Timber fastener and method of manufacturing and employing the same

1 . A timber fastener comprising:

a shaft having a center axis, a tip end and a head end, said shaft having a first threaded portion proximate the tip end, a second threaded portion proximate the head, said second threaded portion having off-timed threads configured in off-timed rotatable relationship to the first threaded portion; and

a non-threaded portion located intermediate the first threaded portion and second threaded portion.

2 . The timber fastener of claim 1 , wherein a length, d, of the non-threaded portion is defined by d=x(a)+y; where a is a distance between adjacent thread crests of at least a portion of the first threaded portion, x is a whole number other than 0, and y is a value greater than 0 and less than a.

3 . The timber fastener of claim 1 , wherein the off-timed threads have a pitch which is less than a pitch of the first threaded portion threads.

4 . The timber fastener of claim 1 , further including a head associated with the head end, said head having a tool engagement surface and a lip that extends substantially laterally away from the shaft center axis.

5 . The timber fastener of claim 2 , wherein the head end includes a head having an angular neck and a lip.

6 . The timber fastener of claim 5 , wherein the angular neck has an angle of about 40°.

7 . The timber fastener of claim 2 , wherein the tip end includes a tip configured to penetrate and engage a substrate.

8 . The timber fastener of claim 7 , wherein the tip has an entry angle of about 30°.

9 . The timber fastener of claim 5 , wherein the head is associated with a washer.

10 . A timber fastener and log assembly comprising:

an upper log having a top surface, an interior, and a bottom surface;

a lower log having a top surface in contact with the bottom surface of the upper log and an interior;

a timber fastener comprising a shaft having a center axis, a tip end and a head end, a first threaded portion proximate the tip end, a second threaded portion proximate the head end, and a non-threaded tensioned portion located intermediate the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion, said second threaded portion having threads that are off-timed relative to the first threaded portion;

wherein said second threaded portion is embedded in a portion of the upper log interior and said first threaded portion is threadably engaged with a portion of the lower log interior.

11 . The timber fastener and log assembly of claim 10 , wherein a length, d, of the non-threaded tensioned portion is defined by d=x(a)+y; where a is a distance between adjacent thread crests of at least a portion of the first threaded portion, x is a whole number other than 0, and y is a value greater than 0 and less than a.

12 . The timber fastener and log assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least part of the second threaded portion is embedded in the portion of the upper log interior which is outside of a thread pathway created by the first threaded portion.

13 . The timber fastener and log assembly of claim 10 , wherein the non-threaded tensioned portion is in contact with the upper log interior and the lower log interior.

14 . A method of manufacturing a timber fastener comprising:

providing a timber fastener blank having opposed ends;

forming a first threaded portion proximate one end; and

subsequently forming a second threaded portion having off-timed threads relative to the first threaded portion proximate the other end such that a non-threaded portion is located between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion.

15 . The method of manufacturing a timber fastener of claim 14 , further including the step of:

forming at least a portion of the second threaded portion with threading having a lesser pitch than threading on the first threaded portion.

16 . The method of manufacturing a timber fastener of claim 14 , further including the step of:

forming the second threaded portion such that the non-threaded portion has a length, d, wherein d is defined by d=x(a)+y; where a is a distance between adjacent thread crests of at least a portion of the first threaded portion, x is a whole number other than 0, and y is a value greater than 0 and less than a.

17 . A method of joining two logs comprising:

positioning an upper log having a top surface and an interior above a lower log top having a top surface and an interior;

providing a timber fastener having a shaft, a tip end, and a head end, said shaft having a first threaded portion proximate the tip end, a second threaded portion proximate the head end having threads that are rotatably off-timed relative to the first threaded portion, and a non-threaded portion located intermediate the first threaded portion and second threaded portion;

contacting the tip with the top surface of the upper log;

rotatably driving the fastener such that the tip end engages the upper log and the first threaded portion threadably enagages the upper log interior portion;

continuing rotation such that the first threaded portion enters the interior of the lower log and the second threaded portion off-timed threads embed in the interior of the upper log; and

stopping rotation of the fastener at a position wherein the non-threaded portion is in contact with the interior of the upper log and the interior of the lower log.

18 . The method of joining two logs of claim 17 , wherein the step of rotatably driving the fastener such that the first threaded portion threadably enagages the upper log interior portion includes, forming a first thread pathway in the upper log; and

wherein the step of continuing rotation such that the second threaded portion off-timed threads embed in the interior of the upper log includes, forming a second thread pathway at least partially spatially distinct from the first thread pathway.