Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Edge feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-06
2001-05-15
Thomas, Alexander S. (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Edge feature
C428S060000, C428S058000, C403S364000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231950
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to joints utilized for joining smaller segments of wood products to form larger segments, and, more particularly, relates to finger joints and methods and apparatus for formation of such finger joints.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Structural glue-jointed wood products, such as dimensional lumber, is gaining greater acceptance for a wide variety of applications in the building and construction industry. Recognition that efficient utilization of wood resources will continue to be necessary, that reduction of flow to local land fills is a priority in many locations, and cost and reliability factors have continued to fuel the desire to make more of such jointed product available.
However, current finger-jointing technology has not changed substantially to keep pace with the demand. Scarf joints and finger joints of various types have long been utilized, improvements lying primarily in the field of new adhesives and/or adhesive application techniques. While many are acceptable for some applications, few if any of the known joints have proved effective for application under all significant loading conditions (tension, compression, bending, torsion and shear).
Moreover, greater efficiencies and ease of manufacture could still be utilized. Scarf joints, for example, require large amounts of wood removal for joint construction. Most current finger joint production requires provision of large-scale (and, thus, centralized) production facilities, thereby necessitating shipment of scrap lumber to the facility, often from great distances. Specialized handling of jointed materials due to fragility of the freshly glued joints is also often required. The shipping requirement increases cost and energy consumption for production, and deters many non-local companies from use of this alternative, while the special handling requirements increase cost and space requisites (production and storage) of such facilities. In addition to the high cost of industrial finger jointing equipment, smaller scale operations are thus discouraged.
Additionally, traditional facilities are not able to process post-consumer, possibly contaminated, lumber because the blades necessary for production of known joints are at risk of damage by foreign materials commonly found in post-construction scrap, demolition scrap, and the like. A finger joint construction modeled for use of such post-consumer scrap would, if accepted, greatly reduce the volume of land filled construction and demolition waste.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a finger joint architecture, formation method and apparatus designed for use with all variety of wood product (including dimensional lumber and logs, without regard to species), including post-consumer scrap, and for utilization without regard to the particular loading conditions (tension, compression, bending, torsion and/or shear) which may be encountered. The finger joint architecture and formation method is well adapted to smaller scale operations than heretofore known, including mobile manufacturing sites. Specialized handling of freshly jointed materials is not required, and wood removal in manufacture is minimized.
The finger joint architecture of this invention is formed at a surface area of a first wood product and is adapted for securement at a selectively configured formation in a second wood product. The finger joint architecture is characterized by plural series of projecting members, the projecting members in any one series being spaced from one another and from the projecting members in any adjacent series. The projecting members are defined by a plurality of longitudinal cavities bored through the surface area into the wood product.
The jointed wood product thus formed when the first and second wood products are adhesively secured at the joint is characterized by a joint cross section showing plural nonlinear adhesive lines, at least some of which are endless defining plural wood product interfaces entirely interior the joint cross section.
The joint forming method of this invention includes the steps of forming in a first wood product section end an array of interrelated projections and cavities interspersed in both first and second dimensions relative to an end face of the first wood product section end. A mating array of interrelated projections and cavities is formed in a second wood product section end, the first and second wood product section ends thus arrayed being joined. The projections are preferably tapered in the direction of projection comprising a third dimension relative to the first and second dimensions. The cavities are also preferably tapered.
The apparatus for formation of a joint architecture at a selected surface area of a wood product of this invention includes a plurality of rows of spaced cavity forming means, drive structure for driving the cavity forming means, and a guide for directing the wood product at the cavity forming means.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved finger joint architecture and finger joint formation method and apparatus.
It is another object of this invention to provide a finger joint architecture, formation method and apparatus designed for use with all variety of wood product, including post-consumer scrap, and for a variety of utilization conditions.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a finger joint architecture and formation method and apparatus well adapted to small scale operations, requiring little or no specialized handling of freshly jointed materials, and that minimizes wood product waste.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a finger joint architecture formed at a surface area of a first wood product and adapted for securement at a selectively configured formation in a second wood product, the finger joint architecture characterized by plural series of projecting members wherein the projecting members in any one series are spaced from one another and from the projecting members in any adjacent series.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a wood product formed from at least first and second wood product sections adhesively secured at a joint characterized by a joint cross section showing plural nonlinear adhesive lines.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a wood product having a joint wherein at least some adhesive lines shown at a joint cross section are endless thus defining plural first and second wood product section interfaces entirely interior the joint cross section.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a joint forming method for wood products including the steps of forming in a first wood product section end an array of interrelated projections and cavities interspersed in both first and second dimensions relative to an end face of the first wood product section end, forming a mating array of interrelated projections and cavities in a second wood product section end, and joining the first and second wood product section ends thus arrayed.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for formation of a joint architecture at a selected surface area of a wood product having a plurality of rows of spaced cavity forming means, drive structure for driving the cavity forming means, and a guide for directing the wood product at the cavity forming means to thus form the architecture at the selected surface area.
With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent to one skilled in the art as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination, arrangement of parts and method substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as come within the scope of the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 389684 (1888-09-01), Beach
patent: 545375 (1895-08-01), Olds
patent: 557967 (1896-04-01), Carr
patent: 602123 (1898-04-01), Brando
Burdick Harold A.
ReConnX, Inc.
Thomas Alexander S.
LandOfFree
Wood product and finger joint architecture does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wood product and finger joint architecture, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wood product and finger joint architecture will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2523606