RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a nonprovisional application of provisional application Serial No. 63/407,749, filed 09/19/2022, hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to hold down systems and particularly to metal bearing plates for use in hold down systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a bearing plate, comprising a planar body including a thickness, width, and length; a first hole and a second hole disposed in the thickness and width of the body, the first hole and the second hole extending through the length of the body; and the first hole is shaped differently from the second hole.

The present invention also provides a bearing plate, comprising a body including a top wall, a bottom wall, a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the body including a thickness, width, and length; a first hole and a second hole disposed in the thickness and width of the body, the first hole and the second hole extending through the length of the body, the first hole and the second hole being adjacent the first sidewall and the second sidewall, respectively; and the first hole being shaped differently from the second hole.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26) The present invention further provides a hold down assembly, comprising a bearing plate including a top wall, a bottom wall, a first wall, a second wall and a third wall supporting the top wall to the bottom wall; a tie rod extending through the bearing plate; a fastener connecting the tie rod to the bearing plate; and the fastener including portions disposed directly above the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of a hollow metal bearing plate embodying the present invention.

Figs. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 through the top opening.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the plate of Fig. 1 in a hold down application.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a hollow metal plate.

Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 6 through the top opening.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the plate of Fig. 6 in a hold down application.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a hollow metal plate.

Fig. 12 is an end view of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 11 through the top opening.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a hollow metal plate.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26) Fig. 15 is an end view of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 14 through the top opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a hollow metal plate 2 embodying the present invention is disclosed. The metal plate 2 is rectangular, preferably extruded aluminum with longitudinal through holes 4, 6, 8 and 10. The plate 2 is a planar body including a thickness, width, and length. The plate includes a top wall 12, a bottom wall 14 and sidewalls 16 and 18. The top wall 12 is parallel to the bottom wall 14. The sidewalls 16 and 18 are perpendicular to the top wall 12 and the bottom wall 14. Internal walls 20, 22 and 24 connect the top wall 12 to the bottom wall 14. An opening 26 extends through the thickness of the plate, cutting through the top wall 12, the internal wall 22 and the bottom wall 14. The opening 26 allows a tie rod to extend through the plate 2.

The wall 20 includes a radius surface 28 in the hole 4 extending from a radius comer 29 to the next radius comer 31. The wall 20 also has a radius surface 30 in the hole 6 extending from a radius comer 33 to the next radius corner 35. The sidewall 18 has a flat surface 32 in the hole 4. Similarly, the wall 22 has a flat surface 34 in the hole 6 and a flat surface 36 in the hole 8. The hole 4 has additional radius comers 38. Similarly, the hole 6 has additional radius comers 40. The wall 24 is a mirror image of the wall 20. The holes 4 and 10 are mirror images of each other. Similarly, the holes 6 and 8 are mirror images of each other.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26) The walls 20 and 24 are hourglass shaped, with a narrowing portion at the center portion 41 where the radius surfaces 28 and 30 are parallel (lines tangent to the radius surfaces 28 and 30 are parallel) and widening portions 42 and 44 at the top and bottom of the plate.

The cross-sectional area of the holes 6 and 8 are advantageously larger than the cross- sectional area of the holes 4 and 10 to advantageously locate the internal walls 20 and 24 to directly support the load imposed on the plate 2 and also allows the use of less material for a given load. The internal wall 36 is separated into two sections by the opening 26.

The internal walls 20, 22 and 24 function like the web and the top wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 as the flanges of an I-beam. The cross-sectional configuration of the plate 2 advantageously provides for maximum load with minimum material. The internals walls 20, 22 and 24 are disposed to handle the concentration of forces and minimize displacement, such as bending, etc. The dissimilar shapes of the holes 4, 6, 8 and 10 advantageously provide for low concentration of forces on the bottom wall 14. The central internal wall 22 advantageously provides additional load capacity to the plate 2. The provision of the central internal wall 22 advantageously provides for thinner wall thicknesses for the internal and sidewalls. The internal walls 20, 22 and 24 are positioned in the plate to handle concentrated forces and spread the stress to the bottom wall 14. The sidewalls 16 and 18, and the central internal wall 22 preferably have the same thickness, and the wall thickness of the internal walls 20 and 24 at the center portion 41 is preferably thicker. The top wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 preferably have the same thickness and are thicker than the center portion 41.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26) The holes 4, 6, 8 and 10 are advantageously not congruent and not the same shapes. The wall thickness of the internal walls 20 and 24 is not uniform, since the thickness is wide at the bottom portion 44, gradually becoming thinner at the center portion 41 and again gradually increasing in thickness toward the top portion 42. The change in thickness is continuous since the radius surfaces 28 and 30 constitute a continuous curve.

