Method and apparatus for attaching a supported addition to a finished building

Abstract

A self sealing spacer is disclosed for use within a hole drilled within the exterior side portion of a finished building's wall exposing a structural frame therein to provide an attachment point for a supporting structural member of an addition to the finished building with a screw comprising a) a socket portion having a peripheral sidewall having spaced sealant openings therearound, and a bottom side wall which seats on the structural frame of the finished building, said bottom sidewall having a central axial opening therethrough; and, b) a plug portion mated to fit within the socket portion, said plug portion also having an axial central opening therethrough. When sealant is positioned within and on the bottom side wall of the socket portion prior to mating the plug portion therein, then when the supporting structural member of the addition is attached to the structural frame and the screw extends and tightens through the central openings, sealant is forced through the spaced peripheral openings therearound thereby sealing both the building wall, and the spacer within the building wall.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to solidly attaching an added structure such as a deck, a deck cover, or a shed to the structural frame of an existing building. More particularly this invention relates to using a self sealing spacer which attaches to the structural frame on one of its ends, sealably spaces beyond and attaches to the siding of the finished building on its central portion, to thereby provide a solid point of attachment for a new structure on its other outer end portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When an added structure such as a deck, a deck cover, or a shed has an attached side which is carried by a finished building it is necessary to solidly attach the added structure to the frame of the existing building. To provide a solid point of attachment it is necessary to remove the finished exterior wall covering on the finished building. In residences the structural frame of the existing building comprises wood. Typically lag bolts are used to attach the added structure to the structural frame of the existing building. For adequate attachment it is necessary that asphalt sheathing, insulative polyurethane boards, and exterior facing (whether it be vinyl siding or stucco) be removed prior to attaching the supporting structure of the addition. The problem with removing a portion of the exterior wall of the existing building is that it presents a breech in the integrity of the finished building. The opening must be subsequently closed, preferably insulated, and permanently sealed against the elements. Reliably sealing the opening is not only an initial concern, but all too often it requires ongoing maintenance.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to disclose a simple and effective method of attaching an addition to the structural frame of an existing building. It is an object of this invention to disclose an apparatus and method of attachment which minimally breeches the existing structure's wall thereby eliminating the need for initial repair and ongoing maintenance. It is yet a further object of this invention to disclose a self sealing point of attachment to the existing building's structure for the structure of the addition. It is a final object of this invention to disclose a method and apparatus which is not only extremely effective but maximally convenient and time saving to use.

One aspect of this invention provides for a self sealing spacer is disclosed for use within a hole drilled within the exterior side portion of a finished building's wall exposing a structural frame therein to provide an attachment point for a supporting structural member of an addition to the finished building with a screw. The self sealing spacer comprises: a) a socket portion having a peripheral sidewall having spaced sealant openings therearound, and a bottom side wall which seats on the structural frame of the finished building, said bottom sidewall having a central axial opening therethrough; and, b) a plug portion mated to fit within the socket portion, said plug portion also having an axial central opening therethrough. When sealant is positioned within and on the bottom side wall of the socket portion prior to mating the plug portion therein, then when the supporting structural member of the addition is attached to the structural frame and the screw extends and tightens through the central openings, sealant is forced through the spaced peripheral openings therearound thereby sealing both the building wall, and the spacer within the building wall.

In another aspect of this invention a method of attaching a supporting structural member of an addition to a finished building comprising the steps of: a) removing an exterior portion of the finished building's wall to expose the structural frame of the finished building thereunder; b) inserting a spacer having a bottom side portion to seat on the structural frame, and a peripheral side portion adjacent to the exterior portion of the finished building's wall, said spacer having a central axial opening therethrough, and a height generally similar to a thickness of the removed exterior portion of the finished building's wall; and finally, c) attaching the supporting structural member of the addition to the structural frame of the finished building using an attachment member having a central portion extending through the axial opening in the spacer. The supporting structural member is thereby spaced and solidly attached to the structural frame of the finished building.

Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a self sealing building spacer. Waterproof sealant is positioned in a bottom portion of the spacer socket.

FIG. 2 is a broken out perspective view of a finished building wall having spaced large holes drilled therein. The large holes are drilled through an exterior portion of the building wall to expose the supporting frame of the finished building. Spacers are inserted and closely received within the large holes.

