Wood flake article having narrow channels

Abstract

Molded wood strand products having relatively narrow projections, such as channels made by inserting binder coated implants into projection forming voids in the mold cavity used to form the product.

The claimed invention is:  
     
         1 . A three dimensionally curved article formed from binder coated wood flakes, said article comprising: 
 a body having at least one relatively narrow, channel-shaped projection projecting from its surface;    said projection comprising a binder coated implant generally surrounded by binder coated wood flakes bound onto said implant.    
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said binder coated implant comprises a relatively thin strip of veneer, coated with a binder.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , in which said channel shaped projection is defined by a stack of a plurality of said thin, binder coated strips of veneer.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said channel shaped projection has a width of from about 0.50 inches to about 1.5 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein said channel shaped projection has a width of from about 0.50 inches to about 1.5 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said wood flakes have an average length of from about ¼ to about 6.0 inches, an average thickness of from about 0.015 to about 0.25 inches, and an average width of less than the average length, and no greater than about 3.0 inches.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein said wood flakes of said mat have an average length of from about 2 to about 3 inches.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein said wood flakes of said mat have an average thickness of from about 0.015 to about 0.025 inches.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein said wood flakes of said mat have an average width of from about 0.25 to about 1.0 inches.