Abstract:
Structural member for a reinforced stud wall including a tie rod. A horizontal longitudinal hollow bearing member having a horizontal longitudinal axis and horizontal and parallel top and bottom walls extending along the horizontal longitudinal axis. The top and bottom walls are configured to support a downward compression force transverse to the top wall from the tie rod when the tie rod is attached to the top wall. First and second web flanges connect the top and bottom walls to form first and second “I”-shaped cross-sections joined together side-by-side, the web flanges extending along the longitudinal axis of the hollow bearing member. The web flanges are configured to transfer downward compression force on the top wall to the bottom wall. Opening through the top and bottom walls allows the tie rod to extend vertically therethrough, the opening being confined within a space between vertical portions of the web flanges.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 12/588,101, filed Oct. 2, 2009, claiming the priority benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/136,797, filed Oct. 3, 2008, both of which applications are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally directed to a tension hold down system used in walls in light frame construction to resist uplift and to compensate for wood shrinkage in wood frame construction and compression loading. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Prior art hold down systems, such as one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,078, typically use a tie-rod that extends inside a stud wall from the foundation to the top floor. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides components and combinations thereof for a wall hold down system that uses a tie rod that extends from the foundation through the top floor. The components secure the wall to the tie rod at the foundation, floor, midfloor and top floor levels using hollow bearing members that resist bending. The bearing members are hollow having web flanges that provide rigidity against bending. Holes are provided in the bearing members for the tie rod to pass through and are positioned between and adjacent the web flanges for effective transmission of load to the wall structure. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides a structural member for a reinforced stud wall including a tie rod connected to a foundation of the wall. The structural member comprises a longitudinal hollow member having top and bottom walls; and first and second web flanges connecting the top and bottom walls, the web flanges extending along a longitudinal axis of the hollow member. An opening through the top and bottom walls allow the tie rod to extend therethrough, the opening being disposed between the web flanges. 
         [0006]    The present invention also provides a reinforced stud wall for a building having at least one floor, a foundation and at least one ceiling, comprising a cross member operably secured to a pair of adjacent studs; a tie rod having one end operably connected to a foundation of a building and a threaded another end extending through the cross member; and a nut operably secured to the another end and the cross member. The cross member comprises a longitudinal hollow member having top and bottom walls, first and second web flanges connecting the top and bottom walls, the web flanges extending along a longitudinal axis of the hollow member, and an opening through the top and bottom walls to allow a tie rod to extend therethrough, the opening being disposed between the web flanges. 
         [0007]    The present invention further provides another structural member, comprising a bracket including a horizontal member, a vertical member extending downwardly from an intermediate portion of the horizontal member, and an angled member connecting one end of the horizontal member and a free end of the vertical member. The bracket forms an inverted L-shaped configuration with the vertical member and a portion of the horizontal member, the portion for being disposed between a top end of a stud and below a cross member and the vertical member for being engaged with a vertical surface of the stud. 
         [0008]    The present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a two-story wall system using a hold down system using components made and installed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective, fragmentary and enlarged view of the wall system of  FIG. 1 , showing details of attachment of the wall system to the building foundation. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  a perspective, fragmentary and enlarged view of the wall system of  FIG. 1 , showing details of attachment of the wall system at the floor. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is side elevational view of  FIG. 3  with some parts of the wall system removed for clarity. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  a perspective, fragmentary and enlarged view of the wall system of  FIG. 1 , showing details of attachment of the wall system at the termination of the hold down system at the top floor. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 4  with some parts of the wall system removed for clarity. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  a is a three-story wall system using a hold down system using components made and installed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  a perspective, fragmentary and enlarged view of the wall system of  FIG. 5 , showing details of attachment of the wall system at midfloor. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  a perspective view of a bearing member made and installed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a bridge member made and installed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective, fragmentary view of another embodiment of  FIG. 2  of the details of attachment of the wall system to the building foundation. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another bearing member made and installed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a perspective, fragmentary view of another embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a perspective, fragmentary view of another embodiment of  FIG. 2  of the details of attachment of the wall system to the building foundation. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of portions of  FIG. 15 . 
           [0027]      FIGS. 17-20  are perspective, fragmentary views of other embodiments of  FIG. 3  of the details of attachment of the wall system at the floor. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17A  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 17  with some components of the wall system removed for clarity. 
           [0029]      FIG. 19A  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 19  with some components of the wall system removed for clarity and washers replaced with a tensioning device. 
           [0030]      FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of portions of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 22  is perspective, fragmentary view of another embodiment of  FIG. 3  of the details of attachment of the wall system at the floor. 
           [0032]      FIG. 22A  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 22  with some components of the wall system removed for clarity. 
           [0033]      FIG. 22B  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 22  with some components of the wall system removed for clarity, showing another embodiment of a floor attachment where the second top bearing member has been removed. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 23-29  are perspective, fragmentary views of other embodiments of  FIG. 4  of the details of attachment of the wall system at the termination of the hold down system at the top floor. 
           [0035]      FIG. 23A  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 23  with some components of the wall system removed for clarity. 
           [0036]      FIG. 26A  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 26  with some components of the wall system removed for clarity. 
           [0037]      FIG. 27A  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 27  with some components of the wall system removed for clarity. 
           [0038]      FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a bracket made and installed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  31 - 31  of  FIG. 30 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 32  is a perspective, fragmentary view of another embodiment of  FIG. 6  of the details of attachment of the wall system at midfloor. 
           [0041]      FIG. 32A  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 32  with some components of the wall system removed for clarity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hold down system  2  made in accordance with the present invention is disclosed for a two-story wall system. The system  2  includes a foundation anchor  4  operably attached to a foundation  6  of a building. The foundation anchor  4  includes a threaded rod  8  attached to another threaded or tie-rod rod  10  by means of a coupling  12 . A bearing member  14  bears upon a bottom plate  16 , which is a component of the stud wall system  18 . A nut  20  secures the bearing member  14  to the bottom plate  16 . 
         [0043]    The system  2  is disposed within the wall system  18  between two studs  24  reinforced by two additional studs  26 . The studs  24  are attached to the reinforcement studs  26  by nails, screws or other conventional means. The bottom ends  28  of the reinforcement studs  26  bear on top of the bearing member  14 , transferring the load to the bottom plate  16  and to the foundation  6  below. The reinforcement studs  26  extends to and terminates at the bottom of the top plate  29 . For ease of description, the components that attach the wall system  18  to the foundation  6  is designated as foundation attachment  30 . 
         [0044]    The bearing member  14  advantageously provides a bearing surface against the bottom plate of the wall system for distribution of forces that may tend to lift the wall off the foundation. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the tie rod  10  continues through the second floor of the two-story wall system  18 . Another bearing member  32  bears on a bottom plate  34 . A nut  36  secures the bearing member  32  to the bottom plate  34 . Reinforcement studs  38  have bottom ends  40  bearing on the bearing member  32 , transferring the load to the bottom plate  34  and to the reinforcement studs  26  below. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 3A , the tie rod  10  extends through the bearing member  32  between two web flanges  68  (see  FIG. 7 ). Compressive forces exerted by the nut  36  are transferred through the web flanges directly below the nut to the bottom plate  34 . Compressive forces from the reinforcement studs  38  whose bottom ends  40  bear on top of the bearing member  14  are transmitted through the web flanges  68  and the side walls  70  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0047]    For ease of reference, the components that attach the tie rod  10  to the bottom plate  34  are designated as floor attachment  37 . 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the top ends  42  of the reinforcement studs  38  support a bridge member  44 . A nut  46  secures the bridge member  44  to the reinforcement studs  38 . The bridge member  44  bears down on the reinforcement studs  38 , transferring the load to the bottom plate  34  and to the reinforcement studs  26  below. The reinforcement studs  38  terminate short of the top plate  47 . As in the first floor, the system  2  is disposed between two studs  49  that extend from the bottom plate  34  to the top plate  47 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 4A , the tie rod  10  extends through the bridge member  44  through an off-centered slot  84  (see  FIG. 9 ). The tie rod  10  passes through the slot  84  between the internal web flanges  78 . Compressive forces of the nut  46  are transmitted to the reinforcement studs  42  through the web flanges, which are substantially directly below the nut  46 . 
         [0050]    For ease of references, the components that attach the termination of the tie rod  10  to the wall system  18  are designated as termination attachment  48 . 
