U.S. patent application number 11/035704 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-21 for strengthened roof-wall bracket.
Invention is credited to Davis, Frank, Rouser, Ed.
Application Number | 20050155315 11/035704 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34752527 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050155315 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis, Frank ; et
al. |
July 21, 2005 |
Strengthened roof-wall bracket
Abstract
A strengthened, inexpensive roof-to-wall bracket that includes
two perpendicularly aligned wall flange members, integrally formed
on a wall transverse member, and two perpendicularly aligned rafter
flange members integrally formed on the wall transverse member.
Disposed under the corners between the two wall flange members and
the wall transverse member is and L-shaped secondary angle member.
In the preferred embodiment, the L-shaped angle member formed by
cutting a square or rectangular cutout in the adjoining wall flange
member and then bending the waste material upward to form the angle
member. The angle member is disposed along the corners and along
the adjoining inside surfaces of the wall flange member and the
wall transverse member. Optional welds may be used to physically
connect the angle member to the inside surfaces of the wall flange
and wall transverse member. Optional gussets may be formed on the
corners between the wall flange surface and the wall transverse
member for added strength.
Inventors: |
Davis, Frank; (Rathdrum,
ID) ; Rouser, Ed; (Post Falls, ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DEAN A. CRAINE, P.S.
STE 140
400-112TH AVENUE NE
BELLEVUE
WA
98004
US
|
Family ID: |
34752527 |
Appl. No.: |
11/035704 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60536687 |
Jan 15, 2004 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/712 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 7/045 20130101;
E04B 1/2604 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/720.1 |
International
Class: |
E04H 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A roof-to-wall bracket comprising: a. a wall transverse member
capable of extending over the top surface of a wall; b. two
parallel wall flange members integrally formed on opposite sides of
said wall transverse member; c. two parallel rafter flange members
integrally formed on the wall transverse member, said rafter flange
members being perpendicularly aligned with said wall transverse
members and said wall flange members; d. at least one L-shaped
secondary angle member disposed under the inside surfaces of one
said wall flange member and the adjacent inside surface of said
wall transverse member; and, e. at least one gusset formed on the
corner between said wall transverse member and said wall flange
member
2. The roof-to-wall bracket, as recited in claim 1 wherein said
secondary angle member is integrally attached to the adjacent said
wall flange member.
3. The roof-to-wall bracket, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
secondary angle member is formed by cutting waste material from the
adjacent wall flange member and the bending said waste material to
form said L-shaped structure.
4. The roof-to-wall bracket, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
secondary angle member is welded to said inside surface of said
wall transverse wall.
Description
[0001] This utility patent application is based on the provisional
patent application (Ser. No. 60/536,687) filed on Jan. 15,
2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of building
brackets, and more particularly to brackets that connect a
building's roof structural members to its wall structures.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The roof on a house is made of a plurality of trusses
suspended between vertical walls. On a pitch roof, each truss is
typically made of two diagonally aligned rafters attached together
at their upper ends. The lower distal ends of the rafters are
attached to the top sill plates on the vertical walls. A ceiling
joist may extend horizontally between the two vertical walls and
interconnect the distal ends of the rafter located on opposite
sides of the building.
[0006] Heretofore, brackets have been used to connect the distal
ends of the rafters to the top sill plates on the vertical walls.
Unfortunately, such brackets commonly fail during high wind
conditions thereby destroying the entire roof along with many items
located inside the building.
[0007] What is needed is an improved roof-to-wall bracket designed
to withstand high wind conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved roof-to-wall bracket designed to withstand high wind
conditions that is also relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
[0009] These and other objects of the present invention are met by
the roof-to-wall bracket disclosed herein that includes two
perpendicularly aligned, wall flange members integrally formed on
opposite ends of a wall transverse member, and two perpendicularly
aligned rafter flange members integrally formed on the opposite
sides of the wall transverse member. Disposed under or over the
corners between the two wall flange members and the wall transverse
member are two reinforcing, L-shaped secondary angle members. In
the preferred embodiment, each L-shaped secondary angle member is
formed from the waste material created by cutting a square or
rectangular cutout in the adjoining wall flange member and then
bending the waste material upward to form an angle support member
that fits under or over the corner between the wall flange member
and the wall transverse member. Optional welds may be used to
physically connect the secondary angle member to the surfaces of
the wall flange member and wall transverse member.
