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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to structural reinforcement in general and in particular to reinforcing adjacent wood product structural members to each other. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In the field of construction, it is often desirable to make a structure as strong as possible. The strength of a building is desirable for the purposes of load bearing ability as well as resistance to outside loads such as earthquakes, wind and other environmental loading. 
         [0005]    Building construction typically includes a plurality of elongate members connected each other to form walls, ceilings, floor and the like. In the case of walls, such elongate wall members are often referred to as studs while in ceilings and roofs, they may be referred to as joist. 
         [0006]    One difficulty that exists is the tendency of relatively long structural members to loose strength and rigidity as their length increases. This is often required for floor and ceiling joists so as to provide larger rooms unobstructed by supporting walls and columns. Such long joists may commonly be subject to torsional buckling failure. Another difficulty that exists with floor joists is when they are exposed to dynamic environmental loads such as earthquakes, strong winds and the like. Under such loads, the floor joists may rotate axially along their length so as to lay flat instead of upright. The resulting horizontal and vertical deflection of the entire load above such a floor may contribute to an entire building failing or collapsing. 
         [0007]    Conventional methods of reinforcing structural members has not been adequate to resolve the above difficulties. Previous attempts have tried to locate bridges or blocks between adjacent joists to distribute point loads located near a single joist to adjacent joists so as to distribute the load between more than one joist. Bridging involves locating a pair of crossed diagonal wooden members between adjacent joist whereas blocking typically includes locating a shortened length of the joist member transversely between the joists. Such attempts have not adequately solved the above difficulties. In particular, blocking or bridging is only able to act as a compressive member between the joists and will have a very limited ability to prevent the joists from moving away from each other. 
         [0008]    When the joist members are subjected to torsional loading, the blocking members on one side of the joist are subjected to opposite loads. For example, when a torsional load is applied to the joist along the longitudinal axis of the structural member, the blocking member abutting one side of the top chord of the joist is subjected to a primarily compressive load, and the blocking member abutting opposite side of the top chord is subject to a tensile load. Similarly, for the same torsional load, the bottom chord on the same side of that joist will also be subjected to a tensile load. The compressive load may be conveyed efficiently to the blocking member abutting the top chord through the contacting surfaces of the blocking and the joist chord. However the tensile load on both blocking member on the opposite side of the top chord and on the bottom blocking member is born entirely by the fastening device used. Therefore unless such fasteners are specifically designed to bear tensile loads under repeated loading cycles, this is likely to lead to cause premature failure of the structure when such fasteners, such as a nail or a screw pulls out. Due to the inability of bridging and blocking to effectively handle loads in tension, such reinforcing will not significantly assist in the reinforcing of a structure under cyclical environmental loads such as earthquakes, winds and the like. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members wherein each of the structural members has opposed first and second edges. The apparatus comprises a rigid member having first and second ends and being sized to extend between the first edge of a first structural member and the second edge of an adjacent second structural member. The apparatus further comprising a first socket connected to the first end of the rigid member and a second socket connected to the second end of the rigid member. The first socket is sized to receive the first edge of the first structural member therein and the second socket is sized to receive the second edge of the second structural member therein. 
         [0010]    The first and second sockets may comprise channels. The channels may comprise c-shaped channels. The c-shaped channels may extend perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the rigid member. The c-shaped channels may have vertically oriented openings. The openings of the c-shaped channels may be in opposite directions to each other. The openings of the c-shaped channels may be angularly oriented relative to the rigid member. 
         [0011]    The c-shaped channel may be formed of a pair of opposed flanges and a web portion therebetween. One of the pair of opposed flanges may be secured to the rigid member. The other of the pair of opposed flanges may be selectably deformable so as to open the c-shaped channel. The c-shaped channels may include at least one fastener bore, sized to pass a fastener therethrough so as to secure the c-shaped channel to the structural member. 
         [0012]    The first and second sockets may be rigidly affixed to the rigid member. The first and second sockets may be integrally formed with the rigid member. The rigid member and the first and second caps may be formed of metal. The rigid member may comprise an elongate beam. The beam may be selected from the group consisting of a tube, a box section, an I-beam, a c-shaped channel, an L-shaped channel and a triangular cross section beam. 
