Patent ID: 8065851
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: E04C,E04F

Abstract:
1. A system, comprising: a plurality of self-spacing composite wood panels, each panel having a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side and each panel comprising: an upper surface layer and a lower surface layer, wherein the upper and lower surface layers are substantially parallel, wherein the upper and lower surface layers each have first and second longitudinal edges, and a core layer positioned between the upper and lower surface layers, wherein at least a portion of the core layer extends beyond the first and second longitudinal edges of the upper and lower surface layers, thereby forming a first tongue along the first longitudinal side of the panel, and a second tongue along the second longitudinal side of the panel, with the first and second tongues each defining an upper wall extending outward beyond the corresponding longitudinal edges of the upper surface layer, a lower wall extending outward beyond the corresponding longitudinal edges of the lower surface layer, and a head wall extending therebetween, with the first tongue head wall and the second tongue head wall in longitudinal alignment, wherein the plurality of self-spacing panels are configured to be installed on a support structure adjacent one another such that the first tongue head wall of each panel faces and abuts the second tongue head wall of an adjacent panel and the first longitudinal edges of the upper and lower surface layers of each panel do not abut the second longitudinal edges of the upper and lower surface layers of the adjacent panel but instead form upper and lower gaps therebetween.