Reinforcing bracket

Abstract

Reinforcing bracket system, for use with gypsum sheathing and other construction materials. The brackets are made from a resilient material, such as metal or metal alloy, and consist of a generally flat, planar main body, possibly with a central portion, which may be solid or hollow, and/or a raised lip, and fastener bores for attaching the bracket to sheeting, and legs for anchoring the bracket in a panel. Mending plates may also be used in a system, along with special-purpose tools for applying adhesive and affixing the brackets and plates.

1 . A reinforcing bracket comprising:
 a load plate in the configuration of a polygonal prism, said load plate comprising a top side and an opposing bottom side;   a plurality of fastener bores extending through said load plate from said top side to said opposing bottom side; and   a plurality of legs extending downward from an outside surface of said load plate.   
     
     
         2 . The reinforcing bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said load plate is generally in the configuration of a triangular prism having truncated tips. 
     
     
         3 . The reinforcing bracket of  claim 2 , wherein said load plate is generally in the configuration of a right triangular prism having truncated tips. 
     
     
         4 . The reinforcing bracket of  claim 3 , wherein said load plate further comprises a central portion generally in the configuration of a right triangular prism. 
     
     
         5 . The reinforcing bracket of  claim 4 , wherein said central portion comprises a hollow opening. 
     
     
         6 . The reinforcing bracket of  claim 4 , wherein said load plate further comprises a raised lip adjacent to and surrounding said central portion. 
     
     
         7 . The reinforcing bracket of  claim 6 , wherein said each leg in said plurality of legs is generally in the configuration of a triangular prism attached to said load plate at a base of said triangular prism and having an opposing tip projecting away from said load plate. 
     
     
         8 . The reinforcing bracket of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of fastener bores comprises at least three fastener bores, a first fastener bore of said at least three fastener bores being disposed at a first corner of said load plate, a second fastener bore of said at least three fastener bores being disposed at a second corner of said load plate, and a third fastener bore of said at least three fastener bores being disposed at a third corner of said load plate. 
     
     
         9 . A system for installing drywall panels comprising a plurality of the reinforcing bracket of  claim 8  and a plurality of mending plates, each of said mending plates comprising:
 a mending plate load plate in the configuration of a rectangular prism, said mending load plate comprising a top side and an opposing bottom side; 
 a plurality of mending plate fastener bores extending through said mending plate load plate from said top side to said opposing bottom side; and 
 a plurality of mending plate legs extending downward from an outside surface of said mending plate load plate. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method for installing drywall panels on a stud frame using the system of  claim 9 , comprising:
 providing a stud frame comprising a plurality of studs connected to form a grid;   providing a first drywall panel;   applying an adhesive to a front side of said stud frame;   positioning said first drywall panel on said stud frame such that said an outer periphery of said first drywall panel adheres to said stud frame via said adhesive;   disposing a first reinforcing brackets of said plurality of reinforcing brackets in a first corner of said first drywall panel such that said legs and said fastener bores of said first reinforcing bracket are vertically aligned with said stud frame;   hammering said first reinforcing bracket into said first drywall panel such that said legs are driven into said stud frame;   fastening said first reinforcing bracket to said first drywall panel and said stud frame by driving a fastener through each of said fastener bores and through said first drywall panel into said stud frame; and   repeating said disposing, hammering, and fastening steps for each corner of said drywall panel.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing a second drywall panel;   applying an adhesive to a front side of said stud frame;   positioning said second drywall panel on said stud frame adjacent said first drywall panel such that said an outer periphery of said second drywall panel adheres to said stud frame via said adhesive;   disposing a second reinforcing bracket of said plurality of reinforcing brackets in a first corner of said second drywall panel such that said legs and said fastener bores of said first reinforcing bracket are vertically aligned with said stud frame;   hammering said first reinforcing bracket into said second drywall panel such that said legs are driven into said stud frame;   fastening said first reinforcing bracket to said second drywall panel and said stud frame by driving a fastener through each of said fastener bores and through said second drywall panel into said stud frame; and   repeating said disposing, hammering, and fastening steps for each corner of said second drywall panel.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a second drywall panel;   applying an adhesive to a front side of said stud frame;   positioning a first mending plate on said stud frame at a seam between said first drywall panel and said second drywall panel such that at least some of said legs of said first mending plate are vertically positioned over said first drywall panel and stud and at least some of said legs of said mending plate are vertically positioned over said second drywall panel and said stud frame;   hammering said first mending plate into said second drywall panel such that said legs are driven into said first drywall panel, said second drywall panel, and said stud frame; and   fastening said first mending plate into said stud frame by driving a fastener through each of said mending plate fastener bores into said stud frame.