Compression blocking brace bracket and method of use

A subassembly is positioned transverse in between two adjacent roof elements or wall elements. The subassembly includes a bracket; a construction element; and a fastener securing the bracket to the construction element. An extension tab of the bracket extends over a top surface of a roof element or a wall element. Multiple ones of the brackets installed in a roof element or a wall element define a line of compression blocking.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to blocking braces used in the construction industry as transverse construction elements to establish parallelism and stabilization of a wall and/or roof system, in particular frame-type construction as typically used in residential and light commercial buildings.

BACKGROUND

In typical frame-type construction, buildings are constructed using stud type walls covered with sheeting of some kind. Many roof systems are constructed using rafters and joists built in place, cut to fit on the job site. As each rafter is fitted into place, the builder must take appropriate measures to stabilize each rafter. In typical frame-type construction of roof systems using truss elements, prefabricated trusses are erected as part of a roof system. Trusses are generally simple frame lumber held together with stamped nail plates at the joints of the truss. As a result, the truss assembly is relatively limber. Builders must exercise care in handling, moving, and erecting prefabricated truss assemblies to prevent them from being damaged. After the trusses are set in place, builders must go to rather elaborate efforts to brace the limber trusses from toppling over like dominoes.

In roof systems constructed using prefabricated trusses or rafters built on site, it is important and necessary for the wall studs to be parallel to each other. It is also important and necessary for trusses and rafters to be parallel to each other. After installing prefabricated trusses or built in place rafters, builders install roof decking. Typical decking is made of sheets of plywood type materials. Another typical roof decking material is metal sheeting. The builder is further faced with a problem with limber trusses because the trusses are very difficult to install and stabilize in a straight position to ensure proper alignment and spacing to accommodate nailing patterns set to standard 16″ or 24″ offsets from each other. As a result, the builder must reposition trusses and/or rafters in an attempt to align the nailing patterns.

A standard benefit and feature of transverse blocking, which is often required for frame-type roof construction in extreme wind zones, is that the blocking provides a continuous line of compression resistance. When strong winds blow against the gable-end of the frame-type construction, the gable will respond to the wind by transferring the wind force throughout the roof system from truss to truss and/or from rafter to rafter. If the transferred wind force is sufficient, the gable-end may rupture and collapse, followed soon after by the collapse of one or more trusses, rafters, and/or roof decking.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a blocking brace bracket element used in the construction of frame-type walls and roof systems. In roofing systems, the present invention enhances the method of construction and the effective strength of trusses, rafters, joists, engineered beams, and similar roof elements used on residential homes and other buildings. The enhanced strength applied to the roof construction system and/or a wall construction system is particularly useful in resisting the destructive forces from wind storms and seismic events.

The present disclosure also provides an improved construction method for the installation and stabilization of rafters built in place, by using a transverse oriented blocking brace installed using a specialized bracket, saving the builder time and money, and enhancing the method of construction and the effective strength of the walls. The present disclosure further provides an improved installation method for blocking braces and improves the resulting strength of the construction.

The present disclosure provides an improved method to align rafters and trusses so that nailing patterns of roof decking and sheeting on standard centers is accomplished, by using a transverse oriented blocking brace installed using a specialized bracket, saving the builder time and money.

Another problem builders face when installing blocking between trusses and rafters is that care must be taken to ensure that the blocking does not break the plane of the roof above the rafter or truss and interfere with the roof decking that will be subsequently applied. If the roof sheeting is applied over the top of blocking that is pronounced above the plane of the rafters or trusses, then the roof decking will be uneven and more prone to wind damage. The present disclosure overcomes this problem by providing a specialized bracket with locating tabs to properly set the relative level of the blocking brace to be flush with the roof line.

Frame-type roof systems which are subjected to extreme wind forces require additional strength to resist damage. One common type of damage roof systems experience during extreme wind events is that the roof decking and sheeting separates from the rafters and trusses. One of the known construction practices to minimize this separation is to provide blocking, fastened transverse to the trusses and rafters, located under the mating joints and edges of adjacent sheets of roof decking. Blocking is an expensive and time consuming effort for builders because the trusses and rafters neither are straight nor are they aligned parallel to each other, nor are they spaced properly or consistently from each other. Therefore, each blocking element must be individually measured and cut to fit for each location in the roof system. The present disclosure provides an improved method of installation and stabilization of the trusses and rafters while at the same time also providing for consistent parallel spacing of the trusses and rafters, so that standard nailing and fastening of roof decking at edges to blocking, fastened transverse to rafters and trusses, can be accomplished more easily, saving the builder time and money.

