HK1195350B - Anti-torsion construction system providing structural integrity and seismic resistance - Google Patents

Description

Anti-twist construction system providing structural integrity and shock resistance

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 13/850,984, filed on 3/26/2013, continuation-in-part application No. 13/850,984, filed on 9/13/2012, U.S. patent application No. 13/613,441, U.S. patent application No. 13/613,441, claims benefit to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/685,793, filed on 26/3/2012, and U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/685,793, claims benefit to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/573,943, filed on 9/15/2011. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to storm components and residential or commercial structures that are reinforced to resist the damaging forces imposed by storm, torsion and seismic events.

Background

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure that is not necessarily prior art.

Hurricanes and tornadoes are well known to generate forces of storm that can damage and/or destroy standard residential and commercial structures. Storm forces are known to remove and/or destroy the primary sealing systems of wall panels, roofs, siding, and facings. Furthermore, it is known that storm forces lift the entire roof system and blow down and/or suck out the walls.

Winds associated with tornadoes and hurricane storms are known to include destructive linear winds as well as other destructive forces that exert a twisting force on a structure to forcefully twist the structure apart. In addition, tornadoes and hurricane storms impact structures with seismic type forces that effectively weaken the retention of traditional fasteners such as nails or screws. Moreover, a tornado storm comprises a vortex, sometimes comprising several small vortices within a large vortex, which imparts a helical profile of wind capable of imparting a forceful dynamic wind wall known to impart an impact force to a structure, capable of forcefully colliding and/or knocking down the structure rather than merely blowing down the structure.

Observation of a tornado storm event shows that the vortex travels in an unconventional, unpredictable, and undefined bird-like pattern and/or path and rotates simultaneously. The movement of the birdsong-type pattern relative to the ground gives a rotating headwall impact like a force on the structure as it slams in case of a sudden change of direction. As a result, frame-type structures often suffer significant damage caused by the direct impact of a tornado, regardless of the size or category of the storm.

In addition, it is well known that storm forces impose a significant number of weather events that may have flowed into a structure even before structural components failed and/or were damaged. In addition to the significant opportunity for inflow caused by broken windows and/or other damaged structural components, storm events are known to blow rain into and through the functional vents of intact roof systems, thus creating water damage even if little or no insubstantial structural damage occurs.

In addition to wind and rain, severe wind events exert seismic forces on buildings that are different from seismic forces caused by earthquakes. One part of the reason that frame type buildings appear to explode apart is that the fasteners, usually nails and/or screws, weaken significantly when subjected to seismic forces and lose their holding power. As a result, once the holding force of conventional nails and screws is broken, the subsequently applied wind, rain, torque and/or seismic forces actually have significant damaging impact forces on the structure.

There are a number of representative known techniques in the patent literature for dealing with the storm forces of various hurricanes or tornadoes by requiring the use of any of several reinforcing components. However, one of the main problems of all known examples is that they do not meet our do-it-yourself culture and do not meet the cost-effectiveness of general mass consumption.

Another problem with known examples of technology is that none of these patent documents relating to structural reinforcing systems include a mechanism for providing a secondary sealing system for a structure in the event that the primary sealing system of a wall panel and/or side panel of the structure is compromised.

Another problem of the known technical examples is that none of these patent documents relating to structural reinforcement systems include a mechanism for providing torsion and shock resistance to the construction by using a substantially frame-type construction element.

There are references to some prior art in the patent literature relating to minimizing water influx damage due to storms, but again none of these examples satisfy our do-it-yourself culture and do not satisfy the cost-effectiveness of general public consumption. Additionally, none of the known examples provide any reinforcing reinforcement to improve the structural integrity of the frame-type construction to resist destructive torsional forces caused by storms or destructive seismic forces caused by storms and other seismic events. Moreover, these prior art sealing systems do not provide a secondary sealing system in the event that the primary sealing system is compromised.

Disclosure of Invention

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a complete disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

The present invention overcomes well-known problems in a manner that will be readily appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the present invention provides features and functionality for many other applications beyond the preferred embodiments disclosed, which those skilled in the art will readily recognize as embodying the spirit of the present invention.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a typical residential component or prefabricated residential construction that is reinforced and substantially strengthened in specific areas of the structure to better withstand the destructive wind forces of hurricanes and tornadoes, such as those induced in the form of rectilinear, torsional and/or seismic forces. A preferred embodiment also provides a secondary watertight seal that is used to maintain a reasonable barrier against the influx of stormwater and wind rain in the event that the primary watertight barrier is breached by a shingle and/or siding during a storm.

It is to be understood that secondary water sealing requires that the structure must maintain moderate structural integrity; thus, a range of structural enhancements are employed for this purpose and further maintain structural integrity against storm forces. The structural reinforcement system is comprised of several subsystems that all work together to collectively reinforce the structural integrity of the structure. These subsystems include, but are not limited to, the following:

anchoring system

Wall reinforcement system

Rafter/joist restraint system

Wind beam system

Diaphragm (diaphragm) stiffening system

Wall panel system

Roof sheathing system

Ventilation system

Window/door protection and sealing system

Safe room system

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that while many typical structures require all of the listed subsystems to reinforce the structure sufficiently to resist severe storms, some complex structures may require additional specific subsystems, while less complex systems may require only portions of the listed subsystems. Each subsystem is briefly described below.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Drawings

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front left perspective view of a building structure anchoring system;

FIG. 2 is a front left perspective view of the building structure of FIG. 1, further including a wall reinforcement system;

