Cable system for a disaster-resistant structure and method for constructing cable system

Abstract

The present invention is a novel cable system for a disaster-resistant structure (such as a building or wall) and a method for constructing or assembling the cable system to secure the structure, including the roof of the structure, to a body of cast material such as a foundation, grade beam, base, platform, slab or floor by incorporating flexible cables to resist the very high loads that may occur due to high winds, tornadoes, earthquakes, or other severe storms.

Claims

1. A cable system for securing a building structure comprising a body of cast material, at least one wall and at least one roof secured to the body of cast material, which comprises: (a) at least one flexible cable having two ends, wherein the flexible cable is selected from the group consisting of cables, wires, ropes, strings, or threads and further comprising steel, nylon, manila, polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene, Kevlar, Nomex or polyimides, wherein the flexible cable forms a loop or a series of loops in a substantially vertical plane so that the flexible cable travels upward toward the at least one roof, over at least one roof rafter, downward toward the body of cast material, is connected to the body of cast material, then travels upward again toward the at least one roof and continuing in that pattern for the length of the at least one wall, the two ends of the flexible cable are connected to each other or to the structure's framework or to the body of cast material; (b) at least one connector comprised of clamps, sleeves, clips, turnbuckles, hooks, ball and strap fittings, strap forks, ball and shanks, threaded fittings, strap eyes, eyelet fittings, eyebolts, plugs, threaded plugs, ball end plugs, or ties are used to connect the two ends of the flexible cable; and (c) at least one tube, partially embedded in the body of cast material and selected from the group consisting of plastics, metals, cloth or composites, wherein the at least one flexible cable is passed through the at least one tube.

2. The cable system of claim 1, further comprising at least one channel that spans at least one roof rafter and selected from the group consisting of metals, plastics, polyethylene or composite, wherein the at least one flexible cable is looped over the at least one channel.

3. A cable system for securing a building structure comprising a body of cast material, at least one wall and at least one roof secured to the body of cast material, which comprises: (a) at least one tube, partially embedded in the body of cast material and selected from the group consisting of plastics, metals, cloth, polyethylene or composite; (b) at least one channel that spans at least one roof rafter and selected from the group consisting of metals, plastics, polyethylene or composite; (c) at least one flexible cable having two ends, wherein the flexible cable is selected from the group consisting of cables, wires, ropes, strings, or threads and further comprising steel, nylon, manila, polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene, Kevlar, Nomex or polyimides, wherein the flexible cable forms a loop or a series of loops in a substantially vertical plane so that the flexible cable travels upward toward the at least one roof, over the at least one channel, downward toward the body of cast material, within the at least one tube, then upward toward the at least one roof and continuing in that pattern for the length of the at least one wall, the two ends of the flexible cable are connected to each other or to the structure's framework or to the body of cast material; and (d) at least one connector comprised of clamps, sleeves, clips, turnbuckles, hooks, ball and strap fittings, strap forks, ball and shanks, threaded fittings, strap eyes, eyelet fittings, plugs, threaded plugs, ball end plugs, or ties used to connect the two ends of the flexible cable.

4. A method for securing a building structure comprising a body of cast material, at least one wall and at least one roof secured to the body of cast material, which comprises: (a) installing the body of cast material and a framework for the structure; (b) placing at least one tube within the body of cast material so that the at least one tube is at least partially embedded in the body of cast material; (c) passing the at least one flexible cable through the at least one tube; (d) looping at least one flexible cable in a substantially vertical plane so that the flexible cable travels upward toward the at least one roof, over at least one roof rafter, downward toward the body of cast material, is connected to the body of cast material, then travels upward again toward the at least one roof; (e) repeating the looping step until the at least one flexible cable forms a series of loops spanning the entire length of the at least one wall; and (f connecting the two ends of the at least one flexible cable to each other or to the structure's framing or to the body of cast material.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising installing at least one channel that spans at least one roof rafter and said channel is selected from the group consisting of metals, plastics, polyethylene or composite and looping the at least one flexible cable over the at least one channel.

