Wood Grain Patents (Class 428/106)
  • Patent number: 6033754
    Abstract: The reinforced laminated veneer lumber of the present invention includes an engineered fabric that is disposed between the veneer sheets to provide added reinforcement and enables the use of lower grade veneer sheets for structural applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Fiber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Leslie Cooke
  • Patent number: 6029419
    Abstract: With a structural laminated wood (L.V.L) made up by laminating and bonding a plurality of wood laminas, the wood laminas are respectively formed in an approximate L-shape or U-shape in one plane, and the structural laminated wood is formed in an approximate L-shape or U-shape having two side portions of predetermined lengths approximately at right angles to each other. Moreover, with a construction member for a framework structure for buildings, where the construction member uses the structural laminated wood, one side portion of the structural laminated wood is made at least a part of a vertical construction member, and the other side portion is made at least a part of a transverse construction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 6010793
    Abstract: A wood board 1, wherein irregularities 6 of the surface of an oriented strand board 2 in a laminated wood board 5, in which an oriented strand board 2 is laminated on a strand board 3, are filled with a putty 7, and smoothed. A surface-decorated wood board 10, in which a surface-decorative material 12 is applied to a smoothed surface of this wood board 1. Despite the fact that an oriented strand board 2 having large surface irregularities is employed as the surface layer, it is possible to obtain a wood board 1 which has a smooth surface, in which the wooden strand pattern is reduced, and which has superior water and moisture resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuji Yoshimura, Hironao Nagasima
  • Patent number: 6010585
    Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a woody strand cement board, in which a woody group material and cement are combined to form a construction material. The construction material is fire resistant and has a strength comparable to a lumbered raw wood product. The apparatus includes means for finely splitting a fibrous woody material such as wood, bamboo, and reed in a direction parallel to the fiber of the material to obtain pieces of finely split material; a molding frame; and feeders, such as a forming conveyor and swing conveyor, for feeding the pieces to the molding frame to form first and second layers. Mortar is poured on the first and second layers, and pressure is applied to mold and solidify the layers to a semi-hardened state. Two feeders may provide the first and second layers in cross-wise directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: The Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fujii, Atsushi Miyatake
  • Patent number: 6004648
    Abstract: A two-ply or even-ply veneer laminate panel created by the steps of: pre-flexing a substrate veneer ply sufficiently to substantially break the grains of the substrate ply, and bonding the substrate ply to a face veneer ply. Preferably, the substrate ply is pre-flexed in a direction parallel to the direction that the grains of the substrate ply run. And preferably, the grains of the face ply are oriented in a substantially perpendicular direction to the grains of the substrate ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Arkansas Face Veneer Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Douglas Snyder
  • Patent number: 6001452
    Abstract: The invention comprises engineered structural wood products particularly useful in critical applications such as joists, headers, and beams where longer lengths, greater widths, and higher and predictable stress ratings may be required. The invention is also directed to a method for making the wood products. Most logs by nature are radially anisotropic, having wood of higher density and stiffness in their outer portion adjacent the bark than is found in the inner portion. The logs are machined to segregate the denser, stiffer outer wood. A first generally rectangular component is formed from the less dense inner wood. Second generally rectangular components are formed from the stiffer outer wood. Second components are adhesively bonded to at least one edge of the first component, more usually to opposite edges. The stiffer wood is thus specifically placed where it will contribute most effectively to the properties of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Kendall H. Bassett, Alkivadis G. Dimakis, Earl D. Hasenwinkle, John W. Kerns, John S. Selby, Richard E. Wagner, Ronald C. Wilderman
  • Patent number: 5993750
    Abstract: An integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant having a unitary ceramic body formed from multiple ceramic layers in the green state which are sintered together including the unitary ceramic body defining a mixing chamber and passage means for providing communication with the mixing chamber so that two or more fluids may be delivered to such mixing chamber for mixing or reacting chemicals in the fluids; and the unitary ceramic body including means for delivering the mixed chemicals to exit from the unitary ceramic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Syamal K. Ghosh, Dilip K. Chatterjee, Edward P. Furlani
  • Patent number: 5976644
    Abstract: A process to treat bamboo comprises splitting a bamboo shoot lengthwise into at least two separate bamboo lengths, and removing any internal membranes and external nodes from the bamboo lengths. The split bamboo lengths are treated to remove substantially all sugars present in said lengths, following which they are dried to a moisture content of less than about 3%. The bamboo lengths are then rehumidified to a predetermined moisture content of greater than about 3%. Then, optionally, a first plurality of the bamboo lengths suitable to form a core for a laminated bamboo article may be uniformly sized, and a second plurality of the bamboo lengths suitable to form an outer surface for a laminated bamboo article may be uniformly sized. A core may then be formed with a uniform first plurality of the lengths by laminating the first plurality of lengths together, and at least one outer surface layer may be formed with a uniform second plurality of the lengths by laminating the second plurality of lengths together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Amati Bambu Ltd.
