Patent ID: 6951078

Claim:
A building, comprising: a) at least one floor and having a foundation and at least one ceiling; b) reinforcing studs extending between said at least one floor and said at least one ceiling; c) a cross member connecting said reinforcing studs; d) a tie rod anchor anchored in said foundation; e) a tie-rod connected to said tie rod anchor and extending upwardly from said foundation between said reinforcing studs and through said cross member; f) a load adjusting device disposed above and operatively engaging said cross member and connected to said tie rod; g) said load adjusting device automatically movable in a downward direction toward said foundation to take up slack that develops on said tie rod; h) a nut secured to said tie rod and spaced upwardly from a bearing surface of said cross member; i) a preloaded spring disposed between said bearing surface and said nut to tend to expand and push apart said bearing surface and said nut, thereby causing said tie rod to move vertically through said cross member and maintain said tie rod under tension when a slack develops on said tie rod; and j) said load adjusting device is operably associated with said spring to prevent said spring from being re-compressed after said spring has expanded to take up a slack on said tie rod.