U.S. patent application number 11/858670 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-27 for vibration and force absorbing assembly incorporated into a building foundation for dampening the effects of environmentally induced events.
Invention is credited to Tracy Tower.
Application Number | 20080072508 11/858670 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39223413 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080072508 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tower; Tracy |
March 27, 2008 |
VIBRATION AND FORCE ABSORBING ASSEMBLY INCORPORATED INTO A BUILDING
FOUNDATION FOR DAMPENING THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED
EVENTS
Abstract
An improved hold down vibration dampening assembly suitable for
minimizing property damage resulting from high winds or earth
tremors, typically resulting from a natural event. A plurality of
individual dampening assemblies are provided, typically located one
per corner of an associated foundation structure. Each of the
assemblies most broadly includes a heavy gauge steel frame,
mounting at an intersection between a vertically extending wall
stud and a horizontally extending wall base, and within which is
supported a heavy duty die spring. A threaded rod extends
vertically in seating fashion through the spring, a large hex nut
securing a top end of the rod while a bottom portion anchors
through the wall base, such that misalignment forces applied from
base to the wall are absorbed by the assembly.
Inventors: |
Tower; Tracy; (Harrison
Township, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GIFFORD, KRASS, SPRINKLE,ANDERSON & CITKOWSKI, P.C
PO BOX 7021
TROY
MI
48007-7021
US
|
Family ID: |
39223413 |
Appl. No.: |
11/858670 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60826836 |
Sep 25, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/223.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16F 1/12 20130101; E04B
2001/2688 20130101; Y02A 50/00 20180101; E04H 9/14 20130101; Y02A
50/14 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/223.13 |
International
Class: |
E04C 5/12 20060101
E04C005/12 |
Claims
1. A force absorbing assembly incorporated into a structure
including at least a horizontally extending foundation and an
interconnected and vertically extending wall support said assembly
comprising: a bracket including a first face secured against the
vertically extending support and a second face supported upon the
horizontally extending foundation; an elongated rod extending
through an aperture defined in said second bracket face and
anchoring within the foundation; and a spring seating about an
upwardly extending portion of said rod, an end nut secured to an
extending end of said rod transferring motion of said rod,
resulting from movement of the foundation, to said spring.
2. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 1, said
bracket having a specified shape and size and further comprising a
heavy gauge, galvanized steel construction.
3. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 2, said
bracket further comprising a substantially "L" shape with first and
second reinforced side ribs interconnecting said first and second
faces.
4. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 2, further
comprising a plurality of lag bolts extending through apertures in
said first face and mounting to associated locations of the
vertically extending support.
5. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 1, said
spring having a specified shape and size and further comprising a
steel coiled die spring against which said rod exerts at least one
of a compressive and a tensile loading force.
6. The force absorbing assembly as described in claim 1, further
comprising interengaging threads established between said end nut
and said circular cross-sectional end of said upwardly extending
rod, a retaining washer installing over an end of said rod and
biasing between said nut and an upwardly extending end of said
spring.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Non-Prov of Prov (35 USC 119(e))
application 60/826,836 filed on Sep. 25, 2006, and entitled
Vibration and Force Absorbing Assembly Incorporated into a Building
Foundation for Dampening the Effects of Environmentally Induced
Events.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to such as
earthquake or tremor related force absorbing assemblies. More
specifically, the present invention discloses an improved hold down
or vibration dampening assembly suitable for minimizing property
damage resulting from high winds or earth tremors, typically
resulting from a natural event.
[0003] A plurality of individual dampening assemblies are provided,
typically located one per corner of an associated foundation
structure. Each of the assemblies most broadly includes a heavy
gauge steel frame, mounting at an intersection between a vertically
extending wall stud and a horizontally extending wall base, and
within which is supported a heavy duty die spring. A threaded rod
extends vertically in seating fashion through the spring, a large
hex nut securing a top end of the rod while a bottom portion
anchors through the wall base, such that misalignment forces
applied from base to the wall are absorbed by the assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The prior art is well documented with examples of vibration
absorbing devices, such as are intended to respond to the
incidences of earthquake tremors and the like. In particular, such
absorbing devices are mandatory, or at least highly desirable, in
certain geographic areas corresponding to high levels of earthquake
activity.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,953, issued to Ciringione, teaches a
stable platform with vibration absorbers for use with a pendulously
supported stable platform assembly. A cylindrical mass is axially
supported by a spring rod and immersed in a viscous medium
contained within a light-weight container of slightly larger size.
A pair of vibration absorbers are mounted 180 degrees apart on a
stable platform of a navigation system with their axis vertical for
attenuating vibratory energy in the stable platform in any
horizontal direction.
[0006] Additional examples of vibrationary or movement restraining
assemblies include such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,409,
to Sato, U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,102, to Lloyd, U.S. Pat. No.
5,447,001, to Nishimura, U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,692, to Yano, and U.S.
