Patent Grant
9506242
a) Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates generally to engineered wood building materials and, more particularly, to engineered wood rim boards used in light frame construction of buildings.
b) Background
From the 1960s to the present the wood framing industry has evolved where more and more dimensional framing members are being replaced by their engineered lumber counterparts. Engineered Lumber Manufactures have developed a multitude of innovative engineered lumber framing members that improve upon their dimensional lumber predecessors in order to meet the needs required by today's building industry.
Engineered lumber use various types of structural composite lumber such as laminated veneer lumber (“LVL”), parallel strand lumber (“PSL”), laminated strand lumber (“LSL”), oriented strand lumber (“OSL”), glue laminated timber (“gluelam”) to create structural components, such as rim boards and I-joists, designed to meet a corresponding variety of specific structural framing requirements.
Conventional rim board or rim joists used in constructing floor platforms may not be able to carry the structural load above wall openings such as doors and windows by themselves, particularly as the opening width is increased, requiring the use of structural headers.
Likewise, conventional double plates in the top floor of a structure to support ceiling joists and roof rafters may similarly not be able to carry the structural load of the roof, particularly above wall openings such as doors and windows in the top floor.
Moreover, for multi-story light frame construction, the loads that must be carried by the rim boards of lower floors increases as new floors are added during construction.
In the above cases, additional structural elements, such as extra king studs, jamb/jack studs, cripples, structural headers, etc. are used to augment the load-carrying capability over openings and/or for supporting ceiling joists and roof rafters. However, those additional elements add cost and waste. In an effort to reduce cost and waste in light frame construction, techniques known as “advanced framing techniques” have been devised. Advanced framing techniques use a systems approach to the design, engineering, and construction of wood-framed structures to reduce lumber use, minimize wood waste, and maximize a structure's thermal efficiency, while still maintaining the structural integrity and meeting building codes.
I have devised a structural engineered wood rim board for light frame construction that provides improved load carrying capability and is readily usable with advanced framing techniques or to simplify framing.
One aspect involves a structural engineered wood rim board corner system for light frame construction. The system includes two structural engineered wood rim boards. Each of the two structural engineered wood rim boards is made up of a pair of flanges connected by a web so as to form a recessed cavity in-between the flanges on one side and on an opposite side of the structural engineered wood rim boards the pair of flanges and web form a surface that is substantially flat. The width of the web of each of the two structural engineered wood rim boards is at least 50% of the overall width of the structural engineered wood rim boards. The two engineered wood rim boards are abutted relative to each other at corresponding ends so as to form an angled intersection, with the cavity being on an exterior angle portion of the intersection.
The system also includes an auxiliary corner support made up of two arms oriented at an angle relative to each other corresponding to the angled intersection. The auxiliary corner support has a width substantially equal to the width of the web. One of the two arms of the auxiliary corner support is within one of the cavities and the other of the two arms is within the other cavity. Each of the two arms abut and are affixed to their corresponding webs, so as to concurrently (1) maintain the two engineered wood rim boards at an orientation relative to each other corresponding to the angle, and (2) assist the web in transferring a load applied to the upper flanges near the corner to a part of the structure below the lower flanges while resisting spreading of the corresponding ends of the two engineered wood rim boards at the angled intersection.
Another aspect involves a method performed as part of light frame construction. The method involves abutting two structural engineered wood rim boards relative to each other at corresponding ends at an angle of intersection so as to form a corner for the light frame construction, wherein i) each of the two structural engineered wood rim boards is made up of a pair of flanges connected by a web so as to form a recessed cavity in-between the flanges on one side and, on an opposite side of the structural engineered wood rim boards, ii) the pair of flanges and web form a surface that is substantially flat, iii) the width of the web of each of the two structural engineered wood rim boards is at least 50% of the overall width of the structural engineered wood rim boards, and iv) the recessed cavity is on an exterior angle portion of the intersection.
