US2013186022A1PendingUtilityA1

Insulated log homes

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 25, 2008Filed: Oct 31, 2012Published: Jul 25, 2013

Est. expiryJun 25, 2028(~1.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:Ronald A. Wrightman

E04B 2/702E04C 3/29

PatentIndex Score

Cited by

References

Claims

Abstract

A log for a log home has a plurality of pockets formed within the body of the log. The pockets are filled with foam to enhance the thermal rating of the log.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

What is claimed is:

1 ) A log having an elongate body with a pair of oppositely directed wall faces extending between a pair of oppositely directed sealing faces, a plurality of pockets extending from one of said sealing faces through said body to the other of said sealing faces, said pockets being uniformly spaced along said body, said pockets being separated from one another by lands extending between said wall faces—said pockets and lands being dimensioned relative to one another to preserve structural integrity of said log and maintain relative spacing of said wall faces.

2 ) A log according to claim 1 wherein terminal portions of said body are devoid of pockets.

3 ) A log according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said sealing face has sealing formations formed thereon for engagement with a complimentary formation on an adjacent log.

4 ) A log according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said land between pockets has a dimension measured along the longitudinal axis less than the corresponding dimension of said pocket but greater than the spacing of said wall faces from a periphery of said pocket.

5 ) A log according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said pockets are of substantially constant cross section.

6 ) A log according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said pockets taper.

7 ) A log according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said pockets are distributed and sized to provide an increased in thermal rating of said log to at least R16, when said pockets are filled with foam.

8 ) A log according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said pockets are filled with foam.

9 ) A log according to claim 8 wherein said foam is preformed and inserted in to said pockets as plugs.

10 ) A log according to claim 9 wherein a pair of plugs is inserted in a pocket and retained by a wedge spreading said plugs.

11 ) A log according to claim 9 wherein said plug and pocket are tapered and said plug is retained by interference between said pocket and said plug.

12 ) A log according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said pocket has a dimension between said wall faces of 50% of the spacing between said wall faces.

13 ) A log according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said pockets are circular.

14 ) A log according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said pockets are square.

15 ) A log according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said pockets are oval.

16 ) A building including at least one log according to any one of claims 1 to 16 .

17 ) A building according to claim 16 wherein intersecting walls of said building are formed with logs according to any one of claims 1 to 16 and wherein terminal portions of said logs are devoid of pockets.

18 ) A building according to claim 17 wherein said terminal portions are formed as interlocking joints.

19 ) A method of forming a log having a pair of oppositely directed sealing faces, said method comprising the steps of forming a plurality of pockets in said log at uniformly spaced intervals along said body, said pockets extending from one of said sealing faces through said log to the other of said sealing faces said pockets being spaced apart greater than the dimension of said pocket along the axis of said long to provide a land extending between said pockets and filling said pockets with insulating foam.

20 ) A method according to claim 19 including the step of machining formations on said one face after said foam is formed in said pockets.

21 ) A method according to claim 19 or 20 wherein said foam is preformed and inserted in to said bores.

22 ) A method according to claim 21 wherein said pocket is tapered and said foam is preformed with a complementary taper.

23 ) A method according to claim 21 where said foam is inserted in said pocket as a pair of portions and retained in said pocket by a wedge acting between said portions.

24 ) A method according to claim 23 wherein said wedge is a foam inserted between said portions.

25 ) A log having an elongate body with a pair of oppositely directed wall faces extending between a pair of oppositely directed sealing faces, a plurality of pockets extending from one of said sealing faces into said body and uniformly spaced along said body, said pockets being separated from one another by lands extending continuously between said wall faces each of said pockets having a dimension measured in a direction transverse of said walls that is not less than 50% of the spacing between said walls, said pockets and lands being dimensioned relative to one another to preserve the structural integrity of said log and to maintain relative spacing of said wall faces.

26 ) A log according to claim 25 wherein said lands have a dimension measured along the longitudinal axis of said log less than the corresponding dimension of said pocket but greater than the spacing of said wall faces from a periphery of said pocket.

27 ) A log according to claim 25 or 26 wherein said pockets haven combined volume that is at least 20% of the volume of said log.

28 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 27 wherein said pockets have a transverse dimension at least 50% of the longitudinal dimension.

29 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 28 wherein said sealing face has sealing formations formed thereon for engagement with a complimentary formation on an adjacent log.

30 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 29 wherein said pockets extend between said sealing faces.

31 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 30 wherein said pockets are of substantially constant cross section.

32 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 30 wherein said pockets taper.

33 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 32 wherein said pockets are distributed and sized to provide an increased thermal rating of said log to at least R16 when said pockets are filled with foam.

34 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 33 wherein said pockets are filled with foam.

35 ) A log according to claim 34 wherein said foam is preformed and inserted in to said pockets as plugs.

36 ) A log according to claim 35 wherein a pair of plugs is inserted in a pocket and retained by a wedge spreading said plugs.

37 ) A log according to claim 35 wherein said plug and pocket are tapered and said plug is retained by interference between said pocket and said plug.

38 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 37 wherein terminal portions of said body are devoid of pockets.

39 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 38 wherein said pockets are circular.

40 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 38 wherein said pockets are square.

41 ) A log according to any one of claims 25 to 38 wherein said pockets are oval.

42 ) A building including at least one log according to any one of claims 25 to 41 .

43 ) A building according to claim 42 wherein intersecting walls of said building are formed with logs according to any one of claims 25 to 41 and wherein terminal portions of said logs are devoid of pockets.

44 ) A building according to claim 43 wherein said terminal portions are formed as interlocking joints.

45 ) A method of forming a log having a pair of oppositely directed sealing faces and a pair of oppositely directed wall faces, said method comprising the steps of forming a plurality of pockets in said log to extend not less than 50% of the distance between said wall faces and extending from one of said sealing faces to the other of said sealing faces with a land extending between said pockets and filling said pockets with insulating foam.

46 ) A method according to claim 45 wherein said foam is formed in situ.

47 ) A method according to any one of claims 45 or 46 including the step of machining formations on one of said sealing faces after said foam is formed in said pockets.

48 ) A method according to claim 45 wherein said foam is preformed and inserted in to said bores.

49 ) A method according to claim 48 wherein said pocket is tapered and said foam is preformed with a compounding taper.

50 ) A method according to claim 48 where said foam is inserted in said pocket as a pair of portions and retained in said pocket by a wedge acting between said portions.

51 ) A method according to claim 50 wherein said wedge is a foam inserted between said portions.

52 ) A method of forming a wall of a log building by stacking logs vertically one above another with abutting faces cooperating to define an internal cavity and injecting a foam within said cavity after assembly of said logs to connect said logs to one another.

53 ) A method according to claim 52 wherein pockets are formed in said logs extending from one of said abutting faces prior to assembly of said logs into a wall.

54 ) A method according to claim 53 wherein foam is inserted in said pockets prior to assembly of said logs into a wall.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2013186022A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.