Reinforcing brace frame

A reinforcing brace frame for wood-framed structures having hold-down bolts extending upward from a foundation, the reinforcing brace frame comprising

• an upper horizontally-extending frame member possessing an open cross-section opening downwardly;
• a lower horizontally-extending frame member substantially parallel to the upper horizontally-extending frame member and possessing an open cross-section opening upwardly, the lower horizontally-extending frame member including two slots therethrough adjacent each end of the lower horizontally-extending frame member, through which the hold-down bolts may extend;
• a vertically-extending member welded to the horizontally-extending members to constrain the ends of the unitary vertically-extending member, the upper end of the unitary vertically-extending member being disposed within the open cross-section of the upper horizontally-extending frame member and the lower end of the unitary vertically-extending frame member being disposed within the open cross-section of the lower horizontally-extending frame member, the unitary vertically-extending member having end panels, inwardly extending flanges from one edge of the end panels, respectively, and a flat web extending between the other edge of the end panels to form a semi-enclosed rectangular space along each vertical side of the unitary vertically-extending member surrounding the slots of the lower horizontally-extending frame member with access thereto;
• washers on the lower horizontally-extending frame member with attachment slots therethrough over the slots in the lower horizontally-extending frame member and within the semi-enclosed rectangular spaces of the unitary vertically-extending member.