Tie-down runner for mobile home wall construction
AssigneeUnited States Gypsum Company
InventorJames E. Reicherts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tie-down runner to increase resistance to shear and racking forces in mobile home wall constructions is disclosed. Said tie-down runner having a generally J-shape and suitable for use at upper and lower ends of wall studding to increase resistance to said forces and to additionally provide increased attachment surfaces for interior wall panel members. A method for increasing resistance to shear and racking forces is also provided.
Claims17
A steel tie-down runner for use in wall construction in mobile homes, said tie-down runner comprising
- an integral elongate configuration having a generally J-shape, said runner capable of being positioned at the base of studs along flooring and at the top of studs at ceilings, said runner having a shorter flange forming one arm of the J-shape, said shorter flange terminating in a base plate extending at generally right angles thereto, said base plate terminating at an opposite edge in a longer flange forming the longer arm of the J-shape, said longer flange including a return portion extending inwardly of the runner, said return being capable of engagement within notches of studs, said base plate including tab means extending in generally the opposite direction of the shorter flange in substantially the same plane as the shorter flange, and said tab means having holes therein to provide means for mechanically fastening said runner.
In a mobile home wall construction comprising wood studs and wall panels attached thereto, the improvement comprising, like tie-down runners each having a generally J-shape and positioned at upper and lower ends of studs in opposing alignment, said tie-down runners having a shorter arm connected to a base plate at one edge thereof and a longer arm extending in parallel relationship from an opposite side edge of said base plate, wherein the longer arm terminates in an inwardly extending return residing within notches of the studs, said base plate including tab means extending in generally the opposite direction of the shorter arm in substantially the same plane as the shorter arm and said tab means having holes therein to provide means for mechanically fastening said runner, and wherein said tie-down runners provide increased resistance to shear and racking forces affecting said mobile home wall.
A method for improving resistance to shear and racking forces in a mobile home wall having wood stud members, said method comprising the steps of
- disposing flooring atop a floor construction having rim joists at exterior portions thereof, positioning a tie-down runner along said flooring at and along a rim joist, said tie-down runner having a generally J-shape with a shorter arm extending from one side edge of a base plate and a longer arm extending from an opposite side edge of the base plate wherein said longer arm terminates in a return portion suitable for insertion within a notch in a wood stud, said base plate including tab means extending in generally the opposite direction of the shorter arm in substantially the same plane as the shorter arm and said tab means having holes therein, affixing said tie-down runner to said flooring by mechanical fastening through the holes in said tab means, disposing a lower end of a wood stud atop said base plate between said longer arm and shorter arm, cutting a notch in said stud to align with said return portion of said longer arm and positioning said return portion within said notch, disposing said wood stud in generally vertical alignment, positioning a substantially identical second tie-down runner in inverted relationship to the first tie-down runner at the upper end of the stud wherein said longer arms and shorter arms of the tie-down runners opposingly face, disposing an edge portion of a ceiling surface along said second tie-down runner, placing an edge rail on a roof truss means above said second tie-down runner atop said ceiling surface, affixing said second tie-down runner to said ceiling surface by mechanical fastening through the holes in said tab means, and attaching wall panels to said stud by mechanical fastening means and to the longer arms of said tie-down runner by adhesive fastening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.