Threaded rod wind and seismic resistance system

Abstract

Wood framed walls of buildings are strengthened against destructive wind and seismic forces by a threaded hold-down rod attached to the structure top plate and anchored to the building foundation. The foundation structure may be concrete or other floor joist or the like. The threaded rod is normally used in a system that attaches at top and bottom of studs at approximately every fourth or fifth stud along all load-bearing walls. The threaded rod system comprises two sections of threaded rod connected to the structure by way of a nut and washer at the top plate and embedded in the foundation at the bottom. A short section of threaded rod is embedded in the foundation and a coupling nut connects the short section to the remaining threaded rod section near the bottom plate. The short section may be manufactured of galvanized steel or stainless steel to avoid corrosion where fastened to a pressure treated bottom plate. In an alternate embodiment, an elongated wire bolt rod can be attached to the foundation and directly to a roof truss and ceiling plate. The described system can be installed during initial construction of a structure or retrofit into existing structures.

1 . A system for bracing a wood frame structure, comprising: 
 an elongated threaded rod attached to a top plate of said wood frame structure;    a stubby threaded rod attached to a foundation of said wood frame structure; and    a coupler joining said elongated threaded rod and said stubby threaded rod, wherein said stubby threaded rod passes through a bottom plate of said wood frame structure and is embedded in said foundation.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a nut and washer to attach said elongated threaded rod to said top plate.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is placed within a wall of said wood frame structure.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated threaded rod is the same diameter as said stubby threaded rod.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said coupler has internally threaded female fittings on both ends and said coupling is sized and configured to receive a threaded rod of the same size on each end.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated threaded rod is a smaller diameter than said stubby threaded rod.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said coupler has internally threaded female fittings on both ends and said coupling is sized and configured to receive a threaded rod of one size on a first end and a treaded rod of a second same size on a second end.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a nut and washer to attach said elongated threaded rod at said bottom plate.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated threaded rod is replaced by a wire bolt having a threaded connection of each end.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated threaded rod comprises a steel rod having a diameter selected from the group consisting of: 
 ½-inch;    ⅜-inch; and    ¼-inch.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said stubby threaded rod comprises a steel rod having a diameter selected from the group consisting of: 
 ⅝-inch;    ½-inch;    ⅜-inch; and    ¼-inch.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said stubby threaded rod comprises stainless steel.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said stubby threaded rod comprises galvanized steel.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said stubby threaded rod comprises zinc coated steel.  
   
   
       14 . A method of strengthening a wood frame building structure to resist high wind and seismic conditions, such method comprising the steps of: 
 a. forming a socket in a foundation of such structure through a floor plate of such building frame;    b. attaching a first section of threaded rod to the foundation by inserting said first section of threaded rod into such socket and fastening such first section of threaded rod to the foundation;    c. forming an elongated tunnel through a ceiling plate of such building frame;    d. attaching a second section of threaded rod to the ceiling plate by inserting said second section of threaded rod into such elongated tunnel and fastening such second section of threaded rod to the ceiling plate; and    e. attaching said first section of threaded rod to said second section of threaded rod by a coupler.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the diameter of said first section of threaded rod is the same as the diameter of said second section of threaded rod.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the diameter of said first section of threaded rod is greater than the diameter of said second section of threaded rod.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said coupler comprises a reducing coupler.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said first section of threaded rod is attached to said foundation by means of said threaded rod being embedded in the foundation and sealed in place by a suitable adhesive.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said first section of threaded rod is attached to said foundation by means of a compression anchor embedded in the foundation.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said first section of threaded rod comprises steel selected from the group consisting of: 
 stainless steel;    galvanized steel; and    zinc coated steel.