Wood frame building structures, wood-framed buildings, and methods relating thereto

Abstract

Wood-framed buildings, wood-framed buildings, and methods related thereto. Such a wood frame building structure includes first and second frame structures that are oriented horizontally and first and second supports between the first and second frame structures. The first frame structure is vertically spaced apart from the second frame structure and the first and second frame structures define upper and lower members, respectively, of the wood frame building structure. Each of the first and second supports have oppositely-disposed ends that are secured to the first and second frame structures, respectively. A cavity is defined by and between the first and second structures and the first and second supports, and surfaces of the first and second structures and first and second supports face and exposed within the cavity. The surfaces are entirely covered with a fire-resistant material to increase fire resistance of all of the surfaces exposed within the cavity.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to wood frame building structures utilized in wood-framed buildings and to methods for their construction. The invention particularly relates to promoting the fire resistance of interior portions of wood frame building structures.

[0002] In many parts of the world, commercial and residential buildings are typically wood-framed buildings, which as used herein refers to buildings constructed with lumber (wood) as the primary framing material for the walls and other building structures within the building. Such wood frame building structures typically have hollow cavities between wood framing members that are susceptible to hot gases and flames entering and burning the framing members exposed within the cavities. This creates an unsafe environment that increases the risk of a building being quickly consumed and destroyed by a fire.

[0003] In view of the above, it would be desirable if wood-framed buildings and methods for constructing and installing wood frame building structures thereof were available that were capable of promoting the fire resistance of such buildings and building structures.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The intent of this section of the specification is to briefly indicate the nature and substance of the invention, as opposed to an exhaustive statement of all subject matter and aspects of the invention. Therefore, while this section identifies subject matter recited in the claims, additional subject matter and aspects relating to the invention are set forth in other sections of the specification, particularly the detailed description, as well as any drawings.

[0005] The present invention provides, but is not limited to, wood-framed buildings and methods for constructing and installing building structures thereof.

[0006] According to a nonlimiting aspect of the invention, a wood frame building structure includes first and second frame structures that are oriented horizontally and first and second supports between the first and second frame structures. The first frame structure is vertically spaced apart from the second frame structure and the first and second frame structures define upper and lower members, respectively, of the wood frame building structure. Each of the first and second supports have oppositely-disposed ends that are secured to the first and second frame structures, respectively. A cavity is defined by and between the first and second frame members and the first and second supports. Each of the first and second frame members and each of the first and second supports have surfaces facing the cavity and exposed within the cavity, and the surfaces of the first and second frame members and of the first and second supports are entirely covered with a fire-resistant material to increase first resistance of all of the surfaces exposed within the cavity.

[0007] According to another nonlimiting aspect of the invention, a wood-framed building comprises a wood frame building structure as described above.

[0008] According to another nonlimiting aspect of the invention, a method of installing a wood frame building structure includes connecting a first end of a first support to a first frame structure, connecting a second end of the first support to a second frame structure, connecting a first end of a second support to the first frame structure, and connecting a second end of the second support to the second frame structure to define a cavity between the first and second frame members and the first and second supports. Each of the first and second frame members and each of the first and second supports have surfaces facing the cavity and exposed within the cavity. The surfaces of the first and second frame members and of the first and second supports are then entirely covered with a fire-resistant material to increase first resistance of all of the surfaces exposed within the cavity.

[0009] Technical aspects of structures and methods having features as described above preferably include the ability to increase the fire resistance of wood-framed buildings and internal portions thereof. More particularly, the structures and methods are capable of increasing the first resistance within hollow cavities between wood framing members that are susceptible to hot gases and flames entering and burning the framing members exposed within the cavities.

[0010] These and other aspects, arrangements, features, and / or technical effects will become apparent upon detailed inspection of the figures and the following detailed description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 schematically represents a front perspective view of a wood frame building structure of the prior art.

[0012] FIG. 2 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of the building structure of FIG. 1 taken along section line A-A.

[0013] FIG. 3 schematically represents the building structure of FIG. 2 after the installation of sheathing on first and second frame sides of the building structure.

[0014] FIG. 4 schematically represents a front perspective view of a wood frame building structure according to a nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of the building structure of FIG. 4 taken along section line A-A and after the installation of sheathing on first and second frame sides of the building structure.

