Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Side-by-side terminus shafts; e.g. – truss
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-04
2001-04-10
Chilcot, Richard (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Side-by-side terminus shafts; e.g., truss
C052S695000, C052S762000, C052S167300, C052S749100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212849
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to wall structures and more particularly, to fiberglass reinforced shear panels for providing added shear strength to wall structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wall panels, such as framing wall members or stud walls, generally are used in a wide variety of construction to facilitate erecting walls for a building structure. The wall panels are typically fabricated from wood and include a wall base plate, a wall top plate, and wall studs extending between the top and base plates. To provide the required shear strength of the wall, and to handle lateral loads on the wall, a plywood panel may be nailed to the studs and the top and base plates. The plywood panel is usually nailed to the outer surfaces of the studs at the corners of the structure. In this position, the plywood panel can interfere with the installation of the normal outer sheathing and the final decorative surface of the structure.
Problems may arise if the thicknesses of the sheathing and the plywood panel are not the same. The thickness differential may interfere with subsequent installation of for example the exterior siding of the building. Applying the plywood panel to the surfaces of the studs facing the interior of the structure interferes with the installation of drywall, which is typically used to finish interiors of structures.
It would be desirable to provide a shear panel that will provide the desired shear strength and not interfere with subsequent installation of the exterior sheathing or interior drywall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects may be attained by a shear panel configured to be attached within a stud wall between adjoining studs and the top and bottom plates. The shear panel is positioned within the plane of the stud wall and does not extend beyond the plane defined by the outer edges of the studs. Therefore, the shear panel does not interfere with any subsequent installation of exterior sheathing or interior drywall.
The shear panel includes, in one embodiment, an elongate I-shaped member, a top shear cap, and a bottom shear cap. The elongate I-shaped member includes a central region and two opposing flanges extending longitudinally along opposing outer edges of the central region. The elongate I-shaped member is configured to fit between adjacent studs with the flanges in face to face, or surface to surface, contact with the faces of adjacent studs.
Each shear cap includes an elongate flat section, a first elongate leg section, and a second elongate leg section. The first and second leg sections extend perpendicularly from the elongate flat section, and the leg sections are configured so that an end of the central region of the I-shaped member fits between the legs. The first leg section is positioned inward from a first longitudinal edge of the flat section, and the second leg section is positioned inward from a second longitudinal edge of the flat section of the top shear cap. A first ear section of the cap is formed between the first longitudinal edge and the first leg, and a second ear section of the cap is formed between the second longitudinal edge and the second leg.
To install the shear panel in a stud wall of a structure, the top and bottom shear caps are attached to the I-shaped member at opposing ends of the central region. An adhesive material may be used to bond the top shear cap and the bottom shear cap to the I-shaped member of the shear panel during installation into the stud wall. Metal fasteners, for example screws, may also be used. The shear panel is then positioned between adjacent studs in the stud wall with the flanges in surface to surface contact with the side surfaces of the adjacent studs. Next, the top shear cap is fastened to the bottom surface of the top plate, and the bottom shear cap is fastened to the top surface of the bottom plate.
The above described shear panel provides added shear strength to a stud wall. Further, the shear panel does not interfere with subsequent installation on the stud wall of exterior sheathing or interior dry wall. Particularly, the shear panel is configured so that the shear panel is positioned within the plane of the stud wall, i.e., the cavity formed by the adjacent studs and the top and bottom plates of the stud wall.
REFERENCES:
patent: 178076 (1876-05-01), Nostrand
patent: 1946049 (1934-02-01), Weiskopf et al.
patent: 5072570 (1991-12-01), Johnson
patent: 5230190 (1993-07-01), Schuette
patent: 5476704 (1995-12-01), Köhler
patent: 5492583 (1996-02-01), Fingerson et al.
patent: 5540797 (1996-07-01), Wilson
patent: 5706626 (1998-01-01), Mueller
patent: 5729950 (1998-03-01), Hardy
patent: 5848512 (1998-12-01), Conn
patent: 5904025 (1999-05-01), Bass et al.
patent: 6073413 (2000-06-01), Tongiatama
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
Chilcot Richard
MiTek Holdings, Inc.
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