Abstract: A core layer is formed by bonding a plurality of wooden plates together by using an adhesive. The core layer is cut into a predetermined shape having notches. The core layer is placed on a die of a pressing machine by being positioned by using the notches and pins placed on the die. The core layer is press molded to firmly hold the pin by the outer edge of the notch and to harden the adhesive.

Abstract: The invention allows the realization of parts, longitudinally or transversely curved, of large dimensions, by assembling boards of solid wood side by side, with glue, and to afterward arch the resulting part. The loss of solid wood is then decreased a lot since it is thus possible to assemble several wood boards of various widths together. It allows the realization of final curved parts of almost unlimited dimension, dimension whereas dimensions are usually limited by the width of the sawing, or, in other words, by the thickness of the trees. Here, the limit is situated at the level of the capacity of equipments used to bend solid wood.

Abstract: A compressed wood product includes a wood whose shape is taken while a volume decreased by compression is previously added, wherein a direction intersecting a fiber direction of the wood is set to a compression direction, and the wood is formed by being subjected to compressive force.

Abstract: In the method of forming a drum shell that consists of plywood, the steps that includes forming the shell under pressure and heat into cylindrical configuration, providing inner and outer cooling platens adapted to respectively engage the interior and exterior surfaces of the heated shell, trapping the heated shell between the platens, at elevated pressure, allowing the shell to cool by heat transfer from shell side wall or walls into pressure exerting side walls, and while trapped between such platens, at elevated pressure, and removing the cooled shell from between the cooling platens.

Abstract: A method for laying a sheet over the lower surface of a base material disposed in a generally horizontal position. According to the method, the base material is supported at the lower surface thereof by a first support means, and the sheet is placed immediately below and in facing relation to the lower surface of the base material and then supported at the lower surface thereof by a second support means. The sheet and the base material are made to be in contact with each other over partial surfaces thereof. Subsequently, the first support means is moved away from the base material and the sheet and the base material are placed together on a rigid horizontal surface so that the sheet is laid substantially over the entire lower surface of the base material.

Abstract: A method for treating a wooden material includes applying steam and vacuum to the wooden material.

Abstract: A furniture bow beam structure and a manufacturing method thereof. By means of pressing, metal board materials are processed into different assembling members and connecting members. The assembling members and connecting members respectively have curvatures and configurations in conformity with different sections of the beam structure. Each assembling member has an opening that obliquely diverges to one side in width. The connecting member is connected to the opening and mated with the assembling member to form a hollow tubular support. Multiple supports are then connected with each other and rectified to form a complete beam structure with desired curvatures and shapes for connecting with other furniture components.

Abstract: A method of processing a wooden piece into a predetermined shape by compressing the wooden piece, includes bending a raw-material piece which is a wooden piece to be processed and is placed in a humid condition of high temperature, cutting out a blank-material piece from the raw-material piece bent in the bending so that the blank-material piece includes at least a part of a bent portion of the raw-material piece, and compressing the blank-material piece cut out in the cutting out in a water vapor atmosphere of a temperature and a pressure higher than those of an atmospheric air.

Abstract: The invention allows the realization of parts, longitudinally or transversely curved, of large dimensions, by assembling boards of solid wood side by side, with glue, and to afterward arch the resulting part. The loss of solid wood is then decreased a lot since it is thus possible to assemble several wood boards of various widths together. It allows the realization of final curved parts of almost unlimited dimension, dimension whereas dimensions are usually limited by the width of the sawing, or, in other words, by the thickness of the trees. Here, the limit is situated at the level of the capacity of equipments used to bend solid wood.

Abstract: A method for producing a formed wooden article by cutting out a primary blank member from a raw wood and forming the same into a final three-dimensional shape having a substantially uniform thickness, comprises: a primary compression step in which the primary blank member is compressed by primary molding dies, and the primary blank member is processed into a primary compressed article having a high compression portion in a vicinity of portions of the primary blank member corresponding to a die surface; a secondary blank processing step in which the primary compressed article is cut and processed into a secondary blank member; and a secondary compression step in which the secondary blank member is compressed by using secondary molding dies and the final three-dimensional shape is transferred onto the secondary blank member.

Abstract: A method of processing a wooden piece into a predetermined shape by compressing the wooden piece, includes bending a raw-material piece which is a wooden piece to be processed and is placed in a humid condition of high temperature, cutting out a blank-material piece from the raw-material piece bent in the bending so that the blank-material piece includes at least a part of a bent portion of the raw-material piece, and compressing the blank-material piece cut out in the cutting out in a water vapor atmosphere of a temperature and a pressure higher than those of an atmospheric air.