         [0013]    The apparatus may further comprise a pair of intersecting rigid member each sized to extend between top and bottom edges of opposed parallel structural members. Each of the rigid members may have a first socket sized to receive a top edge of one of the pair structural members therein and a second socket sized to receive a bottom edge of the other of the pair of structural members therein. The pair of intersecting rigid members may be pivotally connected to each other. The pair of intersecting rigid members may be pivotally connected to each other by a bolt. 
         [0014]    According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a method for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members wherein each of the structural members having opposed first and second edges. The method comprises locating a first structural member in a desired position and engaging the first socket of a reinforcing device around the first edge of the first structural member. The method further comprises locating a second structural member in a desired position with the second edge of the second structural member within a second socket of the reinforcing device wherein the reinforcing member has a rigid member extending between the first and second sockets. 
         [0015]    According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a method for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members wherein each of the structural members have opposed first and second edges. The method comprises locating a first structural member in a desired position, and locating a second structural member in a desired position. The method further comprises rotating a reinforcing device between the first and second structural members until a first socket at a first end of the reinforcing device is engaged around a second edge of the first structural member and a second socket at a second end of the reinforcing device is engaged around a first edge of the second structural member. The reinforcing device has a rigid ember extending between the first and second sockets. 
         [0016]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plurality of apparatus&#39; according to a first embodiment of the present invention applied between a plurality of adjacent joists. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one arm of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a cut-sheet to be utilized to form one arm of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one arm of the apparatus of  FIG. 2  according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a floor construction utilizing a reinforcing member of  FIG. 3  being applied to a first joist and subsequently a second joist being secured to the reinforcing member. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a floor construction applying a second reinforcing member between adjacent joists. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention being applied between adjacent wall studs. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the reinforcing member of  FIG. 3  having angularly oriented top and bottom caps according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an apparatus for stabilizing adjacent structural members  6  according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at  20 . The apparatus  20  comprises a pair of intersecting rigid members  22  each spanning between a top edge  8  of one structural member and a bottom edge  10  of an adjacent structural member. Each rigid member includes a first or top socket  24  sized to receive the top edge  8  of the structural member and a second or bottom socket  26  sized to receive the bottom edge  10  of the structural member. Each set of a rigid member  22 , top socket  24  and bottom socket  26  comprises a single structural reinforcing device  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the top socket  24  of one rigid member  22  and the bottom socket  26  of its corresponding pair cooperate together to retain the structural member therebetween. The apparatus  20  may optionally include a tensile member  88  spanning corresponding top and bottom sockets  24  and  26  so as to retain the sockets at a minimum distance from each other. 
         [0028]    It will be appreciated that such a tensile member  88  will serve to retain the top and bottom sockets  24  and  26  in engagement on the structural member. The tensile member  88  may be formed of a rigid or resilient flexible members such as, metal straps, bars, chain and the like, by way of non-limiting example. 
         [0029]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a single reinforcing device  28  is illustrated according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The rigid member  22  of the reinforcing device  28  illustrated in  FIG. 3  may be formed of sheet metal bent into a c-shaped channel having a pair of sides  30  and  32  and a central web portion  34  therebetween. The sides  30  and  32  may be bent to the same or opposite sides of the web portion  34  however it will be appreciated that where two reinforcing devices  28  are desired to be utilized together as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it will be preferable to bend both sides  30  and  32  to the same side of the web portion  34 . It will also be appreciated that although the rigid member  22  illustrated in  FIG. 3  may be formed of bent sheet metal, it may also be formed by other means such as an extruded, cast or welded structure. It will also be appreciated that one or both of the sides  30  or  32  may be omitted depending on the strength requirements of the application. The central web portion  34  includes a bore  37  therethrough so as to permit a pair of reinforcing devices  28  to be pivotally secured to each other by a bolt  35  or the like. 
