Patent Publication Number: US-2011072732-A1

Title: Roof Panel Tie Down System

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to building wall and roof construction, and more particularly to a roof and wall tiedown bracket for securing plywood roof and wall panels to anchors. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In wood framed building construction such as in residential homes, it is common practice to attach the roof and wall panels directly against their supporting wood rafters and wood studs, respectively, by simply nailing through the panels directly into the rafters and studs. Where no significant loading occurs from the inside of the building, but only occurs against these exterior roof and wall surfaces as by snow loading or moderate wind loading, such nailing procedures are satisfactory. However, in more severe weather conditions such as in tornados and hurricanes, unusual pressure gradients and wind loading are significantly increased in a manner which tends to lift or rip these exterior panels from their support rafters and wall studs. 
     This serious limitation of conventional building construction has been highlighted by the devastating effect of a very recent hurricanes, Andrew and Katrina, which virtually destroyed an entire population in South Florida and in Louisiana, in part because of this as one of many construction deficiencies. 
     Various modifying metal bracketry and fasteners have been developed which add to the strength and versatility of this basic wooden frame construction. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,776 invented by Barker which is directed to a counter baton-rafter connecting bracket for retaining a layer of thermal insulation over the roof rafters. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,646, Colonnias discloses a bearing connection for distributing downward gravity bearing loads via sheet metal connectors into a wooden structural member such as a floor or joist. This invention is also intended to resist seismic, hurricane or other upward forces but does not act directly to retain the roofing and wall panels themselves, but rather only on rafters and joists. 
     Tomason, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,595, discloses a pre-fabricated roofing and siding panel which includes a fastener means and bracketry for securing these pre-fabricated panels to the roof rafters themselves. However, this invention is only useful in conjunction with the specific structure of the prefabricated panels disclosed and is not universally applicable. 
     A roof bracket is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,123 invented by Albert which discloses a roofing bracket connectable to a roof truss for temporarily supporting a roofer working on a sloping roof. An articulating roofing panel clip has been invented by Fulton and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,403 designed to secure a standing seam roofing panel to purlins or joists. This invention is likewise not universally applicable but rather is only designed to act in conjunction with uniquely configured metal roofing panels disclosed. 
     SUMMARY 
     A device for retaining a roof of the dwelling may include a roof tiedown plate to be positioned on the exterior surface of the roof, a flexible cable to connect to the roof plate and an anchor member to connect to the flexible cable. 
     The roof plate may include a eaves roof plate, and the roof plate may include a peak roof plate. 
     The roof plate may include a second roof plate adapted to cooperate with a roof seam of the roof, and the roof plate may include a connection member. 
     The flexible cable may be connected to a eyelet ring member, and the device may include a stud plate for attachment to a stud of the dwelling. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1   a  illustrates a perspective view of a eave tiedown plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  illustrates a end view of the eave tiedown plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   c  illustrates a perspective view of the dwelling with the eave tiedown plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   d  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the dwelling with the eave tiedown plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  illustrates a cross section of the second roof plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  illustrates a perspective view of the dwelling with the second roof plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   c  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the dwelling with the second roof plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   d  illustrates a perspective view of the second roof plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the stud plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3   a  illustrates a perspective view of the dwelling with the stud plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the peak tiedown plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4   a  illustrates a perspective view of the dwelling and the peak tiedown plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4   b  illustrates a perspective view of a fastening device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4   c  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the dwelling and the peak tiedown plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an end view of another stud plate in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5   a  illustrates a perspective view of the stud plate in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5   b  illustrates the stud plate being positioned on the upper surface of a stud; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a corner wall tiedown bracket; 
         FIG. 6   a  illustrates a perspective view of the corner wall tiedown bracket; 
         FIG. 6   b  illustrates the corner wall tiedown bracket being used in conjunction with a dwelling. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention provides for a device for positively securing roof panels and wall panels to anchors which may be securely lodged in the earth which resists upward and outward air pressure from detaching the roof and in wood air pressure from collapsing a wall panel by severe weather and seismic activity, adding significant attachment strength over conventional nailing. 
