Patent ID: 7141137
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: B27M,E04C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. The method of forming a laminated beam comprising: assembling a plurality of individual wood laminations in a juxtaposed relationship, wherein the individual wood laminations comprise a single piece of wood and have wide faces and a relatively thin thickness when compared to the width of the faces; and joining the assembled laminations together to form a laminated beam with the faces of the laminations bonded to each other; wherein the assembled laminations define a tension zone of individual wood laminations and a remainder zone of individual wood laminations; and wherein the assembled laminations in the tension zone comprise an inner tension zone having a plurality of laminations with an average uniform thickness and an outer tension zone adjacent the inner tension zone, the outer tension zone having a plurality of laminations with an average uniform thickness, and wherein the average thickness of the laminations in the outer tension zone is less than the average thickness of the laminations in the inner tension zone, wherein the average thickness of the laminations in the inner tension zone is less than the average thickness of the laminations in the remainder zone, and wherein the laminations in the outer tension zone, the inner tension zone, and the remainder zone are comprised of the same grade of lamination materials.