Hold down system with distributed loading for building walls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10337185-B2
Application number	US-201615265613-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2016
Priority date	Sep 15, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A hold down system for a building wall comprises a first rigid member and a second rigid member, the second rigid member being vertically spaced apart from the first rigid member, the first rigid member is supported on a horizontal member of a stud wall, the first and second rigid members including first and second openings, respectively; a tie-rod with a lower end portion for being anchored to an anchorage, the tie-rod extending transversely through the first and second openings, the tie-rod dividing the first and second rigid members into a first lateral section on one side of the tie-rod and a second lateral section on a diametrically opposite side of the tie-rod; first support and second support disposed between the first and second rigid members, the first support being disposed in the first lateral section, the second support being disposed in the second lateral section, the tie-rod extending through the first and second rigid members outside of the first support or the second support; and a nut threaded to the tie-rod, the nut exerting pressure on the second rigid member to place the tie rod under tension loading, the tension loading is transferred by the second rigid member to the first and second supports to subject the first and second supports to compression loading, thereby causing the first rigid member to press on the horizontal member of the stud wall via the first and second lateral sections of the first rigid member, thus distributing the compression loading.

First claim

I claim:

1. A hold down system for a building wall, comprising:
a) a first rigid member and a second rigid member, the second rigid member being vertically spaced apart from the first rigid member, the first rigid member is supported on a horizontal member of a stud wall, the first and second rigid members including first and second openings, respectively;
b) a tie-rod with a lower end portion for being anchored to an anchorage, the tie-rod extending transversely through the first and second openings, the tie-rod dividing the first and second rigid members into a first lateral section on one side of the tie-rod and a second lateral section on a diametrically opposite side of the tie-rod;
c) first support and second support disposed between the first and second rigid members, the first support being disposed in the first lateral section, the second support being disposed in the second lateral section, the tie-rod extending through the first and second rigid members outside of the first support or the second support, a distance between the first rigid member and the second rigid member through at least one of the first support and the second support is variable; and
d) the tie-rod is operably attached to the second rigid member so that tension loading on the tie-rod is transferred by the second rigid member to the first and second supports to subject the first and second supports to compression loading, thereby causing the first rigid member to press on the horizontal member of the stud wall via the first and second lateral sections of the first rigid member, thus distributing the compression loading.

2. The hold down system as in claim 1 , wherein the first support and the second support include a first spring and a second spring, respectively, the first and second springs are under compression between the first and second rigid members such that any slack that later develops in the tie-rod is taken up by expansion of the first and second springs.

3. The hold down system as in claim 2 , wherein:
a) each of the first spring and the second spring is associated with a first cylindrical member disposed within a second cylindrical member;
b) one of the first and second cylindrical members being movable relative to another one of the first and second cylindrical members in a first direction; and
c) the first and the second spring is operably attached to the respective first and second cylindrical members to urge the one of the first and second cylindrical members in the first direction.

4. The hold down system as in claim 3 , wherein:
a) the first cylindrical member includes a rounded top edge;
b) a washer disposed between the top edge and the second rigid member; and
c) the washer includes a concave surface complementary to the rounded top edge.

5. The hold down system as in claim 3 , and further comprising:
a) a retainer ring attached to an upper portion of the first cylindrical member; and
b) the first spring or the second spring is attached to the retainer ring and to the second cylindrical member.

6. The hold down system as in claim 5 , wherein:
a) the upper portion of the first cylinder includes an annular recess; and
b) the retainer ring includes flexible fingers disposed in the annular recess.

7. The hold down system as in claim 3 , wherein the one of the first and second cylindrical members is lockable relative to the another one of the first and second cylindrical members in a second direction opposite to the first direction to prevent the first or the second spring from compressing to its prior position after the first or second spring have expanded to take up the slack in the tie-rod.

8. The hold down system as in claim 7 , wherein:
a) the first and second cylindrical members include first and second opposing cylindrical walls, respectively;
b) the first opposing cylindrical wall includes a plurality of first receiving volumes;
c) the second opposing cylindrical wall includes a plurality of second receiving volumes;
d) a resilient member disposed between the first and second opposing cylindrical walls, the resilient member is biased to occupy one of the first and second receiving volumes;
e) the first and second receiving volumes are configured in cross-section such that when the one of the first and second cylindrical members is moved in the first direction relative to the another one of the first and second cylindrical members, the resilient member is shifted into and fully received within another one of the first and second volumes; and
f) the first and second receiving volumes are configured in cross-section such that when the one of the first and second cylindrical members is pushed in the second direction relative to the one of the first and second cylindrical members, the resilient member is only partially received within the one of the first and second receiving volumes to preclude movement of the one of the first and second cylindrical members.

9. The hold down system as in claim 8 , wherein:
a) the second receiving volumes are disposed from one another at a distance;
b) the distance of the second receiving volumes of the first support are equal to the distance of the second receiving volumes of the second support; and
c) the second receiving volumes of the first support is offset from the second receiving volumes of the second support.

10. The hold down system as in claim 8 , wherein:
a) the second receiving volumes of the first support are disposed from one another at a first distance;
b) the second receiving volumes of the second support are disposed from one another at a second distance; and
c) the first distance is longer than the second distance.

11. The hold down system as in claim 8 , and further comprising:
a) a third support disposed laterally between the first and the second supports;
b) the tie-rod extending through the third support;
c) the support including a third spring associated with a third cylindrical member disposed within a fourth cylindrical member;
b) one of the third and fourth cylindrical members being movable relative to another one of the third and second cylindrical members in the first direction; and
c) the third spring is operably attached to the respective third and fourth cylindrical members to urge the one of the third and fourth cylindrical members in the first direction.

12. The hold down system as in claim 11 , wherein:
a) the third and fourth cylindrical members include third and fourth opposing cylindrical walls, respectively;
b) the third opposing cylindrical wall includes a plurality of third receiving volumes;
c) the fourth opposing cylindrical wall includes a plurality of fourth receiving volumes;
d) a second resilient member disposed between the third and fourth opposing cylindrical walls, the second resilient member is biased to occupy one of the third and fourth receiving volumes;
e) the third and fourth receiving volumes are configured in cross-section such that when the one of the third and fourth cylindrical members is moved in the first direction relative to the another one of the third and fourth cylindrical members, the second resilient member is shifted into and fully received within another one of the third and fourth receiving volumes; and
f) the third and fourth receiving volumes are configured in cross-section such that when the one of the third and fourth cylindrical members is pushed in the second direction relative to the one of the third and fourth cylindrical members, the second resilient member is only partially received within the one of the third and fourth receiving volumes to preclude movement of the one of the third and fourth cylindrical members.

Assignees

• Cetres Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Espinosa Thomas M

Classifications

• E04B2001/2644

  Brackets, gussets or joining plates · CPC title

• E04B1/4121

  with internal threads or non-adjustable captive nuts · CPC title

• F16B43/02

  with special provisions for engaging surfaces which are not perpendicular to a bolt axis or do not surround the bolt · CPC title

• F16B31/043

  Prestressed connections tensioned by means of liquid, grease, rubber, explosive charge, or the like (hydraulic bolt tensioners B25B29/02) · CPC title

• E02D35/00

  Straightening, lifting, or lowering of foundation structures or of constructions erected on foundations {(foundations for sinking territories with incorporated means for remedying settlement E02D27/34; lifting or moving buildings E04G23/06)} · CPC title