Abstract: A compressed wood product includes a wood whose shape is taken while a volume decreased by compression is previously added, wherein a direction intersecting a fiber direction of the wood is set to a compression direction, and the wood is formed by being subjected to compressive force.

Abstract: A method of processing wood into a predetermined shape through compression includes compressing a first wooden piece and a second wooden piece separately; placing the compressed second wooden piece on the compressed first wooden piece; and compressing together the compressed first wooden piece and the compressed second wooden piece which are placed one on another.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a furniture leg is provided which includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thin covering and routing the substrate to provide an outer peripheral configuration having a top side, a bottom side, a left side, and a right side, wherein the top side and the bottom side are each generally straight and converge. The method further includes the steps of routing v-shaped cut-out regions that extend through the substrate, but not into the thin covering, in a substantially straight line from the left side to the right side. Angled surfaces are mitered on the top side and the bottom side. Finally, the method includes the step of folding the substrate having the thin covering about the v-shaped cut-out regions into the elongate article.

Abstract: The method of bending wood materials inserts cylindrical or board shaped wood material of uniform lateral cross-section into a bending template shaping channel via a driving mechanism to bend the wood material in the shaping channel. Further, the bending method of this invention applies pressure to the front end of the wood material via a braking mechanism to limit its movement in the shaping channel and prevent tension fracture on the stretched side of the curved wood material. Wood material, which is pushed from its aft end and movement limited at its front end, is compressed to control the amount of stretching of the extended outer periphery of the wood material undergoing bending and prevent tension fracture.

Abstract: Wood is bent using a unit and a method in which a continuous and uninterrupted curved path is defined over a workpiece-supporting surface and form and clamp blocks are electromagnetically attached to the workpiece-supporting surface adjacent to the path. The form and clamp blocks engage a wood workpiece to force that workpiece into a shape that matches the path defined over the workpiece-supporting surface.

Abstract: A chair stock such as a seat 12 includes a construction in which uppermost and lowermost wood veneer sheets 30, 32 present opposing support and mounting surfaces 20, 22, and are spaced from one another by an intermediate element 34 such as a pile of relatively small wood veneer sheets 36. The intermediate element 34 presents a bearing surface that corresponds in size to a planer central region 28 of the mounting surface 22, and the support surface 20 includes a curved central region directly opposite the planer central region. The stock is constructed by forming a pile of the sheets 30, 32 and the intermediate element 34, and pressing the pile between a pair of spaced apart pressing surfaces. One of the pressing surfaces includes a substantially planer central region aligned with and corresponding in size to the bearing surface of the intermediate element, and the other pressing surface includes a curved central region immediately opposite the planer central region.

Abstract: A method of veneering across a elongate corner on an elongate core involving providing a sheet of veneer sized to cover a desired portion of the core including an expanse on each side of the corner with the veneer having a core side for placement against the core and an exposed side opposite the core side. An elongate groove is formed in the core side of the veneer with the groove having a generally triangular cross-section with an open side substantially coplanar with the core side of the veneer and two interior sides extending into the veneer to a point near but not reaching the exposed side of the veneer where the angle between the interior sides being configured to match the angle of the corner. Lastly the veneer is applied to the core with the groove aligned over the corner and veneer on either side of the groove folded down against the core to thereby bring the two interior sides of the groove together.

Abstract: A method for bending a sheet of wood with a plastic laminate applied to its outside face to form a rounded corner on the sheet includes first making a cut across the sheet which is configured to completely wrap around a dowel when the sheet is bent to the desired angle. The laminate is heated prior to bending if heating is required to make it bendable. Adhesive is applied to the dowel, and the dowel is placed on the cutout. The sheet is then bent around the dowel and is held in place until the adhesive has cured and the laminate cooled down. An apparatus attaches to both portions of the sheet and causes it to be bent around the dowel without causing the laminate to stretch or contract.

Abstract: The invention is a method for producing flitches prepared from roundwood logs, a method for the manufacture of wood slices or slats from the flitches, and methods of combining the strips into composite lumber products. The methods are based in part on the concept of preparing flitches that retain the sweep or natural longitudinal curvature of the log and slicing or sawing around the sweep to prepare the slats for further conversion into composite lumber products. An opening cut is made in the log essentially following or parallel to the curve of any sweep to divide it into two approximately equal volume pieces. An opposing surfaces is machined parallel to the surface generated by the opening cut to produce a flitch. The flitches are then flattened so that the sweep curvature is made planar. They are then sliced or sawn parallel to the now planar surface to produce slats. The natural surface of the log is preferably retained on the sides of the flitches.