    Inventors: Baha-al Dean Sanaee, Babak Kashef
  • Patent number: 5972467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure-formed bamboo sheets or bars composed of bamboo materials having a reduced variation in fiber density. A bamboo is split in the peripheral direction into a plurality of long bamboo slices, then the long bamboo slices are subjected to heat mothproofing. The heat-mothproofed bamboo slices are separated under pressure into a plurality of extra-fine bamboo slivers and are coated with resin until one complete bamboo sheet or bar is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Kenji Washo
  • Patent number: 5967207
    Abstract: A method of fabricating bamboo slats into bamboo blinds, wherein bamboo wood is cut into bamboo strips of predetermined length. The bamboo strips are polished, then boiled in a hydrogen peroxide solution for bleaching the strips. The bamboo strips are then spliced into raw bamboo slats of a predetermined thickness. Next, the bamboo slats are subjected to grinding. Subsequently the bamboo slats are primed, and then molded by heat pressing. Holes are then punched in the bamboo slats for insertion of a pull cord, so that the finished bamboo slats can be assembled into a Venetian blind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Feng-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 5968625
    Abstract: Laminated wood products are manufactured from first and second adjacent sawn wood strips that are cut with corresponding upper and lower edges, and inner and outer faces. The strips are rotated in opposite directions so that corresponding edges are toward each other, and the inner face of one strip and the outer face of the second strip are at the top of the strips. One of the strips is then turned end-to-end without rotation, so that both faces on the upper surface are either inner faces or outer faces. The adjacent edges are then glued to form a composite wood product. The composite product may form the surface ply of a five-layer face bonded wood laminate, which includes a center ply having edge dimensioning formed from the center ply. The surface laminate is preferably formed of reclaimed heartwood, and all layers of the face laminate are preferably formed of the same wood species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Dewey V. Hudson
  • Patent number: 5942305
    Abstract: A wall padding having a core of open cell, low smoke, flame resistant polychloroprene and a cover of fire retardant vinyl on the core. The total padding having a flame spread index in the range of 0 to 25 and a smoke development index in the range of 0 to 450.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Porter Athletic Equipment Company
    Inventor: Edward Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5935668
    Abstract: A wooden flooring strip having a top surface having a decorative finish and a base surface opposed to said top surface. The base surface has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores extending into the flooring strip from the base surface transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip to relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor. The flooring strip has substantially longitudinally-extending wood fibers in an area of the flooring strip between the scores and the top surface of the flooring strip which have been broken to an extent sufficient to relieve tension on the top surface of the flooring strip and to equalize tension on the wood fibers adjacent both the top surface and base surface of the flooring strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Triangle Pacific Corporation
    Inventor: William S. Smith
  • Patent number: 5932314
    Abstract: Compression molded pigmented door skins fabricated by compression molding a pigmented, curable, unsaturated polyester sheet molding compound containing a co-curable unsaturated monomer, a low profile additive, and a microvoid-reducing thermoplastic polymer, exhibit uniform stainability while maintaining a low linear thermal coefficient of expansion. Such door skins are suitable for preparing wood grain textured exterior insulated doors which exhibit minimal thermal deflection when exposed to interior/exterior temperature differentials, even at eight foot door heights. The doors may be stained without first applying a seal coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Therma-Tru Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. West
  • Patent number: 5897341
    Abstract: A method of interconnecting integrated circuit chips to a substrate during the assembly of a multi-chip module. Instead of forming an electrical and physical bond by reflowing solder bumps attached to the pads of the chips and the substrate, as in flip-chip bonding, thin pads of specially selected dissimilar metals placed on the chips and substrate are connected by a solid-state diffusion bonding process. In one embodiment, the I/O pads on a chip are formed from aluminum or an aluminum alloy and are aligned and placed into physical contact with corresponding metal pads or metal layered pads on a substrate, where the metal is capable of being diffusion bonded to aluminum. The combination of chip(s) and substrate are then heated in a controlled atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause solid-state diffusion bonding to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: David G. Love, Larry L. Moresco
  • Patent number: 5896903
    Abstract: A method of fabricating bamboo slats for bamboo blinds, including the steps of: i) cutting bamboo wood into bamboo strips subject to a predetermined length; ii) removing the skin and joints from both sides of the bamboo strips, then boiling the bamboo strips in a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution to prevent decay, and then polishing the bamboo strips after drying; iii) bonding the bamboo strips into a rectangular bamboo plate, then polishing the bamboo plate thus obtained; iv) splitting the polished bamboo plate thus obtained into raw bamboo slats subject to a predetermined thickness, then polishing the bamboo slats, and then coating the bamboo slats with a base coating and then with a face coating; v) punching two punch holes on the bamboo slats thus obtained for the insertion of a pull cord so that the finished bamboo slats thus obtained can be assembled with a pull cord into a bamboo blind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventors: Feng-Yuan Chen, Ming-Chi Cheng
  • Patent number: 5891550
    Abstract: A wood structural member for bearing a structural load includes at least one wood segment having a generally radial cross-section is selected and arranged so that the annual rings intersect the horizontal shear stress plane at an angle between thirty and ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Daniel A. Tingley
  • Patent number: 5888620
    Abstract: The process for making a wood board comprises the steps of: a) providing elongated pieces of wood each from a coniferous wood and each having a rectangular cross section; b) detecting an average fiber density of each of the pieces of wood; c) selecting among the pieces of wood those having an average fiber density at least equal to a predetermined fiber density; d) planing off edges of the pieces of wood selected in step c); and e) bonding side by side the pieces of wood planed off in step d) by means of their edges to form the wood board. The board produced thereby shows excellent mechanical characteristics. An advantage of the present invention is to provide a process for making high strength lumber products from coniferous trees which are traditionally considered as nonstructural wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Cooperative Forestiere Laterriere
    Inventor: Raoul Grenier
  • Patent number: 5885685
    Abstract: A wood structural member of the present invention, such as a laminated wood beam, a wood I-beam, or a truss, includes multiple synthetic fiber reinforcements. In a preferred embodiment, the reinforcements include synthetic fibers that are arranged parallel to one another and aligned with the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement and, therefore, accordingly the wood structure. The fibers are maintained in position by a resin encasement. The surface of a reinforcement to which a wood segment is bonded is adapted so that the reinforcement may be bonded to the structural member with nonepoxy adhesives, such as resorcinol, commonly used in the laminated beam industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Daniel A. Tingley
  • Patent number: 5876828
    Abstract: The decorator's graining tool (1) is formed from a flat blank (8), which can be wrapped around and secured to itself so as to form the tool in the form of a tubular body having a plurality of teeth (2) at one end and an arcuate convex face (3) at the other end, the convex face forming the outer surface of the tubular body and having a plurality of spaced ridge formations thereon (4). The ridge formations (4) may comprise either a series of undulating ridges (5) and furrows (6), or, alternatively, smooth ridges and furrows in which the formations (4) are concentric about an intermediate point (7) of the convex face (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Edward Charles Prosser
  • Patent number: 5865002
    Abstract: The invention relates to a joint arrangement in connection with the manufacture of a wood element blank, especially a wood board blank or a wood beam blank, in which arrangement the wood element blank is arranged to be formed of several blank battens (1-4) that are arranged to be interconnected with an adhesive, whereupon each blank batten (1-4) is formed to have at least partly substantially triangular cross section, so that it may rest on at least four adjacent blank battens, and that the apex of the triangular part of each blank batten (1-4) remains inside the wood element blank. In order to improve the yield and the strength properties, each blank batten (1-4) is formed with substantially radial cleavings, so that the pith of the wood remains at the apex of the triangular part of the blank batten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventors: Eero Tapojarvi, Sanna Tapojarvi, Minna Tapojarvi
