WALL REINFORCEMENT SYSTEMS

Abstract

Wall reinforcement systems and methods of reinforcing wall structures are provided. The systems and method include at least one carbon fiber strap (CFS) adhered to a wall structure, in which the CFS and an anchoring pin are configured to form a composite anchor that is secured within a hole located at or proximate a bottom end of the wall and extends into a foundation portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the presently-disclosed invention relate generally to systems and methods for reinforcing structural elements, such as walls, including a composite anchor comprising an anchoring pin at least partially encased or encircled by a bottom portion of a carbon fiber strap (CFS), wherein the composite anchor may be secured within a hole extending into a portion of a foundation. Embodiments of the presently-disclosed invention also relate to kits including the anchoring pin and the CFS as well as methods of stabilizing a wall structure.

BACKGROUND

Walls and other structural elements are generally capable of supporting residential and light commercial structures for a reasonable period of time. However, such walls and structural elements can begin to crack, tilt, bow, or otherwise deform due to a variety of reasons For example, walls and structural elements may begin to deform and/or structurally decay due to inherent weaknesses attributable to particular structural and/or due to exposure to sustained and/or increased hydrostatic pressure from an outside environment. When the soil adjacent an exterior surface of the wall of a building, for example, becomes saturated with water, it forces the soil to expand and press against the wall (e.g., basement wall or foundation). Deformation, such as cracking, tilting, and bowing, if left untreated, can become progressively greater and eventually facilitate collapse of an entire structural element with resultant damage to the structure supported thereon.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Certain embodiments according to the invention provide a wall reinforcement system, comprising a carbon fiber strap (CFS) adhered to over at least a portion of a wall structure, which may have a top end and a bottom end, and the CFS includes a first end located below the bottom end of the wall structure. The system also includes an anchoring pin including a first pin-end and a second pin-end, and a hole located at or proximate the bottom end of the wall structure and extending into a foundation portion, such as of a building. The hole may be configured to receive at least a portion of a composite anchor, wherein the composite anchor comprises (a) a first portion of the CFS that terminates at the first end, and (b) at least a portion of the anchoring pin. The first portion of the CFS may at least partially encase or encircle the portion of the anchoring pin, and the composite anchor may be secured within the hole, such as by an adhesive.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of reinforcing a wall structure having a top end and a bottom end, comprising the following steps: (i) adhering a carbon fiber strap (CFS) to the wall structure between the top end and the bottom end, the CFS having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end; (ii) providing or forming a hole at or proximate the bottom end of the wall structure, the hole extending into a foundation portion located below the bottom end of the wall structure; (iii) providing an anchoring pin including a first pin-end and a second pin-end; (iv) forming a composite anchor via folding a first portion of the CFS that terminates at the first end at least partially around at least a portion of the anchoring pin; and (v) securing the composite anchor within the hole.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a kit for reinforcing a wall structure comprising at least one anchoring pin and at least one carbon fiber strap (CFS). The kit may also include an adhesive, such as an epoxy-based adhesive. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the kit may include a top anchor system including a top bracket configured for attachment to a lower portion of a building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wall structure in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bottom portion of a wall structure including a composite anchor secured in a hole located at or proximate the bottom end of a wall structure and extending into a foundation portion in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates front view of a bottom portion of a wall structure including a composite anchor secured in a hole located at or proximate the bottom end of a wall structure and extending into a foundation portion in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a frontal schematic of a composite anchor prior to being inserted into a hole extending into a foundation portion in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an anchoring pin having one or more deformation therein, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top portion of a wall structure including a wall reinforcement system in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7A shows a CFS wrapped around a SLE and clamped to a support member via a top bracket in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7B shows a CFS wrapped around a SLE and loosely secured to a support member via a top bracket in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

When an element or feature is referred to as being “on”, “adjacent”, “clamped”, or “coupled” to another element or feature, it may be directly on, engaged, clamped or coupled to the other element or layer, or indirectly in which intervening elements or features may be present. For example, when an element is referred to as being “directly clamped between” two other elements or features, there may be no intervening elements or features present. To the contrary, for example, when an element is referred to as being “indirectly clamped between” two other elements or features, there may be intervening elements or features present.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to wall reinforcement systems and methods of reinforcing wall structures. The systems and methods, in accordance with certain embodiments, may include a carbon fiber strap (CFS) adhered to the wall structure, which may include a top end and a bottom end, over at least a portion of the wall structure. The CFS may include a first end located below the bottom end of the wall structure. The system also includes an anchoring pin including a first pin-end and a second pin-end, and a hole located at or proximate the bottom end of the wall structure and extending into a foundation portion, such as of a building. The hole may be configured to receive at least a portion of a composite anchor, wherein the composite anchor comprises (a) a first portion of the CFS that terminates at the first end, and (b) at least a portion of the anchoring pin. The first portion of the CFS may at least partially encase or encircle the portion of the anchoring pin, and the composite anchor may be secured within the hole, such as by an adhesive. In this regard, the composite anchor provides a structural mechanism to anchor the CFS into the foundation of the wall or other structure being stabilized, which provides structural support to the wall structure even at the bottommost portion of the wall structure (e.g., at or adjacent the floor) and facilitates the transfer of forces exerted on the wall structure by external forces throughout the CFS and into the foundation to provide improved wall stabilization.

