Wood joint for a barrelhead

A wood joint is disclosed which comprises a first heading having a first profile comprising an upper lobe, a lower lobe, and a valley section intermediate the lobes, a second heading having a second profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a ridge section intermediate the sockets, and the first profile for engaging the second profile for securing the headings together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a wood joint and more particularly to a wood joint for use in the manufacture of a barrelhead.

A barrel typically comprises a barrel body and a pair of opposing barrelheads. The barrelheads are used to cap the body and to provide for a water-tight seal for any liquid stored within the barrel. The barrelheads are usually constructed of pieces of wood, referred to as headings, joined together by use of wood joints. Construction of a barrelhead entails a number of headings being joined together and then cutting the joined headings into a circle. The circle is sized and shaped to fit on either end of the barrel body to seal the barrel and the contents stored therein. Examples of wood joints that have been employed are tongue and groove joints, keynote joints, square joints, and double tongue and double groove joints. However, one problem associated with such wood joints is that they are subject to failure. In particular, the joints are not water-tight and liquid stored within the barrel is able to leak or seep through the joint. In a worst case situation, with the complete failure of the joint, the liquid stored within the barrel may flow out of the barrel. As can be appreciated, if a liquid such as wine is being aged in the barrel and is allowed to escape from the barrel then the yield and profit will decrease. Further, if air is allowed into the barrel, then the contents of the barrel are subject to spoilage.

Although such wood joints have been used in the past, these wood joints have been difficult to form and have failed in use. For example, these wood joints require that square and sharp edges be formed when cutting the wood to form the headings. Forming square and sharp edges can be difficult and the edges are susceptible to chipping. If chipping does occur, it may be difficult to engage the pieces. Also, it is time consuming to prepare square and sharp edges and this adds to the cost of manufacturing headings and barrelheads.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a joint that is easy to form and provides for a water-tight seal. The present invention is designed to obviate and overcome many of the disadvantages and shortcomings associated with prior wood joints. Moreover, the present invention is designed to provide a wood joint that forms a water-tight seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form of the present invention, a wood joint comprises a first heading having a first profile comprising an upper lobe, a lower lobe, and a valley section intermediate the lobes, a second heading having a second profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a ridge section intermediate the sockets, and the first profile for engaging the second profile for securing the headings together.

In another form of the present invention, a heading for use in forming a barrelhead having a water tight joint comprises a first side edge having a first profile comprising an upper lobe and a lower lobe, and a second side edge having a second profile comprising an upper socket and a lower socket.

In yet another form of the present invention, a wood joint comprises a first heading having a first profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a ridge section intermediate the sockets, a second heading having a second profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a ridge section intermediate the sockets, and a spline member having a pair of tongue portions with each of the tongue portions having an upper lobe and a lower lobe, the spline member for fitting within the first profile and the second profile.

In light of the foregoing comments, it will be recognized that a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved wood joint.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wood joint that is of simple construction and design and which can be easily employed with highly reliable results.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wood joint that prevents any liquid from passing through the joint.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a wood joint that can be used to form or construct a barrelhead.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after considering the following detailed specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numbers refer to like items, number10identifies a preferred embodiment of a joint constructed according to the present invention. With reference now toFIG. 1, the joint10is shown to comprise a first heading12having a first profile14and a second heading16having a second profile18. The first profile14and the second profile18are complementary to each other and may be joined together to form the joint10and to connect the first heading12to the second heading16. The first profile14has an upper lobe or protrusion20, a lower lobe or protrusion22, and an intermediate section or valley24. The valley24is between the upper lobe20and the lower lobe22. The second profile16has an upper recess or socket26, a lower recess or socket28, and an intermediate section or ridge30. The intermediate section30is between the socket26and the socket28. The first profile14is a tongue or a male portion and the second profile18is a groove or a female portion. The first profile14is adapted to be mated with the second profile18to securely engage the first heading12to the second heading16.

