AU2011101751A4 - Wall bracing system - Google Patents

Abstract

- 18 A wall bracing system comprises a frame of elongate members including side members, a top member and angled members connected together at connecting zones. The angled members are connected at an angle to the side members, to form a truss like pattern, with the top member being located at one end of the frame. The frame includes hold down means 10 located at an end of the frame opposite to that of the top member, to allow the frame to be fixable to a substrate and to fit within a wall to cause it to be braced.

Description

P00/Oil Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Intention Title: WALL BRACING SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -2 Wall Bracing System The invention relates to a bracing system for building construction and to a method of installation. The invention is directed particularly but not solely towards a bracing system 5 for walls for cavity wall construction. Background of Invention Typically bracing for cavity wall construction involves using separate members such as steel 10 strapping or panelling like plywood or gypsum based plasterboard. Problems are encountered with these bracing systems in that extra work and cost is required such as the need to use temporary bracing while the permanent bracing is being installed. The problem with temporary bracing is that it is not subject to inspection or code compliance 15 and is just left to the judgement of the builder which then becomes a safety issue for users and the rest of the building structure. Damage due to inadequate temporary bracing includes wind and rain damage. Damage like for example misalignment of roof trusses and wall movement can cause cracking and deformation of fixings all requiring remedial works. Gypsum based plasterboard bracing systems are susceptible to exposure to adverse weather 20 or moisture and need further protection and rescheduling of work around them to solve this problem. Using existing bracing systems can mean that exposed building sites require more temporary bracing and protection from the weather. More temporary bracing also adds to the cleaning 25 up process requiring more time and effort to remove them from the building site. Some of these existing bracing systems also need extra inspections for fixing compliance. In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that 30 the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

-3 Object of the Invention 5 It is an object of the invention to provide an improved wall bracing system and method of installation that ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art or at least provide the public with a useful choice. Summary of Invention 10 In a first aspect the invention is said to reside in a wall bracing system comprising a frame of elongate members including side members, a top member and angled members connected together at connecting zones whereby the angled members are connected at an angle to the side members, to form a truss like pattern, with the top member being located at one end of the frame, the frame including hold down means located at an end of the frame opposite to 15 that of the top member, to allow the frame to be fixable to a substrate and to fit within a wall to cause it to be braced. Preferably, the elongate members comprise a channel cross section having a channel base and channel walls with a recess therein and having flanges and a plinth, the flanges are 20 located at the top of the channel walls to point inwardly towards each other in a similar plane to that of the base and the plinth being located within the recess to form a raised portion therein, wherein the flanges are located over the entire length of the angled members and for the top member whereas for the side members, the flanges are located in spaced locations along its length in areas not in the connection zones. 25 Preferably the elongate members are slidably connected together at each connection zone at their ends, by riveting.. Preferably the hold down means includes brackets have an L shaped portion with one leg 30 attached to a base of a channel of the side members and the other leg attachable to a base plate or substrate of a wall.