FIG. 3 is a front left perspective view of area 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front left perspective view of a portion of the building structure of FIG. 1 modified to show upper and lower structures engaged by the floor joists;

FIG. 5 is a front right perspective view of area 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a bottom front perspective view of the truss assembly;

FIG. 7 is a front left perspective view of the building structure similar to FIG. 2 further including a wall panel system;

FIG. 8 is a front left perspective view of the roof sheathing system;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the roof sheathing system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional end view taken at section 10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional end view modified from FIG. 10 to show a ventilation system;

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of an architectural window/door protective sealing system;

FIG. 13 is a front left perspective view of the building of FIG. 12 modified to include an interior explosion-proof safe room;

FIG. 14 is a front left perspective view of a block support assembly for establishing a line of compression blocking in a roofing system or a wall system;

FIG. 15 is a front left perspective view of a compressed mass queue having a plurality of the mass support subassemblies of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of a compressed mass array applied to a wall system comprised of a mass support subassembly similar to FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of a gable end of the roofing system supported against ceiling joists and a roofing system construction element;

FIG. 18 is an end perspective view of the improved baffle system;

FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of an interior corner of a wall system featuring a lateral corner support enhancement assembly;

FIG. 20 is a side perspective view looking from the exterior inward of the wall construction with the lateral angular support enhancement assembly and the baffle system applied to the roof system; and

FIG. 21 is a front view of a lateral corner support enhancement subassembly.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Detailed Description

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, an anchoring system 10 is connected to a typical slab 12 defining a substructure, including a set of anchor bolts 14 and a plurality of structural specific members or structural struts 18, the set of anchor bolts 14 being at least partially embedded in the slab 12 and connected to a wall reinforcement system having a plurality of anchor brackets 16, the plurality of structural specific members or structural struts 18 being connected to the anchor brackets 16. The anchoring system 10 as defined by the present invention is a subsystem that anchors a building structure 20 to a plank 12 or other foundation element. The reinforcement system of one preferred embodiment provides specific first and second anchor bolts 22, 24 to provide suitable placement and anchoring mechanisms in cooperation with other structural reinforcement members. An alternative preferred embodiment uses standard anchor bolt components. Whether a particular anchor bolt 22, 24 or a standard anchor bolt is used, the present disclosure requires that the appropriate anchoring mechanism include anchor bolt nuts 26, 28 connecting the free extension 22a, 24a of the particular anchor bolt 22, 24 to the anchor bracket 16, the anchor bracket 16 being located between sequentially spaced members such as studs 30, 32, the poured newly constructed slab 12, the original slab being employed, and used to construct or retrofit a structure on top of the wall of the crawl space or base wall. The free extension portions 22a, 24a of the anchor bolts 22, 24 for each anchor bracket 16 are oppositely positioned relative to the longitudinal axis 27 of the structural strut 18 connected to each anchor bracket 16 to resist axial rotation/torsion of the structural strut 18 and thus of the uprights 30, 32. The present disclosure utilizes the anchoring system 10 to cooperate and integrate various features of the wall reinforcement system 34 (shown and described with reference to fig. 2-3) and/or the safe room system 72 (shown and described with reference to fig. 13).

Referring to fig. 2 and again to fig. 1, the wall reinforcement system 34 as defined by the present disclosure is a subsystem that is integrated into a typical column-type wall structure 36 of the building structure 20 to provide significantly enhanced compressive and tensile strength to the wall structure 36. A typical wood or metal stud building wall 38 having sequentially spaced studs 30, 32 has suitable compressive strength but very little tensile strength and is therefore susceptible to lift during storms. In addition, the wall reinforcement system 34 of the present invention provides resistance to forces that result in torsional and/or rhomboid states. The particular structural members or structural pillars 18 are metal tubes mounted in the pillar walls 38 at a distance between an adjacent pair of pillars along the walls 38 and/or at the corners 40, such that the structural pillars 18 are substantially stronger than typical pillar wall members (e.g., wood or metal pillars) and can be securely and robustly attached to the rivet system 10 described with reference to fig. 1. According to one embodiment, the plate 42 is bolted to a specific structural strut 18, the specific structural strut 18 being anchored to the base slab 12 and bolted to the rafter/joist restraint system 46 by the double top plate 44. The wall reinforcement system 34 provides a strong and solid connection from the bottom plate 48 of the stud wall 38 to the top plate 44 of the stud wall 38, where it is again securely and tightly attached and terminated.

Referring to fig. 3 and again to fig. 1-2, according to one embodiment, structural brace 18 is bolted to roof elements, such as upper and lower chords or rafters 50 and joists 52 of a roof truss of a typical roofing system, through top plate 44 of wall 38. The wall reinforcement system 34 constrains the roof members, wall members, and foundation together using structural studs 18 fastened/bolted to the building structure at opposite ends.

Referring to fig. 4 and again to fig. 1-3, the present disclosure is also applied to multi-level structures by employing bolting of the floor joist construction 54 across the multi-level wall construction 56, wherein the structural columns 18, 18' on the upper and lower floors 58, 60 are bridged and connected via bolted connections 62, 64 across the floor joist construction 54. The present disclosure effectively utilizes the entire wall construction 56 by employing the wall reinforcement system 34 to cooperate and integrate various features of the anchoring system 10 and rafter/joist restraint system 66 (shown and described with reference to fig. 5) with the wall panel system 68 (shown and described with reference to fig. 7) and with the bulkhead reinforcement system 70 (shown and described with reference to fig. 10) and/or the safe room system 72 (shown and described with reference to fig. 13).

