US 5,664,388 A · Structural shear resisting member and method employed therein

Abstract

A shear resisting member of a frame structure comprising four triangular cross-section beams, each beam or stud formed from a single piece of cold formed sheet steel which is bent lengthwise along four parallel lines to form a triangular cross-section with two wings or flanges, side-by-side, extending from its apex. Within the frame structure of the shear resisting member, two frame beams have first beam lengths corresponding to the longer dimension of the opening in the wall to be reinforced, which are disposed parallel to each other. The other two beams have second beam lengths substantially shorter than the first beam lengths, the second beam length corresponding to the spacing between the frame studs or truss members of the structure being reinforced. Gussets are attached along the lengths of the wings or flanges of the second beams and the ends of the first beams to fasten the frame structure together. A plurality of strut members span the interior edges of the first beams to form an open web between the two first beams. The strut members, each formed from sheet steel folded or creased to form triangular cross-sections, are fastened to the first beams at angles to provide shear resistance in a plurality of different directions. A method for retrofitting existing structures to provide reinforcement against shear forces comprises identification of weight-bearing walls and removal of interior wall paneling, such as dry wall, to expose the frame along sections of the wall. A shear panel is selected to have horizontal dimensions to fit between two adjacent wall studs, and vertical dimensions to extend from the foundation or floor joist to the roof truss or floor joist of an upper story for multi-level structures. The original wall studs are removed and the panel is inserted along with replacement wall studs.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A structural shear resisting member for installation in a wall frame wherein said wall frame includes a plurality of wall studs and a plurality of horizontal members, the shear resisting member comprising:

a frame formed from four lightweight metal beams, each beam of said four beams having a first triangular cross-section formed by folding a length of sheet metal lengthwise on four parallel lines to define a base, two sides and two flanges extending from said two sides, one flange corresponding to each side, said four beams comprising two first beams having a first beam length, and two second beams having a second beam length much less than said first beam length;
a plurality of gussets for connecting said first beams and said second beams to assemble said frame, each gusset being fastened to said flanges of said first beams and one of said second beams at a plurality of gusset attachment points, each gusset comprising a strip of sheet metal having a length for spanning a space between said first beams;
a plurality of strut members for spanning said space between said first beams at a plurality of different angles, each strut member of said plurality being fastened to said flanges of at least one of said first beams at a strut attachment point, each strut member including a strip of sheet metal having a plurality of lengthwise folds to define a second triangular cross-section;
a plurality of first fastening means for fastening said plurality of gussets and said plurality of strut members to said flanges of said first and second beams;
and
means for attaching said frame within said spacing between two wall studs of said plurality of wall studs and to an upper and a lower horizontal member of said plurality of horizontal members.

3 more elements

A method for reinforcing a structural frame wall against external shear forces, said frame wall comprising a plurality of wall studs and a plurality of horizontal members, the method comprising:

identifying a load-bearing position within said frame wall;
forming a shear resisting member comprising the steps of:
forming a frame from four lightweight metal beams, each beam of said four beams having a first triangular cross-section formed by folding a length of sheet metal lengthwise on four parallel lines to define a base, two sides and two flanges extending from said two sides, one flange corresponding to each side, said four beams comprising two first beams having a first beam length, and two second beams having a second beam length much less than said first beam length;
connecting said first beams and said second beams using a plurality of gussets to assemble said frame, each gusset being fastened to said flanges of said first beams and one of said second beams at a plurality of gusset attachment points, each gusset comprising a strip of sheet metal having a length for spanning a space between said first beams;
spanning said space between said first beams at a plurality of different angles using a plurality of strut members, each strut member of said plurality being fastened to said flanges of each of said first beams at a strut attachment point, each strut member including a strip of sheet metal having a plurality of lengthwise folds to define a second triangular cross-section;
fastening said plurality of gussets and said plurality of strut members to said flanges of said first and second beams using a plurality of fastening means;
attaching each said first beam to a metal wall stud;
forming at least one attachment means at each end of said metal wall stud;
and
fastening said at least one attachment means of each said metal wall stud at said upper and lower horizontal members.

