Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
MULTI-STORY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION USING LONG STRAND TIMBER
PANELS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional
Patent
Application No. 62/777,492 filed December 10, 2018, entitled "MULTI-STORY
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION USING LONG STRAND TIMBER PANELS", which is
incorporated herein by reference as set forth herein in its entirety.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED
RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates in general to building construction, and more
particularly relates to construction of multi-story buildings using engineered
lumber
products formed from long strand timber (LST) as an improved alternative to
cross-
laminated timber (CLT) or mass plywood panels (MPP).
BACKGROUND
The information provided below is not admitted to be prior art the present
invention, but is provided solely to assist the understanding of the reader.
The building construction industry in the United States and elsewhere in the
world is experiencing major changes in how buildings are designed and built.
Changes are
especially noticeable in the institutional and commercial buildings which
traditionally
used concrete and steel. Today, mass timber structures are being designed and
built into
multi-story buildings. "Mass timber structures" are multi-story, multi-unit
(multi-family)
buildings made from engineered wood products such as Cross-Laminated Timber
(CLT)
or Mass Plywood Panels (MPP). Mass timber structures may be used to build
apartments
and condominiums but also can be used to build other multi-story and multi-
room
buildings for use by professional offices, small retail, and other small
business collectives.
Proponents of both CLT and MPP technologies have forecast that tall wooden
buildings of
20 to 40 stories will be built in the future.
Mass timber structures are increasingly being built in areas where wood
products are readily and/or economically available, and where the social
climate demands
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use of renewable or "green" products wherever possible. The currently dominant
mass
timber structural technology is known as "Cross-Laminated-Timber (CLT) which
is an
engineered wood product made from layers of dimensioned lumber (e.g. discrete
wooden
boards or planks) glued at 90 degrees to the adjacent layers and constructed
into panels.
An exhaustive exploration of CLT as a building option is found in the
publication study by
Stora Enso, Georg Guntschnig (Project Consultant), "The future of Timber
Construction:
CLT - Cross Laminated Timber", Harry Gatterer (editor), published by
Zukunftsinstitut
Osterreich GmbH (2017).
Another approach to construction of multi-story building is the use of "Mass
Plywood Panels" (MPP). MPPs are veneer-based engineered wood products wherein
multiple plies of veneer material are glued together into multiple layers,
with certain plies
aligned long-grain and others cross-grain, with the some and perhaps a
majority of the
plies in a long-grain orientation for span performance and the cross grain
plies to provide
minor force direction and panel dimensional stability. MPPs purportedly
provide higher
recovery of usable fiber than lumber boards used in CLT, and thus have certain
potential
economic advantages over CLT. Certain information about MPP is found in the
presentation by Eric Ortiz, Freres Lumber Co., Inc., "Mass Plywood Panels:
Designing
with the Newest Mass Timber Structural Product," delivered to The American
Institute of
Architects Continuing Education Systems Course, April 20, 2018, found at
http://www.woodworks.org/wp-content/uploads/presentation slides-ORTIZ-Mass-
Plywood-Panels-WSF-180425 .pdf. .
Although CLT and MPP may be pioneers in multi-story construction
approaches, the materials of both CLT and MPP have certain drawbacks. For one,
CLT in
particular is made from discrete boards of wood that are formed into a
structural unit by
gluing. Classically, CLT is a wood panel made from gluing layers of solid-sawn
boards of
lumber together. Each layer of boards is typically oriented perpendicular to
adjacent
layers and glued on the wide faces of each board, usually in a symmetric way
so that the
outer layers have the same orientation, primarily for aesthetic purposes.
Typically, a CLT
panel constructed in this manner would require numerous consistently sized
boards to
create the product, which invariably limits the amount of consistent board
product that can
be obtained and made into a CLT product. This necessarily produces a great
deal of
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waste, as misshapen or improperly sized boards could not be used in a CLT
having
uniform board properties.
Furthermore, typical CLT requires an internal structural framework for
supporting inner and outer boards, which limits the load bearing capacity. For
example, a
three layer CLT construction having exterior boards oriented horizontally
relative to a
middle layer, such as for aesthetic purposes, would be limited in longitudinal
(vertical)
compression strength due to the presence of only a single vertically oriented
load bearing
layer. Necessarily, the use of alternating layers of vertical and horizontal
limits the load
bearing capacity.
A MPP is similar to CLT, except that plywood is already made of thin sheets
(plies) of wood that are glued together. There is inherent potential for de-
lamination of
both MPP as well as CLT, as both are made of discrete units of wood product,
fastened
together with glue only. The structural capabilities of both CLT and MPP would
seem to
rely heavily on the properties of the glue and its resistance to shear forces,
i.e. forces that
wold tend to separate the boards or plies. Because of the lack of cross-ply
interconnection,
both approaches may have more risk of de-lamination because of deterioration
as a result
of heat or humidity, glue aging or failure, especially when combined with
shear forces.
One example of a CLT panel is found in international patent publication to
D'Abbadie D'Arras, Michel-Arnaud, WO 2012/149634, "Cross Laminated Timber
Panel". This document describes a cross-laminated timber panel comprising at
least a
first and a third timber layers each oriented in different directions
including at least one
timber; at least one second layer laminated with glue between said first and
third timber
layers comprising at least one layer selected from the group consisting of an
insulation
layer, a structural layer, a hollow-core or partially hollow-core layer, an
insect-resistant
layer and a mildew-resistant layer, a fire-resistance layer.
One example of CLT used in multi-story construction is found in international
patent publication to Chapman, John Bentley, WO 2015/152735, Auckland
Uniservices
Ltd., "Cross Laminated Timber Construction". This document describes a shear
core for a
building comprising a plurality of laminated timber panels. Each panel has at
least one
side edge shaped to mesh with a side edge of an adjacent panel, to thereby
resist relative
vertical movement between the panels. In some embodiments the shear core
further
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comprises at least one stabilizing means associated with a plurality of the
panels for
preventing movement of the panels out of alignment.
While this approach is useful for some applications, it requires that the side
edges be shaped to mesh with corresponding side edges of an adjacent panel.
