CA2402087A1 - Composite wood construction members having a textured surface and apparatus and method for producing same - Google Patents

Abstract

A member made from a composite wood material has an elongated body having at least one outer surface and opposed side edges and a plurality of grooves formed on the outer surface. An apparatus for forming a textured surface on a member comprises a frame, a tool bit driving mechanism supported by the frame and a tool holder connected for lateral movement to the driving mechanism and adapted to be supported over a surface of the member. At least one tool bit is mounted to the tool holder. The driving mechanism moves the tool holder such that the tool bit forms grooves on the surface of the member as the member moves past the apparatus. A method of forming a friction-enhanced surface on a member includes forming longitudinal ridges on a surface of a composite or plastic building member, and forming lateral grooves on the surface of the member with the apparatus.

Description

COMPOSITE WOOD CONSTRUCTION MEMBERS HAVING A TEXTURED
SURFACE AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to construction members, particularly those made from a composite wood material, the members having a textured surface, and to an apparatus and method for producing the same.
~o BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Traditionally, the construction industry has employed materials such as wood, steel and aluminum for construction members (such as 2"x4" and 2"x6"' members) used for building structures and members such as beams, joists, rafters, decks, > > siding, fencing and the like. Wood has been one of the most popular materials because of its relatively low cost and ease of handling and use. However, wood has several drawbacks when used as a building material. For example, as an outdoor building material, wood is subject to decay due to environmental factors such as moisture, sunlight, etc., and it has non-uniform strength characteristics due to 2o discontinuities resulting from knots and the like. Additionally, as wood supplies have dwindled, the cost of wood has increased substantially.

[003] More recently, plastic building materials such as PVC have been developE:d to serve a similar purpose as existing wood materials. Plastic building materials are z~ more resistant to environmental factors and generally have a longer life span.
However, plastic building materials also have several drawbacks compared to their wood counterparts, including aesthetic problems in that the plastic does not look or feel the same as wood. There are also safety problems in some applications such as when used as flooring or decking, in that the plastic building materials are generally much more slippery than wood (i.e. have a lower coefficient of friction).

[004] More recently there has been the development of composite wood building s materials. Composite building materials are generally formed from a mixture of wood fiber and a plastic resin material. The two components are usually combined by heating and extruding under pressure. This process creates construction members made from composite wood material. Such members will exhibit some of the properties of both wood and plastic.
iu [005) Composite wood members have many of the positive characteristics of both wood and plastic, however, they also have some of the drawbacks. For example, since composite building materials are generally extruded, their surfaces, particularly the outer surfaces, will often be relatively smooth. Since people are accustomed to Is the appearance of natural wood, this is considered by some people to be not as.
aesthetically pleasing as the texture of natural wood. Additionally, the surface is also relatively slippery, somewhat like a plastic surface.

[006] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved composite wood construction ?o member that has a textured surface, which reduces the slipperiness of one of more of the surfaces, and improved methods and apparatus for making the same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
z, [007] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved composite construction member, particularly one made from composite wood.
[008] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a member made from a composite wood material comprising an elongated body having at least ~o one outer surface and opposed side edges and a plurality of grooves formed on said outer surface.

[009] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for forming a textured surface on a member, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a tool bit driving mechanism supported by said frame; a tool holder s connected for lateral movement to said driving mechanism and adapted to be supported over a surface of said member; at least one tool bit mounted to said tool holder; wherein said driving mechanism moves said tool holder such that said at least one tool bit forms grooves on said surface of said member as said member moves past said apparatus.
io [0010] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus as claimed in claim wherein said plurality of tool bits are each mounted for resilient vertical movement to said disc.
~s [0011]According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a friction-enhanced surface on a member, said method comprising:
forming longitudinal ridges on a surface of a composite or plastic building member; forming lateral grooves on said surface of said member with said apparatus.
[0012]According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a friction enhanced surface on a member, said method comprising:
feeding an elongated member longitudinally past an apparatus; forming a plurality of arcuate grooves on a surface of said elongated member with said 2s apparatus.
[0013]According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a member made from a plastic or plastic composite material comprising an elongated body ~o having at least one outer surface and opposed side edges and a plurality of grooves formed on said outer surface.

