STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT
An apparatus for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members. Each of the structural members extends between first and second edges. The apparatus comprises a rigid member having first and second ends and being sized to extend between adjacent first and second structural members. The apparatus further comprises a first socket connected to the first end of the rigid member sized to receive a first edge of the first structural member therein and a second socket connected to the second end of the rigid member. The second socket is sized to receive a first edge of the second structural member corresponding to the first edge of the first structural member therein.
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1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to structural reinforcement in general and in particular to reinforcing adjacent wood product structural members to each other.
2. Description of Related Art
In the field of construction, it is often desirable to make a structure as strong as possible. The strength of a building is desirable for the purposes of load bearing ability as well as resistance to outside loads such as earthquakes, wind and other environmental loading.
Building construction typically includes a plurality of elongate members connected each other to form walls, ceilings, floor and the like. In the case of walls, such elongate wall members are often referred to as studs while in ceilings and roofs, they may be referred to as joist.
One difficulty that exists is the tendency of relatively long structural members to lose strength and rigidity as their length increases. This is often required for floor and ceiling joists so as to provide larger rooms unobstructed by supporting walls and columns. Such long joists may commonly be subject to torsional buckling failure. Another difficulty that exists with floor joists is when they are exposed to dynamic environmental loads such as earthquakes, strong winds and the like. Under such loads, the floor joists may rotate axially along their length so as to lay flat instead of upright. The resulting horizontal and vertical deflection of the entire load above such a floor may contribute to an entire building failing or collapsing.
Conventional methods of reinforcing structural members has not been adequate to resolve the above difficulties. Previous attempts have tried to locate bridges or blocks between adjacent joists to distribute point loads located near a single joist to adjacent joists so as to distribute the load between more than one joist. Bridging involves locating a pair of crossed diagonal wooden members between adjacent joist whereas blocking typically includes locating a shortened length of the joist member transversely between the joists. Such attempts have not adequately solved the above difficulties. In particular, blocking or bridging is only able to act as a compressive member between the joists and will have a very limited ability to prevent the joists from moving away from each other.
When the joist members are subjected to torsional loading, the blocking members on one side of the joist are subjected to opposite loads. For example, when a torsional load is applied to the joist along the longitudinal axis of the structural member, the blocking member abutting one side of the top chord of the joist is subjected to a primarily compressive load, and the blocking member abutting opposite side of the top chord is subject to a tensile load. Similarly, for the same torsional load, the bottom chord on the same side of that joist will also be subjected to a tensile load. The compressive load may be conveyed efficiently to the blocking member abutting the top chord through the contacting surfaces of the blocking and the joist chord. However the tensile load on both blocking member on the opposite side of the top chord and on the bottom blocking member is born entirely by the fastening device used. Therefore unless such fasteners are specifically designed to bear tensile loads under repeated loading cycles, this is likely to cause premature failure of the structure when such fasteners, such as a nail or a screw pulls out. Due to the inability of bridging and blocking to effectively handle loads in tension, such reinforcing will not significantly assist in the reinforcing of a structure under cyclical environmental loads such as earthquakes, winds and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members. Each of the structural members extends between first and second edges. The apparatus comprises a rigid member having first and second ends and being sized to extend between adjacent first and second structural members. The apparatus further comprises a first socket connected to the first end of the rigid member sized to receive a first edge of the first structural member therein and a second socket connected to the second end of the rigid member. The second socket is sized to receive a first edge of the second structural member corresponding to the first edge of the first structural member therein.
The first and second sockets may comprise c-shaped channels. The c-shaped channels may extend perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the rigid member. The c-shaped channel may be formed of first and second opposed flanges and a web portion therebetween.
At least one of the first and second opposed flanges may be selectably deformable so as to open the c-shaped channel. The c-shaped channels may include at least one fastener bore sized to pass a fastener therethrough so as to secure the c-shaped channel to the structural member. The first flange may include a perpendicular connecting tab extending from an edge thereof away from the c-shaped channels wherein the rigid member extends from the second flange.