This
requires a time- and resource-consuming step of precisely cutting and aligning
the mesh of
the edges, resulting in wasted product and adding the complexity of the "fit"
of the mesh
of the panels with each other. Although perhaps structurally desirable, this
approach is
costly.
Therefore, there is a continuing need for improved timber products for use in
multi-story construction.
One particular type of engineered lumber product is believed to be preferable
in a number of aspects for use in construction applications where structural
strength as
well as attractive appearance is important. This advantageous product is the
so-called
"long strand timber" (LST) product. Such products are shown in U.S. and
international
patents, owned and/or licensed by TimTek, LLC, for example and not by way of
limitation, the following patents, which are collectively hereafter referred
to as the
"TimTek Patents":
U.S. Patent No. 6,344,165, Coleman, Manufacture of Reconsolidated Wood
Products
U.S. Patent No. 4,232,067, Coleman, Reconsolidated Wood Product
PCT AU87/06437, A Process and Apparatus for Applying Bonding Agent and
a Process for Forming Reconsolidated Wood Products
U.S. Patent No. 4,695,345, Coleman, Continuous or Semi-Continuous Process
for Forming Reconsolidated Wood Products
U.S. Patent No. 4,711,689, Coleman, Process for Reconsolidated Wood
Production
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U.S. Patent No. 4,711,684, Coleman, Method and Apparatus for Use in
Producing Reconsolidated Wood Products
U.S. Patent No. 4,704,316, Grace, Manufacture of Reconsolidated Wood
Products
U.S. Patent No. 5,279,691, Stick/and, Method for Forming a Natural Wood
Strand Bundle for a Reconsolidated Wood Product
U.S. Patent No. 5,161,591, Sealey et al., Method and Apparatus for Use in
Producing Reconsolidated Wood Products
U.S. Patent No. 7,537,031, Jarck, A System and Method for the Manufacture
of Reconsolidated or Reconstituted Wood Products
U.S. Patent No. 7,537,669, Jarck, Systems and Methods for the Production
of Steam-Pressed Long Fiber Reconsolidated Wood Products
U.S. Patent No. 7,507,360, Jarck, System and Method for the Preservative
Treatment of Engineered Wood Products
U.S. Patent No. 8,075,735, Jarck, A System and Method for the Separation of
Bast Fibers
U.S. Patent No. 7,678,309, Jarck, System and Method for the Preservative
Treatment of Engineered Wood Products
U.S. Patent No. 7,838,446, Jarck, Wood Enhancement Agent Treated
Engineered Wood Products
U.S. Patent No. 9,931,761, Jarck, Steam Pressing Apparatuses, Systems, and
Method
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CA 2,882,607, Improved Steam Pressing Apparatus
CA 2,272,884, Manufacture of Reconstituted Wood Products
All of the foregoing TimTek Patents, whether owned, or licensed, are
incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully herein, and made a part
hereof.
BRIEF SUMMARY
Briefly described, aspects of the present disclosure provide for products and
methods for constructing mass timber structures in multi-story configurations
using long
strand timber (LST) engineered wood products. Such LST products can readily
provide
sufficient structural, insulating, aesthetic, and other desirable properties
for buildings in
the range of four to seven stories, with up to seven stories expected to
provide for 75% of
the anticipated multi-story construction within the near future.
Advantageously, LST
products are more cost-effective to fabricate than CLT, are more durable than
MPP, have
greater load bearing capacity, and are believed by some to be more
aesthetically attractive
than either.
In accordance with aspects of this disclosure, the LST products are made in
accordance with the referenced and incorporated TimTek Patents, and formed
into
structural panels of predetermined dimensions suitable for shipment to a job
site.
Preferably, the panels are manufactured with the strands or "scrimber"
resulting from the
manufacturing process oriented vertically, with long strands being generally
parallel, to
provide for greater load bearing capacity. Prior to shipment, a plurality of
panels are pre-
processed by cutting openings for windows, doors, tongues, and grooves at a
fabrication
plant, shipped to a job site, and then quickly assembled into a building shell
(i.e. full
exterior walls) at the job site. Floor and roof joists are then attached using
conventional
wood fastening devices, and interior build out can commence very quickly after
initial
construction of the exterior walls.
Generally, in the TimTek Patents, by way of example and not limitation, an
engineered long strand timber (LST) or wood product is manufactured by a
process
involving the crushing of wood logs, which can be of varying lengths,
diameters, and
tapers, into a mat of what is called "scrim log" material. A scrim log
material mat is a mat
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of crushed log strands from a process as described in certain of the TimTek
Patents. The
scrim log material mat is formed by processes as shown in the TimTek Patents
into a panel
of predetermined width, thickness, and length, so as to constitute a long
strand fiber panel.
Preferably, the long strands in the scrim log material mat are oriented in a
direction that
will be vertical (along the length of the panel) and therefore load-bearing in
the final
panels used for a multi-story construction.
According to one aspect, the mat of scrim log material is pre-treated with
various materials such as weather¨proofing, insect repellent, fire retardant,
preservative, or
other suitable material to enhance a property of the resultant panels. The
mat, after
forming into a billet of predetermined size (dimensions) and shape is pressed
into a final
shape of a panel by a steam press, as also described in the TimTek Patents.
After pressing
and forming, the long strand fiber (LST) panel is cooled or cured, so that the
glue and
applied extra treatment materials have sufficiently set and the panel is ready
to be used for
a building.
After the panels have sufficiently cured, they are pre-fabricated into panels
that are specifically configured for a particular construction project,
wherein a multi-story
building is contemplated. Preferably, the side edges of panels are pre-cut to
form a tongue
and groove mating engagement, with a tongue on one vertical extending side and
a groove
on the opposite, vertically extending side. According to one aspect, a groove
is formed on
the bottom or lowermost edge of a panel, for engaging with a tongue element on
a
foundational element or a vertically adjacent additional panel. Similarly, a
tongue is
formed on the top or uppermost edge of a panel, for engaging with a groove
element on a
vertically adjacent additional panel.
According to one aspect, openings for windows and doors of a building are
precut at the factory or fabrication site, so as to minimize the exposure of
the panel to the
weather for cutting of the openings, and allow pre-treatment of the openings
with sealant,
preservatives, paint, or the like.
