outer leg disposed substantially perpendicular to the first outer leg; and an inner portion comprising a first inner leg and a second inner leg; wherein the first inner leg comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion and a retention portion formed between the proximal portion and the distal portion defining a concave pocket between the first outer leg and the first inner leg for engagement with the receiver portion of the base trim panel; wherein the second inner leg extends from the second outer leg and is substantially adjacent to and parallel to the second outer leg and defines an overhang portion.
2 . The trim system of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the first inner leg is angled away from the first outer leg, and the distal end of the first inner leg is proximate to the first outer leg.
3 . The trim system of claim 1 , wherein the base trim panel and the top trim panel are both generally L-shaped and, when the retention portion of the top trim panel is engaged with the receiver portion of the base trim panel, the trim system is generally C-shaped and configured to receive a building panel defining an edge extending into an open end of the C-shape.
4 . The trim system of claim 1 , wherein the base trim panel is configured to be mounted to a first building surface so that the receiver arm is disposed parallel to a second building surface.
5 . A method of manufacturing a trim panel system for a building exterior according to claim 1 , comprising: forming a base trim panel configured to be mounted to a building surface, comprising providing a first sheet comprising a first portion and a second portion disposed across a width of the first sheet, forming a receiver portion by bending the first portion substantially orthogonally away from the second portion in a first direction, wherein the second portion defines a base width of the base trim panel; and forming a receiver lip on the receiver portion by bending an end of the receiver portion laterally away from the first portion; and forming a top trim panel configured to be mounted to the base trim panel after the base trim panel is mounted to the building surface comprising: providing a second sheet comprising a first portion, a second portion, a third portion and a fourth portion disposed across the width of the second sheet; bending the first portion in a first direction to be perpendicular to the second portion to define an outer portion comprising a first outer leg and a second outer leg; bending the fourth portion in a direction opposite the first direction to provide a first inner leg extending from the third portion, the first inner leg comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion; bending the sheet between the proximal portion and the distal portion to provide a concave retention portion configured for engagement with the receiver lip of the base trim panel; bending the third portion back upon the second portion to provide a second inner leg extending from the end of the second outer leg and disposed proximate to the second outer leg; and disposing the distal portion of first inner leg to be proximate to the first outer leg.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising bending the second side of the base trim panel back over at least part of the base portion of the base trim panel.
7 . A method of installing the trim system of claim 1 , for a building exterior having a substantially rigid building panel mounted to the building exterior, the building panel defining an edge, the method comprising: mounting the base trim panel to a first surface of a building exterior wherein the receiver portion extends substantially orthogonally away from a first side of the base extends substantially parallel to a second building surface perpendicular to the first building surface; installing the building panel to the building exterior with the edge adjacent to or overlaying the base portion of the base trim panel; and snap fitting the top trim panel to the base trim panel; wherein the second outer leg and the second inner leg overhang the edge of the building panel.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the base trim panel is mounted to the first surface of a building exterior so that when the top trim panel is snap fitted to the receiver portion of the base trim panel the first outer leg is substantially adjacent to the second building surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/323,353 filed on Mar. 24, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. FIELD This disclosure is directed to cladding, panels, siding and trim systems for building exteriors. BACKGROUND A building exterior is cladded with panels such as siding for purposes such as weather protection, insulation, and aesthetics. Trim is installed where the panels end, such as at the ends of a building surface or at features such as doors and windows. Trim installation is often more time-consuming and imprecise than most panels, resulting in higher costs. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein are trim systems and components thereof. The system components may include a base trim panel. A base trim panel may have a base portion configured to be mounted to a building exterior. A base trim panel may have a receiver portion extending away from the building exterior, e.g., from a base trim panel. The system components may also include a top trim panel. A top trim panel may include an overhang portion. A top trim panel may also include a retention portion, wherein the overhang portion is configured to overhang an edge of a building panel mounted on the building exterior, e.g., adjacent to a base portion of a base trim panel. In preferred embodiments, a receiver portion and a retention portion cooperate to provide connection between the base trim panel and the top trim panel. In various embodiments a receiver portion and a retention portion cooperate to form a snap-fit. In various embodiments a receiver portion and a retention portion cooperate to form an interference fit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various embodiments can be completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building including a building panel in accord with various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a trim system in accord with various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a top end view of various embodiments of a trim system in accordance with FIG. 2 assembled on a portion of a building. FIG. 4 is a partial front perspective view of various embodiments of a trim system in accordance with FIG. 2 assembled on a portion of a building. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a trim system in accord with various other embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a top end view of various embodiments of a trim system in accordance with FIG. 5 assembled on a portion of a building. FIG. 7 is a partial front perspective view of various embodiments of a trim system in accordance with FIG. 5 assembled on a portion of a building. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a trim system in accord with various other embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a top end view of various embodiments of a trim system in accordance with FIG. 8 assembled on a portion of a building. FIG. 10 is a partial front perspective view of various embodiments of a trim system in accordance with FIG. 8 assembled on a portion of a building. While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been depicted by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure, including as it is defined by the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Modern paints for steel siding address an old problem called oil canning. When steel siding is marked or warped or dented in any way it creates large unsightly effects. With new paints this problem is solved, which now makes steel siding and ceiling dressing a desirable and attractive option in residential settings. Specifically, textured paints obscure or eliminate oil canning effects visible in steel siding. However, steel siding is very rigid and inflexible. When you have two opposing edges (which occurs on every wall, or between windows, or between a window and a roof) it is desirable to provide a trim system to cover the edges of the building panels to provide a finished appearance and or protect the edges of the building panel from the elements. Edges are typically trimmed with J-channel. J-Channel in aluminum siding or in plastic siding has some give, as do the siding panels, but this is less so in steel siding. Typically, when working a piece of siding into two opposing J-channels, one flexes either the J-channel or the siding. This is not effective when installing steel siding.