The first and second sockets may be rigidly affixed to the rigid member. The first and second sockets may be integrally formed with the rigid member. The rigid member and the first and second caps may be formed of metal. The rigid member may comprise an elongate beam. The beam may be selected from the group consisting of a tube, a box section, an I-beam, a c-shaped channel, an L-shaped channel and a triangular cross section beam.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a kit for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members. The kit comprises a pair of rigid member having first and second ends and being sized to extend between adjacent first and second structural members.
Each rigid member further comprises a first socket connected to the first end of the rigid member sized to receive a first edge of the first structural member therein and a second socket connected to the second end of the rigid member. The second socket is sized to receive a first edge of the second structural member corresponding to the first edge of the first structural member therein.
The kit may further comprise a linking member extending between the first and second rigid members. The linking member may be substantially rigid.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members. The apparatus comprises a first rigid member having first and second ends sized to extend between adjacent first and second structural members. The apparatus further comprises a first socket connected to the first end of the first rigid member sized to receive a first edge of the first structural member therein and a second socket connected to the second end of the first rigid member. The second socket is sized to receive a first edge of the second structural member corresponding to the first edge of the first structural member therein. The apparatus further comprise a second rigid member having first and second ends sized to extend between the first and second structural members. The apparatus further comprises a first socket connected to the first end of the second rigid member to receive a second edge of the first structural member therein and a second socket connected to the second end of the second rigid member. The second socket is sized to receive a second edge of the second structural member corresponding to the second edge of the first structural member therein. The apparatus further comprises a linking member extending between the first and second rigid members. The linking member may be substantially rigid.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,
Referring to
Turning now to
The top sockets 26 may comprise an open c-shaped channel formed of first and second top side flanges 42 and 44, extending from the top web portion 43 forming a channel opening 46. As illustrated, the web portion 32 of the top rigid member may extend from a side edge of the first side 42 of the top socket 26. As illustrated in
The bottom socket 28 may comprise an open c-shaped channel formed of first and second bottom side flanges 50 and 52, respectively extending from the web portion 45 of the bottom rigid member so as to form a channel opening 56. As illustrated, the web portion 38 of the bottom rigid member may extend from a side edge of the first side 50 of the bottom socket 28. As illustrated in
The top channel opening 46 is sized and shaped to correspond to the top edge 8 of the structural member. The bottom channel opening 56 is sized and shaped to correspond to the bottom edge 10 of the structural member. In many applications, the structural member 6 will comprise a floor or ceiling joist, such as by way of non-limiting example dimensioned lumber, space frame or I-joists formed of wood, metal or the like. Dimensioned lumber is commonly of a 1.5 inch width and therefore for such applications the top and bottom channel openings 46 and 56 will be sized to have a similar width opening. It will be appreciated that other thicknesses of structural members in general and joists in particular may also be utilized, such as, by way of non-limiting example, sized to accommodate a doubled up floor joist, a 2½ inch wide floor joist or other common wood or metal floor joist sizes. In some applications, the top and bottom channel openings 46 and 56 may be sized slightly larger than the width of the joist so as to facilitate installation. In particular, the top and bottom channel openings 46 and 56 may be up to 3.2 mm (⅛ of an inch) larger than the joist for which they are designed. The sizing of the top and bottom channel openings 46 and 56 for I-joists may be similarly selected to correspond to the I-joist to be used.
