Patent Publication Number: US-2022228392-A1

Title: Closed wall hold downs

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/723,530, filed Dec. 20, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/786,868 and filing dated on Dec. 31, 2018, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the art of walls of buildings, and more specifically to a system that holds down a shear wall to the foundation and the method of installation thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a traditionally built exterior building wall, the structural frame of the wall is bolted or screwed to the foundation or floor during construction. Anchor bolts fixed to the foundation secure the wall forms and other construction portions to the concrete slab foundation. Most commonly, anchor bolts are cast-in-place in preset positions, wherein the bolt head is cast into the concrete and the threaded end extends out of the foundation. The structural frame of the wall is then constructed by securing the bottom plate to the foundation. The bottom plate is secured by predrilling holes into the bottom plate. The size and placement of the holes correspond with the position of the anchor bolts. The bottom plate is placed flat on the concrete foundation with the threaded ends of the anchor bolts extending up through the holes of the bottom plate. The nut of the anchor bolt is screwed onto the bolt threads to secure the bottom plate. The rest of the exterior wall components are then installed. 
     A second floor, third floor, etc. wall is secured to the floor plate. Typically, the structural frame of the wall is constructed by nailing or screwing the bottom plate of the wall to the floor plate. The other components of the structural frame of the wall are then installed. 
     However, some walls systems are constructed from prefabricate wall panels. A wall panel may be assembled with the structural frame attached to the wall&#39;s interior and exterior components. In this case, after the prefabricated wall panel is placed onto the threaded ends of the anchor bolts or onto the floor plate, the anchor bolts are no longer accessible to screw the nut onto the anchor bolt threads and the bottom plate is no longer accessible to nail or screw to the floor plate. Because the threads of the anchor bolts or the bottom plate are no longer accessible, there is no way to secure the prefabricated wall panel to the foundation or floor plate. 
     SUMMARY 
     A closed wall hold down system that secures prefabricated wall panels to a foundation and/or floor panel is provided. The closed wall hold down system includes at least one closed wall panel, at least one first tie rod, at least one second tie rod, at least one coupler nut, and at least one ratcheting take-up device. The at least one closed wall panel includes a bottom plate and a top plate. The at least one first tie rod is configured to project through the bottom plate within the at least one closed wall panel. The at least one coupler nut is configured to couple the at least one first tie rod and a first end of an at least one second tie rod. A second end of the at least one second tie rod is configured to extend through the top plate. The at least one ratcheting take-up device is configured to engage with the second end of the at least one second tie rod. 
     A method of installing a closed wall hold down system is also provided. The method includes installing a closed wall panel. The closed wall panel includes a bottom plate and a top plate. The closed wall panel is installed over at least one first tie rod. The at least one first tie rod projects through the bottom plate. The method includes running at least one second tie rod down through the top plate. The at least one second tie rod includes a first end, a second end, and a coupler nut coupled to the first end. The second end extends through the top plate. The method includes threading the coupler nut onto the at least one first tie rod and installing at least one ratcheting take-up device onto the second end. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, there is shown in the drawings different embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the teachings are not limited to the precise closed wall hold down system shown. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a closed wall hold down system. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a first closed wall panel being installed. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a first floor plate being installed. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a second closed wall panel being installed. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the second closed wall panel installed. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a second floor plate being installed. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a third closed wall panel being installed. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the third closed wall panel installed. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the wall system. 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of a method of installing the closed wall hold down system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A closed wall hold down system is provided that quickly and efficiently connects closed wall panels of multiple floors. The closed wall hold down system may be installed without accessing the internal components of a wall panel. A prefabricated wall panel may be installed with this system. Because the wall panel can be assembled prior to arriving at the job site, the time it takes to construct a wall is reduced thereby cutting construction costs. 
     The closed wall hold down system includes at least one closed wall panel, at least one first tie rod, at least one second tie rod, at least one coupler nut, and at least one ratcheting take-up device. The at least one closed wall panel includes a bottom plate and a top plate. The at least one first tie rod is configured to project through the bottom plate within the at least one closed wall panel. The at least one coupler nut is configured to couple the at least one first tie rod and a first end of an at least one second tie rod. A second end of the at least one second tie rod is configured to extend through the top plate. The at least one ratcheting take-up device is configured to engage with the second end of the at least one second tie rod. 
     A method of installing a closed wall hold down system is also provided. The method includes installing a closed wall panel. The closed wall panel includes a bottom plate and a top plate. The closed wall panel is installed over at least one first tie rod. The at least one first tie rod projects through the bottom plate. The method includes running at least one second tie rod down through the top plate. The at least one second tie rod includes a first end, a second end, and a coupler nut coupled to the first end. The second end extends through the top plate. The method includes threading the coupler nut onto the at least one first tie rod and installing at least one ratcheting take-up device onto the second end. The method may be repeated for a multi-story building. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a closed wall hold down system  100 . The closed wall hold down system  100  holds down and connects closed wall panels (not shown in  FIG. 1  for clarity) of adjoining floors.  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a hold down system  100  for three wall panels of three adjoining floors. Although  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment with three wall panels of three adjoining floors, the closed wall hold down system  100  may be used to hold down and connect two or more adjoining floors. Each closed wall panel may include a bottom plate  520 ,  540  and a top plate  510 ,  530 ,  550 . The closed wall hold down system  100  also includes at least one floor plate  410 ,  420 . The floor plates  410 ,  420  separate the closed wall panels of different floors and are a component of the building&#39;s floor and/or ceiling. The closed wall hold down system  100  holds down the closed wall panels and is designed to handle and transfer shear loads applied to the wall. 
     The closed wall hold down system  100  includes at least one tie rod  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first tie rod  110  may be embedded in the foundation  300 . The second  120 , third  130 , and fourth  140  tie rods each have a first end  122 ,  132 ,  142  connected to a coupler nut  610 ,  620 ,  630 . The second  120 , third  130 , and fourth  140  tie rods each have a second end  124 ,  134 ,  144 . The second ends  124 ,  134  of the second  120  and third  130  tie rods connect to the coupler nut  620 ,  630  of the next tie rod. The second  120 , third  130 , and fourth  140  tie rods each extend through the top plate  510 ,  530 ,  550  of the first, second, and third closed wall panels respectively. The second  120  and third  130  tie rods also extend through the floor plates  410 ,  420  and the bottom plates  520 ,  540  of the second and third closed wall panels. The bottom plates  520 ,  540 , the top plates  510 ,  530 ,  550 , and the floor plates  410 ,  420  may include a funnel and pipe  700  to facilitate the tie rods  120 ,  130 ,  140  extending there through. The closed wall hold down system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  includes four tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 . However, the system  100  may include more or less tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  depending on the number of floors desired. The tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  may be made from a material that is strong in tension and shear, such as metal, to handle applied loads. The tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  may be made from steel or aluminum. The tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  may include threads to engage with threads on the inner circumference of the coupler nuts  610 ,  620 ,  630 . 
