Self gapping wood based panels

Abstract

A wood based panel having at least one spacer, spaced at intervals or continuously, on a square edge in which the spacer will deform or be forced into an adjacent panel when subjected to linear expansion forces.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 - A wood based panel for use in building comprising; spaced top and bottom surfaces bounded by edges extending therebetween, the width of said edges defining the thickness of said panel; at least one of said edges including a spacer integral with and projecting from said edge, at least at spaced intervals along said edge, said spacer projecting from said edge a distance equal to a predetermined desired spacing for said panels in order to avoid problems associated with improper spacing of said panel from adjacent panels, and said spacer having a thickness laterally of its direction of projection which is narrower than the width of said edge, said thickness being sufficient to give said spacer enough strength to resist damage during handling and installation of said panel, but leaving said spacer sufficiently weak or sharp that said spacer will collapse or be pushed into an adjacent panel under the pressure of linear expansion forces caused by expansion of the wood materials of which said panel is made.  
     
     
         2 - The wood based panel of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer is continuous.  
     
     
         3 - The wood based panel of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer is interrupted by gaps.  
     
     
         4 - The wood based panel of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer projects from said edge a distance of from about {fraction (1/32)} to about ¼ inch.  
     
     
         5 - The wood based panel of  claim 4 , wherein said spacer has a thickness of from about ⅔ of the panel thickness to about 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         6 - The wood based panel of  claim 4 , wherein said spacer has a thickness of from about ⅔ of the panel thickness to about 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         7 - The wood based panel of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer projects from said edge a distance of from about {fraction (1/16)} to about ⅛ inch.  
     
     
         8 - The wood based panel of  claim 1  having a thickness of from about ¼ to about 1¾ inch.  
     
     
         9 - The wood based panel of  claim 8 , wherein said spacer projects from said edge a distance of from about {fraction (1/32)} to about ¼ inch.  
     
     
         10 - The wood based panel of  claim 9 , wherein said spacer has a thickness of from about ⅔ of the panel thickness to about 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         11 - The wood based panel of  claim 9 , wherein said spacer has a thickness of from about ⅔ of the panel thickness to about 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         12 - The wood based panel of  claim 8 , wherein said spacer projects from said edge a distance of from about {fraction (1/16)} to about ⅛ inch.  
     
     
         13 - The wood based panel of  claim 1  having a thickness of from about {fraction (7/16)} to about ⅞ inch.  
     
     
         14 - The wood based panel of  claim 1 , wherein the wood based panel has four edges with spacers on two adjacent edges.  
     
     
         15 - The wood based panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel has four edges, with a tongue and a groove on opposite edges, said spacer being on only one edge, extending between the tongue edge and groove edge.  
     
     
         16 - A method of constructing a building comprising: 
 providing a support structure;    providing a plurality of wood based panels, each with spaced top and bottom surfaces, bounded by edges extending therebetween, the width of said edges defining the thickness of said panel;    at least one of said edges including a spacer integral with and projecting from said edge, at least at spaced intervals along said edge, said spacer projecting from said edge a distance equal to a predetermined desired spacing, and said spacer having a thickness laterally of its direction of projection which is narrower than the width of said edge, said thickness being sufficient to give said spacer enough strength to resist damage during handling and installation of said panel, but leaving said spacer sufficiently weak or sharp that said spacer will collapse or be pushed into an adjacent panel under the pressure of linear expansion forces caused by expansion of wood material of which said panel is made; each of said panels including at least one edge which is free of such a spacer;    securing said wood based panels to said support structure with the spacer of one panel abutting a spacer free edge of an adjacent panel, to thereby properly space said panels from one another.    
     
     
         17 - A method of manufacturing wood based panels having spaced top and bottom surfaces, bounded by edges extending therebetween, the width of said edges defining the thickness of said panel; 
 at least one of said edges including a spacer integral with and projecting from said edge, at least at spaced intervals along said edge, said spacer projecting from said edge at distance equal to a predetermined desired spacing for said panels, and said spacer having a thickness laterally of its direction of projection which is narrower than the width of said edge, said thickness being sufficient to give said spacer enough strength to resist damage during handling and installation of said panel, but leaving said spacer sufficiently weak or sharp that said spacer will collapse or be pushed into an adjacent panel under the pressure of linear expansion forces caused by expansion of the wood materials of which said panel is made;    said method comprising: passing a panel having top and bottom surfaces and a generally squared off edge between two spaced opposing cutting blades, one on either side of said panel adjacent said generally squared off edge, said cutting blade being positioned to cut away portions of said top and bottom surfaces of said panel adjacent to said squared off edge, but leaving said spacer between said cutting blades.    
     
     
         18 - A method of manufacturing wood based panels having spaced top and bottom surfaces bounded by edges extending therebetween, the width of said edges defining the thickness of said panel; 
 at least one of said edges including a spacer integral with and projecting from said edge, at least at spaced intervals along said edge, said spacer projecting from said edge a distance equal to a predetermined desired spacing for said panels, and said spacer having a thickness laterally of its direction of projection which is narrower than the width of said edge, said thickness being sufficient to give said spacer enough strength to resist damage during handling and installation of said panel, but leaving said spacer sufficiently weak or sharp that said spacer will collapse or be pushed into an adjacent panel under the pressure of linear expansion forces caused by expansion of the wood material of which said panel is made;    said method comprising: passing a panel, having top and bottom surfaces and a generally squared off edge, through a cutting blade with grooved teeth, said cutting blade being positioned in the plane of said panel, so as to cut away the spaced top and bottom portions of the edge of said panel, but leave said spacer projecting from said edge.