The connecting member 30 may be formed of a rigid or resilient flexible members such as, metal straps, bars, chain and the like, by way of non-limiting example. As illustrated in
The top and bottom sockets 26 and 28 may include one or more fastener bores 58 located in any one or more of the flanges or webs forming the socket. The fastener bores 58 are sized to permit nails, screws or other suitable fasteners to be passed therethrough so as to secure the top or bottom socket 26 or 28 to the structural member 6. The top and bottom sockets may also include apertures 55 through the side flanges 42 and 44 and 50 and 52 to permit nails, screws or other suitable fasteners to be passed therethrough so as to secure the sockets to the structural members 6 therein. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Any thickness of metal as required to provide the necessary strength may be utilized such as between 12 and 22 gauge. In particular, it has been found that sheet metal of between 16 and 20 gauge has been useful. It will also be appreciated that the apparatus 20 may also be formed of non-metal materials, such as, by way of non-limiting example, carbon fibre, fibreglass, plastics, ceramics and composite materials. It will also be appreciated that although c-shaped channels are illustrated and described above for the rigid members 22 and 24 and the connecting member, other cross-section shapes may be utilized as well, such as, by way of non-limiting example, bar, tube, box section, I-beam, c-shaped channel, L-shaped channel, a triangular cross section beam, or any other suitable member. It will also be appreciated that although elongate, substantially straight members are shown, non-straight members may also be utilized, such as, by way of non-limiting example, arcuate, space frame, plates or any other shape as long as the top and bottom sockets 26 and 28 are rigidly translationally fixed relative to each other so as to securely locate top and bottom edges 8 of adjacent structural member relative to each other.
In operation, and with reference to
With reference to
With reference to
Although as illustrated above, the ridged members are illustrated as being substantially straight, it will be appreciated that other shapes between pairs of sockets 26 or 28 may also be utilized having other shapes or profiles as well. In particular, the rigid members may be curved, or arcuate or formed of a plurality of rigidly or pivotally connected member segments. With reference to
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members, each of said structural members extends between first and second edges, the apparatus comprising:
- a rigid member having first and second ends and being sized to extend between adjacent first and second structural members;
- a first socket connected to the first end of said rigid member, said first socket being sized to receive a first edge of said first structural member therein; and
- a second socket connected to said second end of said rigid member, said second socket being sized to receive a first edge of said second structural member corresponding to said first edge of said first structural member therein.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second sockets comprise c-shaped channels.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said c-shaped channels extend perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of said rigid member.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said c-shaped channel is formed of first and second opposed flanges and a web portion therebetween.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one of said first and second opposed flanges is selectably deformable so as to open said c-shaped channel.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said c-shaped channels include at least one fastener bore, sized to pass a fastener therethrough so as to secure said c-shaped channel to said structural member.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first flange includes a perpendicular connecting tab extending from an edge thereof away from said c-shaped channels wherein said rigid member extends from said second flange.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second sockets are rigidly affixed to said rigid member.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second sockets are integrally formed with said rigid member.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rigid member and said first and second caps are formed of metal.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rigid member comprises an elongate beam.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said beam is selected from the group consisting of a tube, a box section, an I-beam, a c-shaped channel, an L-shaped channel and a triangular cross section beam.
13. A kit for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members comprising a first apparatus of claim 1 for engaging top edges of adjacent first and second structural members and a second apparatus of claim 1 for adjacent bottom edges of said first and second adjacent structural members.
14. The kit of claim 13 further comprising a linking member extending between said first and second rigid members.
15. The kit of claim 14 wherein said linking member is substantially rigid.
16. An apparatus for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members comprising:
- a first rigid member having first and second ends and being sized to extend between adjacent first and second structural members;
- a first socket connected to said first end of said first rigid member, said first socket being sized to receive a first edge of said first structural member therein;
- a second socket connected to said second end of said first rigid member, said second socket being sized to receive a first edge of said second structural member corresponding to said first edge of said first structural member therein;
- a second rigid member having first and second ends and being sized to extend between said first and second structural members;
- a first socket connected to said first end of said second rigid member, said first socket being sized to receive a second edge of said first structural member therein; and
- a second socket connected to said second end of said second rigid member, said second socket being sized to receive a second edge of said second structural member corresponding to said second edge of said first structural member therein; and
- a linking member extending between said first and second rigid members.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said linking member is substantially rigid.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 17, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 3, 2015
Applicant: GLOBAL UTILITY PATENTS CORP. (Kelowna)
Inventor: Geoffrey Rajay Sidhu (Kelowna)
Application Number: 14/379,273