Patent Application
20160160494
1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates generally to wooden structures and, more particularly, to a method of protecting wooden structures with a flexible and recycled product.
2. Description of Related Art
Wood has been a core building material for ages. Wood is typically strong and durable but can be susceptible to rot, disease, decay, and insects. Many efforts have been made to make wood more resistive to these problems. Methods such as soaking the wood in a pressurized chemical bath to press treating chemicals into the wood has been tried and used. Other processes are used to coat the wood. Such wood coatings require multiple steps and are laborious. For example, various grades of material are to be layered in sequential steps, each requiring sufficient dry time. Additionally, these are generally applied at the final location of the wooden structure. Furthermore, the act of coloring or staining of the wooden structure to a color of choice requires yet an additional step.
Additionally, approximately 259 million tires are used annually in the United States. Almost half are burned for fuel, releasing harmful bi-products into the air as pollution. A new way to recycle tires is needed.
It is desirable to provide an improved method and protecting wooden structures that is more efficient, more durable, and more resistant to cracking all while improving the environment. Although some advancements have been made, considerable shortcomings remain.
The novel features believed characteristic of the application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the application itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the system and method of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the application to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the process of the present application as defined by the appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the preferred embodiment are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, the devices, members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the device described herein may be oriented in any desired direction.
The method of protecting a wooden structure as described in the present application involves the steps of generating a particular slurry from the ground up remnants of used tires and enclosing the wooden structure within a single coating of the slurry. The wooden structure is not limited to any particular shape, size, or type of structure. In the preferred embodiment it is understood that the wooden structure is a wooden fence including at least one of the pickets, cross members, and posts. The wooden fence may be assembled into prepackaged panels prior to treatment by the slurry. Other methods permit for the individual coating of each member of the fence with assembly of the fence structure after coating.
Referring now to
The wooden fence structure of
Referring now also to
Referring now to
Application of the slurry onto the wooden structure may occur via a number of ways. In particular here, the application of slurry onto the wooden structure is illustrated via a submersion or dipping process 207 or via a spray process 209. With either process 207, 209 elements within the wooden structure may be done individually or collectively. When dipped, the element is submerged until a coating is obtained. The wooden structure is removed from the slurry bath and allowed to drain and eventually dry 211. When sprayed, the wooden structure is propped and supported in a particular orientation and sprayed with a controlled and selected feed rate of slurry. Spraying continues until the entire wooden structure is coated to an ideal thickness. The coating is then allowed to dry 213. It is important to note that the process of the present application only requires one coating or application of slurry. The slurry is configured to hold all the ingredients necessary to provide a durable layer with a single coating. This allows for a simpler and quicker application. Furthermore only one product is used or applied as opposed to multiple products needed and multiple applications.
An advantage of dipping the wooden structure is the ability to infuse or bond the coating with the wooden structure. By varying the time of submersion within the slurry bath, the level of absorption can increase or decrease. An advantage of spraying the wooden structure is the ability to control the thickness level of the coating to a more precise degree as opposed to submersion. Although dipping 207 and spraying 209 have been disclosed, it is understood that other methods of applying the slurry to the wooden structure are also contemplated. For example, situations may arise where the wooden structure needs to be trimmed or cut. In this situation, a brush may be used to apply a slurry coating to the particular area. Wet slurry is configured to bond to and seal against dry slurry.
As noted previously, assembly of wooden structures may be performed prior to or after application of the slurry coating. Assembly of the wooden structure 215 is shown following the drying process 211 but it is understood to be optionally performed at any point prior to or after the application of slurry and the drying process for either application process 207, 209.
Referring now also to
Additives may also be added 219 to the slurry mixture. Coating 103 is configured to resist cracking as a result of exposure to Oxygen (O2) and Ozone (O3). The additives are configured to resist oxygen and ozone deterioration. Deterioration from Ozone is typically a rapid reaction process that occurs in rubberized materials. Evidence is seen in cracking or surface frosting. Antiozonants are added to the slurry to combat the effects of Ozone. Examples of antiozonants are UOP 88, UOP 288, UOP 788, and UOP 588. Other antiozonants are contemplated. These antiozonants are preferably added prior to the vulcanization process involved in making the slurry.
Deterioration from Oxygen differs from that of Ozone. Oxygen attacks rubberized materials rather slowly compared to Ozone. This results in a slow softening or hardening as evidenced in cracking along the areas of stress. Antioxidants are added to the slurry as additives to counter the effects of Oxygen. Examples of antioxidants are: diphenylamine-acetone reaction products with Amine materials being effective also. It is understood that other types of additives may also be added during the slurry making process. Additives may be used to add flexibility, consistency, and stability to the mixture. Additionally, additives may further be used to make handling of the slurry more environmentally safe.
An adhesive agent may also be added to the slurry 221. The adhesive agent is configured to assist in the bonding between the slurry itself and the wooden structure. This is particularly designed to be useful in assisting in the bonding of the slurry to itself after the drying process. This permits repairs or modifications to be possible.
Process 201 and the associated slurry and resultant coating 103 are configured to provide a purpose to worn and used discarded tires that pollute the earth either in landfills or in the air as bi-products of being burned for fuel. The slurry coating is configured to be applied to all sides of the wooden structure with the idea to seal the internal wooden structure from the natural elements. The coating is UV resistant so as to avoid cracking over time. The additions of additives help preserve the coating and the wooden structure from deterioration. Because the wooden structure is completely sealed by the coating, it is preferred that the wooden structure be dried and not contain a lot of moisture which will need to expand. If necessary, step 201 may further include the step of pre-drying the wooden structure before coating with slurry.
The current application has many advantages over the prior art including at least the following: (1) a process involving the coating of a wooden structure with a weather resistant coating in a single application step; (2) reduced number of chemicals to buy to apply the slurry; (3) multiple application methods available; (4) insertion of a dye within the slurry to avoid the step of staining the wooden structure following application of the slurry; and (5) use of adding a seal with the fasteners to protect entry and exit locations in the wooden structure from the penetration of fasteners.
The particular steps and embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the application may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. It is apparent that an application with significant advantages has been described and illustrated. Although the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
