Assembly for straightening a basement's wall

An assembly for straightening a basement's wall, the basement having a floor and being covered by joists which are spaced from each other on center distances to define interstitial cavities and are arranged a perpendicular array or a parallel array, the assembly having mounting plate; joist mounting fasteners attaching the oblongated mounting plate to joists, the fasteners, upon the perpendicular joist array, positioning the mounting plate within an interstitial cavity, and the fasteners, upon the parallel array, bridging the mounting plate across an interstitial cavity; a rigid beam having upper and lower ends; a jack screw for driving the rigid beam's upper end toward the basement's wall; and an anchor bracket for resisting movement of the rigid beam's lower end away from the basement's wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to mechanisms and apparatus which are adapted for straightening or righting inwardly bulging or inwardly displaced basement walls. More particularly, this invention relates to such assemblies which are anchored or grounded at points within the interior of a building's basement, and which include a driven component which impinges and presses outwardly against an interior surface of such bulging or displaced basement wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Assemblies for straightening a basement's inwardly bulging or displaced wall which include or incorporate a vertically oriented rigid beam and which include apparatus anchored within the basement for outwardly driving such beam against an inner surface of such wall are known. However, such known basement wall straightening assemblies typically include or incorporate an upper beam driving mechanism which cannot be efficiently, conveniently, compactly or unobtrusively mounted at or upon the various floor joist configurations which commonly overlie and are supported by the basement's wall.

Also, such known basement wall straightening assemblies commonly incorporate lower beam anchors which excessively and undesirably obtrude into and along the basement's floor space. The instant inventive assembly for straightening a basement's wall solves or ameliorates such problems or deficiencies of such commonly known basement wall straightening assemblies by providing specially adapted anchoring and jacking structures which facilitate secure mounting of upper beam jacking mechanism at alternative and convenient locations upon floor joist arrays, either within a floor joist cavity or interstitial space, or in an underlying configuration which perpendicularly bridges beneath such spaces and joists. The instant inventive assembly provides such versatility in mounting its upper beam jacking mechanism while additionally providing a substantially protrusion free low end anchor assembly which is adapted to outwardly pull the rigid beam's lower end toward the inwardly deflected wall simultaneously with outward driving of the beam's upper end.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant assembly is for use for straightening a basement's inwardly bulging or displaced wall. A first structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises an oblongated mounting plate having a length which is at least as great as the lateral spacing distance or “on center” distance of the array of floor joists which commonly cover a basement and form the basement's ceiling.

Such on center distance is typically substantially equal to 16″ and, accordingly, the length of the instant invention's oblongated mounting plate is preferably at least as great as 16″. However, in a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the length of the oblongated mounting plate is slightly greater than 48″ in order to allow the oblongated mounting plate to extend perpendicularly across and be fixedly attached to four adjacent floor joists, such mounting configuration causing the plate to bridge beneath the three successive interstitial cavities defined by such joists. Suitably, though less desirably, the oblongated mounting plate may be sized to have a length slightly greater than 34″ for perpendicularly spanning beneath and attaching to three of such joists.

The oblongated mounting plate component preferably has a series of fastener receiving apertures extending therethrough, such apertures being spaced along the plate at intervals substantially equal to the joists' on center spacing. Where the oblongated mounting plate is configured, as preferred, four apertures spaced 16″ apart along the length of the plate are provided. Also in the preferred embodiment of the instant inventive assembly, the oblongated mounting plate is

composed of durable steel, has a 1½″ to 2½″ lateral width, and has a plate thickness of ¼″ to ½″.

The instant inventive assembly for straightening a basement's wall preferably further comprises joist mounting means which includes or incorporates the oblongated mounting plate's fastener receiving apertures as described above. The joist mounting means preferably further comprises a series of fasteners selected from the groups of bolts, wood screws, nails, and rivets. Where the floor joists overlying a basement's interior are configured in an array extending perpendicularly from an inwardly bulging basement wall, the joist mounting means are preferably adapted and are utilized for compactly and unobtrusively upwardly recessing the oblongated mounting plate within one of the interstitial spaces or cavities existing between an adjacent pair of the floor joists. In order to accommodate for an alternative floor joist configuration wherein the joists are arrayed in a parallel and overlying orientation with respect to the inwardly bulging wall, the joist mounting means is preferably further adapted so that the oblongated mounting plate may be alternatively mounted perpendicularly across lower surfaces of the floor joists to bridge beneath their defined interstitial spaces or cavities.

