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US 2010/0300022 A1Published application
Fastener assembly serving as a product, or combined with other components as a product, allows automatic controlled movements in one direction and prevents movements in the opposite direction when forces are applied
OwnerThomas M. Espinosainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener assembly 10, in respect to forces which are subsequently applied, after the installation thereof, when forces is applied in one direction, this fastener assembly 10 is self adjusting incrementally, as needed in travel or actuation; yet when a force is applied in the opposite direction, this fastener assembly 10 is not self adjusting and there is no travel or actuation.
Claims12
1-42. (canceled)
A building, comprising:
- a) first, second and third floors and respective first, second and third ceilings;
- b) a foundation;
- c) a first stud wall extending between said second floor and said second ceiling;
- d) a second stud wall extending between said third floor and said third ceiling;
- e) a tie rod anchor anchored in said foundation;
- f) a series of interconnected tie rods having one end secured to said tie rod anchor, said interconnected tie rods extending within said first and second stud walls through said second and third floors;
- and
- g) said interconnected tie rods being secured at intermediate and end portions thereof to said first stud wall and said second stud wall, respectively.
5 more elements
A fastener system as in claim 52, wherein:
- a) said first and second cylindrical members include first and second opposing cylindrical walls, respectively;
- b) said first cylindrical wall includes a plurality of first receiving volumes;
- c) said second cylindrical wall includes a plurality of second receiving volumes;
- d) a resilient member disposed between said first and second cylindrical walls, said resilient member is biased to occupy one of said first and second receiving volumes;
- e) said first and second receiving volumes are configured in cross-section such that when said another one of said first and second cylindrical members is moved in said downward axial direction, said resilient member is shifted into and fully received within another one of said first and second volumes, thereby allowing further downward movement of said another one of said first and second cylindrical members;
- and
- f) said first and second volumes are configured in cross-section such that when said another one of said first and second cylindrical members is moved in said upward axial direction, said resilient member is only partially received within said one of said first and second volumes, thereby precluding further upward movement of said another one of said first and second cylindrical members.
4 more elements
A method for securing a building wall to a foundation, comprising:
- a) providing a tie rod that extends from a foundation to a position within the wall;
- b) anchoring one end of the tie rod to the foundation;
- c) anchoring an opposite end of the tie rod to the wall;
- and
- d) maintaining the tie rod under tension when a slack develops on the tie rod.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.