A series of blocking fastened transverse to the trusses and rafters effectively forms a continuous line of resistance, which goes into compression as wind force is applied against the gable-end. The present disclosure not only provides an improved method of installation for this line of compression blocking, saving the builder time and money, but the specialized bracket also provides the resulting line of compression blocking with enhanced strength to resist damaging winds because of the improved fastening points provided by the specialized bracket to secure the blocking brace to the rafters or trusses.

Frame-type interior and exterior walls often require a brace or blocking between vertical studs, especially in relatively tall wall constructions over eight feet high. When builders install blocking braces in between vertical studs, they encounter difficulty to install the blocking in such a way that does not protrude and break the plane of the wall and interfere with the wall sheeting which will be subsequently applied. The present disclosure overcomes this problem by providing a specialized bracket with locating tabs to properly set the relative level of the blocking brace to be flush with the plane of the wall sheeting.

When a frame-type construction is subjected to torsion or twisting forces like those brought about in severe wind storm events like tornados or hurricanes, the present disclosure provides resistance to destructive torsion forces because of the improved fastening points provided by the specialized bracket. The fastening points are positioned straddle the blocking brace, which significantly enhances the strength of the connection between the blocking brace and the construction element it is fastened to, therefore increasing resistance to destructive torsion forces.

When a frame-type construction is subjected to seismic forces like those brought about in severe wind storm events like tornados or hurricanes and/or seismic forces brought about by earthquakes, bracket assemblies of the present disclosure provide resistance to destructive seismic forces because of the improved fastening points provided by the specialized bracket. The fastening points are positioned straddle the blocking brace, which significantly enhances the strength of the connection between the blocking brace and the construction element it is fastened to, therefore increasing resistance to destructive seismic forces.

The present disclosure provides the user with a novel method of use improving standard construction techniques. The method of use is demonstrated by the contractor being able to layout the roof construction of a typical frame building using typical methods such as constructing the wall on the floor and then raising the wall section up into place. Rafters and/or trusses are then set in place according to measured locations. Typical construction practices and experience includes difficulties with maintaining rafter and joist spacing as roof decking is applied. The present disclosure provides a device that gives contractors improved ability to maintain truss spacing and stability during application of decking. The present disclosure takes advantage of the practice of precutting a blocking brace and then fastening a specialized bracket to the ends of the blocking brace to form a subassembly. The blocking brace subassembly is then easily and consistently located between adjacent trusses or rafters to establish parallel spacing. The ease of installation of the blocking brace subassembly is accomplished because the specialized bracket includes tabs that allow the blocking bracket subassembly to be set into place, freeing the hands of the builder to apply fastening devices. The tabs also provide convenient alignment edges to assist in proper placement to ensure that the blocking brace subassembly will be properly located under the edge of roof decking. The specialized tabs provide a series of fastening holes such that a first hole allows the blocking brace subassembly to be tacked into place for the purposes of alignment of the trusses and rafter elements, while a second series of holes is provided for firm enhanced strength fastening between the blocking brace subassembly and the roof system.

In construction applications where an engineered beam is being used as a flooring joist, it is common for a blocking brace to be installed between adjacent floor joist beams. In such cases, the present disclosure provides an improved installation method for builders because of the specialized bracket, which also provides improved strength to the floor system to resist torsion and other destructive forces.

The present disclosure effectively helps to unitize the frame-type structural components connected through the specialized bracket to further enhance the integral strength of the construction beyond what was possible without the benefits of the present disclosure.

In buildings which were constructed without the use of blocking braces in the roof system, the specialized brackets of the present disclosure provide an improved method of installation of blocking braces as a retrofit of the roof system to add enhanced strength to the roof system. The specialized brackets can be securely fastened to a precut blocking brace and positioned against the underside of roof decking and in between adjacent rafters or trusses to provide integral compression blocking support to the roof system, effectively helping to unitize a preexisting roof construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, two blocking brace brackets1are assembled on a typical precut 2×4 type wood construction element17. Wood element17is normally toe nailed in place between trusses or rafters in a roof system, or toe nailed between vertical studs in a wall system. Brackets1can be made using any of the stamping, laser cutting, bending, forming, casting, welding, or molding methods commonly used to fabricate similar products.

Typically, two brackets1will be assembled on each end of a precut construction element17. Most of the time, blocking braces17are made using 2×4 material, but the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to receiving a 2×4 material; rather, the blocking brace material can be any typical 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, or 2×12 material. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the blocking bracket design is not limited to 2×4 type materials since specialized embodiments of the present disclosure can be designed and manufactured to receive thicker blocking elements such as 4×4 type materials, or thinner blocking elements such as 1×4 type elements, or any other thickness as may be appropriate to a specific application, all of which maintain the spirit of the embodiments of the present disclosure detailed in the drawings.

Referring toFIG. 2and again toFIG. 1, according to several embodiments, brackets1include a top flange portion7which spans the blocking brace and provides two transverse tabs3,3′ (oriented transverse to top flange portion7), each fitted with at least one through hole4. Top flange portion7also provides for transverse tabs5and13(also oriented transverse to top flange portion7), having through holes8and9, respectively. Blocking brace17will fit into a receiving channel6formed by flange portion7and transverse tabs5and13. The blocking brace17will be secured to bracket1using fasteners applied through holes8,9, and2. Holes8and9are offset as indicated by alignment axes10and11. The offset alignment axes allow for use of nails and/or screws to fasten bracket1securely, without the fasteners applied from opposite sides interfering with each other. The blocking bracket embodiment shown inFIG. 2is suitable for new construction and/or for retrofit construction.

Referring toFIG. 3and again toFIGS. 1 and 2, according to several aspects, a bracket12modified from bracket1retains flange portion7providing transverse tabs5,13with their respective holes2,8, and9. This aspect includes an extension tab14which extends over a top or end edge surface of a roof element or a wall element which will be described in greater detail with respect toFIGS. 5 and 6. Extension tab14makes this aspect more applicable for new construction than retrofit applications because in new construction, the roof decking and/or wall sheeting has not been installed at the point in time that blocking brace subassemblies are being installed. Extension tab14allows the builder to set a blocking brace subassembly in between two installed trusses or rafters and effectively be “hands free” to fasten the subassembly because the subassembly will be self-supported in place prior to fastening via extension tabs14.

Referring toFIG. 4and again toFIG. 3, opposed mirror image first and second brackets12are presented as they would appear in a construction application. Blocking braces17and roof elements16are not shown for clarity. Alignment axes10and11are shown offset for fastening holes8and9, while an alignment axis15passes through both fastening holes4in oppositely positioned transverse tabs3. The reason alignment axis15is not offset through the roof element is so that a bolted fastener can be used through fastening holes4and through the roof element to form a substantially strong line of compression blocking. Nails and/or screws are suitable for securing bracket12to the blocking brace and therefore requires offset holes, but a bolted fastener is used for enhanced compression blocking, thereby requiring aligned fastening holes.

Referring toFIG. 5, multiple roof elements16are installed adjacent to each other and spaced parallel with respect to each other as established and maintained by the blocking brace subassemblies comprised of blocking braces17and blocking brace brackets12. Blocking brace brackets12are fastened to the blocking braces17and roof elements16. Each extension tab14of the brackets12directly contacts an upper or first surface20of one of the roof elements16and therefore extends past an edge face or second surface21of one of the roof elements16. Opposing brackets12,12′ can have their extension tabs14,14′ in direct contact with the same upper or first surface20. The full assembly of blocking brace subassemblies forms a line of compression blocking24, which greatly enhances the integral strength of the roof system, especially when using a bolted fastener through two blocking brace brackets12and the roof element16to effectively unitize these elements of a roof system. The enhanced integral strength imparted to the roof provides improved resistance to damaging wind storm forces and also resistance to the damaging effects of seismic forces. Bolted fasteners maintain integral strength in the construction that nails and screws are not able to provide. The present disclosure provides for a bolted fastener at the proper location in blocking brace applications to enhance the integral strength of the construction.

With further reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, fastening holes4in transverse tabs3of bracket12are positioned to straddle blocking brace17so as to provide a stable and secure line of compression blocking. The straddle position of fastening holes4allows for a bolted fastener on each side of blocking brace17which will resist forces that try to twist the roof system imposed by destructive torsion events. Similarly, the bolted fasteners straddling the blocking brace also provide resistance to the destructive forces imposed by seismic events.

Referring toFIG. 6, an exemplary application of the present disclosure is installed in a series of vertical wall elements19such as is common in stud wall construction. A line of compression blocking includes multiple blocking braces18and multiple blocking brace brackets12, with each extension tab14of the brackets12directly contacting an outer or first surface22of one of the vertical wall elements19and extending past an edge face or second surface23of one of the vertical wall elements19.

Each blocking subassembly such as shown in the Figures herein provides builders with an improved method of securing limber trusses in place because they can be precut and preassembled so that as two trusses are placed next to each other in a roof system, the blocking brace subassemblies can be positioned and tacked into place to temporarily stabilize the trusses. The trusses can be measured and marked while they are on the ground for the proper locations of the blocking brace subassemblies. As the entire truss system is constructed in place, the blocking brace subassemblies will ensure that the entire roof truss system is stabilized until roof decking can be installed. The blocking brace subassemblies also ensure proper spacing between trusses and maintain parallelism between adjacent trusses. Furthermore, the blocking brace subassemblies of the present disclosure provide support for the roof decking edges aligned transverse to the trusses.