In the preferred embodiment, where a parallel floor joist array is present, the joist mounting means preferably comprises helically threaded wood screws. Alternatively, upon presentation of a perpendicular floor joist array, the floor joist attaching means preferably comprises nut, bolt, and washer combinations which extend through and compressively sandwich a single floor joist between nuts and washers and the oblongated mounting plate.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a rigid beam. The rigid beam preferably comprises a length of 4″×6″ pinewood timber which may be acquired by residential homeowners at a local lumber yard. Suitably, the rigid beam may alternatively comprise a steel “I” beam or a length of steel square tubing. Where the floor joist array overlying the basement wall to be straightened extends perpendicularly from the basement wall, such beam preferably has a vertical length sufficient to extend upwardly from the basement's floor into a recessed position within one of the interstitial spaces or cavities formed by the floor joists. Alternatively, in the parallel joist array configuration, the beam is preferably sized to fit beneath the floor joist's lower surfaces.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a jack screw mechanism or assembly which is preferably connected operatively to the oblongated mounting plate. Preferably, the jack screw assembly is adapted for outwardly driving the rigid beam's upper end toward and against the basement's bulging wall. In a preferred embodiment, the jack screw assembly comprises a helically threaded sleeve and screw shaft combination wherein such shaft's outer end presents a rotatably mounted beam engaging bracket, and wherein such shaft's inner end presents turning means such as a wrench engaging hex head.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises anchor means which are preferably connected operatively to the rigid beam's lower end, the anchor means being adapted for, upon outward driving of the rigid beam's upper end toward the basement's bulging wall, resisting any rocking counter movement of the rigid beam's lower end away from such wall. In a preferred embodiment, the anchor means comprises left and right helically threaded posts or lugs which are embedded within the basement wall at such wall's lower end. Such anchor means preferably further comprises a laterally flanged “U” bracket which is fitted for capturing the rigid beam's lower end and whose lateral flanges include eyes fitted for receiving the wall anchored posts. Helically threaded nuts mounted over the left and right helically threaded posts secure the “U” bracket and the beam's lower end which is captured by the “U” bracket. In the preferred embodiment, such nuts may be simultaneously turned for outwardly drawing the rigid beam's lower end simultaneously with the outward driving of such beam's upper end, such simultaneous beam end drawing and driving advantageously allowing the rigid beam to remain substantially parallel to the wall as the wall is straightened. In such preferred embodiment, the anchor means, including its post, bracket, and nut components, are configured and arranged so that no component attaches to the basement's floor and so that protrusions extending from the beam and into the basement's floor space are limited to the plate thickness of the “U” bracket. Such plate thickness is preferably less than or equal to ½″, allowing sheetrock mounted to the beam's inner surface to be finished to a clear surface over the bracket.

In an exemplary operation of the preferred embodiment of the instant inventive assembly, it may be assumed that a basement of a residential building has at least two inwardly bulging walls in need of straightening, one of such walls extending parallel to the floor joist array overlying the basement space, and one of such walls extending perpendicular to such joist array. In such exemplary scenario, it may be also be assumed that six vertically oriented rigid beams are to be spaced along and driven outwardly against such basement walls, three against the parallel basement wall and three against the perpendicular basement wall.

For each of the six rigid beams, a low end anchor means configured as described above is provided. Also, six substantially identically configured upper jack screw assemblies are provided for mounting upon the floor joists and for engaging and outwardly driving the upper ends of the six rigid beams.

The three rigid beams which are to be driven outwardly against the perpendicularly oriented basement wall are preferably sized to have vertical lengths sufficient to upwardly extend from the floor to unobtrusively recess within overlying interstitial spaces between adjacent pairs of the floor joists. Within such interstitial spaces, three of the jack screw assemblies are preferably attached by nut, bolt, and washer combinations to side walls of floor joists within such interstitial spaces. Accordingly, for the perpendicular basement wall, all three upper jack screw assemblies are compactly and unobtrusively recessed within an interstitial floor joist space or cavity. Along the perpendicular basement wall, basement finishing sheetrock may be applied at the ceiling and along the rigid beams with no obtrusions of any wall straightening mechanism into the finished room space.

