Patent Abstract:
A tie-down system for attaching beams used in creating a roof system to the supporting walls of a structure. The tie-down system having a first member and a second member which are adapted to receive the beams therein and secure the same to the wall system in a steadfast manner.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to the construction industry, and particularly to a device and method for securing a roof system to walls of a building in a steadfast manner.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the construction of wooden frames for buildings, coupling and/or fastening devices are often used to join, or secure together, different frame members. One such junction includes securing a truss assembly to a wall framing or system. The truss assembly usually consists of a horizontal member attached to an inclined member, and this assembly is mounted to the wall system. Additionally, the inclined member may be attached directly to the wall system. In either case, the security of the truss to the wall system may be compromised as a result of the attachment of the inclined member to the truss or wall system. Couplings may be used to secure the trusses to the wall systems. These couplings must be durable enough to resist shear and tension loads, but simple in construction for easy, on-the-job installation.  
           [0003]    A particular problem in climatic regions subject to severe winds is the shearing off of the roof assembly from the wall assembly during high wind storms or hurricanes. Government regulations and standards for manufactured homes for use in regions subject to hurricanes now require all roof trusses to be tied directly to the wall studs by enhanced means. Therefore, some means for directly tying the truss assembly to the wall studs is needed.  
           [0004]    In the past, relatively complicated couplings have been developed to mount the truss assembly to the wall. Examples of such known assemblies are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,949 issued Oct. 8, 1996 to Knoth; U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,173 issued Jun. 12, 1990 to Commins; U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,156 issued Oct. 1, 1996 to McDonald; U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,524 issued Mar. 31, 1998 to Kalker, Jr. et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,880 issued Aug. 1, 2000 to Thompson.  
           [0005]    One problem which each of the known couplings suffer from is that they are not easily adapted to function with poured concrete walls in which modular wall preforms, each comprising a pair of high-density foam panels which are maintained in a parallel-spaced relationship by a series of bridging “webs” extending between and through and molded into the panels, are interlockingly stacked together to define a concrete form for the poured concrete wall. With reinforcing steel bars optionally suspended within the assembled wall form, preferably through use of hooks or other retainers provided on each bridging web, the concrete is thereafter poured between the panels to complete the wall.  
           [0006]    The prior art does not address the need for a more effective method and device for creating securing roof systems to wall systems, and in particular to preform walls having a curable material therein. Therefore, there remains a long standing and continuing need for an advance in the art of tie-down systems that is simpler in both design and use, is more economical, efficient in its construction and use, and is adapted to affix the roof system to the wall system in a steadfast manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.  
           [0008]    In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tie down system that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the invention to provide a tie-down system that is easy to install during construction.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the invention to provide a tie-down system that is capable of withstanding large wind shear forces.  
           [0011]    In keeping with the principles of the present invention, a unique tie-down system is disclosed having a first member that is adapted to receive trusses therein and attach the same to the wall of a building in a steadfast manner. In addition, a second member is herein disclosed that is adapted to attach the gable end trusses of a roof system to the wall system at predetermined spaces in a steadfast manner.  
           [0012]    Such stated objects and advantages of the invention are only examples and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention herein will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the claims that follow. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for the purposes of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.  
         [0014]    In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first member of a tie down system adapted to receive a member therein.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second member of a tie down system adapted to receive a member therein.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a first member of a tie down system in an unassembled form.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a second member of a tie down system in an unassembled form..  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective partial cutaway view of a first member receiving a member therein and attaching the same to a wall system.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective partial cutaway view of a plurality of second members illustrating the attachment thereof to a member and anchoring of the structure to a wall system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first member  10  and a second member  12  comprise a roof tie down system. Although in a preferred embodiment first member  10  and second member  12  are used in combination for the tie down system, it is to be understood that first member  10  or second member  12  can be modified and used independent of the other.  
         [0022]    First member  10  has a bottom panel  14  and bottom panel has a first extended region  16  and a second extended region  18  that extending in opposing directions from one another. Although first extended region  16  and second extended region  18  are illustrated in one preferred embodiment as not being in linear alignment, it is to be understood that first extended region  16  and second extended region  18  may be adapted to be in linear alignment while maintaining bottom panel  14  therebetween. A first panel  20  extends in a vertical direction and is attached to bottom panel  14  and is in proximity to first extended region  16 . A second panel  22  extends in a vertical direction and is attached to bottom panel  14  and is in proximity to second extended region  18 . A guide  24  is defined by bottom panel  14 , first panel  20 , and second panel  22 . A first aperture  26  is defined through first extended region  16  and a second aperture  28  is defined through second extended region  28 .  
