Patent Publication Number: US-2004049994-A1

Title: Brace boot

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/392,965, filed Jul. 2, 2002. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to building construction in general and in particular to a metal boot that slides over the end of a standard 2-inch by 4-inch wood board and is used, in combination with the board, to brace the walls of a building against collapse while the building is under construction.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] In the long history of building construction, many devices have been invented to brace walls, ceilings, and floors against toppling while the building is under construction. None of the prior devices has the combined simplicity and utility of the present invention.  
       [0006] Unlike all previous patented construction braces, the instant invention has the advantage of being easy to use, inexpensive, highly portable, and reusable many times.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,559, issued to Bror Hillberg, on Apr. 29, 1958, titled, “Adjustable Brace,” discloses an adjustable brace having a cylindrical construction, and comprises an upper bracket having means for detachably securing it to the inner face of a wall slab at a location above a floor slab; a lower bracket having means for detachably securing it to the floor slab; a rigid, upwardly inclined strut extending between the brackets; and an adjustable connection extending between the lower end of the strut and the lower bracket.  
       [0008] The Hillberg invention is specifically intended for use with concrete-slab walls and floors, and requires embedding anchors in the floors and walls when the concrete is poured. Unlike the instant invention, it is wholly unsuitable for wood buildings.  
       [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 2,945,662, issued Jul. 19, 1960, to William A. Jennings, titled “Adjustable Brace Connector Unit,” discloses a connector unit for brace members used in forming concrete structures. The connector unit includes an elongated bearing member which receives one end portion of an elongated shaft formed with a threaded portion arranged outwardly of the bearing. A bar extended through an opening in the shaft constitutes a handle. When the threaded portion of the shaft is rotated, a second section of the shaft is extended or retracted. The entire unit consists of numerous parts and is far more complicated than the instant invention. The instant invention is also expressly intended for concrete structures, and is entirely unsuitable for wood structures.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,833, issued Jan. 31, 1978, to Loren Hancock, titled, “Bracing Apparatus,” discloses a bracing apparatus for supporting wall constructions. The device includes an anchoring member secured to a bolt inserted into a hole that extends entirely through the wall. A cable is guided through the anchoring member and each end of the cable is connected to end portions of a diagonal member. One end of the diagonal member contacts the wall and the other end contacts the surface adjacent to the wall, typically the ground or a floor. Tension applied to the cable pulls the diagonal member tightly against the wall and a floor or the ground. The entire apparatus is heavy, consists of numerous separate parts, and is much more complicated than the instant invention. Also, unlike the instant invention, the Hancock invention makes no use of commonly available, inexpensive, components, such as 2-inch by 4-inch wood boards, as a structural component. The Hancock invention is primarily designed for concrete and masonry walls.  
       [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,273 B1, issued Jun. 19, 2001, to Shane L. Nickel, titled “Adjustable Form Brace,” is an adjustable bracing system for supporting poured concrete wall systems and includes a vertical brace for engaging the wall. The device is specifically designed to support poured concrete walls and is wholly unsuited to wood buildings.  
       [0012] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to disclose a brace boot as will subsequently be described and claimed in the instant invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013] The present invention comprises a metal boot configured as a hollow, box-like structure having a closed end and an open end. The boot is adapted to fit snugly over the end of a standard 2-inch by 4-inch wood board and caps the end of the board. A boot is fitted over each end of the board and the board is placed at an angle between a wall and a floor of a building that is under construction. Each boot is then temporarily affixed to the floor and wall.  
       [0014] The boots, together with the board, form a brace that holds a wall in position until the wall is permanently fixed in place. The brace prevents the wind from toppling the wall in incomplete structures.  
       [0015] The device has two embodiments. One embodiment is suited for contact with a floor. The other embodiment is suited for contact with a wall. It should be noted however that the floor boot can also be utilized as a wall boot if desired.  
       [0016] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a brace system for temporarily supporting a wall structure.  
       [0017] It is another object of the invention to provide a brace system incorporating a brace boot, which boot is adapted to cap the end of a standard 2-inch by 4-inch wood board.  
       [0018] It is a further object of the invention to provide a brace system incorporating a brace boot, which boot is easy to use.  
       [0019] Still another object of the invention is to provide a brace system incorporating a brace boot, which boot is reusable.  
       [0020] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.  
       [0021] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0022]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view, of a brace system according to the present invention.  
     [0023]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a floor or bottom boot brace according to the present invention.  
     [0024]FIG. 3 is a fragmented, environmental, perspective view of a  
     [0025]FIG. 4 is a side, perspective view of a wall or top boot brace according to the present invention.  
     [0026]FIG. 5 is a fragmented, environmental, perspective view of a top boot brace according to the present invention. 
    
    
     [0027] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0028] The brace boot, according to the present invention, is a hollow, box-like structure with one end closed and the other open. The inner dimensions of the boot are 1 and {fraction (9/16)} inches by 3 and {fraction (9/16)} inches, such that the boot fits snugly over the end of a standard 2-inch by 4-inch wood board and caps the end of the board.  
     [0029] Attention is first directed to FIG. 1. wherein brace boots  10  and  15  are fitted to each end of 2-inch by 4-inch wood boards  20  to form a brace for a wood wall  25  of a building under construction. Lower brace boots  10  are adapted to be positioned on a floor or other horizontal supporting surface of the building. Brace boots  15  are disposed adjacent the wall  25 .  
     [0030] As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the floor or bottom boot brace  10  comprises a body  12  configured as a hollow rectangular-shaped tube having front, side and rear walls. Body  12  is open at one end and is closed by partial walls  12   a  at its other end. As noted above, brace  10  is dimensioned to receive the end of 2-inch by 4-inch wood board  20 . One end of the rear wall terminates in a semi-circular portion  14 . Portion  14  has an arcuate slot  16  formed therein. Body  12  is mounted on pivot pin  18  for pivoting movement thereon. Pivot pin  18  is mounted in the front face of a triangular-shaped plate  21 . A second pin  22  is mounted on plate  21  is in vertical alignment with pivot pin  18 . Pin  22  extends into slot  16  and functions to limit the pivotal movement of body  12  to ninety degrees. A base  24  is integral with and extends perpendicularly from the face of plate  20 . Base  24  is provided with plural holes  26  whereby the base may be attached to the floor or other planar surface. The walls of body  12  are provided with a plurality of holes so that the body may be attached to board  20  with nails or screws. This arrangement allows the angle between the brace boot, and hence the entire brace, to vary as necessary.  
     [0031] The top boot brace  15  is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. Brace  15  is also rectangular-shaped having opposite ends  30  and  35 . End  35  is open in order to receive the top end of board  20 . End  30  is closed by an end plate. The end plate would ensure that the brace would not slide too far on board  20 . The walls of the brace are provided with holes  40  so that the brace may be attached to board  20  with nails or screws. A plate  80  defines a rear face of brace  15  and extends beyond end  30 . Plate  80  is provided with plural openings  85  whereby the brace may be attached to a wall stud or the like.  
     [0032] In the preferred embodiments, the brace boots are made of steel, but they may be made of any suitably strong material. As noted above, the bottom brace  10  may be also be employed as a top brace if desired.  
     [0033] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.