FIG. 3 is the broken out perspective view of the finished building exterior wall shown in FIG. 1 further comprising a structural member attached to the finished building structural framework thereunder. Lag bolts positioned through the addition structural member, continuing through central holes provided in the spacer plug and socket portions, finally are threaded within the structural frame beneath the exterior building wall.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross sectional view of an exterior building wall having a structural frame which comprises a floor joist. Sealant is positioned in a bottom portion of the holes.

The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specific embodiments of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It should be noted that such discussion and description is not meant to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 we have an enlarged exploded perspective view of a self sealing building spacer 20. Waterproof sealant 15 is positioned in a bottom portion of the socket portion 22 of the spacer 20. FIG. 2 is a broken out perspective view of a finished building wall 18 having spaced large holes 16 drilled therein. The large holes 16 are drilled through an exterior portion of the building wall 18 to expose the supporting frame 14 of the finished building. Spacers 20 are inserted and closely received within the large holes 16. A self sealing spacer 20 for use within a hole 16 drilled within the exterior side portion of a finished building's wall 18 exposing a structural frame 14 therein to provide an attachment point for a supporting structural member 10 of an addition with a screw 32 comprises: a) a socket portion 22 having a peripheral sidewall having spaced sealant openings 26 therearound, and a bottom side wall 28 which seats on the structural frame 14 of the finished building wall 18, said bottom sidewall 28 having a central axial opening 21 therethrough; and b) a plug portion 24 mated to fit within the socket portion 22, said plug portion 24 also having an axial central opening 21 therethrough. When sealant 15 is positioned within and on the bottom side wall 28 of the socket portion 22 prior to mating the plug portion 24 therein, then when the supporting structural member 10 of the addition is attached to the structural frame 14 and the screw 32 extends and tightens through the central openings 21, sealant 15 is forced through the spaced peripheral openings 26 therearound thereby sealing both the building wall 18, and the spacer 20 within the building wall 18.

FIG. 2 is a broken out perspective view of a finished building wall 18 having spaced holes 16 drilled therein. The holes 16 are drilled through an exterior portion of the building wall 18 to expose the supporting frame 14 thereunder. Spacers 20 are inserted and closely received within the holes 16. Typically the finished building's wall 18 is drilled out leaving a cylindrical hole 16 therein. The spacer 20 is generally cylindrical and has an diameter selected to mate within the cylindrical hole 16. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the self sealing spacer 20 is provided with a breakable packet 30 of sealant 15 positioned within and on the bottom side portion of the socket portion 22 so that when the plug portion 24 is tightened therein the packet 30 bursts open and the sealant 16 is squeezed through the peripheral openings 26 therearound thereby sealing the spacer 20 within the hole 16. Alternatively the sealant 16 may be positioned within the socket portion 22 from a caulk tube of sealant 15. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the spacer 20 further comprises a double adhesive sided tape 32 having one sticky side attached to the exterior bottom side of the socket portion 22 and the other side having a removable cover 34, so that when the cover 34 is removed the spacer 20 will be retained when seated on the structural frame 14 at the bottom of the hole 16.

FIG. 3 is the broken out perspective view of the finished building's exterior wall 18 shown in FIG. 1 further comprising a structural member 10 attached to the finished building's structural framework 14 using a lag bolt 32 positioned through the structural member 10, continuing through central holes 21 provided in the spacer plug portion 24 and socket portion 22, and finally threaded within the structural frame 14 beneath the exterior building wall 18. Most generally a method of attaching a supporting structural member 10 of an addition to a finished building's exterior wall 18 comprises the steps of: a) removing an exterior portion of the finished building's wall 18 to expose the structural frame 14 thereunder; b) inserting a spacer 20 having a bottom side portion seated on the structural frame 14, and a peripheral side portion adjacent to the exterior portion of the finished building's wall 18; said spacer having a central axial opening 21 therethrough, and a height generally similar to a thickness of the removed portion of the finished building's wall 18; and finally, c) attaching the supporting structural member 10 of the addition to the structural frame of the finished building 14 using an attachment member 30 having a central portion extending through the axial opening 21 in the spacer 20. The supporting structural member 10 is thereby spaced and solidly attached to the structural frame 14 beneath the wall 18.

Most preferably the finished building's siding 19 is drilled 17 out leaving a cylindrical hole 16 and the spacer 20 is generally cylindrical and has an diameter selected to mate within the cylindrical hole 16. Waterproof sealant 16 is applied to seal the spacer 20 within the cylindrical hole 16 prior to attaching the supporting member 10 of the addition. Usually the attachment member 30 comprises a screw 32, and most preferably the screw 30 is a lag bolt 34.

Most preferably the general method further comprises the step of applying a waterproof sealant 16 to seal the spacer 20 within the cylindrical hole 16 prior to attaching the supporting member 10 thereto. When the spacer 20 is a self sealing spacer 20 as most generally described above the sealant 16 may be applied from a caulk tube 15 into the socket portion 22 of the spacer 20. Alternatively, if the self sealing spacer 20 further comprising a breakable packet of sealant 16 positioned within and on the bottom side portion of the socket portion 22 then when the plug portion 24 is tightened therein the packet 30 bursts open and the sealant 16 is squeezed through the peripheral openings 26 therearound thereby sealing the spacer 20 within the hole 16.

And similarly when the self sealing spacer 20 further comprises a length of double adhesive sided tape 32 having one sticky side attached to the exterior bottom side of the socket portion 22 and the other side having a removable cover 34 then, when the cover 34 is removed the spacer 20 will be retained when seated on the structural frame 14 at the bottom of the hole 16.

FIG. 6 is an exploded cross sectional view of an exterior building wall 18 having a structural frame 14 which comprises a floor joist 12. Sealant 15 is positioned in a bottom portion of the holes 16 so that it will seal spacers 20 in the holes 16 upon assembly. In most applications of the spacer disclosed herein the finished building wall 18 has a frame 14 comprised of wood and the supporting structural member 10 attached thereto comprises a board of dimension lumber.

While the invention has been described with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1) A self sealing spacer for use within a hole drilled within the exterior side portion of a finished building's wall exposing a structural frame therein to provide an attachment point for a supporting structural member of an addition to the finished building with a screw comprising:

a) a socket portion having a peripheral sidewall having spaced sealant openings therearound, and a bottom side wall which seats on the structural frame of the finished building, said bottom sidewall having a central axial opening therethrough;

b) a plug portion mated to fit within the socket portion, said plug portion also having an axial central opening therethrough;

so when sealant is positioned within and on the bottom side wall of the socket portion prior to mating the plug portion therein, then when the supporting structural member of the addition is attached to the structural frame and the screw extends and tightens through the central openings, sealant is forced through the spaced peripheral openings therearound thereby sealing both the building wall, and the spacer within the building wall.

2) A self sealing spacer as in claim 1 wherein the finished building's exterior wall is drilled out leaving a cylindrical hole and wherein the spacer is generally cylindrical and has a diameter selected to mate within the cylindrical hole.

3) A self sealing spacer as in claim 2 further comprising a breakable packet of sealant positioned within and on the bottom side portion of the socket portion so that when the plug portion is tightened therein the packet bursts open and the sealant is squeezed through the peripheral openings therearound thereby sealing the spacer within the hole.

4) A self sealing spacer as in claim 3 further comprising a length of double adhesive sided tape having one sticky side attached to the exterior bottom side of the socket portion and the other side having a removable cover so that when the cover is removed the spacer will be retained when seated on the structural frame at the bottom of the hole.

5) A method of attaching a supporting structural member of an addition to an exterior wall of a finished building comprising the steps of:

a) removing an exterior portion of the finished building's wall to expose the structural frame thereunder;

b) inserting a spacer having a bottom side portion seated on the structural frame, and a peripheral side portion adjacent to the exterior portion of the finished building's wall, said spacer having a central axial opening therethrough, and a height generally similar to a thickness of the removed exterior portion of the finished building's wall; and finally,

c) attaching the supporting structural member of the addition to the structural frame of the finished building using an attachment member having a central portion extending through the axial opening in the spacer;

thereby spacing and solidly attaching the supporting structural member to the structural frame beneath the exterior wall.

6) A method as in claim 5 wherein the finished building's wall is drilled out leaving a cylindrical hole and wherein the spacer is generally cylindrical and has an diameter selected to mate within the cylindrical hole.

7) A method as in claim 6 wherein the attachment member comprises a screw.

8) A method as in claim 6 wherein the attachment member comprises a lag bolt.

9) A method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of applying a waterproof sealant to seal the spacer within the cylindrical hole prior to attaching the supporting member thereto.

11) A method as in claim 2 wherein the plug is as described as in claim 1.

12) A method as in claim 2 wherein the plug is as described as in claim 3.

13) A method as in claim 2 wherein the plug is as described as in claim 4.

14) A method as described in claim 11 wherein the finished building wall has a frame comprised of wood and wherein the supporting structural member attached thereto comprises a board of dimension lumber.