US3863409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Log cabin structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-11
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1992-12-11
Abstract
Abstract Log cabin wall element having generally cylindrical surface and a longitudinally extending groove. Groove has spaced side walls extending from groove face to cylindrical outer surface to form groove corners. Radial slot extends inwards from groove face to reduce splitting of log. Initially groove corners of upper element contact upper surface of lower element, groove face being clear of lower element. Weight of element deforms groove corners and brings groove face to contact uppermost portion of lower element, so that weight of upper element is divided between groove corners and groove face. Groove corners and groove face produce pair of space parallel cavities between the first and second elements. Corner deformation can vary along wall element to accommodate differences in fit and improve sealing between adjacent elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Raymond Fell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:22
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/56; E04B2/70; E04B2/701; E04B2/702
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A portion of a log cabin wall structure, comprising: a. an elongated first wall element having a substantially cylindrical cross section, b. an elongated second wall element having a substantially cylindrical cross section and disposed immediately below and in alignment with the first wall element, c. locking means disposed along the lowermost surface of the first wall element for firmly engaging and holding the first wall element in superposed relation with the second wall element, d. the locking means including a recessed horizontal planar supporting surface for directly supporting the first wall element which has two spaced substantially perpendicular side walls, the planar supporting surface directly engaging and supported on the uppermost peripheral section of the cylindrical surface of the second wall element, e. the locking means also including laterally spaced groove corners formed at the intersection of the spaced side walls with the cylindrical surface of the first wall element, said groove corners disposed below the horizontal planar supporting surface and which are resiliently urged into sinking engagement with the cylindrical surface of the second wall element, f. a longitudinally extending radial slot disposed perpendicular to the horizontal planar supporting surface and having a length approximately one-third the radius of the wall element so as to permit resilient lateral spreading of the groove corners, g. the distance between the groove corners before engagement with the cylindrical surface of the second wall element being slightly less than the cordal distance between the two opposed points of engagement with the laterally spread groove corners after the horizontal planar supporting surface comes into engagement with the cylindrical surface of the second wall element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A portion of a log cabin wall structure, comprising: a. an elongated first wall element having a substantially cylindrical cross section, b. an elongated second wall element having a substantially cylindrical cross section and disposed immediately below and in alignment with the first wall element, c. locking means disposed along the lowermost surface of the first wall element for firmly engaging and holding the first wall element in superposed relation with the second wall element, d. the locking means including a recessed horizontal planar supporting surface for directly supporting the first wall element which has two spaced substantially perpendicular side walls, the planar supporting surface directly engaging and supported on the uppermost peripheral section of the cylindrical surface of the second wall element, e. the locking means also including laterally spaced groove corners formed at the intersection of the spaced side walls with the cylindrical surface of the first wall element, said groove corners disposed below the horizontal planar supporting surface and which are resiliently urged into sinking engagement with the cylindrical surface of the second wall element, f. a longitudinally extending radial slot disposed perpendicular to the horizontal planar supporting surface and having a length approximately one-third the radius of the wall element so as to permit resilient lateral spreading of the groove corners, g. the distance between the groove corners before engagement with the cylindrical surface of the second wall element being slightly less than the cordal distance between the two opposed points of engagement with the laterally spread groove corners after the horizontal planar supporting surface comes into engagement with the cylindrical surface of the second wall element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The portion of a log cabin wall structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. there is a clearance of approximately one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch between the horizontal planar supporting surface of the first wall element and the upper periphery of the cylindrical surface of the second wall element on initial engagement and before full seating of the horizontal planar supporting surface on the cylindrical surface of the second wall element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The portion of a log cabin wall structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the depth of the groove formed by the planar horizontal surface decreases with increase in the diameter of the first and second wall elements so as to attain sufficient corner compression to permit the planar supporting surface to absorb most of the weight transmitted through the first wall element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The portion of a log cabin wall structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein: a. the groove has a virtual depth defined by a radial distance between a midpoint of the groove face and the cylindrical surface of the wall member produced as a virtual arc extending across the groove, the virtual arc being concentric with the cylindrical surface of the wall element and having a radius equal to the radius of a cylindrical surface, b. the initial groove depth being the perpendicular distance from the groove corner to the horizontal planar supporting surface and having a value one half that Of the virtual depth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The portion of a log cabin wall structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein: a. the first and second wall elements have a diameter of approximately twelve inches, b. the groove depth is approximately five-sixteenths of an inch, c. the groove width is approximately 2 1/2 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The portion of a log cabin wall structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein: a. the diameter of the first and second wall elements is approximately 6 inches, b. the groove depth is approximately eleven-sixteenths of an inch, c. the groove width is approximately 2 1/2 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The portion of a log cabin wall structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein: a. the diameter of the first and second wall elements is approximately 4 inches, b. the groove depth is approximately 1 1/2 inches, c. the groove width is approximately 3 inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The portion of a log cabin wall structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein: a. the diameter of the first and second wall elements is approximately 16 inches, b. the groove depth is approximately three-sixteenths of an inch, c. the groove width is approximately 2 inches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The portion of a log cabin wall structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the two cavities formed between the horizontal planar surface and the cylindrical surface of the second wall element are filled with insulation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
The portion of a log cabin wall structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the first wall element includes a first saddle having a concave, partially cylindrical first saddle face concentric with the first saddle axis, which axis is inclined at a saddle angle to the longitudinal axis of the wall element, b. the second wall element has an essentially similar saddle to the first wall element, the first and second wall elements being a portion of a first wall, and further including a portion of a second wall intersecting and inclined at a corner angle to the first wall, c. the second wall having an essentially similar third wall element having a similar saddle and saddle face, the third wall element disposed between and intersecting the first and second wall elements at the corner angle, so that the saddle face of the third wall element engages the upper surface of the second element and the saddle face of the first wall element engages the upper surface of the third element, the saddle angles being complementary to the corner angle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |