Abstract: A system and related methods for high-resolution digital printing on wood-based substrates for exterior applications or outdoor use. Textured wood-based substrates include, but are not limited to, plywood, wood planks, oriented-strand board (OSB), laminated strand lumber (LSL), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), paper board, and various forms of engineered wood. A manufactured or engineered wood product with an engineered orientation is used as the base substrate to minimize deformation. A resin-impregnated paper overlay, which may include a special adhesion-promoting primer layer, is placed on the surface that will be subject to exposure outdoors. An image or images are printed using UV-resistant inks or film coatings, and a protective layer applied over the printed ink. The elasticity of the ink or film coating and the protective layer should match the protective overlay.

Abstract: A plurality of ventilation elements, vents, slots, or gap elements or similar features that are applied to, or machined into, one or more sides or faces of exterior siding products, such as lap siding, panel siding, vertical siding, horizontal siding, flat (or non-overlapping) siding, flap siding, decorative trim, trim system components or other forms of panels or cladding materials. When the exterior siding product is installed, the ventilation elements, vents, slots, or gap elements or similar features provide a built-in air and water gap to facilitate and increase water drainage and air circulation behind the siding or panel, thereby minimizing water storage in the space behind the product and lowering the equilibrium moisture content of the siding itself. The ventilation features are incorporated into the corresponding product in-line or during the manufacturing process, and do not require any further work during assembly or construction on-site (e.g.

Abstract: A plurality of ventilation elements, vents, slots, or gap elements or similar features that are applied to, or machined into, one or more sides of exterior siding products, such as lap siding, panel siding, decorative trim, or other cladding materials. When the exterior siding product is installed, the ventilation elements, vents, slots, or gap elements or similar features provide a built-in air and water gap to facilitate and increase water drainage and air circulation behind the siding or panel, thereby minimizing water storage in the space behind the siding and lowering the equilibrium moisture content of the siding itself. The ventilation features are incorporated into the corresponding product in-line or during the manufacturing process, and do not require any further work during assembly or construction on-site (e.g., furring strips or other similar drainage mechanisms are not needed).

Abstract: A plurality of rainscreen elements or features that are applied to the front or outer face of a structural panel or the weather resistant barrier layer on the structural panel. When an exterior cladding or sheathing product is installed over the structural panel, the rainscreen elements or features provide built-in water flow gaps or channels to facilitate and increase water drainage off the face of the structural panel, thereby minimizing water storage in the space between the structural panel and the outer cladding/sheathing. The rainscreen features are incorporated into the structural panel in-line or during the manufacturing process, and do not require any further work during assembly or construction on-site.

Abstract: A system for constructing ranch rail fencing with posts and rails from engineered wood products, including, but not limited to, oriented-strand board (OSB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), fiber strand, and/or laminated strand lumber (LSL). The engineered wood products may be treated and/or encapsulated, such as zinc borate (ZB) treated wood-based composites with high resin content, coated during manufacturing on all surfaces and sides by aliphatic polyurea coatings.

Abstract: An engineered wood fence picket and system for manufacturing fence pickets using engineered wood products, including, but not limited to, oriented-strand board (OSB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), fiber strand, and/or laminated strand lumber (LSL). The opposing right and left edges of each picket has corresponding elements of a joint, such as, but not limited to, a shiplap joint or tongue-and-groove joint. A fence or fence segment may be constructed by aligning a plurality of said fence pickets vertically or horizontally so that the edges of adjacent pickets mate or meet to form a joint. The fence can be assembled more quickly and cheaply than with any prior art materials, and the fence will be higher quality, with longer life, thinner and lighter, and minimal maintenance.

Abstract: A system for introducing a noise-dampening polymer in-line in the manufacturing process of a manufactured wood product to achieve higher acoustic performance in siding, sheathing, roofing, flooring, and similar applications using the manufactured wood product. Several lines or bands of the noise-dampening polymer are deposited transversely across one side or face of the product. The polymer is deposited where the product is expected to contact joists or studs. The polymer may be a viscoelastic polymer.

Abstract: A system and methods for manufacturing and constructing a fence panel or pickets using engineered wood products, including, but not limited to, oriented-strand board (OSB), fiber strand, or laminated strand lumber. An entire piece of durable, treated engineered wood panel is divided into multiple “fence blanks” of equal size. Each fence blank is then subjected to edge profiling on top and bottom edges, and top feature milling to create fence top features, with finishing, texture, printing, paper overlay, or combinations thereof, added to one or both faces of the blank. Blanks may be milled in a stack. Blanks may then have grooves or other finishing features added to create a finished fence panel. Alternatively, a fence blank can be slit or cut into multiple raw pickets, also with finishing treatments to one or both faces, to create a series of raw pickets. The resulting finished fence panel or pickets provide the authentic look and appeal of real wood, but with the advantages of treated engineered wood.

