Wood board for outdoor decking use

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wood board (1) for outdoor decking (8) use, which board has been sawn from lumber close to bark side of the lumber, with a thickness in the range from about 10 mm up to about 32 mm, the wood board (1) comprises a first side (2) and an opposing second side (4), the first side (2) can be arranged as an upper side of the wood board (1) and the second side (4) can be arranged as a lower side of the wood board (1), or vice versa, between the first side (2) and the second side (4) the board (1) has two opposite short sides (9, 11). The wood board (1) is provided with a convex first side (2) and a convex second side (4).

Claims

1. A wood board (1) for outdoor decking (8) use comprising a board sawn from lumber close to a bark side of the lumber, with a thickness in the range from about 10 mm to about 32 mm, wherein the wood board (1) comprises a first side (2) and an opposing second side (4), the first side (2) arranged as an upper side of the wood board (1) and the second side (4) arranged as a lower side of the wood board (1), or vice versa, wherein extending between the first side (2) and the second side (4), the board (1) has two opposite short sides (9, 11), characterized in that the first side (2) and the second side (4) are convex, and wherein the wood board is dimensioned and configured to accommodate a fastening element passing through the first side (2) and the second side (4).

2. The wood board (1) according to claim 1, wherein the wood board (1) has been treated by a chemical preservation method.

3. The wood board (1) according to claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature (R) of the first side (2) and the second side (4), respectively, is in the range from about 300 mm to about 20,000 mm.

4. The wood board (1) according to claim 1, wherein a radius of corners (Rc) where the convex first side (2) and the second side (4), respectively, meet the short sides (9, 11) is in the range from about 2 mm to about 10 mm.

5. The wood board (1) according to claim 1, wherein the wood board (1) has a width (W) in the range from about 95 mm to about 225 mm and a thickness (t) in the range from about 10 mm to about 32 mm, or from about 12 mm to about 30 mm, or from about 14 to about 28 mm.

6. The wood board (1) according to claim 2, wherein the wood board (1) has been treated with a copper-containing preservative.

7. The wood board (1) according to claim 2, wherein the wood board (1) has been pressure-treated with a copper-containing preservative.

8. The wood board (1) according to claim 2, wherein the wood board (1) has a moisture content in the range from about 30% to about 35%.

9. The wood board (1) according to claim 2, wherein a radius of curvature (R) of the first side (2) and the second side (4), respectively, is in the range from about 300 mm to about 20,000 mm.

10. The wood board (1) according to claim 2, wherein a radius of corners (Rc) where the convex first side (2) and the second side (4), respectively, meet the short sides (9, 11) is in the range from about 2 mm to about 10 mm.

11. The wood board (1) according to claim 3, wherein a radius of corners (Rc) where the convex first side (2) and the second side (4), respectively, meet the short sides (9, 11) is in the range from about 2 mm to about 10 mm.

12. The wood board (1) according to claim 2, wherein the wood board (1) has a width (W) in the range from about 95 mm to about 225 mm and a thickness (t) in the range from about 10 mm to about 32 mm, or from about 12 mm to about 30 mm, or from about 14 to about 28 mm.

13. The wood board (1) according to claim 3, wherein the wood board (1) has a width (W) in the range from about 95 mm to about 225 mm and a thickness (t) in the range from about 10 mm to about 32 mm, or from about 12 mm to about 30 mm, or from about 14 to about 28 mm.

14. The wood board (1) according to claim 4, wherein the wood board (1) has a width (W) in the range from about 95 mm to about 225 mm and a thickness (t) in the range from about 10 mm to about 32 mm, or from about 12 mm to about 30 mm, or from about 14 to about 28 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Below, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a wood board for outdoor decking use according to an embodiment of the invention, and

(3) FIG. 2 shows an outdoor decking under construction with wood boards as described with reference to FIG. 1, according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a wood board 1 for outdoor decking use, from a short side view, according to an embodiment of the invention. The wood board 1 can preferably be flat sawn from parts of a log that is not close to the center of the tree, suitably wood boards flat sawn near the bark side (sapwood) from young lumber, especially thin dimensions of wood board, such as about 30-32 mm or less. Hence, with the present invention it is not only necessary to use sawn wood board for decking provided from the stable parts of the log which has been more or less a demand for the producers of wood boards.

(5) On the contrary, the present invention preferably makes use of wood boards flat sawn near the bark side (sapwood) from young lumber, especially thin dimensions of wood board, such as about 30-32 mm or less. This is a conscious choice from an environmental point of view, despite the fact that flat sawn near the bark side may shrink more at the pith side, compared to flat sawn wood boards of older lumber from closer to the center of the tree. In this way, a major part of a wood log can be used for providing wood boards for outdoor decking use.

(6) The wood board 1 may be treated by a chemical preservation method, using a pressure treatment including the copper preservative technology, that extends the durability when exposed for water. The prepared wood board treated by the chemical preservation method may preferably have a moisture content in the range from 30% up to about 35%.

