Brace for mating seam of multi-section manufactured home

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a support for the marriage or mating seam of a multi-section manufactured home, mobile home, or trailer coach, and more specifically to an adjustable brace for application in situ for supporting the mating seam.

2. Description of the Related Art

The maximum width of a manufactured home is typically restricted to the maximum width allowable for common transport on public highways. Consequently, two or more manufactured home sections often are transported separately and then joined to form a wider, larger manufactured home. A larger manufactured home may be called a “multi-section”, or a “double-wide” or a “triple-wide”, as appropriate.

The floor juncture of the two sections is called a mating seam or a marriage seam. Conventionally, the floors adjacent the mating seam are only directly supported by the cantilevered ends of traverse floor joists, such that the seam is wavy and/or floors on either side of the seam do not align to form a flat surface. Of course, such results are undesirable.

A section for a multi-section manufactured home typically includes one or more longitudinal main I-beams which support a plurality of transverse floor joists which directly support the floor and the wall structure including wall studs. A plurality of spaced support piers support the main beams.

Conventionally, the mating seam has been supported, if at all, by vertical perimeter jacks disposed between the ground and the outer end of the joists. Conventional perimeter jacks have several disadvantages. For example, it is common for the support piers to settle and to settle by differing amounts such that the load on a particular perimeter pier will increase to unacceptable levels, even to failure level. Also, support piers need frequent adjustment to even the loading on the main beams. Each such adjustment requires that the perimeter jacks be adjusted also.

Therefore, there has been a need for means for supporting the mating seam of a manufactured home that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

Preferably, the support means is easily applied in situ in the field.

This invention is a brace for a multi-section manufactured home; the home comprising left and right sections; each section having a beam having an upper end including a lateral flange supporting a floor structure, and a medial side; the floor structures meeting at a mating seam distal from each beam. The brace generally comprises left and right brackets joined by a steel strap, a tensioning bolt for the strap, a vertical post, and a horizontal compression member.

Left and right brackets include an outer hook for beam attachment by hooking over the lateral flange of left and right beams respectively. The strap is attached to a take-up bolt on one bracket for adjusting strap tension. The post is supported by the midsection of the strap and supports the left floor structure and the right floor structure across the mating seam.

A horizontal compression member spans between the medial side of the left section beam and the medial side of the right section beam substantially between the brackets. Preferably, the post supports the midsection of the horizontal compression member. Preferably, the right bracket is attached to the right section beam in front of the horizontal compression member, and the left bracket is attached to the left section beam in back of the horizontal compression member. A bearing on the post reduces friction during tensioning of the strap/

Other features and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description together with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view, partially cut away, of a multi-section manufactured home and a preferred embodiment of the adjustable brace of the invention.

FIG. 2 is front elevation view of FIG. 1 .

With reference now to the drawing where “L” and “R” designate “left” and “right” members respectively, FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view, partially cut away, of a multi-section manufactured home 70 including a plurality of floor support sections 72 , including a left section 72 L and a right section 72 R, meeting at a mating seam 89 and a preferred embodiment of the adjustable brace 10 of the invention for supporting mating seam 89 . FIG. 2 is front elevation view of FIG. 1 .

Each floor support section 72 ( 72 L, 72 R) includes a longitudinal beam 73 ( 73 L, 73 R) having an upper end 74 ( 74 L, 74 R) including a lateral flange 75 ( 75 L, 75 R) supporting floor structure 80 ( 80 L, 80 R), a medial side 77 ( 77 L, 77 R), and a lower end 78 ( 78 L, 78 R). Lower end 78 L, 78 R of each beam 73 L, 73 R is supported, such as by spaced jacks 95 , a foundation or the like, above the ground 99 .

Floor structures 80 L, 80 R meet at mating seam 89 distal from beams 73 L, 73 R. Each floor structure 80 L, 80 R includes lateral joists 82 supported by beams 73 . Lateral joists 82 have a medial end 83 at or near mating seam 89 . Typically, outer joists 84 , connect and cover the ends 83 of lateral joists 82 such that the medial sides 85 of left and right outer joists 84 L, 84 R join at mating seam 89 .

Brace 10 generally comprises a pair of brackets 20 joined by strong flexible tension member 40 , a tensioning means 30 , a 30 vertical compression member 50 , and a horizontal compression member 60 .

