Apparatus for securing wall members for log homes

An apparatus for securing a plurality of wall members together to define a wall, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a base portion having a stud extending upwardly therefrom, the base portion being configured to engage a surface of a first wall member;
• (b) a first securing member sized and shaped to engage with a surface of a second wall member stacked above the first wall member;
• and
• (c) a first coupling member configured to extend through a bore in the first and second wall members, the first coupling member having:
• (i) an elongate rod member having an upper end and a lower end;
• and
• (ii) a coupler on the lower end of the rod member, the coupler being sized and shaped to receive the stud therein to couple the stud to the rod member;
• (d) wherein the upper end of the rod member is configured to be coupled to the first securing member for biasing the first and second wall members together;
• (e) further comprising a sleeve member sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of the externally-threaded portion of the stud member.

A log wall comprising:

• (a) a first wall member;
• (b) a second wall member stacked above the first wall member;
• and
• (c) an apparatus for securing the wall members together, comprising:
• (i) a base portion having a stud extending upwardly therefrom, the base portion configured to engage a surface of the first wall member;
• (ii) a first securing member sized and shaped to engage with a surface of the second wall member;
• and
• (iii) a first coupling member configured to extend through a bore in the first and second wall members, the first coupling member having:
• an elongate rod member having an upper end and a lower end, and a coupler fixedly secured on the lower end of the rod member before the first coupling member is inserted through the bore, the coupler being sized and shaped to fit through the bore and to receive the stud therein to couple the stud to the rod member;
• (iv) wherein the upper end of the rod member is configured to be coupled to the first securing member for biasing the first and second wall members together.

A log wall, comprising:

• (a) a first wall member;
• (b) a second wall member stacked above the first wall member;
• (c) a third wall member stacked above the second wall member;
• and
• (d) an apparatus for securing the wall members together, comprising:
• (i) a base portion configured to engage a surface of the first wall member;
• (ii) a first securing member provided within the wall and being sized and shaped to engage with a surface of the second wall member wherein the first securing member includes a spring member sized and shaped to accommodate expansion and contraction of the first and second wall members;
• (iii) a first coupling member configured to extend through a bore in the first and second wall members to couple the base portion to the first securing member;
• (iv) a second securing member sized and shaped to engage with a surface of the third wall member wherein the second securing member includes a spring member sized and shaped to accommodate expansion and contraction of the second and third wall members;
• and
• (v) a second coupling member configured to extend through a bore in the third wall member to couple the first coupling member to the second securing member.