Pat. No. 6,681,908, issued to Davis. Yet additional examples of
vibration dampening building supports include those set forth in
Japanese Patent Abstracts JP10299828 (Tokai Rubber Ind. Ltd.),
JP04136373 (Shin Meiwa Ind. Co. Ltd.). JP11190148 (Ohbayashi
Corp.). JP10082203 (Arai Gumi Ltd.), JP20304093 (Mitsubishi Steel
Mfg. Co), and JP58176321 (Ogino Yoshiyasu).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention discloses an improved hold down
vibration dampening assembly suitable for minimizing property
damage resulting from high winds or earth tremors, typically
resulting from a natural event. The hold down vibration dampening
assembly is an improvement over prior art foundation supporting and
vibration dissipating devices, in that it is more conveniently
secured in a perpendicular joint location between associated
horizontal and vertical extending supports.
[0008] In practice, a plurality of individual dampening assemblies
are provided, each of which are typically located at respective
corners of an associated foundation structure. Each of the
assemblies most broadly includes a heavy gauge steel frame,
mounting at an intersection between a vertically extending wall
stud and a horizontally extending wall base, and within which is
supported a heavy duty die spring.
[0009] A threaded rod extends vertically in seating fashion through
the spring, a large hex nut securing a top end of the rod while a
bottom portion anchors through the wall base, such that
misalignment forces applied from base to the wall are absorbed by
the assembly. In this fashion, the individual assemblies provide
for improved force and motion dissipation, such as associated with
a naturally occurring seismic event, along with a simplified and
lower cost architecture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when
read in combination with the following detailed description,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
several views, and in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is an assembly view of the force and vibration
absorbing assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hold down assembly
illustrated in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention discloses at 10
an improved hold down or vibration dampening assembly suitable for
minimizing property damage resulting from high winds or earth
tremors, typically resulting from a natural event. As previously
described, the hold down assembly is particularly suited for
dampening forces associated with earthquakes, other types of
seismic disturbances, or high winds and which would otherwise tend
to damage a foundation supported structure located proximate to the
dynamic event.
[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the structure includes at least a
horizontally extending foundation, referenced at 12, and an
interconnected and vertically extending wall support 14. It is
further understood that the hold down assembly according to the
present invention is typically provided as a number of individual
units, each located at an associated corner or mid-length location
of a foundation supported wall and such as is associated with a
freestanding structure. The specific location and placement of the
individual hold down assemblies can further be determined by a
general contractor utilizing local, state and federal codes.
[0015] A bracket 16, see also FIG. 2, is provided, typically as a
heavy gauge, galvanized steel construction, and which exhibits a
substantially "L" shaped profile defining a first face 18 secured
against a base extending location of the vertically extending
support 12, as well as a second face 20 supported upon the
horizontally extending foundation. The bracket 16 further includes
first and second reinforced side ribs interconnecting the first 18
and second 20 faces, see as shown further at 22 and 24. A plurality
of lag bolts (not shown) extend through apertures 26 in the first
face 18 of the bracket 16 and mount to associated locations of the
vertically extending support 12.
[0016] An elongated rod 28 extends through an aperture 30 defined
in the second bracket face 20 and in order to anchor within the
foundation 14. The rod 28 exhibits a substantially elongated and
circular cross-sectional shape and is likewise constructed of a
heavy duty steel or other suitable material exhibiting the
necessary properties of strength, durability and force
absorption/redirection. A lower end of the rod 28 is referenced at
32 and, as shown in FIG. 2, may be angled in order to further
increase its embodiment into the foundation 14 (e.g. concrete). As
further best shown in FIG. 1, an upper extending portion of the rod
projects in a substantially parallel and spaced apart fashion
relative to the first face 18.
[0017] A spring 34 is provided and seats about an upwardly
extending portion of the rod 28. The spring 34 exhibits a specified
shape and size and further is typically provided as a steel coiled
die spring against which the rod 28 exerts at least one of a
compressive and a tensile loading force.
[0018] In a preferred arrangement, an end nut 36 secures (such as
threadably) to an extending end 38 of the rod 28, in biasing
fashion against a top extending end of the spring 34, and in order
to transfer motion of the rod 28, resulting from movement of the
foundation such as in response to an earthquake, to the spring.
Alternatively, wind forces applied against the vertical extending
wall support 12 can be dissipated, or dampened, in a reverse
direction to the foundation 14 via the interconnection established
between the bracket 16, rod 28 and dampening coil spring 34. A
retaining washer 40 is preferably installed over an end of the rod
28, and in biasing fashion between the nut 36 and the upwardly
extending end of the spring 34. In a preferred application, the hex
nut is threadably tightened to compress the spring to a determined.
e.g. maximum life, setting or to adjust the degree of
biasing/dampening support.
[0019] Having described my invention other and additional preferred
embodiments will apparent to those skilled in the art to which it
pertains, and without deviating from the appended claims.
* * * * *