       FIG. 1   a  illustrates a perspective view of a roof plate  1  which may connect to the roof and may connect to anchors (not shown) in order to secure the roof from forces which may be generated from wind and tornadoes and may be a substantially planar plate. The roof plate  1  may include an eave tiedown plate  2  which may be formed as a planar plate and may be positioned at an angled relationship with respect to the roof plate  1 . The eave tiedown plate  2  may be connected to a connection member  2  which may be an arm which may extend substantially vertically and may include an aperture  3  for connection to flexible cable  4 . 
       FIG. 1   b  illustrates an end view of a roof plate  1  which may connect to the roof and may connect to anchors (not shown) in order to secure the roof from forces which may be generated from wind and tornadoes and may be a substantially planar plate. The roof plate  1  may include an eave tiedown plate  2  which may be formed as a planar plate and may be positioned at a angled relationship with respect to the roof plate  1 . The eave tiedown plate  2  may be connected to a connection member  2  which may be an arm which may extend downwards and may include an aperture  3  for connection to flexible cable  4 . 
       FIG. 1   c  illustrates a perspective view of the dwelling tie down system being applied to a dwelling  103 , more particularly to a roof  12  of the dwelling  103 . The roof plate  1  may include apertures  11  for connection devices (not shown) such as nails, screws, bolts or other connection devices and the connection devices may connect the roof plate  1  to the rafters of the roof  12 . 
       FIG. 1   c  illustrates the roof plate  1  which may connect to the roof and may connect to second anchor member  7  which may be secured into the ground which may surround the dwelling  103  in order to secure the roof from forces which may be generated from wind and tornadoes and may be a substantially planar plate. The roof plate  1  may include an eave tiedown plate  2  which may be formed as a planar plate and may be positioned at a angled relationship with respect to the roof plate  1 . The eave tiedown plate  2  may be connected to a connection member  2  which may be an arm which may extend downwards and may include an aperture  3  for connection to flexible cable  4 . An end of the flexible cable  4  may be connected to an eyelet member  5  which may be connected to a second anchor connection member  6  which may be an inverted T shape in order to be secured within the second anchor member  7 . 
     In another embodiment, the roof plate  1  may be positioned and connected to an inclined eave along the end of the roof  12  of the dwelling  103 . The connection member  2  may be positioned to be a substantially vertically positioned for connection to the flexible cable  4  which may be connected to the eye ring member  5  which may be connected to the first anchor member  8  which may be connected to the foundation  9  of the dwelling  103 . 
       FIG. 1   d  illustrates a perspective view of the dwelling tie down system being applied to a dwelling  103 , more particularly to a roof  12  of the dwelling  103 . The roof plate  1  may include apertures  11  for connection devices (not shown) such as nails, screws, bolts or other connection devices and the connection devices may connect the roof plate  1  to the rafters of the roof  12 . 
     The roof plate  1  may be positioned and connected to an inclined eave along the end of the roof  12  of the dwelling  103 . The connection member  2  may be positioned to be a substantially vertically positioned for connection to the flexible cable  4  which may be connected to the eye ring member  5  which may be connected to a first anchor connection member  10  which may be an inverted T shape in order to be secured within the first anchor member  8  which may be connected to the foundation  9  of the dwelling  103 . 
       FIGS. 1   a - d  illustrate add on system where the dwelling tie down system can be added after the house is completed. 
     However, a dwelling tie down system can be employed while the dwelling is being constructed and in this manner the dwelling tie down system is substantially invisible and within the walls of the dwelling. 
       FIG. 2   d  illustrates a perspective view of the second roof plate  13  which may be substantially planar and connected to central located connection member  3  which may extend substantially perpendicular to the second roof plate  13  and which may include an aperture  2  for connection to the flexible cable  4 . 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a end view of the second roof plate  13  and the connection member  3 . 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates a perspective view of the dwelling  103  which may include a roof  12  which may include roof seam  14 . The connection member  2  extends through the roof  12  and may extend through the roof seam  14 . The second roof plate  13  may include apertures  11  around the periphery of the second roof plate  13  in order to connect to the roof  12  by connection devices  17 . 
     The flexible cable  4  may connect to stud plate  15  which may include a connection member  2  which may extend perpendicular and traversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the stud plate  15 . The connection member  2  may include an aperture  3  for connection to the flexible cable  4  which may connect to an opposing connection member  2  of the second roof plate  13 . An opposing connection member  2  of the stud plate  15  may connect to the flexible cable  4  which may connect to the eye ring member  5  which may connect to the first anchor connection member  8  which may be connected to the first anchor connection member  10  which may be connected to the foundation  9  of the dwelling  103 . 
       FIG. 2   c  illustrates a sectional view of the dwelling  103  which may include a roof  12  which may include roof seam  14 . The connection member  2  extends through the roof  12  and may extend through the roof seam  14 . The second roof plate  13  may include apertures  11  around the periphery of the second roof plate  13  in order to connect to the roof  12  by connection devices  17 . The stud plate  15  may serve two functions which may include a first function to transfer excessive force from the roof  12  to the first anchor connection member  8  and may include a second function to transfer excessive force on the wall panel which may be connected to the stud  16  to the first anchor connection member  8 . 
     The flexible cable  4  may connect to stud plate  15  which may include a connection member  2  which may extend perpendicular and traversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the stud plate  15 . The stud plate  15  may be attached to a stud  16  of the dwelling  103 , and the stud  16  may be a horizontal or vertical stud or may be a roof stud. The connection member  2  may include an aperture  3  for connection to the flexible cable  4  which may connect to an opposing connection member  2  of the stud plate  15 . An opposing connection member  2  of the stud plate  15  may connect to the flexible cable  4  which may connect to the eye ring member  5  which may connect to the first anchor connection member  8  which may be used for retro fit and which may be connected to the first anchor connection member  10  which may be connected to the foundation  9  of the dwelling  103 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the stud plate  15  which may be substantially planar and may include an aperture  18  for attachment to the stud  16  by a fastening device such as a bolt, nail or other appropriate fastening device and the connection member  2  which may extend perpendicular to the stud plate  15  and may include an aperture  3  for connection to the flexible cable  4 . The stud plate  15  may be placed in a spaced relationship with another stud plate  15  in order to provide additional support. 
       FIG. 3   a  illustrates the stud plate  15  attached to the stud  16  and not being directly connected to the roof  12  in order to provide a linear wall tie down method and apparatus. 
       FIG. 3   a  illustrates that each wall panel has a corresponding stud plate  15  in order to provide support for the entire wall. Fewer or more stud plates  15  may be used. 
     The flexible cable  4  as illustrated in  FIG. 3   a  may connect to stud plate  15  which may include a connection member  2  which may extend perpendicular and traversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the stud plate  15 . The stud plate  15  may be attached to a stud  16  of the dwelling  103 , and the stud  16  may be a horizontal or vertical stud or may be a roof stud. The connection member  2  may include an aperture  3  for connection to the flexible cable  4  which may connect to an opposing connection member  2  of the second roof plate  13 . An opposing connection member  2  of the stud plate  15  may connect to the flexible cable  4  which may connect to the eye ring member  5  which may connect to the first anchor connection member  8  which may be connected to the first anchor connection member  10  which may be connected to the foundation  9  of the dwelling  103 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a peak roof plate  21  which may be substantially an inverted V shape in order to cooperate with the peak of the roof  12  of the dwelling  103  and may include a pair of sloping plates which may be planar and the peak roof plate  21  may include apertures  22  which may be positioned around the periphery of the peak plate  21  in order to attach the peak roof plate  21  to the roof  12  of the dwelling  103  by a fastening device  23  such as screws, bolts, nails or other appropriate fasteners. 
