Building logs with weathertight joints

Claim 1

A building log comprising: a length of timber having outer and inner side surfaces, and generally planar top and bottom surfaces; a segment of said length adjacent one end thereof being cut in at top and bottom and both sides to a reduced cross section adapted to receive at top and bottom, like segments of other timbers disposed normal thereto; transition surfaces between both side surfaces and said reduced cross-section disposed at 45° to said side surfaces; a pair of parallel, tapered tongues along one of said planar surfaces and a pair of complementary tapered grooves along the other of said planar surfaces; fingers extending from an end of said length with spaces therebetween adapted to receive like fingers extending from an adjacent length; a metal plate having a plurality of pointed projections depending from the bottom surface thereof in areas adjacent both ends thereof only leaving the top surface of said metal plate in said end areas unobstructed for driving said pointed projections into said timber length and said adjacent length; and a further plurality of pointed projections extending upward from said metal plate intermediate said end areas thereof to penetrate the bottom surface of a log supported thereon.