Holddown

• Main Author: JENSEN; MARK B
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.05.1989
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: BUILDING; CEILINGS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FLOORS; GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS; ROOFS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS

A one-piece holddown comprising a back plate, opposing parallel side plates, and overlapping parallel base plates. The side plates are integrally connected to the back plate, and the base plates are integrally connected to respective side plates, creating a one piece holddown. The upper portions of the side plates adjoining the back plate are narrower than the side plates' lower portions, which extend below the lower edge of the back plate. The base plates are each integrally connected along a base edge of a side plate, and extend perpendicularly toward the opposite side plate. Aligned base holes allow the holddown to be attached by its base plates to an anchor bolt in a concrete foundation. Two back holes allow the back plate to be attached to a stud oriented perpendicularly to the foundation. A method for continuously manufacturing holddowns using a four-stage progressive die. A punching operation forms base holes, back holes, and laterally spaced slots along the upper edge of the back portion which will form the holddown's back plate. A cutting operation separates the back portion and laterally opposed side portions from the continuous sheet, forming a Y-shaped blank. A connecting tab between the slots is left uncut so that the blanks can be advanced together. A first bending operation bends end portions of the blank's arms perpendicularly to form the base plates. A second bending operation bends the blank's side portions perpendicularly to the back portion to form the holddown's side plates, thereby overlapping the base plates with each other.