US-20260125916-A1 - RETROFIT HURRICANE EARTHQUAKE TIE

US20260125916A1US 20260125916 A1US20260125916 A1US 20260125916A1US-20260125916-A1

Abstract

This invention pertains to protecting an existing or a new house or any wood framed structure from damage due to high winds, specifically with the use of retrofit hurricane ties, that will hold the roofing members securely to the wall members. These retrofit hurricane ties can be used without altering a typical wood framed structure in any way, and allow contractors enough space to securely fasten these retrofit hurricane ties.

Inventors

John J. Pal

Assignees

John J. Pal

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241101

Claims (5)

1 . A retrofit hurricane earthquake tie, that can be used on the left handed side or the right handed side, or on both sides of a variety of ceiling assemblies, which are not limited to but could consist of cathedral ceilings rafters, rafter ceiling with ceiling joist, and a truss ceiling, with multiple versions for the variety of ceiling assemblies, a few of which are shown in these embodiments, allowing a building to withstand high winds and/or earthquakes comprising: a. A connector, with or without staggered holes which fasteners can pass thru, fastened by any means, including but not limited to lag bolts, nails screws, bolts, washers, bushings, and epoxy, capable of withstanding high winds and/or earthquakes, and made of any suitable material, including but not limited to any metal such as steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, tin, bronze, brass, iron, and tungsten or any metal alloy capable of withstanding high winds and/or earthquakes, having the distinction of fastening at an angle by any means including but not limited to having angled surfaces by any means or angled guides by any means, that would allow the retrofit hurricane earthquake tie to be fastened in areas in existing buildings with limited space, including but not limited to cathedral ceiling rafters, rafter ceiling with ceiling joist, and a truss ceiling assemblies and the existing top plate(s) of a wall.
2 . The retrofit hurricane earthquake connector of claim 1 wherein said connector attaches to a cathedral ceiling rafter or a truss ceiling and the top plate(s), the said connector having an L shape with a flat vertical surface secured to the side of the cathedral ceiling rafters or trusses and a flat horizontal surface secured to the top of the top plate(s) of the wall, having the distinction of fastening at an angle to the horizontal top plate(s) of a wood framed wall and/or the vertical cathedral ceiling rafters or a truss ceiling.
3 . The retrofit hurricane earthquake connector of claim 1 wherein said connector attaches to a rafter ceiling with ceiling joist and the top of the top plate(s), the said connector having an L shape with a flat vertical surface secured to the side of the rafter and/or the ceiling joist, and if a ceiling joist is adjacent to the rafter, said connector will have extra bends to accommodate the ceiling joist, and a flat horizontal surface secured to the top of the top plate(s) of the wall, having the distinction of fastening at an angle to the horizontal top plate(s) of a wood framed wall and/or the vertical rafter ceiling and/or the ceiling joist.
4 . The retrofit hurricane earthquake connector of claim 1 wherein said connector attaches to a cathedral ceiling rafter or a truss ceiling, with blocking in between them, and the blocking is covering the top plate, the said connector has an irregular shape with a flat vertical surface secured to the side of the cathedral ceiling rafters or a truss ceiling and a flat horizontal surface secured to the side of the blocking, if the blocking is covering the top plate, and to the top plate(s), the said vertical surface and said horizontal surface of the connector shall be connected perpendicular to each other, having the distinction of fastening at an angle to the horizontal top plate(s) of a wood framed wall thru the side of the blocking, if the blocking is covering the top plate and/or the vertical cathedral ceiling rafters or a truss ceiling.
5 . The retrofit hurricane earthquake connector of claim 1 wherein said connector attaches to a rafter ceiling and a ceiling joist, if a ceiling joist is adjacent to the rafter, with blocking in between them, and the blocking is covering the top plate, the said connector having an irregular shape with a flat vertical surface secured to the side of the rafter ceiling and a ceiling joist, if a ceiling joist is adjacent to the rafter, said connector will have extra bends to accommodate the ceiling joist, and a flat horizontal surface is secured to the side of the blocking, if the blocking is covering the top plate, and to the top plate(s), the said vertical surface and said horizontal surface of the connector shall be connected perpendicular to each other, having the distinction of fastening at an angle to the horizontal top plate(s) of a wood framed wall thru the side of the blocking, if the blocking is covering the top plate, and/or the vertical rafter ceiling and the ceiling joist if the ceiling joist is adjacent to the rafter.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is related to a method of the retrofitting both, an existing house or building or a new house or building, with hurricane ties to protect any structure from damaging high winds. It's very difficult in an existing house to install hurricane ties due to the lack of space to affix the ties and the obstruction of finished materials. This invention will address these two difficulties while providing protection against destructive wind forces. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing disadvantages of prior art, the general purpose of this present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide for an inexpensive and secure method of installing a retrofit hurricane tie(s) to existing houses, new houses, or any building. The present invention consist of different versions of a retrofit hurricane tie(s) that can accommodate being attached to cathedral ceilings rafters, rafter ceiling with ceiling joist, and a truss ceiling, all with or without blocking in between the joist or trusses. All versions have in common the ability to be secured in limited space by providing a surface at an angle to attach a fastener by any means. The retrofit hurricane tie for cathedral ceiling rafters, or the truss ceiling is an L shaped bracket, but also having the distinction and innovation of having a surface at an angle to attach a fastener by any means at an angle to the horizontal double top plate of a framed wall where there is limited room on an existing structure. There is usually about a two foot distance between adjacent ceiling rafters or truss ceilings, although in some house plans the distance could be as little as 1 foot, so a carpenter should have adequate space to affix fasteners perpendicular to the retrofit hurricane tie on the vertical part of the L shaped bracket, however in the rare case where there is not enough space, these retrofit hurricane ties could also have a surface at an angle to attach a fastener by any means on the vertical part of the L shaped bracket, if needed. The retrofit hurricane tie for a rafter ceiling with ceiling joist is an L shaped bracket is similar to the retrofit hurricane tie for cathedral ceiling rafters, however it has extra bends to wrap around the separate ceiling joist. The retrofit hurricane tie for any type of ceiling that has blocking has two versions. Both versions are irregular shaped sections that are folded 90 degrees. The first version is for cathedral ceiling rafters or a truss ceiling and the surface of the retrofit hurricane tie that is attached to the cathedral ceiling rafters or the truss ceiling is in the same plane in the vertical direction perpendicular to the wall, since an offset is not needed. The second version is for rafter ceiling with ceiling joist, and one of the major differences of this retrofit hurricane tie is that an offset is needed in the vertical direction perpendicular to the wall, since the rafter is not in the same plane as the ceiling joist. This invention can be used in a multitude of other situations not mentioned here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 sets forth a front view of an elevation of the top of a typical wood framed wall showing the cathedral ceiling rafters resting on the double top plates of the wall, and showing the retrofit hurricane ties (illustrated in solid black) attached to rafters and the double top plates, with the roof assembly shown on top of the rafters. The retrofit hurricane tie on the left has attachment surfaces on an angle only on the horizontal surface, and the retrofit hurricane tie on the right has angled attachment surfaces on both the vertical and the horizontal surfaces. FIG. 2 sets forth a front view of an elevation of the top of a typical wood framed wall showing a truss ceiling resting on the double top plates of the wall, and showing the retrofit hurricane ties (illustrated in solid black) attached to the trusses and the double top plates, with the roof assembly shown on top of the rafters. The retrofit hurricane tie on the left has attachment surfaces on an angle only on the horizontal surface, and the retrofit hurricane tie on the right has angled attachment surfaces on both the vertical and the horizontal surfaces. FIG. 3 sets forth a front view of an elevation of the top of a typical wood framed wall showing a rafter ceiling with ceiling joist resting on the double top plates of the wall, and showing the retrofit hurricane ties (illustrated in solid black) attached to the trusses and the double top plates, with the roof assembly shown on top of the rafters. The retrofit hurricane tie on the left has attachment surfaces on an angle only on the horizontal surface, and the retrofit hurricane tie on the right has angled attachment surfaces on both the vertical and the horizontal surfaces. FIG. 4 sets forth a front view of an elevation of the top of a typical wood framed wall showing the cathedral