Patent Publication Number: US-6662505-B2

Title: Apparatus and method of straightening and supporting a damaged wall

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method of repairing walls which have been damaged including cracking and bowing from hydrostatic pressure, freezing or other reasons. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supporting and straightening damaged walls. 
     2. Problems in the Art 
     Basement walls tend to crack or bow for a variety of reasons. Most prior art systems tend to pull the wall back into position by providing an anchor in the soil surrounding the wall. A hole is drilled in the wall and a wire is secured to both the anchor and the wall. By pulling on the wire, the wall is suppose to be pulled back into position. However, given the varying types of soils outside of the wall, such systems are prone to failure. It is therefore desirable to provide a straightening apparatus and method which does not rely on the use of soil outside of the wall. Conventional indoor supporting and straightening devices occupy a large amount of interior space. As this has a direct impact on the utility of the basement, it is desirable to have a supporting apparatus which minimizes the intrusive effect of prior art devices. 
     Other prior art systems allow pressure to be applied by a user but require additional hardware to keep the device in a set position. It is therefore desirable to provide a straightening device which allows for the application and maintenance of pressure without additional hardware. 
     There is therefore a need for an apparatus and method for straightening and supporting damaged walls which avoids these and other problems. 
     Features of the Invention 
     A general feature of the present invention is the provision of an improved method and apparatus for supporting and straightening a damaged wall which overcomes the problems found in the prior art. 
     A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for supporting and straightening a damaged wall which does not rely upon an anchor in soil. 
     Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for supporting and straightening a damaged wall which takes up a minimum amount of space in the room in which the wall is located. 
     A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for supporting and straightening a damaged wall which can vary the amount of pressure applied to the wall. 
     Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for supporting and straightening a damaged wall in which pressure applied to the wall may be increased to continually straighten the wall over a period of time. 
     This, as well as other features and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent from the following specification and claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally comprises a first and second bracket. One of the brackets is secured into the basement floor. The other bracket is secured into the joist of the floor above the basement. A beam is then place between the brackets and the damaged wall. One of the brackets is placed into a position such that when the beam is installed, the beam will contact the wall. The other bracket is placed further away from the wall. When the beam is installed, there will be a gap between the beam and this bracket. In between this bracket and the beam, a jack is installed. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the jack of the present invention includes a holding bracket, a nut, and a bolt. The holding bracket is placed against the beam and the bolt is inserted through the secured bracket. Before the bolt contacts the holding bracket, a nut is installed on the bolt between the secured bracket and the holding bracket. By tightening the nut and bolt combination, the bolt may be extended to contact and apply pressure to the holding bracket. In turn, the holding bracket applies pressure to the beam which applies pressure to the wall. This allows the present invention to reliably apply the desired amount of pressure to straighten or support a damaged wall, while minimizing the amount of space used in the basement. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     The present invention will be described as it applies to its preferred embodiment. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the described embodiment. It is intended that the invention cover all modifications and alternatives which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Now, referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the bracketing system  10  for supporting and straightening a damaged wall  12 . Occasionally, a basement wall  12  will crack and bulge as a result of freezing or hydrostatic pressure. To prevent this from occurring, and to correct any bulges or cracks which may have already occurred, the bracketing system  10  of the present invention is installed. 
     The bracketing system  10  of the present invention includes two secured brackets. The first secured bracket  18  is preferably connected to a floor joist  16  which helps to form the floor support for the floor above the basement. The first secured bracket  18  is preferably a five inch long piece of three and a half inch angle iron with two 2 {fraction (13/16)}″ holes in one leg and one {fraction (1/16)}″ hole in the other leg. Two bolts  22  fit through the two holes and secure the first bracket  18  to the floor joist  16 . A second secured bracket  20  is a five and a half inch piece of two inch angle iron with {fraction (13/16)} inch holes in one leg to accommodate two ¾ inch concrete anchors. Using the two concrete anchors  22 , the second secured bracket  20  is mounted onto the concrete floor  14  of the basement. A beam  24 , such as a four inch 7.7 per pound foot I-beam, is then placed between the first and second brackets  18 ,  20  and the wall  12 . As can be seen in FIG. 2, a generally C-shaped holding bracket  26  is placed on the beam  24  between the beam  24  and the first secured bracket  18 . 
     A jack  30  is then placed to operate between the first bracket  18  and the beam  24 . The jack  30  is substantially or completely horizontal in order to minimize the amount of interior space needed by the jack  30 . Preferably the jack  30  includes a one-inch thick bolt  32  of any desired length that is placed in the corresponding hole on the first bracket  18  to contact the holding bracket  26 . The contact position of the bolt  32  on the holding bracket  26  may be insured by welding a half-inch piece of a 1 ¼ diameter pipe, or retaining ring  28 , in the center of the holding bracket  26 . The holding bracket  26  is preferably a 1.5 inch piece of four inch by 1 ½″ inch channel. Of course other materials and means of securement may be used and are considered to be within the scope and teaching of the present invention. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 2, the holding bracket  26  keeps the beam  24  from shifting as pressure is applied. Pressure is applied by extending the jack. In the preferred embodiment, the jack is extended by turning the bolt  32  while holding the nut  34  in position. Alternatively of course, turning the nut  34  while holding the bolt  32  would also work. Turning the bolt  32  in a tightening fashion applies pressure to the holding bracket  26  which in turn applies pressure to the beam  24  which applies pressure to the wall  12 . In this way, the wall  12  may be reinforced or gradually pushed back into position. 
     As the wall  12  moves back into a more straightened position, it may be necessary to apply additional pressure with the jack  30 . Preferably, this may be done by simply tightening the bolt  32 . In this way, the bracketing system of the present invention can be properly adjusted to work over time to straighten the wall. 
     The bracketing system  10  of the present invention may be used to not only straighten walls but to prevent walls from further movement. A general description of the present invention as well as the preferred embodiment of the present invention have been set forth above. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to practice additional variations in the methods and systems described which fall within the teachings of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and additions are deemed to be within the scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.