Patent Application
20250179790
A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates to a bracing system for use with an offset double stud wall.
Double-stud wall construction consists of two stud-framed walls set up next to each other to form an extra thick wall cavity that can be filled with insulation. Because the interior and exterior framing are separated by insulation, thermal bridging is also reduced or eliminated. The studs for a side are offset from the other side as seen in the figures. Typically, though, in order to meet building codes there must be sheathing on the outside walls before the plaster is applied to the walls. Most commonly, the sheathing is plywood. If you are using hemp insulated walls, lime plaster must be directly applied to the insulation. Sheathing makes that impossible.
The present invention relates to a stud bracing system that eliminates the need for sheathing. The studs are connected in a manner that gives rigidity to the studs and the plaster can be applied to the insulation directly.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, there is a bracing system for an offset double stud wall comprising;
While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar, or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.
The terms “about” and “essentially” mean ±10 percent.
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.
Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment”, or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.
The term “or”, as used herein, is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B, or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps, or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any element which may be optional. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely”, “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or the use of a “negative” limitation.
The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed. To the extent such publication may set out definitions of a term that conflict with the explicit or implicit definition of the present disclosure, the definition of the present disclosure controls.
As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order which is logically possible.
The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. The term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein, and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.
As used herein, the term “bracing system” refers to metal wall braces designed to attach to wall studs in a double wall construction with studs staggered from each side as shown in the figures. In particular, a brace attached to one stud is attached to the nearest stud on the opposite side. As can be seen from the figures, the braces are designed to connect to at least 2 faces of each stud. The metal wall brace itself has attachment wings that, when bent in the embodiment in the figures, allows attachment to 2 sides of each stud. By linking every stud in this manner, the need for sheathing with plywood is gone.
As used herein, the term “offset double walls” refers to a double-stud wall construction consisting of two stud-framed walls set up next to each other to form an extra thick wall cavity that can be filled with insulation. In general, the studs on one side are offset compared to studs on an opposite wall. Normally, the stud walls need to have plywood sheathing or the like in order to safely attach plaster board. The system of the invention eliminates the need for sheathing. In one embodiment, the insulation is a hemp-based insulation and in another embodiment the plaster is a lime plaster compatible with the hemp insulation. In one embodiment, the studs on each wall are placed at 24 inch intervals.
As used herein, the term “metal wall brace” refers to a brace positioned between a stud on one side of the wall with the nearest stud on the other side of the wall. In one embodiment, the brace can be used to brace one stud and another brace to attach to another close by stud as shown in the drawings. The brace is made of a metal like aluminum, steel or the like. In one embodiment it is 22-gauge galvanized aluminum. The end of each brace will have a device or the like (part of the brace itself) in order to attach the brace on at least 2 adjacent sides of the stud. In one embodiment the metal brace has a bend or the like to ensure additional strength of the metal brace.
As used herein, the term “nearest stud on the opposite side” refers to studs on each side offset to one another when comparing one side with the other. As shown in the figures the studs on one side are offset relative to the studs on the other side.
Now referring to the drawings,
Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials, and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant.