         [0051]    It should be understood that building foundation is used to refer generally to any structure that is used to anchor or tie a building to the ground. Examples are foundation walls, horizontal beams connected to vertical beams driven or buried in the ground, or any substantial structure solidly anchored in the ground. Accordingly, a building foundation can be any structure that is capable of transferring the load of the building to the ground. 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  discloses a three-story wall system  50  using a hold down system  52  similar to the system  2  with some modifications. The system  52  includes the foundation anchor  4  operably attached to a foundation  6  of a building. The foundation anchor  4  includes the threaded rod  8  attached to another threaded or tie-rod rod  10  by means of the coupling  12 . 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the system  52  also includes floor attachments  37  and a termination attachment  48 , as in the system  2 . In addition, the system  52  includes midfloor attachments  54  between the first and second floors, and midfloor attachment  55  between the second and third floors. The floor attachment  37  shown in  FIG. 3  is the same as that shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the midfloor attachment  54  includes a bearing member  56  on the top ends  58  of reinforcement studs  60 . A nut  62  secures the bearing member  56  to the reinforcement studs  60 . The bottom ends  64  of reinforcement studs  66  bear on the top surface of the bearing member  56 . The reinforcement studs  66  bear down on the bridge member  56 , transferring the load to the reinforcement studs  60  below. The bottom ends of the reinforcement studs  60  bear down on the bottom plate  16 , transferring the load to the foundation  6  below. The reinforcement studs  60  and  66  extend from the bottom plate  16  to the bearing member  56 , and from the bearing member  56  to the top plate  29 , respectively. Studs  71  extend between the bottom plate  34  and the top plate  47  and are attached to the reinforcement studs  69  and  67  by nails, screws or other standard means. 
         [0055]    The midfloor attachment  55  is similar to the midfloor attachment  54 , except that reinforcement studs  67  have their bottom ends bearing on the bearing member  32 . 
         [0056]    The various hold down systems disclosed above are shown installed within the first stud bay from the end of a shear wall using standard wood framing construction. However, the hold down systems are not limited to these locations or type of construction. They may be installed in any stud wall construction to resist uplift during high wind or earthquake conditions. The hold down system may be installed in the first stud bay at the first bay after a window or door opening. Generally, the hold down system may be installed anywhere inside a stud wall as the application dictates. 
         [0057]    The bearing members  14 ,  32 , and  56  are identical to each other, except for their location in the wall system. In the following description, reference will only be made to bearing member  14  with the understanding that it also applies to the other bearing members  32  and  56 . 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the bearing member  14  is hollow and longitudinal, made of metal, such as aluminum, steel or non-metallic other materials and may be extruded or molded, having internal web flanges  68  and outside side walls  70  connecting a top wall  72  and a bottom wall  74 . The web flanges  68  extend along the longitudinal axis of the bearing member  14 . The top wall  72  and the bottom wall  74  are preferably parallel to each other and extend along the longitudinal axis of the bearing member. The side walls  70  are preferably parallel to each other and extend along the longitudinal axis of the bearing member.  14 . An opening  76  through the top wall  72  and the bottom wall  74  allows the tie rod  10  to extend therethrough. The opening  76  is preferably machined, rather than being punched, to avoid compromising the strength of the area immediately around the opening. The bearing member  14  is preferably extruded aluminum, to reduce manufacturing and shipping costs. The lightweight aluminum also provides less strain to the worker during handling and installation. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the opposite edges of the opening  76  as viewed in cross-section are advantageously disposed adjacent the respective the web flanges  68  for efficient transfer of vertical forces. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the bridge member  44  is longitudinal and made of metal, such as aluminum, steel, or other non-metallic materials and may be extruded or molded. The bridge member has internal web flanges  78  connected to a top wall  80  and a bottom wall  82 . The web flanges  78  extend along the longitudinal axis of the member  44 . The top wall  80  and the bottom wall  82  are preferably parallel to each other and extend along the longitudinal axis of the bridge member  44 . An elongated opening or slot  84  through the top wall  80  and the bottom wall  82  allows the tie rod  10  to extend therethrough. The slot  84  extends along the longitudinal axis of the bridge member  44 . The slot  84  is advantageously off-center to accommodate an installation where the tie rod  10  is not exactly on-center between the studs. One end  85  of the slot is centered along the length and longitudinal axis of the bridge member, while the opposite end  87  is off-center. The off-centered slot  84  will accommodate an off-centered tie rod in either direction of the slot by merely turning the bridge member  44  180° as needed. The slot  80  is preferably machined rather than being punched to avoid comprising the strength of the area around the slot. The bridge member  44  is preferably extruded aluminum, due to its lightweight for reduced manufacturing and shipping costs and the lightweight aluminum provides less strain in handling and installation for the worker. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the opposite edges of the slot  84 , as seen in cross-section, are advantageously disposed adjacent the respective web flanges  48  for efficient transfer of vertical forces. 
