Abstract:
An apparatus for reinforcing a plurality of adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members to each other. Each of the structural members extends between first and second ends and has first and second edges. The apparatus comprises a ridged member extending between first and second ends and having a length sufficient to extend between two adjacent structural members. The apparatus further comprises a socket at each of the first and second ends of the rigid member. Each socket has a central axis therethrough and is formed of a base panel and first and second side panels. The socket is adapted to engage with a socket of an adjacent rigid member so as to interlink successive rigid members across a plurality of structural members.

Description:
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 wall studs 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 lose strength and rigidity as their length increases. This is particularly a difficulty for relatively long slender members such as wall studs and the like. Such wall studs may commonly be subject to buckling failure. Another difficulty that exists with wall studs is that walls formed by conventional wall studs is that such construction techniques may be less resistant to shear loads than they are to compressive loads. Under such loads, wall studs may be prone to rotate about their end connections to the top and bottom plate. The resulting deflection of the entire load above such a wall may contribute to an entire building failing or collapsing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for reinforcing a plurality of adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members to each other. Each of the structural members extends between first and second ends and has first and second edges. The apparatus comprises a ridged member extending between first and second ends and having a length sufficient to extend between two adjacent structural members. The apparatus further comprises a socket at each of the first and second ends of the rigid member. Each socket has a central axis therethrough and is formed of a base panel and first and second side panels. The socket is adapted to engage with a socket of an adjacent rigid member so as to interlink successive rigid members across a plurality of structural members. 
         [0008]    The base panel of each socket may be abuttable at against a corresponding base panel wherein the first and second side panels are engagable with corresponding first and second side panels of the adjacent socket. The side panels of the socket may overlap the side panels of the adjacent socket when the socket is engaged therewith. 
         [0009]    The base panel may extend between first and second edges wherein one of the first or second edges abuts against a corresponding first or second edge of the adjacent socket. The one of the first or second edge may be angularly oriented relative to the central axis. 
         [0010]    The first and second panels may include fastener bores therethrough adapted to align with corresponding bores in the first and second panels of the adjacent socket. The central axes of the first and second sockets may be substantially parallel to each other. 
         [0011]    The rigid member may extend diagonally between the first and second sockets, such that the rigid member is angularly oriented relative to the central axis of the first and second socket. The first and second side panels may be co-formed with the base panel. The base panel may be co-formed with the rigid member. The apparatus may be formed of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood and composite materials. 
         [0012]    The first and second side panels may include end tabs connectable to adjacent end tabs of an corresponding socket of an adjacent rigid member. 
         [0013]    According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a kit for reinforcing a plurality of adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden structural members to each other. Each of the structural members extends between first and second ends and has first and second edges. The kit comprises a plurality of apparatuses each comprising a ridged member extending between first and second ends and having a length sufficient to extend between two adjacent structural members. Each apparatus further comprises a socket at each of the first and second ends of the rigid member. Each socket has a central axis therethrough and is formed of a base panel and first and second side panels. The socket is adapted to engage with a socket of an adjacent rigid member so as to interlink successive rigid members across a plurality of structural members. 
         [0014]    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 
         [0015]    In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plurality of apparatuses according to a first embodiment of the present invention for reinforcing structural members located across wall studs. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of one of the apparatuses of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of one of the apparatuses of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a front profile view of two of the apparatuses of  FIG. 2  applied to a wall stud. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the two apparatus of  FIG. 4  as taken along the line  5 - 5 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a cut sheet for forming the apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a cut sheet for forming an apparatus for reinforcing structural members located across wall studs according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a front profile view of an apparatus for reinforcing structural members according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a detailed perspective view of one of the sockets of the apparatus of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus for stabilizing adjacent wall studs  6  according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at  20 . The wall studs  6  may be of any conventional type, such as by way of non-limiting example dimensioned lumber, engineered studs, composite material studs or metal studs and extend between top and bottom ends,  8  and  10 , respectively. It will also be appreciated that the present apparatus may be useful for stabilizing any other type of wall structural member, such as, by way of non-limiting example, floor joists roof trusses or the like. The wall studs  6  as illustrated have front and rear surfaces,  12  and  14 , respectively, as are conventionally known. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the apparatus  20  comprises a rigid member  22  extending between first and second ends,  24  and  26 , respectively. The first and second ends have first and second sockets  30  and  50 , respectively extending therefrom. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first and second sockets are adapted to receive one of the front or rear surfaces  12  or  14  of the wall studs  6  therein. As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first socket  30  of one apparatus is engagable with a second socket  50  of an adjacent apparatus so as to be interlocked therewith as will be more fully described below. 