FIG. 1, for instance, a wall structure 1 including a wall reinforcement system applied thereto. As shown in FIG. 1, the wall reinforcement system may include one or more CFSs 20 adhesively bonded to an inside face or surface of the wall structure. The one or more CFSs 20 may extend from a top end 3 of the wall structure 1 to a bottom end 5 of the wall structure 1. For example, the one or more CFSs may extend and cover at least about 75% to about 100% of the height of the wall as measured by the perpendicular distance from the top end 3 to the bottom end 5 of the wall structure 1. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the wall reinforcement system may comprise a plurality of CFSs 20 adhered to the wall structure 1 in a spaced-apart and generally parallel orientation with respect to each other. For example, the plurality of CFSs 20 may comprise an average spacing between each CFS from about 1 to about 12 feet, such as at least about any of the following: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 feet, and/or at most about 12, 10, 8, 6, and 5 feet. The wall structure, by way of example only, may include a block wall (e.g., concrete block wall), brick wall, a poured concrete wall, a timber wall, a concrete pillar, beam, ceiling, floor, or other concrete structure.

Additionally or alternatively, the one or more CFSs may comprise a first end and a second end that define a length of the CFS along an x-y plane, a thickness defined by the shortest dimension of the CFS (e.g., the z-direction being perpendicular to the x-y plane), and a width defined as the shortest dimension in the x-y plane. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the average width of the CFSs may comprise from about 2 inches to about 12 inches, such as at least about any of the following: 2, 4, 6, and 8 inches, and/or at most about any of the following: 12, 10, and 8 inches.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the one or more CFSs may comprise a unidirectional CFS or a bidirectional CFS. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more CFSs may have a basis weight from about 200 to about 600 grams-per-square meter (gsm), such as at least about any of the following: 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 gsm, and/or at most about any of the following: 600, 550, 500, 450, and 400 gsm. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more CFSs may comprise a plurality of tows having on average from about 3000 filaments per tow to about 20,000 filaments per tow, such as at least about any of the following: 3,000, 5,000, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, and 12,000 filaments per tow, and/or at most about any of the following: 20,000, 18,000, 16,000, 15,000, and 12,000 filaments per tow.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the one or more CFSs may be adhesively bonded to the inside surface of face of the wall structure. The particular adhesive is not necessarily limited in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the adhesive may comprise an epoxy-based adhesive, such as a single of multi-component epoxy. The adhesive may be disposed on portions of the inside face or surface of the wall structure where the one or more CFSs are located or intended to be located. The application pattern of the adhesive in not particularly limited (e.g., continuous or discontinuous segments of applied adhesive, or complete coverage of the location of interest). In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the one or more CFSs may be adhesively bonded to the wall structure and additional adhesive may be applied to the outer-facing surface of the one or more CFSs and pushed into and at least partially fill any void volume (e.g., porous cavities formed between the woven components of the CFS) to at least partially saturate the one or more CFSs with the adhesive.

With reference to FIG. 2, certain embodiments of the invention provide a wall reinforcement system including a composite anchor 90 comprising an anchoring pin 16 including a first pin-end 13 and a second pin-end 15, and a first portion of a CFS 20 at least partially encasing and or encircling the anchoring pin. The composite anchor 90 may be secured within a hole 80 that is located at or proximate a bottom end of a wall structure 1 and extend through a floor 73 and into a foundation or footing 70. The composite anchor 90 may be secured in the hole 80, for example, via an adhesive, such as an epoxy-based adhesive. In this regard, the composite anchor 90 may be disposed within the hole 80 and the adhesive may be dispersed within the hole to, for example, fill any void space defined by the hole and the composite anchor with the adhesive, such as an epoxy-based adhesive. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the adhesive may saturate the first portion of the CFS 20 that helps form the composite anchor 90. In certain embodiments, the entirely of the hole 80 may be filled with the composite anchor and the adhesive. As better illustrated in FIG. 1, the CFS 20 may be adhered to the wall structure while the composite anchor may be adhered within the hole 80. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention the CFS portion adhered to the wall structure and the CFS portion facilitating the formation of the composite anchor are a single unitary CFS. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the first portion of the CFS at least partially encasing or encircling at least a portion of the anchoring pin may be devoid of twisted portions. For instance, the first portion of the CFS at least partially encasing or encircling at least a portion of the anchoring pin may be gently folded around the anchoring pin to defined a sleeve component within which at least a portion of the anchoring pin is located.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a bottom portion of a wall structure 1 including a composite anchor 90 secured in a hole 80 located at or proximate the bottom end of a wall structure and extending optionally through a floor 73 and into a foundation portion or footing 70 in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. A more detailed illustration of example composite anchors are shown in FIG. 4.

