Reinforced building wall

• US 10,480,178 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cetres Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cetres Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Espinosa, Thomas M
• Primary Examiner(s): Walraed-Sullivan, Kyle J.
• Application Number:
  US15/843,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20180202146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 52 23, 5222313, 522366, 522933, 52295, 52410, 5274512
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/26 the supporting parts consisting of wood
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/4157 Longitudinally-externally threaded elements extending from the concrete or masonry, e.g. anchoring bolt with embedded head
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/56 Load-bearing walls of framework or pillarwork; Walls incorporating load-bearing elongated members E04B2/74, E04B2/88 take precedence; pillars E04C3/30
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/268 Connection to foundations
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2684 with metal connectors
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2688 self adjusting, e.g. for compensation of shrinkage
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2692 End to end connections of elongated members along their common longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3583 using permanent tensioning means, e.g. cables or rods, to assemble or rigidify structures (not pre- or poststressing concrete), e.g. by tying them around the structure

Abstract

A reinforced building wall comprises a foundation; an anchor rod extending from the foundation; a first stud wall disposed above the foundation, the first stud wall including a first bottom plate and a first top place; a second stud wall disposed above the first stud wall, the second stud wall including a second bottom plate and a second top plate; the first tie rod including first and second threaded end portions, the first end portion is operably connected to the anchor rod; a second tie rod including third and fourth threaded end portions, the third end portion is operably connected to the second end portion of the first tie rod; the second tie rod including an outer end portion operably attached to the second stud wall; an intermediate portion of the first tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the first tie rod; and an intermediate portion of the second tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the second tie rod.

Claims

1. A reinforced building wall, comprising:

a) a first stud wall including a bottom plate and a top plate;

b) a first threaded rod extending through the bottom plate, the first threaded rod having a first end operably anchored to a foundation and a second end;

c) a first tie rod having a first end with a first threaded bore and a second end with a second threaded bore, the first tie rod being one piece including a solid first portion extending between the first threaded bore and the second threaded bore, the solid first portion having a length longer than a length of the first threaded bore or the second threaded bore, the solid first portion having a cross-sectional size equal to a cross-sectional size of the first end and the second end, the first threaded bore is threaded to the second end of the first threaded rod;

d) a second tie rod having a third end with a third threaded bore and fourth end with a fourth threaded bore, the second tie rod being one piece including a solid second portion extending between the third threaded bore and the fourth threaded bore, the solid second portion having a length longer than a length of the third threaded bore or the fourth threaded bore, the solid second portion having a cross-sectional size equal to a cross-sectional size of the third end and fourth end;

e) a second threaded rod threaded to the second threaded bore and the third threaded bore to attach the first tie rod to the second tie rod; and

f) a third threaded rod threaded to the fourth threaded bore, the third threaded rod extending through the top plate.

2. A reinforced building wall as in claim 1, wherein inspection openings are associated with one of the first, second, third and fourth threaded bores.

3. A reinforced building wall as in claim 1, wherein one of the first, second, third and fourth threaded bores are multi-diameter bores.

4. A reinforced building wall as in claim 1, wherein an intermediate portion of the first and second tie rods has a larger diameter than the diameter of the first, second, third and fourth bores.

5. A reinforced building wall as in claim 1, wherein the first and second threaded bores together constitute about 25% or less of the length of the first tie rod.

6. A reinforced building wall as in claim 1, wherein the third and fourth threaded bores together constitute about 25% or less of the length of the second tie rod.

7. A reinforced building wall as in claim 1, wherein the first and second tie rods are hexagonal, circular or square in cross-section.

8. A reinforced building wall as in claim 1, wherein the third threaded rod is operably attached to the top plate.

9. A reinforced building wall as in claim 1, and further comprising:

a) a second stud wall disposed above the first stud wall; and

b) the third threaded rod is operably attached to the second stud wall.

10. A reinforced building wall as in claim 8, and further comprising:

a) a bearing plate disposed on the top plate;

b) the third threaded rod extends through the bearing plate; and

c) the third threaded rod is attached to the bearing plate with a nut.

11. A reinforced building wall as in claim 9, and further comprising:

a) a bearing plate disposed on a top plate of the second stud wall;

b) the third threaded rod extends through the top plate of the second stud wall and the bearing plate; and

c) the third threaded rod is attached to the bearing plate with a nut.

12. A reinforced building wall as in claim 9, and further comprising:

a) a cross member operably attached to the second stud wall;

b) a bearing plate disposed on the cross member;

c) the third threaded rod extends through the cross member and the bearing plate; and

d) the third threaded rod is attached to the bearing plate with a nut.

13. A reinforced building wall as in claim 1, wherein:

a) the third threaded rod includes a distal threaded end portion and an unthreaded intermediate portion; and

b) the distal threaded end portion is not disposed with the top plate.

14. A reinforced building wall as in claim 12, wherein:

a) the third threaded rod includes a distal threaded end portion and an unthreaded intermediate portion; and

b) the distal threaded end portion is not disposed with the cross member.

15. A reinforced building wall as in claim 9, and further comprising:

a) a bearing plate disposed on a bottom plate of the second stud wall;

b) the third threaded rod extends through the bottom plate of the second stud wall and the bearing plate; and

c) the third threaded rod is attached to the bearing plate with a nut.

16. A reinforced building wall as in claim 15, wherein:

a) the third threaded rod includes a distal threaded end portion and an unthreaded intermediate portion; and

b) the distal threaded end portion is not disposed with the top plate of the first stud wall and the bottom plate of the second stud wall.