Preassembled holdown post

Abstract

A preassembled holdown post includes a holdown mounted within a milled recess near a base of the post. The holdown may be secured with screw fasteners inserted at an upward angle to relieve shear stresses within the fasteners. Additionally, the holdown may be assembled into the post prior to arrival at a building site. This provides a number of advantages to the building process, including quicker installation times and less opportunity for faulty construction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A holdown post for a building constructed at a building site, comprising:
 a post comprising a recess, and   a holdown embedded within the recess prior to arrival at the building site; and   fasteners for securing the holdown within the recess of the post.   
     
     
         2 . The holdown post of  claim 1 , wherein the holdown is configured to receive an anchor bolt, the recess having a depth within the post so that the anchor bolt is embedded within the post when received within the holdown. 
     
     
         3 . The holdown post of  claim 1 , wherein the holdown is configured to receive an anchor bolt extending from a foundation of the building to anchor the holdown post to the foundation. 
     
     
         4 . The holdown post of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are screws inserted through the holdown and into the post at an angle to reduce shear load on the fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The holdown post of  claim 4 , wherein the angle is between 30° and 60°. 
     
     
         6 . The holdown post of  claim 1 , further comprising a channel connecting a bottom of the recess with a bottom of the post, the channel configured to receive an anchor bolt. 
     
     
         7 . The holdown post of  claim 1 , wherein the recess is shaped to match a shape of the holdown. 
     
     
         8 . The holdown post of  claim 1 , wherein the holdown has a rounded, pre-deflected base. 
     
     
         9 . The holdown post of  claim 8 , wherein the recess has a rounded bottom portion having a radius matching a radius of the rounded, pre-deflected base. 
     
     
         10 . The holdown post of  claim 1 , wherein the holdown is positioned between 4 inches and 12 inches from a bottom of the post. 
     
     
         11 . The holdown post of  claim 1 , wherein the holdown post forms part of a frame in the building. 
     
     
         12 . The holdown post of  claim 1 , wherein the holdown post forms part of a shearwall. 
     
     
         13 . A holdown post for a building constructed at a building site, comprising:
 a post comprising a recess and a channel, the channel extending from a base of the recess to an end of the post, the channel configured to receive an anchor bolt;   a holdown embedded within the recess prior to arrival at the building site, the holdown comprising a bearing plate configured to receive the anchor bolt through a hole in the bearing plate enabling the holdown to be secured to the anchor bolt; and   screw fasteners inserted through the holdown and into the post at an angle to secure the holdown within the recess of the post, the angle configured to reduce shear stress on the screw fasteners.   
     
     
         14 . The holdown post of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor bolt extends from the foundation, securing the holdown to the anchor bolt securing the holdown post to the foundation. 
     
     
         15 . The holdown post of  claim 13 , wherein the holdown comprises a first holdown, the recess comprising a first recess and the anchor bolt comprising a first anchor bolt, the holdown post further comprising:
 a second recess in the post near a top of the post; and   a second holdown embedded within the second recess prior to arrival at the building site, the second holdown configured to receive a second anchor bolt to secure the holdown post to a floor joist above the foundation.   
     
     
         16 . The holdown post of  claim 13 , wherein the recess has a depth within the post so that the anchor bolt is centered within the post front to back when received within the holdown. 
     
     
         17 . The holdown post of  claim 13 , wherein the angle of the screw fasteners is between 30° and 60°. 
     
     
         18 . The holdown post of  claim 13 , wherein the holdown has a rounded, pre-deflected base. 
     
     
         19 . The holdown post of  claim 18 , wherein the recess has a rounded bottom portion having a radius matching a radius of the rounded, pre-deflected base. 
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling a holdown post onto a foundation of a building, comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming a recess in a post;   (b) affixing a holdown within the recess to form the holdown post;   (c) transferring assembled holdown post to a building site;   (d) mounting the holdown post over an anchor bolt with an end of the anchor bolt received through a hole in a bearing plate of the holdown; and   (e) securing a nut over the anchor bolt to secure the holdown to the anchor bolt and to secure the post to the foundation.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step (b) of affixing the holdown within the recess comprises the step of screwing the holdown into the recess with screws inserted at an angle. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of forming a channel in the post, the channel configured to receive the anchor rod upon said step (d) of mounting the holdown post over an anchor bolt. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step (a) of forming a recess in a post comprises the step of forming the recess to a depth so that that the anchor bolt is centered within the post front to back when received within the holdown in the step (d). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step (a) of forming a recess in a post comprises the step of forming the recess to a size and shape matching a size and shape of the holdown. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of forming a recess in a post comprises the step of forming the recess with a rounded base to match a rounded, pre-deformed base of the holdown.