         [0060]    The bridge member  44  simplifies the installation of a hold down system, requiring less number of components as compared to using a wood bridge typically made of several wood members. The metal bridge member  44  advantageously provides for higher loads as compared to wood bridge members, since “parallel to grain of lumber” loading is used (typically 1200 psi), as compared to “perpendicular to grain of lumber” loading when using wood bridge members (typically 625 psi). 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the use of bearing members  14 ,  32  and  56  where the reinforcement studs  66  and  69  bear down from above advantageously eliminates the “perpendicular to grain” loading of prior art wood bridge member, thereby increasing the loading capacity of the hold down system. The bridge member  44  and the bearing members  14 ,  32  and  56  may be color coded for material type, capacity and dimensional size. 
         [0062]    As load passes through the support studs and or wall studs through the parallel wood grain, this surface is in bearing contact with each end of the bearing members  14 ,  32  and  56 . The use of the bearing members as a bottom-plate-compression plates lowers the compression force per square inch upon the perpendicular wood bearing surface below. As load is transferred from the support studs and or wall studs through the bearing member, the load is dispersed and spread out because the bearing member is minimally designed not to bend or deflect. The physical properties of the bearing member provide this behavior when used in this fashion. So a concentrated force from the contact point of the studs at each end of the top of the bearing member is then spread out over the large area of contact to the perpendicular wood bearing surface underneath the bearing plate. 
         [0063]    Placement of the bearing member and bridge member is intended for the relative center of the first stud bay of a wall in a building which uses wall studs of many different types of framing material. They may also be installed at each end of a wall. They may also centrally be located in any stud bay of a wall or every stud bay of a wall. The transfer of parallel to grain force or load from support studs and or wall studs bearing upon the upper top side of the metallic bridge block is transferred to the lower support studs and or wall studs through the metallic bridge member. The physical properties of the bridge member  44  do not allow any crushing or displacement between studs parallel to grain bearing surfaces; therefore force or load is transferred with a stable load path. 
         [0064]    Bridge member and/or bearing member can be employed to resist uplift and rotation of a wall of a building and also are utilized when the wall in a compression mode. Because of behaviors described earlier above, the bridge member and/or bearing member disperses loads and achieves lowering concentrated forces between bearing surfaces when down-load forces occurs. This advantageously helps solve load path problems in current hold down systems. 
         [0065]    Another embodiment of the foundation attachment  86  is disclosed in  FIG. 11 . The foundation attachment  86  is similar to the foundation attachment  30 , except for the addition of a second bearing member  88  bearing on top of the bearing member  14 . 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the bearing member  88  is hollow, made of metal, such as aluminum, steel or other non-metallic materials. The bearing member  88  has an axis along its length. The bearing member  88  has internal web flanges  90 , oriented along the axial length of the member, and preferably parallel outside side walls  92  connected to a top wall  94  and a bottom wall  96 . The top wall  94  and the bottom wall  96  are preferably parallel to each other. The top, bottom and side walls are oriented along the axial length of the member. An opening  98  through the top wall  94  and the bottom wall  96  allows the tie rod  10  to extend therethrough. The opening  98  is preferably machined, rather than being punched, to avoid comprising the strength of the area immediately around the opening  98 . The opposite edges of the opening  98 , as seen in cross-section in  FIG. 13 , are advantageously disposed adjacent the respective web flanges  90  for efficient transfer of vertical forces. The bearing member  88  is preferably extruded aluminum to reduce manufacturing and shipping costs. The lightweight aluminum also provides less strain to the worker during handling and installation. The bearing member  88  is the same as the bearing member  116 , except for their location in the wall system. 
