Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SPLINE SEAL FOR BUI DING LOG UNITS
Bac~ground of the Invention
This invention relates to building log units and more
particularly to such a building log unit in which an improved
water and air-tight insulated spline seal is provided between
superimposed vertically aligned wall forming members.
Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates,
various types of seals have been devised for sealing and
insulating interstices defined between superimposed wall forming
members, such as logs and log-like members. Prior art type
seals are disclosed ~n the following U. S. patents: No. 3,992,83~,
dated November 23, 1976; No. 3,~60,301, dated August 12, 1969;
No. 2,525,659, dated October 19~ 1950; and No. 2,130,231, dated
September 13, 1938. Also, U. S. patent No. 3,527,005, dated
September 8, 1970 discloses an insulated wall construction
wherein laterally spaced splines extend between oppositely dis-
posed grooves in adjacent wall forming members with a compressible
core of insulation material interposed therebetween and with the
outer side of the lower groove extending upwardly alongside the
spline. With this structure, it is necessary to permanently
assemble the splines and the insulation material as the wall
forming members are secured in place. Also, with this structure,
moisture seeps downwardly between the lower portion of the outer
spline and its upwardly opening groove. Since such moisture is
not evaporated/ it fosters the growth of fungi and is the
greatest cause of premature wood decay.
_mmar~ of the Invention
In accordance with my invention, ~ provide an improved
spline seal for building log units which is simple of construction
and economical of manufacture. Also, my spline seal may be
installed after the wall forming members are in place and the
1- ~
r ~
rou~h jambs and permanent blocking have been installed, thus
eliminating costly delays during erection while expensive
erectioll e~uipment is used. Furthermore, my improved spline
seal provides a positive water and air-tight seal between
superimposed vertically aligned wall forming members, thus
ellminating the problem of trapped, unevaporated moisture and
prematurely decayi~g of the wall forming members.
My improved spline seal embodies a pair of horizontal,
upstanding, elongated splines extending between superimposed
vertically aligned wall forming members. A pair of laterally
spaced, downwardly opening grooves is provided in the lower
surface of each wall forming member in position to receive the
upper edge portions of the elonga~ed splines. A pair o~
spaced apart la-terally and outwardly opening recesses is provided
in the upper surface of each wall forming member in position to
receive the lower edges of -the elongated splines. A sealant
is applied between upper and lower portions of the splines
and the adjacent grooves and recesses, respectively, to form
a water and air-tight seal therebetween whereby moisture con-
tacting the outer surface of the spline flows downwardly andthen outwardly of the laterally opening recess.
Description of the Drawings
Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application,
in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmental perspective view showing super-
imposed, vertically aligned wall forming members wi~h my improved
spline seal therebetween;
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along
the line 2-2 of FI~. l;
, . . ..
FIG. 3 is a fragmental, side elevational view taken
generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmental view corresponding to
FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an assembled wall
of superimposed, vertically aligned wall forming membe~s,
having a window opening therein.
Detailed Description
Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding
of my invention, I show in FIG. 1 a corner of a building log
unit indicated generally at 10. The unit 10 embodies superimposed,
vertically aligned, elongated wall forming members 11 which
extend transversely from each other at adjoining end portions 12.
As shown in FI~S. 1 and 3, the end portions 12 are interconnected
by conventional dovetailed end poxtions which are secured to
each other by elongated spikes 13 and a suitable sealant indicated
at 15, such as a butyl extrusion sealant. Also, the wall forming
members 11 may be held in vertical alignment by inserting steel
rods 13a into pre-drilled holes and then driving them into the
subjacent wall forming member 11, as shown in FIG. 5. While
I have shown the wall forming members 11 as being hand hewn logs,
it will be apparent from the description that follows that my
improved spline seal may be adapted for use with other forms of
wall forrning members.
As shown in the drawings, a longitudinally extending
opening or interstice 14 is formed between adjacent superimposed,
vertically aligned wall forming members 11. A pair of hori20ntal,
upstanding elongated splines 16, such as hardboard splines, extend
between adjacent vertically aligrled wall forming membcrs 11,
as shown, to enclose opposite sides of the longitudinal intexstice
14 formed therebetween.
A ?air of laterally spaced, downwardly opening grooves 17
extend longitudinally along the lower surface 18 of each wall
forming member 11. The downwardly opening grooves 17 are in
position to receive the upper portions 21 of the spline 16 which
extend upwardly and inwardly of the grooves 17. The outer wall
19 of each groove 17 is shown as extending downwardly and out-
wardly in position to receive the upper portion 21 of an adjacent
upwardly and inwardly extending spline 16 inserted therein.
A pair of la-terally and outwardly opening recesses 22 are
provided in the upper surface 23 of each wall forming rnernber 11,
as shown. The recesses 22 are spaced laterally apart a greater
distance than the distance between a superjacent pair of grooves
17 and are in position to receive the lower edges 2~ of the
upwardly and inwardly extending splines 16. The lower portions
of the splines are secured to the recesses 22 by a suitable
sealant, such as a polyurethane sealant, indicated at 26. While
I have shown a polyurethane sealan-t 26 as securing each lower
portion of the spline to an adjacent recess, it will be apparent
that other securing means may be employed.
A suitable pliable sealant 27, such as an elastic sealant,
is applied to the outer surface of the upper portion 21 of each
spline 16 adjacent its groove 17 and to the outer surface of the
lower portion of each spline adjacent the recess 22, as shown,
to form a water and air-tight seal along the upper and lower
portions of each spline. The pliable sealant is employed due to
the fact that it remains permanently pliable which resul-ts in a
positive seal being formed at all times as the spline shrinks
or moves relative to its groove 17. With each spline 16 extending
upwardly and inwardly, moisture contacting its ou-ter surface runs
downwardly and then outwardly of the laterally and outwardly
extending recess 22 thereby preventing moisture from seeping
between the lower portion of the spline and its cooperating
outwardly extending recess.
As shown in the drawings, an insulating material 28,
such as a s-trip of foil-backed foam insulation, is interposed
between each pair of upstanding splines 16. The insula-ting
ma-terial 28 extends along the entire length of the interstice
14 enclosed by the splines 16 to form a water and air--tight seal
and at -the same time provides insulation between the members 11.
Also, additional insulation is obtained by providing an air space
between the insulation ma-terial 28 and the adjacent splines 16,
as shown. Preferably, the strip of insulation material 2~ is
cut slightly wedge-shaped and slightly larger than the depth
of the interstice 14, prior to installation, so that a tight fit
may be obtained. While I have shown the insulation material 28
as being strips of foil-backed foam insula-tion, it is apparent
that other forms of insulating material may be employed. Also 7
various forms of paint and/or masonry products, such as a masonry
tex-tured paint 29, may be used to coat the exposed surfaces of
the splines 16 to simulate cement chinking and thus create a
more desirable appearance.
Where the wall forming members 11 terminate at windows and
doors, as shown in FIG. 5, the ends thereof are supported by
bearing blocks 30 which are cut to the exact depth of the inter-
stice 14 between adjacent wall forming members. Each bearing
block 30 is inserted vertically so that the weight of each wall
forming member 11 is transmitted from one wall forming member to
the next one below it. Also, the bearing blocks 30 are placed
in the interstices 14 directly over one another, whereby they
are in vertical alignment with each other and transfer stress
all the way to the foundation wall, indicated at 31. As shown
in FIG. 5, suitable aligned openings 32 may be provided in the
wall forming members 11 for electrical wiring access.
From the foregoing, the construction and assembly of my
5~
improved spline seal will be readily understood. First, the
downwardly opening grooves 17 and the laterally and outwardly
opening recesses 22 are formed in the upper and lower surfaces,
respectively, of adjacent wall forming members 11 by suitable
means to the shapes shown in the drawing. Although my improved
spline seal may be assembled as the wall forming members 11 are
vertically assembled, they are preferably assembled after the
wall forming members 11 are secured in place.
With the wall forming members 11 vertically aligned and
secured in place, as shown in FI~S. 1 and 5, the insulation
material 28 is placed within each interstice 14 formed between
adjacent superimposed wall forming members 11. Next, the upper
edge portions of the splines 16 are telescoped into their co-
operating grooves 17. With the polyurethane sealant 26 applied
to each laterally and ou-twardly opening recess 22, the lower end
portions 24 of the splines 16 are then secured in place by pushing
upwardly and inwardly until they seal in place, as shown in FIGS.
2 and 4. A bead of pliable, elastic sealant 27 is -then applied
along the outer face of each spline 16 adjacent the upper portion
21 and the lower portion, as shown, to form a water and air-tight
seal between the upper and lower portions of the splines and the
adjacent wall forming members. A masonry textured paint may then
be applied to the spline to simulate cement chinking and thus
create a more desirable appearance. As rain or other forms of
moisture contact the exposed surface of each spline 16, it flows
downwardly and then outwardly of the laterally and outwardly
opening recess 22 thus preventing moisture from seeping between
the lower portion of the spline and the recess 22 in -the subjacen-t
wall forming member.
From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I
have devised an improved spline seal for building log units
which is simple of construction and economical o manufacture.
Also, my improved spline seal may be assembled after the wall
forming Members are permanently in place thus eliminating
cos-tly delays during erection while expensive erection eyuipment
at high hourly rates is tied up. Furtnermore, my improved
seal provides a positive water and air-tight seal between the
upper and lower edge portions of each upwardly extending spline,
thus elimina-ting premature decay and damage to the wall forming
members.
While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will
be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited,
but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without
departing from the spirit thereof.
