Fasteners and springs for building wall reinforcement

Abstract

A building wall includes a stud wall with a horizontal wall member; a tie rod operably anchored in a foundation, the tie rod extending through the wall member; a first fastener and a second fastener attached to the tie rod, the first fastener and the second fastener being slidable down the tie rod, first fastener being operably disposed on the wall member and lockable to the tie rod in an upward direction to resist uplift forces from the stud wall, and the second fastener being disposed above the first fastener resist the spring; and a spring operably operating on the first fastener and the second fastener to urge the first fastener downwardly toward the wall member, the second fastener being disposed above the first fastener and lockable to the tie rod in the upward direction to restrain the spring.

1 . A building wall, comprising:
 a) a stud wall including a horizontal wall member;   b) a tie rod operably anchored in a foundation, the tie rod extending through the wall member;   c) a first fastener and a second fastener attached to the tie rod, the first fastener and the second fastener being slidable down the tie rod, first fastener being operably disposed on the wall member and lockable to the tie rod in an upward direction to resist uplift forces from the stud wall, and the second fastener being disposed above the first fastener resist the spring; and   d) a spring operably operating on the first fastener and the second fastener to urge the first fastener downwardly toward the wall member, the second fastener being disposed above the first fastener and lockable to the tie rod in the upward direction to restrain the spring.   
     
     
         2 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein a lower end of the spring bears on a top portion of the first fastener, an upper end of the spring bears on a bottom portion of the second fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein a lower end of the spring bears on a side wall of the first fastener, and an upper end of the spring bears on a side wall of the second fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the spring is disposed inside or outside a cylindrical tube disposed between the lower fastener and the upper fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein alignment posts are provided to guide movement of the lower fastener relative to the upper fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The building wall as in  claim 2 , wherein the spring is disposed laterally of the tie rod. 
     
     
         7 . The building wall as in  claim 6 , wherein a washer is disposed between the hex nut fastener and the spring. 
     
     
         8 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the second fastener bears on the first fastener before the spring expands; and   b) the spring wraps around the first fastener and the second fastener.   
     
     
         9 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the spring is in a pre-compressed state prior to installation. 
     
     
         10 . The building wall as in  claim 9 , wherein the spring and the second fastener are joined together as a unit prior to activating the spring. 
     
     
         11 . The building wall as in  claim 10 , wherein a clip is removably attached to the second fastener to keep the spring in the pre-compressed state. 
     
     
         12 . The building wall as in  claim 9 , wherein the first fastener, the spring and the second fastener are joined together as a unit prior to activating the spring. 
     
     
         13 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener and the second fastener each includes a flex nut fastener including a body with an opening for receiving a threaded tie rod; and   b) the body including flexible fingers disposed in the opening, the flexible fingers for engaging the threads of the tie rod that allow sliding of the body along the tie rod in a first direction and resists movement in a second direction.   
     