6. A method for securing a building structure comprising a body of cast material, at least one wall and at least one roof secured to the body of cast material, which comprises: (a) placing at least one tube within the body of cast material so that the at least one tube is at least partially embedded in the body of cast material; (b) installing the body of cast material; (c) installing a framework for the structure; (d) installing at least one channel that spans at least one roof rafter and said channel is selected from the group consisting of metals, plastics, polyethylene or composite; (e) passing at least one flexible cable having two ends through the at least one tube; (f) looping the at least one flexible cable in a substantially vertical plane upward toward the at least one roof, over the at least one channel, downward toward the body of cast material; (g) repeating the passing and looping steps until the at least one flexible cable is a series of loops spanning the entire length of the at least one wall; and (h) connecting the two ends of the at least one flexible cable to each other or to the structure's framing or to the body of cast material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The novel features of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred embodiment, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is an oblique, three-dimensional drawing of a house as it might appear in another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away view of FIG. 1, depicting most of the components of the present invention's securing system, and assembly process.

(4) FIG. 3 is magnified view of FIG. 2, showing a flexible cable installed into the flexible cable channel as it passes over the roof rafters.

(5) FIG. 4 is also magnified view of FIG. 2, showing a flexible cable installed into the flexible cable channel that is shown in a cut-away view.

(6) While the construction method and assembly process can accommodate various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of an example of a fortified house in the drawings and are herein described in detail. The invention as set forth in the provided claims is not limited by the embodiments presented, and may be embodied in various other forms and applications and remain within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION/PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(7) The present invention applies to any structure (such as a building or wall) for the purpose of making it disaster-resistant. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a cable system for an entire free-standing structure such as a wood or metal frame house, which secures the structure by vertically looping flexible cable within or on the outside of each wall, from the foundation beneath the wall up to the roof rafters at the top of the wall and back down again to the foundation in a series of loops along the plane of each wall, thus securing, wall by wall, the entire perimeter of the roof structure to the foundation. FIG. 1 illustrates such a fortified house (1). FIG. 2 provides a partially cut-away view of FIG. 1 to show the components of the roof-secured structure (1), including a foundational body of cast material (2), embedded tubes (3), flexible cables (4), bottom plate (5), wood wall stud (6), roof rafter (7), ceiling joist (8), flexible cable channel (9), upper top plate (10), lower top plate (11), and roof deck (12). This preferred embodiment of a whole house or building may be envisioned as follows: Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional foundation (2) is installed with the added feature of embedded tubes (3) within the foundation (2) along the perimeter area where the outside wall forms will be erected. The embedded tubes (3) may be formed to take a path around the steel bars in the foundation, adding “pull-out” strength to achieve better resistance to upward forces. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, conventional framing is installed, including members such as bottom plates (5), wood wall studs (6), top plates (10, 11), roof rafters (7), ceiling joists (8) and roof decking (12). Referring to FIG. 3, the roof decking (12) is installed with a narrow gap in the decking above each wall. Strips of specialized flexible cable channel (9) are installed in the gap, bridging one or more roof rafters (7). For houses or buildings with gables, the end rafters above the gabled walls are prepared with holes drilled along their spans or other accommodations to facilitate the looping of the flexible cables (4) through or over the rafters (7) at the top of the gabled walls. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the end of a flexible cable (4) is connected to either a roof rafter (7) or to the foundation itself (2), then passed through the embedded tube in the foundation and looped up in the plane of the wall to the roof, where it is run through the strip of flexible cable channel (9), passing over the included rafter or rafters and back down to be passed through another embedded tube (3) in the foundation (2), up again, and so forth along the length of each wall. The other end of the flexible cable (4) is then connected to a roof rafter (7), or to the foundation (2), or to another flexible cable (4). For a gabled wall, the flexible cable is run up and down along the wall in the same manner, except that the cable is passed in and out of holes drilled along the rafter at the top of the wall rather than through the strips of specialized cable channel (9). If a ridge beam or ridge board is included in the gabled wall, the ridge beam or board should be included in one of the looped cables (4). For wood frame structures, the flexible cable (4) is passed up and down within the wall frame between the wall studs (6) and through holes drilled in the top plates (10, 11) (see FIG. 4). Brick veneer buildings allow for the cable loops to be positioned on the outside of the walls, in the space between the framed wall and the brick veneer. In this case, the cable may be looped in diagonal paths (for added strength) on the outside of the wall before the brick veneer is installed.

(8) Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the distinctive feature of the present invention as shown in this preferred embodiment is the use of flexible cable (4) to secure the roof structure to the concrete slab foundation (2) rather than the conventional approach of using straps and nails to secure the roof structure to the walls of a house or building. Specifically, the flexible cable (4) provides the advantage of securing the roof decking (12) and the roof rafters (7) to the foundation (2) rather than only relying on the connections of the roof rafters (7) to the top plates (10, 11), as well as the wall studs (6) to the bottom plates (5).