Siding corner connector and method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS," one will understand how the features of this invention provide its benefits, which include elimination of (1) mitering of the adjoining ends of siding retainers, (2) excessive seepage of water around the corner connector and adjoining siding retainers, and (3) accumulation of dust and debris at the junction of the corner connector and adjoining siding retainers.
The first feature of the corner connector of this invention is that it includes a base plate which is adapted to be attached to a wall that is to be covered with strips of siding.
The base plate has a generally orthogonal-shaped edge portion formed by a pair of mounting members over which individual siding retainers are slid.
The second feature is that each member has a connecting end and a receiving end over which a siding retainer is adapted to slide and each member is sized to be received snugly within a channel in a siding retainer slid over an individual mounting member.
The third feature is that the corner connector includes a corner section to which the connecting ends of each mounting member are joined so that the members are at an angle of substantially 90.
degree.
.
The fourth feature is that the corner section has raised segments where each of the connecting ends of the mounting members join the corner section.
The raised segments serve as stops which abut an end of a retainer slid over an individual member.
The fifth feature is that the raised segments of the corner section each have a first portion adjacent to an exterior side of the base plate, a second portion adjacent to an exterior side of the first mounting member, and a third portion adjacent an exterior side of the second mounting member.
The sixth feature is that the corner connector is a unitary structure preferably molded from a polymeric material such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, steel, and aluminum.
The seventh feature is that the base plate, first member, second member, and corner section may each have step portions therein