Abstract:
A process for treating wooden logs to prevent cracking and increase durability includes the steps of cutting a longitudinal slot along the length of the log, forming a generally V-shaped notch by drying the log to a desired moisture content, charring the log to a desired coloration, bathing the log in a protective solution, and drying the log. The slot is cut to a point less than or equal to the radius of the log. The charring of the log can be accomplished by the use of a blowtorch.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/932,999, filed on Oct. 31, 2007, entitled “TREATMENT PROCESS FOR LOGS USED IN FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION AND FURNITURE COMPONENTS FORMED FROM SUCH TREATED LOGS”, presently pending. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIALS SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to furniture constructed from logs. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for treating logs so as to prevent cracking 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98. 
     The use of logs to construct furniture is well known. As with the use of logs to create log homes, the use of logs in furniture is appealing both structurally and aesthetically. Throughout the world, many vendors sell articles of furniture constructed from logs of various types of woods. Log furniture can take the form of almost any type of furniture, from bedroom furniture sets to pool tables. Additionally, log furniture can be well suited for outdoor use, such as in patio furniture sets. Log furniture is often constructed by drilling a series of bolt holes through the logs. A series of bolts are threaded through the bolt holes and secured by nuts. 
     The use of various types of cedar logs to construct furniture is very common. White cedar, in particular, is preferred because it is very durable and naturally bacterial and fungal resistant. Cedar gives off organic compounds known as thujaplicins which contribute to the decay resistance. In addition, these organic compounds are responsible for the pleasant aroma of cedar and at the same time deter insects, moths and other pests. These properties also make cedar an appealing choice for products such as linen storage chests (“cedar chests”) and shoe trees. 
     Over time, cedar logs undergo a natural process known as checking. During this process, moisture is released from the wood and longitudinal cracks form along the log. These cracks form across the annual growth rings of the logs but do not go through the center, or heart, of the log. While these cracks do not significantly affect the structural integrity of the logs, they are easily visible and make the furniture less aesthetically pleasing to some. Cracking can also occur as logs are subjected to the elements. Moisture from rain causes the logs to swell, and as they dry moisture is released and additional cracking can occur. 
     Although the integrity of the logs may not significantly be affected by checking or cracking, the integrity of furniture made from the logs may be. When cracks form in log furniture after the furniture has been assembled, they may interfere with the system of bolts used to secure the furniture together. If a crack encounters a bolt hole, it may cause the bolt to loosen. When the bolts loosen, the furniture, such as a chair, may become wobbly or collapse altogether. 
     Naturally, human beings and other animals tend to avoid placing themselves in situations where they feel their balance is compromised. For example, a patron in a restaurant will immediately want to switch chairs if the one they sit in is wobbly. Whether or not the patron fears that the chair will collapse under their weight is irrelevant. The wobbly chair is deemed unsuitable for its purpose. The same is true in the case of log furniture. If a piece of log furniture becomes wobbly, the consumer will become dissatisfied and feel the need to repair or replace the furniture even if it is not actually in danger of collapsing. The furniture can become wobbly due to the natural checking or due to cracking caused by exposure to the elements. 
     There are various methods for treating wood or lumber that are well known and commonly used in the industry. The goals of these treatments are to increase the durability of the wood and also to protect it from insects and fungus. Chemical preservatives are applied to the wood, often using pressure processes. These chemicals, in their concentrated forms, are often classified as toxic. Many of these chemicals are not readily available to the public and may require special permitting and approval for use. Some chemical preservatives, such as coal-tar creosote, may be brushed onto the wood. While modern treatment methods are relatively environmentally friendly, decades of wood treatment using older methods have contaminated ground water and soil with chemicals such as arsenic. 
     Many patents have issued which describe complex treatment processes for wood. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,276, issued on Jul. 6, 1976 to Allen, describes a process for the treatment of wood to impregnate the wood fully to its core with a resin component system, simultaneously with or without a flame retarding agent or preservative. The process involves enclosing the wood in a chamber, evacuating the chamber in a slow time cycle, adding a prepolymer aqueous solution to submerge the wood, continuing the vacuum, securing the vacuum, and applying pressure of prepolymer solution until the wood reaches the refusal point. In certain more dense woods, the vacuum and pressure cycles are repeated. The chemicals are purged and the chamber is evacuated. A final vacuum removes the residual surface liquids. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,131, issued on Dec. 24, 1991 to Hattori et al., teaches a method for preservation treatment of wood which comprises the steps of radiating a laser beam on a part of the surface of the wood at the least to form small holes therein, impregnating the wood with a preservative, and then applying high frequency waves to the wood to dry it by dielectric heating. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,789, issued on Aug. 31, 1999 to Yamamoto, describes an apparatus for treating green wood for the purpose of creating lumber of suitable quality for building construction. The wood is placed in a treatment chamber with a sealed atmosphere, the temperature of the chamber is increased, and the wood is maintained at a specific temperature and humidity for a given period of time, the wood is then sprayed with hot water until the moisture content of the wood decreases to a desired level. 