[0014]According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a friction enhanced surface on a composite wood member, said method comprising: a) Extruding or pultruding a composite wood member with a first apparatus; b) Feeding said member past a second apparatus; c) Forming a a plurality of grooves on a surface of said member with said second apparatus.
[0015]Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying ~o figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a segment of a construction member made Is from composite wood according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred apparatus for texturing the surface of composite wood members according to an embodiment of the invention;
?o [0018] FIG. 3 is a top view showing the apparatus of FIG. 2, with some of the components omitted for clarity;
[0019] FIG. 4A is a side view of exemplary tool bits of the apparatus of FIG.
2 in interaction with the construction member of FIG. 1;
?s [0020] FIG. 4B is a front view of the exemplary tool bits of the apparatus of FIG. 2 in interaction with the member of FIG. 1;
(0021]FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the interaction of the tool ~o bits of FIGS. 4A and 4B with the construction member of Figure 1;

[0022] FIG. 6 shows the construction member of FIG. 1 after processing with the apparatus of FIG. 2, to produce textured surfaces;
[0023] FIG. 7 is perspective view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 2 cut away;
(0024] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 2 cut away;
and [0025] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the part of Fig. 7.
to DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] FIG. 1 shows an example segment of a construction member 10 that is intended to be used in applications similar to a 2"x6" wood deck board. Member is preferably formed by extruding or pultruding a heated composite wood material Is through a die. Examples of extrusion and pultrusion techniques that could be employed are disclosed in US patent nos. 5,782,125 to Bastone et al.;
5,096,406 to Brooks et al; 5,965, to Fink and 5,234,652 to Woodhams et al., the contents of each being incorporated herein by reference. The material that is used is preferably a composite wood, such as is disclosed in US patent no. 3,888,810 to Shinomura.
?o [0027]Construction member 10 preferably contains a multitude of generally vertical ribs 11 extending longitudinally along each member 10 between two elongated walls 17a, 17b having flat outer surfaces 14a and 14b. Member 10 preferably has a uniform cross-section throughout its length, as, for example, is detailed in U.S. Pat.
?s No. 5,234,652, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Ribs 11 are preferably equally spaced apart and define rectangular shaped chambers 13, extending parallel to one another between the flat surfaces 14a and 14b along the length of member 10. Three, four or five chambers 19 are preferred for most decking applications.

[0028] In the preferred embodiments, the dimensions of member 10 will be the same as conventional boards of lumber. Preferably, member 10 will be 2"x 3"; 2" x 4"'; 2" x 6"; 2" x 8"; 2" x 10"; or 2" x 12" in height and width, and have lengths which may vary depending on the particular application.
[0029] Of course, these specifications are merely examples of possible embodiments and variations of these are possible.
[0030] Extending from the sides of each member 10, proximate the edges 13a, 13b to of each flat surface 14a and 14b are lips 15a and 15b, respectively. The member 10 has two opposed side faces 12a, 12b resulting from the outer facing side of ribs 11 a.
[0031]As can be seen in FIG. 1, member 10 has been formed with longitudinally spaced ridges 16, which run along the length of the wider surfaces 14a, 14b of 'the is composite building member10. In this description, longitudinal is generally used to refer to the direction in which the composite building material 10 is being extruded and lateral is generally used to indicate a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and typically in the same plane or a plane parallel or substantially parallel to surfaces 14a and 14b of the composite building 2o material 10. This type of member 10 is known and the longitudinal ridges 16 are typically formed during the extrusion process by the shape of the extrusion die.
[0032] It will be understood that, while the longitudinal ridges 16 might in some circumstances reduce slipperiness to some extent in the lateral direction, they are 2s less effective at reducing slipperiness in the longitudinal direction (ie.
the direction of the ridges 16).
[0033]With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, an apparatus 20 is illustrated which is exemplary of an embodiment of the invention. Apparatus 20 (referred to herein as a ~o knurling apparatus) is configured with two separate knurling units 20a and 20b. In this way, apparatus 20 can process both the upper surface 14a and lower surface 14b of member 10, at the same time. Since the upper and lower knurling units 20a, 20b are substantially the same, the following description will focus on the upper knurling apparatus 20a. Apparatus 20a can be configured in several different ways in relation to apparatus 20b. Apparatus 20a, can for example, operate s independently of apparatus 20b, or be synchronized to run at the same speed, either in phase of out of phase with apparatus 20b.
[0034]The knurling apparatus 20 can be set up to be in line with the extrusion equipment (not shown). The extrusion equipment is generally known and will not be ~o described in detail herein. In this embodiment apparatus 20 is set up to process pre-cut members 10 that have been cut into specific lengths. Apparatus 20 is positioned between a pair of stock feeding mechanisms 22a, 22b which move the extruded composite member 10 in the longitudinal direction indicated by the arrow positioned on member 10 in FIG.2. Feeding mechanisms 22a, 22b generally ~s comprise a set of freely rotating lower rollers 23 mounted to a support table 31.
Suspended above table 31 and rollers 23 is a set of drive rollers 25 which are driven in rotation by a motor 27. Rollers 25 and motor 27 are suspended on a frame generally designated as 31. Frame 31 is mounted for adjustable vertical movement on a shaft 29. Members 10 are fed between rollers 23 and rollers 25, which act as a ?o set of pinch rollers to move member 10 through the apparatus 20. Preferably the movement of member 10 caused by feeders 22a, 22b is continuous movement at a constant speed. However in alternate embodiments the movement could be intermittent and/or with a variable speed and could be controlled by a computer controller device. It is noted that the stock feeding mechanisms 22 are vertically 2> adjustable to allow for members of different thickness of members 10, as shown by arrows near frame 31 in FIG. 2.
(0035]With reference to FIGS 2 and 3, the knurling apparatus 20 includes a support frame generally designated 24, a rotary drive mechanism 26 supported by the frame 0 24, a rotatable tool holder 28 connected to the rotary mechanism 26, and tool bits 30 connected to the tool holder 28.

[0036]The rotary mechanism 26 may be a conventional electrical motor 40. The rotary mechanism 26 is connected via a drive shaft 27 to the tool holder 28.
The s tool holder 28 is supported by shaft 27 above member 10. In this embodiment, the tool holder 28 comprises a circular disc and supports a plurality of tool bits around its circumference, mounted at a specific radius from the shaft. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the radius of the tool bits 30 may be adjustable.
This adjustment could be achieved, for example, by having replacement discs that to could be substituted for existing discs.
[0037]The tool bits 30 carried on apparatus 20a are positioned such that they will come into contact with the surfaces 14a of the composite member 10 as it is fed through the knurling apparatus 20. Preferably the bits are mounted on tool holder I, 28 in a manner that they can be brought into a suitable vertical position relative to board surface 14a. For example, tool holder may be adjustable relative to shaft 27.
Preferably, the tool bits 30 are easily detachable from the tool holder 28 so that they may be easily replaced if necessary. The preferred attachment/detachment mechanism for tool bits 30 is described in further detail below.
zo [0038] As illustrated in FIGs. 4A, 4B, 7, 8 and 9, tool bits 30 are mounted to disc 29 in the following manner. Disc 29 has a radial channel 50 extending from proximate the center of disc 29, radially out to a location proximate peripheral circumferential edge 54. At the outer end of channel 50 is a rectangular slot 52, which opens on ?> both the upper and lower surfaces of disc 29. Mounted within channel 50 and extending from an inner mounting block 56 into slot 52 is a rod 58. Rod 58 is made from a relatively strong, resilient material like steel. End 50a is held in cylindrical opening 62 in mounting block 56 with a set-screw 64. Block 56 is mounted to disk 29 with a mounting bolt 60.