The method also involves attaching an auxiliary corner support, having two arms, to the two structural engineered wood rim boards, wherein i) the auxiliary corner support has a width substantially equal to the width of the web, ii) one of the two arms of the auxiliary corner support is within one of the cavities and the other of the two arms of the auxiliary corner support is within the other cavity, and iii) each of the two arms abut and are affixed to their corresponding webs.
In combination, the two structural engineered wood rim boards and the auxiliary corner support are involved in i) maintaining the two engineered wood rim boards at an orientation relative to each other corresponding to the angle, ii) assisting the respective webs in transferring a load, applied to at least an upper flange of at least one of the two structural engineered wood rim boards near the corner, to a part of the light frame construction below the combination, and iii) resisting spreading of the corresponding ends of the two engineered wood rim boards at the corner.
The foregoing has outlined rather generally the features and technical advantages of one or more embodiments of this disclosure in order that the following detailed description may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of this disclosure will be described hereinafter, which may form the subject of the claims of this application.
For purposes of understanding, the following definitions are generally applicable to the description herein to the extent they expand upon the ordinary meaning of the terms and are not meant to limit or otherwise constrain the ordinary meaning in any way.
The term “framed support system” means a construct and a method of building using wood product members that are assembled into a frame that will form walls of a building and may support one or more floors and a roof. The frame is generally structural on the exterior of the building and, on the interior of the building, may or may not be structural. Without limiting the breadth of the foregoing, the term is intended to specifically include light frame construction generally and, more particularly, platform framing, which is the standard for construction of houses, apartments, small commercial buildings, and similar structures in the United States and Canada. Platform framed light construction typically uses vertical structural members, referred to as “studs” to create a stable vertical frame to which interior and exterior sheathing is attached to form walls. Horizontal floor and ceiling joists are used to create the platforms to which the walls attach in order to create a stable horizontal frame. Floor sheathing couples the floor joists to provide floors. Sloping rafters or truss frames are typically also used over the uppermost walls to provide a stable frame for attachment of roof sheathing that will support the external roof covering.
The terms “wood product” or “wood products” means building products configured for use in light frame construction that incorporate wood as a constituent component including, without limitation: natural logs, dimensional lumber, headers, beams, timbers, moldings, veneers, and engineered wood products such as strand board, strand lumber, laminated strand lumber, parallel strand lumber, glue laminated timber, oriented strand lumber, cross-laminated timber (“CLT”), ply board, laminated veneer lumber, plywood, medium density overlay plywood, high density overlay plywood, medium density overlay panel, high density overlay panel, chip board, particle board, wafer board, hard board, medium density fiberboard, high density fiberboard, steam cooked and pressure-molded board, advanced framing lumber (“AFL”) and any other structural composite lumber (SCL) as well as composites made with wood, wood byproducts, or mixtures of wood fibers and adhesive or binding agents.
The term “wood substitute” means a substance which can formed, molded, fabricated or otherwise configured into a product and used in place of a wood product in creating a light frame construction building including, without limitation: agri-waste products, fiber cement, plastic, cardboard, paper resin laminates, or similar materials.
The term “adhesive” means any material useful for binding or adhering surfaces or particles in the manufacture of structural wood products or wood substitute products or for connecting such products together including, without limitation, animal glue, hide glue, casein-based glue, contact cement, formaldihyde-based glues, epoxy or resin-based glues, cyanoacrylate-based glues, construction adhesives, thermosetting adhesives including phenolic, polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, melamine, phenol resorcinol, resorcinol, polyurethane polymer, emulsion polymer isocyanate, polyurethane and emulsion copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, and thermoplastic resins, combinations thereof, and any other chemical, liquid or gel that can be used for purposes of adhering or bonding surfaces together.
The term “member body material” for the purposes of this disclosure means any wood-containing material which can be configured as a member body, structural rim board (1), flange or web as described herein, including, but not limited to, any wood product as defined herein.
