WO1999023338A1

WO1999023338A1 - Frame member assembled from elements mortised and joined by slat

Info

Publication number: WO1999023338A1
Application number: PCT/BE1998/000167
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thierry L. R. G. Lardinois
Original assignee: Lardinois Thierry L R G
Priority date: 1997-11-04
Filing date: 1998-11-03
Publication date: 1999-05-14
Also published as: AU1014899A

Abstract

A member comprising two elongate elements (12, 14), each elongate element (12, 14) having a face (18), a groove (16) formed in the face (18) of each elongate element (12, 14), the faces (18) of the elongate elements (12, 14) being bonded together such that the grooves (16) are aligned, and an elongate member (22) receivable in the aligned grooves (16) of the elongate elements (12, 14).

Description

TITLE

FRAME MEMBER ASSEMBLED FROM ELEMENTS MORTISED AND JOINED BY SLAT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a member for use in structural frames and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Structural frames are typically formed of a plurality of elongate members. One example of such stuctural frames is wooden door and window frames. The elongate members which are used to form the wooden door frames invariably originate from oversized pieces of rough or dressed timber.

A common problem with elongate wooden members is that, even if thoroughly dried, they are prone to changes in shape because of the sensitivity of wood to differences in temperature, moisture and humidity and since wood remains an active material reacting to its environment. It is therefore highly unusual for a long piece of wood to retain its linearity.

Wooden members are generally not sold thoroughly dried. Further, a wooden member having sufficient cross-sectional area for a particular application may not be supplied in a suitable length. Even if the wooden members were sold dried, once the member has been straightened, such as by planing the member to remove curves or twists in the wood, the remaining cross-sectional area may be insufficient for the application.

Laminated wooden members typically compromise a set of three or more smaller pieces glued together. It is slightly less prone to curving because the smaller pieces are kiln dried before being glued, but subject to splitting and delamination. especially where one of two faces glued together is not planar.

The present invention allows the manufacture of wooden products, especially door and window frames, using wooden members that can be machined to their final profile or shape without worrying about the problems of twisting, splitting and incurving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, the invention resides in a member compromising two elongate elements, each elongate element having one face, a groove formed in one face of each elongate element, the one face of the elongate elements being bonded together such that the grooves are aligned, an elongate member receivable in the aligned grooves of the elongate elements .

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the bonding may take the form of glue or adhesive.

Two embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by the way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in wich :

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wooden member in its assembled form according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an elongate element of the wooden member shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of two elongate elements of the embodiment ready to be bonded together ;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the wooden member shown in the first embodiment ;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wooden member shown in Figure 1 which has been subsequently machined into a desired profile ;

And Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a wooden member incorporating an intermediate piece according to the second embodiment.

The embodiments are directed towards a solid member adapted for use in the fabrication of a door frame .

As shown in the drawings a member 10 compromises a pair of elongate elements 12 and 14. The elongate elements 12 and 14 each have a longitudinally extending groove 16 formed in one face 18. The groove 16 is narrow and has a depth corresponding to to a substantial portion of the thickness of the respective elongate element.

As shown in Figure 3, the elongate elements 12 and 14 are arranged such that the face 18 of the elongate elements 12 and 14 abut each other and the grooves 16 are positioned on each face 18 such that when the elongate elements 12 and 14 are so arranged, the grooves 16 in the elongate elements 12 and 14 are aligned.

To ensure alignment of the elongate elements 12 and 14 and the grooves 16, the face 18 of each of the elongate elements 12 and 14 may be machined to provide a set of parallel ribs 20 or other suitable protuberances. The faces 18 of the elongate elements 12 and 14 are machined so that the face 18 of the elongate element 12 mates with the face 18 of the elongate element 14.

An elongate member 22 is provided which has a configuration corresponding to that of the combined grooves 16 such that it will be snugly received within the grooves 16 when the elongate elements 12 and 14 are placed together with their faces 18 abutting. The elongate member 22 prevents the elongate elements 12 and 14 from disengaging in a shear direction and the grooves 16 provide increased surface area for bonding between the faces 18. Bonding the faces 18 of the elongate elements 12 and 14 together prevents relative movement between the elongate elements 12 and 14. Preferably the elongate member 22 is formed of plywood or similar material, such as composite wood and recycled plastics .

The wooden member 10 can be assembled as follows. Firstly, the elongated member 22 is glued into the groove 16 of the elongate element 14. Glue is then applied to the face 18 of the elongate element 14 and to the part of the further elongated member at extends out of the groove 16. The elongate element 12 is then mated with the elongate element 14 and the elongate member 22.

It is to be appreciated that the elongate member 22 could equally be initially glued into the elongate element 12 and the elongate element 14 mated thereto.

Once assembled, the member 10 can then be machined to any desired profile. For example, in Figure 5 the member 10 is shown in cross-section, having been machined to a desired profile. The member 10 of the present invention allows the profile to be formed without the necessity of having a single block of material large enough to encompass the entire profile. Furthermore, the profile may be such that machining the profile involves cutting the elongated member 22,which would not result in a significant loss of strength of the member 10.

In the second embodiment shown in Figure 6, a member 30 compromises the elongate elements 12 and 14, two elongate members 22 and intermediate member 32. The intermediate member 32 has a pair of faces 18. The intermediate member 32 is disposed between the elongate elements 12 and 14 with the faces 18 of the intermediate member 32 facing the one face 18 of one of the elongate elements 12 and 14. The faces 18 of the intermediate member 32 each have a groove 16 formed therein. The grooves 16 in the intermediate member 32 each have a groove 16 formed therein. The grooves 16 in the intermediate member 32 are arranged to align with the grooves 16 in the elongate elements 12 and 14 when the faces 18 are abutting. One of the elongate members 22 is disposed in the groove 16 of the elongate element 12 and the groove 16 of the adjacent one face 18 of the intermediate member 32, the other elongate member 22 is provided in the groove 16 of the elongate element 14 and the groove 16 of the adjacent one face 18 of the member 32.

The elongated members 22 are preferably glued into the respective grooves 16. Further, abutting faces 18 are preferably glued together to provide a strong join therebetween.

Preferably, the elongate elements 12 and 14, the intermediate member 32 and the elongate members 22 are all dried prior to assembly of the member 30.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention. For example, the elongated elements may be formed of recycled plastics material, composite wood substances and the like .

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows :

1. A member compromising a first and a second elongate element, each elongate element having one face, a groove formed in the one face^' of each elongate element, the one faces of the elongate elements being bonded together such that the grooves are aligned, and an elongate member receivable in the aligned grooves of the elongate elements .

2. A member as claimed at claim 1, further compromising an intermediate member having a first and a second face disposed between the first and second elongate elements, a groove formed in each face of the intermediate member, the first face of the intermediate member being bonded to the face of the first elongate element such that their grooves are aligned, the second face of the intermediate member being bonded to the face of the second elongate element such that their grooves are aligned, the elongate member disposed in the aligned grooves in the face of the first elongate element and the first face of the intermediate member, a further elongate member disposed in the aligned grooves in the face of the second elongate element and the second face of the intermediate member.

3. A member as claimed at claim 1 or 2, wherein each pair of abutting faces have complementary formations formed thereon, the faces mating when abutting.

4. A member as claimed at any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the complementary formations are in the form of parallel ribs.

5. A member as claimed at any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the groove in each elongate element extends a substantial depth into the respective elongate element.

6. A member as claimed at any one of the preceding claims, where the or each elongated member is bonded in the grooves in which the elongated member is received.

7. A member as claimed at any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bonding is achieved by use of glue or adhesives.