Patent Publication Number: US-8123060-B2

Title: Wood joint for a barrelhead

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/681,271, that was filed on May 16, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference and is a Divisional application of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 11/417,744, that was filed on May 4, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,401. 
    
    
     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: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cross sectional view of a wood joint constructed according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view of the wood joint shown in  FIG. 1  with the wood joint being connected; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a barrelhead formed of headings having the wood joint of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the barrelhead of  FIG. 3  taken along the plane of line  4 - 4 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a barrel that is manufactured having barrelheads employing the wood joint of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an end side view of a heading constructed according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is partial cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of a wood joint constructed according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is partial cross-sectional view of yet another preferred embodiment of a wood joint constructed according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numbers refer to like items, number  10  identifies a preferred embodiment of a joint constructed according to the present invention. With reference now to  FIG. 1 , the joint  10  is shown to comprise a first heading  12  having a first profile  14  and a second heading  16  having a second profile  18 . The first profile  14  and the second profile  18  are complementary to each other and may be joined together to form the joint  10  and to connect the first heading  12  to the second heading  16 . The first profile  14  has an upper lobe or protrusion  20 , a lower lobe or protrusion  22 , and an intermediate section or valley  24 . The valley  24  is between the upper lobe  20  and the lower lobe  22 . The second profile  16  has an upper recess or socket  26 , a lower recess or socket  28 , and an intermediate section or ridge  30 . The intermediate section  30  is between the socket  26  and the socket  28 . The first profile  14  is a tongue or a male portion and the second profile  18  is a groove or a female portion. The first profile  14  is adapted to be mated with the second profile  18  to securely engage the first heading  12  to the second heading  16 . 
     The first heading  12  has a top surface  32  and a bottom surface  34 . The top surface  32  is adapted for facing outside of a barrel (not shown) and the bottom surface  34  is adapted to face the interior of a barrel (not shown) as will be explained further herein. The first profile  14  also has an upper edge  36  and a lower edge  38 . The upper edge  36  is formed between the top surface  32  and the upper lobe  20  and the lower edge  38  is formed between the bottom surface  34  and the lower lobe  22 . The second heading  16  has a top surface  40  and a bottom surface  42 . The top surface  40  is adapted for facing outside of a barrel (not shown) and the bottom surface  42  is adapted to face the interior of a barrel (not shown) as will be discussed further herein. The second profile  18  has an upper edge  44  and a lower edge  46 . The upper edge  44  is formed between the top surface  40  and the upper socket  26  and the lower edge  46  is formed between the bottom surface  42  and the lower socket  28 . The upper edges  36  and  44  and the lower edges  38  and  46  butt up against each other when the first heading  12  and the second heading  16  are engaged. When the headings  12  and  16  are connected together in this manner a water-tight seal is formed between the headings  12  and  16  by use of the joint  10 . In particular, any liquid that comes in contact with the bottom surfaces  34  and  42  may try to escape through the joint  10 . However, the liquid that enters into the joint  10  swells the wood of the profiles  14  and  18  to prevent any liquid from leaking out between the upper edges  36  and  44 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the joint  10  with the first heading  12  and the second heading  16  being connected together. The first profile  14  is mated with the second profile  18  with the upper lobe  20  being inserted into the upper socket  26 , the lower lobe  22  being inserted into the lower socket  28 , and the ridge  30  fitting into the valley  24 . With the headings  12  and  16  connected together, the upper surfaces  32  and  40  form a continuous upper surface  48  and the lower surfaces  34  and  42  form a continuous lower surface  50 . The lower surface  50  may face the interior of a barrel and may contact any liquid being stored within the barrel. The joint  10  is used to prevent any liquid from escaping from the lower surface  50  to the upper surface  48 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a top view of a barrelhead  60  is shown. The barrelhead  60  is constructed using a plurality of headings  62  and a pair of end heading members  64  and  66 . Although not shown in this particular view, each of the headings  62  has a joint corresponding to the joint  10  and the profiles  14  and  18 . The end heading member  64  may have a profile similar to the profile  18  and the end heading member  66  may have a profile similar to the profile  14 , as will be further illustrated. The end heading member  64  has an edge  68  that does not have a profile similar to either of the profiles  14  and  18 . Further, the end heading member  66  has an edge  70  that does not have a profile corresponding to either of the profiles  14  and  18 . The headings  62 ,  64 , and  66  are initially connected together to form a slab that is then cut to the shape of the barrelhead  60 . The width of the headings  62  may vary so that various sized pieces of wood may be used to form the headings  62 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the barrelhead  60  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The barrelhead  60  is formed from a plurality of headings  62  and a pair of end heading members  64  and  66 . Each of the headings  62  has a side  72  that has a first profile  74  that corresponds to the profile  14 . Each of the headings  62  has an opposite side  76  that has a second profile  78  that corresponds to the profile  18 . In this manner the headings  62  are connected together. The end heading member  64  has the edge  68  that is shaped to be square. Also, the end heading member  66  has the edge  70  that is shaped to be square. The edges  68  and  70  allow the barrelhead to be formed so that there are no profiles  14  and  18  along the periphery of the barrelhead  60  which would cause any liquid to leak. However, the member  64  does have a female profile  80  that is similar to the profile  18 . The profile  80  allows the member  64  to be connected to one of the headings  62 . Also, the member  66  has a male profile  82  that corresponds to the profile  14 . The member  66  may be connected to one of the headings by use of the profile  82 . 