         [0067]    The bearing member  88  serves to spread the load from the nut  20  over a wider area and provides a greater resistance to the nut  20  from digging into the openings  98  and  76  as the wall system tries to lift up or shift due to wind or earthquake forces. As shown in  FIG. 13A , the holes 76 and 98 line up vertically, along with the web flanges  68  and  90 . 
         [0068]    Bridge member  44  and bearing members  14  and  88  are not limited to metallic materials. The physical properties of the bridge member and the bearing must be equal to or greater than the physical properties of the support studs bearing surface. 
         [0069]    Another embodiment of a foundation attachment  100  is disclosed in  FIG. 14 . The foundation attachment  100  is similar to the foundation attachment  86 , except that the bearing member  88  is replaced with a solid metal bearing member  102 . 
         [0070]    Another embodiment of a foundation attachment  104  is disclosed in  FIG. 15 . The foundation attachment  104  is similar to the foundation attachment  30 , except that swivel washers  106  and  108  have been added between the nut  20  and the bearing member  14 . The swivel washer  106  has a convex top surface  110  that mates with a corresponding concave bottom surface  112  on the swivel washer  108 . The washers  106  and  108  allow the threaded rod  10  to be out of the vertical while maintaining maximum bearing contact with the bearing member  14 . The washers  106  and  108  allow for centering the rod  10  while providing full bearing contact between bearing surfaces. The washers  106  and  108  may also be used in the other embodiments of the floor, midfloor and termination attachments shown throughout this disclosure where the tie rod  10  may be off-vertical. 
         [0071]    Another embodiment of a floor attachment  114  is disclosed in  FIG. 17 . The floor attachment  114  is similar to the floor attachment  37 , except that a second bearing member  116  is provided on top of the bearing member  32 . The bearing member  116  is the same as the bearing member  88  shown in  FIG. 12 . The bearing member  116  provides additional loading capacity to the bearing member  32  by spreading the compressive force of the nut  36  over a wider area. 
         [0072]    Referring to  FIG. 17A , the bearing member  116  lines up over the bearing member  32  such that their respective internal web flanges  90  and  68  substantially vertically line up. Compressive force from the nut  36  is thus transferred through the web flanges  68  and  90 , which are substantially directly below the nut  36 . Bending of the bearing member  32  due to uplift of the wall is thus reduced, increasing the loading capacity of the bearing member  32 . 
         [0073]    Another embodiment of a floor attachment  118  is shown in  FIG. 18 . The floor attachment  118  is similar to the floor attachment  114  except that a solid metal bearing member  120  is used in lieu of the hollow bearing member  116 . 
         [0074]    Another embodiment of a floor attachment  122  is shown in  FIG. 19 . The floor attachment  122  includes the bearing member  116 , which is identical to the bearing member  88 . Swivel washers  106  and  108  are interposed between a nut  36  and the bearing member  116 . The bearing member  116  bears on the bottom plate  34 . Reinforcement studs  123  extend from the bottom plate  34  to the top plate  47 . The bottom ends  125  of the reinforcement studs  123  extend past the outer edges of the bearing member  116  and bear directly on the bottom plate  34 . 
         [0075]    Another embodiment of a floor attachment  121  is shown in  FIG. 19A . The floor attachment  121  is similar to the floor attachment  122 , except that the washers  106  and  108  have been replaced with the tensioning device  136  (see  FIG. 21 ). The web flanges  90  are disposed directly underneath the outer cylindrical member  146  for transmission of the load to the bottom plate  34 . The side walls  92  provide additional rigidity to the hollow structure of the bearing member  116 . The tie rod  10  passes between the web flanges  90  for effective distribution of load. 
         [0076]    Another embodiment of a floor attachment  134  is disclosed in  FIG. 20 . The floor attachment  134  is similar to the floor attachment  118 , shown in  FIG. 18 , except that a tensioning device  136  is interposed between the nut  36  and the solid metal bearing member  120 . The tensioning device  136  automatically expands to take up slack that may develop in the tie rod  10 . The nut  36  secures the device  136  against the bearing members  120  and  32 . 
