Abstract: A unitary sheet of plywood comprising at least one layer of plywood veneer expanded in a direction perpendicular to the grain and at least one layer of plywood veneer bonded to said expanded layer; the method of forming such plywood comprising forming a first layer or layers of plywood veneer expanded in a direction perpendicular to the grain and bonding at least one layer of plywood veneer to said expanded layers, the method of forming expanded veneer comprising incising a strip of green veneer with at least one multi-bladed nip roller to cause an expansion thereof in a direction perpendicular to the grain and drying said incised strip, and apparatus for expanding a sheet of green veneer comprising at least one multi-bladed roller for incising a sheet of green veneer to cause expansion thereof in a direction perpendicular to the grain and means for drying said incised veneer sheet.

Abstract: A plastic caul for embossing wood panels with grain patterns comprises a laminate of sheets of epoxy prepreg made of such heat insensitive non-cellulosic webs such as fiberglass or woven graphite impregnated with partially cured epoxy resin. The caul may also include a metal core or backing sheet. The embossing face of the caul contains a relief design, usually transferred from a natural wood grain pattern.To form the caul, a mold is first prepared. The mold may comprise a textured wood panel, the grain surface of which has been sealed with a material such as urethane varnish or a water reducible imine catalyzed acrylic varnish with a urethane additive. The sealed textured face is then coated with a release agent. This treatment prevents the panel and future caul from sticking together. Sheets of the epoxy prepreg are then layered between the treated surface of the panel and a backing sheet and compressed under heat and pressure until substantially cured.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exterior grade hardboard siding panel which gives the appearance of vertically-applied solid lumber planks having a bead and cove detail. The front surface of the panel has a plurality of adjacent areas which each simulate a vertical solid wood plank. Each of these areas has a cove recess at one edge and a bead adjacent to a cove at the opposite edge. The areas are arranged with the cove of one area and the cove adjacent to the bead of an adjacent area, both facing the bead. The coves are separated from the bead by narrow grooves which provide good breaking points in the design and added damage resistance at the edges of the panels which are joined with shiplap joints.

Abstract: A multi-lap siding formed from a hardboard material is disclosed. The multi-lap siding is rectangular and has generally flat, opposed front and rear surfaces, and an upper leading edge and the lower trailing edge being configured such that the upper leading edge of one siding can cooperate and interfit with the lower trailing edge of another siding to form a continuous siding installation. The lower edge of the front surface of the siding is provided with a lower bead portion. The upper edge of the lower bead portion is defined by a first, V-shaped groove having an angled upper edge, a rounded lower edge and a rounded apex portion. The lower edge of the lower bead portion is defined by the lower edge of the siding and is also rounded. The siding is further provided with at least one central bead portion disposed intermediate the front surface of the siding. The upper edge of the central bead portion is defined by a second V-shaped groove having a configuration similar to the first V-shaped groove.

Abstract: A triple lap siding product is machined from a strip of wide lap hardboard siding to give the appearance of three narrow laps of natural wood siding or actual drop siding cut from 3/4" lumber. The configuration for simulating narrow lap siding is machined with beveled profiles having opposed first and second surfaces. Each strip of siding includes a plurality of inclined cuts and vertical cuts subdividing the single strip into three lap portions. The configuration for simulating actual drop siding includes a plurality of arcuate cuts and vertical cuts that subdivide each strip of siding into three lap portions. For both types of siding, the leading edge of one strip is adapted to cooperate with the trailing edge of another strip to form a continuous lap siding installation on the building or the like.

Abstract: Elastomeric particles, e.g., rubber grindings and buffings produced in vehicular tire manufacturing and recapping operations, are incorporated into at least one surface of particle-board panel to increase friction, prevent stacked panels from sliding in echelon, prevent tools from sliding thereon, prevent workmen from slipping thereon, and still allow the panel to be cut and nailed. The particles can be bonded to the panels simultaneously with the panel molding operation or in a separate subsequent operation. In a preferred method of fabricating a non-skid construction panel of the subject invention, rubber particles in the range from below about 10 to above about 20 pounds per one thousand square feet of surface area are distributed over a panel, and the rubber particles and the panels are subsequently subjected to heat and pressure, and the resulting panel has a smooth surface with the elastomeric particles being used somewhat as a light "salting" of the construction panel's surface layer.