Referring to fig. 5 and again to fig. 1-4, the rafter/joist restraint system as defined by the present invention is a secure and strong attachment mechanism for effectively connecting an upper chord or rafter 50 and a lower chord or joist 52 to the top plate 44 of the column wall 38 and more importantly directly to the wall reinforcement system 34. Rafter/joist restraint system 66 also provides a strong connection for each rafter 50 and/or joist 52 at each intersection of the outer and inner walls, whether such rafter 50 and/or joist 52 is directly or indirectly connected to the structural strut 18 of the wall reinforcement system 34.

Referring to fig. 5, each wall reinforcing member or structural strut 18 is bolted to a rafter restraining connection 74. A typical truss example is provided where rafter restraining extensions 76 span between joists 52 and rafters 50 of a truss 78. Rafter/joist restraint system 66 also prevents rafters 50 and/or joists 52 from being damaged due to lift generated by storm winds. Rafter/joist restraint system 66 also prevents rafters 50 and/or joists 52 from being easily distorted due to torsional and/or rhomboid forces, which increases the relative strength of the structure to resist shear forces acting on the structure due to strong rectilinear or tornado vortices. Tests and studies have shown and taught that the optimum roof slope for resisting storms is an angle of about 15 degrees from horizontal, and that a four-pitched roof construction is more storm compliant than a gable-end construction, and further that fewer cornices are better than a long-extended cornice construction.

The present disclosure and rafter/joist restraint system 66 can enhance standard roof constructions utilizing prior art research and also provide some enhancement to other roof constructions not conforming to prior art research in order to achieve an optimal storm prevention configuration. The present invention effectively utilizes the entire roof system by employing the features of the rafter/joist restraint system 66 such that the wall reinforcement system 34 and wind beam system 80 (shown and described with reference to fig. 6) cooperate and integrate with the various features of the roof sheathing system 82 (shown and described with reference to fig. 8), the ventilation system 84 (shown and described with reference to fig. 11), the partition reinforcement system 70 and/or the safe room system 72.

Referring to fig. 6, a wind beam system 80 as defined by the present invention is a series of reinforcing members used at the junction of rafters 50, 50' and joists 52 of a typical truss 98 to enhance the structural integrity of the rafters and joists. A typical truss 98 is reinforced at the connection points 86, 88, 90 with wind beam components, which in several preferred embodiments include a wind beam chord connector 92, a wind beam extension 94 and a wind beam ridge connector 96. The wind beam chord connection 92 is a metal member that connects the joist 52 to an angularly oriented joint member, which according to several aspects is a transversely oriented central gable end post or main beam 100. The wind beam ridge connector 96 is a metal plate that connects the main beam 100 to both the upper chord or rafter 50, 50'. The wind beam extension 94 is a U-channel metal that can be used to connect the wind beam chord connector 92 to the wind beam ridge connector 96. Typical construction techniques for rafters 50 and joists 52 include a pegboard at the point of attachment and individual nails. During a storm environment, if wind is blowing directly on the roof portion, one side of the roof is considered to be the windward side. As a result, the forces acting on the roof put it under compression. In contrast, the opposite side of the roof is referred to as the leeward side and generates lift forces acting on that portion of the roof. As a result, significant structural damage is caused by the combination of one side of the roof being pressed down while the other side is attempting to lift at a relatively low force value.

The wind beam system 80 effectively ties the roof rafters 50 and/or trusses 98 together with strong and securely fastened members such as the wind beam chord connectors 92, wind beam extensions 94 and wind beam ridge connectors 96, which effectively makes uniform use of the entire roof system to function more as a unit rather than as separate roof components. The wind beam system 80 works on conventional rafter systems and/or conventional truss systems. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the steeper the roof slope, the greater the lift on the leeward side, and thus the more robust the wind beam resistance system 80 needs to be, virtually all things being equal. The present invention effectively utilizes the entire roof system by employing the features of wind beam system 80 to enable rafter/joist restraint system 66 to cooperate and integrate with the various features of roof sheathing system 82, ventilation system 84, diaphragm reinforcement system 70 and/or safe room system 72.

Referring to fig. 7 and again to fig. 1-6, a wall panel system 68 as defined by the present invention provides an improved method of covering and sealing the exterior wall 38 of the structure prior to the application of additional facade or other decorative coverings (e.g., vinyl siding, brick, etc.). The wall plate 42, such as plywood, is connected to the structural strut 18 using bolts 102. The wall plate system 68 provides an improved fastening method by bolting the plate 42 to the wall reinforcement system 34, which ensures that the plate 42 will be reliably held in place when the structure is exposed to high wind forces. Because the wall plate system 68 is securely held in place during storm forces, it is able to provide a secondary water seal to the wall 38 to resist rain and wind in the event that the primary covering and weather-tight sealing facade is damaged and/or lost during storm forces acting on the structure. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a particular bolt fastener 102, the bolt fastener 102 featuring an enlarged flat head 104 having barbs 106 located in the plate 42 and including a sealing ring rib 108 on the underside 110 of the enlarged head 104 to securely and securely hold and maintain a water-tight seal. In a suitable application, the wall panel system 68 is incorporated into the safe room system 70 such that the requirements for preventing the penetration of airborne debris are fulfilled. The present invention efficiently utilizes the entire wall construction by employing the features of the wall panel system 68 to enable the wall reinforcement system 34 to cooperate and integrate with the various features of the window/door protective seal system 112 (shown and described with reference to fig. 12) and the safe room system 72.