[0016] FIG. 6 schematically represents a perspective lower side view of a wood frame building structure according to a second nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The intended purpose of the following detailed description of the invention and the phraseology and terminology employed therein is to describe what is shown in the drawings, which include the depiction of and / or relate to one or more nonlimiting embodiments of the invention, and to describe certain but not all aspects of what is depicted in the drawings, including the embodiment(s) depicted in the drawings. The following detailed description also describes certain investigations relating to the embodiment(s) depicted in the drawings, and identifies certain but not all alternatives of the embodiment(s) depicted in the drawings. As nonlimiting examples, the invention encompasses additional or alternative embodiments in which one or more features or aspects shown and / or described as part of a particular embodiment could be eliminated. Therefore, the appended claims, and not the detailed description, are intended to particularly point out subject matter regarded to be aspects of the invention, including certain but not necessarily all of the aspects and alternatives described in the detailed description.

[0018] The following disclosure describes various aspects of nonlimiting embodiments of wood frame building structures and method for their installation in a building. To facilitate the description provided below of the embodiment(s) represented in the drawings, relative terms, including but not limited to, “proximal,”“distal,”“anterior,”“posterior,”“vertical,”“horizontal,”“lateral,”“front,”“rear,”“side,”“forward,”“rearward,”“top,”“bottom,”“upper,”“lower,”“above,”“below,”“right,”“left,” etc., may be used in reference to the orientation of the wood frame building structures as represented in the drawings. All such relative terms are useful to describe the illustrated embodiment(s) but should not be otherwise interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0019] FIGS. 1 through 3 schematically represent a wood frame building structure 50 of a type used in a building and representative of the prior art. The wood frame building structure 50 (sometimes hereinafter simply referred to as a building structure 50) is represented as including first and second frame structures 52 and 54 that are oriented horizontally, are vertically spaced apart from each other, and form the upper and lower members, respectively, of the building structure 50, and as further including supports 70 between the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 with oppositely-disposed ends 71 and 72 of each support 70 secured to the first and second frame structures 52 and 54, respectively. In the construction of a wall of a wood-framed building, the first frame structure 52 is commonly known as a top plate or header, the second frame structure 54 is commonly known as a bottom or wall plate, and the supports 70 are commonly known as wall studs. The first and second frame structures 52 and 54 are represented as parallel to each other and the supports 70 are represented as parallel and horizontally spaced equal distances apart from each other, though such an arrangement is not required. The building structure 50 may utilize any number of supports 70 depending on the intended use and size of the wood frame building structure 50. The building structure 50 and the connections between the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and the supports 70 form cavities 80, each disposed between the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and between an adjacent pair of the supports 70.

[0020] Common materials for the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and supports 70 include wood boards with cross-sectional dimensions that have been standardized in the building industry. Each of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and supports 70 is represented as having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, with each of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 represented as having four sides 56 and 60, respectively, and two oppositely-disposed ends 58 and 62, respectively, and each of the supports 70 represented as having four sides 84 and two oppositely-disposed ends 58 and 62, respectively. Though represented as unitary members, any of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and supports 70 may be constructed of multiple members.

[0021] As depicted in FIG. 3, the building structure 50 may also include sheathing 94, such as drywall, on oppositely-disposed first and second frame sides 64 and 66 of the structure 50. The sheathing 94 serves to enclose the cavities 80 and form exterior wall surfaces of the building structure 50.

[0022] Turning now to a nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 4 through 6, a wood frame building structure 100 (sometimes hereinafter simply referred to as the building structure 100) is schematically represented to have a general construction similar to the building structure 50 of FIGS. 1 through 3. In view of similarities between the building structure 100 of FIGS. 4 through 6 and the building structure 50 of FIGS. 1 through 3, the following discussion will focus primarily on certain aspects of the building structure 100 that differ from the building structure 50 of FIGS. 1 through 3, whereas other aspects not discussed in any detail may be, in terms of structure, function, materials, etc., essentially as was described for the building structure 50. For convenience, FIGS. 4 through 6 use consistent reference numbers to identify certain elements / components that are the same or functionally related / equivalent to elements / components identified in FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0023] The building structure 100 of FIGS. 4 through 6 differs at least in part from the building structure 50 of FIGS. 1 through 3 in that a fire-resistant material 92 is present on surfaces 56b and 60b of its first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and on surfaces 84a and 84b of its supports 70. FIG. 4 depicts a front perspective of the building structure 100 and shows the first frame structure 52 connected to an upper portion 55 of a building, such as a floor joist, ceiling joist, top plate, or any other portion of a building supported by the building structure 100, and shows the second frame structure 54 connected to a lower portion 57 of a building that supports the building structure 100, such as a floor joist, subfloor, top plate, or any lower portion of a building configured to support the building structure 100.

