US3676969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Log type building unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-04-03
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A basic building log or member from which a building with a number of abutting walls can be formed. Each basic log has a first ledge portion at one end of its length, a second ledge portion at the other end of its length for mating with the first ledge portion of a member in an abutting wall, a tongue portion extending along the length of the log on one side thereof from one ledge portion to the other and grooves opening on the side opposite the side of the basic unit with the tongue portion for receiving the tongue portion of another member in the same wall. Preferably, the basic member is used with a number of sill members which form the base of the structure and which have a tongue portion but no groove and with a number of cap members which are provided with a groove but are flat on the other side which forms the top of each of the abutting walls. If desired, tongue and groove members can be provided respectively on the first and second ledge portions for further locking the members in abutting walls together or the surfaces can be inclined to mate together to lap the corners. Preferably, each of the tongue portions has a cross-sectional dimension near its top which exceeds a dimension near its bottom so that tongue portions snap into the associated groove portions to lock the members together.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan B Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:03
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/02; E04B2/04; E04B2/06; E04B2/08; E04B2/56; E04B2/70; E04B2002/0202; E04B2002/0204; E04B2002/0215; E04B2002/0223; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/65; Y10T403/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A building structure comprising a plurality of building members in a plurality of abutting walls, each member having a length substantially greater than its width and substantially greater than its height having a first ledge portion at one end of its length and a ledge male portion extending outward from one side, having a second ledge portion at the other end of said length having a ledge female portion extending into said member from the opposite side thereof for receiving the male portion of another member in an abutting wall, having a tongue portion extending along said member, on first side thereof, from said one end to said other end and having a groove on the side of said member opposite from the side occupied by said tongue portion mating with the tongue portion on another member in the same wall, said tongue portion having a cross-sectional dimension near its top exceeding a cross-sectional dimension near its bottom and each groove having similar dimensions such that said tongue portions snap into and clamp the associated groove portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A building structure comprising a plurality of building members in a plurality of abutting walls, each member having a length substantially greater than its width and substantially greater than its height having a first ledge portion at one end of its length and a ledge male portion extending outward from one side, having a second ledge portion at the other end of said length having a ledge female portion extending into said member from the opposite side thereof for receiving the male portion of another member in an abutting wall, having a tongue portion extending along said member, on first side thereof, from said one end to said other end and having a groove on the side of said member opposite from the side occupied by said tongue portion mating with the tongue portion on another member in the same wall, said tongue portion having a cross-sectional dimension near its top exceeding a cross-sectional dimension near its bottom and each groove having similar dimensions such that said tongue portions snap into and clamp the associated groove portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
A structure as in claim 1 further including a first member in each said wall having a tongue portion extending along said first member and mating with the groove of one of said building members and having a relatively flat portion on the side of said member opposite from the side occupied by said tongue portion and a second member in each said wall having a groove extending along said first member and mating with the tongue portion of another of said building members and having a relatively flat portion on the side of said member opposite from the side occupied by said groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A structure as in claim 2 wherein all of said tongue portions are on the tops of the respective building members, wherein said tongue portions of said first members are on the tops of said first members and said first members are each the bottom member in their wall and wherein the grooves of said second members are on the bottoms of said second members and said second members are each the top member in their wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein said tongue portions and grooves extend the length of said building members exclusive of said ledge portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein said male portion has a cross-sectional dimeNsion near its top exceeding a cross-sectional dimension near its bottom and each female portion having similar dimensions for snapping into and clamping the associated male portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
186 words
A building member for use in assembling a building having a plurality of abutting walls having a length substantially greater than its width and substantially greater than its height, having a first ledge portion at one end of its length and a ledge male portion extending outward from one side of said member, having a second ledge portion at the other end of its length having a ledge female portion extending into said member from the opposite side thereof for receiving a male portion of a member in an abutting wall, having a tongue portion extending along the length of said member on first side thereof from said one end to said other end and having a groove therein on the other side opposite said first side extending along the length of said member from said one end to said other end for receiving a tongue portion of another member in the same wall, said tongue portion having a cross-sectional dimension near its top exceeding a cross-sectional dimension near its bottom and each groove having similar dimension for snapping into and clamping the associated tongue portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
186 words
A building member for use in assembling a building having a plurality of abutting walls having a length substantially greater than its width and substantially greater than its height, having a first ledge portion at one end of its length and a ledge male portion extending outward from one side of said member, having a second ledge portion at the other end of its length having a ledge female portion extending into said member from the opposite side thereof for receiving a male portion of a member in an abutting wall, having a tongue portion extending along the length of said member on first side thereof from said one end to said other end and having a groove therein on the other side opposite said first side extending along the length of said member from said one end to said other end for receiving a tongue portion of another member in the same wall, said tongue portion having a cross-sectional dimension near its top exceeding a cross-sectional dimension near its bottom and each groove having similar dimension for snapping into and clamping the associated tongue portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A member as in claim 6 wherein said member further has a roughly flat surface on the other side of said first ledge portion and has a roughly flat surface on the other side of said second ledge portion for matching with the flat surface on said other side of a first ledge portion of another member in another abutting wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A member as in claim 7 wherein said flat surface on said other side of said first ledge portion extends level with the opening of said groove on said other side and said flat surface on said other side of said second ledge portion extending level with the bottom of said tongue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A member as in claim 7 wherein said male portion has a cross-sectional dimension near its top exceeding a cross-sectional dimension near its bottom and each female portion having similar dimensions for snapping into and clamping the associated male portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |