US3369333A - Clamp for header brace - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1968 J. c. WHEELER 3,369,333

CLAMP FOR HEADER BRACE Filed March 1, 1966 |NVENTOR JOHN C. WHEELER United States Patent 3,369,333 CLAMP FOR HEADER BRACE John C. Wheeler, Lovington, N. Mex., assignor of forty percent to Otis R. Kitchens, Lovington, N. Mex. Filed Mar. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 530,829 2 Claims. (Cl. 52-210) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Wooden frame structure is reinforced at a header over a door by a sheet metal box which encircles the post and extends over the header.

This invention relates to carpentry, particularly to construction of wooden frame structures and, more particularly, to header braces for doors or windows.

In the construction of houses, difliculty is often experienced with warping and subsequent twisting of the framing at the upper corners of doors and windows, resulting in cracking of plaster or other wall covering.

This invention solves the problem by providing a sheet metal brace for this joint to maintain the elements rigidly in the proper positionv An object of this invention is to provide a brace for headers in wooden frame construction.

Other objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, simple, safe, versatile, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture and install.

The specific nature of the invention, as Well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompany- 7 ing drawing, the different views of which are not necessarily to the same scale, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention before installation.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention partially formed.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, one may see represented there the framing of a door opening 10.

The framing includes vertical door posts 12 on either side of the opening 10. Each post includes two rectangular studs 14 and 16. Inside or short stud 14 extends from the floor to beneath header 18 and the outside or long stud 16 extends from the floor to plate 20. The flat sides of the studs are nailed together.

The header 18 includes two rectangular beams 22 with their flat sides nailed together with spacer blocks (not shown) between them so that the thickness of the header 18 is equal to the width of the studs 14 and 16. The beams 22 are set on edge on top the short stud 14 for support and abut the long stud 16. Each beam 22 is nailed to both studs.

Brace 30 is made of a single piece of sheet metal and is generally box-shaped. The back 32 of the brace 30 is nailed to the outside of the outside stud 16 (thus to the outside of the post 12) at the header 18. The sides 34 of the box are nailed to each side of the post 12 which is the edge of the two studs 14 and 16. Each of the sides 34 has a cut or slot 36 in it, forming two tabs 38 and 40 on each side. The slots are at right angles or normal to the sides. The slots 36 are at the bottom of the header 18.

The upper tabs 38 extend as wings along each of the sides of the header 18 and are securely nailed thereto. The lower tabs 40 are folded over the inside of the inside stud 14 and overlap. Thus the lower tabs form enveloping wings around the post 12. The tabs 40 may be spot-welded at 42 of the overlap.

The brace box 30 is securely nailed to each stud 14 and 16 and each beam 22. Each side of the door opening 10 has such a brace between the post 12 and header 18.

It may be seen that the brace 30 is readily constructed from a rectangular piece of sheet metal. The slots 36 are cut from each side normal to the side and aligned with each other. The uncut length between the slots is equal to the width of the stud 16 (which is also the width of stud 14) plus twice the combined breadth of the studs 14 and 16.

Analysis of the brace 30 will be shown that it provides maximum reinforcement for the joint between the posts 12 and header 18, minimizing the twisting resulting from warping of the member.

It will be apparent that the embodiment shown is only exemplary and that various modifications can be made in construction, materials, and arrangement within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wooden frame structure having (a) an opening, such as a door,

(b) an upright wooden post on either side nailed to an upper plate member, and

(c) a wooden header forming the top of the opening nailed to the posts,

(d) an improved brace for preventing twisting of the wooden members, comprising in combination with the above:

(e) a sheet metal box (1?) extending on the outside of each post at the header and (g) folded along each side of the post,

(h) said box having wings which extend from the sides of the post along each side of the header,

(j) said box also having enveloping wings extending around the inside of the post below the header,

(k) said box securely nailed to said post and header,

(m) each post having an identical brace,

(11) each post including two studs of rectangular cross section,

(i) the inside stud terminating under the header and (ii) the outer stud extending upward to the plate,

(0) the header including two beams of rectangular cross section,

(i) each set on edge on top the inside stud and (ii) each abutting the outside stud, and

(p) the brace box made from a rectangular piece of sheet metal having (i) two slots cut, one on each side, normal to each side and aligned with each other, thus forming four tabs,

(ii) the uncut portion between the slots being of a length equal to the width of the stud plus the combined breadth,

(q) so that said tabs form the afore-described wings.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein (r) the enveloping wings overlap and are welded together at the overlap on the inside of the post.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 933,067 9/1909 Ferry 287-2092 1,860,650 5/1932 Brace 287-2092 2,611,160, 9/1952 Hanesse 287-2092 KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner.

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