7 171 789

7,171,789 Title:

Shear wall construction

A shear wall construction and method for assembling the same is disclosed. A plywood sheet includes close laterally-spaced pairs of vertical studs or posts proximate each lateral end. A channel-defining member is fitted and fixed between the spaced studs. A tie member extends from the channel-defining member into a concrete foundation or other underlying building element. A track is also provided for sheathing a lower edge of the shear wall. Protrusions from the metal track aid in anchoring the shear wall to the concrete foundation.

We claim:

1. A shear wall construction, comprising: a wall sheet having first and second lateral ends; a pair of generally vertical spaced studs affixed to a first side of the sheet, a first ofthe studs being affixed to the sheet at the first lateral end of the sheet, a second of the studs being affixed to the sheet at a position nearer to the first lateral end than to the second lateral end of the sheet; and a stabilizing member sandwichedbetween and attached to both of the studs, the stabilizing member configured to selectively engage and disengage an elongated tie member oriented generally parallel to the studs such that, when the stabilizing member is engaged with the tie member,movement of the stabilizing member in at least one direction along the tie member is substantially prevented.

2. The shear wall construction of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing member defines a channel extending within the stabilizing member generally parallel to the studs.

3. The shear wall construction of claim 1, wherein the studs are horizontally spaced by between about 1 and 6 inches.

4. The shear wall construction of claim 1, further comprising an elongated tie member extending generally parallel to the studs from the stabilizing member into a vertically adjacent building structural member, the stabilizing member beingengaged with the tie member such that movement of the stabilizing member in at least one direction along the tie member is substantially prevented.

5. The shear wall construction of claim 4, wherein the engagement of the stabilizing member with the tie member substantially prevents movement of the stabilizing member in a first direction along the tie member but does not prevent movement ofthe stabilizing member in a second direction along the tie member, the second direction being substantially opposite from the first direction.

6. A method of constructing a shear wall, comprising: providing a plywood sheet having first and second lateral ends; attaching a pair of generally vertical studs, horizontally spaced from one another by between about 1 inch and 6 inches, toone side of the sheet proximate one of the lateral ends of the sheet; and affixing a stabilizing member to both of the studs, the stabilizing member including a mounting platform configured to mount an elongated tie member oriented generally parallel tothe studs such that, when the tie member is mounted on the mounting platform, movement of the stabilizing member in at least one direction along the tie member is substantially prevented.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: providing an elongated tie member extending generally parallel to the studs; mounting the tie member onto the mounting platform such that movement of the stabilizing member in at least onedirection along the tie member is substantially prevented; and securing a portion of the tie member with respect to a building structural member that is vertically adjacent to the shear wall.

8. A shear wall construction, comprising a frame having a pair of generally vertical spaced studs affixed at a lateral end of the frame, the studs being horizontally spaced from one another by between about 1 inch and 6 inches, a stabilizingmember sandwiched between the studs and attached to the studs, said stabilizing member configured to selectively engage and disengage an elongated tie member oriented generally parallel to the studs such that, when the stabilizing member is engaged withthe tie member, movement of the stabilizing member in at least one direction along the tie member is substantially prevented.

9. The shear wall construction of claim 8, further comprising an elongated tie member extending generally parallel to the studs from the stabilizing member into a vertically adjacent building structural member, the stabilizing member beingengaged with the tie member such that movement of the stabilizing member in at least one direction along the tie member is substantially prevented.

10. The shear wall construction of claim 8, wherein the stabilizing member defines a channel extending within the stabilizing member.

11. The shear wall construction of claim 10, wherein the channel extends generally parallel to the studs.

12. A method of constructing a shear wall, comprising: providing a pair of generally vertical studs, horizontally spaced from one another by between about 1 inch and 6 inches, to form a lateral end of the shear wall; sandwiching a stabilizingmember between the studs; and affixing the stabilizing member to both of the studs; wherein the stabilizing member includes a body that defines a channel within the stabilizing member, the channel configured to receive an elongated tie member orientedgenerally parallel to the studs.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the channel extends generally parallel to the studs.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the stabilizing member is configured to selectively engage and disengage an elongated tie member extending through the channel such that, when the stabilizing member is engaged with the tie member, movementof the stabilizing member along the tie member in at least one direction is substantially prevented.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising affixing the pair of vertical studs to a planar wall sheet.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein affixing the stabilizing member comprises extending each of a plurality of bolts through both of the pair of studs and through the stabilizing member sandwiched therebetween.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the stabilizing member includes a mounting platform configured to mount an elongated tie member.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: providing an elongated tie member extending through the channel; mounting a first portion of the tie member against the mounting platform; and securing a second portion of the tie member withrespect to a building structural member that is vertically adjacent to the shear wall.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the mounting platform comprises an end plate of the stabilizing member.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the tie member comprises a threaded rod and the first portion of the tie member comprises a nut threaded onto the rod, the nut being mounted against the mounting platform of the stabilizing member.