         [0077]    Examples of the device  136  are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,350, Publ. No. 2006/0156657, and applicant&#39;s pending application Ser. No. 11/898,479, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIG. 21 , a specific example the device  136  disclosed in application Ser. No. 11/898,479, Pub. No. 2008-0060297 will be described. The device  136  comprises an inner cylindrical inner member  144  through which the tie rod  10  passes. The inner member  144  is disposed within an outer cylindrical member  146 . A spring  148  operably axially urges the members  144  and  146  apart such that pressure is maintained against the bearing member  120  and tension on the tie rod  10 . Keeping the position of the nut  36  on the tie rod  10  as a fixed reference point, the outer member  146  is movable relative to the inner member  144  toward the foundation to keep the floor plate  34  under compression and the tie rod  10  under tension. The outer member  146  is locked relative to the inner member  144  in a direction away from the foundation when the wall is lifted up from the foundation. The outer member  146  and the inner member  144  include opposing cylindrical walls with respective plurality of  149  and  151  receiving volume. Resilient members  153  disposed between the opposing cylindrical walls are biased to occupy the receiving volumes  151 . The receiving volumes  149  and  151  are configured in cross-section such that when the outer member  146  is moved toward the foundation to take up slack in the tie rod  10 , the resilient members  153  are shifted into and fully received within the respective receiving volumes  149 . The receiving volumes  149  and  151  are further configured in cross-section such that when the outer member  146  is pushed in the direction away from the foundation, the resilient members are only partially received within the respective receiving volumes  151  to preclude movement of the outer member  146 , thereby locking the member  146  to the inner member  144 . The device  136  is available from Earthbound Corporation, Monroe, Wash. 
         [0079]    The present invention is not limited to the device  136  as described above, since other tensioning devices are available that provides the same function of re-tensioning the tie rod  10  when the wall shrinks to effectively keep the wall under compression. 
         [0080]    Another embodiment of a floor attachment  150  is disclosed in  FIG. 22 . The floor attachment  150  is similar to the floor attachment  114  shown in  FIG. 17 , except that the device  136  is interposed between the nut  36  and bearing member  116 . 
         [0081]    The floor attachment  150  is shown in side view in  FIG. 22A , with some of the wall components removed for clarity. The internal web flanges  68  and  90  substantially line up vertically and are disposed directly below the outer member  146  of the device  136  for effective transmission of load to the bottom plate  34 . Additionally, the side walls  70  and  92  substantially line up vertically to provide additional load transfer paths to the bottom plate  34 . The bearing member  116  advantageously spreads the load over the underlying bearing member  32  to minimize bending of the bearing member  32  when uplift forces tries to lift the wall up. 
         [0082]    Another embodiment of a floor attachment  155  is disclosed in  FIG. 22B . The floor attachment  155  is similar to the floor attachment  150 , except that the bearing member  116  has been removed. This embodiment is used when the expected load is lower. 
         [0083]    Another embodiment of a termination attachment  152  is disclosed in  FIG. 23 . The termination attachment  152  is similar to the termination attachment  48  shown in  FIG. 4 , except that a second bearing member  154  is disposed between the nut  46  and bridge member  44 . The bearing member  154  is identical to the bearing member  88  shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0084]    The termination attachment  152  is shown in side view in  FIG. 23A . The web flanges  90  of the bearing member  154  are disposed substantially directly underneath the nut  46  to effectively transfer the compression load to the web flanges  78  of the bridge member  44  below. The bearing member  154  spreads the compression load over a larger area to minimize bending of the bridge member  44  during wall uplift. 
         [0085]    Another embodiment of a termination attachment  156  is disclosed in  FIG. 24 . The termination attachment  156  is similar to the termination attachment  152 , except that the bearing member  154  is replaced with a solid metal bearing member  158 . 
         [0086]    Another embodiment of a termination attachment  160  is disclosed in  FIG. 25 . The termination attachment  160  is similar to the termination attachment  48  shown in  FIG. 4 , except that swivel washers  106  and  108  are interposed between the nut  46  and the bridge member  44 . 
         [0087]    Another embodiment of a termination attachment  162  is disclosed in  FIG. 26 . The termination attachment  162  is similar to the termination attachment  48  shown in  FIG. 4 , except that a tensioning device  136 , shown in  FIG. 21 , is interposed between the nut  46  and the bridge member  44 . 