     Various patents have issued relating to the treatment of wood, specifically logs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,753, issued on Nov. 18, 1980 to Olson, describes a method for treating whole logs to prevent them from splitting as they are dried to a desired moisture content. Whole green logs are placed in a pressure vessel which is sealed. Preferably the logs are debarked before they are placed in the vessel, but they may be debarked after their removal therefrom. Steam is thereafter injected into the vessel until the wood throughout the logs has reached a temperature within the range of about 190 to 240° Fahrenheit, while condensed water and other fluids from the wood are drained from the vessel. Subsequently the pressure in the vessel is released at a rate slow enough that no significant collapse of the wood within the logs occurs, and when the logs are cool enough to handle they are removed, debarked if necessary, and dried in a room whose relative humidity is maintained not less than about 45% until the logs have reached a predetermined moisture content. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,443,990, issued on Apr. 24, 1984 to Johnson, teaches a method of processing and producing crack free logs by making a saw cut along opposite longitudinal side portions of a log immediately after harvesting and thus curing the log, without debarking, in a shaded, ventilated air space so that any cracks will be concentrated along the saw cuts. When a finished appearance is desired, a groove is formed along the opposite side portions of the log in registry with the saw cuts and a spline or strip of wood is inserted in each groove so that it projects beyond the periphery of the leg with the spline or strip being secured in the grooves by glueing or the like. The peripheral or exterior portion of the spline or strips is peeled or cut off so that the resulting surface is contiguous with the peripheral surface of the log. 
     A typical manufacturer of log furniture may be a small company or a single craftsman with limited resources. Therefore, a need has developed for a process for treating logs used in furniture which does not require expensive tools or systems such as pressure vessels and controlled humidity chambers as found in the prior art. Additionally, there is a need for a treatment process which does not require many chemicals which may be harmful to the environment or which are not readily available to the public. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a log treatment process which makes logs crack-resistant. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a log treatment process which makes logs resistant to mildew, mold and weather stains. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a log treatment process which requires a minimal amount of special tools or machines. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a log treatment process which uses a limited amount of chemicals. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a log treatment process which is economically feasible for smaller manufacturers. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a log treatment process whereby the furniture constructed with the logs does not become wobbly. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a process for treating a wooden log for use as a furniture component involving removing the bark from the log, cutting the log to a desired length, and planing the log to a desired shape. A longitudinal notch is cut towards the center of the log and along the length of the log. A generally V-shaped notch is formed by drying the log to a desired moisture content. The log is then charred to a desired coloration and bathed in a protective solution. The log is again dried and a varnish is applied to the log. The notch is cut to a depth less than or equal to the radius of the log. The log may be charred by applying heat from a propane torch onto the surface of the log. The moisture content may be approximately 10-11%. 
     A series of bolt holes are drilled in the log in desired locations. The holes may be formed through the notch on the log. The process also involves installing a bolt through the formed hole and fastening a nut to the bolt so as to secure the log to another article. Additionally, a hole is formed through another wooden log, a bolt is installed through the formed hole, a nut is passed through the hole formed through the other log and the nut is fastened to the bolt so as to secure the two logs together. 
     The present invention is also a log furniture assembly having crack-resistant properties which comprises a first log having a slot formed lengthwise along the first log. The slot opens (upon drying of the log) with a wide dimension at an outer surface of the first log. A second log is secured by a fastener to the first log. The second log also has a slot formed lengthwise along the log which opens (upon drying of the log) with a wide dimension at an outer surface of the second log. The first log has a hole formed thereon which extends into the slot. The second log also has a hole formed thereon. A bolt is affixed through the hole on the first log and through the hole on the second log. A nut is affixed to the bolt so as to secure the second log in a desired location relative to the first log. The nut is positioned interior of the second log away from the outer surface of the second log. Each of the first and second logs are charred to a desired coloration and have a protective coating extending thereover. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an end view of a log having a saw cut formed thereon. 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of a treated log used as a furniture component connected to another treated log. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a log used as a furniture component treated using the process of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of a log used as a furniture component treated using the process of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  a side view of a furniture component assembled with treated logs of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The process of the present invention requires several steps. First, the bark on a log is removed. Then, the log is cut to a desired length appropriate for use as a furniture component. The log is then planed to obtain the desired shape. Next, a saw cut is formed longitudinally along the log. The saw cut is sliced radially toward the center of the log and may remove up to 45% of the diameter of the log. The saw cut does not extend past the center, or heart, of the log. The saw cut may be formed using a circular saw or more precisely by using more complex, specialized tools. Additionally, the saw cut runs the length of the log and opens at the ends of the log. During the natural process of checking, longitudinal cracks may form along the log which cross the annual growth rings of the log. These cracks do not extend past the center of the log. When a saw cut is formed in the log, stresses are relieved in the log and it is much less likely to form cracks elsewhere along the perimeter of the log. 
     After making the saw cut, the log is dried to a desired moisture content. Optimally, this moisture content is approximately 10-11%. The drying may be accomplished by placing the log in a hot, sunny area, or by other means such as the use of a blow-dryer type apparatus or a heated enclosure. The drying process causes the saw cut to open into a generally V-shaped notch. This process further reduces stresses within the log. 
