US4615157A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floor joist damper
Assignee: Nucor Corp
•
Filing: 1984-11-21
•
Granted: 1986-10-07
•
Expires: 2004-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A damping building structure, in the form of a floor joist, spanning two separated supports. Oscillations in the joist are damped by a pair of overlapping plates which are clamped together by one or more nuts and bolts. One of the plates is secured to the floor joist being damped, and the other of the plates is secured, directly or indirectly, to ground. The friction between the overlapping plates acts to damp any oscillations in the floor joist. A spring may be interposed between one of the plates and the nut or bolthead, and, if desired, a friction material may be sandwiched between the plates. The damping arrangement may be secured to the floor joist at one end, at both ends, or at mid-point of the span between the two supports.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Murray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:10
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/92; E04B1/98; F; F16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/02; F16B5/0241; F16B2/00; F16B2/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A damping building structure including in combination a flexible girder, means for supporting said girder adjacent its ends, a first plate secured to a portion of said girder, a second plate secured to said supporting means in overlapping relation with said first plate, and spring means for frictionally clamping said plates together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A damping building structure including in combination a flexible girder, means for supporting said girder adjacent its ends, a first plate secured to a portion of said girder, a second plate secured to said supporting means in overlapping relation with said first plate, and spring means for frictionally clamping said plates together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which said girder is a fabricated floor joist.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which said clamping means includes a nut and bolt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which said clamping means includes a nut and threaded bolt and a spring interposed between one of said plates and said nut.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which said clamping means comprises a plurality of nuts and bolts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which a first plate is secured to each end of said girder and a second plate is secured to said supporting means in overlapping relation with each of said first plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which said first plate is secured to said girder adjacent the mid-point of said girder and in which said supporting means includes a structural support adjacent said first plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which said girder is a joist and said girder portion carrying said first plate is a horizontal extension of the bottom chord of said joist.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which said girder is a joist and said girder portion carrying said first plate is a vertical extension of the bottom chord of said joist.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which said girder is a joist and said girder portion carrying said first plate is a diagonal extension of the bottom chord of said joist.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A damping building structure as in claim 1 in which a friction material is interposed between the overlapping portions of said first and second plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A damping building structure including in combination a pair of separated supports, a flexible joist spanning the separation between said supports and carried by said supports, a first plate secured to a portion of said joist, a second plate secured to said damping building structure in overlapping relation with said first plate, and spring means for frictionally clamping said plates together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A damping building structure including in combination a pair of separated supports, a flexible joist spanning the separation between said supports and carried by said supports, a first plate secured to a portion of said joist, a second plate secured to said damping building structure in overlapping relation with said first plate, and spring means for frictionally clamping said plates together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
A damping building structure including in combination a flexible girder, means for supporting said girder, a first plate secured to said girder adjacent the mid-section of said girder, a vertical column positioned adjacent said first plate, means for supporting said column, a second plate positioned in overlapping relation with said first plate and carried by the upper portion of said column, and spring means for frictionally clamping said plates together.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A damping building structure including in combination a flexible girder, means for supporting said girder, a first plate secured to said girder adjacent the mid-section of said girder, a vertical column positioned adjacent said first plate, means for supporting said column, a second plate positioned in overlapping relation with said first plate and carried by the upper portion of said column, and spring means for frictionally clamping said plates together.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US974225A
Cited
US1369340A
Cited
US1599692A
Cited
US1863817A
Cited
US2055000A
Cited
US3145012A
Cited
US3200950A
Cited
US3513610A
Cited
US3511001A
Cited
US3691712A
Cited
US3793790A
Cited
US3906689A
Cited
US3856242A
Cited
US4041659A
Cited
US4040590A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-10-06 | 1990-04-07 | 1990-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-06 | 1994-04-07 | 1994-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-06 | 1998-04-07 | 1998-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |