Abstract: A wire bolt comprising an elongated section of wire rope with a section of threaded stud attached to each end is disclosed for use in reinforcing concrete structures. Part of the wire rope portion is coated with a substance to prevent that portion from bonding with the concrete. The threaded rod portion can be attached within the concrete by epoxy or attached to the concrete by appropriate mechanical means. The wire bolt can be attached to a concrete building structure during initial construction of a structure or retrofit into existing structures. Wire bolts should be installed in areas susceptible to shear or bending failure and serve to prevent the concrete sections from separating in a seismic event.

Abstract: Wood framed walls of buildings are strengthened against destructive wind and seismic forces by angled brackets attached to vertical studs and anchored to the building foundation. The bracket can be attached to a foundation structure of the building and to a stud and floor plate. The bracket can also be attached to a stud and ceiling plate. The foundation structure may be concrete or other floor joist or the like. The angled brackets are normally used in a system that attaches a bracket at top and bottom of studs at approximately every fourth or fifth stud along all load-bearing walls. In an alternate embodiment, an elongated steel rod can be attached to the foundation and directly to a roof truss and ceiling plate. The described brackets can be installed during initial construction of a structure or retrofit into existing structures.

Abstract: Wood framed walls of buildings are strengthened against destructive wind and seismic forces by spaced lengths of vertical wire rope having enlarged bulbous portions swagged on each end. A metal sleeve and a metal plate are slipped onto such lengths prior to swagging. Other lengths of wire rope only having bulbous portions are connected to attachments after forming a cross brace, and at least one cross brace is located in each major wall of a one-story building. The cross brace can be attached to a foundation structure of the building below a floor plate and/or to a stud and floor plate. The foundation structure may be concrete or other floor joist or the like. The wire ropes, may be located on a first story with another cross brace on another story thereabove with metal rods therebetween or the wire ropes forming two generally vertical cross braces may be formed from a pair of wire ropes with two metal sleeves between the stories through which the wire ropes extend.