Left and right brackets 20 L, 20 R are attached to left and right beams 73 L, 73 R respectively. Left and right brackets 20 L, 20 R each include an outer end 21 adapted, such as including a hook portion 35 22 , for attachment to its respective beam 73 , such as by simply hooking over lateral flange 75 in the space between lateral joists 82 . Alternately, brackets 20 could be attached by welding or fasteners. Left and right brackets 20 L, 20 R each include an inner end 25 adapted, such as including retaining bolt 26 , for attachment to tension member 40 .

Strong flexible tension member 40 includes a left end 42 attached to left bracket 20 L, such as by bolt 26 L, a right end 48 attached to right bracket 20 R, such as by bolt 26 R, and a midsection 45 therebetween. Tension member 40 may be of any suitable material and dimension, such as steel cable or strap 41 , shown.

In the embodiment shown, tensioning means 30 , for adjusting the tension in tension member 40 , includes a take-up attachment bolt 32 , such as take-up bolt 32 R on inner end 25 of right bracket 20 R. Take-up bolt 32 R may be of any standard type well-known in the art and includes means, such as a slot, for attachment of tensioning means, such as strap 41 , and includes means such as a square collar for selective interaction with bracket 20 R to prevent rotation. Steel strap 41 is attached to bolt 32 R and the bolt is rotated to coil strap 41 therearound, thus tensioning strap 41 . Other tensioning means are contemplated.

An embodiment of the invention includes a bracket 20 of ¼″ steel, 2″ wide and 9″ long with a 1.25″ hook 22 and a tension member 40 of 0.044″ thick steel strap having a breaking strength of 6750 pounds.

Vertical compression member 50 , such as post 51 , includes a lower end 52 supported by midsection 45 of tension member 40 and an upper end 55 supporting left floor structure 80 L and right floor structure 80 R across mating seam 89 . Post 51 may be a 4″×4″ post or two 2″×2″ posts nailed together. Post upper end 55 may be attached, such as by toe nailing or with angle brackets 58 to floor structure 80 .

Bearing means 56 , such as steel plate 57 on lower end 52 of said 51 , reduces friction between post 51 and strap 41 during tensioning of strap 41 to provide uniform tensioning in strap 41 even if single tensioning means to one side of post 51 is employed. A single tension member and a single tensioning means as taught in this invention is preferable over multiple tension members and/or tensioning means because multiple members require coordinated or simultaneous adjustment to achieve the desired tension or otherwise may lead to unequal stresses in the structure.

Brace 10 as above described may be attached to beams 73 L, 73 R anywhere along their length, but bigger upward forces on post 51 can be attained if brace 10 is attached directly under co-linear lateral joists 82 . In which case, left bracket 20 L is attached to left beam 73 L in back of joist 82 L,and right bracket 20 R is attached to right beam 73 R in front of joist 82 R.

Horizontal compression member 60 , such as an elongate 2″×4″ board, allows larger upward forces on post 51 to be attained. Horizontal compression member 60 includes a front 62 , a back 64 , a left end 66 , a right end 67 , and a midsection 68 . Horizontal compression member 60 is placed to bear against medial side 77 of beam 73 L and medial side 77 of right beam 73 R, preferably under co-linear lateral joists, substantially between brackets 20 . Horizontal compression member may be attached, such as by nailing, to floor structure 80 .

Preferably, as shown in the preferred embodiment, upper end 55 of post 51 supports midsection 68 of horizontal compression member 60 , and left bracket 20 L is attached to left beam 73 L in back of compression member 60 and right bracket 20 R is attached to right beam 73 R in front of compression member 60 such that strap 41 crosses under horizontal compression member 60 at post 51 . Angle brackets 58 strengthen the attachment between post 51 and horizontal compression member 60 or floor structure 80 .

Having described the invention, it can be seen that brace 10 provides a very desirable device for supporting the mating seam 89 of a multi-section manufactured home. Importantly, brace 10 of the invention is easily applied in situ and requires only a wrench and a hammer or screw driver. Post 51 and horizontal compression member 60 may generally be fabricated from the shipping materials. No drilling, cutting or other fabrication is required. One person can quickly and easily attach brace 10 .

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts without sacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.