     The closed wall hold down system  100  also includes at least one coupler nut  610 ,  620 ,  630 . The coupler nuts  610 ,  620 ,  630  couple the tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  together. While  FIG. 1  shows three coupler nuts  610 ,  620 ,  630 , the number of coupler nuts  610 ,  620 ,  630  may be more or less depending on the number of tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 . The coupler nuts  610 ,  620 ,  630  may include threads in the inner circumference to enable the coupler nut  610 ,  620 ,  630  to engage with threads on the ends of the tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 . The coupler nut  610 ,  620 ,  630  may be made out of a material that is at least as strong as the tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 . The coupler nut  610 ,  620 ,  630  may be made out of a metal, for example steel or aluminum. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the closed wall hold down system  100  also includes at least one ratcheting take-up device  810 ,  820 ,  830 . The at least one ratcheting take-up device  810 ,  820 ,  830  secures the tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  in tension. Because the tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  are in tension, the closed wall system  100  is held down. The ratcheting take-up device  810 ,  820 ,  830  includes an opening through the device. The end of the tie rod  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  enters the opening and extends through the device  810 ,  820 ,  830 . As the tie rod enters the device  810 ,  820 ,  830 , a series of internal threaded wedges allow the device  810 ,  820 ,  830  to ratchet the tie rod  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  up through the device  810 ,  820 ,  830 . The threaded wedges engage with the threads of the tie rod  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  in the reverse direction when the rod  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  is under tension. The ratcheting take-up device  810 ,  820 ,  830  may be connected to the top surface of the bottom plate  520 ,  530  or the top surface of the top plate  510 ,  530 ,  550 . The opening in the bottom plate  520 ,  530 ,  550  and/or top plate aligns with the opening of the ratcheting take-up device  810 ,  820 ,  830  to allow the tie rods  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  to extend there through. 
       FIGS. 2-9  show the process of installing the closed wall hold down system  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 2-9  show a wall system installed with two closed wall hold down systems  100 . Although the wall system is held down with two closed wall hold down systems  100 , the wall may include more than two closed wall hold down systems  100 . Although  FIGS. 2-9  show the process of installing the closed wall system  100  of three adjoining floors. A substantially similar process may be used to install a closed wall system  100  of two adjoining floors or more than three adjoining floors. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a first closed wall panel  500  being installed.  FIG. 2  shows a first closed wall panel  500  and two closed wall hold down systems  100 . The first closed wall panel  500  is installed to the foundation  300 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first tie rod  110  is embedded in the foundation  300 . The first tie rod  110  extends through the bottom plate  505  of the first closed wall panel  500 . A second tie rod  120  runs down through an opening in the top plate  510  of the first closed wall panel  500 . A coupler nut  610  is attached to the first end  122  of the second tie rod  120 . The coupler nut  610  may be attached to the first end  122  by any means such as welding or engaged threads. The second end  124  of the second tie rod  120  extends up through the top plate  510 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a first floor plate  410  being installed. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the coupler nut  610  attached to the first end  122  of the second tie rod  120  is coupled to the first tie rod  110 . The coupler nut  610  may be attached to the first tie rod  110  by any means of attachment such as screwing the threaded coupler nut  610  onto the first tie rod  110 . The closed wall panel  500  may include block outs or openings  800  in the drywall to allow for inspection of the coupler nut  610  and tie rod  110 ,  120  connections. Alternatively, the closed wall panel  500  may not include block outs  800 , and instead, the connections may be inspected with x-ray florescence. The coupler nut  610  may be marked such that the degrees of rotation may be captured as the nut is tightened. The markings may be physical to allow monitoring and inspection through the block out  800 , or if there are no block outs  800 , the markings may be photo-emissive to allow monitoring and inspection through the drywall. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second end  124  of the second tie rod  120  extends through the top plate  510  of the closed wall panel  500 . The floor plate  410  includes openings through the floor plate  410  at the location of the tie rods  120  to let the tie rod  120  extend there through. These openings may be predrilled. The first floor plate  410  slides down over the second end  124  of the second tie rod  120  with the tie rod extending  120  up through the openings in the floor plate  410 . The floor plate  410  may then be secured to the top plate  510 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of a second closed wall panel  525  being installed. The second closed wall panel  525  includes at least one ratcheting take-up device  810  attached to the top of the bottom plate  520 . A third tie rod  130  runs down through an opening in the top plate  530  of the second closed wall panel  525 .  FIG. 4  also shows the second coupler nut  620  attached to the first end  132  of the third tie rod  130 . The second coupler nut  620  may be attached to the first end  132  by any means such as welding or engaged threads. The second end  134  of the third tie rod  130  extends through the top plate  530 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the second closed wall panel  525  installed. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second end  124  of the second tie rod  120  extends up through the bottom plate  520  of the second closed wall panel  525  and through the ratcheting take-up device  810 . The ratcheting take-up device  810  secures the second tie rod  120  in tension, thereby holding down the first floor plate  410  and first closed wall panel  500 . The second coupler nut  620  attaches to the second end  124  of the second tie rod  120 . The second coupler nut  620  may be attached to the second tie rod  120  by any means of attachment such as screwing the threaded coupler nut  620  onto the second tie rod  120 . The second end  134  of the third tie rod  130  extends up through the top plate  530  of the second closed wall panel  525 . If a two floor structure is desired, a ratcheting take-up device (not shown) may be installed on the top plate  530  of the second closed wall panel  525  with the second end  134  of the third tie rod  130  extending through the ratcheting take-up device. The ratcheting take-up device would secure and hold down the closed wall panels  500 ,  525  of the first and second floors. However, if more than two floors are desired, a third floor may be installed according to  FIGS. 6-9 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of a second floor plate  420  being installed. The second floor plate  420  slides down over the second end  134  of the third tie rod  130  and may be secured to the top plate  530 . The second floor plate  420  may include predrilled openings through the floor plate  420  at the locations of the third tie rods  130 . The third tie rod  130  extends up through the openings in the floor plate  420 . 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of a third closed wall panel  545  being installed. The third closed wall panel  545  includes at least one ratcheting take-up device  820  attached to the top of the bottom plate  540 . A fourth tie rod  140  runs down the third closed wall panel  545  through an opening in the top plate  550 .  FIG. 7  also shows a third coupler nut  630  attached to the first end  142  of the fourth tie rod  140 . The coupler nut  630  may be attached to the first end  142  by any means such as welding or engaged threads. The second end  144  of the fourth tie rod  140  extends through the top plate  550 . 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the third closed wall panel  545  installed. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the second end  134  of the third tie rod  130  extends up through the bottom plate  540  of the third closed wall panel  545  and through the second ratcheting take-up device  820 . The second ratcheting take-up device  820  secures the third tie rod  130  in tension, thereby holding down the second floor plate  420  and second closed wall panel  525 . The coupler nut  630  attaches to the second end  134  of the third tie rod  130 . The coupler nut  630  may be attached to the third tie rod  130  by any means of attachment such as screwing the threaded coupler nut  630  onto the third tie rod  130 . The second end  144  of the fourth tie rod  140  extends up through the top plate  550  of the third closed wall panel  545 . A third ratcheting take-up device  830  is installed over the second end  144  of the fourth tie rod  140 , thereby securing the fourth tie rod  140  in tension and holding down the third closed wall panel  545 . 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of the wall system.  FIG. 9  shows a third floor plate  430  installed on the top plate  550  of the third closed wall panel  545 . The third floor plate  430  slides down over the second end  144  of the fourth tie rod  140  and is secured to the top plate  550 . The third floor plate  430  may include predrilled holes at the locations of the fourth tie rods  140  and the third ratcheting take-up devices  830 . Although  FIGS. 1-9  depict a closed wall hold down system  100  for a three story wall, additional stories or floors may be installed in similar fashion. 
     The method of installing the closed wall hold down system  1000  can be carried out according to the method  1000  described in  FIG. 10  and described below.  FIG. 10  is a flow chart of a method of installing the closed wall hold down system  1000 . The method may include the step  1010  of installing a first tie rod  110  into a foundation  300 . The tie rod  110  may be embedded by embedding the tie rod  110  in the foundation. The tie rod  110  acts as an anchor bolt. The first tie rod  110  includes the same details and embodiments of a first tie rod  110  previously discussed. 
     The method  1000  includes the step  1020  of installing a closed wall panel  500  at the location of the tie rods  110 . A closed wall panel  500  is installed at the location of the tie rods  110  by sliding the closed wall panel  500  over the tie rods  110  with the tie rods  110  extending through openings in the bottom plate  505  of the closed wall panel  500 . The closed wall panel  500  includes the details and embodiments of a closed wall panel  500  previously discussed. 
