Abstract:
A bracing system and method of its installation are provided. The bracing system includes a set of support panels and a set of crossover panels. The support panels may comprise connection members at their both ends such that these panels may be connected to each other in a line. The support panels are designed to be fixed in such lines to a beam. The beam should be provided with two parallel lines of interconnected support panels. The crossover panels are designed to link the support panels. The bracing system allows adding tremendous strength to wood beams in existing buildings.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to reinforce structures, and more specifically, to bracing systems for strengthening beams. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    The approaches described in this section could be pursued but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. 
         [0003]    Traditionally, beams are used in foundation constructions for buildings, and especially used in low storey houses. The beams are typically wooden, and used to support such building elements as walls, floor structures, roof structures, and so forth. 
         [0004]    Reinstatement or strengthening of beams in existing buildings is an important problem. In many instances, beams may require strengthening during a reconstruction process, e.g. when an additional floor is to be added to the building, or when the foundation was damaged by a flood. In addition, the wooden beams are most vulnerable to rot, decay or similar degradation, and thus may require strengthening. If a utility beam should fail during reconstruction process or when the beam is weaken, there may be a serious damage to the building. Further, the sudden failure of a beam in the building is a danger to life and health of the building habitants. 
         [0005]    In view of the above reasons wooden beams may require reinforcement during reparation or reconstruction processes. However, today&#39;s technology is directed either to adding new beams or substitution of the existing ones, or, alternatively, to reinforcing the beams in existing buildings with bulky support members. Such members are usually made of metal and typically represent heavy profile elements like flat panels or L-, T- or H-section railings. The problem with such support members is that it&#39;s very difficult to install them. They are bulky and heavy, and property holders or workers may experience problems with their installation, especially when they work alone. Moreover, the discussed support members have to be of a fixed length to fit specific conditions of the existing buildings, which also add problems with their manufacturing. 
         [0006]    Accordingly there exists a need for a reinforcing system which can be easily mounted to any beam in the existing building to strength it. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader of such embodiments. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0008]    In accordance with one or more embodiments and the corresponding disclosure thereof, various aspects are described herein in connection with a bracing system and a method of its installation. 
         [0009]    The bracing system is a set of support panels and a set of crossover panels. The both panels may have an oblong square-like shape. The support panels comprise connection members at their both ends such that these panels may be connected to each other, and form a line. The connection members may be made out as a few ribs at the panel, where the ribs are oriented in the direction of the support panel axis. The ribs may be formed in a square-like hollow existing at both ends of the support panel. Accordingly, each two support panels may be connected/interlocked to each other by joining the ribs of one support panel with corresponding empties between ribs of the other support panel. Hence, the support panels may be connected to each other to form a line. 
         [0010]    The support panels are designed to be fixed to a wooden beam. The beam should be provided with two parallel lines of interconnected support panels. Such lines may be fixed on the same flat side of the beam in proximity to its opposite edges. In one example, the lines of the support panels may be fixed at the distance 0.5-5 inches from the edge. 
         [0011]    The supporting panels may be fixed to the beam with the help of bolts, screws, studs, anchors (e.g., mechanical anchors, bonded anchors, etc.), wire nails, and so forth. The supporting panels may also comprise through holes necessary for driving the bolts/screws through them. 
         [0012]    The crossover panels are designed to link the support panels related to the opposite lines. In other words, each one of the crossover panels is designed to be connected to both support panels of both parallel lines. 
         [0013]    According to various embodiments, the crossover panels may be crossed to provide better rigidity of the system. In the place where two crossover panels are crossed, they may be connected to each other with the help of a bolt, a screw, and the like. 
         [0014]    Further, the crossover panels may be received in corresponding recesses arranged in the support panels, and be connected to the support panels (and the beam) with the help of bolts, screws, studs, nails, and so forth. 
         [0015]    All panels can be made of metal, plastic, synthetic, semi-synthetic, or other materials, or any combination thereof. 
         [0016]    Thus, the bracing system allows adding tremendous strength to wood beams in existing buildings. The bracing system can be installed by a single person without using machines to lift heavy steel panels or support members. It also does not require welding, and thus it is very easy to install. Further, the bracing system can be made of any length, and that&#39;s make it more profitable and applicable to reinforce any building. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
           [0018]      FIGS. 1A-1F  illustrate a support panel including a top view, different cross sections, and an axial section, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 2A-2E  illustrate a crossover panel including a top view, different cross sections, and an axial section, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate a process of installing the bracing system to the beam, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the assembled bracing system fixed to the beam, according to an example embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspects may be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0023]    Aspects are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the disclosed scope. Additionally, well-known elements will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details. 
         [0024]    In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or,” such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s) should be considered supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls. 
         [0025]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration”. Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments” does not require that all embodiments include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0026]    As used herein, the term “beam” refers to a structural element that is capable of withstanding load primarily by resisting bending which can be induced as a result of the external loads, forces, own weight, span and external reactions to these loads. The beams are typically used in a building to support building elements such as walls, floor structures, roof structures, and so forth. In terms of this document, the beam may also refer to a timber or a pole. 
         [0027]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1A-1F  illustrate a support panel  100 , its corresponding cross sections and its an axial section, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0028]    In general, the support panel  100  has an oblong square-like shape. The support panel  100  comprises two connection means  102 ,  104  at both ends. The connection members comprise a number of ribs and corresponding empties between them (or, alternatively, a rack rod of any suitable design). These ribs may be formed in a hollow of the support panel  100 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1B , the first connection means  102  comprises two square-like ribs  106  oriented along the axis of the support panel. There three empties are arranged between the ribs  106 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 1E , the second connection means  104  comprises three square-like ribs  106 , and two empties  108 . 
         [0030]    In the shown example, ribs are designed on different and opposite sides of the support panel  100  such that two support panels  100  may be connected to each other by joining ribs  106  of the first connection means with the empties  108  of the second connection means, and vice versa. 
         [0031]    The support panel  100  comprises several through holes  110 A,  110 B which are designed to connect the support panel  100  to the beam. The connection can be performed with the help of bolts, screws, studs, anchors, wire nails, and so forth. The through holes  110 A,  110 B may be of different diameter. Some holes  110  may also be designed to connect the support panel  100  with the beam and/or one or more crossover panels, which will be discussed further with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0032]    The support panel  100  further comprises recesses  112  to receive endings of the crossover panels. The recess  112  may optionally replicate the shape of the crossover panels. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 2A-2E  illustrate a top view of a crossover panel  200  and also its corresponding cross sections, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0034]    In general, the crossover panel  200  has an oblong square-like shape. The endings of the crossover panels may be oblique. 
         [0035]    As shown in the figures, the crossover panel  200  may comprise two recesses  202  at both ends. These recesses  202  are designed to be joined with recesses  112  arranged in the support panels  100 . 
         [0036]    The crossover panel  200  may also comprise a recess  204  arranged in the middle of the panel. The recess  204  is designed in such a way that two crossover panels  200  may be crosswise connected to each other by joining (and possibly interlocking) their corresponding recesses  204 . 
         [0037]    The crossover panel  200  may also comprise through holes  206  to connect two crossover panels  200  to each other (a centrally located hole) and/or to connect the crossover panel  200  to the support panel  100  and/or the beam. The connection can be performed with the help of bolts, screws, studs, anchors, wire nails, and so forth. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate a process of installing the bracing system to the beam, according to an example embodiment. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3A  shows the beam  300  which requires to be reinforced. A fixing person (i.e. a user) may first mark two chalk lines  302  one inch inside to the edge of the beam  300 . Then, two support panels  100  are placed to the beam  300  aligned to the chalk lines  302  and hammered to the beam using two nail wires via the through holes  110 A. The user then drills the beam through four holes  110 B in each support panel  100 . 
         [0040]    At the next step, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the user places the next two support panels  100  to the already fixed support panels  100 . The connection is made through the connection means  102  of both panels such that ribs  106  of one panel are inserted into the empties  108  of the other panel. 
         [0041]    The user fixes the new support panels  100  to the beam  300  and also drills the beam  300  via the holes as described above. The user then places two bolts to the holes  304 , and connects the support panels  100  to the beam  300 . 
         [0042]    At the next step, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the user places the first crossover panel  200  such that it is connected with two support panels  100  which are located at opposite sides. The user then places two bolts to the previously drilled holes  306  and tights them. 
         [0043]    Further, the user places the second crossover panel  200 , as shown in  FIG. 3D , such that the first and the second crossover panels  200  are crossed. The user places bolts to the holes  308  that are previously drilled, and tighten them. 
         [0044]    The user may optionally connect the first and the second crossover panels  200  in the place of their crossing. The connection can be made with the help of a bolt or the like means. 
         [0045]    The same procedure is followed and the user fixes the required number of support panels  100  and the crossover panels  200  symmetrically at both sides from the beam centre. The endings may be accomplished with any suitable supporting element. In one example, there may be provided a half length support panels  100  (not shown). Alternatively, any railing, or a profile element can be used. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the assembled bracing system  400  fixed to the beam  300 , according to an example embodiment. Although it is shown that the bracing system  400  is attached to one side of the beam  300 , it should be apparent that bracing system  400  can be attached to two sides, or even all of them. 
         [0047]    As shown, the beam  300  has substantially a square-like form. However, the beam  300  may be of any other form, for example, it may have a circular cross section. In this case, the crossover panels  200  may be designed curved (e.g. a semi-circular, and the like). Those skilled in the art would appreciate that any suitable form of the crossover panels  200  may be used. 
         [0048]    Thus, a novel bracing system and method of reinforcing a beam are provided. It was shown that the bracing system adds tremendous strength to the wood beams, and prevents from fail when a load to the beam is increased, or when the beam is weakened. In particular, it was demonstrated that a braced beam&#39;s load carrying capacity may be increased by over 450% by installing the bracing system as described in this document. 
         [0049]    Although embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes can be made to these example embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.