Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A BUILDING FRAME BRACING PANEL AND METHOD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to a building frame bracing panel as a single panel
or assembly and in particular but not limited to a wall frame bracing pane!
for
holding framing vertical againstwind forces during housing frame construction
and
afterwards against earthquakes and high winds.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Australian patent 715517 describes structural bracing for buildings where a
rectangular welded together zig-zag braced frame may be simply inserted and
secured between studs in a building frame to support the frame against shear
loading as may arise during construction and thereafter during earthquakes or
high
winds.
US patent 5,729,950 describes a similar arrangement whereby a rectangular
frame is divided evenly into three rectangular sections by two parallel frame
members and braced by a single diagonal brace. As for 715517 the prefabricated
frame fits between studs. The two braces differ in their particular
construction but
still operate on the same principle of an insert frame that is positioned
between
existing studs.
WO 97/05343 describes a brace assembled from a panel and slotted upper
and lower rails. The rails are first secured in place and then the panel is
secured to
the rails by fitting the panel edge into the slots in the rails. Unlike the
arrangements
of 715517 and 5,729,950 this brace must be built in-situ and therefore lacks
the
advantage of being inserted into the frame as a unit.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a brace and method of
bracing that also utilises the existing building frame and
insertionofabraceintothe
frame but using an alternative bracing construction employing'a deformed sheet
of
material as the major element comprising the brace.
OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect the invention resides in method for bracing a rectangular
building frame during construction comprising the steps of
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(a) providing a preformed brace having a major portion of the brace
made from a deformed sheet of material providing the primary
bracing function and being deformed in at least two directions;
(b) inserting the brace between frame members in a building frame;
and
(c) securing the frame to the frame members at least at opposite ends.
In another aspect there is provided building frame bracing panel assembly
comprising a major portion thereof as a deformed sheet material providing the
primary bracing function and being deformed in at least two directions, the
panel
assembly being dimensioned for location between frame members in a building
frame, the frame members forming a rectangu lar bu i Id i ng frame, the panel
assembly
having opposed ends, opposed sides and an intermediate portion between the
sides, the intermediate portion including strengthening sections of said sheet
material displaced laterally out of the plane of said panel, marginal sections
of said
sheet material being displaced laterally out of the plane of said panel to
serve as
anchor regions whereby said sheet may be secured in operative bracing position
relative to said frame members.
In another aspect the present invention resides in a building frame bracing
panel comprising an elongate panel dimensioned for location between frame
members such as vertical studs in a wall frame, the studs extending between
upper
and lower plates of building wall frame, the panel having opposed ends,
opposed
sides and an intermediate portion between the sides, the intermediate portion
preferably including strengthening sections displaced laterally out of the
plane of
said panel, the opposed ends having framing attachment means comprising
marginal sections of said panel displaced laterally out of the plane of said
panel so
the panel can be secured to the upper and lower plates of said framing.
Preferably,
the opposed sides also have framing attachment means comprising marginal
sections of said panel displaced laterally out of the plane of said panel so
the panel
can be secured to the studs of said framing.
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The panel can be utilised between any framing members where it is
desirable to retain frame members in a predetermined position
againstoverloading.
For example in a wall frame, between adjacent roofing trusses and so on.
The panel can be made from folded or pressed sheet metal or can be made
from plastics in which case it is typically moulded as one piece.
A single panel can be employed betweeri studs but in some circumstances
where greater loading is anticipated more than one panel can be employed
between adjacent studs to cater for the additional loading. For example, a
double
panel formed as a single unit may be used or two or more separate single
panels
may be used. The double panel may be formed from separate overlayed single
panels or from a double skin as may be made from a single folded metal sheet.
The opposed ends are typically in their simplest form overlapping flanges
forming boxed corners creating strength at the corners by overlapping, the
corners
having holes for bolts or other suitable fasteners. The boxed corners serve as
the
attachment means to the upper and lower rails of the frame upon fasteners
passing
through the overlapping flanges. Typically the opposed sides comprise flanges
so
that the whole panel is formed with an open box-like configuration. As an
alternative the opposed sides can be sandwiched or otherwise secured to the
respective studs before the studs are installed. For example the panel and
studs
might be installed into the framing as a modular unit rather than the studs
being
installed first. !n this embodiment the whole unit can be secured in position
between the plates.
The intermediate portion typically includes spaced polygonal geometric
shaped strengthening deformations such as diamond shaped deformations. The
strengthening deformations are typically spaced evenly along the panel. Each
deformation typically includes an aperture that serves as a handle. Apertures
may
also be provided for services.
In the case of a double panel, the double panel is typically generally
dumbbell shaped in transverse section, with hollow side rails.
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In another embodiment the panel assembly comprises spaced panels having
opposed rails and openings formed in at least one of the panels by cutting and
folding the sheet material of the panel and the cut and folded sheet material
being
secured to the other panel.
In another embodiment the panel assembly comprises spaced rails and the
deformed sheet bridges between and is coupled to the rails.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be
put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings
which illustrate preferred embodiments and wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective drawing illustrating a wal I frame employing bracing
panels according to the present invention;
Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are plan, side and end views of a typical bracing
panel;
Figure 3 is a cutaway perspective view of a typical bracing panel embodying
the principles of the present.invention;
Figure 4 is a cut away perspective view illustrating a typical double bracing
panel according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a section through the panel of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a drawing illustrating an upper corner of a typical panel showing
the panel secured to a top plate;
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but illustrating a bottom corner of a
typical bracing panel secured to a bottom plate and to a concrete slab;
Figure 8 is a drawing illustrating deformation of an edge of the panel for the
purposes of securing the panel to a stud using a nail.
Figures 9 and 10 are side and end views illustrating an alternative
embodir-nent employing a moulded plastic or fibre reinforced panel;
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the panel according to Figures 9 and 10 showing
a typical corner construction and how the panel would be secured to top and
bottom plates, the bottom plate being illustrated in Figure 12;
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Figure 13 is a part side view illustrating a further embodiment employing
additional brackets;
Figure 14 is a section through a panel according to another embodiment of
the invention;
5 Figure 15 is a part view illustrating an embodiment folded interconnections
between spaced sheets; and
Figure 16 is a part view illustrating a still further embodiment where
deformed sheet is connected between spaced rails.
METHOD OF PERFORMANCE
. Referring to the drawings and initiallyto Figure 1, there is illustrated a
corner
of a timber building frame 10 having spaced studs 11, top plates 12 and bottom
plates 13. Bottom plates 13 are located in this case on an on-ground slab 14,
noggings 15 retain the studs 11 in their proper spaced relation. To prevent
the
frames from moving in response to wind while the frame is under construction
and
also afterwards to resist movement in the event of earthquake or high winds ,
bracing panels 16 according to the present invention are employed between the
two sets of end studs in each direction as shown so that the bracing is
effective in
two directions, additional panels can be used between other studs and this. is
illustrated in phantom in Figure 1. The bracing panels 16 comprise an
elongated
panel dimensioned for location between adjacentvertical studs 11 and between
the
top and bottom plates 12 and 13, each panel has opposed ends 17 and 18 and
opposed sides 19 and 20 and an intermediate portion between the sides shown
generally at 21, the intermediate portion includes diamond shaped
strengthening
sections 22, in this case four employed, which are displaced laterally out of
the
plane of the panel. In the illustrated embodiment, metal straps 23 and 24
extend
around the panels to give added strength to the corner tying the two panels
together. Each panel 16 is of box-like construction having side and end
flanges (to
be described)and is secured to the upper and lower plates using bolts and to
the
studs 11 using nails or other fasteners. It will be appreciated that the
bracing
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function accomplished by the use of the deformed sheet does not essential 1y
require
fastening to the studs 11.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, for this particular embodiment the panel
16 will be described in more detail. As can be seen the sides 19 and 20
include
flanges 25 and 26 and return flanges 27 and 28. The opposed ends are
illustrated
at 17 it being appreciated that the end 18 is of similar construction. End 17
shows
the use of overlapping flanges 29 and 30, flange 30 on the left hand side of
Figure
3 being shown in its pre-folded position and its folded position in phantom
for the
purpose of illustration only. The overlapping flanges 29 and 30 include bolt
holes
31 so that the panel can be fastened to the bottom plate. The opposite end 18
is
of similar construction so the panel is open box-like. Holes to enable
fasteners for
the sides are at 32, holes for services at 33 and fasteners formed by cutting
and
folding part of the side flange and that can be simply hammered in place are
illustrated at 34. The flanges 26 and return flange 28 include a channel at 35
and
an aperture at 36 to assist locating the straps such as the straps 23 and 24
illustrated
in Figure 1. It is also the case in the ends 17,18 at 37 and 38, that if
required a
strap can be utilised around the top and bottom plates.
An alternative embodiment is illustrated in Figure 4, in this case folded from
a single sheet is a double panel 40 which includes ribbed side rails 41 and 42
so
that the panelling section is substantially dumbbell shaped, intermediate
portions
as before retain the strengthening sections 22 but one of the sections has a
push
through tab 43 so that the two panels can be simply locked together using this
push
through tab appropriately passing through the other panel and being folded
back.
Any other method may be employed to couple the two panels together. Apertures
at 44 and 45 allow access to the fastening points at the overlapping flange
construction at 46. One of the flanges 47 is illustrated in its pre-folded
position.
Apertures are provided for services at 48 and 49. The panels are pressed at 50
for
the purpose of fastening using nails. The double panel can accommodate straps
as in the previous embodiments.
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Typical fastening arrangements as previously described are illustrated in
Figures 6, 7 and 8.
Figures 9, 10 (hidden detail being incomplete), 11 and 12 illustrate a panel
51 moulded from plastics with strengthening ridges 52 and strengthened corners
53. Holes 54 are used to secure the panel to studs, while holes 55 are used to
secure the panel to upper and lower plates. The strengthening ridges 52 may be
of
any selected design it being realised that the moulded panel is formed by a
displacement of the moulding material out of the plane of the panel
consequently
is a deformation process as opposed to a fabrication process.
Referringto Figures 13 panel 6 is furthersupplemented by brackets 56 which
are bolted through the studs 57 and bottom plate 58. The brackets can be
employed top and bottom.
Figure 14 is a section through another embodiment being a module 59
where studs 60 are in two parts 61 and 62 with a panel 63 sandwiched in
between.
~ Figure 15 illustrates a brace assembly 64 Where one or two sheets are
deformed to form opposed panels 65 and 66 and ribbed rails 67 and 68 also
formed
from the sheet material. The panel 65 has been cut with an H-shaped cut and
flanges 69 and 70 are then folded along fold lines 71 and 72, return flanges
at 73
and 74 are used to fasten the folded flanges to the other panel 66. Only part
of the
assembly is shown but this is repeated along the panel at spaced apart
locations.
The lower corners 75 and 76 are boxed in as previously described, with holes
passing through the overlapping layers at 77 and 78. An access opening 79 to
holes 77 and 78 is cut out at the bottom of the assembly and flanges 80 and 81
fasten the cut out section to the opposite panel 66. The top of the assembly
(not
shown) is configured the same as the bottom.
Figure 16 illustrates another brace assembly 82, in this case employing a
deformed sheet 83 fastened via flanges 84 and 85 to respective C-channel rails
86
and 87. The rails 86, 87 are boxed at opposite ends and have fastener holes at
each
boxed end.
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Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the
present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent
to
those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of
the
invention as herein set forth.
For example, the invention can be used in many and varied application
including frame bracing to assist overloading in case of earthquake, addition
of
upper levels during renovation or extensions, to strengthen existing walls by
insertion of a panel into the existing wall structure, and so on.