Abstract: A plurality of ventilation elements, vents, slots, or gap elements or similar features that are applied to, or machined into, one or more sides of exterior siding products, such as lap siding, panel siding, decorative trim, or other cladding materials. When the exterior siding product is installed, the ventilation elements, vents, slots, or gap elements or similar features provide a built-in air and water gap to facilitate and increase water drainage and air circulation behind the siding or panel, thereby minimizing water storage in the space behind the siding and lowering the equilibrium moisture content of the siding itself. The ventilation features are incorporated into the corresponding product in-line or during the manufacturing process, and do not require any further work during assembly or construction on-site (e.g., furring strips or other similar drainage mechanisms are not needed).

Abstract: A system for constructing a deck using engineered wood products, including, but not limited to, structural composite lumber (SCL). Deck boards may be formed from a plurality of veneer layers treated with fire protection treatments, preservatives and/or other chemical treatments, which may be specific to a particular veneer layer, and assembled with adhesives binding the layers together in a stack, resulting in a deck board with unique properties in aggregate. The veneer layers directly adjacent to the two outer face layers may be positioned so that the direction of the wood grain is cross-directional to the direction of the wood grain in the surface layers. The boards are also subject to a multi-layer surface finishing treatment with aesthetic components and a protective component.

Abstract: A touch fastener including an elongated base having multiple segments connected by articulable joints. Each segment has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of touch fastener elements extending from the lower surface of the base. A flexible barrier extends across at least one articulable joint between adjacent base segments. The fastener may include a magnetically attractable material disposed along a center region of the upper surface of the base. The fastener base may define a pair of first and second notches in opposite longitudinal edges of the base at the articulable joint to allow bending of the base. The base may also define a slit extending through the base from a longitudinal edge thereof at the articulable joint.

Abstract: Touch fastener, molded articles having touch fasteners and methods of making such touch fasteners and articles are provided. The touch fasteners include a sheet form base having an upper face and a lower face; a plurality of male fastener elements, each fastener element having a stem molded integrally with and extending from the upper face of the sheet form base; and a foam or fibrous non-woven material adjacent to the upper face of the sheet form base, wherein at least a portion of the foam or fibrous non-woven material is disposed between at least a portion of the fastening elements.

Abstract: Touch fastener, molded articles having touch fasteners and methods of making such touch fasteners and articles are provided. The touch fasteners include a sheet form base having an upper face and a lower face; a plurality of male fastener elements, each fastener element having a stem molded integrally with and extending from the upper face of the sheet form base; and a foam or fibrous non-woven material adjacent to the upper face of the sheet form base, wherein at least a portion of the foam or fibrous non-woven material is disposed between at least a portion of the fastening elements.

Abstract: Touch fastener, molded articles having touch fasteners and methods of making such touch fasteners and articles are provided. The touch fasteners include a sheet form base having an upper face and a lower face; a plurality of male fastener elements, each fastener element having a stem molded integrally with and extending from the upper face of the sheet form base; and a foam or fibrous non-woven material adjacent to the upper face of the sheet form base, wherein at least a portion of the foam or fibrous non-woven material is disposed between at least a portion of the fastening elements.

Abstract: Touch fasteners for use as mold inserts in molding seat foam buns include selvedges that deflect under pressure to engage a mold surface in face-to-face contact. Another touch fastener includes a base with an exposed thermally activatable resin surface that has a softening point low enough to be activated by the exothermic foaming reaction to adhere the fastener in the foam bun.

Abstract: Fastener components, and method of making fastener components for securing loop-carrying members are disclosed. The fastener component includes a tubular structure, and a plurality of discrete projections extending from a surface of the tubular structure. Each projection includes a molded stem of resin integral with the surface from which the projection extends, and a loop-engageable head formed at a distal end of the stem to overhang the surface. A majority of the projections are directed away from a common, open longitudinal end of the tubular structure to allow longitudinal overlap of the fastener component with a complementary loop-carrying member received from the longitudinal end, but to resist subsequent removal of the loop-carrying member toward the longitudinal end due to engagement of the projections.