As referenced above, the first portion of the CFS may be folded upon itself and define a sleeve component that at least partially encases the portion of the anchoring pin. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the sleeve component may include from 1 to 4 fold axes, such as 1, 2, 3, or 4 fold axes.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the anchoring pin has a pin-length extending from the first pin-end to the second pin-end, and the sleeve component at least partially encases from about 20 to about 100% of the pin-length, such as at least about any of the following: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 45, and 50% of the length, and/or at most about any of the following: 100, 98, 95, 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 60, and 50% of the pin-length. Additionally or alternatively, the CFS has an original width at the first end prior to being folded upon itself, and a first width after being folded upon itself to define the sleeve component, wherein the first width is from about 10 to about 65% of the original width, such as at least about any of the following: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35%, and/or at most about any of the following: 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, and 35%. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the sleeve component may have a variable width along a sleeve-length of the sleeve component, and wherein the first width has the smallest value.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the hole may have a first diameter and the anchoring pin may have a second diameter, in which the second diameter is from about 50% to about 98% of the first diameter, such as at least about any of the following: 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75% of the first diameter, and/or at most about any of the following: 98, 95, 90, 85, 80, and 75% of the first diameter. Additionally or alternatively, the hole has a hole-depth and the anchoring pin has a pin-length, and wherein the pin-length is from about 50% to about 150% of the hole-depth, such as at least about any of the following: 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75% of the hole-depth, and/or at most about any of the following: 150, 125, 100, 95, 90, 85, 80, and 75% of the hole-depth. Accordingly, the anchoring pin may fill a large proportion of the volume defined by the hole.

FIG. 4 illustrates a frontal schematic of a composite anchor 90 prior to being inserted into a hole extending into a foundation portion in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. The composite anchor includes the anchoring pin 16 having a first pin-end 13 located at or near the first end 24 of the CFS 20 and a second pin-end 15 located at or proximate the hole opening when installed. As shown in FIG. 4, the first portion of the CFS is folded upon itself in a manner that forms a sleeve component 31 and includes two (2) fold axes 33. It should be noted, however, that encirclement of the anchoring pin 16 by the first portion of the CFS is illustrated in a loose or expanded manner merely to illustrate the general relative locations of the components. The first portion of the CFS, for instance, may be adjacent and in contact with the anchoring pin. As also shown in FIG. 4, the CFS including the first end of the CFS may have an original width 26 prior to being folded upon itself and a first width 27 after being folded upon itself.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the anchoring pin may comprise one or more deformations formed in one or more outer surfaces of the anchoring pin. For example, the one or more deformations may comprise one or more ridges and/or valleys formed in a first outermost surface of the anchoring pin extending from the first pin-end and a second pin-end. The one or more ridges and/or valleys extend perpendicular to the pin-length or +45°, 35°, 35°, 20°, 10°, or 5°. Additionally or alternatively, the deformations may account for about 0.1 to about 20% of second diameter of the anchoring pin, such as at least about any of the following: 0.1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 10%, and/or at most about any of the following: 20, 18, 15, 12, and 10%. FIG. 5, for example, illustrates an anchoring pin 16 having one or more deformations 116 formed therein, in which the one or more deformations include a one or more peaks or ridges 126 and one or more valleys 136. The one or more deformations, if present, may facilitate the retention of the adhesive between the anchoring pin and the CFS forming the composite anchor and/or increase the effective surface area of the anchoring pin that is adhesively bonded to the CFS. Although the one or more deformations shown in FIG. 4 illustrate sharp “cut-out” portions, it should be noted that the one or more deformations may be defined by a more gently rolling group of one or more peaks and/or valleys. In this regard, the CFS at least partially encircling the anchoring pin may form a conformal encirclement that may provide the composite anchor as a whole to have the one or more deformations, which may be adhesively bonded to the walls of the hole.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the CFS includes a second end diametrically opposed the first end, in which the second end is located above the end of the wall structure. For example, the second end of the CFS is secured to a lower portion of a building, such as a floor joist, a rim joist, or a sill plate. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the second end of the CFS may be secured to a lower portion of a building by a variety of means. In this regard, the second end of the CFS may be secured to the lower portion of the building via a top anchor system including, for example, a top bracket, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,858,850, 8,584,431, and co-owned and co-pending application Ser. No. 17/670,950 filed on Feb. 14, 2022; the contents of each are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