  • Patent number: 5866247
    Abstract: An insulator material made from rice husks is provided for producing a bulk insulator, characterized by a density in the range from 200 through 250 kg/m.sup.3 in the packaged condition. A method for the manufacture of insulator material from rice husks as well as method for producing a bulk insulator from rice husks are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Frank Ziech
    Inventors: Carsten Klatt, Frank Ziech
  • Patent number: 5863623
    Abstract: A plastic sheet is extruded and a layer of redwood, cedar or other bark which has been finely separated is hot rolled into the two faces. The bark is decorative and also protects the sheets from ultraviolet light destruction. The sheets can then be hot worked into corrugated, design-embossed sheets and into many tubular or other hollow or open-sided shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Arcata Community Recycling Center
    Inventor: Frank H. Jolly
  • Patent number: 5851607
    Abstract: An electrically chargeable dielectric coating powder and a triboelectric coating process for applying the powder to wood substrates are described. The coating powder is a mass of finely divided, heat fusible dielectric plastic material having an average particle size (Mv) of between 30 and 45 microns and a particle size distribution (all percents defined in weight percent) of:95%-100% smaller than 88 microns,5%-15% smaller than 15.56 microns and0%-6% smaller than 11 microns.Preferably the coating powder has 0% larger than 88 microns and an Mv=about 30-40, preferably 35-40 microns. More preferably the particle distribution further includes10%-15% smaller than 15.56 microns and4%-6% smaller than 11 microns, andan Mv of between about 35 and 36 microns. Most preferably the particle distribution further includes:about 11.5% smaller than 15.56 microns andabout 4.3% smaller than 11 microns, andan Mv of about 35.9. Preferably the powder is a thermosetting resin composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Horinka, Martin J. Korecky
  • Patent number: 5843580
    Abstract: An emulsion of a copolymer of carbon monoxide with an olefinically unsaturated compound dispersed in an aqueous diluent; a curable resin composition in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion comprising a copolymer of carbon monoxide with an olefinically unsaturated compound and a curing agent; and a process for producing a laminated wood composite comprising applying said curable resin composition onto wood parts of the composite, bringing the wood parts of the composite together such that curable resin composition is positioned between adjacent wood parts, and curing the curable resin such that after curing cured resin adheres adjacent wood parts to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Evert van der Heide, Gerrit Vietje, Pen-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 5811169
    Abstract: The front surface of a wooden overlay sheet, having a wooden material on the front surface thereof, is subjected to a color treatment with a colorant comprising a primer resin; the wooden overlay sheet, which was subjected to color treatment, is positioned in a metal mold for molding, and a transparent resin layer is molded on the front surface thereof by means of injection-molding. Furthermore, a synthetic resin core material is molded on the rear surface of the wooden overlay sheet. A composite molded article is thereby produced, wherein a synthetic resin core material is molded on the rear surface of the wooden overlay material, and a transparent resin layer is molded on the front surface of the wooden overlay sheet. Thus, the present invention enables the enhancement of the outer appearance of the product and the enhancement of the adhesion of the wooden overlay sheet and the transparent resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Ohsumi, Takeshi Matsumoto, Shinji Kato, Mitsuo Ishizuka, Shoichi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5747177
    Abstract: The collected lumber of the present invention is formed by heating and softening a plurality of woods, applying adhesive on the woods, pressing and compressing the wood with adhesive thereon to mold the integral body in a prescribed shape, and by fixation treating the integral body using a heating device. The method for manufacturing collected lumber of this invention comprises the first process for softening woods by heat treating a plurality of woods, the second process for applying adhesive on the softened woods, the third process for forming integral body by pressing and compressing the woods applied with the adhesive to mold in a prescribed shape, and the fourth process for fixation treating the integral body using a heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Torimoto, Yasuhiro Asano, Tsunehiro Kohara, Tetsuya Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5744210
