Stem Wall Bracket System and Method

Abstract

A stem wall bracket comprising a horizontal member, a short vertical member extending downward from a first edge of the horizontal member, and a long vertical member extending downward from a second edge of the horizontal member, where the first edge is opposite the second edge. The stem wall bracket further comprises a pin holder configured to extend through a hole in the horizontal member. The pin holder comprises a vertical portion and a horizontal portion extending from the vertical portion, where the horizontal portion is configured to hold a horizontally oriented rebar. The short vertical member and long vertical member further comprise a plurality of holes to allow a first and second form board to be removably attached using a plurality of fasteners.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of foundation and stem walls. In particular, the present invention relates to a stem wall bracket system configured to assist in setting up stem wall forms around foundations when building homes.

One foundation technique frequently used in home building is to construct a stem wall. A stem wall anchors a home firmly in the ground, working like roots to hold a house down and tie it into the ground below. Further, the stem wall, being positioned around the perimeter of the house, provides support for the exterior load bearing walls of the home. It should be noted the stem wall can also provide support for interior load bearing walls or any non-load bearing walls.

A stem wall is constructed in place at the home site. Stem walls can be constructed of masonry or cinder block reinforced with concrete and rebar. Stems walls can also be poured concrete reinforced with rebar as part of the foundation. When pouring the stem wall, a form of wooden boards is constructed around the periphery of the foundation.

In the normal site preparation practice, a desired building site would be plotted and excavated as required for the construction of perimeter concrete footing forms to be constructed and foundation wall footings poured. Conventional concrete wall forms are then erected on the footings and the concrete walls poured; the concrete forms later being removed and the outer periphery being backfilled to specified grade. A concrete foundation slab is then poured within the excavated inner confines of the concrete perimeter wall.

From the foregoing however, it is readily apparent that the preparation and construction of the foundation pad and concrete skirting encompasses an unduly substantial amount of concrete work. Stem walls formed in such a way provide a very stable foundation which protects from damage even in rising waters, seismic events, and high winds. However, it is desirable to improve the efficiency of forming stem walls as this is typically very time-consuming.

Any discussion of prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a stem wall bracket comprising a horizontal member, a short vertical member extending downward from a first edge of the horizontal member, and a long vertical member extending downward from a second edge of the horizontal member, where the first edge is opposite the second edge. The stem wall bracket further comprises a pin holder configured to extend through a hole in the horizontal member.

The pin holder comprises a vertical portion and a horizontal portion extending from the vertical portion, where the horizontal portion is configured to hold a horizontally oriented rebar.

The short vertical member further comprises a plurality of holes to allow a first form board to be removably attached to the short vertical member using a plurality of fasteners. The long vertical member further comprises a plurality of holes to allow a second form board to be removably attached to the long vertical member using a plurality of fasteners. The stem wall bracket is configured such that the first form board will be parallel to the second form board when removably attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a Stem Wall Bracket Device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side cut-away view of the Stem Wall Bracket System and Method according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of one vertical member of the Stem Wall Bracket

System and Method according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a horizontal member of the Stem Wall Bracket System and Method according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the Stem Wall Bracket System according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the present invention is a stem wall bracket 110 comprising a horizontal member 120, a short vertical member 130 extending downward from a first edge 122 of the horizontal member, and a long vertical member 140 extending downward from a second edge 124 of the horizontal member. Preferably, the horizontal member first edge 122 is opposite the horizontal member second edge 124 lengthwise.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the short vertical member 130 and long vertical member 140 are integrated into the horizontal member 120 such that the stem wall bracket 110 is one piece. In an alternate embodiment, the short vertical member 130 is coupled to the first edge 122 of the horizontal member 120 and the long vertical member 140 is coupled to the second edge 124 of the horizontal member 120.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the short vertical member 130 preferably comprises a first plurality of holes 136 configured to removably attach a first form board 132 to the short vertical member 130 using a plurality of fasteners 160. The first form board 132 is preferably located on a short inside surface 134 of the short vertical member 130 such that the width of the first form board 132 is flat against the short inside surface 134 of the short vertical member 130. The plurality of fasteners 160 are inserted through the first plurality of holes 136 on the short vertical member 130 into the first form board 132.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the long vertical member 140 preferably comprises a second plurality of holes 146 configured to removably attach a second form board 142 to the long vertical member 140 using a plurality of fasteners 160. The second form board 142 is preferably located on a long inside surface 144 of the long vertical member 140 such that the width of the second form board 142 is flat against the long inside surface 144 of the long vertical member 140. The plurality of fasteners 160 are inserted through the second plurality of holes 146 on the long vertical member 140 into the second form board 142. The plurality of fasteners 160 are preferably nails or screws, however, other types of fasteners not enumerated herein may be considered.

The stem wall bracket 110 is configured to hold a first form board 132 that is a standard two inch by six inch (2″×6″) lumber. Additionally, the stem wall bracket 110 is further configured to hold a second form board 142 that is a standard one inch by ten inch (1″×10″) lumber. Preferably, the stem wall bracket 110 holds the first form board 132 parallel to the second form board 142. Preferably, the stem wall bracket 110 positions the first form board 132 on what will be the inner stem wall side and positions the second form board 142 on what will be the outer stem wall side. The sizes of the first and second form boards are specified for example purposes only, the stem wall bracket 110 is configured to accommodate other sizes of lumber for the first and second form boards as dictated by the size and width of the resultant stem wall.

As further shown in FIGS. 1-4, the horizontal member 120, the short vertical member 130, and the long vertical member 140 are all preferably relatively flat and rectangular. Preferably, the stem wall bracket 110 is comprised of steel, or other stiff material such that the stem wall bracket 110 won't bend or move during use.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the stem wall bracket 110 preferably further comprises a pin holder 150 configured to extend downward from the horizontal member 120 and hold a horizontally placed rebar 158. The pin holder 150 preferably comprises a vertical portion 152 configured to removably attach to the horizontal member 120 and a horizontal portion 154 extending away from the vertical portion 152.

In another embodiment, the pin holder 150 comprises a plurality of horizontal portions 154 spaced along the vertical portion 152. In this embodiment, the pin holder 150 may retain a plurality of horizontally oriented rebar 158. Additionally, in this embodiment, the plurality of horizontal portions 154 extend away from the vertical portion 152 along the same plane such that after pouring the concrete for the stem wall, the pin holder 150 is rotated at least ninety degrees to be removed, thus releasing the plurality of horizontally oriented rebar 158 into the concrete. In another embodiment, the plurality of horizontal portions 154 may extend away from the vertical portion 152 in any direction.

The vertical portion 152 of the pin holder 150 preferably comprises a top 156 configured to prevent the pin holder 150 from falling through a second hole 128 in the horizontal member 120. The top 156 is preferably configured to be larger than the second hole 128 in the horizontal member 120.

As shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal member comprises a first hole 126 for configured to allow standard sized rebar 158 to fit through the horizontal member 120 and down in between the first form board 132 and second form board 142 in a vertical position. The horizontal member 120 further comprises a second hole 128 configured to allow the pin holder 150 to fit down through the horizontal member 120.

As shown in FIG. 5, a stem wall bracket system 100 comprises a first form board and a second form board positioned parallel to each other and a plurality of stem wall brackets 110 wherein the short vertical member 130 is removably attached to the first form board 132 and the long vertical member 140 is removably attached to the second form board 142. Preferably, the plurality of stem wall brackets 110 are spaced evenly along the length of the first and second form boards. The first and second form boards are set-up such that the width of the first and second form boards are vertical.

A method of using a stem wall bracket, comprising the steps of placing a first form board along an inner perimeter of a stem wall; attaching a stem wall bracket to the first form board using a plurality of fasteners, wherein each stem wall bracket comprises a horizontal member, a short vertical member extending downward from a first edge of the horizontal member, and a long vertical member extending downward from a second edge of the horizontal member, wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge; and attaching a second form board to the stem wall bracket using a plurality of fasteners to form an outer perimeter of a stem wall.

The method further comprises the steps of arranging rebar in between the first form board and second form board, inserting a pin holder through a hole in the horizontal member of the stem wall bracket, pouring concrete in between the first form board and second form board, and removing the pin holder from the stem wall bracket by turning and pulling the pin holder out of a hole in the horizontal member.

Finally, after the concrete stem wall has cured or hardened, the last step is removing the plurality of fasteners to remove the stem wall bracket from the first form board and second form board.

Although the present invention has been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred to in this specification.

Claims

1. A stem wall bracket comprising: a horizontal member;a short vertical member extending downward from a first edge of the horizontal member; anda long vertical member extending downward from a second edge of the horizontal member;wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge.

2. The stem wall bracket of claim 1, wherein the short vertical member comprises a plurality of holes.

3. The stem wall bracket of claim 1, wherein the long vertical member comprises a plurality of holes.

4. The stem wall bracket of claim 1, wherein the horizontal member comprises a first hole in approximately a center portion, wherein the hole is sized for standard rebar to extend through.

5. The stem wall bracket of claim 1, further comprising a pin holder configured to extend downward from the horizontal member.

6. The stem wall bracket of claim 5, wherein the pin holder comprises a vertical portion, a horizontal portion extending outward from the vertical portion, and a top configured to prevent the pin holder from falling through a second hole in the horizontal member.

7. The stem wall bracket of claim 6, wherein the pin holder comprises a plurality of horizontal portions spaced along the vertical portion.

8. A stem wall bracket system comprising: a first form board and a second form board positioned parallel to each other; anda plurality of stem wall brackets configured to couple comprising a horizontal member, a short vertical member extending downward from a first edge of the horizontal member, and a long vertical member extending downward from a second edge of the horizontal member, wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge;wherein the short vertical member is removably attached to the first form board and the long vertical member is removably attached to the second form board; andwherein the plurality of stem wall brackets are spaced evenly along the length of the first and second form boards.

9. The stem wall bracket system of claim 8, wherein the short vertical member comprises a plurality of holes configured to removably attach a first form board to the short vertical member using a plurality of fasteners.

10. The stem wall bracket of claim 8, wherein the long vertical member comprises a plurality of holes configured to removably attach a second form board to the long vertical member using a plurality of fasteners.

11. The stem wall bracket of claim 8, wherein the horizontal member comprises a hole in approximately a center portion, wherein the hole is sized for standard rebar to extend through.

12. The stem wall bracket of claim 8, further comprising a pin holder configured to extend downward through the horizontal member.

13. The stem wall bracket of claim 12, wherein the pin holder comprises a vertical portion and a horizontal portion extending outward from the vertical portion wherein the horizontal portion is configured to retain a horizontally oriented rebar, and a top configured to prevent the pin holder from falling through a hole in the horizontal member.

14. The stem wall bracket of claim 13, wherein the pin holder comprises a plurality of horizontal portions spaced along the vertical portion.

15. A method of using a stem wall bracket, comprising the steps of: placing a first form board along an inner perimeter of a stem wall;attaching a stem wall bracket to the first form board using a plurality of fasteners, wherein each stem wall bracket comprises a horizontal member, a short vertical member extending downward from a first edge of the horizontal member, and a long vertical member extending downward from a second edge of the horizontal member, wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge; andattaching a second form board to the stem wall bracket using a plurality of fasteners to form an outer perimeter of a stem wall.

16. The method of using a stem wall bracket in claim 15, further comprising the steps of: arranging rebar in between the first form board and second form board;inserting a pin holder through a hole in the horizontal member of the stem wall bracket;wherein the pin holder comprises a vertical portion and a horizontal portion extending outward from the vertical portion; and wherein the horizontal portion is configured to retain a horizontally oriented rebar;pouring concrete in between the first form board and second form board;removing the pin holder from the stem wall bracket by turning and pulling the pin holder out of a hole in the horizontal member; andremoving the plurality of fasteners to remove the stem wall bracket from the first form board and second form board.