         [0088]    The termination attachment  162  is shown in side elevational view in  FIG. 26A . The tie rod  10  passes between the web flanges  78  which are substantially directly underneath the device  136  for effective transmission of load to the reinforcement studs  38 . 
         [0089]    Another embodiment of a termination attachment  164  is disclosed in  FIG. 27 . The termination attachment  164  is similar to the termination attachment  162  shown in  FIG. 26 , except that a bearing member  154  is disposed between the device  136  and the bridge member  44 . 
         [0090]    The termination attachment  164  is shown in side view in  FIG. 27A . The web flanges  90  of the bearing member  154  are disposed directly underneath the device  136  to effectively transfer the compression load to the web flanges  78  of the bridge member  44  below. Additionally, the side walls  92  provide additional load transfer paths to the bridge member  44 . The bearing member  154  advantageously spreads the load over the underlying bridge member  44  to minimize bending of the bridge member  44  when uplift forces tries to lift the wall up. 
         [0091]    The bearing member  154  spreads the compression load over a larger area to minimize bending of the bridge member  44  during wall uplift. 
         [0092]    Another embodiment of a termination attachment  166  is disclosed in  FIG. 28 . The termination attachment  166  is similar to the termination attachment  164  shown in  FIG. 27 , except that the bearing member  154  is replaced with a solid metal bearing member  158 . 
         [0093]    Another embodiment of a termination attachment  170  is disclosed in  FIG. 29 . The termination attachment  170  is similar to the termination attachment  164  shown in  FIG. 27 , except that the bridge member  44  is replaced with a solid bridge member  172  made of wood, plastic or composite material. The bridge member  172  includes an opening through it to permit the tie rod  10  to pass through. Hollow brackets  174  are provided underneath the bridge member  172  to effectively shorten the span distance of the bridge member between the reinforcement studs  38 . 
         [0094]    The bracket  174  includes a horizontal member  176 , a vertical member  178  and an angle member  180 . The vertical member  178  is preferably perpendicular to the horizontal member  176  to form an inverted L-shape so that the horizontal portion may be disposed on the top end with the vertical member  178  engaging the vertical surface of the reinforcement stud  38 . The angle member  180  forms an inverted triangle with a portion of the horizontal member  176  and the vertical member  178 . A hole  182  is used for nailing or screwing the horizontal member  176  to the end portion  42  of the reinforcement stud. The bracket  174  is made of metal, such as aluminum and steel, or other non-metallic materials, and may be extruded or molded. The bracket  174  is preferably extruded aluminum to save manufacturing and shipping costs and to lessen the strain on the worker during handling and installation. 
         [0095]    Referring to  FIG. 29 , the vertical forces not directly over the end portions  42  of the reinforcement studs  38  are transmitted by the horizontal members  176  through the angle members  180  and onto the vertical reinforcement studs  38 . This effectively shortens the span of the bridge member  172  to allow for greater load capacity. The brackets  174  provide an arch structure across the span between the reinforcement studs  38 , thereby effectively transmitting the load to the reinforcement studs  38 . The brackets  174  advantageously allow greater load to be carried by the bridge member  172  than without their use. The use of the bearing member  154  advantageously allows the load to be spread over a larger area of the bridge member  172 , thereby reducing the force directly bearing over the span not directly over the horizontal members  176  of the brackets  174 . 
         [0096]    Another embodiment of a midfloor attachment  184  is disclosed in  FIG. 32 . The midfloor attachment  184  is similar to the midfloor attachment  55 , except that a tensioning device  136  is interposed between the nut  62  and the bearing member  56 . 
         [0097]    The midfloor attachment  184  is shown in side elevational view in  FIG. 32A . Compressive forces exerted by the device  136  are transferred through the web flanges  68  directly below the device  136  to the reinforcement studs  58 . The side walls  70  provide further load paths to the reinforcements studs  58 . 
         [0098]    It should be understood that the use of the swivel washers  106  and  108  may be used with any of the other components, such as the bearing member  14 , the bridge member  44  or the device  136 . Similarly, the use of the bearing member  88  may be used in the various embodiments of the hold down system as needed, depending on for the expected load. 
         [0099]    While this invention has been described as having preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention.