Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to the field of anchoring systems for building cavity spaces.
Much of today's multi-wythe walls have been made of a backup wall (i.e., concrete block) to support horizontal transverse loads exerted by the veneer wall (i.e., brick) or outer wythe. Anchoring systems for cavity spaces are used to secure the veneer wall or outer wythe of a building to overcome seismic and other forces, i.e., wind shear. A veneer wall is commonly defined as a wall having a facing of masonry units (brick veneer, stone veneer, etc.), or other weather-resisting, non-combustible materials, securely attached to the backup wall, but not so bonded as to exert common action under load intentionally. A veneer wall or outer wythe is supported horizontally by the backup wall via veneer ties embedded in joints on one end and attached to a backup wall anchor on the other end. Typically, the veneer ties the inner wythe and the outer wythe together and is flexible for in-plane horizontal and vertical movement and rigid perpendicular to the wall face. As a result, the veneer wall and the backup wall are isolated and do not behave identically under load. While the displacements perpendicular to the wall are typically the same, the vertical flexibility provided by the veneer tie allows for differences in response to vertical loading.
Joint reinforcement increases a wall's resistance to horizontal bending but is not widely recognized by the model building codes for structural purposes. Joint reinforcement types used in masonry principally are reinforcing bars and cold-drawn wire products. Joint reinforcement is governed by Standard Specification for Masonry Joint Reinforcement, ASTM A951, or Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Wire, ASTM A580/A580M Type 304 or Type 316, if the joint reinforcement is stainless steel according to the Specification for Masonry Structures. Joint reinforcement comes in several configurations ladder-type and truss-type joint reinforcement. Adjustable ties, tabs, third wires, and seismic clips may also be combined with joint reinforcement for multi-wythe walls.
Ladder-type joint reinforcement consists of longitudinal wires flush welded with perpendicular cross wires, creating a ladder's appearance. It is less rigid than truss-type joint reinforcement and is recommended for multi-wythe walls with cavity spaces. The ladder-type joint reinforcement permits the inner and outer wythe to move independently, yet still transfers out-of-plane loads from the exterior masonry to the interior masonry wall. In contrast, truss-type joint reinforcement consists of longitudinal wires connected with diagonal cross wires. This shape is stiffer in the plane of the wall than ladder-type joint reinforcement, and if used to connect the inner and outer wythe restricts differential movement between the inner and outer wythe. For this reason, it should be used only when differential movement is not a concern, as in single wythe concrete masonry walls. Because the diagonal cross wires may interfere with vertical reinforcing steel and grout, truss-type joint reinforcement should not be used in reinforced or grouted walls.
Today's multi-wythe walls that have an inner wythe and an outer wythe have numerous essential parts and, or materials, to support horizontal transverse loads exerted by the veneer wall (i.e., brick) or outer wythe. These parts and, or materials commonly include wire joint reinforcement, wall anchors (commonly called wall ties). The components that are used for connecting the inner and outer wythe are widely used. The cost of material, labor, and time to create and install the various parts and components required for multi-wythe walls can be significant. As a result of the number of the wall anchors parts and, or materials required, a need exists to improve over the prior art and, more particularly, for components that require less time, money, and energy to manufacture and install.
A wall anchor system for use in a cavity space to connect to a veneer tie that joins an inner wythe and an outer wythe of the cavity space is disclosed. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of disclosed concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description, including the drawings provided. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this Summary intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.
In one embodiment, the wall anchor system for use in a cavity space to connect to a veneer tie that joins an inner wythe and an outer wythe of the cavity space is disclosed. Attached to the wire joint reinforcement is the wall anchor configured to be disposed of in the inner wythe. The wall anchor system includes a wire joint reinforcement, which includes a wall anchor attached at a single location on the wire element that spans a portion of the inner wythe. The wall anchor includes a straight elongated shaft with a longitudinal axis. A first end of the elongated shaft fusibly attaches to the single location at an outward facing side of the wire element. The wall anchor includes a first receiving space and a second receiving space defined by either a first curved section or a second curved section positioned in the cavity space upon installation.
Additional aspects of the disclosed embodiment will be outlined in part in the detailed description, which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosed embodiments. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following Detailed Description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While disclosed embodiments may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings. The methods described herein may be modified by substituting reordering or adding additional stages or components to the disclosed methods and devices. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosed embodiments. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosed embodiments is defined by the appended claims.
The present embodiments improve upon the prior art by providing an enhanced wire joint reinforcement and wall anchor with integral components, thereby decreasing the number of parts required for a wall anchor. This disclosure would eliminate the numerous wall anchor construct utilizable with various wire formative veneer ties. As a result, the manufacturing costs and storage costs would be lowered, improving both logistics and efficiency. The present embodiments only require one connection point to the joint wire reinforcement at single location which results in several efficiencies including decreasing the amount of time, money and energy required for construction. Additionally, the joint wire reinforcement approves over the prior art by only having a single straight elongated shaft connecting to the joint wire reinforcement within a single plane and using a single wire, which is less costly to manufacture. This also results in several efficiencies including decreasing the amount of time, money and energy required for construction.
Referring now to
The system involves an inner wythe 150, a continuous vertical section of masonry, usually one unit thick. The inner wythe generally serves as a structural component of a building. The inner wythe may be composed of brick, stone, manufactured stone, clay, wood, and concrete. However, other types of wythes may be used and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The system involves an outer wythe 175, a continuous vertical section of masonry, usually one unit thick. The outer wythe generally serves as a non-structural external layer of masonry. However, the outer wythe may also be designed to be an external structural layer of masonry. Typically the outer wythe is composed of brick, stone, or manufactured stone. Generally, an outer wythe can be completed in a shorter time with less labor than the more solid inner wythe, thus saving in cost. The inner and outer wythe can either use all the same or different types of masonry.
The area in between the inner wythe and outer wythe, known as the cavity space 125, is an airspace that is used to provide a structure with additional insulating. In some embodiments, the cavity space may include rigid foam to increase the wall's thermal performance A first receiving space 280 (further explained below) is positioned in the anchor cavity space upon installation (see
The system is configured to connect to a veneer tie 200 that joins an inner wythe 150 (discussed below) and an outer wythe (discussed below) of the cavity space 125. The veneer tie 200 is a wire formative that is fixedly disposed of in an x-z plane of the mortared bed joint. The veneer tie is constructed to adjustably position with the longitudinal axis substantially horizontal and to connect with the wall anchor 250. The veneer tie has an aperture receiving end for disposition on said elongated body and an insertion end configured for embedment in the mortared bed joint. The veneer tie is vertically adjustable to a substantially horizontal position and, upon installation, maintains a continuous positive connection with the wall anchor 250. For additional seismic and high-wind protection, a wire joint reinforcement (discussed below) is embedded in the mortared bed joint.
In the present embodiment, a wire joint reinforcement 225 comprising at least a wire element 235 configured to be disposed of in the inner wythe 150. The wire element spans at least a portion of the inner wythe 150. As illustrated in
However, other wire joint reinforcement 225 alternatives may be used and/or adapted equivalent adapted for embedment into the horizontal mortar joints of masonry walls. Generally, wire joint reinforcement 225 may be composed of plain or deformed cold-drawn steel wire that should be at least nine gauges but not more than one-half the thickness of the mortared bed joint. Most manufacturers classify joint reinforcement as standard, medium, and heavy according to the longitudinal wire's diameter. In a specific embodiment, the truss configured wire joint reinforcement restrain differential movement. In another specific embodiment, the ladder configured wire joint reinforcement is the cross wires of ladder-type reinforcement deform allowing the differential movement that occurs between the two wythes of a cavity wall.
As mentioned above, in the certain of the present embodiments, the wall anchor 250 comprises an elongated shaft 255, a first curved section 300 and a second curved section 325. Optionally a short connecting section 350 my connect the first and second curved sections. It is to be understood that wall anchor 250 may comprise multiple of any component disclosed herewith as long as wall anchor and wire joint reinforcement may utilize said additional components for the intended functionality. The wall anchor may include materials similar or the same as the materials used to make the wire reinforcement. However, other types of materials may be used that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, other types of materials may be used that that comprise at least one of an ablative material, a boron fiber material, a carbon fiber material, a ceramic matrix composite material, a composite material, an epoxy matrix composite, a fatigue composite material, a fiber composite, a fiber-matrix interface, a filament material, a filament wound structures composite material, a filament-matrix material, a flammability composite materials, a glass fiber reinforced plastic material, a honeycomb material, an insulation composite material, a laminate material, a metal filament system, a metal matrix composite (MMC), a nanocomposite, an off-gassing/out-gassing composite material, a polymer matrix composite, a reinforcing fibers composite material, a stacking sequence composite material, a surface property composite material, whisker composite, a woven composite material and any combination of the foregoing material.
Now referring to
The straight elongated shaft 255, first curved section 300 and second curved section 325 extend along a single plane 263 (see
The first curved section 300 is attached or positioned proximate to the second end of the elongated shaft and on the first side 291 of the longitudinal axis. The first curved section may define a variety of different shapes (as illustrated in
The second curved section 325 is attached or portioned proximate to the second end of the elongated straight shaft and on a second side 292 of the longitudinal axis. A second receiving space 285 is positioned in the anchor cavity space upon installation (see
In certain embodiments, a short connecting section 350 connects the first curved section 300 with the second curved section 325. The short connecting section 350 extends across an area outward from the second end 270 of the elongated shaft 255. The short connecting section may exhibit alternative embodiments which may include, but is not limited to the short connecting section being 1.0 in long, 1.250 in long, 1.50 in long, and, or 2.0 in long as illustrated in
The short connecting section generally connects the first curved section with the second curved section. However, the current disclosure is not limited to two curved sections. The first curved section has a first end 267 fusibly attached to the second end 270 of the elongated shaft 255. The second curved section has a first end 268 fusibly attached to the second end 270 of the elongated shaft 255. The curved sections are fusibly attached to the elongated shaft 255 by a commonly used but not limiting technique known as butt welding, which can be performed either automatically and, or done with hand by steel pieces. However, it is understood that other means for attaching the elongated shaft may be used and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In certain embodiments the connecting section may have a longer length than each of the first curved portion and second current portion (as illustrated in
In certain embodiments, each of curved sections may include additional straight sections 293 (as illustrated in
In an alternative embodiment, the short connecting section 350 may define a third curved section having a first end and a second end and where each end of the third curved section is connected to each of the second ends of the first curved section 300 and the second curved section 325. The curved sections may include but are not limited to an angled square shape, a non-angled square shape, and a triangle shape. However, it is understood that other shapes and angles may be used and are within the spirt and scope of the present invention. In certain embodiments, the ends of the second curved element may attach to the connecting portion 350 (as illustrated in
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Instead, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
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