     After drying, bolt holes may be drilled through the log at desired locations along the log for use during assembly of the furniture. These bolt holes may be in communication with the V-shaped notch formed in the log. This communication helps to better relieve the stresses of the log which ordinarily cause cracking or checking. 
     The next step in the process of the present invention is the charring step. The log may be charred using a typical propane blowtorch. The charring helps to further release stresses within the log by removing moisture from within the log. Additionally, the charring gives the log an enhanced aesthetic appearance. Darker spots will form along the natural imperfections of the wood, such as knots, and these spots give each log a unique appearance. The charring may be done by other means besides the typical propane blowtorch, however, the blowtorch is likely the simplest method for doing so since such torches can be found at most hardware and home improvement stores. 
     After charring, the log is dipped in a protective solution. This solution should serve to seal the log against the elements, and may be selected from a number of solutions well known in the art and readily available to the public. After being dipped in the protective solution, the log is again dried. Again, drying may be accomplished by placing the log in a hot, sunny area, or by other means such as the use of a blow-dryer type apparatus or a heated enclosure. After the log is dried, a varnish is applied. When the varnish is dry, the log is ready for use in the construction of log furniture. The treated log will be less likely to develop longitudinal cracks caused by the natural process of checking or by exposure to the elements. After the furniture is put into use, it may be helpful to apply additional varnish from time to time to further protect the logs from the elements. 
       FIG. 1  is an end view of a log  10  having a saw cut  11  formed thereon. The saw cut  11  extends along the length of the log  10  and towards the center  16  of the log  10 . The saw cut  11  could be made shallower, but should not extend deeper than the center  16  of the log  10 . The saw cut  11  is made before the log  10  is dried to a desired moisture content. The drying step causes the saw cut  11  to open to a generally V-shaped notch as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of a treated log  10  used as a furniture component connected to a second log  12 . The generally V-shaped notch  14  is shown extending towards the center  16  of the log  10 . The notch  14  is shown as having removed approximately one eighth of the outer circumference  20  of the log  10 . The notch  14  could remove more or less of the outer circumference  20 , but should not remove more than 45% of the circumference  20 . 
     A bolt hole  18  is formed through the log  10 . An indentation  22  is formed on the log  10  so that a head  28  of the bolt  24  can rest at or below the surface of the log  10 . The bolt hole  18  is shown as being in communication with the notch  14 . 
     The first log  10  is connected to the second log  12  by bolt  24  and nut  26 . The nut  26  is threadedly connected to the bolt  24 . The head  28  of the bolt  24  rests in the indentation  22  of the first log  10 . A bolt access hole  30  is formed in the side of the second log  12  and extends far enough therein so as to facilitate the connection of the nut  26  to the bolt  24 . The bolt access hole  30  is in communication with the V-shaped notch  32  formed on the second log  12 . 
     For clarification, the bolt  24  extends from the indentation  22 , through the bolt hole  18  and into the V-shaped notch  14  of the first log  10 . From there, the bolt  24  extends into a bolt hole drilled in the second log  12 . The end of the bolt  24  then extends into the bolt access hole  30 , where a nut  26  is attached, securing the logs together. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of the second log  12 . As shown, the generally V-shaped notch  32  extends the entire length of the log  12 , opening at the ends  21 . There are shown two bolt access holes  30  near each end. These bolt access holes  30  may be drilled at any point along the log  12  so as to connect to other logs in a desired fashion. Also, additional bolt holes, bolt access holes, or indentations may be formed within the notch  32  or at other locations to allow for seating of a bolt head or for the attachment of a nut. 
       FIG. 4  shows an end view of the second log  12 . The bolt  24  shown in  FIG. 2  (not shown here), would pass from the V-shaped notch  14  of the first log  10 , into the bolt hole  34  of the second log  12 . Also shown here is the V-shaped notch  32  of the second log  12 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a furniture component  40  formed of treated logs  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48 . The logs have been cut to desired lengths and treated. Three different types of holes are shown on the component  40 . In this case, the component  40  is an end or side section of a log chair. 
     A series of bolt holes  50  are shown drilled through the logs. An indentation  52  is also shown formed on the log  44 . Indentation  52  allows for a head of a bolt to rest below the surface of the log  44  when inserted into the associated bolt hole  50 . Two bolt access holes  54  and  56  are shown formed on the log  48 . The access holes  54  and  56  allow a person assembling the furniture to affix a nut on an end of a bolt inserted through a bolt hole. For example, in order to secure logs  46  and  48  together, a bolt would be threaded through bolt holes  60  and  58  (indicated by dashed lines). The head of the bolt would rest in indentation  62 , while the end of the bolt would extend into bolt access hole  56 . A nut would then be secured on the bolt through bolt access hole  56 . The V-shaped notches are not seen in  FIG. 5 , as the logs are arranged such that they do not face the outer sides of the furniture, creating a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the present claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.