[0024] As with the building structure 50 of FIGS. 1 through 3, connections between the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and supports 70 of the building structure 100 of FIGS. 4 through 6 form cavities 80, each disposed between the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and between an adjacent pair of the supports 70. Surfaces 56b and 60b of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 face each cavity 80, and oppositely-disposed surfaces 84a and 84b of each support 70 face each cavity 80. Each of the cavities 80 are encased with the fire-resistant material 92, which completely covers the surfaces 56b and 60b of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and the surfaces 84a and 84b of the supports 70 that face and are exposed within the cavities 80. As a result, the fire resistance of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and the supports 70 of the building structure 100 can be significantly increased.

[0025] A particularly suitable material for the fire-resistant material 92 is gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate; CaSO4·2H2O) or a gypsum-containing material. The fire-resistant material 92 may be provided in the form of drywall, which is commercially available in the form of a panel made of gypsum, optionally with additives, that is typically extruded between sheets of paper. Additives include fibers (such as glass fibers) and additives that can reduce flammability and optionally mildew and water absorption. If provided in the form of a prefabricated panel, the fire-resistant material 92 may be cut and attached, such as with staples, nails, adhesive, etc., to the surfaces 56b and 60b of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and the surfaces 84a and 84b of the supports 70 that are exposed within the cavities 80. Alternatively, the fire-resistant material 92 may be directly applied to the exposed 56b, 60b, 84a and 84b of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and supports 70. As a result, the fire resistance of all of the surfaces 56b, 60b, 84a, and 84b of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and the supports 70 exposed within each cavity 80 can be increased.

[0026] FIG. 5 depicts a sectional view along line B-B of FIG. 4 with the inclusion of sheathing 94, such as drywall, on oppositely-disposed first and second frame sides 64 and 66 of the structure 100, for example, as a result of being attached to the surfaces 56a and 60a of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and to surfaces 84c of the supports 70, thereby completely enclosing the cavities 80. When used in combination with sheathing 94 (FIG. 5) formed of gypsum-containing drywall, all surfaces of the supports 70 may be completely encased in the fire-resistant material 92 to further increase the fire resistance of the building structure 100.

[0027] The wood frame building structure 100 may be utilized in any area of a framed building. For example, the building structure 100 may be an exterior wall or interior wall of a framed building, in which case the first and second frame members 52 and 54 may be top and bottom plates, respectively, and the supports 70 may be wall studs. Similarly, the building structure 100 may be a floor structure, ceiling structure, or roof structure of a framed building, in which case the supports may be floor joists, ceiling joists, or rafters. In each instance that the building structure 100 is implemented, the first frame structure 52, second frame structure 54, and supports 70 as depicted in FIG. 5 will be encased with the fire-resistant material 92 to render the wood components of the building structure 100 more fire resistant.

[0028] FIG. 6 depicts an alternative embodiment of the wood frame building structure 100 of FIG. 4 in the form of a partial-wall, such as over a doorway or window. In this embodiment, the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 are represented as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. One end 71 of each support 70 is connected to the first frame structure 52 and a second end 72 of each support 70 is connected to the second frame structure 54. The fire-resistant material 92 is then installed to cover all surfaces within the cavity 80 as described above. The building structure 100 may then be finished with the inclusion of sheathing 94 as described above in reference to FIG. 5.

[0029] The wood frame building structure 100 may be installed and utilized within any or all portions of a wood-framed building to increase the fire resistance of the building. The installation of the building structure 100 includes connecting the ends 71 and 72 of each support 70 to a respective one of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54, thereby forming the first and second frame sides 64 and one or more cavities 80. Each cavity 80 is formed / surrounded by the surfaces 56b and 60b of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and the surfaces 84a and 84b of the supports 70, and the surfaces 56b, 60b, 84a, and 84b of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and the supports 70 exposed within each cavity 80 are covered with the fire-resistant material 92. Then, the first and / or second frame sides 64 and 66 can be covered with the sheathing 94 to increase the fire resistance of the surfaces 56b, 60b, 84a, and 84b of the first and second frame structures 52 and 54 and the supports 70 exposed within each cavity 80. This process may be replicated with additional supports 70 until the wood frame building structure 100 is built to its desired parameters.