    Abstract: A natural wood-covered plastic part, such as a vehicle part, and a method of manufacturing same. The natural wood-covered plastic part includes a one-piece thermoplastic elastomeric body or structural substrate and a plastic-wood composite of a thermoplastic material compatible with the thermoplastic elastomer of the structural substrate. The plastic-wood composite and the plastic part are placed together at a bonding station. A bottom contact surface of the plastic-wood composite bonds with a front contact surface of the structural substrate between the contact surfaces thereof. The plastic-wood composite and the structural substrate may be bonded together in one of several ways, such as injection molding, compression molding and thermal or chemical bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Larry J. Winget
    Inventors: William G. Hofmann, David J. Davis
  • Patent number: 5741589
    Abstract: A woody group material and cement are combined to form a construction material. The material has an aggregate of finely split pieces formed by splitting wood, bamboo or the like in a fiber direction. The split pieces are formed in one or more layers and are surrounded by, and buried in, a mortar. A construction material can be provided which is fire resistant and has a strength comparable to a lumbered product such as wood material obtained by cutting raw wood. The finely split pieces of wood, bamboo or the like are very strong and tough because they closely adhere to the mortar. Moreover, it is possible to use a fiber structure of raw material. Since the finely split pieces can use a small diameter wood, lumbering byproducts, and other waste material, it is possible to achieve effective use of forest resources and low manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: The Forestry and Forest Products Research Instiute
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fujii, Atsushi Miyatake
  • Patent number: 5725929
    Abstract: The reinforced wood piece of the present invention includes a wood body having a first wood panel adhered to a second wood panel. The wood body has a bottom and a top so that the first wood panel is disposed at the top of the laminated wood body. A laminated stock piece is adhered to the wood body. A second laminated stock piece may be adhered to the top of the wood body if the first laminated stock piece is adhered to the bottom of the laminated wood body. Each laminated stock piece includes a plurality of wood members and a fiber reinforced composite sheet material that are intermittently glued to one another. The stock piece is glued to the wood body so that the fiber reinforced polymer composite sheet material is perpendicular to a neutral plane disposed between a compression zone and a tension zone of the wood body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fiber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Cooke, Kenneth J. KarisAllen
  • Patent number: 5718786
    Abstract: An oriented strand board (OSB)-fiberboard composite structure is comprised of a baseboard having three wood strand layers, the wood strands being oriented in space with respect to a board forming machine such that a core layer is comprised of wood strands oriented generally in a random or cross-machine direction and each adjacent layer is comprised of coarse and fine wood strands oriented generally in the machine direction. In a preferred embodiment, the wood strands comprising each adjacent OSB layer are formed with the coarsest strands located nearest the core layer and the finest strands are located nearest the outer surfaces of each outer board layer. The OSB-fiberboard composite product is clad with a wood fiber overlay on one major surface of the baseboard. The composite board is manufactured without warping, by providing particular OSB layer thicknesses, such that the lower OSB layer is about 25% to about 35% thicker than the OSB layer bonded to the fiberboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: Craig R. Lindquist, John T. Clarke, Peter P.S. Chin, Michael J. MacDonald, J. Peter Walsh
  • Patent number: 5716690
    Abstract: A composite furniture leg includes an elongate molded core body having outer and inner sides, a hard wood reinforcing block embedded in a top part of the core body at the inner side of the core body, an outer laminate shell layer for covering the outer side of the core body, and an inner wood cover layer for covering the inner side of the core body. The core body, the outer shell layer and the inner cover layer are hot pressed to form the furniture leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Don-Fong Yeh
  • Patent number: 5711358