[0039] End 50b of rod 50 extends through an opening in a pillow block member 70, into slot 52 and is threaded at its end portion 50b. Pillow block member 70 is affixed to disc 29 by conventional devices such as bolts. The opening in pillow block 70 is sized so that rod 50 is generally in abutment with the upper or lower walls forming the opening (ie. there is substantially no play between rod 50 and block 70).
In this way rod 50 is held in position within block 70, and given the deflected position of rod 50, will tend to exert a force downward on the lower wall of the opening in block 70.
However, block 70 is preferably made from a material which is itself somewhat deformable, but which is also resilient, such as hi-strength, solid nylon.
to [0040] In this way, when rod 50 travels over a surface 14a having relatively large changes in elevation, the force acting on rod 50 will be cushioned by block 70.
[0041] A strap member 78 is secured across the top of channel 50 and will act to n prevent large vertical movements of rod 50.
[0042] Each tool bit 30 includes a freely rotatable wheel 34 with an angled edge 36.
Each wheel can simply be provided with a central opening and be received for rotation on rod 50. Wheel 34 could be more complex in design being bearing 2o mounted with for example a center mounting portion which is mounted on the end of rod 58 and an outer peripheral bearing portion which has edge 36 and which can freely rotate relative to inner mounting portion.. Wheel 34 is held in position on rod 50 between threaded nuts 74, 76, and which do not prevent rotation of the wheel.
?s [0043] As shown in Fig. 9, the undeflected position of rods 50 of both upper unit 20a and lower unit 20b are shown in broken lines. It will however be appreciated that when rod 50a of upper unit 20a is engaging the upper surface 14a of member 10, it is actually in an upwardly deflected position. Thus, a restoring force is actually acting on rod 50a causing it to push down on upper surface 14a. Rod 50a is actually ~o acting like a cantilever beam, and so depending upon the amount of deflection from its undeflected position, the force will vary.

[0044]As disc 29 rotates, each wheel 34 will roll across the surface of member 10, much like a conventional rolling pizza cutter rolls over a pizza. The edges 36 are designed to roll across the surface 14 of the composite building material 10 coming s into contact with the already formed longitudinal ridges 16 to create lateral grooves 38 in the longitudinal ridges 16. In this particular example, it is preferable that the tool bits 30 apply pressure onto the ridges 16, to deform the material to form grooves 38. The action of bits 30 as they rotate over the surface of the member 10, is a rolling action that displaces material to the side, rather than a cutting action to where portions of material are sheared away. In other words the edges 36 roll over the material that comprises the ridge and in that rolling action displace and compress material to form the grooves 38. Due to the resilient nature of the rod 50 and pillow block 70, wheels 34 will be able to come extent to move vertically up and down to follow the terrain of surface 14a.
>>
[0045] It is believed that this type of action will better preserve the integrity of the composite building material 10 as well as the Rife of the tool bits 30.
Additionally, some people will consider this provides for a more pleasing finish to surfaces 14a and 14b, as grooves 38 have nicely formed, non-jagged edges. Grooves 38 are ?o preferably formed in a generally v-shape, and preferably are about 1 mm in depth.
This will have the desired effect of enhancing the amount of friction developed when another item comes into contact with a surface 14a (eg. a sole of a shoe).
(0046] It should be noted that the arcuate pattern of the grooves 38 will tend to 2> create enhanced friction force in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.
[0047]As the tool bits 30 are mounted at the E:nd of cantilever rod 50, the tool bits will be able to move vertically up and down over the terrain of the surface 14a of member 10.