-4 Preferably the other leg faces of both hold down bracket face point towards each other to be located within the recess formed by the frame. In a second aspect the invention is said to reside in a braced wall including studs between a 5 top plate and bottom plate and including at least one bracing system connected between the studs and base plate and top plate wherein the bracing system comprising frame including side members, a top member and angled members connected together whereby the angled members are connected at angle to the side members, the system including hold down brackets located at an end of the frame opposite to that of the top member. 10 Preferably for extra height walls between the top plate and base plate, there can be at least a framing member being located parallel to the top member and spaced therefrom. Preferably for less width between studs, there can be at least an extra stud strapped to an 15 existing stud. To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and application of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The 20 disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. Brief Description The invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings: 25 Figure 1 is a front view of the bracing system of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross section of the channel section of the bracing section. Figure 3 is a cross Figure 4 is a cross 30 Figure 5 is a series of views of the fixing bracket Figure 5a is a side view of the bracket Figure 5b is a front view of the bracket -5 Figure 5c is a top plan view of the bracket Figure 6 is a front view of the bracing system in a framed wall 5 Figure 7 is a side view of the bracket connection to concrete floor Figure 8 is a front view of the bracket connection to concrete floor Figure 9 is a is a side view of the bracket connection to timber floor Figure 10 is a front view of the bracket connection to timber floor 10 Figure 11 is a general front view of the bracing system as for a minimum stud spacing of 450mm. Figure 12 is a general front view of the bracing system as for 2.7 m stud height as for a minimum stud spacing of 450mm. Figure 13 is a general front view of the bracing system as for 3.0 m stud height as for a 15 minimum stud spacing of 450mm. Figure 14 is a general front view of back to back bracing systems as for 2.7m stud height with a minimum stud spacing of 1200mm. 20 Figure 15 is a general front view of back to back bracing systems as for a 3.Om stud height as for a minimum stud spacing of 1200mm. Description of Drawings The following description will describe the invention in relation to preferred embodiments of 25 the invention, namely a bracing system and method of installation. The invention is in no way limited to these preferred embodiments as they are purely to exemplify the invention only and that possible variations and modifications would be readily apparent without departing from the scope of the invention. 30 Frame -6 As shown in Figures 1-15 there is shown a wall bracing system 1 which includes a rectangular frame structure of elongate members comprising the following frame components or members, of side members 3, end member 4, angled members 5 and hold down means 6. The frame components are removably connected to one another at 5 connection zones by frame fastening means 10. In this example the hold down means 6 is or are in the form of hold down brackets 6. The frame comprises an outer rectangular frame with the angled members 5 being arranged in an angled or diagonal like orientation with respect to parallel side members 3, spanning 10 the distance between the side members 3 at an angle to form as a truss-like or zig-zag pattern framed structure as shown by the front of view of figure 1. In this example as more easily seen in figures 3 and 4, the frame fastening means 10 can be rivets. Other examples include bolts, nut and washer type connections. In this example the angled members 5 can start at say from a top corner of a first side member 2 to extend at angle to the side member spaced 15 from the first side member, then another angled member 3 starts in the second member adjacent to the end of the first side member to extend at an angle, back to the first side member and so on to form a V-like formation of the angled members 5 spanning between the side members. 20 In use the rectangular frame has a top end 11, base end 12 and sides 13 whereby the end member 4 is located at an opposite end to the brackets. The space bordered by the sides 13, top end 11 and base end 12 form an enclosed area 14 in two dimensions for the location of the angled members 5 and the rectangular frame having an outer surface 15. 25 The side members 3, end member 4 and angled members 5 are formed as shown in figure 2 from an elongate structural member of any suitable cross section so as to provide a certain structural strength, such as for example a channel cross sectional shape 20 with channel walls 21, a channel base 22, channel flanges 23 and channel plinth 24. 30 The channel flanges 23 function to provide more strength to the channel member when in use and are located in spaced portions of the length the side members 3 but are not provided where the angled members 5 are slotted therein as seen in figures 3 and 4 ie the flanges are not provided at the connection zones of the side members to allow for the angled members to -7 slot therein. The channel flanges 23 are provided along the entire length of the angled members 5. A channel recess 25 is defined as the area substantially enclosed by channel walls 21. 5 Channel flanges 23 are formed as lips located on the very top edge of the walls 21. For example, the channel cross section can have walls of height 66mm, base width of 45mm and flanges 23 being 7 mm wide. The channel plinth 24 can be provided at the ends of each frame member where the connections are between side members 3 and angled members 5 and also the connected between the top member 4 and side members 3. As shown in figure 10 4 the channel plinth 24 is provided minimally at the ends of the top member 4 and angled members 5. As seen in figure 1, the connection of the side members 3 with angled members 5 is made by sliding an end portion of each angled member 5 into the recess 25 of the side members 3 15 and fastening the channel side walls together by the connection means 10. This means that the channel side walls slidably abut (or are very close to each other) with each other so that the first fastening means 10 can be applied and fitted appropriately. Figure 1 shows the sides of the channel sections of all of the components. The outside width dimension (from channel wall 21 to channel wall 21) of the angled members 5 are sized to be less than the 20 inside width dimension of the channel walls 21 of the sides members 3. For example, there can be a 555 mm wide bracing frame to fit inside a standard 600mm centre to centre timber stud and a smaller version of a 355mm wide bracing frame to fit inside a 400mm centre to centre standard stud wall. However to fit the smaller version there 25 is a need to put in an extra 92mx50mm stud within the opening between studs. As shown in the figures, the angle of the angled members 5 which can be located and connected, is at any suitable angle (for example 90 or 70 degrees) with respect to the side members. Also as shown in figure 1 there can be a gap or spacing 5a of say 75mm between 30 the ends of two angled members meeting in the recess 25 of the side members 3, to allow the ends of the angled members 5 to not interfere with each other. Possibly the ends of the angle members can meet but will not overlap within the channel recess of the side members. The selection of angle for the angled members 5 can mean that there can be the spacing 5a -8 between the top edge of the walls of the angled members 5 when the angled members 5 meet to be connected therein. Hold Down Brackets 6 - figure 5, 7-10 5 Hold down brackets 6 are shown in figure 5 (a-c) and figures 7-10 and are L-shaped or at least have an L-shaped portion having an upright leg 30 and base leg 31 to allow for the connection to the side members 3 and bottom plate of a wall To allow for the connection of the bracing system to any vertical member of a wall, like for example a stud, there is 10 provided another connection means ic a bracket to side member connection means including at least one aperture 32 located in upright leg 31 to allow a wall fastening means 33 there through, to the lower end of side members 3. As shown in figure 5, apertures 32 of upright leg 30 for example can be provided as two vertical rows of four circular apertures 32 with optional matching apertures in a lower end of 15 the base of the side members 3 which will allow wall fastening means 33 such as upright leg fasteners like for example screws (eg 1 Ogx40mm Tec screws ), to be inserted through upright leg and base of side members 3 to fix the bracket 6 with the side member 3 into the vertical wall members 29 (eg studs) Matching apertures in the base of side members 3 may not be necessary as some screws are able to self drill through. 20 Apertures 32a can be located between apertures 32 to allow for the separate connection of the frame to the bracket via the side members 3 which uses rivets 36 as the fastener for these two apertures 32a (see figures 5 (a)-(c)) to allow the bracing system to be a complete frame unit to be fastenable to upright members 40 (eg studs) of a framed wall 41. 25 In figures 7-10, there is another connection means ie bracket to bottom plate connection means to connect the bracing system to the base of a wall whereby base leg 31 can have at least one aperture 34 shaped as an elongate slot, for the insertion and attachment of one base leg fastening means 37. The substrate 35 will have a base plate 40 of a framed wall 41 in 30 place. This means that the base leg 32 sits directly on top of the base plate 40 so that the fastening means 37 is able to go through aperture 34 to penetrate base plate 40 and substrate 35. As shown in figures 7 and 8 if the substrate 35 is concrete a masonry anchor (eg in the form of one coach screw such as for example M12 coach screw with a minimum lift capacity -9 of 12kN and a square washer 34a) will be used or as shown by figures 9 and 10, for a timber floor, the coach screw (M12 with lifting capacity of 12Kn) and also with a washer 34a (see figures 7-10). 5 For example the bracket 6 can have the vertical leg 30 being 155mm height and the base leg 31 can be 80 long with a width of say 40mm. Before being formed in the L shape the length can be 225mm as seen in figure 5(c). Aperture 32 diameters for the vertical leg can be 6mm for two rows of four such apertures 32 being spaced lengthwise approximately 25mm apart and 24 mm apart. Aperture 34 is slotted being 20mm long plus R7 rounded ends. 10 Installation in a wall - figures 6-12 As shown in figure 6, bracing system 1 is adapted to be fitted to or into an existing or new timber frame wall construction 41 comprising upright members or studs 29 and cross 15 members such as noggins or dwangs 42 between a top plate 43 and base plate 40. For example, studs 29 can be dimensioned as 4x2's or 75x50mm and the standard distance between studs in New Zealand is a minimum of 600mm centre to centre. As shown the bracing system 1 is positioned to fit and be connected between spaced studs 29 having no noggins 45 in between and also between the base plate 40 and top plate 43. 20 In general there are various connection means between components and the wall such as: -side member 3 to side members 3 -side member 3 to top member 4 -hold down bracket 6 to base plate 40 25 -hold down bracket 6 to side members 3 -hold down bracket 6 (with side members) to the studs 29 Further connection means 44 at positions marked "X" on figure 6 are provided to connect or fix, the bracing system 1 to the wall. Such connection locations can be for example at the 30 top, connecting the top member 4 to the top plate, and sides at or in between the angled members 5 to connect the side members 3 to the studs. For example connection means 44 can be Tec/Tek screws.

- 10 As shown in figures 11-13 when using the bracing system 1, if the stud spacing is greater than the width of the bracing system (outside dimension from side member to side member 3) one can simply insert a packer in the form of at least one extra vertical member or stud 46. Also for the situations for higher wall height between the top plate 43 and base plate 40, at 5 least one height adjustment member 47 can be connected to the studs on either side. If using more than one extra height adjustment member 47 these can be spaced appropriately in the extra height. For example as shown in figures 12-15 the height adjustment member 47 can be 190x45mm framing. In these cases extra connection means 48 at the positions noted in the figures (such as for example Tek screws 12gx40mm hex head) can be used to connect the 10 side members to the studs 29 and extra studs 46 and height adjustment members 47. Also as shown in figure 13-15 an extra top member 49 (eg 90x45 framing timber) can be positioned above the height adjustment member 47. Services holes 50 can also be provided to enable for example any electrical cabling therethrough. 15 Other examples as shown in figures 14 and 15 for use of the bracing system 1 also include placing bracing systems 1 in a back to back situation also with small stud spacing and or extra height between base plate and top plates as appropriate. In this situation the hold down brackets 6 are staggered to allow the fasteners to hold fast to the stud. For the side to side abutment positions the bracing systems can be separated by at least one stud member or be 20 abutting directly side to side. Advantages a) Reduced need for temporary bracing b) Able to be fitting within the inside of wall frames 25 c) Are designed to provide for certain loadings d) Are not affected by weather conditions e) Are able to be designed to allow for wind and earthquake loadings f) Can be designed to compliant to various codes g) Are simple to install 30 h) Are of robust construction i) Are able to provide certain levels of durability j) Are able to be installed in new construction or can be retrofitted k) Is cost effective when compared to other bracing systems - 11 1) Allows for faster work processes such as lining, stopping and finishing m) Site safety is enhanced n) Reduced need to remove rubbish from building site. o) Modest cost for typical houses 5 p) Creates a rigid structural envelope with reduced stress points q) Reduced risk of cracking in wall and ceiling linings. r) Able to allow early Council inspection s) Able to allow standard plasterboard over the top t) provides a ready recognition that a bracing system is in place 10 Variations Throughout the description of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprising" and "comprises", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. 15 It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is hereinbefore described. 20 The width and height of the bracing system can be varied to suit certain standard distances between studs or vertical uprights in a wall. This variation is also possible for the thickness of the bracing system which is designed to fit with current timber wall thickness e.g. 4 inches to form an outer surface flush with the rest of the wall. Different countries will have 25 different standard dimension but these can easily be allow for. The wall can be formed from traditional timber or steel or any variation thereof. Though the method of attaching the bracing system is shown as being put in after the wall is constructed, it is possible to erect the bracing system 1 before all or part of the wall is put in place. The 30 flanges 23 are shown as being spaced but they can equally be formed along the entire length of the side members 3 or in any other frame members such as the end member 4 and angled members 5. The same applies to the plinth 24 which can be provided at any desired spacing along a frame member or along the complete length if necessary.

- 12 It will also be understood that where a product, method or process as herein described or claimed and that is sold incomplete, as individual components, or as a "kit of Parts", that such exploitation will fall within the ambit of the invention. 5 These and other features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the method of operation and functions of the related elements of structures and the combination of parts and economics of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various 10 figures. Any number of bracing systems can be used per wall. Bracing systems 1 can be installed back to back or side by side. In yet another variation the hold down brackets 6 can be swapped to be a member similar to the end member 4 which can then be fixed to the bottom plate 40 of a wall 41 using suitable fasteners. The selection of the washers, bolts and nut, 15 coach screws or channel etc can be varied to be larger and/or thicker depending on the strength of connection required to match the bracing strength required by the whole bracing system. For example the channel can be made thicker to from say 0.5 to 3mm thick to provide added bracing strength. Other means to increase strength of any of the elongate frame members, by providing the flanges 23 and plinth 24 can be provided over portions of a 20 length or along the entire length but are sized and located with respect to the connection zones. For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "lateral", "longitudinal" and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However it is to be 25 understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as 30 limiting.

- 13 The detail currently submitted is one design that is most suitable to the New Zealand market building regulations (which do change from time to time). However some markets or countries like for example the Australian market requires a stronger design so changes will be necessary to increase the sizes, spacings, cross sections of the components of the current 5 bracing system to meet that market demands for increase in strength i.e. Add-- Thicker Washers, Change the Hold Down bracket design, Increase the thickness of the channel etc, All these changes will need to be tested in line with the regulatory procedure to provide strength results that show the changes they make to the strength of the bracing system of the present invention. 10 The basic idea of the present invention is to fit a pre-made bracing system of the present invention into the inside of any timber framework to increase the timber frameworks strength. The bracing system relies on being able to change the components of our bracing system so it can meet different circumstances or requirements that a timber framed building is designed to withstand in adverse wind and earthquake conditions. 15 The bracing system of the present invention and it's ability to be changed to meet various designs can be used in many different types of wall construction such as for example steel stud constructions in the same way as in timber frame construction comments as detailed herein Parts Schedule for Wall Bracing System 20 1. bracing system 2. 3. side members 4. end member 5. angled members 25 6. hold down brackets 7. 8. 9. 10. frame fastening means 30 11. top end 12. base end - 14 13. sides 14. enclosed area 15. outer surface 16. 5 17. 18. 19. 20. channel cross section 21. channel walls 10 22. channel base 23. channel flanges 24. channel plinth 25. channel recess 26. 15 27. 28. 29. vertical member or stud 30. bracket - upright leg 31. bracket - base leg 20 32. bracket - upright leg apertures - also apertures 32a 33. bracket - wall fastening means - fastening frame to studs 34. bracket - slotted aperture 35. substrate (concrete or timber) 36. bracket - side member fastening means - rivets to go through apertures 32a 25 37. bracket - base leg fastening means to go through the slotted aperture 34 38. 39. 40. base plate 41. wall 30 42. noggins 43. extra connection means 44. connection means 45.

- 15 46. extra stud 47. height adjustment member 5 10 15