       FIG. 4   a  illustrates a perspective view of a peak roof plate  21  which may be substantially an inverted V shape in order to cooperate with the peak of the roof  12  of the dwelling  103  and may include a pair of sloping plates which may be planar and the peak roof plate  21  may include apertures  22  which may be positioned around the periphery of the peak plate  21  in order to attach the peak roof plate  21  to the roof  12  of the dwelling  103  by a fastening device  23  such as screws, bolts, nails or other appropriate fasteners. 
       FIG. 4   b  illustrates a perspective view of a fastening device  23  which may be a nail, screw bolts or other fastening devices. 
       FIG. 4   c  illustrates a sectional view of the dwelling  103  which may include a roof  12 . The connection member  2  extends through the roof  12  and may cooperate with the washer member  24  and the nut member  25  and may be connected to a eyelet member  26  which may be connected to an eyelet member  5  which may be connected to flexible cable  4 . The peak roof plate  21  may include apertures  22  around the periphery of the peak roof plate  21  in order to connect to the roof  12  by connection device  23 . 
     The flexible cable  4  may connect to stud plate  15  which may include a connection member  2  which may extend perpendicular and traversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the stud plate  15 . The stud plate  15  may be attached to a stud  16  of the dwelling  103 , and the stud  16  may be a horizontal or vertical stud or may be a roof stud. The connection member  2  may include an aperture  3  for connection to the flexible cable  4 . An opposing connection member  2  of the stud plate  15  may connect to the flexible cable  4  which may connect to the eye ring member  5  which may connect to the connection member  10  which may be connected to the foundation  9  of the dwelling  103 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a end view of a linear wall tie down plate  27  which may include a connection member  2  which may be substantially perpendicular to the linear wall tiedown plate  27 . The linear wall tiedown plate  27  may include apertures which may cooperate with fastening devices such as nails, bolts or other appropriate fastening devices. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a perspective view of a linear wall tie down plate  27  which may include a connection member  2  which may be substantially perpendicular to the linear wall tiedown plate  27 . The linear wall tiedown plate  27  may include apertures which may cooperate with fastening devices such as nails, bolts or other appropriate fastening devices.  FIG. 5   b  illustrates the linear wall tiedown plate  27  positioned on the upper surface of a substantially horizontal stud  16  and may extend over a plurality of wall sections.  FIG. 5   b  additionally illustrates that stud plates  15  may be attached to the same substantially horizontal stud  16  and which may be connected to the flexible cable  4 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a corner wall tiedown bracket  28  which may be substantially L-shaped and may include a connection member  2  which may include an aperture  3  for connection to the flexible cable  4 . 
       FIG. 6   a  illustrates a perspective view of a corner wall tiedown bracket  28  which may be substantially L-shaped and may include a connection member  2  which may include an aperture  3  for connection to the flexible cable  4 . 
       FIG. 6   b  illustrates a perspective view of the dwelling  100  and the corner wall tiedown bracket  28  which may be connected to the dwelling  100 . The corner wall tiedown bracket  28  may be connected to the flexible cable  4  which may be connected to the eyelet ring member  5  which may be connected to the first anchor member  8  which may be a integrated anchor system with the foundation  9 . Alternatively, the corner wall tiedown bracket  28  may be connected to the flexible cable  4  which may be connected to the anchor member  7  which may be a remote anchor member with respect to the foundation  9 . 
       FIG. 6   c  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the dwelling  100  and the corner wall tiedown bracket  28  which may be connected to the dwelling  100  by being attached to the studs  16  (both vertical and horizontal). The corner wall tiedown bracket  28  may be connected to the flexible cable  4  which may be connected to the eyelet ring member  5  . Alternatively, the corner wall tiedown bracket  28  may be connected to the flexible cable  4  which may be connected to the anchor member  7  which may be a remote anchor member with respect to the foundation  9 . 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.