The term “auxiliary structural member material” means any material which is physically configured as an auxiliary support member and has suitable load-transfer characteristics for the intended use as described herein. Examples of suitable auxiliary structural member materials, include, but are not intended to be limited to: wood products, wood substitutes, metals (particularly steel and aluminum), metal alloys, plastics, composites, or combinations thereof, the important feature being the load-transfer characteristics, not the material itself.
The term “load” means one or more forces applied or generated in a light frame construction building during its construction or when fully constructed and in use. Such loads can include, but are not limited to, dead loads (e.g. the weight of the materials that make up the structure) and live loads (e.g. occupants, furniture, appliances, etc. within the building), and loads applied by external forces (e.g. snow loads, wind loads, seismic loads, etc.) as well as combinations thereof.
With the above in mind,
As shown in
The face surfaces (4)(19) are generally configured so that they lie in a common plane and have a sufficient area to allow for attachment of a facing layer (39), such as sheathing or other covering materials, thereto.
In general, the cavity height will be at least 50% of the overall height (6) of the structural rim board (1) and may be centered between the opposed edges (7)(8) or may be offset towards one or the other. For purposes of illustrative example only, the rim board of
In addition, some implementations of the structural rim board (1) will include at least two, and likely more, joinery slots (83) cut into at least one of the edges (8), along its length. The joinery slots (83) are configured to typically accept standard joinery biscuits inserted therein for purposes of, for example, creating a structural connection of the structural rim board (1) with another building component like a top plate or sill plate having one or more corresponding joinery slots and/or for purposes of specific registration of the structural rim board (1) relative to one of those plates based upon the placement of the joinery slots (83) in each.
In general, the height (6), width (3) of the structural rim board (1) and the height (17) and depth (18) of the cavity (9) therein will generally be manufactured to pre-determined dimensions such that they can be sold in standard sizes and lengths, in most cases, compatible with manufactured, engineered lumber I-joists (e.g. in lengths from 12 to 60 feet long). In connection with the manufacture, for particular standard sized rim boards (1), specifications will provide the rim board (1) capacity to transfer vertical loads from the uppermost part of a structure to the structure below, as well as due to lateral forces such as wind and seismic forces between upper and lower structural assemblies. In addition to the above-mentioned load carrying capacities borne by structural rim boards (1) as described herein are their capacity to span different length openings based upon the member body material (“MBM”) used in their construction. The methods for calculating load-carrying capacity of construction components like conventional rim boards and joists are well known, conventional and readily applied to rim boards as described herein, as is the provision of specifications and/or tables containing such capacities. With such specifications and/or tables, builders can determine the allowable unsupported span a particular length rim board can cover such that it will not fail as higher levels of the building are constructed or, thereafter when the building is finished, due to live loads applied thereafter.
For purposes of example only, and depending upon the particular intended application, the member width (3) can typically range from between about one inch to about five and one half inches. Typical example implementations of the rim boards described herein would likely be manufactured to have a member width (3) of between about 1″ and about 5″. Likewise, typical example implementations of the rim boards described herein would likely be manufactured to have a member height (6) of between about 8″ to about 24″. Due to the need for dimensional compatibility with other conventional structural components, typical example heights (6) for the rim boards described herein would likely be one of: 9½″, 11⅞″, 14″, 16″, 18″, 20″ and 24″. In similar fashion, it is expected that structural engineered rim boards as described herein would be manufactured in some standard lengths ranging from about 12 feet to about 40 feet, so that they could be cut to desired length for the application on site.
Typically, conventional rim boards must be selected so as to be able to handle the maximum load that could be applied anywhere along their length. In the event that, after the fact, it is determined that the selected rim board size is insufficient for the loading in some particular area, for example, due to a change that adds a large opening in an exterior wall or a point load, additional structural changes must be made to compensate for that lack of load carrying capacity. This typically involves replacing, sistering or “doubling up” of the rim board in those areas, which often dramatically “over engineers” that area. The sistering or “doubling up” of the rim board or replacing it with a wider board in those areas, requires additional space to accommodate their widths and they take up additional space, typically on the building interior side, over the underlying sill plate or top plate, leaving insufficient room on the plate for supporting one or more joist(s).
Moreover, since the sill plate or top plate will likely have been installed prior to the change, it is likely not possible to replace the existing sill plate or top plate with a wider one, further potentially requiring use of a joist hanger to support the hoist(s) in lieu of using the plate for support.
Still further, sistering or “doubling up” of the rim board or replacing it with a wider board on an exterior side of the building in that area may be even less viable because it could interfere with the exterior sheathing or create problems with the placement or look of exterior details, such as siding, shingles and moulding.
Advantageously, as will be described in greater detail herein, with the rim boards constructed as described herein, the cavity (9) provides the ability to augment the load-carrying capability of the rim boards described herein, as needed, along their length, after placement, and without intentionally adversely affecting spacing on its interior or exterior sides. This can be accomplished through use of an auxiliary structural member (28) (“AM”) that can be inserted into the cavity (9) of the rim board, after the rim board has already been attached to its underlying top plate or sill plate, and affixed to the web of the rim board such that the auxiliary structural member (28) will carry a portion of the load applied to the rim board in that area. Advantageously, as will be described in greater detail below, the auxiliary structural member (28) will typically have a width (29) that substantially corresponds to the height (17) of the cavity such that it needs to only be sized or selected (in length and depth) to provide that additional load-carrying capacity in the area where it is needed. Depending upon the particular implementation, the auxiliary structural member (28) can be placed in the cavity (9) such that at least one of its edges (30) will abut at least one of the opposed surfaces (13)(14) of the flanges.
As shown, in
Again referring primarily to
As shown in
Up to now, the structural rim board (1) has been illustrated as entirely made from a unitary beam of material. Thus, the manufacture of such a structural rim board (1) can be made in different ways, by, for example, forming a solid rectangular rim board and then removing material so as to form the cavity (9), by forming the rim board to the specific intended dimensions (including the cavity (9)) through a molding or other formation process, or, where the unitary beam is made by layering sheets or oriented fibers in a particular configuration, by incorporating the desired cross sectional shape into the layering process. Advantageously, the various ways of creating a structural engineered rim board for use as described herein allow, in some cases, for on-site creation of such rim boards by merely taking a conventional engineered rectangular rim board made of, for example, LVL or OSL and routing a cavity of suitable width and depth longitudinally on one side. For example, for an application that involves loadings such that one would normally use a 1¼″ thick conventional rim board, one could use a 1¾″ thick conventional rim board and create a ½″ deep cavity along its length using a router or a series of passes of a dado blade to allow the newly-formed cavity (9) accommodate an auxiliary structural member (28).
As shown in
Moreover, the use of two or more face-stacked or overlapping auxiliary structural members (28) advantageously can allow two abutting rim boards (1) to be spliced together.
With continuing reference to
Under those constraints, Table 1 below specifies, in the first two rows, specific example MBMs for the chord and web of an example rim board (1) constructed as described herein, and, in the remaining 3 rows, different example variant AMs corresponding to the AMs of
As noted above, in reading these Tables, it should be understood, each of the first chord (22) and second chord (23) will have a chord width (70) (“CW”) and chord height (71)(“CH”). For purposes of the example, set forth in Table 1, the chord width (70), the chord height (71) and the chord MBM are respectively specified as 1⅝″ (CW), 1½″ (CH) and the MBM is dimensional lumber, specifically, Douglas Fir Larch No. 2 Grade (“DFL-N #2”). Of course, in keeping with the numerous potential materials that could be used to construct the structural rim board (1) other suitable dimensional lumber that could be used as an MBM could include, for example, Hemlock Fir No. 2 Grade (“HemFir #2”). Indeed, any other material that is in accordance with the standards of the “National Design Specification for Wood Construction with Commentary and Supplements” and the “Supplement National Design Specification for Wood Construction”, both published by the American Wood Council (2005) (“NDS”), the entirety of both of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully contained herein, could likewise be used for the chords of this example.
