U.S. patent application number 11/187479 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-26 for ez bar.
Invention is credited to Michael Blount.
Application Number | 20060016138 11/187479 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35655648 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060016138 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blount; Michael |
January 26, 2006 |
EZ bar
Abstract
The present invention is a floor-framing device that eliminates
the need for excess material and installation time required in
conventional wood or metal flooring systems. The device has a
substantially Z-shaped cross section and mainly comprises a
horizontal top leg planar member, a horizontal bottom leg planar
member, and a vertical side planar member. The top leg member rests
on top of a floor truss as a hanger, while the bottom leg member
serves as a means to support a metal deck/pan, which receives
concrete. The side planar member abuts the inside of the floor
truss. The weight of the poured concrete is distributed onto the
inside plane instead of entirely on the top of the floor truss,
thus providing strength to the design. Subsequent floors can be
continuously erected without waiting for the concrete to dry,
thereby reducing the construction time for multistory
structures.
Inventors: |
Blount; Michael; (Apopka,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDWIN TARVER
20121 VENTURA BOULEVARD
SUITE 302
WOODLAND HILLS
CA
91364
US
|
Family ID: |
35655648 |
Appl. No.: |
11/187479 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60590497 |
Jul 23, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/263 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C 2003/0482 20130101;
E04B 5/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/263 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/00 20060101
E04B001/00 |
Claims
1. An improved floor-framing device having a z-shaped cross
section, comprising a first horizontal member that acts as a
decking support for a conventional metal pan on which concrete is
poured to form a slab; a vertical member attached to the top of
said first horizontal member and extending upwardly in a direction
parallel to a conventional floor truss or load-bearing wall,
wherein said vertical member allows the concrete to bear on the
inside plane of the floor truss and thereby reducing the stress on
top of the floor truss; a second horizontal member attached to the
top of said vertical member and resting on top of the floor truss
as a hanger, wherein said second horizontal member extends in a
direction parallel to and away from said first horizontal member;
and means to fasten said second horizontal member to the top of the
floor truss.
2. The improved floor-framing device of claim 1, wherein said
vertical and horizontal members are planar in nature.
3. The improved floor-framing device of claim 2, whereby the
gauging of said device is approximately 12 GA to 14 GA depending on
the opening width of the floor.
4. The improved floor-framing device of claim 2, whereby said
device is preferably made of high-grade galvanized steel that comes
in grades galvanizing thickness of G-60 to G-90.
5. The improved floor-framing device of claim 1, wherein the
fastening means comprises screws, bolts, nails, adhesive or any
customarily used industrial fastener.
6. An improved floor-framing device having substantially a z-shaped
cross section, comprising a first horizontal member that acts as a
decking support for a conventional metal pan on which concrete is
poured to form a slab; a first vertical member attached to the top
of said first horizontal member and extending upwardly in a
direction parallel to a conventional floor truss or load-bearing
wall, wherein said first vertical member allows the concrete to
bear on the inside plane of the floor truss and thereby reducing
the stress on top of the floor truss; a second horizontal member
attached to the top of said first vertical member and resting on
top of the floor truss as a hanger, wherein said second horizontal
member extends in a direction parallel to and away from said first
horizontal member; a second vertical member attached to the bottom
of said second horizontal member and extending downwardly in a
direction parallel to the floor truss, wherein said second vertical
member will enable distribution of the load to a larger area and
secure the device firmly on to the floor truss; and means to fasten
said second horizontal member to the top of the floor truss.
7. The improved floor-framing device of claim 6, wherein said
vertical and horizontal members are planar in nature.
8. The improved floor-framing device of claim 7, whereby the
gauging of said device is approximately 12 GA to 14 GA depending on
the opening width of the floor.
9. The improved floor-framing device of claim 7, whereby said
device is preferably made of high-grade galvanized steel that comes
in grades galvanizing thickness of G-60 to G-90.
10. The improved floor-framing device of claim 6, wherein the
fastening means comprises screws, bolts, nails, adhesive or any
customarily used industrial fastener.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPPLICATION
[0001] This is a utility patent application which claims benefit of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/590,497 filed on Jul. 23,
2004.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
[0003] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
[0004] Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves
all copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND
[0005] The present invention relates to an improvement in floor
framing, and more particularly, to an improvement in floor framing
that eliminates the need of excess material and installation time
required in conventional flooring systems, while still providing a
safe and maintenance free floor assembly.
[0006] Conventional floor framing is a very labor intensive,
material intensive, and time consuming. For example, conventional
wood floor systems require the following: (1) wood ledgers
(normally 2.times.6 through 2.times.10) and installation thereof;
(2) joist or floor truss material (typically 2.times.8 to 2.times.8
and 18'' and less) and installation thereof; (3) joist hangers; (4)
through bolts and labor to attach the ledgers; (5) 3/4'' to 5/8''
plywood (sub-floor) exterior or 51/4''.times.6 pressure treated
decking; and (6) 5/8'' to 1/2'' type X Gypsum board for the
ceiling.
[0007] Meanwhile, metal floor systems utilizing a similar metal
deck requires: (1) wood ledgers (normally 2.times.6 through
2.times.10) and installation thereof; (2) fabricated
3.times.3.times.1/4 structural angle with holes drilled 24'' O.C.;
(3) bolting fabricated angle 24'' O.C. with 21/2'' or longer lag
bolts; and (4) MC Channel and welding of angles (deck support).
Additionally, floor systems with metal decking that bears on top of
the load-bearing wall requires the concrete to dry (between 7 to 10
days) before installing the wall to be placed above.
[0008] Several structural elements to support floor framings have
been developed in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,693 to Ballard
discloses a flooring assembly and fastener that comprises flooring
planks and a clip fastener arranged between opposing longitudinal
edges of planks. A plurality of clip units are used, wherein each
clip has Z-shaped cross section, one end of which is attached to a
groove of a plank and the other end acts as a base for fastening to
a joist. This device differs from the present invention in that it
operates in conjunction with a substrate used to hold the assembly
and fastener, wherein the fastener is mounted on to the substrate.
Also, this device operates on a much smaller scale and is intended
for interior flooring or decking.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,516 to Luedtke discloses a new method of
constructing multi-story buildings utilizing metal "Z" members or
metal plate bearing surfaces that allow bearing walls to be
continuous from foundation to roof without bearing upon the floor
construction. Although the "Z" member has structural resemblance to
the device of the present invention, there are additional
components in the former device that are designed to prevent axial
loads from passing through the floor.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,570 to Shanton discloses a metal brace
for use in supporting masonry walls made of cinder block, concrete
block, brick, or similar materials. This device is intended to
prevent walls from collapsing due to external pressures such as
from floods or high winds. Although this device operates on same
hanging principle of the present invention, there are structural
distinctions between the Shanton device and the device of the
present invention. Moreover, the Shanton device caters to different
applications.
[0011] In Intl. App. No. WO8402549 to Hellgren a wall unit that is
included in an exterior wall in a house is disclosed. The wall unit
has both load-bearing and heat-insulating functions. The bottom of
the wall unit is carried by a horizontal Z-beam fixed to the
building foundations, and the Z-beam of this device is structurally
similar to that of the present invention. In the Hellgren device,
however, the Z-beam supports the horizontal flooring above the
position where it interfaces with the wall unit.
[0012] Although the above devices and methods are used in
structural and constructional applications, there is a need for a
more effective and simplified floor support system.
[0013] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved floor-framing device for use in flooring
systems.
[0014] A further object is to provide an improved floor-framing
device that eliminates the need for excess material and
installation time required in conventional flooring systems.
[0015] A further object is to provide an improved floor-framing
device that provides a safe and maintenance free flooring
assembly.
[0016] Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide
an improved floor-framing device that allows to erect floors
continuously without the need for the concrete to dry before
erecting a next floor. These and other objects of the present
invention will become better understood with reference to the
appended Summary, Description, and Claims.
SUMMARY
[0017] The present invention is an improved floor-framing device
that can be used in flooring systems. The floor-framing device
eliminates the need for different materials used in conventional
wood and metal flooring systems. This device also reduces the labor
and installation time needed in building floor framing while still
providing a safe and maintenance free floor assembly.
[0018] The floor-framing device mainly comprises a bottom leg
member, a top leg member, and a side planar member. The bottom leg
member of the floor-framing device acts as a decking support and
the top leg member is attached to the top of the interior unit
sub-floor as a hanger. The side planar member of the floor-framing
device allows the concrete to bear on the inside plane of the load
bearing wall instead of on top of the wall. Thereby, a second floor
wall is erected on top of the floor-framing device, i.e. on the top
leg member. This mechanism provides strength to the design by
displacing the load bearing onto the inside plane, while the roof
bearing wall weight holds the floor-framing device down along with
appropriate fasteners.
[0019] The lengths of the floor-framing device can vary, while the
gauging is 12 GA or 14 GA depending on the opening width of the
floor. The floor-framing device is made of high-grade galvanized
steel that comes in grades galvanizing thickness of G-60 and G-90.
These coatings insure a long-term maintenance free product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0020] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of one preferred embodiment
of the improved floor-framing device of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment
of the improved floor-framing device of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3A is an illustration of the exterior of a building
with metal decking that bears on the top of the load-bearing
wall.
[0023] FIG. 3B is an illustration of the exterior of a building
with an improved floor-framing device of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the improved floor-framing
device of the present invention installed in a conventional floor
system.
FIGURES--REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0025] 10 . . . Floor-framing Device [0026] 11 . . . Horizontal
Bottom Leg Planar Member [0027] 12 . . . Horizontal Top Leg Planar
Member [0028] 13 . . . Vertical Side Planar Member [0029] 14 . . .
Metal Decking/Pan [0030] 15 . . . Floor Truss [0031] 16 . . .
Concrete [0032] 17A . . . First Floor [0033] 17B . . . Second Floor
[0034] 18 . . . Plywood Sub-floor [0035] 19 . . . Exterior
Sheathing [0036] 20 . . . Water Proofing Membrane [0037] 21 . . .
Exterior of Veneer [0038] 22 . . . Bottom Plate
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of an
improved floor-framing device used in flooring systems, is
illustrated and generally indicated as 10 in FIG. 1. The
floor-framing device 10 has a Z-shaped cross section and mainly
comprises a horizontal bottom leg planar member 11, a horizontal
top leg planar member 12, and a vertical side planar member 13. The
floor-framing device 10 eliminates the need for excess material and
installation time required in conventional flooring systems.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 3A, a flooring assembly is illustrated and
comprises a metal decking/pan 14 that bears on the top of a floor
truss 15, which is also referred to as a load-bearing wall.
Concrete 16 is poured on the metal decking 14 and is allowed to dry
before installing a second wall to be placed above the wall of
first floor 17A. This process is time consuming as it takes
considerable amount of time for the concrete 16 to dry. Moreover,
the entire weight of the concrete slab is distributed on the walls
of the first floor 17A.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 3B, a flooring assembly using the
preferred embodiment of the floor-framing device 10 of the present
invention is illustrated. The bottom leg member 11 of the device 10
acts as a decking support for the metal pan 14 on which concrete 16
is poured to form a slab. The top leg member 12 of the device 10 is
attached to the top of the wall with appropriate fasteners (not
shown). The side planar member 13 allows the concrete 16 to bear on
the inside plane of the floor truss 15 instead of on top of the
wall as in the case of flooring assemblies with a metal decking 14
that bears on the top of the floor truss 15.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 2, an alternate embodiment of the
floor-framing device 10 is illustrated. It is similar to the
preferred embodiment described earlier except that; this alternate
embodiment additionally includes another vertical side planar
member 13 projecting downward from the top leg planar member
12.
[0043] The floor system, as seen in FIG. 4, mainly comprises metal
pan 14, floor trusses 15, plywood sub-floor 18, exterior sheathing
19, water proofing membrane 20, exterior of veneer 21, and bottom
plate 22. The plywood sub-floor 18 is placed on top of the floor
truss 15, and the top leg member 12 of the floor-framing device 10
is then placed on the plywood sub-floor 18. The bottom leg member
11 supports the metal pan 14, which in turn acts as a platform for
receiving concrete 16, while the side planar member 13 abuts the
inside plane of the floor truss 15.
[0044] A second floor truss 15 is then erected on the top leg
member 12, which holds the floor-framing device 10 down along with
some appropriate fasteners (not shown). Concrete 16 is then poured
on the metal pan 14 placed on the bottom leg member 11. Therefore,
unlike in convention flooring systems, the weight of the concrete
slab is distributed onto the inside plane instead of solely on top
of the floor truss 15. This method distributes the load to a larger
area thereby reducing stress on top of the floor truss 15.
[0045] A second floor-framing device 10 is placed on top of the
second floor truss 15 in a similar fashion as described above. This
process is continued and additional flooring trusses 15 are erected
successively on top of each other in conjunction with the
floor-framing devices 10. The erection of different floors does not
affect the concrete slab whether it is dry or wet. Thus, the need
for the concrete 16 to dry does not obstruct the erection of
multiple floors, which is not the case for the conventional
flooring systems.
[0046] The lengths of the floor-framing device 10 vary according to
different wall dimensions. Also, the different dimensions of the
bottom leg member 11, the top leg member 12, and the side planar
member 13 are possible for accommodating wall trusses of various
dimensions. The gauging of the floor-framing device is 12 GA or 14
GA depending on the opening width of the floor. The floor-framing
device is made of high-grade galvanized steel that comes in grades
galvanizing thickness of G-60 and G-90. These coatings insure a
long-term maintenance free product that will not crack, warp, rot,
or mildew.
[0047] Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state "means
for" performing a specified function, or "step for" performing a
specific function, is not to be interpreted as a "means" or "step"
clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112, paragraph 6. In
particular, the use of "step of" in the claims herein is not
intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112,
paragraph 6.
[0048] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions
may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present
invention has been described by way of illustration and not
limitation.
* * * * *