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US 5,331,786 AGranted
Knockdown earthquake brace for residential garage front wall
OwnerStephen L. Lippertinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightweight steel/wood earthquake brace for existing or new residential garage front wall. In the preferred embodiment, folded sheet metal legs are bolted together to form a rigid L-bracket. Symmetrical L-brackets are bolted to the garage door wood header and to the concrete footing to stiffen the wall against wind or earthquake. In another embodiment the steel members are connected with protruding tabs and holes.
Claims21
In combination:
- a garage front wall having a garage door opening there through, said garage door opening having a height and a width, and said garage door opening having a left side, a right side, a top edge and a bottom edge,
- and a reinforcing brace comprising:
- a left hand L bracket, comprising:
- a first rigid column member positioned adjacent said left side of said garage door opening, said first rigid column member extending substantially the height of said garage door opening,
- a first rigid beam member positioned adjacent said top edge of said garage door opening,
- a first removable, rigid, moment transmitting joint means for fastening said first rigid column member to said first rigid beam member,
- and means for fastening said left hand L bracket to said garage front wall,
- and a right hand L bracket, comprising:
- a second rigid column member positioned adjacent said right side of said garage door opening, said second rigid column member extending substantially the height of said garage door opening,
- a second rigid beam member positioned adjacent said top edge of said garage door opening,
- a second removable, rigid, moment transmitting joint means for fastening said second rigid column member to said second rigid beam member,
- and a means for fastening said right hand L bracket to said garage front wall.
9 more elements
In combination:
- a garage front wall having a garage door opening there through, said garage door opening having a height and a width, and said garage door opening having a left side, a right side, a top edge and a bottom edge,
- and a reinforcing brace comprising:
- a first rigid column member positioned adjacent said left side of said garage door opening, said first rigid column member having an upper end and a lower end, said first rigid column member extending substantially the height of said garage door opening,
- a second rigid column member positioned adjacent said right side of said garage door opening, said second rigid column member having an upper end and a lower end, said second rigid column member extending substantially the height of said garage door opening,
- a rigid beam member positioned adjacent said top edge of said garage door opening, said rigid beam member extending substantially the width of said garage door opening, said rigid beam member having a left end and a right end,
- a first removable, rigid, moment transmitting joint means for fastening said upper end of said first rigid column member to said left end of said rigid beam member,
- a second removable, rigid, moment transmitting joint means for fastening said upper end of said second rigid column member to said right end of said rigid beam member,
- and a means for fastening said reinforcing brace to said garage front wall.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.