Referring to fig. 8 and again to fig. 1-3, a roof sheathing system 82 as defined by the present invention provides an improved method of covering and sealing a roof sheathing 114 (e.g., structural plywood) prior to applying additional facade or other decorative coverings (e.g., wall panels, metal, etc.). A watertight sealing strip 116 applied over the seam at the mating edge of the roof sheathing 114 helps provide a watertight seal. Roof sheathing system 82 provides an improved fastening mechanism via the application of a specific pattern array of nails and/or screws and/or fasteners to securely hold the sheathing 114 attached to the rafters and/or joist structure.

Referring to fig. 9 and again to fig. 1-3 and 8, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, certain fasteners 120 have relatively large heads and certain retention features to provide improved retention of the planks to the rafters and/or joists. Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the cover plate 114 is tongue and groove engaged to provide a water tight seal by the staggered edges of the cover plate. Another preferred embodiment of the cover plate 114 features a shiplap edge 122, the shiplap edge 122 presenting a water-tight sealing edge at the chamfered cut. A further preferred embodiment of the cover plate comprises alignment blocks (lineblocking) 124 between adjacent rafters 50, 50' and below the edge 126 of the adjacent cover plate 114 to provide a secure fastening surface for the entire edge 126 of the cover plate 114. The alignment block 124 also provides an effective sealing surface under the edge of the adjacent cover plate 114 and prevents relative deflection at the mating edge of the adjacent cover plate. The alignment blocks 124 also provide proper alignment and spacing between the rafters 50, 50' while resisting torsional and rhomboid forces acting on the rafters and joists. The straightening blocks 124 also define a continuous array of compression blocks mounted between juxtaposed rafters and/or joists to prevent lateral collapse of the structure.

A preferred embodiment of alignment block 124 features a bracket 128, which bracket 128 can be pre-assembled to the end of alignment block 124 or installed after alignment block 124 is installed. Brackets 128 provide additional ease of assembly and provide additional structural integrity to rafters 50 and decking 114. Another preferred application of the invention employs various features of a watertight membrane 130 placed over the cover plate 114 and/or a watertight sealing strip 116 overlying the mating edges of adjacent cover plates, including ridges and valleys.

Referring to fig. 9 and again to fig. 1-8, a cross-section through a preferred embodiment of roof sheathing system 82 illustrates the shiplap edge, alignment block 124, alignment block brackets 128, sheathing fasteners 120, watertight membrane 130, and joint sealing strips 116. Roof sheathing system 82 provides a secondary water seal for the roof to resist rain and wind in the event that the primary covering and weather-tight sealing facade are damaged and/or lost during storm conditions on the structure. The present invention effectively utilizes the entire roof construction by employing roof sheathing system 82 to coordinate and integrate various features of wall reinforcement system 34, wind beam system 80, rafter/joist restraint system 66, roof sheathing system 82, ventilation system 84, diaphragm reinforcement system 70 and/or safe room system 72.

Referring to FIG. 10, a baffle reinforcement system 70 as defined by the present invention addresses several baffle problems commonly associated with residential and commercial constructions. One common bulkhead problem is the gable end of construction, where the gable end 132, e.g., a triangular wall, is formed to close one end of a roof system 134. The gable end 132 forms a gable end plane 136 within the triangular frame of the gable end 132 that is susceptible to being blown in or sucked out in response to a storm. Another common spacer problem is the joist plane 138 formed by any one of several rafters/joists/truss members juxtaposed in an array adjacent the gable end 132 of the roof structure (joists 52 as shown). The joist planes 138 are susceptible to warping and/or twisting and/or lateral shifting in response to storm winds. Yet another common bulkhead issue is the ceiling plane 140 formed by the ceilings 142 on the underside of the juxtaposed array of joists 52. The ceiling plane 140 is susceptible to warping and bending due to the joist planes 138 in response to storm winds acting on the structure.

The present invention overcomes the problems associated with these baffles by employing a baffle reinforcement system 70. A preferred embodiment of the deck reinforcement system 70 features a beaded bridge 144 that spans the gable end 132. The bead type bearing 144 in a preferred embodiment provides a series of special brackets 146 that cooperate with standard wood components to enhance the structural integrity of the gable end panel 136. In another preferred bead type embodiment, structural metal beams 148 and associated braces span the gable end 132 to enhance the structural integrity of the gable end plane 136. Another preferred embodiment of the deck reinforcement system 70 features a series of joist support members 150 spanning the juxtaposed array of joists 52 to enhance the structural integrity of the array of joists and thereby prevent them from being adversely affected by storm winds.

The joist support members 150 are fixedly secured to the joists 52 to prevent the joists 52 from undergoing undesirable deformation of the joist surfaces 138 and also undesirable deformation of the ceiling surfaces 140. The joist support elements 150 are securely anchored at the gable ends 132 to specific gable end brackets 152, the gable end brackets 152 are then anchored directly to the components of the wall reinforcement system 34, which in turn anchors the entire construction to the foundation element. The joist support member 150 further comprises a strut member 154, the strut member 154 being attached at one end to the joist support member 150 and then rising at an angle α up to the point of attachment to the ball-type support 144. The struts 154 form the hypotenuses of the triangle formed by the elements of the struts 154, gable end flats 136 and joist support 158 which subsequently formed the reinforcing structural mechanism to provide structural integrity to the aforementioned deck panels which was difficult to achieve prior to the present invention. One or more joist support brackets 160 connecting the joist support 158 to the joist 52 also define the components of the joist support member 150.

With continued reference to fig. 10, the gable end planes 136, ceiling planes 140, and joist planes 138 are simultaneously structurally reinforced by the gable end brackets 152, joist support brackets 160, joist brackets 158, struts 154, and bead supports 144. As a result, the entire set of bulkheads are effectively integrated together and into a larger integrated system having structural integrity to maintain a watertight seal system of construction when subjected to high wind forces. The present invention effectively utilizes the bulkhead reinforcement system 70 by employing and integrating various features of the anchoring system 10, the wall reinforcement system 34, the rafter/joist restraint system 66, the wind beam system 80, the wall panel system 68, the ventilation system 84, and/or the safe room system 72.

Referring to fig. 11, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the ventilation system 84, the interior access vents 162 enable air to be transferred from the conditioned air space defining the residential section 164 of the structure and to slightly condition the air in the roof space 166, with the closed cell spray foam 168 isolating and sealing the entire underside of the roof system 170 and gable ends 132 to prevent water leakage. The ventilation system 84 as defined by the present invention provides a solution for maintaining a suitable thermal environment for the air in the roof space 166 of the structure, thereby creating suitable air exchange and/or conditioning in the roof space 166. Typical ventilation methods include a series of external access vents such as eave-bottom vents, gable vents, ridge vents, impellers and skylights, many of which are introduced passively or with powered variations.

A major problem with all known external access ventilation systems is that they are prone to damage and/or removal altogether during the weather in a storm environment, which results in water leakage and subsequent damage. Another major problem that exists substantially with all prior art external access ventilation systems is that even though they manage to remain intact in a storm environment, they are also prone to allow wind and rain in the storm environment to pass through them and into the roof space, which results in water leakage and subsequent damage. Thus, one preferred embodiment of the ventilation system 84 of the present invention provides for the treatment of the inflow and outflow of air with a particular external ventilation device that can remain secure and functionally intact, and at the same time control and mitigate the wind and rain during a storm environment so that water is directed out and/or diverted and/or expelled from the structure, thereby preventing the accumulation of damage inside the structure.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention eliminates all external access vents to eliminate the problem of any such locations and/or associated ventilation equipment and replaces them with small appropriately sized internal access vents 162, the internal access vents 162 connecting the conditioned portion of the structure directly to the roof space to slightly "condition" the air in the roof space. Thus, no external access vents communicate between the interior conditioned portion of the building structure and the ambient air outside the building structure. The conditioned air in the roof space 166 is suitably cooled and/or heated in conjunction with the seasons of the year to maintain a moderate temperature range in the roof space 166. Conditioned air in the roof space 166 can flow into the roof space 166 since there is no outside air flowing in or out; however, an effective insulation sealing system, such as closed cell spray foam 168, is applied to the entire underside of the roof construction, filling in between the rafters 50 to provide an air and water seal, thereby preventing air and water from penetrating the roof construction into the roof space 166. The closed cell spray foam 168 insulation also covers and seals the coverplate 114 or shingle 172 or any fasteners that may have penetrated the coverplate 114 and entered other external configurations of the roof space 166, so as to prevent any potential for future leakage paths. Closed cell spray foam 168 insulation also covers the wall 174 of the gable end 132 in the same manner. The present invention effectively utilizes the entire roof construction joist by employing a ventilation system 84 to coordinate and integrate the various features of the roof sheathing system 82, wind beam system 80, rafter/joist restraint system 66 and diaphragm reinforcement system 70.

Referring to fig. 12, a preferred embodiment of the window/door protection system 112 provides a typical window 176 for residential structures, the window 176 being fitted with a mounted decorative cover mount 178 such that a removable protective cover 180 is securely fastened to the cover mount 178. The window/door protection system 112 as defined by the present invention provides a protective cover 180 over the window 176 to minimize the likelihood of damage during a storm. A preferred embodiment of the window/door protection system 112 consists of a series of brackets 182 and mounting hardware designed to reliably establish a secure attachment with a structure 184, and receives a suitable protective cover 180, the protective cover 180 being designed to fit to and cooperate with the mounted protective cover brackets 182. The protective cover 180 can be stored until required to prepare for an upcoming storm. The mounted bracket 182 will remain mounted to the structure 184 and is designed for proper decoration. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention features a similar protective cover 186 on the door 188 and/or mounted inside the outer door to prevent them from being blown in or sucked out during a storm. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention features protective covers over the garage doors (not shown) to prevent them from being sucked in or out during a storm. The present invention employs the window/door protection system 112 to cooperate and integrate with various features of the wall reinforcement system 34 and/or the secured room 72.

Referring to fig. 13, the preferred embodiment of the explosion-proof safe room 72 provides a self-contained, integrated room 190 constructed and equipped with an explosion-proof door 192 and air vents 194 located within the building structure. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention features a storm safe room system 72 that is prefabricated with appropriate reinforcement components and shipped to the job site and then installed so that a building 196 can be constructed around it. The explosion proof safe room system 72 as defined by the present invention provides an enhanced construction component for a self-contained explosion proof safe room that is securely and strongly anchored to the foundation and/or slab of the structure. The reinforced structural components include those of the wall reinforcement system 34, the anchoring system 10, the rafter joist restraint system 66, the wind beam system 80, the door/window protection seal system 112 and/or the roof sheathing system 82 that play an important role, all of which are combined together to create a unitary structure for use as a suitable storm safe room system 72.

Another preferred embodiment of the explosion proof safe room system 72 includes a separate integrated roof 198, reinforced walls 200 and an inwardly opening explosion proof door 192. The door features a reinforced hinge 202 and locking and safety features 204 to ensure containment in the event it is subjected to storm winds, flying debris and/or inflowing water. The storm safe room system 72 provides a separate fresh air vent 194 and reinforced door 192 to prevent it from opening except for the occupant's requirements and a watertight seal 206 to prevent water from flowing in. The explosion proof safe room system 72 provides an explosion proof room suitable for use as a dual purpose room, such as a closet, a food storage compartment, a toilet, and the like. A preferred embodiment of the present invention features a storm safe room system 72 constructed in the field using suitable enhancement features.