     
         14 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener and the second fastener each includes a split nut fastener including a plastic housing with a metal bottom wall;   b) nut segments disposed on the metal bottom wall;   c) the metal bottom wall including a ramp surface for guiding the nut segments away from the threads of the tie rod when the fastener is slid down the tie rod; and   d) the housing including plastic springs for urging the nut segments toward the metal bottom wall to engage the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         15 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener and the second fastener each includes a split nut fastener including a housing including a bottom wall with a ramp surface;   b) nut segments disposed inside the housing; and   c) a silicone body disposed inside the housing to urge the nut segments toward the bottom wall to engage the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         16 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener and the second fastener each includes a split nut fastener including a housing including a bottom wall with a ramp surface;   b) nut segments disposed inside the housing; and   c) the housing including plastic springs for urging the nut segments toward the bottom wall to engage the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         17 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener and the second fastener each includes a pin nut fastener including a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including an angled slot with a bottom portion opening into the opening;   c) a pin disposed in the slot, the pin including a portion exposed in opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod, the pin being displaced upwardly into the slot when the cylindrical body is slid down the tie rod, the pin locking into the threads of the tie rod when the cylindrical body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         18 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener and the second fastener each includes a spring clip fastener including a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including a first angled slotted hole with a first bottom portion opening into the opening, and a second angled slotted hole with a second bottom portion opening into the opening, the first angled slotted hole being diametrically opposite the second angled slotted hole; and   c) a spring clip including a first pin portion disposed in the first angled slotted hole, and a second pin portion disposed in the second angled slotted hole, the first pin portion and the second pin portion including respective intermediate portions exposed in the opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod; and   d) the first pin portion and the second pin portion being displaced upwardly into the respective the first angled slotted hole and the second angled slotted hole when the body is slid downwardly along the tie rod, the respective intermediate portions locking into the threads of the tie rod when the second body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         19 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener and the second fastener each includes a single-pin clip fastener including a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including an angled slotted hole with a bottom portion opening into the opening; and   c) the spring clip fastener including a pin portion disposed in the angled slotted hole, the pin portion including an intermediate portion exposed in the opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod, the pin portion being displaced upwardly into the slotted angled hole when the body is slid downwardly along the tie rod, the pin portion locking into the threads of the tie rod when the second body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         20 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener and the second fastener each includes a dowel nut fastener including a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including an angled hole disposed transversely into the body, the angled hole communicating with the opening;   c) a dowel disposed in the angled hole for engaging the threads of the tie rod, with a bottom portion opening into the opening, the dowel being displaced upwardly into the angled hole when the body is slid downwardly along the tie rod, the dowel locking into the threads of the tie rod when the body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         21 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the second fastener includes a ring nut fastener including a sleeve member with an opening for receiving the threaded tie rod; and   b) the sleeve member including a projection inside the opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         22 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener or the second fastener includes a flex nut fastener including a body with an opening for receiving a threaded tie rod; and   b) the body including flexible fingers disposed in the opening, the flexible fingers for engaging the threads of the tie rod that allow sliding of the body along the tie rod in a first direction and resists movement in a second direction.   
     
     
         23 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener or the second fastener includes a split nut fastener including a plastic housing with a metal bottom wall;   b) nut segments disposed on the metal bottom wall;   c) the metal bottom wall including a ramp surface for guiding the nut segments away from the threads of the tie rod when the fastener is slid down the tie rod; and   d) the housing including plastic springs for urging the nut segments toward the metal bottom wall to engage the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         24 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener or the second fastener includes a split nut fastener including a housing including a bottom wall with a ramp surface;   b) nut segments disposed inside the housing; and   c) a silicone body disposed inside the housing to urge the nut segments toward the bottom wall to engage the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         25 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener or the second fastener includes a split nut fastener including a housing including a bottom wall with a ramp surface;   b) nut segments disposed inside the housing; and   c) the housing including plastic springs for urging the nut segments toward the bottom wall to engage the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         26 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener or the second fastener includes a pin nut fastener including a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including an angled slot with a bottom portion opening into the opening;   c) a pin disposed in the slot, the pin including a portion exposed in opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod, the pin being displaced upwardly into the slot when the cylindrical body is slid down the tie rod, the pin locking into the threads of the tie rod when the cylindrical body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         27 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener or the second fastener includes a spring clip fastener including a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including a first angled slotted hole with a first bottom portion opening into the opening, and a second angled slotted hole with a second bottom portion opening into the opening, the first angled slotted hole being diametrically opposite the second angled slotted hole; and   c) a spring clip including a first pin portion disposed in the first angled slotted hole, and a second pin portion disposed in the second angled slotted hole, the first pin portion and the second pin portion including respective intermediate portions exposed in the opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod; and   d) the first pin portion and the second pin portion being displaced upwardly into the respective the first angled slotted hole and the second angled slotted hole when the body is slid downwardly along the tie rod, the respective intermediate portions locking into the threads of the tie rod when the second body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         28 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener or the second fastener includes a single-pin clip fastener including a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including an angled slotted hole with a bottom portion opening into the opening; and   c) the spring clip fastener including a pin portion disposed in the angled slotted hole, the pin portion including an intermediate portion exposed in the opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod, the pin portion being displaced upwardly into the slotted angled hole when the body is slid downwardly along the tie rod, the pin portion locking into the threads of the tie rod when the second body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         29 . The building wall as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first fastener or the second fastener includes a dowel nut fastener including a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including an angled hole disposed transversely into the body, the angled hole communicating with the opening;   c) a dowel disposed in the angled hole for engaging the threads of the tie rod, with a bottom portion opening into the opening, the dowel being displaced upwardly into the angled hole when the body is slid downwardly along the tie rod, the dowel locking into the threads of the tie rod when the body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         30 . A building wall, comprising:
 a) a stud wall including a horizontal wall member;   b) a tie rod operably anchored to a foundation, the tie rod extending through the wall member, the tie rod having a weight below the wall member; and   c) a spring having one end operably bearing on the wall member and an opposite end being operably fixed to the rod, the spring providing sufficient force at about ½ of the weight of the rod below the wall member to the next spring or fastener below.   
     
     
         31 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A building wall, comprising:
 a) a stud wall including a horizontal wall member;   b) a tie rod operably anchored in a foundation, the tie rod extending through the wall member; and   c) a spring disposed below the wall member, the spring having first end operably attached to the wall member and a second end being operably fixed to the rod, the spring being stretched to provide tension to the tie rod.   
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A building wall, comprising:
 a) a stud wall including a horizontal wall member;   b) a tie rod operably anchored in a foundation, the tie rod extending through the wall member;   c) an inner cylindrical member disposed inside an outer cylindrical member, the inner cylindrical member being operably attached to the tie rod inside the outer cylindrical member, the outer cylindrical member operably bearing on the wall member, the outer cylindrical member being movable in a downward direction relative to the inner cylindrical member, and lockable to the inner cylindrical member in an upward direction; and   e) a first spring operably operating on the inner cylindrical member and the outer cylindrical member, the first spring urging the outer cylindrical member downward toward the wall member, the inner cylindrical member restraining the first spring in the upward direction.   
     
     
         51 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A building wall, comprising:
 a) a stud wall including a horizontal wall member;   b) a tie rod operably anchored in a foundation, the tie rod extending through the stud wall; and   c) a first fastener attached to the tie rod and the wall member, the first fastener being movable with the wall member in a downward direction, and lockable to the to the tie rod in an upward direction.   
     
     
         59 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A building wall, comprising:
 a) a stud wall including a horizontal wall member;   b) a tie rod operably anchored in a foundation, the tie rod extending through the stud wall;   c) a bracket attached to the stud wall, the bracket including a backwall, side walls and a bottom wall, the backwall being operably attached to the stud wall, the bottom wall being disposed on the wall member;   d) a first fastener operably attached to the tie rod to bear on the bottom wall; and   e) a spring operably attached to the tie rod and bearing on the first fastener, the first fastener being movable in a downward direction relative to the tie rod, and lockable to the to the tie rod in an upward direction.   
     
     
         62 . A building wall, comprising:
 a) a first stud wall including a top plate and a second stud wall above the first stud wall, the second stud wall including a bottom plate;   b) a rod extending through the top plate and the bottom plate;   c) a first bracket operably attached to the first stud wall and the top plate, the first bracket including a first backwall and a first bottom wall;   d) a second bracket operably attached to the second stud wall and the bottom plate, the second bracket including a second backwall and a second bottom wall;   e) a first fastener operably attached to the rod to bear on the first bottom wall; and   f) a second fastener to bear on the second bottom wall.   
     
     
         63 . A fastener for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener comprising:
 a) a body with an opening for receiving a threaded tie rod; and   b) the body including flexible fingers disposed in the opening, the flexible fingers for engaging the threads of the tie rod that allow sliding of the body along the tie rod in a first direction and resists movement in a second direction.   
     
     
         64 . A fastener for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener comprising:
 a) a plastic housing with a metal bottom wall;   b) nut segments disposed on the metal bottom wall;   c) the metal bottom wall including a ramp surface for guiding the nut segments away from the threads of the tie rod when the fastener is slid down the tie rod; and   d) the housing including plastic springs for urging the nut segments toward the metal bottom wall to engage the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         65 . A fastener for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener comprising:
 a) a housing including a bottom wall with a ramp surface;   b) nut segments disposed inside the housing; and   c) a silicone body disposed inside the housing to urge the nut segments toward the bottom wall to engage the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         66 . A fastener for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener comprising:
 a) a housing including a bottom wall with a ramp surface;   b) nut segments disposed inside the housing; and   c) the housing including plastic springs for urging the nut segments toward the bottom wall to engage the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         67 . A fastener for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener comprising:
 a) a sleeve member with an opening for receiving the threaded tie rod; and   b) the sleeve member including a projection inside the opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod.   
     
     
         68 . A fastener for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener comprising:
 a) a cylindrical body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including an angled slot with a bottom portion opening into the opening; and   c) a pin disposed in the slot, the pin including a portion exposed in opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod, the pin being displaced upwardly into the slot when the cylindrical body is slid down the tie rod, the pin locking into the threads of the tie rod when the cylindrical body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         69 . A fastener for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener comprising:
 a) a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including a first angled slotted hole with a first bottom portion opening into the opening, and a second angled slotted hole with a second bottom portion opening into the opening, the first angled slotted hole being diametrically opposite the second angled slotted hole;   c) a spring clip including a first pin portion disposed in the first angled slotted hole, and a second pin portion disposed in the second angled slotted hole, the first pin portion and the second pin portion including respective intermediate portions exposed in the opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod; and   d) the first pin portion and the second pin portion being displaced upwardly into the respective the first angled slotted hole and the second angled slotted hole when the body is slid downwardly along the tie rod, the respective intermediate portions locking into the threads of the tie rod when the second body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         70 . A fastener for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener comprising:
 a) a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including an angled slotted hole with a bottom portion opening into the opening; and   c) the spring clip fastener including a pin portion disposed in the angled slotted hole, the pin portion including an intermediate portion exposed in the opening for engaging the threads of the tie rod, the pin portion being displaced upwardly into the slotted angled hole when the body is slid downwardly along the tie rod, the pin portion locking into the threads of the tie rod when the second body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         71 . A fastener for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener comprising:
 a) a body with an opening for receiving the tie rod;   b) the body including an angled hole disposed transversely into the body, the angled hole communicating with the opening; and   c) a dowel disposed in the angled hole for engaging the threads of the tie rod, with a bottom portion opening into the opening, the dowel being displaced upwardly into the angled hole when the body is slid downwardly along the tie rod, the dowel locking into the threads of the tie rod when the body is urged upwardly along the tie rod.   
     
     
         72 . A fastener assembly for attaching a threaded tie rod to a wall member, the fastener assembly comprising:
 a) a first fastener and a second fastener, the first fastener being distinct and separate from the second fastener;   b) a pre-compressed spring operably attached to the first fastener and the second fastener as a single unit; and   c) the first fastener and the second fastener are slidable down the tie rod and lockable to the threads of the tie rod when pushed up along the tie rod.   
     
     
         73 . A pre-compressed spring assembly for attachment to a tie rod in a building wall, comprising:
 a) coil spring in a pre-compressed state, the coil spring having sufficient diameter to slide down the tie rod; and   b) a restraint to keep the spring in the compressed state, the restraint being releasable to activate the spring after installation.   
     
     
         74 . A building wall, comprising:
 a) a stud wall including a horizontal wall member;   b) a tie rod operably anchored in a foundation, the tie rod extending through the wall member;   c) a first bearing plate disposed on the wall member and a second bearing plate above the first bearing plate, the second bearing plate being operably attached to the tie rod;   d) a first spring and a second spring disposed laterally of the tie rod, the first spring and second spring being disposed between the first bearing plate and the second bearing plate, the first spring and the second spring providing tension to the tie rod;   e) a first guide rod and a second guide rod being operably attached to the first bearing plate and extending through the first spring and the second spring, respectively, and the second bearing plate; and   f) a fastener attached to the tie rod, the fastener being disposed between the first bearing plate and the second bearing plate, the fastener being operably disposed on the wall member and lockable to the tie rod in an upward direction to resist uplift forces from the stud wall.