Likewise, as to the web, the web (24) of the example rim board (1) has a web width (i.e. thickness) (“WW”) (72) and a web height (73)(“WH”) and is made of a web MBM. For purposes of this example, the web MBM is Oriented Strand Board Type 1 (“OSB-Type 1”) in accordance with the standards set forth in the “OSB Design Manual—Performance By Design”, published by the Structural Board Association (2004) (“SBA Design Manual”) and has a WW of 1⅛″ and a WH of 6½″ or 8⅞″.
In
Referring specifically to Table 1, as to representative illustrative example auxiliary structural member (28) AM-1, it has a width (cavity height-spanning breadth) of about 6½″ or 8⅞″ (depending upon and intended to closely correspond to the space between the flanges) and an AMT of about ½″. The AMM of AM-1 is plywood grade “Plywood S3”. The representative example auxiliary structural members (28) AM-2 and AM-3 both similarly have widths of about 6½″ or 8⅞″ (depending upon and intended to closely correspond to the space between the flanges) and are an AMM of A36 steel alloy (“A36 Steel”). As to thickness, AM-2 has a thickness of about ¼″, whereas AM-3 has a thickness of about ½″. Thus, it should be appreciated that, for a cavity (9) depth of about ½″, one of AM-1 or AM-3 will fit in the cavity, whereas, with AM-2, a single unit could be used where lesser structural span load-carrying/load transfer augmentation is required, whereas in other areas, two AM-2s could be stacked together (i.e. in a depth direction) within that cavity (9) to provide greater load-carrying/load transfer capability. Moreover, with two AM-2s of equal length “L”, the stacking could be offset such that they only partially overlap, for example, only half of each (“L”/2) overlap. In that case, the center overlapped portion would provide greater additional load-carrying/load transfer in that area, whereas the two end portions (“L”/4 each) would provide a lesser additional load-carrying/load transfer in those areas, although in each case, the load-carrying/load transfer capability would be higher than that of the structural rim board (1) alone.
Table 2 contains various material property values of each MBM and AMM are set forth for each of the first and second cord (22)(23), the web (24) and each of auxiliary structural members AM-1, AM-2, AM-3 of
(psi)
650(2)
142(2)
720(2)
128(2)
118(3)
(1)A size factor of 1.5 is included
(2)The design values are derived from Tables 5D-5F of the SBA Design Manual
(3)The values are determined by the formula in NDS
Tables 3A-3B below use the information from Tables 1 & 2 to set forth the structural member allowable load in pounds by structural member span in inches for each of the variants of Table 1. Tables 3A-3B presume usage of the rim board (1) in a 2 story building with a basement. The rim board (1) is in lieu of a conventional rim board and bands the floor platforms with presumed loads of 690 pounds per liner foot (PLF) at the second floor, just below the ceiling joists and roof rafters, a load of 1210 PLF at the second floor platform (above the first floor), and a load of 1720 PLF at the first floor platform (above the foundation). The building is presumed as being 28 feet wide with all the floor and ceiling joists, as well as the roof rafters, running in the same 28 ft direction. The roof has an overhang of 2 ft and there is a center bearing beam structure starting at the foundation level and extending up through the attic. The rim board (1), by being perpendicular to the floor and ceiling rafters is, in effect, carrying all the structural loads from the exterior wall in towards the center bearing beam for a distance of 7 ft. The exterior wall weight is presumed at 100 PLF, the roof loads are applied vertically to the horizontal projections, a snow load of 115%, deflection is limited to L/240, first floor loading, second floor loading and roof loading are each presumed at 40 lbs/sq. ft. live load (LL)+20 lbs/sq. ft. dead load (DL) for a total of 60 lbs/sq. ft. total each. The attic loading is presumed at 20 lbs/sq. ft. (LL) and 10 lbs/sq. ft (DL) for a total of 30 lbs/sq. ft.
The “Option” line labeled “Rim Board” refers to the structural rim board (1) of
As evidenced by the values set forth in Tables 3A-3B, the load-carrying/load transfer capability of the structural rim board (1) can be changed and augmented by using various dimensional and MBM and AMM combinations to provide a correspondingly varied range of structural member total allowable loads. Accordingly, since the mere addition of an appropriate auxiliary structural member can significantly change the total allowable load, the same rim board can be used for the entire structure and, where particular spans or other loading concerns require higher load capacity, the rim board can be augmented with an appropriate AM for that area. This aspect is particularly advantageous when used in conjunction with advanced framing techniques because, normally, the rim board would be specified so as to handle the maximum expected load and unsupported span, even though most of the rest of the structure would not normally require such a rim board size absent that load or span (i.e. a lesser rim board would have been used). With rim boards as described herein, the lesser rim boards could be used for the entire structure and, in the area where a higher load capacity is required or a larger unsupported span an auxiliary structural member of appropriate AMM and dimensions could be added into the cavity (9) of the rim board so as to augment the total load capacity in and around that area.
A further advantage obtainable using rim boards (1) as described herein is that retrofit becomes easier. For example, consider a light frame construction building constructed using rim boards as described herein. At some point well after construction, the homeowner decides to have an exterior deck constructed which requires a larger unsupported span for the intended doorway than the present rim boards as described herein could span alone. Advantageously, by merely adding an appropriate auxiliary structural member into the exterior facing cavity of the rim board over the opening, the load carrying capability of the rim board can be increased such that the unsupported span for the doorway can easily be accommodated. This approach can significantly simplify the effort and thereby either reduce the cost or allow for design details (such as wider openings) that could not otherwise be accommodated as easily, if at all.
Likewise, during a remodel, the architect and homeowner may decide that a desired architectural detail of one or more exterior windows that extend all the way to the ceiling (i.e. it would not stop the typical 10″-12″ from the ceiling. To accomplish this in conventional light frame construction, this would generally require removal of the top plate(s) over the area where the window(s) would be, significantly adversely affecting the structural load-carrying capability of the wall in that area (or as a whole). Moreover, if the conventional light frame construction building was more that a single story or even a single story building subject to high live loads, it might not be possible to even do so. In contrast, with rim boards constructed according to the description herein, the simple addition of an appropriate AM (or replacement of an existing AM for one that will provide an even higher total load capacity) of sufficient length to appropriately span the intended opening and transfer the load to either side of it, the top plate(s) could be cut because they would no longer be “structural” in that area. In contrast, significant additional demolition and construction effort (and consequently increased cost) would be required to accomplish the same effect.
Specifically,
Thus, it should be understood that, were a structural rim board (1) is created using separate discrete elements, any conventional means by which the chord and web can be connected so as to form a unitary rim board (1) can be used.
Specifically,
At this point it is worth noting that the joinery slots (83), although shown as aligned in different fashions in
Specifically,
As shown in
Framed Support Systems & Methods Incorporating the Structural Rim Boards
Having described various aspects of different example variants of the structural engineered rim boards (1) and auxiliary structural members (28), can be utilized as components in a framed support system comprising conventional light frame construction or advanced framing techniques to great advantage. It should further be appreciated that those components can also be used with different panelized wall systems, including prefabricated panelized exterior walls and structural insulating panel (“SIP”) systems, with similar or other alternative advantages resulting therefrom.
With this in mind, examples of applications involving structural engineered rim boards (1) and auxiliary structural members (28) as described herein will now be described with reference to
As shown in the portion of
The
Thus, in each of
Specifically,
The part of the sill plate (47) that extends inward beyond the structural rim board (1) provides a shelf (52) which can support one or more floor joists (53) with the ends of the floor joists abutting the interior-facing face (5) of the structural rim board (1). As also shown, in
Thus, in contrast to
In addition, as a side note, in some cases, the spanning of an opening may mean that further reinforcement for the connection between the floor joists (53) and rim board (1) may be required. Advantageously, the presence of a flat face (5), on the side of the structural rim board (1) opposite the cavity (9), allows for the use of joist hangers (55)(or other connectors) to connect (or augment the connection) of the floor joists (53) to the structural rim board (1).