The central internal wall 22 has a uniform thickness provided by the planar and parallel surfaces 34 and 36. The sidewalls 16 and 18, and the top wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 inside the holes also have uniform thicknesses provided by flat (planar) and parallel surfaces.

The configuration of the plate 2 advantageously provides for the same performance or better than a solid steel plate at the same loading, but with less material and weight.

Referring to Fig. 3, a cross-sectional view of the plate 2 through the opening 26 is disclosed. The internal wall 22 is in two sections to advantageously provide support along one axis to the top wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 in the area of the opening 26. The internal walls 20 and 24 advantageously provide support to the opening 26 along another axis.

Referring to Fig. 4, the plate 2 is used in a hold down system, comprising a tie rod 46 operably anchored to a wall foundation and a fastener 48 attached to the tie rod 46 with a hex nut 50. The plate 2 is placed on top of a bottom plate 52 of a typical stud wall. The plate 2 may also be placed on a cross member (not shown) in the stud wall. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,762,030 and 9,097,000 disclose a hold down system, incorporated herein by reference. The fastener 44 is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,762,030. While the fastener 44 is shown as an expanding-type fastener, a simple fastener such as a standard hex nut may also be used.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26) Referring to Fig. 5, the fastener 48 includes an outer cylindrical member 54 and an inner cylindrical member 56, which is movable upwardly as slack develops in the tie rod 46 due to wall settlement and shrinkage. The outer cylindrical member 54 always remains in contact with the plate 2 to exert load on the plate 2 when the wall tries to lift up due to wind, earthquake, etc. The outer cylindrical member 54 are advantageously placed on the plate 2 to allow the transfer and spread of the load on the bottom wall 14 to minimize overloading the bottom plate 52. The internal walls 20 and 24 and the central internal wall 22 are advantageously placed to directly support the outer cylindrical member 54 at four areas.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, another embodiment of a hollow metal plate 58 embodying the present invention is disclosed. The metal plate 58 is trapezoidal in cross-section, preferably extruded aluminum with longitudinal through holes 60, 62, and 64. The plate includes a top wall 66, a bottom wall 68 and inclined sidewalls 70 and 72. The top wall 66 is parallel to the bottom wall 68. Internal walls 74 and 76 connect the top wall 66 to the bottom wall 68. An opening 78 extends through the thickness of the plate, cutting through the top wall 66, and the bottom wall 68. The opening 78 allows a tie rod to extend through the plate 58. The opening 78 is disposed between the internal walls 74 and 76.

The bottom wall 68 includes a radius concave surface 80 in the hole 60 extending from a radius corner 82 to the next radius corner 84. The sidewall 70 includes radius convex surface 86 in the hole 60, extending from the radius corner 82 to the next radius comer 88. The sidewall 70 includes an exterior concave radius surface 96 extending from exterior corners 98 and 100. The top wall 66 has a flat surface 90 in the hole 60 extending from a radius corner 92 to the next

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26) radius corner 88. The internal wall 74 has a flat surface 94 in the hole 60 extending from the radius corner 84 to the radius comer 92. The hole 64 and the sidewall 72 are mirror images of the hole 60 and the sidewall 70, respectively.

The hole 62 has radius corners 102, 104, 106 and 108. The bottom wall 68 has a radius concave surface 110 in the hole 62, extending between the radius comers 102 and 108. Similarly, the internal walls 74 and 76 have flat surfaces 112 and 114 in the hole 62, extending between the respective radius corners 102 and 104, and 106 and 108. The top wall 66 has a flat surface 116 in the hole 62, extending between the radius comers 104 and 106.

The internal walls 74 and 76 function like the web of an I-beam and the top wall 66 and the bottom wall 68 as the flanges of an I-beam. The cross-sectional configuration of the plate 58 advantageously provides for maximum bending load with minimum material. The sidewalls 70 and 72 are also shaped and function like a structural I-beam with top and bottom flanges with larger masses and a thinner web. The bottom portion of the sidewalls 70 and 72 flare out, advantageously providing the additional masses. Similarly, the upturned shoulders 100 and 118 also provide additional masses.

The top wall 66 has a flat surface 120 with upturned shoulders 100 and 118.

The holes 60, 62 and 64 are not congruent and not the same shapes. The bottom wall 68 in the holes 60, 62 and 64 do not have uniform thicknesses, starting thicker at one end, gradually becoming thinner at the center portion, and gradually becoming thicker at the opposite end due to the radius curvature of the internal surfaces 80 and 110 and the flat bottom surface 121 of the

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26) bottom wall 68. The sidewalls 70 and 72 of the holes 60 and 64 are curved with uniform thickness since the radius surfaces 86 and 96 share the same center.

The top wall 66 is preferably thicker than the bottom wall 68. The internal walls 74 and 76 preferably have the same thickness as the top wall 66. The side walls 70 and 72 preferably have less thickness than the internal walls 74 and 76.

Referring to Fig. 8, a cross-sectional view of the plate 58 through the opening 78 is disclosed. The internal walls 74 and 76 advantageously provide support to the opening 78 along another axis.

Referring to Fig. 9, the plate 58 is used with a fastener 48 and a tie rod 46. The plate 58 advantageously spreads the tension load from the tie rod 46 when the wall lifts up due to a windstorm, earthquake, etc.

Referring to Fig. 10, the shoulders 100 and 118 advantageously provide a self-centering function for the fastener 48 when used with the plate 58. The shoulders 100 and 118 act as guides in centering the outer cylindrical member 54 over the opening 78 and ensures that the fastener 48 is seated flat on the top surface 120.

The inclined sidewalls 70 and 72 are advantageously positioned to be close to the outer cylindrical member 54 while allowing the bottom wall 68 to be wider to advantageously transfer the load over a wider area. The inclined sidewalls 70 and 72 advantageously place the sidewalls closer to the load while at the same time allowing a larger bottom wall 68 for distribution of the forces over a larger area so as not overload the bottom plate 52. The sidewalls 70 and 72 are curved inwardly into the plate to advantageously allow for a thinner wall thickness.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26) Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the plate 2 is modified as plate 122. The sidewalls 16 and 18 are modified to have an inside surface radius 124 and an outside radius surface 126. The other structural features of the plate 122 remain the same as those of the plate 2.

Referring to Fig. 13, a cross-sectional view of the plate 122 through the opening 26 is disclosed. The internal wall 22 is in two sections to advantageously provide support along one axis to the top wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 in the area of the opening 26. The internal walls 20 and 24 advantageously provide support to the opening 26 along another axis.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, the plate 2 is modified as plate 128. The top wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 are modified with end portions 130 that extend beyond the sidewalls 16 and 18 as overhangs. The other structural features of the plate 122 remain the same as those of the plate 2.

Referring to Fig. 16, a cross-sectional view of the plate 2 through the opening 26 is disclosed. The internal wall 22 is in two sections to advantageously provide support along one axis to the top wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 in the area of the opening 26. The internal walls 20 and 24 advantageously provide support to the opening 26 along another axis.

Although the plates 2 and 58 are shown as bearing plates, they can also be used as compression plates as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 10,870,978, hereby incorporated by reference and as cross-members, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,097,000 and 7,762,030.

The configuration of the plates 2 and 58, including the size, shape of the holes and the thickness of the walls, resulted from extensive design work, prototyping and load testing. The

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26) plates 2 and 58 advantageously provide at least the same structural properties as a solid steel plate but with much less material and weight.

While this invention has been described as having preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET ( RULE 26)