Patent Grant
9951511
The invention is related to the general field of roof construction systems. Particularly, the invention relates to hurricane and earthquake resistant building structures.
It has been known in the field of building construction to use metal ties to attach walls and floors to the building foundation in order to hold the building structure stable during hurricanes and/or earthquakes. Such reinforcements are typically formed of metal strapping material which includes pre-punched holes used for fastening the straps to the foundation and the structure located above. Construction systems intended for hurricane prone or earthquake zones typically require that these metal ties be used in order to connect all of the frame components to the foundation. It is also known to use such metal strapping reinforcements to tie the bottoms of the roof rafters to the tops of the walls. However, currently there is no system which includes tying in the roof ridge, particularly in applications where a ridge vent is located along the roof ridge resulting in a space or gap between the plywood sheathing located on the rafters and the ridge beam.
The present invention provides a roof system which includes a shear tie for the ridge beam. This system is particularly preferred for use in connection with tile roofing systems in which a ridge vent for ventilation is also provided, but can be used with other roof systems. The roof ridge vent can be for example as disclosed in U.S. 2008/0318516, which is invented by the same inventor as the present application. The roof system includes a ridge beam which is supported via rafters. Sheathing is located on the rafters and a gap or slot is provided between the top edge of the sheathing and the ridge beam that extends along a majority of the ridge beam in order to provide an air flow path for building ventilation. A shear tie strap is connected to the ridge beam and to the sheathing on either side of the ridge beam. The shear tie strap includes two cross straps that extend at an acute angle to the ridge beam which are connected at the down slope ends thereof to nailer strips. A center nailer strip is also provided for attachment to the ridge beam. The shear tie strap preferably has a width that is adapted to a spacing between adjacent rafters on the roof. A preferred width is 17.5 inches or 25.5 inches for use with rafters on 16 inch or 24 inch centers. However, other widths could be used. If necessary, blocking can be added between adjacent rafters for attachment of the nailer strips to provide sufficient shear force transfer area to the roof structure. Additionally, openings are located through the shear tie strap on each side of the center nailer strip in order to allow the ventilation areas provided by the gaps or slots located on either side of the ridge beam to remain as open as possible.
In one preferred application, a ridge pole extension is attached on top of the shear tie strap to the ridge beam in order to support the cap tiles.
In another aspect of the invention, purlins are attached along the upper edge of the sheathing over the shear tie straps in order to anchor the upper row of roofing tiles to the roof surface.
The shear tie straps can be located on each adjacent pair of rafters or can be spaced apart, depending upon the particular loading requirements for the roof system.
In another aspect, the shear tie strap can extend over a ridge beam that extends above the rafters in order to provide direct anchoring of the cap tiles to the ridge beam.
In another aspect, the shear tie strap comprises two sheet metal bodies which are crossed at an intermediate region, one overlapping the other, the intermediate region forming at least part of a nailer strip to the ridge beam.
In a preferred embodiment, holes are punched through the shear tie strap in various positions for installation of nails or other fasteners to secure the shear tie strap to the rafters and/or ridge beam.
In a preferred embodiment, the shear tie strap is a punched sheet metal part made from 20 gauge steel.
In an aspect, the invention relates to a shear tie system for a vented roof ridge. The shear tie system comprises a ridge beam which is supported via rafters and sheathing located on the rafters, and a gap or slot is provided between a top edge of the sheathing and the ridge beam that extends along a majority of the ridge beam in order to provide an air flow path for building ventilation. A shear tie strap is connected to the ridge beam, the sheathing and the rafters on either side of the ridge beam. The shear tie strap includes a center nailer strip for attachment to the ridge beam, and two cross straps that extend at an acute angle to the ridge beam and include at down slope ends thereof nailer strips. The shear tip strap has a center where the two cross straps cross or intersect, a first longitudinal end including the respective nailer strips displaced from the center of the shear tie strap in a first direction toward a first longitudinal end of the ridge beam, and a second longitudinal end including the respective nailer strips displaced from the center of the shear tie strap in a second direction toward a second end of the ridge beam and opposite to the first direction.
In this aspect, preferred but non-limiting embodiments may include the following. The shear tie strap may have a width that is adapted to a spacing between adjacent rafters on the roof. The shear tie strap may comprises a first sheet metal body and a second sheet metal body, each comprising one of the two cross straps, wherein the two cross straps overlap in an intermediate region such that the overlapping intermediate regions form at least part of the center nailer strip. The shear tie strap may further comprises a first connecting strap that extends over the ridge beam and connects the cross straps extending toward the first longitudinal end of the shear tie strap. The shear tie strap may further comprise a second connecting strap that extends over the ridge beam and connects the cross straps extending toward the second longitudinal end of the shear tie strap. The first connecting strap may be associated with the respective nailer strips on each cross strap at the first longitudinal end, and the second connecting strap may be associated with the respective nailer strips on each cross strap at the second longitudinal end. The first connecting strap may include nailer strips and the second connecting strap may include nailer strips. The nailer strips at down slope ends of the two cross straps may be integral with the two cross straps.
In an aspect, the invention relates to a shear tie strap. The shear tie strap comprises a first sheet metal body including a cross strap having a first intermediate region; and a second sheet metal body including a cross strap having a second intermediate region. The first intermediate region and the second intermediate region cross to form at least part of a center nailer strip.
In this aspect, preferred but non-limiting embodiments may include the following. The first sheet metal body and the second sheet metal body may be integral with one another. The first sheet metal body and the second sheet metal body may be separate and the first intermediate region and the second intermediate region may overlap to form at least part of a center nailer strip. The shear tie strap may have a width that is adapted to a spacing between adjacent rafters on a roof. The spacing may be 16 inches on center. The spacing may be 24 inches on center. The first sheet metal body may have a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end and further include a nailer strip at the first longitudinal end and a nailer strip and the second longitudinal end. The second sheet metal body may have a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end and further include a nailer strip at the first longitudinal end and a nailer strip and the second longitudinal end. The first longitudinal end of the first sheet metal body and the first longitudinal end of the second sheet metal body may define a first longitudinal end of the shear tie strap displaced from the center nailer strip in a first direction, and the second longitudinal end of the first sheet metal body and the second longitudinal end of the second sheet metal body may define a second longitudinal end of the shear tie strap displaced from the center nailer strip in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The shear tie strap may further comprise a first connecting strap adapted to extend over a ridge beam and connect the first sheet metal body and the second sheet metal body toward or at the first longitudinal end of the shear tie strap. The shear tie strap may further comprise a second connecting strap adapted to extend over the ridge beam and connect the first sheet metal body and the second sheet metal body toward or at the second longitudinal end of the shear tie strap. The first connecting strap may be associated with the respective nailer strips on the respective first longitudinal ends of the first sheet metal body and the second sheet metal body. The second connecting strap may be associated with the respective nailer strips on the respective second longitudinal ends of the first sheet metal body and the second sheet metal body. The first connecting strap may include nailer strips and the second connecting strap may include nailer strips. At least one of the nailer strip at first longitudinal end of the first sheet metal body, the nailer strip at the second longitudinal end of the first sheet metal body, the nailer strip at the first longitudinal end of the second sheet metal body, or the nailer strip at the second longitudinal end of the second sheet metal body may be integral with the respective sheet metal body.
The present invention will be explained in more detail in connection with the drawings in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not considered limiting. Words such as “front,” “back,” “top,” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. This terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Additionally, the terms “a” and “one” are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawing figures wherein like numerals represent like elements throughout.
Referring to
Still with reference to
As shown in
The shear tie strap 30 is installed using nails or screws between adjacent rafters 14 and is connected to the ridge beam 16 as well. Depending upon the shear loads anticipated due to either earthquake or hurricane conditions, the shear tie straps 30 can be located between each pair of adjacent rafters 14 or can be spaced apart further, as required.
In the preferred embodiment, the shear tie strap 30 is punched from 20 gauge sheet metal. However, other thicknesses of sheet metal can be utilized, depending upon the loads required for the particular application.
As shown in
The shear tie strap 30 is designed for use in connection with a ventilated roof ridge and accordingly, openings 52 are provided in order to reduce the blocked airflow area through the gaps or slots 20 caused by the shear tie strap 30.
To complete the roof construction after installation of the shear tie strap 30, purlins 32 can be installed in order to support the upper edges of the roof tiles 34, as shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring to
When the cross straps 442 are overlapped in a predetermined orientation, the shear tie strap 430 has a width X of sufficient size so that at least some preformed holes 448 will be aligned with adjacent rafters such that nails or screws may be used to fasten the shear tie strap 430 to the rafters. Width X may be 16 inches or 14 inches for rafters placed on 16 inch or 24 inch centers, respectively. However, other sizes can be used depending upon a particular roof structure and associated standards. Preferably, the sheet metal bodies 440 are made of 16 gauge to 20 gauge sheet metal with a yield stress of 33 ksi. In one preferred arrangement, these were installed with lOd common nails, with at least 8 nails in in each of the nailer strips 444 at each end into the rafters. In an embodiment of the shear tie strap 430, X is 16 inches, the length of the shear tie strap 430 is 30.5 inches, its width (w) is 22 inches, and the width of the cross straps 442 is 3.25 inches at the intermediate regions 454, while the width (y) of the nailer strips 444 is 5.25 inches. In an embodiment of the shear tie strap 430, X is 24 inches, the length of the shear tie strap 430 is 38.5 inches, its width (w) is 22 inches, and the width of the cross straps 442 is 5.25 inches at the intermediate regions 454, while the width (y) of the nailer strips 444 is 5.25 inches. These dimensions are, however, exemplary. The skilled artisan would understand that the dimensions of a shear tie strap may be varied based on the ridge and roof design intended.
Referring to
The shear tie strap 530 may be connected to a ridge beam, the sheathing and the rafters on either side of the ridge beam. The two cross straps 542 may extend at an acute angle to the ridge beam, and include or be connected at down slope ends thereof to the nailer strips 544. The center nailer strip 546 may be implemented for attachment to the ridge beam. Longitudinal axis 533 in
Also illustrated in
As shown in
The connecting strap(s) 542 may be integral with at least one of the respective cross straps 542 connected, or the nailing strips 544 thereon. Alternatively, the connecting strap(s) 542 may be provided as an additional element and fixed to the respective ends 592, 594 of the shear tie strap 530.
The cross straps 542 and connecting straps 560 are referred to and illustrated with common reference characters and embodiments include cross straps, connecting straps, and other common elements having similar or identical dimensions. The skilled artisan will, however, recognize that variations of one cross strap, connecting strap, or other elements may be made.
In some embodiments, one or more preformed holes 548 are formed in the intermediate regions 554. In embodiments having separate sheet metal bodies, the hole or holes may align when the cross straps 542 overlap in a predetermined orientation.
When the cross straps 542 are overlapped in a predetermined orientation or when formed as an integral unit, the shear tie strap 530 has a width X of sufficient size so that at least some preformed holes 548 will be aligned with adjacent rafters such that nails or screws may be used to fasten the shear tie strap 530 to the rafters. Width X may be 16 inches, but may also be any other dimension that represents an on-center spacing of roof rafters. However, other sizes can be used depending upon a particular roof structure and associated standards. Preferably, the sheet metal bodies 540 are made of 16 gauge to 20 gauge sheet metal with a yield stress of 33 ksi. In one preferred arrangement, these may be installed with lOd common nails, with at least 8 nails in in each of the nailer strips 544 at each end into the rafters. The connecting strap 560 of
Referring to
The shear tie strap 630 may be connected to a ridge beam, the sheathing and the rafters on either side of the ridge beam. The two cross straps 642 may extend at an acute angle to the ridge beam, and include or be connected at down slope ends thereof to the nailer strips 644. The center nailer strip 646 may be implemented for attachment to the ridge beam. Longitudinal axis 633 in
Also illustrated in
As shown in
The connecting strap(s) 642 may be integral with at least one of the respective cross straps 642 connected, or the nailing strips 644 thereon. Alternatively, the connecting strap(s) 642 may be provided as an additional element and fixed to the respective ends 692, 694 of the shear tie strap 630.
The cross straps 642 and connecting straps 660 are referred to and illustrated with common reference characters and embodiments include cross straps, connecting straps, and other common elements having similar or identical dimensions. The skilled artisan will recognize that variations of one cross strap, connecting strap, or other elements may be made.
In some embodiments, one or more preformed holes 648 are formed in the intermediate regions 654. In embodiments having separate sheet metal bodies, the hole or holes may align when the cross straps 642 overlap in a predetermined orientation.
When the cross straps 642 are overlapped in a predetermined orientation or when formed as an integral unit, the shear tie strap 630 has a width X of sufficient size so that at least some preformed holes 648 will be aligned with adjacent rafters such that nails or screws may be used to fasten the shear tie strap 630 to the rafters. Width X may be 24 inches, but may also be any other dimension that represents an on-center spacing of roof rafters. However, other sizes can be used depending upon a particular roof structure and associated standards. Preferably, the sheet metal bodies 640 are made of 16 gauge to 20 gauge sheet metal with a yield stress of 33 ksi. In one preferred arrangement, these may be installed with lOd common nails, with at least 8 nails in in each of the nailer strips 644 at each end into the rafters. The connecting strap 660 of
The embodiments of
Referring to
The skilled artisan would recognize that the manufacture of a shear tie strap may be accomplished by stamping or punching a single piece of material. Alternatively, multiple pieces, comprising any subsections of a shear tie strap, may be manufactured and then assembled to create the shear tie strap. Assembly may occur prior to or during installation on a roof. Assembly may include fixing any subsection of a shear tie strap to another with any suitable fixation element or fastener. Although preferred embodiments of a shear tie strap are described as including sheet metal, embodiments include a shear tie strap that is in whole or in part made of another material known in the art.
The skilled artisan would recognize the blockers or doublers made be added to a roof in any desired size or number to provide more anchor points for fasteners securing a shear tie strap to a roof. The blocker or doublers may be positioned to align with nailing strips. The skilled artisan would also recognize that a shear tie strap may be fastened with fasteners driven through the shear tie strap, through intermediate materials, and into rafters, blockers, or doublers. Embodiments include shear tie straps as illustrated or described but with fewer or no pre-drilled holes in nailing strips. The skilled artisan would recognize that holes could be made at any desired location for installation of a shear tie strap, or fasteners may be driven through the shear tie strap material.
A shear tie strap herein may be adapted to any roof. The roof may include tile, cedar, metal, or any other roofing material. The roof may be flat or have any pitch, including 12 on 12.
While the preferred embodiments have been described in detail, the invention is not limited to these specific embodiments which are considered as merely exemplary. Further modifications and extensions of the present invention may be developed and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/021,758 which is a 35 USC § 371 national stage application of PCT/US2015/021456, which was filed Mar. 19, 2015 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/955,275, filed Mar. 19, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 15021758 | US | |
| Child | 15439371 | US |
