Multi-layered laminated posts and blocks for guardrail systems and method of making the same

Abstract

A guardrail ( 10 ) has posts ( 12 ) and railing ( 16 ) offset from the post with blocks ( 14 ). The post has a plurality of wood layers. The wood layers are joined together with an adhesive. The adhesive is made with first and second components mixed together just prior to application. One the wood layers may be made with shorter sections joined together lengthwise to form a portion of the wood layer. The shorter sections are joined together with a finger joint. A first wood layer ( 20 ) has greater strength than a second wood layer ( 26 ) and the second wood layer is more pliable than the first wood layer. A man-made material such as plastic can be disposed between the wood layers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A guardrail post, comprising: 
 a plurality of wood layers; and    an adhesive joining the plurality of wood layers.    
     
     
         2 . The guardrail post of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is applied to a face of a first wood layer and to a face of a second wood layer to join the first and second wood layers.  
     
     
         3 . The guardrail post of  claim 2 , wherein the first wood layer comprises first and second sections joined together lengthwise to form a portion of the first wood layer.  
     
     
         4 . The guardrail post of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second sections of the first wood layer are joined together with a finger joint.  
     
     
         5 . The guardrail post of  claim 1 , wherein a first wood layer has greater strength than a second wood layer and the second wood layer is more pliable than the first wood layer.  
     
     
         6 . The guardrail post of  claim 1 , wherein the first wood layer comprises first and second sections joined together edgewise to form a portion of the first wood layer.  
     
     
         7 . The guardrail post of  claim 1 , wherein corners of the guardrail post is removed for additional strength.  
     
     
         8 . The guardrail post of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive includes first and second components.  
     
     
         9 . The guardrail post of  claim 1 , further including a man-made material disposed between or attached to the plurality of wood layers.  
     
     
         10 . The guardrail post of  claim 1 , wherein the man-made material includes plastic.  
     
     
         11 . A wood post for use in a guardrail, comprising: 
 a first wood layer;    a second wood layer; and    a bonding agent joining the first and second wood layers.    
     
     
         12 . The wood post of  claim 11 , wherein the bonding agent is applied to a face of the first wood layer and to a face of the second wood layer to join the first and second wood layers.  
     
     
         13 . The wood post of  claim 12 , wherein the first wood layer comprises first and second sections joined together lengthwise to form a portion of the first wood layer.  
     
     
         14 . The wood post of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second sections are joined together with a finger joint.  
     
     
         15 . The wood post of  claim 11 , wherein the first wood layer has greater strength than the second wood layer and the second wood layer is more pliable than the first wood layer.  
     
     
         16 . The wood post of  claim 11 , wherein the bonding agent includes first and second components.  
     
     
         17 . The wood post of  claim 11 , further including: 
 a third wood layer; and    a man-made material disposed between the second wood layers and the third wood layer.    
     
     
         18 . The wood post of  claim 17 , wherein the man-made material includes plastic.  
     
     
         19 . A method of making a wood post for use in guardrail systems, comprising: 
 providing a first wood layer;    providing a second wood layer; and    joining the first and second wood layers with an adhesive.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further including the step of applying the adhesive to a face of the first wood layer; 
 applying the adhesive to a face of the second wood layer; and    securing the face of the first wood layer to the face of the second wood layer.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the adhesive includes first and second components.  
     
     
         22 . A multi-layer laminated post, comprising first and second wood layers, wherein the first wood layer is laminated to the second wood layer.  
     
     
         23 . The multi-layer laminated post of  claim 22 , wherein the first wood layer comprises first and second sections joined together lengthwise to form a portion of the first wood layer.  
     
     
         24 . The multi-layer laminated post of  claim 22 , wherein the first wood layer comprises first and second sections joined together edgewise to form a portion of the first wood layer.  
     
     
         25 . The multi-layer laminated post of  claim 22 , further includes an adhesive for joining the first and second wood layers.  
     
     
         26 . The multi-layer laminated post of  claim 22 , wherein the adhesive includes first and second components.  
     
     
         27 . The multi-layer laminated post of  claim 22 , further including a man-made material disposed between the first and second wood layers.  
     
     
         28 . The multi-layer laminated post of  claim 27 , wherein the man-made material includes plastic.