         [0027]    The rigid member  22  may be formed of any known shape. As illustrated, the rigid member  22  may be formed of a substantially planar member, although it will be appreciated that other shapes may be useful as well, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a tube, a bar, a box section, an I-beam, a c-shaped channel, an L-shaped channel or a triangular cross section beam. It will also be appreciated that the rigid member  22  may also include strengthening flanges or ribs extending therefrom as are commonly known. The rigid member  22  may be formed of any suitable material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, metal, plastic, ceramics or the like. It will also be appreciated that although the apparatus  20  may be formed of bent sheet metal, it may also be formed by other means such as an extruded, cast or welded structure. 
         [0028]    The first socket  30  is formed of a base panel  32  having first and second side panels,  34  and  36 , respectively extending therefrom. The first and second side panels  34  and  36  extend substantially perpendicularly from the base panel  32  so as to form a u-shaped socket along a central axis  42  for receiving the wall stud  6  therein. It will be appreciated that the width of the base panel may be selected to space the first and second side panels apart by a distance corresponding to the width of the wall stud such as approximately 1.5 inches (38 mm) for use with a conventional 2×4 dimension lumber wall stud, by way of non-limiting example. Each of the first and second side panels includes fastener bores  38  and  40 , respectively, therethrough sized to receive fasteners, such as, by way of non-limiting example, screws or nails therethrough as will be more fully described below. 
         [0029]    The base plate comprises a substantially planar member extending between top and bottom edges,  44  and  46 , respectively. As illustrated, the bottom edge  46  may be substantially perpendicular to the central axis  42  of the socket while the top edge  44  is angularly oriented relative to the central axis  42 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the top edge may have a top incline angle, generally indicated at  48  of between 0 and 60 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis. As illustrated, the first side panel  34  may have a length selected to extend above and below the top and bottom edges  44  and  46  of the base panel  32  while the second side has a length selected to extend above the top edge  44  of the base panel  32 . 
         [0030]    The second socket  50  is formed of a base panel  52  having first and second side panels,  54  and  56 , respectively extending therefrom. The first and second side panels  54  and  56  extend substantially perpendicularly from the base panel  52  so as to form a u-shaped socket along a central axis  62  for receiving the wall stud  6  therein. It will be appreciated that the width of the base panel may be selected to space the first and second side panels apart by a distance corresponding to the width of the wall stud such as approximately 1.5 inches (38 mm) for use with a conventional 2×4 dimension lumber wall stud, by way of non-limiting example. Each of the first and second side panels includes fastener bores  58  and  60 , respectively, therethrough sized to receive fasteners, such as, by way of non-limiting example, screws or nails therethrough. As will be more fully described below the fastener bores  38 ,  40 ,  58  and  60  may be located such that a common fasteners may be passed through a pair of corresponding bores when adjacent apparatuses are secured together. 
         [0031]    The base panel  52  comprises a substantially planar member extending between top and bottom edges,  64  and  66 , respectively. As illustrated, the top edge  64  may be substantially perpendicular to the central axis  42  of the socket while the bottom edge  66  is angularly oriented relative to the central axis  42 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the bottom edge may have a bottom incline angle, generally indicated at  68  of between 0 and 60 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis. The top and bottom incline angles  48  and  68  will be selected to correspond to each other such that when sockets of adjacent apparatuses  20  are located adjacent to each other, they may be abutted against each other as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . As illustrated, the first side panel  34  may have a length selected to extend above and below the top and bottom edges  44  and  46  of the base panel  32  while the second side has a length selected to extend above the top edge  44  of the base panel  32 . In such a manner, the first and second side plates of such abutted sockets may be overlapped with each other as will be more fully described below. 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , in operation, a first apparatus  20   a  may be located on a wall stud  6  with the front edge  12  of the wall stud received within a first socket  30 . Thereafter, a second apparatus  20   b,  may be located on the same wall stud  6  with front edge  12  of the wall socket being received within the second socket  50  at a position above the first socket  30  of the first apparatus  20   a.  Thereafter, the second apparatus  20   b  may be moved in a downward direction so as to engage the bottom edge  66  of the second socket  50  of the second apparatus  20   b  against the top edge  44  of the first socket  30  of the first apparatus  20   a.  In such a position, the first and second side panels  54  and  56  of the second socket on the second apparatus will overlap the first and second side panels  34  and  36  of the first socket of the first apparatus. Thereafter, fasteners  70  may be passed through corresponding sets of bores  38  and  60  and  58  and  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Optionally, the sockets  30  and  50  may include barbs, spikes or other suitable projections from an interior surface thereof so as to engage the wall stud when the apparatus  20  is secured thereto. 
