CA2144798A1 - Anti-racking device for wood framed and other buildings - Google Patents

Abstract

In the field of structural framing, it is known to use sheathing, cross bracing, struts, and such means to endeavour resistance to racking of walls in standard framing methods. In this invention, the novel approach is to combine a means to tie the vertical and horizontal structural members together at their weakest points, "the corner". By placing the invention in the centre line of the structure, it gives maximum integrity, adds rigidity, but remains resilient and at the same time ties the frame members to each other and the foundation, leaving the faces of the structures flush for attaching sheathing and finishing products.

Description

214~798 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wood frame construction has been the most widely used building method in most areas of the world wherein sufficient forest materials and supply are available economically. Wood is a renewable resource and as such provides sustainable development through out the structural framing industry.
Wood framing has ~rovell itself from a perspective of seismic and other natural tests including the versatility of llesign A notable aspect of frame structures is that there has been just marginal change in the entire industry through out the general applications and scope of usage. There is, however, enormous research effort being applied to exploit other forms and materials which embody the necessary features as used in the structural industry.

There is a need to develop new and practical means of enhancing wood product usage and strengthen the end product through design. This novel invention addresses the need for cost reduction, enhancement of strength, and reduction of waste, and provides durability, longevity, and seismic resistance.

21~4798 SCOPE OF THE INVENT~ON

This novel device has worldwide scope in applications of structural design where in particular wood frame construction is used generally. This device addresses structural integrity, racking tendencies of walls, squareness of wall structures, in addition to tying panels together and tying walls to foundations. This device also ~ proves methods of distribution of force from vertical and horizontally attached members. Due to its unique positioning in the wall being centrally fastened, it provides resistance to the effects of torquing of sp~nning members, and promotes general centring of vertical members after force moments are removed. This device is intended to be used in conjunction with traditional methods and materials for framing buildings.

CURRENT TECHNOLOGY

Structural design in the traditional and conventional sense embodies a method of securing perimeter walls to a foundation or flooring through the use of bolts, and other means. Walls are typically manufactured in a plant or on a framing table at the construction site or stick built right on site. The typical or conventional frame wall in America is comprised of the 2" X 4" stud placed on 16 inch centres nailed top and bottom to two 2" X 4" plates upper and lower. The plates can be single on the bottom being secured to the foundation/slab/floor and usually the wall is equipped with one plate on top with a second upper plate attached offset to the wall sections thereby securing the wall sections together along the top perimeter. The traditional method of supplying and outside wall attachment or siding applications is accomplished by n~iling boards to the vertical studs or by using various commercially available she~tlling products such as OSB, plywood, chipboard, and in many cases random lengths of regular boards merely nailed to the exterior product.

When a racking load is applied to this kind of wall construction, the resistance to movement of the wall is the strength of the nails or fasteners and their holding power against movement. In the case of the flatboards used in this manner, there is also a scissors action which takes place allowing the nails to bend or tear. When the loading force has caused the nails to distort and the wall to rack to the point of distress, the wall is permanently fixed in that new position. Desirable aspects of wood frame construction have been demonstrated under lo~cling conditions caused by seismic or other extreme forces in that the structure's resilience helps absorb the motion and resists collapse. Due to the nature of conventional wall construction, the loatlin~
factors, when applied in a shear diaphragm condition, can cause a twisting action to occur.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DR~VVINGS

Fig. 1 A side elevation of two adjoining wall sections with invention securing means of device to foundation and means of securing panels together.

Fig. 2 Vertical end elevation of wall panel with invention shown as number one.

Fig. 3 End elevation of conventional wall with sheathing attached.

Fig. 3a End elevation of conventional wall with boards attached.

Fig. 4 Side elevation of wall showing fasteners, double upper plate, and sheathing.

Fig. 5 Plan view of invention.

Fig. 6 Side elevation of invention, shown in position with dowel knives 7 inserted in wood members.

7 21~798 Fig. 7 Cross section of invention material showing slots 33 in invention to receive securing brackets 24 with bolt holes and bolts securing brackets.

Fig. 8 Side elevation of invention in position with vertical and horizontal members showing relieved section of members 9 to receive the securing brackets 24.

Fig. 9 End elevation showing device attached to member 14-15 and positioning of securing flanges 34 with bolt 32.

Fig. 10 End elevation showing device attached to member 14-15 and positioning of securing flanges 24 with rivets 27.

Fig. 11 Plan view of vertical/horizontal member 14-15 showing placement of securing members 24 in position.

Fig. 12 Side elevation of invention showing alternate method 36 of securing flange 35, with bolt 37 and nut 36 Fig. 13 Isometric view of securing flange 34 where bolt 32 iS used to assemble.