7 more elements

A method for interiorly retrofitting an existing structural frame to reinforce said structural frame against external shear forces, the method comprising:

identifying a load-bearing position within a wall of said structural frame;
removing an interior wall panel from said wall to expose a portion of said structural frame corresponding to the load-bearing position;
removing at least two wall studs from said structural frame to define a space for installation of a shear resisting member;
forming a shear resisting member comprising the steps of:
forming a frame from four lightweight metal beams, each beam of said four beams having a first triangular cross-section formed by folding a length of sheet metal lengthwise on four parallel lines to define a base, two sides and two flanges extending from said two sides, one flange corresponding to each side, said four beams comprising two first beams having a first beam length, and two second beams having a second beam length much less than said first beam length;
connecting said first beams and said second beams using a plurality of gussets to assemble said frame, each gusset being fastened to said flanges of said first beams and one of said second beams at a plurality of gusset attachment points, each gusset comprising a strip of sheet metal having a length for spanning a space between said first beams;
spanning said space between said first beams at a plurality of different angles using a plurality of strut members, each strut member of said plurality being fastened to said flanges of each of said first beams at a strut attachment point, each strut member including a strip of sheet metal having a plurality of lengthwise folds to define a second triangular cross-section;
fastening said plurality of gussets and said plurality of strut members to said flanges of said first and second beams using a plurality of fastening means;
attaching each said first beam to a replacement metal wall stud;
forming at least one attachment means at each end of said replacement metal wall stud;
fastening said at least one attachment means of each said replacement metal wall stud at said upper and lower horizontal members;
and
replacing said interior wall panel over said shear resisting member and said replacement metal wall studs.

10 more elements

A method for interiorly retrofitting an existing structural frame to reinforce said structural frame against external shear forces wherein said structural frame supports a plurality of interior wall panels, the method comprising:

identifying a load-bearing position within a wall of said structural frame;
removing an interior wall panel of said plurality of interior wall panels from said wall to expose a portion of said structural frame corresponding to the load-bearing position;
removing at least two wall studs from said structural frame to define a space for installation of a shear resisting member;
forming a shear resisting member comprising the steps of:
forming a frame from four metal beams, each beam of said four beams having a first hollow cross-section formed by folding a length of sheet metal lengthwise on four parallel lines, said four beams comprising two first beams having a first beam length, and two second beams having a second beam length much less than said first beam length, said second beam length defining a space between said two first beams;
spanning said space between said first beams at a plurality of different angles using a plurality of strut members, each strut member of said plurality being fastened to each of said first beams at a strut attachment point, each strut member including a strip of sheet metal having a plurality of lengthwise folds to define a second hollow cross-section;
fastening said plurality of strut members to said first and second beams using a plurality of fastening means;
attaching each said first-beam to a replacement metal wall stud having at least one attachment means at each end;
fastening said at least one attachment means of each said replacement metal wall stud at upper and lower horizontal members;
and
replacing said interior wall panel over said shear resisting member and said replacement metal wall studs.

8 more elements

A method for interiorly retrofitting an existing structural frame for supporting a plurality of interior and exterior wall panels to reinforce said structural frame against external shear forces, the method comprising:

identifying a load-bearing position within a wall of said structural frame;
removing an interior wall panel of said plurality of interior and exterior wall panels from said wall to expose a portion of said structural frame corresponding to the load-bearing position;
removing at least two wall studs from said structural frame to define a space for installation of a shear resisting member;
forming a shear resisting member comprising the steps of:
forming a frame from four beams comprising two first beams having a first beam length, and two second beams having a second beam length much less than said first beam length, said second beam length defining a space between said two first beams;
spanning said space between said first beams at a plurality of different angles using a plurality of strut members, each strut member of said plurality being fastened to each of said first beams at a strut attachment point;
fastening said plurality of strut members to said first and second beams using a plurality of fastening means;
attaching each said first beam to a replacement wall stud having at least one attachment means at each end;
fastening said at least one attachment means of each said replacement wall stud at upper and lower horizontal members;
and
replacing said interior wall panel over said shear resisting member and said replacement wall studs.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Structural shear resisting member and method employed therein

Life of this patent

Structural shear resisting member and method employed therein

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28