         [0023]    Now also referring to FIG. 3, one preferred method of constructing first member  10  is set forth. It is to be understood that although a unitary method of construction of first member  10  is herein illustrated in one preferred embodiment, first member  10  may be constructed from several disjoined elements in alternate preferred embodiments. In addition, although several preferred dimensions or shapes may be assigned to first member  10  in a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that alternate sizes and shapes are also contemplated hereby. First member  10  may be cut out from a unitary piece of material such that first panel  20  and second panel are in a similar plane as bottom panel  14 , first extended region  16 , and second extended region  18 . A first slit  30  is cut between first panel  20  and first extended region  16  such that first panel  20  may be manipulated into a vertical alignment in relation to first extended region  16  and bottom panel  14 . A second slit  32  is cut between second panel  22  and first extended region  18  such that second panel  22  may be manipulated into a vertical alignment in relation to second extended region  28  and bottom panel  14 . By varying the length of slits  30  and  32 , the width of bottom panel  14  and, in turn, guide  24  may be varied accordingly.  
         [0024]    Now referring to FIG. 2 in particular, second member  12  has a bottom plate  34  with an extended section  36  extending therefrom in a substantially similar plane. Bottom plate  34  has a first edge  38  and a second edge  40 , and a top edge  42  at a point distal to extended section  36 . A first plate  43  extends from top edge  42  of bottom plate  34  in a substantially vertical manner. However, in an alternate embodiment, first plate  43  is omitted and does not affect the functioning of second member  12 .  
         [0025]    Extended section  36  has a first border  44  and a second border  46  which are interconnected by a third border  48 , such that third border  48  is distal to bottom plate  34 . A first sheet  50  arises from first border  44  of extended section  36  in a vertical direction and extends for a substantial length thereof. A second sheet  52  arises from second border  46  of extended section  36  in a vertical direction and extends for a substantial length thereof. First sheet  50  has a first front border  54  and second sheet  52  has a second front border  56 . A third sheet  58  extends from first front border  54  in a substantially perpendicular manner and a fourth sheet  60  extends from second front border  56  in a substantially perpendicular manner in relation to first sheet  50  and second sheet  52  respectively. A first channel  62  is defined by first plate  43 , bottom plate  34 , third sheet  58 , and fourth sheet  60 . In addition, at least a hole  64  is defined through extended section  36  with predetermined dimensions.  
         [0026]    Now also referring to FIG. 4, one preferred method of constructing second member  12  is set forth. It is to be understood that although a unitary method of construction of second member  12  is herein illustrated in one preferred embodiment, second member  12  may be constructed from several disjoined elements in alternate preferred embodiments. In addition, although several preferred dimensions or shapes may be assigned to second member  12  in a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that alternate sizes and shapes are also contemplated hereby. Second member  12  may be cut out from a unitary piece of material such that first plate  43 , first sheet  50 , second sheet  52 , third sheet  58 , and fourth sheet  60  are in a similar plane as bottom plate  34  and extended section  36 . A third slit  66  is cut between third sheet  58  and bottom plate  34  such that first sheet  50  may be manipulated along first border  44  to be in vertical alignment in relation to extended section  36  and bottom plate  34 . A fourth slit  68  is cut between fourth sheet  60  and bottom plate  34  such that second sheet  52  may be manipulated along second border  46  to be in vertical alignment in relation to extended section  36  and bottom plate  34 . In an alternate preferred embodiment, a fifth slit  70  and a sixth slit  72  are cut into first plate  43  in a perpendicular direction to top edge  42  such that a first flap  74 , a second flap  76 , and a third flap  78  are created. At least one of flaps  74 ,  76 , or  78  may remain in a horizontal plane while at least one of flaps  74 ,  76 , or  78  are manipulated along the top edge  42  axis to be in vertical relation to bottom plate  34 . The length of the slits  70  and  72  determines the length of flaps  74 ,  76 , and  78 , and the horizontally aligned flap may be utilized to set second member  12  a specified distance from a structure and also for alignment of second member  12 .  