    Abstract: A veneer lathe is provided with back-up rolls modified to include serrating knives to effect cutting a log longitudinally at predetermined circumferentially spaced apart intervals to define the width of wood strands, and also to include scribing cutters to effect cutting a log circumferentially at longitudinally spaced apart intervals to define the length of wood strands, whereby when the log is rotated past the peeler knife of the lathe, the thickness of wood peeled from the log breaks apart into a multiplicity of vertical grain strands of predetermined length, width and thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: Bobby G. Willis
  • Patent number: 5702558
    Abstract: A method is provided for top-coating a veneered substrate. Heat-activated urethane adhesive layers are placed on opposing sides of a veneered substrate, and Lexan films of equal thickness are placed adjacent the two layers of adhesive. A polyethylene sheet is placed adjacent each Lexan film to act as a release masking. A silicone pad is laid on the lower platen, and a 5 mil polycarbonate sheet is placed on top of the stack for contacting the top platen of the laminating press. The laminating press then applies heat and pressure for a predetermined period of time to produce a hard-coated veneered substrate, and the polyethylene sheets are discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Atlantic Automotive Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Schadel
  • Patent number: 5652065
    Abstract: Wood veneers having enhanced strength and/or stiffness, wood products made therefrom, and methods for manufacturing such veneers and wood products are disclosed. A treated veneer having enhanced strength and stiffness has a population of compacted wood cells extending across at least a portion of the length and width dimensions and into the thickness dimension of the veneer to confer an increased density level, and thus increased strength and/or stiffness levels, to the veneer. Interspersed in the compacted wood cells is a non-saturating loading level of a cured rigid thermoset material which maintains compaction of the compacted cells even after prolonged soaking in water. The preferred loading level is just what is required to maintain compaction of the cells. The preferred thermoset material is polyurea which is formed from a polyisocyanate resin applied to at least one major surface of the veneer followed by hot-pressing the veneer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: David W. Park, Frank R. Hunter, Alkiviadis G. Dimakis
  • Patent number: 5641553
    Abstract: A reinforcement panel with a cellulose surface material and process for making the same for improved adhesion of the panel to wood structural members such as laminated beams, wood I-beams, and trusses. The reinforcement panel is comprised of a plurality of reinforcement fibers that are arranged parallel to one another and aligned with the longitudinal direction of the panel, and accordingly the wood structure. The fibers are maintained in position by a resin encasement that completely encloses the fibers. A cellulose surface material is impregnated with a polyester resin and adhesively connected to a first side of the panel. The first side of the panel is adhesively affixed to the wood structure at an area of high stress such that the surface material is sandwiched between the resin encasement of the panel and the wood structure. Thus, the panel provides improved adhesion. The polyester resin provides dimensional stability and resistance to moisture degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Inventor: Daniel A. Tingley
  • Patent number: 5576082
    Abstract: A wooden tube made up of tubular layers of wood veneer and the method of making it in which the various tubular layers are made from flat sheets of wood veneer having the grain in one layer extending longitudinally and the grain in an adjacent layer extending circumferentially of the tube so that the grain in adjacent layers extend transversely of each other with all joints extending in the direction of the wood grain being edge to edge butt joints and all joints extending transversely to the wood grain being interlocking finger joints and with adjoining tubular layers being bonded to each other to form a unitary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Hollowood, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark G. Jarrett
  • Patent number: 5560409
    Abstract: A method of resawing elongated radially sawn segments of timber so that bsawn boards are produced. Said wedges are sawn with the desired angle between the radial faces and are resawn so that the growth rings of the tree are basically parallel to the broad backsawn faces. The flared radial edges of the boards indicate the growth ring orientation and therefore the cupping tendency and the direction of bow. This enables a greater degree of consistency in the manufacturing process over conventional methods. Said backsawn boards can be used individually as conventional boards with the mentioned advantages or can be laminated together to make a range of laminates that balance or use the bowing and cupping tendency of backsawn timber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Australian Radial Timber Conversion Company (RADCON) Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew K. Knorr
  • Patent number: 5554429
    Abstract: A wood board comprising a core layer comprising one or more strand boards formed by using a foaming binder, and at least one surface layer comprising oriented strand board, which is laminated to at least one surface of the core layer, the foaming binder being a mixture of a foaming resin and a non-foaming resin at a ratio within a range of 4:1-1:4. It is preferable that the thin wooden strips comprising the surface layer has at least one of an average length value and an average width value thereof which is larger than that of the thin wooden strips comprising the core layer. The wood board of the present invention has particularly superior resistance to moisture, and has low density and high strength. In the wood board of the present invention, it is possible to adjust the anisotropy of the strength thereof by adjusting the number of layers or the thickness thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Ritsuo Iwata, Hirotosi Takahashi, Satoshi Suzuki, Takayuki Endo
  • Patent number: 5543197
    Abstract: A composite bamboo beam for use as a substitute for natural wood beams. Segments of bamboo stalk, either split or whole, are longitudinally aligned and randomly stacked. The bamboo segments are compressed and bonded together to form a cohesive bamboo composite structure from which beams of the desired dimension may be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: Jay Plaehn
  • Patent number: 5526857
    Abstract: A method of making a veneered door with a raised central panel that is elongated and vertically oriented in which only three pieces need to be assembled. A suitable wood or wood-like stock is machined to form first and second elongated, generally rectangular substrates and then a flexible veneer with a simulated or real wood grain is affixed to each of these substrates. In the finished door, the grain of the veneer applied to the first substrate and to the second substrate runs, respectively, generally parallel to and generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the central panel. At least one single, unitary piece defining the central panel and two vertically-oriented framing members is fabricated from the veneered first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: Alan S. Forman
  • Patent number: 5525394
    Abstract: An oriented strand board product is provided. The board is comprised of a baseboard having three wood strand layers, the wood strands being oriented in space with respect to a board-forming machine such that a core layer is comprised of wood strands oriented generally in a random or cross-machine direction and each adjacent layer is comprised of coarse and fine wood strands oriented generally in the machine direction and wherein the wood strands comprising each adjacent layer are formed with the coarsest strands located nearest the core layer and the finest strands are located nearest the outer surfaces of each outer board layer. The OSB board product is clad with a dry felted wood fiber overlay on one planar surface of the baseboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Clarke, Peter P. S. Chin, Craig R. Lindquist, Michael J. MacDonald, J. Peter Walsh
  • Patent number: 5507905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a diagonal veneer laminate structure consisting of several superposed veneer layers (1a, 1b, 1c . . . ) glued to each other. In each veneer layer (1a, 1b, 1c . . . ), the main grain (S1 or S2) is disposed to form a crossing angle (.alpha.) with the main grain (S2 resp. S1) of immediately adjoining veneer layers (1b; 1a and 1c) which is in the range of 3.degree. to 60.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Inventor: Matti Kairi
  • Patent number: 5489460
    Abstract: A plurality of intermittent incisions are made in the surface region of a fiberboard to sever fibers without removing them from said region. The resultant fiberboard may be molded under heat and pressure to a three dimensional hardboard with high fidelity to the mold and without causing stretch marks, tears or fractures. The fiberboard may be a dry consolidated mass of wet felted cellulosic fibers. The invention is particularly valuable in the molding of boards made from redwood fibers and other long fibers.The intermittent incisions may be made along one or more lines parallel to or perpendicular to the longitudinal edge of the fiberboard but a grid of incisions along intersecting lines is advantageous. To cut the incisions, the fiberboard is moved on a conveyor belt while an assemblage of toothed cutting disks is rotated in cutting engagement with the board. The cutting disks are mounted co-axially on a motor-driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Clarke, Egon R. H. Teodorson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5486393