The present invention effectively establishes an integrated storm safe room system 72 by cooperating and integrating anchoring system 10, wall reinforcement system 34, rafter/joist restraint system 66, window/door protection seal system 112, roof sheathing system 82, ventilation system 84, wind beam system 80, partition reinforcement system 70 and wall panel system 68.

Referring to fig. 14, at least a first block support bracket (blocking bridge cradle) 207, and according to several aspects, first and second block support brackets 207 are connected to a block support 208 to form a block support subassembly "a". A plurality of sub-assemblies "a" are used to establish a compression block array on the roof and/or wall system, as best seen with reference to fig. 15. Each subassembly "a" is bolted in place to effectively utilize the frame-type construction elements of the roof and/or wall system to provide improved structural strength. The present disclosure introduces compression block queues in combination with other structural reinforcements to effectively utilize the entire frame-type construction element of a building to resist the destructive forces associated with wind and/or seismic events.

Referring to fig. 15 and again to fig. 14, a partial view of a compressed mass array includes a plurality of subassemblies "a" comprised of mass supports 208 and mass support brackets 207 secured to roof elements 209. Two brackets 207 mounted side-by-side on either side of the roof element 209 are bolted together through the roof element 209, thereby establishing a strong and continuous array of compression blocks. Each bracket 207 features fastening holes straddling each side of block support 208 that provide stable resistance to torsional and/or seismic forces exerted on the roof system.

Referring to fig. 16 and again to fig. 14-15, the partial view of the compressed mass array includes a plurality of subassemblies "B" similar to subassembly "a" comprised of mass supports 210 and mass support brackets 207 secured to wall members 211. Two brackets 207 mounted juxtaposed on either side of the wall member 211 are bolted together by the wall member 211, thereby establishing a strong and continuous array of compression blocks. Each bracket 207 features fastening holes straddling each side of the block support 210 that provide stable resistance to torsional and/or seismic forces exerted on the roof system.

Referring to fig. 17, a partial view of a typical frame-type building includes a spacer reinforcement system 220 assembled on a large gable-end truss 212 and supported against vertical columns 219 and joists 52. Deck reinforcement system 220 includes at least one horizontal precast support 213 attached along its length to a column 219 and attached at each end 218 to truss 212. Bearings 213 are supported by at least one angled preformed bearing 214, which at least one angled preformed bearing 214 is attached to at least one lateral preformed bearing 215 using a double clevis attachment bracket 216. When a large gable-end truss construction is installed, it requires additional structural reinforcement to resist the damaging forces, so that at least one and according to several aspects a plurality of additional horizontal precast struts 213 are provided as required, the horizontal precast struts 213 being attached to the vertical columns 219. Horizontal preform bearing 213 is supported by at least one additional angled preform bearing 214, which at least one additional angled preform bearing 214 is attached to lateral preform bearing 215 using double clevis attachment bracket 216.

Lateral support 215 is fitted with a single clevis attachment bracket 216 positioned to cooperate with joist 52 to establish and maintain the parallel spacing of joists 52. When wind and torque forces are applied to the frame-type construction, the joists 52 are prone to flexing or shifting. As a result, the board, such as gypsum board, attached to the interior room side of the joist 52 may be damaged and destroyed. The present disclosure provides improved structural integrity to the joists 52 by maintaining the parallel positioning of the joists in response to wind and torsion forces and resisting yawing motion while also preventing the plane of the ceiling from being disrupted.

Prefabricated horizontal brace 213 is bolted along its length to vertical column 219 and to truss 212 at end 218. The bolted system effectively utilizes the entire gable-end truss to resist wind and torque forces exerted thereon, and also prevents the gable plane from being blown in or sucked out. First angled preformed brace 214 is attached to preformed lateral brace 215 using double clevis bracket 126. In the installation of large gable walls, a second or third support system may be required to adequately resist the damaging forces. In such an installation, second angled preformed brace 214 may be attached to either preformed lateral brace 215 or first angled preformed brace 214 using double clevis attachment bracket 216. Enhanced deck enhancement system 20 includes fastening points where prefabricated lateral supports 215 are fastened to the bottom chord of truss 212 using special anti-pivot brackets 217.

Referring to fig. 18 and again to fig. 17, the connection of the reinforced spacer system 220 includes joists 52, joists 52 being spaced apart in parallel and maintained in position via single clevis attachment brackets 222 that secure joists 52 to prefabricated transverse braces 215. Double clevis attachment bracket 216 secures angled prefabricated brace 214 to prefabricated lateral brace 215. Second angled prefabricated brace 214 may be secured to first angled prefabricated brace 214 or to lateral brace 215 using double-clevis attachment bracket 216. Double clevis attachment bracket 216 can slide along lateral brace 215 and/or angled prefabricated brace 214 so that the appropriate support can be cut in situ and installed in situ by drilling appropriate bolt holes in angled prefabricated brace 214 or lateral brace 215 in situ. The attachment holes pre-drilled in double clevis bracket 216 are used as drill guides to save time in measuring and locating the position of the mounting holes through either lateral brace 215 or angled pre-fabricated brace 214.

Anti-pivot brackets 217 are fastened to the prefabricated transverse supports 215 and bolted to the truss bottom chord 221 at a plurality of locations. The mounting holes in the anti-pivot brackets 217 are positioned to straddle the lateral support 215, which provides improved enhanced strength and structural integrity to the gable-end truss to prevent the truss from collapsing and/or being sucked out due to wind and/or torsion forces. Additional mounting holes in the anti-pivot bracket 217 cooperate and align with the anti-twist telescopic struts by being bolted down through the double top plate 222 and directly to the support struts directly constrained to the foundation element. In conventional gable-end truss constructions, the destructive force can collapse the gable-end truss by effectively hinging the gable-end truss at the point where the bottom chord 221 mates with the double roof 222. The present disclosure overcomes this problem by integrating the advantages and support of the enhanced bulkhead system 220 including at least one anti-pivot bracket 217.

Referring to fig. 19, the interior corners of a typical frame-type construction include a corner 224 positioned between two intersecting walls made up of a plurality of uprights 227, a bottom plate 225, and a double top plate 226. Lateral corner bearing subassemblies 223 are mounted on each side of corner 224 and fastened to studs 227, down through bottom plate 225 to the foundation anchor, up through double top plate 226 to the roof element, and to corner 224. This configuration effectively utilizes the entire corner portion of the building to resist damaging wind and torque forces imposed by storms and seismic events. The present disclosure provides enhanced structural integrity throughout the entire structure by combining many of the structurally improved features and advantages of, for example, the lateral corner support sub-assembly 223.

The lateral corner support subassembly 223 is suitably mounted as shown in fig. 19 to straddle a building corner, where two subassemblies are used. The installation at the intersection of the inner and outer walls may require three subassemblies 223, with two subassemblies 223 oriented along the outer wall straddling the intersection angle and one subassembly oriented transversely along the inner wall. All three subassemblies will be secured to the intersection angle, which will provide the building with substantially enhanced structural integrity to resist the damaging wind and/or torsional forces exerted by storms and/or seismic events.

Referring to fig. 20 and again to fig. 17-19, a typical frame-type construction has a corner 224 mounted with two lateral corner support subassemblies 223, the two lateral corner support subassemblies 223 being positioned along each of the intersecting walls that join at the corner 224. The gable end truss 212 is fitted with a bottom chord 221 connected to a double top plate 226 of the wall construction. Wall plate 225 is secured to stud 227 in a wall configuration. The prefabricated trusses 234 are mounted side-by-side in rows adjacent to the gable-end truss 212. The present disclosure improves the structural integrity of the wall panel by providing a fastening point between the wall panel and the sub-assembly 223. The present disclosure further reinforces the gable-end truss 212 by providing a bolted connection from subassembly 223 up through the double top panel 226 of the wall to an anti-pivot bracket 217 (not shown), which anti-pivot bracket 217 is bolted to truss bottom chord 221 and to bulkhead reinforcement system 220. A compression block queue (as shown in fig. 15) is installed in the truss 234. The sub-assemblies 223 are bolted to the corners 224, bolted to the roof elements bolted to the trusses 234, bolted to the membrane reinforcement system 220, fastened to the wall panels, bolted through the double top plate 226, bolted through the bottom plate 225 and anchored directly to the foundation elements, effectively utilizing all frame-type construction elements with structural integrity.

Referring to fig. 21 and again to fig. 17-20, each subassembly may include at least two specialized anti-twist telescopic struts 229, at least one cross-link support 232, and at least one corner-link bracket 235. The cross-linking support 232 is comprised of a cross-member 233 assembled between two cross-linking brackets 227. The cross beams 233 are pre-drilled to provide fastening points for the wall panels. The struts 229 are pre-drilled with fastening holes 228 spaced along the length of the struts for fastening wall panels. The struts 228 are also pre-drilled with holes to assemble the lateral connection brackets 227 and receive the corner connection brackets 235. The lower ends of the struts 229 are fitted with attachment brackets 230 to allow bolting down through the base plate 225 for direct fastening to the foundation element. The upper ends of the struts 229 are fitted with attachment brackets 231 for bolted connection through the double top plate 226 and to the roof elements.

The present disclosure significantly enhances the structural integrity of the frame construction with the installation of the sub-assemblies 223 and the membrane reinforcement assemblies 220 at each corner. In addition to these reinforcements, the present disclosure includes the integration and advantages of anchoring systems (not shown), compression block arrays (described with reference to fig. 15 and 16), anti-twist roof system elements, and anti-twist telescopic struts, all of which are combined to provide an integrated structural frame-type building capable of resisting substantial wind, torsional and/or seismic forces, much stronger than was possible prior to the introduction of the present invention.

The present disclosure further includes the advantage of a secondary sealing system to maintain overall sealing in the event that the exterior trim and primary sealing system are breached during a storm event.

The present disclosure further includes features to enhance the system throughout the integrated structure to incorporate with the integrated safe room to provide maximum protection against storm events.

The present disclosure provides an improved system for a typical residential or commercial structure in which a series of specific components are integrated together to enhance the structural integrity of the structure against wind forces associated with hurricanes and/or tornadoes, for example, to provide a secondary, relatively watertight seal for the structure, even if the primary sealing system of the wall panels and/or side panels is broken or removed by a storm. As a result, known shingles and siding provide a decorative covering and a primary water seal for a structure; however, the present disclosure provides a secondary water seal in the event that the primary sealing system is breached during exposure to a storm.

