USE OF SILOXANE TO RECONDITION SIDING Cross-Reference to Related Application

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/637,787, filed on December 21, 2004.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to reconditioning siding, such as siding found on many homes.

Background of the Invention

Siding on buildings, including homes, often has a luster and a particular color when the siding is originally installed. The luster and color dulls with exposure to sunlight and weather. It would be beneficial to easily restore the luster and/or color of siding in order to recondition the siding so that a building appears new and well kept.

Summary of the Invention

The invention includes a method of reconditioning siding. In one such method, siloxane is provided and applied to siding on a building. The siloxane may be applied by spraying the siloxane on the siding, or placing the siloxane on a cloth and rubbing the cloth on the siding.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and the subsequent description. Briefly, the drawings are:

Fig. 1, which is a flow diagram depicting a method according to the invention;

Fig. 2, which depicts a device that may be used to apply siloxane to siding;

Fig. 3, which depicts a device that may be used to apply siloxane to siding; and

Fig. 4, which depicts a person applying a siloxane mixture to siding.

Further Description of the Invention

Siloxane is a term commonly used to identify compounds having silicon, oxygen and methane. Siloxane is commonly used as a lubricant. One such siloxane compound is commonly referred to as dimethyl poly siloxane (63148-62-9), but the invention is not limited to this type of siloxane.

The invention includes a new use for siloxane, namely reconditioning siding. The types of siding to which siloxane may be applied include aluminum and vinyl siding. Siloxane may also be applied to painted siding.

Siloxane, such as dimethyl poly siloxane (63148-62-9), may be diluted with a carrier, such as water, to form a mixture that has between 15% and 25% dimethyl poly siloxane by volume. When applied to the siding, the carrier may evaporate, thereby leaving the siloxane on the siding. After applying siloxane to the siding, the siding has an improved appearance, often resembling the appearance of new siding.

Figure 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to the invention. In a method according to the invention, siding may be reconditioned by providing 10 siloxane and applying 13 the siloxane to siding. For example, a siloxane mixture comprised of dimethyl poly siloxane (63148-62-9) and water may be applied to the siding on a building and the water may be allowed to evaporate 16, thereby leaving the siloxane on the siding.

To apply 13 the siloxane, the siloxane may be sprayed on the siding. For example, the siloxane or a siloxane mixture may be provided 10 in a canister and the canister may be pressurized. The siloxane may be allowed to leave the canister, for example via a nozzle. In so doing, the nozzle may be used to spray the siloxane evenly on the siding.

A suitable device for spraying siloxane may include a pump-type sprayer 50, similar to those now commonly used to dispense cleaning solutions to fixtures in a home. Such a

device is depicted in Figure 2. To apply siloxane 53 to siding using a pump-type sprayer 50, the pump 56 may be activated by moving a lever 59 to force siloxane 53 through, a nozzle 62 while pointing the nozzle 62 at the siding. Another suitable device for spraying siloxane may include an aerosol-type canister 65, similar to those now commonly used to dispense some lubricants. Such a device is depicted in Figure 3. To apply siloxane to siding using an aerosol-type canister 65, the nozzle 62 maybe depressed while pointing the nozzle 62 at the siding.

Another manner of applying siloxane to siding may utilize a cloth 68. Figure 4 depicts a person 71 applying a siloxane mixture to siding 74 of a building 77 using a cloth 68. The siloxane, or a siloxane mixture, may be placed on the cloth 68 and then the cloth 68 may be rubbed on the siding 74. hi this manner, some of the siloxane on the cloth 68 will be transferred to the siding 74. This method may have the advantage that the cloth 68 may remove dirt from the siding 74.

United States provisional patent application number 60/637,787 discloses additional details about the invention and additional embodiments of the invention. The disclosure of that patent application is incorporated by this reference.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Hence, the present invention is deemed limited only by the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.