~214~798 DESCRIP~ION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A novel device which can be incorporated during construction of frame walls or other pre-framed structures to tie together vertical and horizontal members and assist in obt~ining true squareness of the structure being built, the invention being installed in such a fashion as to be positioned at the centre line of the wall corner adds to the geometry and strength of the structure.
When the wall assembly is complete, the device becomes a permanent member of the construction form. This novel structural memberl is co~ ised of a stamped, formed or fabricated, device constructed or made from plastic or metal product. Flanges at Fig.6 2~ 3 provide additional strength, with main web 2a being the primary force transferring member. Fig.6 7 (knife dowels) can be formed into, or secured to, web 7a for additional rivets 27~ or screws can be used to strengthen dowels in web Fig.6 762a~ final positioning and location of device into wall structure Fig. 1 location 1 also Fig. 2 location 1 is assured.
Additionally, these devices are centrally located on the wood frame members Fig. 2 1. The device is installed as in Fig. 1 initially by placing device in framing jig location 1 and drawn into final position through application of pressure Fig. 6 at point 4 against corner of structural members. This pressure can be supplied through a pneumatic or other type clamping device which would hold the device at the proper elevation from the plan view Fig.2 1 while applying sufficient force to embed dowel knives Fig. 67 into full resting position Fig.l 1 further attachment can be achieved by use of bolts or lag screws through flange Fig.5 3. This position ensures squareness being derived in members 13 and 14. Observing the location and installation of these devices as shown in Fig. 1 location 1 provides resistance to racking diagonally shown 7 ~ ~

by line Fig.l 1l and in the opposite direction shown by line Fig.l 12 without unduly limiting the resilience at 13 and 14 structural integrity is enhanced causing the wall to seek it's original square configuration. This is a unique feature which adds to the resilience of the building wall components.

1o2l447~8 DETAILED DESCRIP~ION OF FIGURES

Fig. 1 represents the side elevation of two standard sections of conventionally framed 2" X 4" standard wall with 16" stud centres. the components of this wall are as follows: upper and lower plate members 13 and 15; stud members 14, 16 showing adjoining wall section at 17. The novel device is located at positions l. Fig. 1 29 shows the interconnecting of wall panels at 17 by using bolts from device l in left hand panel to device in right hand panel. These bolts fit in hole l0, and as such would be represented by bolt Fig. 12 37. Fig. 1 also demonstrates the securement of the panel to foundation slot 19, in which bolts 37 have been set in position 30 at time of placement of slot l9. This firmly attaches the wall structure to the foundation member. Lines ll and 12 indicate the lines of force against which the device resists movement. Slight force resultant deflection is allowed to occur at Fig.1 at 13~ 15-16 Fig. 2 represents the end elevation of a corner section of a conventional wall as demonstrated by 14 which is the first vertical stud member, 15 iS the lower plate, 13 iS the upper plate and Fig.2 18 represents the second upper plate. Lower plate 15 iS affixed to foundation slab at Fig.2 l9. The invention is situated in the upper position Fig.2l showing 30 interconnecting bolt securing wall and device to plate 18, upper plate, lag bolts secure device Fig.22l in position on vertical face elevation l upper and lower position l. Fig. 2 29 depicts the securement of the plate 15 to device l by bolt 37.
Fig. 3 shows the end elevation of a conventional frame wall section using she~tlling. Fig. 3 22 the foundation slab l9 on which lower plate 15 iS
secured. Fig. 3 14 iS the first vertical stud member attached to upper plate 13 21~ 1798 on which upper plate 18 iS attached. Fig. 3 æ represents the she~tlling attached to the outside of the wall by fasteners 23.
Fig. 3a represents end elevation of conventional wall embodying the same construction form with the exception that boards 22a are used instead of sheathing æ also affixed by fasteners 23.
Fig. 4 depicts the side elevation of a conventional wall showing lower plate 15 attached to slab 19 with vertical member studs 14 attached to upper plate 13 over which top plate 18 iS secured. Sheathing æ is secured in place by fasteners 23. Also demonstrated is the typical method to stagger second upper plate 5.
Fig. 5 is the plan view of the invention showing triangular construction embodying ribs 2 which are diagonal supporting members constructed in part with horizontal and vertical frame members (flanges) 3 which are at right angles where dowel knives 7 are placed in positions as part of the main web 2a. A reinforcement lug 4 iS formed in place at the 90 position 4 for inst~lling and securement of invention to final location 1 at which time lag bolts or other screw type fastening devices are placed into flange 3 permanently ~ffixing device in its final location. Further embodiments shown on 7 dowel knives is an ap~ropliately spaced hole at le~ling edge of knife to provide forplacement of securing pins to be located in the edge elevation of the studs, when the device is in its final position, this fastening means can also be used as an alternate to, or in conjunction with, lag bolts. In cases where m~ximum strength is not required, the invention can be manufactured without dowel knives, at which time lag bolts or screws can be used to secure device in position.
Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 7a shows the dowel knife in position of main web assembly being both fastened by rivets 7b and comprising part of the l~min~ted synthetic web being held in place specifically by the cohesion of the materials during the manllf~ctllring and stamping process.
The various methods of attaching the device to frame member are demonstrated in Fig. 6 using dowel knives 20 and lag bolts 21. Fig. 6 shows a means of attaching the dowel knives into the device web, by cohesion during forming and placement of rivets, screws, or other means, such as pre-punched angular faces perpendicular to face of dowel shank Fig. 67b.
Additional embodiments are shown in Fig. 7 where the device has slots 33 made to accommodate insertion of securement brackets 24 after device is located in structural member corner. In this case, Fig. 724 would be fabricated or formed as in Fig. 13.
Fig. 8 demonstrates the application of securement of devices where the device is inserted during construction and securement brackets 24 fit through slots lO cut in members 14 ~C 15. In this case, the device would be placed in plate 14 first, then stud member 15 would be put in place allowing bracket securing arm 24 to protrude through stud for bending and final placement in channels provided - finally being fastened by nails 28 in Fig. 10.
Fig. 9 demonstrates the use of a T section securement bracket shown in Fig. 13, where the wall or structural member can receive the device after initial fabrication. In this case, the members 14~SC 15, and in all cases, these structural members 14-15 are pre-drilled lO or slotted lO and have securement bracket channels cut in them in readiness for construction.
In this case, bracket 34 iS secured to device l by a bolt 32 which is placed through hole in device and bracket finally secured in place by nut 32, Fig. 10, demonstrating the means of securement of device, through slots lO, with 214,437~

