Continuous hold-down system
OwnerAlfred D. Comminsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hold-down system used to secure a building structure to the foundation, thereby enabling the building to better withstand forces like high winds and earthquakes because these forces may then be distributed to the foundation. The hold-down system is characterized as being continuous and having stackable, individual take-up units. A continuous hold-down system allows the system to compensate for shrinkage or crushing of the building's frame throughout each level of the building because the anchor of the system is always in communication with the foundation of the building. The individual take-up units are stackable allowing each level of the system to compensate for shrinkage or crushing on that level as well as adjacent levels.
Claims18
An assembly comprising:
- a foundation;
- a shear wall supported above the foundation, the shear wall comprising an upper portion and a top plate extending horizontally across the upper portion thereof, the shear wall defining a portal extending therethrough, the portal having a first side and a second side spaced apart from one another;
- a first anchor positioned proximate the first side of the portal and extending from the foundation through the top plate;
- a second anchor positioned proximate the second side of the portal and extending from the foundation through the top plate;
- a first retainer engaging the first anchor at a first distance above the top plate;
- a second retainer engaging the second anchor at a second distance above the top plate;
- a first take-up device positioned and expandable to fill the first distance;
- and
- a second take-up device positioned and expandable to fill the second distance;
- wherein the shear wall further comprises at least one cable providing triangulated support therefor.
An assembly defining longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another, the assembly comprising:
- a foundation;
- a shear wall supported in the transverse direction above the foundation, the shear wall comprising a first support member extending in the transverse direction from a lower end to an upper end, a second support member spaced in the longitudinal direction from the first support member and extending in the transverse direction from a lower end to an upper end, and a top plate extending in the longitudinal direction across the upper ends of the first and second support members, the shear wall defining a portal extending in the transverse direction therethrough at a location between the first and second support members;
- a first anchor positioned proximate the first support member and extending in the transverse direction from the foundation through the top plate;
- a second anchor positioned proximate the second support member and extending in the transverse direction from the foundation through the top plate
- a first retainer engaging the first anchor a first distance above the top plate in the transverse direction;
- a second retainer engaging the second anchor a second distance above the top plate in the transverse direction;
- a first take-up device positioned and expandable to fill the first distance;
- and
- a second take-up device positioned and expandable to fill the second distance;
- wherein the shear wall further comprises at least one cable providing triangulated support therefor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.