Abstract: A curved panel for use in furniture. The curved panel includes a sheet which in a free state is flat. A plurality of pins are secured to opposite ends of the sheet. One or more members are provided for engaging the pins to maintain the sheet in a curved state. The curved panel can include two spaced apart sheets and a frame defined by a plurality of curvable rails or spaced apart blocks and non-curvable rails that extend about a perimeter of the sheets. The frame is positioned between the sheets so that the curvable rails or spaced apart blocks and sheets are curved about an axis of curvature. Each curvable rail includes a slotted rail having a plurality of ribs defining slots therebetween. A plurality of pins are secured to the non-curvable rails and pass through holes defined in one of the sheets so as to maintain the sheets in a curved state. The curved panel can also be formed by a sheet having pins secured thereto, where the pins are received by template guides to maintain the sheet in a curved state.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the flexibility of and straightening wooden flooring strips of the type having a top surface having a decorative finish and a base surface opposed to the 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 apparatus has an infeed zone for feeding flooring strips downstream from an upstream processing station and an outfeed zone for discharging the flooring strips to a downstream processing station. A conveyor conveys the flooring strips downstream from the infeed zone to the outfeed zone.

Abstract: A hockey stick curving apparatus which includes a rail having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface. A movable pressure member support frame is mounted to the exterior surface of the rail and movable between the first end and the second end. A pressure member is mounted to the pressure member support frame and movable in a first direction toward the rail and in a second direction away from the rail. A pair of supports are secured to the rail in spaced relation. One of the pair of supports is on one side of the pressure member support frame and the other one of the pair of supports is on an other side of the pressure member support frame.

Abstract: A bowing press apparatus which includes a subassembly. The subassembly comprises a housing, a mandrel supported by the housing, a wiper plate connected to said housing and capable of pivoting with respect to said mandrel, and an actuator that exerts a force against the wiper plate, causing the wiper plate to pivot. An overbender capable of pivoting with respect to the mandrel and the wiper plate may be connected to the wiper plate. An actuating device that exerts a force against the overbender and causes it to pivot also may be included.

Abstract: A variable radius bowing press including a mandrel, a mandrel support and a subassembly. The subassembly comprises a housing, a wiper plate capable of pivoting with respect to the mandrel, and an actuator that exerts a force against the wiper plate, causing the wiper plate to pivot. An overbender capable of pivoting with respect to the mandrel may be connected to the wiper plate. An actuating device may be provided that exerts a force against the overbender and causes the over bender to pivot. The apparatus may include two substantially similar subassemblies capable of synchronized operation.

Abstract: A method and fixture for placing a permanent bend into a wooden pole. In the preferred embodiment, a fixture includes a center block receiving the center portion of a pole having the opposite ends of the pole extending through the opposite ends of the fixture. A pair of cylindrical tubes are forced downwardly against the opposite ends of the pole by an external cylinder motor and, in turn, forces the opposite ends of the pole against the bottom wall of the fixture, thereby bending the pole. A pair of wedge shaped members are extended through the fixture and into the cylindrical tubes, thereby holding the cylindrical tubes downwardly against the pole in a bent configuration while the external force is removed. The method of permanently bending a green pole includes harvesting a tree during the warm growing season and then removing the limbs to produce a wooden pole. The pole is then heated to kill living things within the pole and stored for future use and/or bending.

Abstract: An apparatus for truing twisted wooden boards by twisting them in an oppoe direction, comprises an upper set of parallel plates and a lower set of parallel plates. A channel is formed between opposing edges of the upper and lower plates. The upper plates are pivotable about an upper pivot axis, and the lower plates are pivotable about a lower axis. Those axes are oriented transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the channel and are situated at an inlet end of the channel. A pivoting mechanism causes the plates to be displaced vertically relative to one another to twist the channel about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method and fixture for placing a permanent bend into a wooden pole. A channel shaped fixture receives the opposite ends of a wooden pole inserted therein and positions the pole above the bottom wall of the fixture. A cylindrical tube is forced downwardly against the pole by an external cylinder motor and in turn forces the pole against the bottom wall of the fixture thereby bending the pole. A pair of wedge shaped members are extended through the fixture and into the intermediate member thereby holding the intermediate member downwardly against the pole in a bent configuration while the external force is removed. The method of permanently bending a green pole includes positioning a green wooden pole shortly after harvesting in the holding fixture and then bending the pole to a bent configuration with the intermediate member. The fixture with pole in the bent configuration is then inserted into a dry kiln and heated.