In this configuration, the auxiliary structural member (28) bears part of the load that the structural rim board (1) would otherwise experience over the opening and thereby augments the load-carrying capacity over the span.
As shown in
As previously mentioned above, a further advantage to rim boards (1) constructed according to the teachings herein, is that they can be used to great advantage in connection with advance framing techniques or to allow for details not readily obtainable with ease using conventional rim boards.
As shown in
Presume that a single auxiliary structural member of the AM-2 type of a length sufficient to span beyond either side of the opening (77b) would be sufficient augmentation over the opening (77b) for the doorway to transfer the load portion over that opening (77b) to the king studs to either side of the opening (77b). Likewise presume that, the removal of the double top plate over the opening and the size of the opening would necessitate augmentation with a single auxiliary structural member (28) of the AM-3 type or a stack of two abutted auxiliary structural members (28) of the AM-2 type.
One potential way of dealing with the need to augment the load carrying capability of the structural rim board (1) would be to initially insert one auxiliary structural member (28-1) of the AM-2 type, that has a length exceeding the distance (10) between the king stud (59) on the left side of the window opening (77a) and the king stud (59) on the right side of the doorway opening (77b), into the cavity (9) such that its extreme ends extend over or beyond both of those king studs (59). Then, take a second auxiliary structural member (28-2) of the AM-2 type, that has a length that merely exceeds the width of the window opening (77a) (i.e. the distance between the king studs (59) to either side of it) and stack it within the cavity (9) on top of the first auxiliary structural member (28-1) such that it merely spans over the king studs (59) to either side of the window opening (77a). Once this is done, the auxiliary structural members (28-1, 28-2) are affixed to the web (24) of the structural rim board (1), for example, using pre-drilled and aligned bore holes (81), if present, or by making appropriate holes in the auxiliary structural members (28-1, 28-2).
An alternative, but similar way to augment the load carrying capability would be to insert an auxiliary structural member (28) of the AM-2 type that has a length merely exceeding the space between the king studs (59) to either side of the doorway opening (77b) into the cavity (9) such that the respective ends of that auxiliary structural member (28) are over the respective king studs (59) framing the doorway opening (77b) and affix it to the web of the structural rim board (1) using an appropriate method. This would provide the necessary augmentation over the doorway opening (77b).
As to the opening (77a) for the window, one could select an auxiliary structural member (28) of the AM-3 type that has a length exceeding the space between the king studs (59) to either side of that opening (77a) and insert it into the portion of the cavity (9) such that the respective ends of that auxiliary structural member (28) are over the respective king studs (59) to either side of that opening (77a) and affix it to the web of the structural rim board (1) using an appropriate method. This would provide the necessary augmentation over the window opening (77a).
Depending upon the particular implementation, with the first option, an alternative variant could be implemented by, for example, bonding or welding the two different auxiliary structural members (28) together prior to placement in suitable manner to potentially allow the hybridized auxiliary structural members (28) to be connected to the web of the structural rim board (1) with fewer or alternative connectors. Likewise, with the second option, if the two different auxiliary structural members (28) will be placed such that they will be end-butted, in the case of ones constructed of steel, they could be welded together at the end but so that both could be slid in and/or placed as a unit.
At this point it should be appreciated that, through use of rim boards (1) as described herein, and, where appropriate, suitable auxiliary structural members (28), in many cases, the use of structural headers, as well as the associated cripples and jamb/jack studs can be eliminated, saving time and material cost, without compromising the structural integrity of the exterior wall structure over an opening. In some cases, the came can be true if a structural rim board (1) as described herein used, during building construction, as part of the platform above a load-bearing interior wall. In this way, if it is desired to later remove a large portion of the wall to create an opening that extends right up to the ceiling, for example, this can easily be accomplished by inserting the appropriate auxiliary structural member in the cavity (9) of the structural rim board (1), and, again, jamb/jack studs, a structural header, or the use of a lally column can potentially be avoided.