securement bracket being bent 24 into channels provided in l~l5, and then secured in place by fastener 28. In this case, the securement brackets 24 are formed into device web, and additional fastening and securing of brackets into the device is provided by rivets 27.
Fig. 11 demonstrates the outside or back of members 14-15 showing channel 9 in the face of these structural members. This channel permits a flush face between member 14-15 and securement bracket 24 shown bent in place with fasteners 28 in place. An offset 25 of brackets and slots lO is shown and such are to reduce the splitting tendency of in line slots.
Fig. 12 shows a further embodiment where the securing brackets 35 are brackets attached to bolts 37 fastened by nuts 36. The function is ~imil~r to Fig.
13 Tee section with the exception that bolt holes are used in place of slots lO
and the device l is quickly fastened in position.
Fig. 13 gives the isometric view of securement flange fabricated to be fitted according to Fig. 7 into slots 33.

Claims (14)

1) An invention designed to permanently attach vertical wall members to horizontal wall members, enhancing the structural integrity of wall sections by providing support centrally to the wall structure at each corner.

2) A novel device as in Claim 1 which has resistance to flexing in either compression or tension situations relative to framed members to which it is attached, being secured by lag bolts or other fastening devices.

3) A claim wherein the invention includes the placement of knife dowels which extend into the attached wood members, allowing permanent location of device.

4) A claim where the dowel knives are incorporated in the manufacturing process of the device and are secured in place by the cohesion of the composite materials of construction.

5) A claim where the knife dowels are offset so as to reduce the splitting tendency of the wood and stud plate members upon being forced into seating position.

6) A device which when attached according to specifications is manufactured to maintain ninety degree or other specified angles permanently on attaching surfaces.

7) Embodiments in the knife dowels which are made from steel or other high tensile material in which the leading edge of dowel has a pin receiving hole.

8) A claim wherein the centre leading edge of the hole in the knife dowel can receive a locking pin driven into the wood stud or plate edge through the knife dowel hole, securely locking the device to the structural members.

9) A reinforced block of material used as a pressure point for forcing invention into final position, distributing the required forces in such a fashion so as not to cause damage to flanges, ribs or web of invention.

10) The securing brackets made to be in such a way as to fit into slots which are pre-cut directly through the plate and stud members and extend beyond the opposite face of the frame member when in final configuration. The securing method being to bend the protruding edge of the securing brackets flat against face of plate and stud, into preformed channel and secured in this position by nailing.

11) A claim wherein the method of attaching the securing backing brackets to the main body of the invention, is to insert and fix by bolting the arm of the securing bracket into a channel provided in the main body of the device.

12) A claim as in #10, the main body of the device is manufactured with a bracket arm when the entire assembly is in its final position, and secured therein by a bolt or other such means.

13) A claim, as in #11, where the securing bracket and arm are manufactured in a Tee shape configuration with holes provided in bracket face for nails or screws.

14) A claim, as in #12, where the final attachment of the invention to the structural frame members embody structural connection to act between the invention and the attaching members in such a way as to tie wall sections to foundation and bolts securing floor to floor, as well as panel to panel.