         [0030]    The top socket  24  may comprise an open c-shaped channel formed of first and second top side flanges  40  and  42 , respectively and a top web portion  44  forming a channel opening  46 . The top channel opening  46  is sized and shaped to correspond to the top edge  8  of the structural member. The bottom socket  26  may comprise an open c-shaped channel formed of first and second bottom side flanges  50  and  52 , respectively and a bottom web portion  54  forming a channel opening  56 . The bottom channel opening  56  is sized and shaped to correspond to the bottom edge  10  of the structural member. In many applications, the structural member  6  will comprise a floor joist, such as by way of non-limiting example dimensioned lumber or I-joists. Dimensioned lumber is commonly of a 1.5 inch width and therefore for such applications the top and bottom channel openings  46  and  56  will be sized to have a similar width opening. It will be appreciated that other thicknesses of structural members in general and joist sin particular may also be utilized. In some applications, the top and bottom channel openings  46  and  56  may be sized slightly larger than the width of the joist so as to facilitate installation. In particular, the top and bottom channel openings  46  and  56  may be up to 3.2 mm (⅛ of an inch) larger than the joist for which they are designed. The sizing of the top and bottom channel openings  46  and  56  for I-joists may be similarly selected to correspond to the I-joist to be used. 
         [0031]    The top and bottom sockets  24  and  26  may include one or more fastener bores  48  located in any one or more of the flanges or webs forming the socket. The fastener bores  48  are sized to permit nails, screws or other suitable fasteners to be passed therethrough so as to secure the top or bottom socket  24  or  26  to the structural member  6 . Optionally, the top and bottom sockets  24  and  26  may include barbs, spikes or other suitable projections from an interior surface thereof so as to engage the joist when the reinforcing device  28  is secured thereto. Adhesives may also be applied between the top and bottom edges  8  and  10  of the structural member and the top and bottom sockets  24  and  26 . The top and bottom sockets  24  and  26  may also include an optional connecting tab  58  for fastening adjacent top and bottom sockets to each other with fasteners and the like. 
         [0032]    As discussed above, the rigid member  22  is sized to extend between a top edge  8  of one structural member  6  and a bottom edge  10  of an adjacent structural member. In practice, the length of the rigid member  22  will depend upon both the height of the structural members and the spacing distance between them. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the height of the structural members  6  will correspond to the distance between the top web portion  44  and the bottom web portion  54  generally indicated at  36 . Correspondingly, the distance between the structural members, which is commonly expressed in centre to centre distance will correspond to the distance to the centres of the two top or bottom web portions  44  and  54  generally indicated at  38 . It will also be appreciated that the distance between a first top side flanges  40  the second top side flange  42  of a paired reinforcing device  28 . Similar spacing distances will apply for the other side flanges of the sets of reinforcing devices  28  so as to maintain the centre to centre spacing of the adjacent structural members  6 . By way of example, for a floor constructed of 302 mm (11⅞ inches) high joists spaced 406 mm (16 inches) apart, the width  38  of the apparatus  20  would similarly be 406 mm (16 inches) and the height  36  of the apparatus  20  would be 302 mm (11⅞ inches). It will be appreciated that other heights and widths will apply for joists of differing heights and spacing. 
         [0033]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the top web portion  44  of the top socket  24  may be angularly aligned relative to the rigid member about a horizontal axis by an angle generally indicated at  49 . It will be appreciated that the angle  49  will permit the top web portion  44  to be angularly aligned with the top edge  8  of the structural member  6  while permitting the rigid member  22  to be angularly aligned thereto. The bottom web portion  54  of the bottom socket  26  will have a similar corresponding angle. The top and bottom sockets  24  may also be angularly oriented relative to the rigid member about a vertical axis as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . It will be appreciated that such arrangement will permit the rigid member to span adjacent joists at a non-perpendicular angel so as to permit the rigid member to avoid obstructions and the like as well as to permit a series of rigid members to extend diagonally across a floor. 
         [0034]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , a cut sheet is illustrated for forming the reinforcing device  28  of  FIG. 3 . As illustrated the reinforcing device may be cut from a single sheet of metal, such as, by way of non-limiting example, steel, stainless steel, aluminium or galvanized steel. The sheet metal may be cut into a blank  60 . The blank may thereafter be bent along rigid member bend lines  62  to form the rigid member  22  and socket bend lines  64  so as to form the top and bottom sockets  24  and  26  according to known methods. Any thickness of metal as required to provide the necessary strength may be utilized such as between 12 and 22 gauge. In particular, it has been found that sheet metal of between 16 and 20 gauge has been useful. It will also be appreciated that the reinforcing device  28  may also be formed of non-metal materials, such as, by way of non-limiting example, carbon fibre, fibreglass, plastics, ceramics and composite materials. 
