# US 8,739,486 B2 · Insulated building structure and apparatus therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,486 B2 - Document ID: US8739486B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/006,807 - Filed: 2011-01-14 - Published: 2011-07-21 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-01-19 - Applicants: Stan Bodsford; Dan Carney - Inventors: Stan Bodsford; Dan Carney - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739486B2 ## CPC - E04H 5/10: Buildings forming part of cooling plants - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract A bracket apparatus for an insulated building structure includes: a sheathing mounting element including a mounting surface configured to receive a mechanical fastener; and at least one elongated spacer extending away from the sheathing mounting element by a predetermined stand-off distance, the spacer configured to penetrate fibrous insulation, and defining a contact pattern configured to prevent pivoting motion of the spacer relative to a planar surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bracket apparatus for an insulated building structure, comprising: a sheathing mounting element including a mounting surface configured to receive a mechanical fastener; and a spacer attached to the sheathing mounting element and extending away from the sheathing mounting element by a predetermined standoff distance, wherein the spacer defines a contact pattern configured to prevent pivoting motion of the spacer relative to a planar surface and comprises a sheet-metal plate oriented perpendicular to the mounting surface, the sheet-metal plate including two spaced-apart lateral edges and terminating at a cutting edge that extends between the lateral edges; and wherein the sheathing mounting element comprises an inverted “U”-shape with a web and two spaced-apart flanges downturned over the spacer such that each of the flanges contacts and extends partially along a corresponding one of the lateral edges, leaving the cutting edge exposed between the two lateral edges, such that the spacer is configured to penetrate fibrous insulation by cutting action of the cutting edge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spacer has a ratio of length, measured parallel to the stand-off distance, to a thickness of the spacer, of about 40 or more. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a plurality of the spacers spaced apart along the length of the sheathing mounting element. ### Claim 4 An insulated building structure comprising: an array of spaced-apart structural members; an intermediate member interconnecting the spaced-apart structural members, the intermediate member having a planar surface; a layer of thermal insulation lying across the intermediate member; a bracket comprising: a sheathing mounting element including a mounting surface configured to receive a mechanical fastener; a spacer attached to the sheathing mounting element and extending away from the sheathing mounting element by a predetermined standoff distance, wherein the spacer: defines a contact pattern configured to prevent pivoting motion of the spacer relative to a planar surface; comprises a sheet-metal plate oriented perpendicular to the mounting surface; and includes two spaced-apart lateral edges and terminates at a cutting edge that extends between the lateral edges; and wherein the sheathing mounting element comprises an inverted “U”-shape with a web and two spaced-apart flanges downturned over the spacer, such that each of the flanges contacts and extends partially along a corresponding one of the lateral edges, leaving the cutting edge exposed between the two lateral edges, such that the spacer is configured to penetrate fibrous insulation by cutting action of the cutting edge; wherein the bracket is positioned with the cutting edge in contact with the intermediate member such that the spacer penetrates the thermal insulation and extends away from the intermediate member by the predetermined stand-off distance, such that the mounting surface is exposed outside the thermal insulation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The structure of claim 4 further comprising exterior sheathing which overlies the thermal insulation and is attached to the mounting surface of the bracket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The structure of claim 4 further comprising supplemental thermal insulation overlying the sheathing mounting element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The structure of claim 4 wherein the spacer has a ratio of length, measured parallel to the stand-off distance, to a thickness of the spacer, of about 40 or more. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The insulated building structure of claim 4 wherein the bracket includes a plurality of the spacers spaced apart along the length of the sheathing mounting element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The insulated building structure of claim 4 wherein the building structure includes a plurality of the intermediate members, the structure further comprising a plurality of the brackets, each of the brackets positioned in contact with a corresponding intermediate member. ### Claim 10 A method of insulating a building structure having an array of spaced-apart structural members and an intermediate member interconnecting the spaced-apart structural members, and a layer of thermal insulation lying across the intermediate member wherein each the intermediate member includes a planar surface, the method comprising: providing a plurality of brackets, each bracket comprising: a sheathing mounting element including a mounting surface configured to receive a mechanical fastener; a spacer attached to the sheathing mounting element and extending away from the sheathing mounting element by a predetermined standoff distance, wherein the spacer: defines a contact pattern configured to prevent pivoting motion of the spacer relative to a planar surface; and comprises a sheet-metal plate oriented perpendicular to the mounting surface with two spaced-apart lateral edges and terminating at a cutting edge that extends between the two lateral edges; and wherein the sheathing mounting element comprises an inverted “U”-shape with a web and two spaced-apart flanges downturned over the spacer, such that each of the flanges contacts and extends partially along a corresponding one of the lateral edges, leaving the cutting edge exposed between the two lateral edges; positioning the bracket in contact with the intermediate member by pushing the bracket, such that the spacer penetrates the thermal insulation by cutting action of the cutting edge and extends away from the intermediate member by the predetermined stand-off distance, and such that the mounting surface is exposed outside the thermal insulation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising positioning exterior sheathing overlying the thermal insulation and attaching the exterior sheathing to the mounting surface of the sheathing mounting element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising positioning supplemental thermal insulation overlying the sheathing mounting element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the bracket includes a plurality of the brackets spaced apart along the length of the sheathing mounting element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the building structure includes a plurality of the intermediate members, the method further comprising providing a plurality of the brackets and positioning each of the plurality of brackets in contact with a corresponding intermediate member.