     With particular reference now to  FIG. 5 , a barrel  100  is illustrated having a pair of barrelheads  102  and  104  constructed according to the present invention. The barrel  100  has a body  106  consisting of a plurality of staves  108  that are joined together and held in place by metal bands  110 . As can be appreciated, the barrelheads  102  and  104  are constructed by use of the joint  10 . Further, any liquid stored inside the barrel  100  is prevented from leaking out of the barrelheads  102  and  104  by use of the joint  10 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts an end side view of a heading  120  constructed according to the present invention. The heading  120  has a first side  122  having a first profile  124  and a second side  126  having a second profile  128 . The first profile  124  is similar to the profile  14  and the second profile  128  is similar to the profile  18 . The first profile  124  is a tongue portion and the second profile  128  is a groove portion. The heading  120  also has a top surface  130  and a bottom surface  132 . The top surface  130  may be exposed to the air or the exterior of a barrel and the bottom surface  132  may be exposed to the interior of a barrel. 
     The first profile  124  has an upper lobe  134 , a lower lobe  136 , and an intermediate section or valley  138 . The valley  138  is between the upper lobe  134  and the lower lobe  136 . The first profile  124  is in the shape of a butterfly wing. The first profile  124  spans the length of the first side  122  of the heading  120 . The second profile  128  has an upper socket  140 , a lower socket  142 , and an intermediate section or ridge  144 . The intermediate section  144  is between the socket  140  and the socket  142 . The second profile  128  is also in the shape of a butterfly wing. The second profile  128  extends along the entire length of the second side  126  of the heading  120 . 
     The first profile  124  also has an upper edge  146  and a lower edge  148 . The upper edge  146  is formed between the top surface  130  and the upper lobe  134  and the lower edge  148  is formed between the bottom surface  132  and the lower lobe  136 . The second profile  128  has an upper edge  150  and a lower edge  152 . The upper edge  150  is formed between the top surface  130  and the upper socket  140  and the lower edge  152  is formed between the bottom surface  132  and the lower socket  142 . 
     As can be appreciated, a plurality of the headings  120  can be assembled together by mating the profiles  124  and  128  of adjacent headings  120  to form a portion of a barrelhead The profile  124  of one of the headings  120  fits into the profile  128  of an adjacent heading  120 . In this manner, the upper lobe  134  fits into the upper socket  140 , the lower lobe  136  fits into the lower socket  142 , and the ridge portion  144  fits into the valley portion  138 . The profiles  124  and  128  are fitted or mated together to form a water-tight seal. In particular, any fluid or liquid that comes into contact with the bottom surface  132  and that attempts to flow between the edges  148  and  152  will cause the first profile  124  to swell and then seal the lobes  134  and  136  against the sockets  140  and  142 , to prevent any liquid from escaping between the edges  146  and  150 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 7 , another preferred embodiment of a joint  200  is shown. The joint  200  is illustrated having a first heading  202  having a first profile  204  and a second heading  206  having a second profile  208 . The first profile  204  and the second profile  208  are complementary to each other and may be joined together to form the joint  200  and to connect the first heading  202  to the second heading  206 . The first profile  204  is a knob like tongue portion and the second profile  208  is a knob like groove portion. The first profile  204  has an upper lobe  210 , a lower lobe  212 , and an intermediate flat portion  214 . The second profile  208  has an upper socket  216 , a lower socket  218 , and an intermediate flat portion  220 . The lobes  210  and  212  are adapted to fit into the sockets  216  and  218 . Also, the flat portions  214  and  220  butt up to each other when the headings  202  and  206  are connected together by use of the joint  200 . The heading  202  has an upper surface  222  and a bottom surface  224  and the heading  206  has an upper surface  226  and a bottom surface  228 . The bottom surfaces  224  and  228  are positioned to face the interior of a barrel and may contact any liquid stored within the barrel. 
     When the headings  202  and  206  are connected together by use of the joint  200  a water-tight seal is formed between the headings  202  and  206 . In particular, any liquid that comes in contact with the bottom surfaces  224  and  228  may try to escape through the joint  200 . However, the liquid that enters into the joint  200  swells the wood of the profiles  204  and  208  to prevent any liquid from leaking out between the joint  200  to the upper surfaces  222  and  226 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts another preferred embodiment of a joint  250  constructed according to the present invention. The joint  250  comprises a spline member  252  fitted between a first heading  254  having a first groove profile  256  and a second heading  258  having a second groove profile  260 . The first groove profile  256  and the second groove profile  260  are similar in form to the profile  18 . The spline member  252  comprises double sided tongue portions  262  and  264 . The tongue portion  262  has an upper lobe  266 , a lower lobe  268 , and an intermediate valley portion  270 . The tongue portion  264  is similar in construction to the tongue portion  262  and comprises an upper lobe  272 , a lower lobe  274 , and an intermediate valley portion  276 . As can be appreciated, to construct the joint  250  the two headings  254  and  258  are positioned adjacent to each other and the spline member  252  is inserted into the space formed between the two groove profiles  258  and  260 . In this manner, a barrelhead or a portion of a barrelhead may be constructed using the joint  250 . Further, the joint  250  provides a water-tight seal in that any liquid that tries to flow between the headings  254  and  258  is stopped by the joint  250  by swelling of the lower lobes  268  and  276 . 
     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.