The first heading12has a top surface32and a bottom surface34. The top surface32is adapted for facing outside of a barrel (not shown) and the bottom surface34is adapted to face the interior of a barrel (not shown) as will be explained further herein. The first profile14also has an upper edge36and a lower edge38. The upper edge36is formed between the top surface32and the upper lobe20and the lower edge38is formed between the bottom surface34and the lower lobe22. The second heading16has a top surface40and a bottom surface42. The top surface40is adapted for facing outside of a barrel (not shown) and the bottom surface42is adapted to face the interior of a barrel (not shown) as will be discussed further herein. The second profile18has an upper edge44and a lower edge46. The upper edge44is formed between the top surface40and the upper socket26and the lower edge46is formed between the bottom surface42and the lower socket28. The upper edges36and44and the lower edges38and46butt up against each other when the first heading12and the second heading16are engaged. When the headings12and16are connected together in this manner a water-tight seal is formed between the headings12and16by use of the joint10. In particular, any liquid that comes in contact with the bottom surfaces34and42may try to escape through the joint10. However, the liquid that enters into the joint10swells the wood of the profiles14and18to prevent any liquid from leaking out between the upper edges36and44.

FIG. 2illustrates the joint10with the first heading12and the second heading16being connected together. The first profile14is mated with the second profile18with the upper lobe20being inserted into the upper socket26, the lower lobe22being inserted into the lower socket28, and the ridge30fitting into the valley24. With the headings12and16connected together, the upper surfaces32and40form a continuous upper surface48and the lower surfaces34and42form a continuous lower surface50. The lower surface50may face the interior of a barrel and may contact any liquid being stored within the barrel. The joint10is used to prevent any liquid from escaping from the lower surface50to the upper surface48.

With reference now toFIG. 3, a top view of a barrelhead60is shown. The barrelhead60is constructed using a plurality of headings62and a pair of end heading members64and66. Although not shown in this particular view, each of the headings62has a joint corresponding to the joint10and the profiles14and18. The end heading member64may have a profile similar to the profile18and the end heading member66may have a profile similar to the profile14, as will be further illustrated. The end heading member64has an edge68that does not have a profile similar to either of the profiles14and18. Further, the end heading member66has an edge70that does not have a profile corresponding to either of the profiles14and18. The headings62,64, and66are initially connected together to form a slab that is then cut to the shape of the barrelhead60. The width of the headings62may vary so that various sized pieces of wood may be used to form the headings62.

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view of the barrelhead60illustrated inFIG. 3. The barrelhead60is formed from a plurality of headings62and a pair of end heading members64and66. Each of the headings62has a side72that has a first profile74that corresponds to the profile14. Each of the headings62has an opposite side76that has a second profile78that corresponds to the profile18. In this manner the headings62are connected together. The end heading member64has the edge68that is shaped to be square. Also, the end heading member66has the edge70that is shaped to be square. The edges68and70allow the barrelhead to be formed so that there are no profiles14and18along the periphery of the barrelhead60which would cause any liquid to leak. However, the member64does have a female profile80that is similar to the profile18. The profile80allows the member64to be connected to one of the headings62. Also, the member66has a male profile82that corresponds to the profile14. The member66may be connected to one of the headings by use of the profile82.

With particular reference now toFIG. 5, a barrel100is illustrated having a pair of barrelheads102and104constructed according to the present invention. The barrel100has a body106consisting of a plurality of staves108that are joined together and held in place by metal bands110. As can be appreciated, the barrelheads102and104are constructed by use of the joint10. Further, any liquid stored inside the barrel100is prevented from leaking out of the barrelheads102and104by use of the joint10.

FIG. 6depicts an end side view of a heading120constructed according to the present invention. The heading120has a first side122having a first profile124and a second side126having a second profile128. The first profile124is similar to the profile14and the second profile128is similar to the profile18. The first profile124is a tongue portion and the second profile128is a groove portion. The heading120also has a top surface130and a bottom surface132. The top surface130may be exposed to the air or the exterior of a barrel and the bottom surface132may be exposed to the interior of a barrel.