         [0027]    Now referring to FIG. 5, first member  10  is illustrated enclosing a member  80  and attaching member  80  to a structure  82 . Although a preform- wall is illustrated as structure  82 , it is to be understood that first member  10  may also be used with other wall structures such as, but not limited to, wooden frame wall system.  
         [0028]    Structure  82  is formed by pouring a suitable curable material  84 , such as concrete, between a first wall  86  and a second wall  88 . Structure  82  for purposes of illustration, but not limitation, may be obtained from AAB Building Supplies, Inc. of Ottawa, Canada, under the trademark BLUEMAXX® which uses a plurality of interlocking modular performs to construct a structure  82  of desired length. After curable material  84  is poured between first wall  86  and second wall  88 , a top surface  90  is created thereby. In one preferred embodiment, a plank  92  is attached to top surface  90 . Plank  92  has a plurality of voids defined therethrough and corresponding with apertures  26  and  28  of first member  10 . Before curable material  84  has cured, an anchoring means  94  is inserted through each of apertures  26  and  28  and through the corresponding void in plank  92  and into the curable material  84 , whereby upon curing thereof, anchoring means  94  is steadfastly held within curable material  84 . Anchoring means  94  has an elongated portion  96  and a head portion  98 , wherein elongated portion  96  is of sufficient diameter to pass through apertures  26  and  28  and head portion  98  is of sufficient diameter to engage extended regions  16  and  18  and to fixedly anchor first member  10  to structure  82 .  
         [0029]    In one preferred embodiment, member  80  may be a truss which has a horizontal element  100  and an inclined element  102  attached by a truss clip  104  to form the frame for a building roof. After curable material  84  has cured, member  80  is lowered into guide  24  of first member  10  such that horizontal element  100  is flush with bottom panel  14 . First panel  20  and second panel  22  are then attached to member  80  by at least an affixing means  106  such as, but not limited to, threaded elements or nails. A plurality of first members  10  may be placed along plank  92  at desired locations in order to attach a plurality of members  80  thereto as is customary in the art of roof building.  
         [0030]    Now referring to FIG. 6, second member  12  is illustrated enclosing member  80  and attaching member  80  to structure  82 . Although a preformn wall is illustrated as structure  82 , it is to be understood that second member  12  may also be used with other wall structures such as, but not limited to, wooden frame wall system. After curable material  84  is poured between first wall  86  and second wall  88 , top surface  90  is similarly created thereby. In one preferred embodiment, plank  92  is attached to top surface  90 , however it is to be understood that members  10  and  12  may be attached directly to curable material  84 . Plank  92  has a plurality of voids defined therethrough and corresponding with holes  64  of second member  12 . Before curable material  84  has cured, anchoring means  94  is inserted through each hole  64  and through the corresponding void in plank  90  and into the curable material  84 , whereby upon curing thereof, anchoring means  94  is steadfastly held within curable material  84 . Anchoring means  94  may have a textured elongated portion  96  to more fixedly attach the same to curable material  84 . Elongated portion  96  is of sufficient diameter to pass through hole  64  and head portion  98  is of sufficient diameter to engage extended section  36  and to fixedly anchor second member  12  to structure  82 . In one preferred embodiment, elongated portion  96  has at least a half-inch diameter and is of sufficient length such that at least seven inches of elongated portion  96  is maintained within curable material  84 .  
         [0031]    In one preferred embodiment, member  80  may be a gable end truss which has a horizontal element  100  and an inclined element  102  (not shown) attached by a truss clip  104  (not shown) and vertical members (not shown) which attach the horizontal element  100  to inclined element  102  at a plurality of locations. Gable end trusses are located on opposing walls and run along the top surface thereof such that the internal trusses are located therebetween. After curable material  84  has cured, member  80  is lowered into first channel  62  of second member  12  such that horizontal element  100  is flush with bottom plate  34 . Third sheet  58  and fourth sheet  60  are then attached to horizontal element  100  by at least an affixing means  106  such as, but not limited to, threaded elements or nails. A plurality of second members  12  may be placed along plank  92  at desired locations in order to engage horizontal member of the gable end truss at a plurality of locations as is customary in the art of roof building or required by the building code of the region.  
         [0032]    Various materials may be used to construct first member  10  and second member  12 , and for purposes of illustration, but not limitation, in one preferred embodiment members  10  and  12  are constructed of a metal or a metal alloy such as, but not limited to, steel or aluminum.  
         [0033]    While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible without departing from the essential spirit of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4