According to one aspect, a plurality of pre-configured panels are delivered to
a
construction site for a multi-story building, and assembled into the outer or
exterior walls
of the building at the site. First, the building is initiated by construction
of a foundation
that preferably includes an embedded tongue element that extends upwardly from
the
foundation, along the outer periphery of the foundation. Alternatively, a
groove element
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may be provided in the foundation, along the periphery of the foundation, for
engaging
with a tongue element of a plurality of panels. Suitable panels with mating
engagement
tongues or grooves are placed into position on the tongue, or groove, as
appropriate. A
first panel is typically installed as the "anchor" panel, to which the
remaining panels for
the outer lower wall of the building are engaged and mated. The initial or
starter or anchor
panel may be supported temporarily with side supports, so as to prevent
undesirable
lateral, outward or inward non vertical movement, while other and adjacent
panels are
installed.
The process of installing adjacent panels continues by lowering a next panel
into position and engaging both the lower tongue or groove with the foundation
element,
as applicable and applying horizontal pressure to engage the tongue or groove,
as
applicable of the two panels that are to reside side-by-side.
It will be understood that prior to engagement of any panels to a foundation
element, a tongue or groove of an adjacent panel, a suitable adhesive or other
filler
material is applied to bond the panels together and to the sideways adjacent
as well as
lowermost adjacent foundational element or panel. If desired, pressure may be
applied to
the side edge panel joints, so as to force any excess adhesive from the joint
and also to
accelerate the curing of the adhesive. Such pressure may be applied by a jack
or by use of
a hydraulic force applying means such as the bucket of a loader. Preferably a
suitable
protective jig is applied to the exposed edge to which pressure is applied to
prevent
damage to the tongue or groove on the side of the panel to which pressure is
applied.
Once a plurality of panels are assembled, leaving typically a single panel
opening in the periphery of side walls of a building, the final panel is
lowered into
position, from an upper position so that the tongue and groove of the final
panel is
engaged or slid into the tongue or groove, as applicable, of the panels
already in place to
form the walls with the exception of the final opening. Pressure from the top
of the final
panel may be needed to cause the final panel to move into position, given that
typically
adhesive will be applied to the exposed final tongue and groove. In the event
of a fit that
is less than tight and satisfactory, further pressure may be applied to the
overall walls to
force the final panel to close any gaps with its adjacent panels, and force
the ejection of
any excess adhesive materials.
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According to one aspect, the exterior wall panels are fabricated such that
each
of a plurality of panels is configured for a wall portion that extends
multiple floors of a
multi-story building, with the length of the strands of each panel oriented in
the vertical,
load-bearing direction, with a plurality of multi-story panels positioned
horizontally
adjacent one another to form a complete side wall, each panel extending
multiple stories of
the building.
According to another aspect, the exterior wall panels are fabricated such that
each of a plurality of panels is configured as a single-story panel and
comprises a wall
portion that extends horizontally of a single floor of a multi-story building,
with the length
of the strands of each panel oriented in the vertical, load-bearing direction,
with a plurality
of multi-story panels positioned horizontally adjacent one another to form a
complete side
wall. In such an aspect, each floor of the multi-story building has a
plurality of panels
extending around the periphery of the floor of the building on a single floor,
and each floor
has a similar multi-panel assembly of single-story panels.
According to another aspect, an LST floor panel is disclosed, comprising a
plurality of relatively thin LST panels that are pressed into a thicker,
single, multi-layer
floor panel having the length of the strands in one layer oriented at an
angle, preferably
perpendicularly, to the lengths of the strands in one or more adjacent layers,
pressed in the
steam press disclosed in incorporated patents of this disclosure, so as to
provide a multi-
layer floor panel that can be assembled with other, like floor panels to make
floors for use
in a building construction as described herein. The multi-layer floor panels
are pre-
fabricated and delivered to a construction site, as for the exterior wall
panels, and
assembled on site into a completed, multi-floor building.
According to yet another aspect, a multi-story building can be constructed
with
vertical support columns that are made from LST material pressed in the steam
press
disclosed in incorporated patents of this disclosure, with the long strands of
the LST
material oriented in a vertical, load-bearing orientation, to provide vertical
support as well
as aesthetically attractive features for exterior columns, floor support
columns, decorative
columns, and the like. According to another aspect, a larger billet or slab of
LST material
can be prefabricated and cut either on-site or at the fabrication plant into
smaller, discrete,
individual support columns.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the
claims
that follow. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the
present invention
will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets
forth
illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are
utilized, and the
accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. I is a perspective drawing of a multi-story building constructed from LST
panels in accordance with aspects of this disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of single exemplary LST panel according to
aspects of this disclosure, having predetermined cut-outs for a door and
windows, and
showing the direction of long strand orientation.
FIG. 3 is a top or bottom plan view of the exemplary LST panel of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a side plan view, showing a single side edge, of the exemplary LST
panel of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary LST panel according
to aspects of this disclosure showing an exemplary tongue on one side edge and
an
exemplary groove on another and opposite side edge.
FIG. 6 is a partial perspective via of a foundation having an upwardly
extending tongue for engaging with a groove on a corresponding bottom edge of
an
exemplary LST panel according to an aspect of this disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of an exemplary multi-story building constructed with a
plurality of LST panels in accordance with aspects of this disclosure,
illustrating the
placement of an LST panel into a gap between other LST panels, and also
illustrating a
multi-panel region for extending the height of the building above that of a
single
prefabricated LST panel.
FIG. 8 is a partial side view of an exemplary LST panel in a multi-story
configuration, showing the attachment of floor joists for supporting flooring
on the interior
of the building.
FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing of a multi-story building constructed from LST
panels in accordance with further aspects of this disclosure, wherein the
panels are
oriented with a longer dimension of the panels in the horizontal direction,
maintaining the
strand orientation in the vertical, load-bearing direction.
CA 3064210 2019-12-09
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of single exemplary LST panel according to
other aspects of this disclosure as in FIG. 9, having predetermined cut-outs
for a door and
windows, and showing the direction of long strand orientation.
FIG. 11 is a plan view of an exemplary multi-story building constructed with a
plurality of LST panels in accordance with other aspects of this disclosure as
in FIG. 9,
illustrating the placement of an LST panel into a position adjacent other LST
panels.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an exemplary finished single LST panel for
use as a floor in a multi-story building constructed from LST panels in
accordance with
further aspects of this disclosure, wherein the floor panel comprises multiple
LST layers.
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary LST panel for use as
a floor panel as in FIG. 12, showing the cross-orientation of multiple thinner
floor panels
that are combined to make a thicker laminated floor panel.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an LST panel that is cut to provide one or
more construction support columns for use in interior or exterior support in a
single or
multi-story building constructed with other LST panels according to other
aspects of this
disclosure.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an exemplary multi-story building constructed
with a plurality of LST panels in accordance with aspects of this disclosure,
illustrating
use of vertical support columns as shown in FIG. 14 and use of panels of both
vertically
extending multi-story wall support panels as shown in FIG. 1 and horizontally
extending
single-wall support panels as shown in FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turn now to the drawings, which accompany the following detailed
description and illustrate various aspects, embodiments, features, and
elements of the
claimed inventions and the context for the use thereof. While exemplary
embodiments and
aspects are described herein, it will be understood that various modifications
to the
methods and devices can be made without departing from the scope of the
present
invention, which are solely limited by the appended claims. For example, the
size, shape,
position, materials, and other aspects of the described structural panels may
vary from
those illustrated in a number of ways. Furthermore, the sequential recitation
of steps in any
claim is not a requirement that the steps be performed in any particular
order, unless
otherwise so stated.
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The following is a description of certain non-limiting preferred embodiments
and/or aspects of the claimed invention. Those skilled in the art will
recognize, or be able
to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to
the specific
embodiments and/or aspects of the invention described herein. Those of
ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications to this
description may be
made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, as
defined in the
claims that are appended following this description.
Turning now to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements or
components or structure or context throughout the several views, FIG. 1
illustrates an
exemplary multi-story building construction 10, constructed in accordance with
aspects of
the present disclosure. The building 10 is assembled from a plurality of long
strand timber
(LST) engineered lumber panels 12 that have a length L or height, a width W,
and a
thickness T. In the example shown, a plurality of panels 12a-12e are shown,
forming a
corner of the building 10. It will of course be understood that a number of
panels, not
show in the example of FIG. 1, are required for a complete building having
four or more
walls. Any number of panels 12 may be used to assemble a building, in various
configurations.
Each panel 12 is preferably a long strand timber (LST) panel fabricated
according to the teachings of one or more of the incorporated TimTek Patents.
These
panels are initially formed from a solid billet of scrimber material, as
described in such
patents, into a predetermined standard or uniform size, prior to making any
cutouts for
doors, windows, tongues, grooves, or other material removal for architectural
and/or
design purposes. A primary consideration for the size of the panels 12 is the
steam press
that is used to form the panels from the billets of scrimber material that
have been initial
fabricated with appropriate selected adhesive, fire retardant, insect
treatment, or other
material, prior to introduction to the steam press in accordance with various
of the
incorporated TimTek Patents. According to an aspect of this disclosure, wall
panels that
are 40-50 feet long by 4-6 feet wide by 5-8 inches thick, or within a
reasonable variation
of those dimensions, are suitable for making the wall panels, floor panels,
and column
panels as disclosed herein.
It will be understood from the incorporated TimTek Patents that such patents
describe systems and methods for the manufacture of steamed-pressed long fiber
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reconsolidated wood products, which are suitable for use as the panels 12 as
described
herein. The systems and methods in such patents typically comprises a bonding
agent
application system for applying bonding agent to a scrim log material mat that
can be
formed into the panels 12. The bonding agent application system further
comprises a roller
mechanism, wherein the roller mechanism is configured to compress the scrim
log
material mat in order to further open any fissures or cracks within the scrim
log material
mat in order to aid in the uniform application of the bonding agent onto the
scrim log
material mat. The resultant mat is of a shape and size corresponding to the
raw (uncut)
panels prior to pressing in a steam press.
In accordance with aspects of this disclosure, the LST products are made in
accordance with the referenced and incorporated TimTek patents, and formed
into
structural panels of predetermined dimensions suitable for shipment to a job
site.
Preferably, the panels are manufactured with the strands or "scrimber"
resulting from the
manufacturing process oriented vertically, with long strands being generally
parallel, to
provide for greater load bearing capacity.
It will be further understood from the TimTek patents that the described
systems and methods comprise a steam press chamber that is configured to
release a
predetermined volume of steam into the steam press chamber in order to cure
the bonding
agent that has been applied to the scrim log material mat. The steam press
chamber further
comprises a pressing mechanism, wherein the pressing mechanism is configured
to
compress the scrim log material mat to a predetermined thickness, height,
width, and
density corresponding to the size of the panels 12.
In particular, an apparatus such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 9,931,761,
the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein as if the same
were fully set
forth herein, may be used to construct the long strand timber panels according
this this
disclosure. The steam pressing apparatus as described in the incorporated
patent generally
comprises a substantially rectangular or square-shaped inner chamber (such as
an
autoclave) and an outer, generally rectangular or square-shaped structure. The
steam
pressing apparatus comprises a hydraulic system used to compress and treat a
working
material with high efficiency, timing and precision. In one aspect, the steam
pressing
apparatus comprises a structure and system that allows modularity and
scalability for
manufacturing final products of varying dimensions, for example the long
strand timber
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panels described herein. Advantageously, such a steam pressing apparatus can
be designed
to respond to computerized instructions relating to the pressure to be
applied, steam to be
applied, vacuum parameters, timing of the press operation, thickness of the
resultant
working material, and other informational inputs, so as to provide an end
product that is
suitable for constructing multi-story buildings as described herein.
Still referring to FIG. 1, in accordance with one aspect of this disclosure,
each
LST panel 12 is between about 5 and about 8 inches thick (T), preferably 6-7
inches, to
form the exterior walls of the building and support the floors. The panels 12
are
preferably made in 30 to 50 foot lengths (L) or height, with 40 feet being
preferred for
construction of a typical four story building. The panels 12 may be made any
width (W),
typically in the range of 4 to 6 feet, with 4 feet being preferred to allow
ease of fabrication
and assembly. Also, the panels 12 will preferably include 3 inch tongue and
groove
elements, which will require that the panels be made somewhat larger than 4
feet to allow
for material removal to form the tongue along one edge.
Each panel 12 is shown in FIG. 1 as having various cut-outs e.g. 14 for
windows, 16 for doors, in a multi-story configuration. For example, the panel
12a is
shown with four windows 14a-14d for an exemplary four story configuration.
Panels 12b
and 12c are shown with cut-outs for windows 14 at a corner of the building 10.
Panel 12c
is shown with a cut-out 16 for a door. Other cut-outs, of various sizes and
shapes, may be
provided for aesthetic purposes. It will be understood that engineering
calculations
involving compression strength and load bearing will need to take into account
the
removal of material from any doors, windows, or other openings.
It will be appreciated that the described tongue and groove edge elements, as
well as the doors, windows, or other openings into a panel 12 are preferably
pre-cut by use
of a computer numerical control (CNC) router preprogrammed for the openings
required
for each of a plurality of panels intended for use in a building construction.
In accordance with aspects of the invention and this disclosure, the panels 12
are preferably prefabricated solid LST panels all of the same length, width,
and height for
efficiency of manufacturing. At a factory, based on a design plan (not shown),
cutouts for
doors and windows are made prior to shipment. The pre-cut panels for an entire
building
may be pre-cut and sent to a job site, where the building can be quick
assembled and
roofed in, so as to prevent weather damage and facilitate drying-in for
interior work.
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FIG. 1 also shows a foundation 20, constructed in accordance with aspects of
this disclosure. The foundation 20 is a poured concrete footer, and will
preferably include
an upwardly extending flange or tongue 24, better seen in FIG. 6. The flange
or tongue 24
is preferably a length of steel or other metal embedded into the pour of the
concrete footer
20, of a size to engage with a downward opening groove in an LST panel that is
placed on
the top surface of the foundation 20. The tongue/flange and groove
configuration resists
lateral movement of the panels 12, along a shear line of the length of the
tongue or flange,
as well as inward movement of a panel due to wind or other forces against the
sides of the
panels 12.
FIG. 2 illustrates a single exemplary LST panel 12, pre-cut in accordance with
aspects of this disclosure with a door 16 and three windows 14a, 14b, 14c. It
will of
course be understood that many different configurations of doors, windows or
other access
openings (not shown) may be incorporated into a panel 12, preferably pre-cut
at a
fabrication plant, prior to assembly.
The panel 12 in FIG. 2 includes an upwardly extending tongue 24t along a top
edge of the panel 12, for engaging with a corresponding groove (not shown) on
another,
topwardly adjacent panel (also not shown), in the event that a building design
calls for
more stories with more panels positioned above an initial, lowermost or
bottommost panel.
It will be understood that multiple panels can be stacked on top of each other
to form a
taller multi-story assembly. The number of stacked panels is dependent on the
compression strength characteristics of the panel, given the number and
position of cut-
outs, and also dependent on parameters such as the materials employed in the
long strand
scrimber material used to form the mat for the panels. Those skilled in the
art will be able
to determine a stacking height based on overall engineering requirements.
As shown in FIG. 2, according to one aspect of this disclosure, each panel 12
is preferably manufactured with the elongate crushed strands of the long
strand timber
(LST) or "scrimber" material oriented in the direction of the arrow, parallel
with the length
L of the panel. This allows the entire panel 12 to be used for an exterior
load bearing wall
of a building. Such construction is believed to provide superior load bearing
capacity than
either CLT or MPP approaches made for load bearing walls.
Although the disclosed embodiment and aspects involves a tongue and groove
configuration for adjacent panels 12, it should be understood that other
attachment or
CA 3064210 2019-12-09
placement methods may be used to secure adjacent panels in a building
construction. For
example, a butt joint type engagement could be employed, as well as
interlocking joints
formed by CNC at the fabrication plant. It will be appreciated that a tongue
and groove
configuration, as well as an interlocking configuration, provides more surface
area for
glue, e.g. at least double the glue surface compared to a butt joint. It will
be further
appreciated that an interlocking configuration is more costly from a CNC
routing
perspective, and may be a more delicate structure at more risk to damage
during assembly.
The panel 12 in FIG. 2 also includes a side edge tongue 24s, positioned along
one side edge of the panel 12, for engaging with a corresponding groove (not
shown) on
another, sidewise adjacent panel (also not shown), for constructing a multi-
panel building.
The panel 12 preferably also includes a side edge groove 26s, positioned along
a side edge
of the panel 12, opposites the side edge tongue, for engaging with a
corresponding tongue
(not show) on another, sidewise adjacent panel on the opposite side of the
side edge
tongue 24s. In accordance with this disclosure, each panel 12 is preferably
constructed
with a tongue or groove on each edge of the panel, for engaging with its
counterpart
tongue or groove, as appropriate, on adjacent panels that are placed together
to form a
building.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the panel 12, showing the upwardly extending top
edge tongue 24t. It will be appreciated that a bottom plan view of a panel 12
appears the
same, except that it preferably includes a bottom edge groove 26b (not shown,
but seen in
FIG. 4).
FIG. 4 is a side edge view of the panel 12, showing the side edge tongue 24s.
It will be appreciated that the opposite side edge view of a panel 12 appears
the same,
except that it preferably includes a side edge groove 26s (not shown, but seen
in FIG. 3).
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary LST panel 12,
showing an exemplary tongue 24 and an exemplary groove 26 on the opposite side
(whether side edge or top or bottom edge, as appropriate). As shown in the
cross-sectional
view, when the long strands of the material of the panel are oriented in the
vertical
direction as in FIG 2, the cross-section of the panel will exhibit the
diameters of the
strands, that is, cross-cut of the logs in the long strand material mat, which
comprises a
random or tessellated distribution as opposed to a striated appearance.
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In accordance with aspects of this disclosure, the appropriate tongue(s) 24
and
groove(s) 26, whether side edge or top or bottom edge, are milled or routed
from a fresh
panel 12, at a fabrication plant, prior to shipment to a job site and
assembly. Preferably,
tongues, grooves, doors, and windows are pre-cut at the fabrication plant so
as to minimize
exposure of the panels to the elements at the job site. It will of course also
be appreciated
that pre-fabrication of the discrete panels for a particular designed building
makes the
eventual assembly quicker at the job site.
FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary foundation 20, as shown at a corner. The
disclosed foundation 20 is preferably poured concrete, and includes a steel
embedded
foundation tongue 24f that extends upwardly from the foundation and is
positioned to
engage with a downwardly facing bottom groove 26b of an LST panel 12. As
discussed,
the panel 12 is lowered into position on the foundation 12, with the panel
then standing
upright, with its length (L) or height extending upwardly, thereby forming the
exterior
walls of the building 10.
In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a retaining plate or "dagger"
35
is provide to engage with the foundation 20 and with a panel 12, to provide a
way to bolt
down and hold the panels in position and resist shear and inward compression /
wind load
forces. A retaining plate or dagger 35 may be made of metal such as steel or
aluminum.
The retaining plate 35 may be rectangular as shown, or may be of other desired
shape.
The retaining plate is preferably embedded into the concrete of the foundation
20 at the
pour. In this manner, the retaining plate distributes forces within the
foundation.
Alternatively, the retaining plate 35 could be made L-shaped and fastened to
the fountain
20 with a concrete bolt or other fastening mechanism. As shown in FIG. 6, the
retaining
plate 35 includes an opening for receiving a carriage bolt 40, which passes
through the
retaining plate and through a hole (not shown) in a panel 12 once placed, and
held with a
threaded nut 42. Preferably, a retaining plate or dagger is positioned every 3-
4 feet, for
example, a retaining plate may be provided for each panel, for exemplary
panels of four
foot widths.
It will be appreciated that the retaining plate 35 is shown in FIG. 6 as on
the
exterior of the building 10, but could just as readily be placed on the
interior of the
building. Further still, the retaining plate could be made to replace a
portion of the tongue
or flange 24f, and extend upwardly a greater extent than the flange 24f, into
an opening or
17
CA 3064210 2019-12-09
slot (not shown) formed in the bottom edge of a panel 12. In this manner, the
retaining
plate can be hidden from view.
FIG. 7 shows an exemplary building construction 10 made of multiple
vertically extending panels 12, e.g. 12a-12h, for a multi-story construction,
and including
additional two-story panels 12g-12h, to form a six-story building. In this
example the
panels 12a-12f are four story, and the panels 12g-12h are two story. The two-
story panels
12g-12h are placed atop corresponding four story panels, e.g. 12e-12f. The two
story
panels are shown with retaining plates 37, preferably steel or aluminum or
other metal
similar to those of the foundational retaining plates 35, with openings for
receiving a
fastener such as threaded bolt and nut.
FIG. 7 also illustrates how the panels 12 may be assembled at a job site, to
construct a multistory building 10. Preferably, the panels 12 are lowered into
position on
top of the foundation 20, or as appropriate on top of lower panels such as 12e
and 12f,
with a crane 50 or other lifting equipment. For assembly of all the panels
except a "final"
or last panel, the placement of the panels is relatively straightforward ¨ the
panels are
lowered into position one by one and engaged with an adjacent previously-
placed panel.
A first panel is placed on the foundation 20 and typically supported
temporarily by angled
beams or other support means, awaiting placement of adjacent panels. An
adjacent or
second panel is then lowered into position next to the first panel, to engage
with the flange
on the foundation 20, and then pressed by sideways pressure so that the tongue
(or groove)
on the first panel engages with the corresponding and mating groove (or
tongue) on the
second panel.
It will be appreciated that preferably the groove is filled or coated with a
suitable filler material such as adhesive or sealant or grout, both on the
bottom groove and
the side edge, to hold the panels together for structural integrity and
strength.
Alternatively, the tongues may be coated with such adhesive or sealant, prior
to
engagement. After placement of a panel 12, preferably side pressure is applied
to force
any excess filler material out and seal the joint securely. Side pressure may
be applied
with a hydraulic jack or a machine such as a bucket loader, provided of course
that
suitable protection for the side edge is provided to prevent damage to the
tongue or
groove. If desired, an elongate protection jig (not shown) having a first
surface for
engaging with the tongue or groove and a second surface for engaging with a
pressure-
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CA 3064210 2019-12-09
applying device such as hydraulic jack or bucket loader may be constructed and
utilized,
to provide a mechanism against which pressure can be applied and distributed
along the
entire side edge, for uniform pressure.
Still referring to FIG. 7, placement of a "final" or last panel, e.g. panel
12b as
shown, presents a somewhat different challenge in the overall construction. In
the event
that the manufacturing tolerance of the panels is sufficiently tight, the
final panel 12b must
be inserted between two already-placed panels 12a and 12c. The final panel 12b
is treated
with adhesive or sealant as for the other panels, and then lowered into the
"slot" between
panels 12a and 12c. Because the panels are heavy engineered lumber, the force
of gravity
may be sufficient to bring the final panel 12b down to its final resting
position. In the
event of tight tolerance, and/or resistance to sliding placement is presented
by adhesive or
sealant, top pressure may be applied. It will of course be understood that the
top edge of
the panel 12b should be protected if downward pressure is applied.
Alternatively, a
pressure rig may be employed through the openings of the windows 14, e.g. a
cable or
chain that is anchored on one end and attached to a winch on the other end, to
apply
downward pressure through the surface(s) of the windows. Of course, the window
surfaces should be protected from damage with use of an elongate, window-sized
jig that
engages with the chain or cable and distributes pressure along the edges of
the open
window.
Still referring to FIG. 7, in certain circumstances it may be the case that
two
adjacent panels 12 e.g. panel 12a and/or 12c, have both tongues or grooves for
the
remaining "slot" within which a final panel 12b may need to be inserted. If
both have a
tongue, it may be necessary to remove one of the tongues, or provide a special
final panel
that includes a pair of opposing grooves. In the case where a tongue is
missing, as when
two grooves are adjacent, a "spline" of material may be inserted to close and
seal the joint
between the final panel 12b and its adjacent panels 12a, 12c. In FIG. 7, a
spline 38 may be
inserted into the grooves of the panels as the final panel 12b is inserted. It
will be
understood that a spline is different from a tongue and groove, and is
typically a flexible
material that can be inserted into a groove, absent a tongue on the adjacent
panel, and
close up / seal the space of the groove. A spline can be made of material such
as rubber,
silicone, a cementitious material or adhesive poured in, or any number of
other materials.
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CA 3064210 2019-12-09
FIG. 8 is a partial side perspective view of an exemplary LST panel 12 in a
multi-story configuration, showing the attachment of floor joists 60 for
supporting flooring
on the interior of the building 10, according to an aspect of this disclosure.
Alternatively
and/or in addition, as discussed further below, prefabricated LST floor panels
80 (see FIG.
12 and FIG. 13) made of LST panels can be employed to provide the flooring in
the multi-
story building. Because each panel 12 is multi-story and constructed in a
manner that is
load bearing due to the vertical orientation of the strands in the panel, it
is capable of and
configured for supporting a plurality of floors within the building. The
engineered LST
wood provides a solid and load bearing supporting surface for receiving floor
joist hangers
62. The floor joist hangers may be of a conventional, somewhat triangular type
having
openings for fasteners (not shown) that may be drilled or bolted into the
panels 12 to hold
the hangers 62 and support the floor joists 60 or the LST floor panels 80.
FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary multi-story building construction 10',
constructed in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure. The
building 10'
is assembled from a plurality of long strand timber (LST) engineered lumber
single story
panels 80 that have a length L or height, a width W, and a thickness T similar
to that of the
multi-story panels 12 in FIG. 1, but of a height H corresponding to a single
story of the
building instead of a multi-story panel 12 as in FIG. 1. The strands of the
LST material
are, as in the multi-story panels 12, oriented vertically for load bearing
purposes. A
plurality of such panels 80 are assembled adjacent to one another on a single
floor, and
additional single-story panels are assembled for the second and other stories
In the
example shown, a plurality of panels 80a-80h are shown, forming a corner of
the building
10'. It will of course be understood that a number of panels, similar to the
example of
FIG. 1, are required for a complete building having four or more walls. Any
number of
panels 80 may be used to assemble a building, in various configurations, with
each single
story panel forming the exterior walls of a single story of the building.
As in the multi-story panels 12 of FIG. 1, the single-story panels 80 are
preferably
provided with cutouts for windows 14, doors 16, and/or other openings prior to
shipment
to the job site and final assembly. Also as in the multi-story panels 12,
cutouts for tongues
and grooves (not shown) are preferably provided between vertically and
horizontally
adjacent panels 80.
CA 3064210 2019-12-09
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of single exemplary LST single-story panel 80
according to other aspects of this disclosure as in FIG. 9, having
predetermined cut-outs
for windows 14 and a door 16, and showing the direction of long strand
orientation in the
vertical, load-bearing direction. Tongues and grooves, e.g. 24t on the top
edge and groove
26b on the bottom edge are preferably provided, similar to that of the FIG. 1
embodiment.
A side edge tongue 24s and opposite groove (not shown) are also preferably
provided to
provide for shear and lateral force resistance between adjacent panels on the
same floor.
FIG. 11 is a plan view of an exemplary multi-story building 10' constructed
with a plurality of single-story LST panels 80 in accordance with other
aspects of this
disclosure as in FIG. 9, illustrating the placement of an exemplary single-
story LST panel
80a into a position adjacent two vertically adjacent lower single-story panels
80b, 80c, in a
staggered arrangement for additional strength, and a same-story horizontally
adjacent
panel 80d. The assembly methodologies are the same as for FIG. 1, with tongue
and
groove engagement between adjacent panels, whether horizontally adjacent or
vertically
adjacent.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an exemplary finished single LST floor panel
90 adapted for use as a floor in a multi-story building constructed from LST
panels in
accordance with further aspects of this disclosure, wherein the floor panel
comprises
multiple LST layers 92. According to these aspects, a floor panel comprises a
plurality of
layers of LST material in relatively thin layers T, e.g. T1, T2 ... TN, which,
are laminated
or, more preferably, press-laminated in the steam press shown in the
incorporated patents,
to provide an integral, robust, final thickness TF which comprises the
collective
thicknesses T1 + T2 + ... TN of the multiple layers. As seen in FIG. 12, the
lengths of the
strands or striations are preferably at perpendicular orientation, or angular
orientation,
relative to each other in adjacent layers, to provide for additional strength.
As with other LST panels as disclosed herein, the floor panels 90 are
preferably provided with tongues and grooves on opposite side edges to provide
for shear
and compression resistance at the joints between panels or mounting. The
tongues and
grooves are not necessarily the same dimensions as those of the thicknesses
Tl, T2 ... TN,
and can be cut out to a preferred dimension. Similarly, the thicknesses of the
layers TI,
T2 ... TN need not necessarily to be uniform.
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CA 3064210 2019-12-09
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary multi-layer LST
floor panel 90 of FIG. 12, showing the cross-orientation of multiple thinner
floor panels
92a, 92b, 92c that are combined to make the final thicker laminated floor
panel. The
exemplary floor panel 90 in FIG. 13 has three layers, but it will be
understood that several
layers, e.g. 4-6, could be employed, giving consideration to the costs of each
layer and the
implications on lamination of the layers and the strength of the layers. It is
believed that
3-4 layers, each of about two inches thick, provides a suitable multi-layer
construction for
a floor panel, for load bearing purposes.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an LST panel 100 that is cut to provide one
or
more construction support columns 102, for use in interior or exterior support
in a single
or multi-story building constructed with other LST panels according to other
aspects of
this disclosure. As shown in FIG. 14, a single LST panel 100 constructed as
described in
the incorporated TimTek patents provides sufficient material from which
several support
columns 102 can be cut, prior to delivery to a construction site and
utilization for vertical
support purposes. A circular saw, e.g. 105, can be used to cut the LST panel
100 in the
lengthwise direction to form one or more columns 102. Preferably, the columns
are cut in
the lengthwise direction parallel to the striations of the long strand timber
used to form the
panel 100, to provide for vertical support.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an exemplary multi-story building 10"
constructed with a plurality of LST panels in accordance with aspects of this
disclosure,
illustrating use of vertical support columns 102 as shown in FIG. 14 and use
of both
vertically extending multi-story wall support panels 12 as shown in FIG. 1 and
horizontally extending single-wall support panels 80 as shown in FIG. 9. It
will be
appreciated here that the wall support panels, whether of the multi-story type
12 or the
single-story type 80 may be assembled in various combinations to construct a
multi-story
building having characteristics as described herein.