         [0035]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated having a central beam  70  spanning between the first and second sockets  24  and  26 . The first and second sockets  24  and  26  may be as described above and may be secured to the beam by welding, bolting or by being integrally formed with the beam  70  by casting or any other suitable means. The beam  70  may comprise any suitable structural member such as, by way of non-limiting example, bar, tube, box section, I-beam, c-shaped channel, L-shaped channel, a triangular cross section beam, or any other suitable member. It will also be appreciated that although elongate, substantially straight members are shown, non-straight members may also be utilized, such as, by way of non-limiting example, arcuate, space frame, plates or any other shape as long as the top and bottom sockets  24  and  26  are rigidly translationally fixed relative to each other so as to securely locate a top edge  8  of one structural member relative to a bottom edge  10  of an adjacent structural member. 
         [0036]    The beam  70  may include a central portion  72  having a flat surface  74  therein having a bore  37 . The flat surface is vertically oriented such that a corresponding flat surface  74  of a matching reinforcing device  28  may be mated therewith so as to align matching bores  37  for connection with a bolt  35  or the like. Although a bolt is described as being utilized to rotationally secure the pair of reinforcement devices to each other, it will be appreciated that other pivotal means may also be utilized, such as hinges, clamps, rivets and bearings. The flat surface  74  may be formed in the beam  70  by casting or welding of a flat section into the beam or by clamping the central portion  72  of the beam  70  in a machine press or the like. It will also be appreciated that some beam types will already include an adequate flat surface and will not require additional processing. 
         [0037]    In operation, a first structural member  6   a  may be located at a desired location. Thereafter a reinforcing device  28  may be located on the first structural member  6   a  by moving the reinforcing device  28  in a downward direction as indicated generally at  80  such that the top edge  8  of the first structural member is retained within the top socket  24  of the reinforcing device. A second structural member  6   b  may then be located such that its bottom edge  10  is retained within the bottom socket  26  by moving the second structural member  6   b  in a downward direction generally indicated at  82 . Thereafter, subsequent reinforcing devices  28  and structural members  6  may be placed in succession to provide a single row of reinforcing devices. Fasteners may also be passed through the fastener bores  48  so as to secure the reinforcing devices  28  thereto. 
         [0038]    Turning to  FIG. 7 , a second reinforcing device  28   b  may be located between the first and second structural members  6   a  and  6   b  by pivotally located the second reinforcing device  28   b  to the first reinforcing device  28 . Thereafter the second reinforcing member  28   b  may be rotated such that the top socket  24  engages with the top edge  8  of the second structural member  6   b  and the bottom socket  26  engages with the bottom edge  10  of the first structural member  6   a . As illustrated, the second top side flange  42  of the top socket and the second bottom side flange  52  of the bottom socket  26  may be bent outwards to facilitate the rotation of the first and second sockets  24  and  26  into engagement with the top and bottom edges of the structural members. Thereafter, these side flanges may be bent back into position to engage their respective edge of the structural member. 
         [0039]    Although the description above is in reference to floor joists, it will be appreciated that the apparatus  20  may also be applicable to other structural members as well. Turning to  FIG. 8 , a further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as applied to adjacent wall studs  90 . It will be appreciated that for use in such applications it will be necessary to increase the length of the rigid member  22  and increase the angel  49 . Thicker materials may also be required depending upon the strength requirements of the application. 
         [0040]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.

Summary:
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for reinforcing adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members wherein each of the structural members has opposed first and second edges. The apparatus comprises a rigid member being sized to extend between the first edge of a first structural member and the second edge of an adjacent second structural member. The apparatus further comprising first and second sockets connected to first and second ends of the rigid member each sized to receive and edge of one of the structural members therein. The method comprises engaging the first socket around the first edge of the first structural member and locating a second structural member with the second edge of the second structural member within a second socket. The method may also comprise rotating the rigid member between the first and second structural members until the first and second sockets are engaged around diagonally opposed edges the structural members.