While somewhat more obtrusively installed, the three identically configured jack screw assemblies which are installed along the parallel basement wall are equally capable of secure attachment to the floor joists in a perpendicular interstitial space bridging fashion. Thus, the upper beam jacking assembly of the instant invention advantageously functions for beam driving engagement regardless of the orientation of the basement wall with respect to the floor joist array.

Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the provision of an assembly for straightening a basement wall which incorporates structures as described above, and which arrange those structures in relation to each other in manners described above.

Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular toFIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive assembly for straightening a basement's wall is referred to generally by Reference Arrow1. The assembly comprises an upper beam jacking assembly which is referred to generally by Reference Arrow2. Such assembly2comprises an oblongated mounting plate4which, referring further simultaneously toFIG. 1A, is sized for fixed attachment across the undersurfaces of four floor joists54. The array of floor joists54overlies and forms, along with flooring58, a ceiling which covers the basement's interior space48. Such floor joists54are typically spaced apart in substantially equivalent “on center” distances, such distances typically being substantially equal to 16″. The on center spacing of such floor joists54typically creates between the joists a series of interstitial spaces or hollow floor cavities56. The oblongated mounting plate4is preferably fitted and sized in relation to such on center joist spacing, the plate having a length that is at least as great as one of the on center spacing distances (e.g., greater than 16″) so that, in the perpendicular mounting configuration ofFIG. 1A, the oblongated mounting plate4may be fixedly attached to the undersurfaces of an adjacent pair of the floor joists56and may underlie and bridge across at the interstitial space56which is bounded and defined by those two joists. Notwithstanding, in the preferred embodiment, as depicted inFIGS. 1 and 1A, the oblongated mounting plate4is sized to extend horizontally a distance slightly greater than 48″ so that the plate may be fixedly attached to four

adjacent floor joists54. Preferably, the oblongated mounting plate4comprises durable steel, has a width between 1½″ and 2½″, and has a plate thickness between ¼″ and ½″.

Referring further simultaneously toFIGS. 1 and 1A, the instant inventive assembly preferably further comprises joist mounting means which preferably comprise bolt, screw, nail, or rivet receiving apertures which extend through the oblongated mounting plate4. Where the oblongated mounting plate4is to be mounted upon a joist side wall for use in the perpendicular joist array depicted inFIG. 1, the joist mounting means preferably comprises a series of nut, bolt, and washer combinations6which extend laterally or horizontally through a floor joist54from vertical face to vertical face. Cross bracing (not depicted) or block buttressing (not depicted) over the plate4, when installed as depicted inFIG. 1A, may be applied as needed for avoidance of deflection of the joists' lower edges.

In the parallel joist array mounting configuration ofFIG. 1A, the joist mounting means preferably comprises a series of lag screws6A having wood biting helical threads. The screws6A extend vertically through the oblongated mounting plate to bore upwardly into and securely engage the lower faces or edges of four successive floor joists54. The joist mounting means utilized in theFIG. 1Aconfiguration may suitably, though less desirably, alternatively comprise nails.

Referring further simultaneously toFIGS. 1 and 1A, a further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a rigid vertically extending beam18. For residential use, such beam preferably comprises a 4″×6″ wooden post which may be commonly purchased at a lumber yard. Suitably, the rigid18beam may alternatively comprise a steel “I” beam or a length of steel square or rectangular tubing. Where, as depicted inFIG. 1, a residence's basement wall47extends perpendicularly across the ends of floor joists54, the vertical dimension of the rigid beam18is preferably fitted to extend upwardly from the floor44into one of the overlying interstitial spaces56for engagement with the assembly's joist side wall mounted jack screw assembly2. Alternatively, with reference to the parallel floor joist array configuration ofFIG. 1A, the rigid beam18may be cut slightly shorter so that it's upper end immediately underlies the undersurfaces of the floor joists54.

Referring further simultaneously toFIGS. 1 and 1A, the upper jack screw assembly2preferably further comprises a cantilevering arm8whose proximal end is preferably fixedly welded to the face of the oblongated mounting plate4. An internally helically threaded sleeve10is preferably fixedly welded to the distal end of the arm8, and an externally helically threaded steel shaft12is preferably threadedly received by and extends longitudinally through the sleeve10. A beam capturing “C” bracket14is preferably rotatably mounted upon the outer driving end of the shaft12and turning means, preferably configured as a hexagonal wrench engaging head16, is presented at such shaft's inner end.