[0048] It is preferable that the texturing of the surface of member 10 takes place shortly after extrusion of member 10. For example, apparatus 20 could be put in-line with the extrusion apparatus. However, apparatus 20 can be configured to still achieve the desired results using the same functional mechanism, if the member s is processed after the composite wood material has cured. Even after curing, composite wood can be deformed by the edges 36 of wheels 34 during the rolling action of the wheels.
[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates schematically the tool bits 30 of the knurling apparatus 20 in to operation. The tool holder 28 is rotated by the rotary mechanism 26. As the composite wood member 10 proceeds through the knurling apparatus 20, the tool bits 30 move laterally across the composite building material 10 at both a leading and trailing edge of the tool holder 28, creating arcuate grooves 38 laterally across the composite building material 10. The arcuate shape of the lateral grooves 38 will is be either convex or concave in relation to the longitudinal direction depending on whether formed at the leading or trailing edge of the tool holder 28. It will be appreciated that as the member passes through apparatus 20 each surface 14a, 14b will be exposed to two passes of the tool bits 30. Thus on one pass the arc to the pass will be convex (when viewed from one end of member 10), and on the zo other, the pass will be concave (when viewed from the same end of member 10).
[0050]As shown in Fig. 5, grooves 38 extend between edges 15a, 15a and 15b, 15b and preferably extend all the way to/from the ridge 16 closest to each edge.
Zs [0051]The speed of rotation of bits 30, their radius of rotation, and their spacing, in relation to the speed of movement of member 10 longitudinally through the apparatus 12 will produce a particular pattern on surfaces 14a, 14b. This pattern will vary depending upon the inter-relationship of these parameters. Preferably the longitudinal speed of the board will be in the range of about 6-10 feet/min when in-30 line with the extrusion machine. Preferably there are 20 tool bits 30 mounted on a disc 29 evenly spaced on disc 29 at a radius of about 18 inches from the center of rotation. The disc 28 will preferably be rotated at a speed of in the range of about 225 revs per min.
[0052] FIG. 6 shows the composite building material 10 having a textured surface 14a comprising longitudinal ridges 16 and lateral grooves 38 forming a knurled pattern and texture on the surface 14 of the composite building material 10.
The knurled pattern and texture formed on the surfaces 14 of the composite building material 10 provides better slip resistance and at least some people will consider it improves the aesthetic look and feel of the composite building member 10.
~o [0053] In the apparatus above, the knurled pattern and texture is formed by first creating the longitudinal ridges 16 and then adding arcuate lateral grooves 38 using the knurling apparatus 20. However, it is possible to form a similar pattern using different arrangements of the apparatus. Further, the lateral grooves 38 may be formed in straight lines rather than in an arcuate pattern or may be formed having other patterns depending on the shape and speed of rotation of the tool holder 28, the number of tool bits 30 provided on the tool holder 28, and other factors.
[0054] It will be understood by one of skilled in the art, that the knurling apparatus 20 2o may be arranged either above or below the composite building material 10 or both depending on the surfaces 14 to be textured. If necessary, the knurling apparatus 20 may also be arranged to provide texture to the edges of the composite building material 10. Such a knurling apparatus 20 may preferably be arranged adjacent to the knurling apparatus 20 as described abovE~
[0055]The knurling apparatus 20 has been described and illustrated for use with members 10 made from composite wood material and having a surface to be processed having longitudinal ridges 16. However, apparatus 20 could be used with members that are made from other materials such as plastics like PVC. To form the 3o grooves 38, the apparatus 20 might have to be adapted to provide for cutting bits to cut the grooves in the plastic material. Also, the apparatus 20 could be used with members made from composite wood or other suitable material, which do not have longitudinal ridges.
[0056]Although the knurling apparatus 20 described above can be used in line with an extrusion apparatus and prior to setting of the extruded composite building material 10, it is also possible to arrange the H;nurling apparatus 20 separately from the extrusion line process. In such a case, it may be preferable if the tool bits 30 are provided with a sharper edge for cutting into the composite building material 10 to to form the lateral grooves 38.
[0057] Further, it will be understood that the knurling apparatus 20 and/or tool holder 28 may also be adjustable in a vertical direction to allow for different thicknesses of composite building material 10. Further, the tool holder 28 or tool support 32 may Is be supported or formed in such a way to allow for dimensional variances in the composite building member 10.
[0058] It will be further understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible to modification 2o of form, arrangement of parts, steps, details and order of operation. The invention, rather, is intended to encompass ali such modification within its scope, as defined by the claims.

Claims (31)

1. A member made from a composite wood material comprising an elongated body having at least one outer surface and opposed side edges and a plurality of grooves formed on said outer surface.

2. A member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grooves are generally V-shaped.

3. A member as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of longitudinally oriented ridges formed on said outer surface;
and wherein said grooves intersect with at least some of said plurality of said longitudinal ridges.

4. A member as claimed in claim 3 wherein said grooves are discontinuous.

5. The member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said grooves intersect with said longitudinal ridges in an arcuate shape.

6. A member as claimed in claim 4 wherein said grooves are formed substantially only in said longitudinal ridges.

7. A member as claimed in claim 5, wherein said arcuate grooves stretch laterally between side edges of said member and comprise a plurality of spaced convex or concave arcs.

8. A member as claimed in claim 5, wherein said arcuate lateral grooves comprise a plurality of convex and concave arcs.

9. An apparatus for forming a textured surface on a member, said apparatus comprising:
a frame;

a tool bit driving mechanism supported by said frame;
a tool holder connected for lateral movement to said driving mechanism and adapted to be supported over a surface of said member;
at least one tool bit mounted to said tool holder;
wherein said driving mechanism moves said tool holder such that said at least one tool bit forms grooves on said surface of said member as said member moves past said apparatus.

10.An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said driving mechanism is a rotating mechanism and said at least one tool bit is moved on an arcuate path to form a series of arcuate grooves across said surface of said member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said arcuate grooves comprise convex and concave arcs.

12.An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein a plurality of tool bits are mounted to said tool holder and said tool bits move to form lateral arcuate grooves on said surface of said member.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said member has a series of longitudinal ridges and said tool bits are positioned to form said grooves in an arcuate pattern that intersects with said longitudinal ridges.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said tool holder is a circular disc mounted for rotation about an axis, and wherein said plurality of tool bits are positioned at a substantially constant radius from said axis.

15.The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said tool bits are equally spaced around said disc at said constant radius.

16 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said at least one tool bit comprises a tool wheel being mounted for rotation on a tool support.

17.An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tool bit is mounted for resilient vertical movement to said tool holder.

18.An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said tool bit is mounted to the arm of a cantilevered rod.

19.An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said plurality of tool bits are each mounted for resilient vertical movement to said disc.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said tool bits are each mounted to the arm of a cantilevered rod.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein when said tool bits are in contact with said surface of said member, said rod is deflected such that said tool bits exert pressure against said surface of said member.

22.An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said rod is mounted radially.

23.An apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein each of said tool bits comprise a freely rotatable wheel mounted on said rod member, said rod member being mounted on said disc, wherein a peripheral edge of said wheel depends below said disc.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein each said wheel has an angled edge for forming said lateral grooves, by rotation of said wheel when said wheel is in pressure contact with a part of said surface of said member.

25.An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said wheel is mounted for free rotation on said tool support.

26.The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said angled edge forms said lateral grooves when pressure is exerted by said edge to deform said surface of said member.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a member feeding apparatus for feeding said member longitudinally past said at least one tool bit such that said at least one tool bit forms a plurality of lateral grooves in said surface.

28.A method of forming a friction-enhanced surface on a member, said method comprising:
forming longitudinal ridges on a surface of a composite or plastic building member;
forming lateral grooves on said surface of said member with said apparatus.

29.A method of forming a friction enhanced surface on a member, said method comprising:
feeding an elongated member longitudinally past an apparatus;
forming a plurality of arcuate grooves an a surface of said elongated member with said apparatus.

30. A member made from a plastic or plastic composite material comprising an elongated body having at least one outer surface and opposed side edges and a plurality of grooves formed on said outer surface.

31.A method of forming a friction enhanced surface on a composite wood member, said method comprising:
a) Extruding or pultruding a composite wood member with a first apparatus;
b) Feeding said member past a second apparatus;

c) Forming a plurality of grooves on a surface of said member with said second apparatus.