Cross bracing for wooden structures
AssigneeHamon Thermal Engineers & Contractors S.A.
InventorCharles H. De Moor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to cross bracing for wooden structures, formed by vertical posts (21), horizontal beams (22) intersecting each other at junctions, braces (23, 24, 25) situated diagonally between two adjacent junctions, and gussets (35-40) which connect the braces to the beams and the posts. The braces comprise transverse grooves (41) near their ends, and the gussets comprise a heel (45) at least one of their ends which can engage in one of the grooves in the braces.
Claims39
A kit of parts for bracing a structure, the structure comprising substantially vertical posts and substantially horizontal beams intersecting the posts at junctions, the kit comprising:
- at least one brace for disposition diagonally between two diagonally adjacent junctions of the structure and having at least one transverse groove in the vicinity of each end;
- at least one end gusset for attaching the brace to a junction of the structure, each end gusset comprising a heel at one end;
- at least one inter-brace gusset for attaching the brace to a similar brace, the two braces disposed substantially collinearly on opposite sides of a junction of the structure, each inter-brace gusset comprising a heel at each end;
- and
- at least one extension gusset for reinforcing another gusset while overlapping the reinforced gusset, each extension gusset comprising a heel at one end,
- the heel of each gusset being shaped to be engaged in the groove of each brace.
A method of cross bracing a structure having substantially vertical posts and substantially horizontal beams intersecting the posts at a plurality of junctions, the method comprising:
- diagonally disposing a brace having first and second ends between two of the junctions;
- and
- connecting the first end of the brace to one of the junctions with a first gusset plate having a heel engaged with a first groove formed in the brace.
A kit of parts for bracing a structure having a plurality of substantially vertical posts and a plurality of substantially horizontal beams intersecting the posts at junctions, the kit comprising:
- at least one brace for extending diagonally between two diagonally adjacent junctions of the structure, the brace having first and second ends and a plurality of transverse grooves formed at each end, each groove formed in a first of two opposite faces of the brace and extending transversely with respect to a length of the brace;
- a substantially L-shaped end gusset having a substantially flat body with a bolt hole formed therein, and a heel attached to one end of the body and shaped to engage with one of the grooves in the brace;
- a substantially C-shaped inter-brace gusset having a substantially flat body with a bolt hole formed therein, and first and second heels attached to opposite ends of the body, each heel shaped to engage with one of the grooves in the brace;
- an extension gusset having first and second substantially flat portions offset from one another in different planes, and a heel attached to end of the first portion shaped to engage with one of the grooves in the brace, the second portion having a bolt hole formed therein;
- and
- a plurality of bolts sized to engage the bolt holes of the gussets for bolting the gussets to the brace.
A kit of parts for bracing a structure having a plurality of substantially vertical posts and a plurality of substantially horizontal beams intersecting the posts at junctions, the kit comprising:
- a diagonal brace extending diagonally between two junctions of the structure located at different elevations, the brace having first and second ends, first and second opposite vertical faces extending between the ends, and a plurality of grooves formed in the first face at the first end, each groove extending transversely with respect to a length of the brace;
- and
- a first gusset having a substantially flat body and a heel attached to the body, the body overlapping the first end of the brace in a lengthwise direction of the brace and bolted to the first face of the brace and to the junction, the heel engaging one of the grooves in the first face.
A wooden structure comprising:
- a pair of substantially vertical wooden posts having upper and lower ends;
- a substantially horizontal wooden beam extending between the upper ends of the posts and defining a junction with one of the posts;
- a wooden brace extending diagonally between the junction and the lower end of one of the posts, the brace having an upper end with a plurality of transverse grooves formed in a substantially vertical face thereof;
- and
- a first gusset plate securing the brace to the junction, the first gusset plate comprising a substantially flat body and a heel attached to an end of the body, the body being bolted to the brace and to the junction and the heel engaging one of the grooves in the brace.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.