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing sheet elements of end-wood type for use as wear surfaces for floors, tables or the like. According to the invention a longitudinally sawn piece of wood (10) is sawn up with cuts oblique to the longitudinal direction into plates of larger area than the cross-sectional area of the piece of wood. Thereafter the plates (12) are laid next to each other and joined together by complementarily shaped edge surfaces to form a sheet end-wood element. The invention also relates to a sheet element made in accordance with the above described method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Inventor: Martin Wiklund
  • Patent number: 5472767
    Abstract: In the natural wood panel according to the invention, the fibers (10) are inclined to the panel plane (2) at an angle (.alpha.) between 0.degree. and 90.degree., especially between 20.degree. and 70.degree.. The panel has at least one layer of such natural wood panels (2) joined with one another, in which the fibers (10) of the panels (2) point in the same direction or, in another embodiment, in different directions. At least one other layer can be provided which is joined with the layer of natural wood panels (2), and this layer can also be a natural wood laminated panel or a layer of wood, wood fiber substances, sound-absorbing, heat-insulating, radiation-repelling or heat-conducting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Josef Neubauer
  • Patent number: 5470631
    Abstract: An oriented strand board (OSB)-fiberboard composite structure is comprised of a baseboard having three wood strand layers, the wood strands being oriented in space with respect to a board forming machine such that a core layer is comprised of wood strands oriented generally in a random or cross-machine direction and each adjacent layer is comprised of coarse and fine wood strands oriented generally in the machine direction. In a preferred embodiment, the wood strands comprising each adjacent OSB layer are formed with the coarsest strands located nearest the core layer and the finest strands are located nearest the outer surfaces of each outer board layer. The OSB-fiberboard composite product is clad with a wood fiber overlay on one major surface of the baseboard. The composite board is manufactured without warping, by providing particular OSB layer thicknesses, such that the lower OSB layer is about 25% to about 35% thicker than the OSB layer bonded to the fiberboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: Craig R. Lindquist, John T. Clarke, Peter P. S. Chin, Michael J. MacDonald, J. Peter Walsh
  • Patent number: 5443894
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fire retardant wooden structural element, such as the web of a wooden joist, a wall panel, exterior or interior siding panel or the like, which is formed of oriented strand board (OSB) having outer layers which contain particles of expandable graphite and a core layer which is free of expandable graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Ucar Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Pollock, John J. Wetula, Brian M. Ford
  • Patent number: 5441787
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing a composite wood product from split and disrupted pieces of a raw material such as cedar, willow or bamboo. The composite may be employed as a thick plate of wood, pillar wood, beam wood and the like used for furniture, buildings, and structural objects. The composite is formed by roughly splitting and disrupting a fibrous raw material lengthwise. The roughly split and disrupted material is then finely split and disrupted, and then dried. A single layer is formed by laterally arranging and adhering the finely split and disrupted wood pieces. The single layers are then formed into a pile and heated and pressure tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: The Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fujii, Atsushi Miyatake
  • Patent number: 5439749
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composite wood structure including (a) first and second spaced layers, and (b) a core interposed between the layers. A sheet-like vapor barrier is between the layers and limits migration of moisture through the barrier to less than about 6 grams per square meter of barrier area per hour. The wood structure is thereby made warp-resistant. In another embodiment, the structure has a vapor barrier on an outer surface and may have one or more additional vapor barriers between structure layers. Preferred vapor barrier materials include melamine formaldehyde impregnated paper, phenol formaldehyde impregnated paper, thermoset materials, thermoplastic materials and aluminum foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Klasell, Leland R. Miller