[0030] As previously noted above, though the foregoing detailed description describes certain aspects of one or more particular embodiments of the invention, alternatives could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the pet access tunnel and its components could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiments described herein and shown in the drawings, functions of certain components of the pet access tunnel could be performed by components of different construction but capable of a similar (though not necessarily equivalent) function, and various materials could be used in the fabrication of the pet access tunnel and / or its components. As such, and again as was previously noted, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to any particular embodiment described herein or illustrated in the drawings.

Claims

1. A wood frame building structure comprising:first and second frame structures that are oriented horizontally, the first frame structure being vertically spaced apart from the second frame structure and the first and second frame structures defining upper and lower members, respectively, of the wood frame building structure;first and second supports between the first and second frame structures, each of the first and second supports having oppositely-disposed ends that are secured to the first and second frame structures, respectively;a cavity defined by and between the first and second frame structures and the first and second supports;wherein each of the first and second frame structures and each of the first and second supports have surfaces facing toward the cavity, and all of the surfaces facing the cavity of the first and second frame structures and of the first and second supports are entirely covered with panels of a fire-resistant material so that:only the panels are exposed within and to the cavity;all of the surfaces of the first and second frame structures that face the cavity are not exposed within or to the cavity; andall of the surfaces of the first and second supports that face the cavity are not exposed within or to the cavity;to increase fire resistance of the wood frame building structure; andwherein the fire-resistant material is gypsum or contains gypsum.

2. (canceled)3. The wood frame building structure of claim 1, wherein the panels of the fire-resistant material consist of portions of drywall panels that are fastened to the surfaces facing the cavity of the first and second frame structures and the first and second supports.

4. The wood frame building structure of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second frame structures and the first and second supports are formed of wood.

5. The wood frame building structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second frame structures are top and bottom plates, respectively, of a wall.

6. The wood frame building structure of claim 5, wherein the first and second supports are wall studs.

7. The wood frame building structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second supports are floor joists.

8. The wood frame building structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second supports are ceiling joists.

9. The wood frame building structure of claim 1, wherein wood frame building structure is installed in a wood-framed building.

10. A wood-framed building having a wood frame building structure that comprises:first and second frame structures that are oriented horizontally, the first frame structure being vertically spaced apart from the second frame structure and the first and second frame structures defining upper and lower members, respectively, of the wood frame building structure;first and second supports between the first and second frame structures, each of the first and second supports having oppositely-disposed ends that are secured to the first and second frame structures, respectively;a cavity defined by and between the first and second frame structures and the first and second supports;wherein each of the first and second frame structures and each of the first and second supports have surfaces facing the cavity, and all of the surfaces facing the cavity of the first and second frame structures and of the first and second supports are entirely covered with panels of a fire-resistant material so that only the panels are exposed within and to the cavity and the surfaces facing the cavity of the first and second frame structures and of the first and second supports are not exposed within or to the cavity to increase fire resistance of the wood frame building structure;wherein the fire-resistant material is gypsum or contains gypsum.

11. (canceled)12. The wood-framed building of claim 10, wherein the panels of the fire-resistant material consist of portions of drywall panels that are fastened to the surfaces facing the cavity of the first and second frame structures and the first and second supports.

13. The wood-framed building of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second frame structures and the first and second supports are formed of wood.

14. The wood-framed building of claim 10, wherein the first and second frame structures are top and bottom plates, respectively, of a wall.

15. The wood-framed building of claim 14, wherein the first and second supports are wall studs.

16. The wood-framed building of claim 10, wherein the first and second supports are floor joists.

17. The wood-framed building of claim 10, wherein the first and second supports are ceiling joists.

18. A method of installing a wood frame building structure, the method comprising:connecting a first end of a first support to a first frame structure and connecting a second end of the first support to a second frame structure;connecting a first end of a second support to the first frame structure and connecting a second end of the second support to the second frame structure to define a cavity between the first and second frame structures and the first and second supports, wherein each of the first and second frame structures and each of the first and second supports have surfaces facing the cavity; andentirely covering all of the surfaces facing the cavity of the first and second frame structures and of the first and second supports with panels of a fire-resistant material so that only the panels are exposed within and to the cavity and the surfaces facing the cavity of the first and second frame structures and of the first and second supports are not exposed within or to the cavity to increase fire resistance of the wood frame building structure;wherein the fire-resistant material is gypsum or contains gypsum.

19. (canceled)20. The method of claim 18, wherein the panels of the fire-resistant material consist of portions of drywall panels and the method comprises fastening the portions of the drywall panels to the surfaces facing the cavity of the first and second frame structures and the first and second supports.

Images