     The method  1000  includes the step  1030  of installing a second tie rod  120 . The second tie rod  120  is installed by inserting the second tie rod  120  down the inside of the closed wall panel  500  through an opening in the top plate  510  of the wall panel  500 . The tie rod  120  includes a coupler nut  610  welded or threaded onto the first end  122  of the tie rod  120 . The coupler nut  610  is screwed onto the embedded tie rod  110 . The second tie rod  120  includes the same details and embodiments of a second tie rod  120  previously discussed. 
     The method  1000  includes the step  1040  of connecting the coupler nut  610  of the second tie rod  120  to the embedded tie rod  110 . The coupler nut  610  is connected to the embedded tie rod  110  by screwing the coupler nut  610  onto the end of the embedded tie rod  110 . Threads on the inner circumference of the coupler nut  610  engage with threads on the end of the tie rod  110 . The coupler nut  610  includes the same details and embodiments of a coupler nut  610  previously discussed. 
     The method  1000  includes the step  1050  of installing a floor plate  410 . The floor plate  410  is installed on the top plate  510  of the closed wall panel  500  by sliding the floor plate  410  down over the second end  124  of the tie rod  120 . The second end  124  of the tie rod  120  extends up through the floor plate  410 . The floor plate  410  includes the same details and embodiments of a floor plate  410  previously discussed. 
     The method  1000  includes the step  1060  of installing a second closed wall panel  525  onto the floor plate  410 . The second closed wall panel  525  is installed by sliding the closed wall panel  525  over the second end  124  of the tie rod  120 . The second closed wall panel  525  includes the same details and embodiments of a second closed wall panel  525  previously discussed. The second end  124  of the tie rod  120  extends up through openings in the bottom plate  520  of the second closed wall panel  525 . The second end  124  of the tie rod extends up through a ratcheting take-up device  810  secured to a top surface of the bottom plate  520 . The ratcheting take-up device  810  includes the same details and embodiments of a ratcheting take-up device  810  previously discussed. 
     The method  1000  includes the step  1070  of installing a third tie rod  130 . The third tie rod  130  is installed by inserting the third tie rod  130  down the inside of the second closed wall panel  525  through an opening in the top plate  530  of the wall panel  500 . The tie rod  130  includes a coupler nut  620  welded or threaded onto the first end  122  of the tie rod  120 . The coupler nut  620  is screwed onto the second tie rod  120 . The third tie rod  130  includes the same details and embodiments of a third tie rod  130  previously discussed. 
     The method  1000  includes the step  1080  of connecting the coupler nut  620  of the third tie rod  130  to the second tie rod  120 . The coupler nut  620  is connected to the second tie rod  120  by screwing the coupler nut  620  onto the end of the second tie rod  120 . Threads on the inner circumference of the coupler nut  620  engage with threads on the end of the tie rod  120 . The coupler nut  620  includes the same details and embodiments of a coupler nut  620  previously discussed. 
     If a building with more floors is desired, each additional floor and corresponding closed wall hold down system  100  may be installed according to steps  1050 - 1080 . 
     After the final wall panel  545  is installed, the method  1000  includes the step  1090  of installing a ratcheting take-up device  830 . The upper most wall panel  545  is secured to the previous wall panels  500 ,  525  by installing a ratcheting take-up device  830  on the top plate  550  of the upper most closed wall panel  545  with the second end  144  of the upper most tie rod  140  extending there through. 
     The method  1000  also includes the step  1100  of installing the final floor plate  430 . The floor plate  430  is installed to the top plate  550  of the closed wall panel  545  by sliding the floor plate  430  down over the second end  144  of the tie rod  140  and ratcheting take-up device  830 . 
     Having thus described in detail a preferred selection of embodiments of the present invention, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes could be made to the closed wall hold down system  100  without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.