(7) According to the invention, the wood board 1 comprises a first side 2 and a second side 4 such that the wood board 1 is provided with a convex upper side and a convex lower side. The convex shape of the upper and lower sides of the wood board 1 is provided in a condition before being subjected to any substantial uncontrolled drying such as subjected to sunlight or other dry conditions. However, the wood board 1 may be provided with a controlled drying process as mentioned below.

(8) After the wood board 1 has been prepared according to the invention, it may be subjected to further drying uncontrolled, in natural way by being exposed to sunlight and also when in used in shadow or stored in during dry conditions. Drying may also be provided in a controlled way by any forced industrial drying treatment process for wood. By the wording moisture content in the wood board as defined in the description of the present invention, is meant the content of liquids in relation to solids (in percentage) in the wood board. Although the wood boards may be dried to a large extent in which the moisture content can be much lower than the mentioned range from 30% up to about 35%, for instance when prepared by a chemical preservation method, the wood can still be used for decking purposes. Probably one of the convex sides of the wood board 1 would then be subjected to cupping, but the other opposing side would in most cases still be convex and be arranged as an upper surface 6 of an outdoor decking 8, as shown in FIG. 2.

(9) The first side 2 is also called a first long side, and the second side 4, opposite the first side 2, may also be called a second long side. Between the first side 2 and the second side 4 the board have two short sides, a first short side 9 and a second short side 11 opposite the first short side 9.

(10) The first side 2 can be arranged as an upper side of the wood board while the second side 4 can be arranged as a lower side of the wood board, or vice versa.

(11) The wood board 1 is provided with a convex upper side and a convex lower side. The first side 2 and the second side 4 of the wood board 1 is provided with a convex profile, formed by planing the flat sawn wood board 1. The convex profile of the board 1 will ensure that water does not stay on the first side 2 and the second side 4, whichever of the first or second side 2, 4 that is decided to be the arranged as an upper side of the wood board when mounted for the outdoor decking 8, which is further described below with reference to FIG. 2.

(12) As a result, any risk for cupping of wood board 1 in which water stays on an upper concave surface instead of flowing off the upper side can be avoided. The water can be drained rapidly from the surface of the upper side of the board 1.

(13) Further, thanks to the convex side 2, 4, the risk for arranging the wood boards 1 incorrectly during assembly and mounting of an exterior outdoor decking floor is decreased significantly. The advantage is that the lifetime of the outdoor decking board 1 is increase. Unnecessary destruction of damaged wood boards 1 due to cupping of the sides 2, 4 of the wood boards 1, that provides the floor of the decking, can be avoided and the environmental impact will be reduced.

(14) The wood board 1 as shown in FIG. 1 may be provided in various dimensions. Suitably, the wood board 1 may have a width W in the range from about 95 mm up to about 225 mm and a thickness in the range from about 10 mm up to about 32 mm, preferably from about 12 mm up to about 30 mm, and more preferred from about 14 up to about 28 mm.

(15) The wood board 1 as shown and described with reference to FIG. 1 may have a radius of curvature R of the convex upper side in the range from about 300 mm up to about 20000 mm. This has the advantage that the curving of the convex sides 2, 4 can be adapted with respect to the required properties and design of the wood boards 1. A larger radius R in the range may be used for larger dimension of the boards 1, for instance for wood boards 1 having width W about 175-200 mm. A smaller radius R is suitable for instance for wood boards 1 having width W about 100-125 mm. The radius Rc of the corners, where the convex sides 2, 4 meet the short sides 9, 11, may be in the range from about 2 mm up to about 10 mm.

(16) As an example, the wood board 1 shown in FIG. 1 may have a width W of 120 mm and a thickness t of 28 mm. A height h of the convex curvature at the center of the board 1 is set to 3 mm. Then, the radius R of curvature of the convex sides 2, 4 are 610 mm. The radius of the corners Rc, where the convex sides 2, 4 meet the short sides 9,11, may be 4 mm.

(17) FIG. 2 shows the outdoor decking 8 under construction with wood boards as described with reference to FIG. 1. The wood boards are arranged side by side and attached adjacent a support structure 14 by fasting elements, e.g. screws, against the support structure 14 underneath the boards 1. Any one of the first or second sides 2, 4 of the wood board 1, at the time for construction of the decking 8, that still has a convex side is arranged upwards as the upper side, facing away from the support structure 14. The side of the wood board 1 which may not be convex due to the fact that the wood board has being subjected to substantial drying over time, may be flat or cupped. In that case, a side 2, 4 of the wood board 1 which is not convex no longer, at the time for construction of the decking 8, is arranged downwards as the lower side adjacent the support structure 14. However, both the first side 2 and the second side 4 of the wood board 1 may still be convex after being subjected to substantial drying at the time for construction of the decking 8, and in that case any of the sides 2, 4 can be arranged as the upper or the lower side. Even if the side of the board that is still convex is arranged as the lower side adjacent the support structure 14, the board can be firmly attached by fasting elements against the support structure 14, due to the moderate radius of curvature R of the convex side as preferably provided, described in the example in the detailed description above.

(18) It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. Further, the drawings are not made to scale.