Referring simultaneously to all figures, it may be seen that the beam18has a lateral width (e.g., approximately 4″ upon utilization of a 4″×6″ beam). The cantilevered extension of the arm8is preferably sized and fitted so that the central longitudinal axis of the helically threaded steel shaft12is displaced from the face of the oblongated mounting plate4a distance at least as great as the thickness of one of the arms of the “C” bracket14plus one-half of the lateral width of the rigid beam18. For example, where the “C” bracket has a ¼″ plate thickness and where the beam18has a 4″ lateral width, the arm8is preferably sized to extend the longitudinal axis of the shaft12away from the plate4at least 2¼″. Such fitted extension of the arm8advantageously avoids, in theFIG. 1floor joist array configuration, any mechanical interference between the bracket14and the plate6.

Referring simultaneously toFIGS. 1A and 2, the instant inventive assembly preferably further comprises anchor means which are connected operatively to the lower end of the rigid beam18, the anchor means being referred to generally by Reference Arrow20. Upon operation of the upper jack screw assembly2to outwardly drive the upper end of the rigid beam18toward wall46, the anchor means advantageously resists any rocking counter movement of the lower end of beam18away from the wall46. In a preferred embodiment, the anchor means comprises left and right steel posts or lugs28and34which are securely anchored upon and embedded within the typically concrete material of the basement wall46(or as inFIG. 1, the basement wall47). The inwardly extending ends of the posts or lugs28and34preferably present helical threads30and36for engagement with helically threaded nuts32and38. A beam capturing “U” bracket22having laterally extending flanges24and26preferably receives the posts28and34through eyes or apertures which extend through the flanges24and26.

Referring toFIG. 1, the basement48typically has a concrete slab floor44which partially rests upon earth42and which partially rests upon and is supported by a peripheral concrete footing40. Referring further toFIG. 1A, the concrete footing40additionally provides support to the orthogonally oriented basement walls46and47. Lateral loading forces applied by the earth42against the outer faces of the basement's walls46and47may undesirably cause such walls to inwardly deflect or bulge as depicted inFIGS. 1 and 1A.

In use of the inventive assembly for straightening a basement's wall, and assuming the presentation of inwardly bulging basement walls47and46as depicted inFIGS. 1 and 1A, a plurality of substantially identically configured upper jacking assemblies2may be attached to the basement's floor joists54, and a plurality of substantially identical anchor assemblies20may be attached in vertically underlying orientations at the base or lower ends of the walls47and46. The upper jacking assemblies2which extend in series along the perpendicularly oriented basement wall47may be conveniently and unobtrusively recessed within interstitial spaces56of the floor joist array. Alternatively, upper jacking assemblies20which extend in series along the parallel wall46are preferably attached in a perpendicular fashion by lag screws6A to the undersurfaces of joists54to bridge across spaces56.

During dry months of the year, horizontally directed pressure exerted by the ground42against the outer surfaces of the walls46and47typically decreases. At such times, wrenches may be applied to and turned against the hex head16and the nuts32and26to drive the beam18outwardly against the inner faces of the walls46and47, counter-buckling and straightening such walls. Upon cessation of outer ground pressure, the walls' resistance to counter buckling is typically less than the resistance of the floor joists54to displacement, such resistance differential advantageously allowing the inventive assembly to straighten the walls without any structural damage to the building's floor joists. Simultaneous operation of the upper jacking assemblies2and the lower anchors12advantageously keeps the outer face of the beam18in a parallel orientation with the inner face of the walls46and47, and upon complete wall straightening, the beams18advantageously permanently rest in flush and abutting contact with the walls.

Thereafter, the basement space48may be finished through installation of sheetrock or drywall paneling directly to the undersurfaces of the joists54and to the inner surfaces of the beams18. Upon such sheetrock installation, no obtrusions from the instant inventive assembly exist along the perpendicular wall47, the upper jacking assemblies2installed there along being upwardly recessed, and the sheetrock typically being thicker than the plate thickness of the “U” bracket22.

In order to minimize basement ceiling protrusions at the site of the jacking assemblies2installed along the parallel wall46, the screw shafts12may, upon completion of wall straightening, be advantageously severed at the inner ends of sleeves10.