         [0033]    The rigid member  22  has a length selected to extend between adjacent wall studs  6 . By way of non-limiting example, the rigid member has a length sufficient to space the central axes  42  and  62  of the first and sockets apart by a distance corresponding to the distance between the wall studs. Such spacing will be dictated by the wall construction type and may therefore be of any suitable range, such as by way of non-limiting example, 16 inches (406 mm) for 16 inch on center construction walls. It will be appreciated that other distances may be suitable as well. As illustrated, the rigid member extends away from each socket so as to form an incline angle, generally indicated at  72  between the rigid member  22  and the central axes  42  and  62  of the first and second sockets. The incline angle  72  is selected to permit the apparatus to extend diagonally between adjacent wall studs and may have an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees with an angle of 45 degrees having been found to be particularly useful. 
         [0034]    As illustrated, the base panels  32  and  52  may be formed of a continuation of the rigid member  22  or may be a separate member secured thereto by fasteners, adhesives or the like. It will be appreciated that in embodiments where the base panels are co-formed with the rigid member, that the rigid member and base panels  32  and  52  will be co-planar with the rigid member  22 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus  20  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 according to known methods and thereafter bend into the desired shape as illustrated and described above. 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 apparatus  20 —may also be formed of non-metal materials, such as, by way of non-limiting example, carbon fibre, fibreglass, plastics, ceramics and composite materials. 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 sockets  24  and  26  are rigidly translationally fixed relative to each other so as to securely locate the adjacent structural member relative to each other. 
         [0036]    The sheet metal may be cut into a blank according to known methods and thereafter bend into the desired shape as illustrated and described above. In particular, the blank may include a central portion  102  which forms the rigid member  22 , top and bottom portions,  102  and  104 , respectively having an outline sufficient to be bent along bend lines  108  to form the top and bottom sockets  30  and  50  as described above. Thereafter, the blank  100  may be folded along the fold lines  108  to form the desired final apparatus. 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , a blank for forming an optional embodiment of the present invention is illustrated having extension tabs  110  extending from the second side panels  36  and  56  of the first and second sockets. The extension tabs  110  may include additional bores  112  therethrough sized to pass fasteners therethrough as described above. The extension tabs  110  may have a length sufficient to extend to and engage with a socket applied to a rear edge  14  of the wall stud when the socket is applied to a front surface of the wall stud wherein a single fastener may be passed through both bores  112 . Optionally, the extension tab  110  may have a length sufficient to pass around the rear edge  114  of the wall stud to permit wrapping of the wall stud within the socket. 
         [0038]    Turning now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an optional embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally at  150  having a rigid member  152  with end sockets  154  at each end thereof. The end sockets are formed of base panels  156  having first and second side panels,  158  and  160 , respectively extending therefrom. The first and second side panels  158  and  160  extend substantially perpendicularly from the base panel  156  so as to form a u-shaped socket along a central axis  162  for receiving the wall stud  6  therein. As described above, the width of the base panel may be selected to space the first and second side panels apart by a distance corresponding to the width of the wall stud such as approximately 1.5 inches (38 mm) for use with a conventional 2×4 dimension lumber wall stud, by way of non-limiting example. Each of the first and second side panels includes fastener bores  164  and  166 , respectively, therethrough sized to receive fasteners, such as, by way of non-limiting example, screws or nails therethrough as will be more fully described below. The base panel  156  may also optionally include a fastener bore  168  therethrough. 
         [0039]    Each of the first and second side panels  158  and  160  includes an end tab,  170  and  172 , respectively extending therefrom away from the central axis  162  of the socket  154 . Each end tab  170  and  172  includes a connection bore,  174  and  176  therethrough. The apparatuses  150  as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  may be applied to the wall studs  6  such that a socket of one apparatus is adjacent to and abuts against a corresponding socket of an adjacent apparatus wherein the end tabs  170  and  172  of the sockets will abut against each other. Thereafter fasteners, such as, bolts screws and the like may be passed through the connection bores  174  and  176  so as to secure the sockets  154  to each other. 
         [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.