By way of example only, FIG. 6 illustrates a top portion of a wall structure 1 including a wall reinforcement system in which the CFS 20 includes an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end, and wherein at least a portion of the intermediate portion is adhered to the wall structure, such as by an epoxy-based adhesive. The CFS 20 may have a first end 22, a second end 24 (shown in FIG. 1), and an intermediate portion 26 disposed between the first end and the second end. The wall reinforcement system may also include a top bracket 40 fixedly secured to a support member 51 located above the top end 3 of the wall structure 1, in which the top bracket includes a central body portion 42. The wall reinforcement system may also include a SLE 60 located above each of the top bracket 40 and the top end 3 of the wall structure 3. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the intermediate portion 26 of the CFS may be wrapped around the SLE 60, and overlapped upon itself to define a double-ply section 71 of the CFS. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, at least a portion of the double-ply section 70 is directly or indirectly clamped between the central body portion 42 of the top bracket 40 and the support member 50 to define a clamped-double-ply portion of the CFS. FIGS. 7A and 7B, for instance, show top bracket 40 including a central body portion 40, a first bracket-end portion 44 including a first aperture 45 and a second bracket-end portion 46 including a second aperture. 47. The top bracket 40 may be secured to the support member 50 by a first fastener 48 and a second fastener 49 as shown by the example of FIGS. 7A and 7B. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, and as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the top bracket 40 may comprise a substantially planar plate. FIG. 7B also illustrates the relative positioning of the top bracket 40 and the SLE 60, in which the top bracket is loosely secured to the support member 51 while the SLE rests upon a top edge of the top bracket and against the support member. As also shown by FIG. 7B the intermediate portion 26 of the CFS 20 is wrapped around the SLE 60. In this regard, the first end 22 of the CFS 20 may be threaded upwardly through a passageway located between the top bracket 40 and the support member, wrapped around the SLE, and threaded downwardly back through the passageway located between the top bracket and the support member. In such embodiments, the first end 22 of the CFS may be pulled downwardly past the top bracket 40 and subsequently adhered to an adjacent portion of the CFS, which may be adhered to the inside facing or surface of the wall structure. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the first end 22 and the second end 24 of the CFS 20 extend away from the SLE 60 in the same direction.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of reinforcing a wall structure having a top end and a bottom end, comprising the following steps: (i) adhering a carbon fiber strap (CFS) to the wall structure between the top end and the bottom end, the CFS having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end; (ii) providing or forming a hole at or proximate the bottom end of the wall structure, the hole extending into a foundation portion located below the bottom end of the wall structure; (iii) providing an anchoring pin including a first pin-end and a second pin-end; (iv) forming a composite anchor via folding a first portion of the CFS that terminates at the first end at least partially around at least a portion of the anchoring pin; and (v) securing the composite anchor within the hole. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the step of securing the composite anchor within the hole may comprise at least partially filling a void space defined by the hole and the composite anchor with an adhesive, such as an epoxy-based adhesive.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the method may comprise folding the first part of the CFS to define a sleeve component, followed by inserting the sleeve component into the hole, followed by inserting at least a portion of the anchoring pin into and/or through the sleeve component to form the composite anchor, followed by at least partially filling the void space defined by the hole and the composite anchor with an adhesive, such as an epoxy-based adhesive. Alternatively, the method may comprise folding the first part of the CFS around at least a portion of the anchoring pin to define a sleeve component at least partially encasing the anchoring pin to form the composite anchor, followed by inserting at least a portion of the composite anchor into the hole, followed by at least partially filling the void space defined by the hole and the composite anchor with an adhesive, such as an epoxy-based adhesive.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the method may comprise

a step of securing the second end of the CFS to a lower portion of a building, such as a building is a floor joist, a rim joist, or a sill plate. For example, the second end of the CFS may be secured to the lower portion of the building via a top anchor system including a top bracket that directly or indirectly attaches the CFS to the lower portion of a building.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a kit for reinforcing a wall structure comprising at least one anchoring pin and at least one carbon fiber strap (CFS). The kit may also include an adhesive, such as an epoxy-based adhesive. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the kit may include a top anchor system including a top bracket configured for attachment to a lower portion of a building.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a kit for reinforcing a wall structure comprising at least one anchoring pin and at least one carbon fiber strap (CFS). The kit may also include an adhesive, such as an epoxy-based adhesive. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the kit may include a top anchor system including a top bracket configured for attachment to a lower portion of a building. The kit may include installation instructions, mounting hardware (e.g., bolts, nuts, etc.), and safety equipment (e.g., goggles, gloves, disposable wipes, etc.)

These and other modifications and variations to embodiments of the invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and it is not intended to limit the invention as further described in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the exemplary description of the versions contained herein.

Claims

1. A wall reinforcement system, comprising: (i) an anchoring pin including a first pin-end and a second pin-end;(ii) a carbon fiber strap (CFS) adhered to the wall structure over at least a portion of the wall structure having a top end and a bottom end, and the CFS includes a first end located below the bottom end of the wall structure;(iii) a hole located at or proximate the bottom end of the wall structure and extending into a foundation portion, and being configured to receive at least a portion of a composite anchor, wherein the composite anchor comprises (a) a first portion of the CFS that terminates at the first end, and (b) at least a portion of the anchoring pin, wherein the first portion of the CFS at least partially encases the portion of the anchoring pin; and(iv) the composite anchor being secured within the hole.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the CFS is folded upon itself and defines a sleeve component that at least partially encases the portion of the anchoring pin.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sleeve component includes from 1 to 4 fold axes.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the anchoring pin has a pin-length extending from the first pin-end to the second pin-end, and the sleeve component at least partially encases from about 20 to about 100% of the pin-length.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the CFS has an original width at the first end prior to being folded upon itself, and a first width after being folded upon itself to define the sleeve component, wherein the first width is from about 10 to about 65% of the original width.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hole has a first diameter and the anchoring pin has a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is from about 50% to about 98% of the first diameter, and the hole has a hole-depth and the anchoring pin has a pin-length, and wherein the pin-length is from about 50% to about 150% of the hole-depth.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchoring pin comprises one or more deformations formed in one or more outer surfaces of the anchoring pin.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more deformations comprises one or more ridges and/or valleys formed in a first outermost surface of the anchoring pin extending from the first pin-end and a second pin-end.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the composite anchor is adhered to one or more walls defining the hole.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wall structure comprises a concrete block wall.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the CFS includes a second end diametrically opposed the first end, the second end of the CFS is secured to a lower portion of a building.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the lower portion of a building is a floor joist, a rim joist, or a sill plate.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second end of the CFS is secured to the lower portion of the building via a top bracket.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the CFS includes an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end, and wherein at least a portion of the intermediate portion is adhered to the wall structure, such as by an epoxy-based adhesive.

15. A method of reinforcing a wall structure having a top end and a bottom end, comprising: (i) adhering a carbon fiber strap (CFS) to the wall structure between the top end and the bottom end, the CFS having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end;(ii) providing or forming a hole at or proximate the bottom end of the wall structure, the hole extending into a foundation portion located below the bottom end of the wall structure;(iii) providing an anchoring pin including a first pin-end and a second pin-end;(iv) forming a composite anchor via folding a first portion of the CFS that terminates at the first end at least partially around at least a portion of the anchoring pin; and(v) securing the composite anchor within the hole.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein securing the composite anchor within the hole comprises at least partially filling a void space defined by the hole and the composite anchor with an adhesive.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the method comprises (i) folding the first part of the CFS to define a sleeve component, followed by inserting the sleeve component into the hole, followed by inserting at least a portion of the anchoring pin into and/or through the sleeve component to form the composite anchor, followed by at least partially filling the void space defined by the hole and the composite anchor with an adhesive; or (b) folding the first part of the CFS around at least a portion of the anchoring pin to define a sleeve component at least partially encasing the anchoring pin to form the composite anchor, followed by inserting at least a portion of the composite anchor into the hole, followed by at least partially filling the void space defined by the hole and the composite anchor with an adhesive.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of securing the second end of the CFS to a lower portion of a building.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the lower portion of a building is a floor joist, a rim joist, or a sill plate, and the second end of the CFS is secured to the lower portion of the building via a top bracket.

20. A kit for reinforcing a wall structure, comprising: at least one anchoring pin and at least one carbon fiber strap (CFS), and optionally an epoxy-based adhesive and/or including a top bracket configured for attachment to a lower portion of a building.