At this point it should additionally be appreciated that a further advantage arising from the use of rim boards (1) containing cavities (9) configured to receive one or more auxiliary structural members (28) therein flows from the ability to shift an auxiliary structural member (28) within the cavity (9). This advantageously allows for, in the case of auxiliary structural members (28) with pre-drilled holes, the auxiliary structural member (28) to be affixed to the web of the structural rim board (1) with reduced concern for the possibility of hitting a joist or joist-hanging hardware on the opposite side. This advantage is achievable because, if this is a possibility, the auxiliary structural member (28) can be shifted slightly in one direction or the other such that the through hole (80) or location in the web (24) where the auxiliary structural member (28) will be secured to the web (24) will not interfere with the joist or joist-hanging hardware on the opposite side.
At this point it is worth noting that the screw (63) of this configuration is generally intended to be inserted at an angle of between about 18° and 30° from the vertical, and typically on the order of about 20° to 25° from the vertical, and, ideally, at an angle of about 22° from the vertical, and should have a length such that, when fully installed, it reaches at least ¾ of the way into the plate in the case of a single plate and at least about halfway into the lower plate of a double plate configuration. Moreover, ideally, the screws (63, 63a) should be of the type commonly referred to as non-splitting screws. Alternatively, the screws (63, 63a) could be nails, for example, shank nails, provided the nails will not split the flange. However, nails will not necessarily hold to the same extent as screws.
Another advantage arising from this type of configuration is that the rigid connection among the plate (58) of the upper wall, the upper flange of the structural rim board (1) and the floor sheathing (57) between them, has the effect of creating a virtual increase in the size and load capacity of the upper flange of the structural rim board (1). The same is true for the rigid connection formed among the lower flange of the structural rim board (1) and the double top plate components (60a, 60b), it results in a virtual increase in the size and load capacity of the lower flange of the structural rim board (1). In other words, this type of connection can create the equivalent of a significantly larger and greater load-bearing capacity rim board.
As shown in
As shown in
Likewise, in connection with larger overhangs, in some cases, structural rim boards (1) as described herein can be used in place of joists such that, by inserting and affixing appropriate auxiliary structural members (28) to the within the overhang and an appropriate distance inboard of the overhang, problems like joist overturning can be avoided.
As briefly alluded to in connection with
It is to be understood that the angle between the arms (97, 98) need not be limited to a right angle. Any fixed angle that can be formed between the two arms (97, 98), by for example, bending or welding, can be used with this variant. It is to also be understood that, in lieu of using an angled or miter cut, the web and/or flanges of the structural engineered wood rim board (1) can be notched or cut down such that the webs form the proper corner with no gap in between.
It should be understood that the foregoing description (including the figures) only includes some illustrative embodiments. For the convenience of the reader, the illustrative embodiments of the above description is intended as merely a representative sample of all possible embodiments, a sample that teaches the principles of the invention. The description has not attempted to exhaustively enumerate all possible variations or combinable permutations or combinations. That alternate embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of any variant, or that further non-described alternate embodiments may be available for a portion of a variant, is not to be considered a disclaimer (intentional or unintentional) of those alternate embodiments. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that many of those non-described embodiments incorporate the same principles of the claimed invention and that others are equivalent thereto. Likewise, it is to be understood that certain variants may be mutually exclusive in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a single embodiment or portion thereof. That such mutual exclusivity may exist should not be considered a disclaimer of any such variants.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/863,283, filed Aug. 7, 2013, and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/451,813, filed Aug. 5, 2014, the entirety of both are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20160145855 A1 | May 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61863283 | Aug 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14451813 | Aug 2014 | US |
| Child | 15010422 | US |