Abstract: A method of making a drum shell or other such circumferential component from a single piece of wood which serves as a starting blank. This method comprises the steps of steam heating the blank a first time to a predetermined temperature and, thereafter, while the steam heated blank is still at approximately that temperature, forming it into a circumferential shape approximating the ultimate shape of the drum shell or other such component such that its opposite ends remain unconnected with one another. The blank is then allowed to cool, whereby to provide a circumferentially shaped blank having unconnected opposite ends. This circumferentially shaped blank is placed into a mold which more accurately defines the ultimate shape of the drum shell or other such component so that the opposite ends of the blank engage one another. It is again steam heated to a predetermined temperature while remaining in the mold and is thereafter dried and its opposite ends are glued together.

Abstract: The method is one of producing multi-ply laminates incorporating an exposed veneer in quality wood or cork, and involved bonding the veneer (1) to a thin flexible thermoplastic film (2) by way of a layer of hot melt adhesive (3). The same laminate can be reinforced to enable its use in manufacturing sewn goods, such as bags and acessories, by ading a tough, close-woven backing fabric (20), bonded to the back of the film (2) in similar fashion via a further layer of adhesive (3), which provides the strength necessary to take a heavy stitch when sheets are sewn together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shaping flat rectangular shingle blanks into curved shingles includes a heating chamber and shingle shaping device. The shingle shaping device is comprised of an elongate upwardly convex fixed shaping member and a plurality of hingedly mounted, downwardly concave movable shaping members. A plurality of shingle blanks are first steamed and then place on edge in side-by-side relation between the fixed shaping member and the movable shaping members. The movable shaping members are then moved into closed clamping relation with the fixed shaping member to clamp the shingle blanks into curved configuration for use with roofs having a thatched cottage appearance.

Abstract: A hockey stick bender for bending the blade of a hockey stick. The hockey stick bender includes a paddle member with a handle, and two opposing, curved forming members with a slot therebetween. The blade of the hockey stick is placed into the slot and manipulated between the two curved forming members to form a hockey stick blade.

Abstract: A compact tool adapted for removing lateral deflection from a wood plank is disclosed. The tool is provided with a reduced friction connection interengaged with an elongated member and a fastener for removably positioning a U-shaped bracket for receiving a wood joist member or, alternatively, a fastener member for engaging a fixed flat surface, such as plywood. Additionally, a cylindrical member is disposed on an end of the elongated member for reducing a friction factor between the elongated member and the wood plank and for providing a rolling load to remove the lateral deflection in the wood plank.The tool of the present invention provides a method to quickly and efficiently remove lateral deflection from a wood plank while reducing damage to the wood joist member or plywood base.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the cutting of dressed lumber to achieve the optimum valve of cut pieces based upon the specific structural and surface defect characteristics of each board, as well as upon historical demand, business inventory and market factors. The invention includes the use of a Modulous of Elasticity test and photo-electric surface scanners in order to determine these specific structural and surface defect characteristics.

Abstract: A jig for bending a hockey stick blade is made of a backing plate and two spacers secured on one of its surface. The backing plate has two slots extending between the two spacers. A pressure plate located between the spacers is connected to the backing plate through the slots by a pair of threaded rods so as to slide along the slots. Tightening nuts are mounted on both rods. The hockey blade is adapted to abut on one side, at both end, against the spacers and on the other side of the blade, the pressure plate applies a pressure by tightening the nuts. The apex of the curve can be located anywhere along the blade and the plane of the face of the blade can also be tilted.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to an improved method of assembling rattan furniture. More particularly, a method is disclosed for fabricating a composite rattan piece having an effective diameter sufficient to form a rigid structure. In accordance with the subject invention, a plurality of relatively smaller diameter rattan segments are steam heated until deformable. These segments are then helically wound to define a larger diameter piece. The piece is cooled and shaped into the desired configuration to define a rigid support member which can be used to assemble furniture.

Abstract: The process for the gluing together of free form wood shapes in which individually pre-cut pieces are drawn into position, and correct, even, gluing pressure is applied by tension taken on a cable which has been routed internally through passages pre-drilled in component members of the finished shape and then connected at each end to take-up mechanisms which rest against the surface of the finished product.