Shear wall building assemblies

Abstract

Novel building systems, in particular low cost superior strength building assemblies incorporating single or double shear walls, and disaster resistant window attachments are described herein. The inventive building systems are particularly well-suited for adding rooms to existing buildings, such as attached residential room additions, basements, disaster relief housing, and Do-It Yourself (DIY) projects.

1 . A window fenestration assembly suitable for integration into a building system, said window fenestration assembly comprising:
 a) a top horizontal member and a bottom horizontal member each secured to a pair of vertical members;   b) a window assembly comprising a window surrounded and encased by a frame;   c) said horizontal and vertical members comprising a pair of interior and exterior flanges secured to one another by a central web portion, said web portion comprising a top surface and a lower surface, said top surface, in combination with said flanges, forming a female receptacle for said window frame;   d) one or more pads positioned upon said top surface of said web portion of said bottom horizontal member and upon said pair of vertical members, said window assembly positioned against said pads;   e) at least one chamber formed between one of said flanges and said window frame along said bottom horizontal member;   f) at least one fill strip housed within said at least one chamber; and   g) a jamb secured over each of said at least one chamber to enclosed said at least one fill strip therein.   
     
     
         2 . The window fenestration assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom horizontal member further comprises a pair of intermediate flanges extending downward from said lower surface of said web portion and oriented with respect to said interior and exterior flanges to create a pair of interior and exterior indentations, each of said indentations configured to receive an underlying shear wall sheet therein. 
     
     
         3 . The window fenestration assembly of  claim 1 , further including a quantity of loose fill material dispersed within gaps created between adjacent pads and between said window frame and said horizontal and vertical members of said window fenestration assembly. 
     
     
         4 . A window fenestration assembly suitable for integration into a building system, said window fenestration assembly comprising:
 a) a top horizontal member and a bottom horizontal member each secured to a pair of vertical members;   b) an elongated female C-channel member secured to an upper surface of said bottom horizontal member;   c) said horizontal and vertical members comprising a pair of interior and exterior flanges secured to one another by a central web portion, said flanges and web portion, in combination, comprising a mating surface for said female C-channel member;   d) said C-channel member comprising a first upwardly extending channel and a second downwardly extending channel mating with said first channel;   e) one or more pads positioned within said first channel of said C-channel member and upon said pair of vertical members, said window assembly positioned against the pads;   f) a chamber created between said upper surface and exterior flange of said bottom horizontal member and said first channel of said C-channel member; and   g) at least one fill strip housed within said chambers.   
     
     
         5 . The window fenestration assembly of  claim 4 , further including a quantity of loose fill material dispersed within gaps created between adjacent pads and between said window frame and said C-channel member, top horizontal member, and vertical members of said window fenestration assembly. 
     
     
         6 . A window fenestration assembly suitable for integration into a building system, said window fenestration assembly comprising:
 a) a top horizontal member and a bottom horizontal member each secured to a pair of vertical members;   b) each of said horizontal and vertical members comprising a pair of interior and exterior flanges secured to one another by a central web portion to create an interior female receptacle and an exterior female receptacle;   c) a window assembly comprising a window surrounded and encased by a frame, said window assembly engaged within said interior female receptacle of said horizontal and vertical members;   d) said vertical and horizontal members secured to edges of a solid wall forming an opening for said window fenestration assembly, wherein said edges of said solid wall are engaged with the exterior female receptacles of said horizontal and vertical members;   e) one or more pads positioned within said interior receptacles of said horizontal and vertical members, wherein said window assembly is positioned against said pads;   at least one chamber formed between one of said flanges and said window frame along said bottom horizontal member;   g) at least one fill strip housed within said at least one chamber; and   h) a jamb secured over each of said at least one chamber to enclosed said at least one fill strip therein.   
     
     
         7 . The window fenestration assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said solid wall is selected from the group of solid pre-cast concrete slabs, hollow concrete blocks, structural insulated panels, and skeletal support walls.