The first profile124has an upper lobe134, a lower lobe136, and an intermediate section or valley138. The valley138is between the upper lobe134and the lower lobe136. The first profile124is in the shape of a butterfly wing. The first profile124spans the length of the first side122of the heading120. The second profile128has an upper socket140, a lower socket142, and an intermediate section or ridge144. The intermediate section144is between the socket140and the socket142. The second profile128is also in the shape of a butterfly wing. The second profile128extends along the entire length of the second side126of the heading120.

The first profile124also has an upper edge146and a lower edge148. The upper edge146is formed between the top surface130and the upper lobe134and the lower edge148is formed between the bottom surface132and the lower lobe136. The second profile128has an upper edge150and a lower edge152. The upper edge150is formed between the top surface130and the upper socket140and the lower edge152is formed between the bottom surface132and the lower socket142.

As can be appreciated, a plurality of the headings120can be assembled together by mating the profiles124and128of adjacent headings120to form a portion of a barrelhead. The profile124of one of the headings120fits into the profile128of an adjacent heading120. In this manner, the upper lobe134fits into the upper socket140, the lower lobe136fits into the lower socket142, and the ridge portion144fits into the valley portion138. The profiles124and128are fitted or mated together to form a water-tight seal. In particular, any fluid or liquid that comes into contact with the bottom surface132and that attempts to flow between the edges148and152will cause the first profile124to swell and then seal the lobes134and136against the sockets140and142to prevent any liquid from escaping between the edges146and150.

With reference now toFIG. 7, another preferred embodiment of a joint200is shown. The joint200is illustrated having a first heading202having a first profile204and a second heading206having a second profile208. The first profile204and the second profile208are complementary to each other and may be joined together to form the joint200and to connect the first heading202to the second heading206. The first profile204is a knob like tongue portion and the second profile208is a knob like groove portion. The first profile204has an upper lobe210, a lower lobe212, and an intermediate flat portion214. The second profile208has an upper socket216, a lower socket218, and an intermediate flat portion220. The lobes210and212are adapted to fit into the sockets216and218. Also, the flat portions214and220butt up to each other when the headings202and206are connected together by use of the joint200. The heading202has an upper surface222and a bottom surface224and the heading206has an upper surface226and a bottom surface228. The bottom surfaces224and228are positioned to face the interior of a barrel and may contact any liquid stored within the barrel.

When the headings202and206are connected together by use of the joint200a water-tight seal is formed between the headings202and206. In particular, any liquid that comes in contact with the bottom surfaces224and228may try to escape through the joint200. However, the liquid that enters into the joint200swells the wood of the profiles204and208to prevent any liquid from leaking out between the joint200to the upper surfaces222and226.

FIG. 8depicts another preferred embodiment of a joint250constructed according to the present invention. The joint250comprises a spline member252fitted between a first heading254having a first groove profile256and a second heading258having a second groove profile260. The first groove profile256and the second groove profile260are similar in form to the profile18. The spline member252comprises double sided tongue portions262and264. The tongue portion262has an upper lobe266, a lower lobe268, and an intermediate valley portion270. The tongue portion264is similar in construction to the tongue portion262and comprises an upper lobe272, a lower lobe274, and an intermediate valley portion276. As can be appreciated, to construct the joint250the two headings254and258are positioned adjacent to each other and the spline member252is inserted into the space formed between the two groove profiles258and260. In this manner, a barrelhead or a portion of a barrelhead may be constructed using the joint250. Further, the joint250provides a water-tight seal in that any liquid that tries to flow between the headings254and258is stopped by the joint250by swelling of the lower lobes268and276.

From all that has been said, it will be clear that there has thus been shown and described herein a wood joint which fulfills the various objects and advantages sought therefore. It will become apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the subject wood joint are possible and contemplated. All changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.