According to one aspect, the panels 12, 80, 90 are treated at initial
fabrication
for outdoor use. Such treatment may include incorporation of insecticide or
insect
repelling materials, e.g. to repel or discourage termites. Such treatment may
include
sealing or weatherproofing on the exterior surfaces. Such treatment may also
include a
fire retardant material.
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It will be appreciated that a building constructed in accordance with this
disclosure will exhibit excellent insulating properties. With the panels being
dense in
constitution and in the realm of 6 inches thick and used as exterior walls,
they can be
expected to provide a high "R" insulation rating.
It will also be appreciated that construction elements such as wall panels
(multi-story as well as single-story), floor panels, and vertical support
beams constructed
with the long strand timber (LST) material as disclosed herein and described
in the
incorporated TimTek patents, being a species of oriented strand lumber (OSL),
exhibit
minimal creep when deployed in a building construction, and are believed to
satisfy the
requirements of current structural standards including ASTM D 5456, Standard
Specification for Evaluation of Structural Composite Lumber Products, which
includes
laminated veneer lumber (LVL), parallel strand lumber (PSL), laminated strand
lumber
(LSL), and oriented strand lumber (OSL), and ASTM D 6815, Standard
Specification for
Evaluation of Duration of Load and Creep Effects of Wood and Wood-Based
Products.
From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that the use of LST products
for
multi-multi-story building construction provide a better alternative in many
respects to
either CLT or MPP. The LST products and panels are engineered from low-cost
small
timber and thinnings, which lowers the cost of the end LST product without
compromising
structural integrity, susceptibility to weather or insect damage, fire
resistance, etc. as well
as aesthetics and attractiveness in appearance that is attractive to
architects. And, such
materials are considered renewable and "green", as well as minimize the waste
that can
occur in particular with CLT. A LST construction panel as described herein
provides
extremely stiff and dense panels that can be 4 feet wide, 40 feet long and 6
to 8 inches
thick, and capable of bearing the load of multiple floors. The panels can be
treated "in
process" of panel formation for weather durability, termite, woodborer and
other insect
protection and fire retardation. Furthermore, the LST engineered wood panels
are less at
risk of delamination due to the intertwined fiber strands in the LST product.
Both CLT
and MPP are believed to be at greater risk of delamination in humid climates
as compared
to LST material.
With use of the LST panels and construction methods as described herein,
multi-story buildings of 4 to 6 stories can be quickly constructed, it is
believed in a few
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CA 3064210 2019-12-09
days using only 4-5 workers and a small crane capable of lifting the 40 x 4
foot panels
that are considered a preferred configuration.
It is further believed that use of LST panels as described herein can be half
the
cost of CLT methods, because of the use of the long strand timber method which
can use
smaller logs of varying diameters and lengths, whereas the CLT approach in
particular
depends on uniform board length to provide an attractive product.
In the claims that follow, articles such as "a", "an", and "the" may mean one
or
more than one unless indicated to the contrary or otherwise evident from the
context.
Claims or descriptions that include "or" between one or more members of a
group are
considered satisfied if one, more than one, or all of the group members are
present in,
employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process unless
indicated to the
contrary or otherwise evident from the context. The invention includes
embodiments in
which exactly one member of the group is present in, employed in, or otherwise
relevant
to a given product or process. The invention also includes embodiments in
which more
than one, or all of the group members are present in, employed in, or
otherwise relevant to
a given product or process.
Furthermore, it is to be understood that embodiments of the invention
encompasses all variations, combinations, and permutations in which one or
more
limitations, elements, clauses, descriptive terms, etc., from one or more of
the claims or
from relevant portions of the description is introduced into another claim.
For example,
any claim that is dependent on another claim can be modified to include one or
more
limitations found in any other claim that is dependent on the same base claim.
Furthermore, where the claims recite a composition, it is to be understood
that methods of
using the composition for any of the purposes disclosed herein are included,
and methods
of making the composition according to any of the methods of making disclosed
herein or
other methods known in the art are included, unless otherwise indicated or
unless it would
be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that a contradiction or
inconsistency would
arise. In addition, embodiments of the invention encompass compositions made
according
to any of the methods for preparing compositions disclosed herein.
Where elements are presented as lists, e.g., in Markush group format, it is to
be
understood that each subgroup of the elements is also disclosed, and any
element(s) can be
removed from the group. It is also noted that the term "comprising" is
intended to be open
24
CA 3064210 2019-12-09
and permits the inclusion of additional elements or steps. It should be
understood that, in
general, where the invention, or aspects of the invention, is/are referred to
as comprising
particular elements, features, steps, etc., certain embodiments of the
invention or aspects
of the invention consist, or consist essentially of, such elements, features,
steps, etc. For
purposes of simplicity those embodiments have not been specifically set forth
in haec
verba herein. Thus for each embodiment of the invention that comprises one or
more
elements, features, steps, etc., the invention also provides embodiments that
consist or
consist essentially of those elements, features, steps, etc.
Where ranges are given, endpoints are included. Furthermore, it is to be
understood that unless otherwise indicated or otherwise evident from the
context and/or
the understanding of one of ordinary skill in the art, values that are
expressed as ranges
can assume any specific value within the stated ranges in different
embodiments of the
invention, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit of the range, unless
the context clearly
dictates otherwise. It is also to be understood that unless otherwise
indicated or otherwise
evident from the context and/or the understanding of one of ordinary skill in
the art, values
expressed as ranges can assume any subrange within the given range, wherein
the
endpoints of the subrange are expressed to the same degree of accuracy as the
tenth of the
unit of the lower limit of the range.
In addition, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment of the
present invention may be explicitly excluded from any one or more of the
claims. Any
embodiment, element, feature, application, or aspect of the compositions
and/or methods
of the invention can be excluded from any one or more claims. For purposes of
brevity, all
of the embodiments in which one or more elements, features, purposes, or
aspects is
excluded are not set forth explicitly herein.
* * * * *
CA 3064210 2019-12-09
