Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Outside corner or peripherally bordered
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-10
2001-02-13
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Outside corner or peripherally bordered
C052S167300, C052S651060, C052S653100, C052S665000, C052S693000, C052S695000, C052S705000, C403S231000, C403S232100, C403S237000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185898
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to building wall components, and in particular to high-stress resistant shear frames of the type using diagonal tensioning members and building systems using the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Residential and light commercial buildings usually are made up of at least three main elements: a foundation, walls, and a roof. For a multi-storied building, the adjacent stories are separated by a floor/ceiling structure which forms the floor of one story and the ceiling of the story below. The walls are constructed to withstand vertical and horizontal loads applied to the building. Static vertical loads can be applied to the building by, for example, the weight of snow collecting on the roof, while horizontal loads can be applied by high wind force against the side of the building. Dynamic vertical and horizontal loads can also be applied to the building by seismic activity and gusting winds. In addition to their load-carrying capacity, the walls serve to enclose the interior of the building to help keep out the elements and provide space through which essential building systems such as plumbing and electrical wire can be routed.
Given the important role the walls play in the durability and strength of a building, their construction is important. There are currently two main methods of constructing open frame walls of a building: the walls may be framed entirely in the field at a job site, or they may be framed by assembling many pre-fabricated panelized wall sections, including shear braces or shear panels, which are delivered to the job site. Each of these methods have several advantages and disadvantages.
In field framing, walls are typically framed so as to include shear panels at selected locations along the walls. The shear panel is designed to withstand anticipated maximum horizontal and vertical loads exerted on the building wall. A conventional field-framed shear panel is constructed by securing a series of vertical studs to cross members and to the foundation. Face sheets of a selected material, such as plywood, are attached to the studs to provide shear resistance. Flexibility is the main advantage of field framing, since the wall's section can be easily tailored to account for changes and irregularities in the job site. If, for example, the measurements of the foundation are slightly off, the contractor can easily construct the wall's sections, including the shear panels, to fit the foundation. The main disadvantage of field framing is that it is labor intensive and thus increases the construction cost. Furthermore, if any of the walls sustain significant damage, they are difficult and costly to repair or replace.
Framing using pre-fabricated panels usually involves joining several pre-fabricated panels, including shear panels, in a selected configuration to form the building walls. Pre-fabricated shear panels come in two main types. The first includes four structural members that form the perimeter of a quadrilateral, with a face sheet of a selected material, such as plywood, secured to the four structural members to give the panel shear strength. The second type of pre-fabricated shear panel is the type described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,603, filed Mar. 3, 1998, and entitled HIGH STRESS RESISTANCE FRAME BUILDINGS AND METHOD APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE SAME, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. This pre-fabricated shear panel includes four structural members in a quadrilateral arrangement and a pair of diagonal brace members extending between opposite corners of the quadrilateral. Thus, when a shear load is applied to the shear panel, the load is carried by tension and compression loads in the diagonal brace members.
The primary advantage of using pre-fabricated wall panels is ease and cost of construction: a building can be assembled more easily and quickly using pre-fabricated panels with the shear panels positioned at selected locations, thus reducing construction costs and total building time. But there are disadvantages. Using exclusively pre-fabricated panels make it difficult to adjust to irregularities in the job site. If, for example, the dimensions of the foundation are not what they should be, it is difficult to adjust the pre-fabricated panels to achieve a proper fit. Furthermore, the first type of pre-fabricated shear panel can restrict access to the wall and makes the job more difficult for subsequent subcontractors who must install components in the wall such as plumbing, insulation and electrical wire.
The diagonally braced shear panels are an improvement over the more traditional studs-and-plywood frame, but they experience other problems, most notably that the corners of the frame where the diagonal bands attach require a significant amount of hardware to provide an attachment that can withstand the loads transmitted through the diagonal brace members. This hardware results in a heavier and more expensive shear panel, thereby reducing the cost efficiency of using the panelized wall frames.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a shear frame assembly highly resistant to lateral or shear loads and overcomes problems experienced in the prior art. The present invention also provides a building system that uses these shear frame assemblies in building construction.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a pre-tensioned shear frame of the type having diagonal tensioning members that provide shear load resistance. The shear frame includes a pair of laterally opposed structural members each having apertures in their respective end portions. A transverse member extends between the end portions of the structural members. The apertures are sized to receive one of the diagonal tensioning members therethrough which extends between opposite corners of the shear frame. A band alignment member is positioned in each aperture to receive and align the diagonal tensioning members within the aperture. A force-distributing member is positioned in each aperture and is interposed between the strap-alignment member and the respective structural member.
In an exemplary embodiment, the shear frame has intermediate members parallel to and spaced apart between the structural members. The shear frame also has intermediate shear blocks parallel to and positioned between the transverse members. The intermediate members and the shear blocks augment the strength of the frame and allow the strength to be tailored as required by the application.
In an alternate embodiment, the shear frame assembly is a field-tensioned frame usable with diagonal tensioned straps. The shear frame assembly includes a pair of laterally opposed structural members each having apertures in their top end portions. Each aperture has a force-distributing member and a band alignment member therein and is sized to receive one of the tensioned straps therethrough. The lower end portion of each structural member rests on a support structure and has lower shear blocks attached thereto. The lower shear blocks also rest on the support structure and extend between the lower end portions of the structural members. Band attachment members are attached to the lower shear blocks adjacent to each structural member. The band attachment members are each sized to receive one of the tensioned straps therethrough, and an alignment member is positioned in the band attachment member. The alignment member is positioned to engage and align the tensioned strap extending between opposite corners of the frame.
In one embodiment, the structural members are formed by a plurality of studs strapped together by flexible strapping. The studs are wood in one embodiment. In an alternate embodiment, the structural member is formed by a pair of outer metal studs that sandwich a non-metal stud, such as a wood stud, therebetween.
A system for using these shear frames includes several of the shear frames and pre-fabricated wall panels placed adjacent to each other in a configuration that forms selected walls of
Carlson David V.
Friedman Carl D.
Horton Yvonne M.
Seed I.P. Law Group PLLC
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