The present disclosure further provides structural reinforcement that can be applied to new constructions and also to repair existing structures to improve structural integrity and secondary seals against wind and seismic forces associated with hurricanes and/or tornadoes, for example. The present disclosure also provides structural reinforcement in cooperation with standard construction components to improve the structural integrity of the construction components beyond their initial ability to resist wind and seismic forces, such as associated with hurricanes and/or tornadoes, and further provides a secondary sealing system to prevent inflow of water in the event that the primary sealing system is compromised.

The material of construction for a typical preferred embodiment of the structural reinforcing component of the present invention is metal. The components may be fabricated from metal using any one of several typical methods, such as stamping, forging, bending, welding, or a combination of fabrication methods. Additionally, the components may be fabricated from non-metallic materials such as plastics, reinforced plastics, fiberglass, composites, and/or any other suitable technical material suitable to provide the strength requirements of a given application.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The individual elements or features of a particular embodiment may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims (19)

1. A construction system for providing structural integrity to a building structure to resist torsional, seismic and storm forces and to minimize or prevent the inflow of associated wind-driven weather, comprising:

a plurality of subsystems connected to the building structure, the building structure including a wall structure having a plurality of studs and a roof structure including at least one of the group of trusses, joists and rafters, the plurality of subsystems comprising:

an anchoring system connected to the foundation;

a wall reinforcement system having a plurality of structural columns respectively positioned between immediately adjacent ones of the columns;

a lateral corner support reinforcement system having subassemblies positioned along the intersecting walls and fastened together at the building structure intersection corners;

a spacer reinforcement system having a plurality of members secured to a gable end of the roof structure, to at least one of the group of trusses, joists and rafters of the building structure and connected to the anchoring system;

a compressed block queue in the building structure;

a rafter/joist restraint system having a plurality of members respectively coupling each of said structural studs to said roof structure such that said wall reinforcement system restrains said roof structure and said wall structure together to said foundation with said structural studs; and is

The deck reinforcement system includes at least one horizontal support beam secured across one of the gable ends of the roof structure, the deck reinforcement system is supported by at least one angled support connected to at least one lateral support secured to at least one of the group of trusses, joists and rafters, and the deck reinforcement system includes an anti-pivot bracket secured to at least one of the structural columns and to a foundation element of the anchoring system.

2. The construction system of claim 1, wherein the subsystem further comprises a compression block alignment in the roof structure having aligned bolt connections straddling individual block supports.

3. A construction system according to claim 2, wherein roof decking is secured to the block supports.

4. The construction system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of subsystems further comprise a compression block array in the wall system having aligned bolted connections straddling a plurality of individual block supports.

5. The construction system according to claim 4, wherein a wall plate is fastened to the block support.

6. The construction system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one angled brace is attached to at least one lateral brace with a double clevis bracket.

7. A construction system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the double clevis bracket includes a pre-drilled hole to provide a drill guide for field installation and attachment.

8. A construction system according to claim 1, wherein the lateral bearing is attached to a joist element with a single clevis bracket.

9. A construction system according to claim 1, wherein the anti-pivot bracket comprises a mounting hole for attachment to a gable end construction positioned to straddle a lateral support and secured to the anti-pivot bracket.

10. A construction system according to claim 1, wherein the anti-pivot brackets are fastened directly to the gable ends, directly to the double roof of the wall structure and directly to the transverse supports of the bulkhead reinforcement system and are also connected to the foundation elements of the anchoring system by structural struts in the wall construction.

11. The construction system of claim 1, wherein the subsystem further comprises a lateral corner support reinforcement assembly comprising at least one structural strut, at least one cross beam, and at least one corner connector bracket.

12. The construction system according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of structural studs that are each pre-drilled to serve as fastening points for wall panels.

13. The construction system according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of transverse beams each pre-drilled to serve as fastening points for the wall panels.

14. The construction system according to claim 11, wherein the lateral corner support reinforcement assembly comprises at least one corner connecting bracket pre-drilled to secure to a corner construction element.

15. The construction system according to claim 11, wherein the lateral corner support reinforcement assembly is fastened directly to a plurality of corner construction elements, directly to a roof reinforcement element through a double roof panel, connected to a foundation element and fastened directly to a wall panel.

16. The construction system according to claim 15, wherein the lateral corner support reinforcement assembly is further secured to the bulkhead reinforcement system.

17. A construction system according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring system comprises anchors connected to and extending partially from the foundation, each structural strut being connected to two of the anchors.

18. A construction system for providing structural integrity to a building structure including a wall structure having a plurality of studs, a foundation portion, and a roof structure including a gable end and at least one of the group of trusses, joists and rafters, the construction system comprising:

an anchoring system comprising a foundation element connected to a foundation of the building structure;

a wall reinforcement system having a plurality of structural columns positioned respectively between immediately adjacent ones of a plurality of columns of the building structure;

a deck reinforcement system substantially transverse to at least one of the group of trusses, joists and rafters, the deck reinforcement system having a plurality of members secured to at least one gable end of the roof structure, at least one of the group of trusses, joists and rafters of the building structure, and the anchoring system;

wherein the deck plating system includes at least one horizontal support beam secured to at least one gable end of the roof structure, the deck plating system being supported by at least one angled support connected to at least one transverse support secured to at least one of the group of trusses, joists and rafters, the deck plating system including an anti-pivot bracket secured to the at least one gable end of the roof structure and to at least one structural strut of the plurality of structural struts such that the anti-pivot bracket constrains the deck plating system and the at least one gable end of the roof structure to a foundation element of the anchoring system via the at least one structural strut.

19. The construction system according to claim 18, wherein

The foundation element of the anchoring system comprises an anchor connected to and extending partially from the foundation and

wherein each structural strut of the plurality of structural struts is connected to two of the anchors.