[0010] Optional gussets may be formed on the outside surfaces of
the corners between the wall flange member and the wall transverse
member for additional strength.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the roof-to-wall bracket
disclosed herein being used to securely attach a root truss to the
sill plate on a wall.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention shown in
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the invention shown in
FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a section of the bracket
showing the optional gussets and welds formed on the corners
between a wall flange member and a wall transverse member and
before the secondary angle member and the wall transverse
member.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0016] As shown in the accompanying Figs. is a roof-to-wall bracket
10 designed to provide additional strength and support between the
roof rafter 5 and the top sill plate 7 on the studded wall of a
building. The bracket 10 includes two downward, extending,
perpendicularly aligned wall flange members 20, 30 integrally
formed on the opposite ends of a wall transverse member 40.
Extending upward and perpendicularly aligned with the transverse
member 40 and the two wall flange members 20, 30 are two parallel
rafter flange members 50, 60. The rafter flange members 50, 60 are
integrally formed on the opposite sides of the wall transverse
member 40 and spaced apart to receive a single 2.times.4 or double
2.times.4 rafter. Disposed adjacent to the inside surfaces 21, 31
of the two wall flange members 20, 30 and the inside surface 41 of
the wall transverse member 40 are two L-shaped secondary angle
members 70, 75. The secondary angle members 70, 75 are
longitudinally aligned with the wall transverse member 40.
[0017] During installation, the two wall flange members 20, 30 are
designed to be aligned and then nailed or bolted to the opposite
outside and inside surfaces 21, 31 of the top sill plate 7. Formed
on each wall flange member 20, 30 is a substantially square central
opening 22, 32, respectively. The central openings 22, 32 are
formed by cutting along three edges and then bending it inward
thereby forming a square integrally attached waste material. The
waste material is then bent into an L-shaped angle member 70, 75.
In the preferred embodiment, the angle members 70, 75 are forced
inward and folded in half thereby forming a folded corner 71, 76
respectively that is aligned with the adjoining corner 26,28 and to
fit under the inside surface 21, 31, of the wall flange member 20,
30, respectively, and the inside surfaces 41 of the wall transverse
member 40. It should be understood that the angles 70, 75 may be
separate structures welded or attached on the outer surfaces of the
wall flange members 20, 30 and the wall transverse member 40.
[0018] The wall transverse member 40 is designed to extend
transversely over the top sill plate on a 2.times.4, 2.times.6,
2.times.8 studded or non-studded wall. The two rafter flange
members 50, 60 are perpendicularly aligned and extend upward from
the wall transverse member 40. As shown in FIG. 2, in the preferred
embodiment, each rafter flange member 50, 60 includes a lower
rectangular-shaped body 52 and an upward extending neck section 54.
Formed on each lower rectangular-shaped body 52 are two vertically
aligned rows of three nail holes 56. An optional fourth nail hole
57 is formed on the upward extending neck section 54 aligned with
the lower row of nail holes 56 on the lower rectangular-shaped body
52.
[0019] The wall flange member 20, 30, is perpendicularly aligned
and extends downward from the wall transverse member 40. In the
preferred embodiment, the wall flange members 20, 30 are square
with a plurality of nail holes formed therein.
[0020] As discussed above, the L-shaped angle member 70, 75 are
formed by cutting a square or rectangular cutout in the adjoining
wall flange member 20, 30 and then bending the waste material
upward into an L-shaped configuration. The angle member 70, 75 are
then bent so that the apex of the corner 71, 76, respectively, is
aligned and registered with the apex of the corner 26, 28 between
the adjacent wall flange member 20, 30 and the wall transverse
member 40, respectively. Optional welds 79 may be used to
physically connect the angle members 70, 75 to the inside surfaces
41 of the wall transverse member 40.
[0021] To increase the tensile strength of the bracket 10, one or
more optional gussets 80, 80' may be provided on the two corners
26, 28 between the wall flange members 20, 30 and the wall
transverse member 40.
[0022] In the preferred embodiment, the bracket 10 is designed to
be used on 6 inch wide top sill plates and 11/2 inch thick rafters.
The brackets 10 are made of 16 gauge galvanized steel plate
material.
[0023] In compliance with the statute, the invention described
herein has been described in language more or less specific as to
structural features. It should be understood, however, that the
invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the
means and construction shown, is comprised only of the preferred
embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is
therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the
legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately
interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
* * * * *