U.S. patent application number 11/326072 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for sheet metal tie.
Invention is credited to Eddy S. Dufault.
Application Number | 20060150564 11/326072 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36651809 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060150564 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dufault; Eddy S. |
July 13, 2006 |
Sheet metal tie
Abstract
A tie is designed to secure together in a building structure a
vertical stud, a top plate disposed horizontally across the top end
of the vertical stud and a rafter extending up from the top plate
at an acute angle. The tie is constructed from a unitary sheet
metal body which is adapted for securement against at least two
surfaces of each of the rafter, the top plate and the vertical
stud. The unitary sheet metal body for the tie includes a base, a
pair of rafter plates which extend orthogonally upward from
opposite sides of the base, and a pair of stud tails which extend
orthogonally downward from opposite ends of the base. The base
together with the pair of rafter plates define a recess that is
sized and shaped to fittingly receive a portion of the rafter. In
addition, the base together with the pair of stud tails define a
channel which is sized and shaped to fittingly receive at least a
portion of the top plate and the vertical stud.
Inventors: |
Dufault; Eddy S.;
(Marlborough, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KRIEGSMAN & KRIEGSMAN
665 Franklin Street
Framingham
MA
01702
US
|
Family ID: |
36651809 |
Appl. No.: |
11/326072 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60643078 |
Jan 11, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/702 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 7/045 20130101;
E04B 1/2608 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/702 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/38 20060101
E04B001/38 |
Claims
1. A tie for securing together in a building structure a vertical
stud, a top plate disposed horizontally across the top end of the
vertical stud and a rafter extending up from the top plate at an
acute angle, each of said rafter, top plate and stud comprising at
least four surfaces, said tie comprising a unitary sheet metal body
which is adapted for securement against at least two surfaces of
each of said rafter, said top plate and said stud.
2. The tie as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unitary sheet metal
body comprises: (a) a base, (b) a pair of plates which extend
upwardly from opposite sides of said base, said base together with
said pair of plates defining a recess which is sized and shaped to
fittingly receive at least a portion of said rafter, and (c) a pair
of tails which extend downwardly from opposite ends of said base,
together said base and said pair of tails defining a channel which
is sized and shaped to fittingly receive at least a portion of said
top plate and at least a portion of said vertical stud.
3. The tie as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said pair of
plates is shaped to define a plurality of fastener mounting holes
that are positioned for use in attaching each of said pair of
plates to the rafter.
4. The tie as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of the pair of tails
is shaped to define a plurality of fastener mounting holes that are
positioned for use in attaching each of said pair of tails to said
top plate and said vertical stud.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
119(e) of U.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/643,078,
filed Jan. 11, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the construction
of buildings and more particularly to metal ties which are used to
connect and structurally reinforce the interconnection of wood
framing members in a building structure.
[0003] Wood framing members are commonly used in construction to
define the structural support for a building. Specifically, as seen
most clearly in FIG. 1, the wood framing for a building commonly
includes a plurality of vertical studs 11 (each commonly
constructed from an elongated wooden beam) which are spaced
approximately 16 inches apart from one another in a particular
configuration to define the outer periphery of the building. In
addition, a top plate 13 (also commonly referred to as a header or
support beam) is disposed horizontally across the free top end of
each stud 11, the top plate 13 commonly being represented by a pair
of stacked 2.times.4 wooden beams 15. Furthermore, a plurality of
spaced apart rafters 17 (also commonly referred to as joists)
extend at an acute angle up from the top plate 13, each rafter 17
commonly being represented by a single 2.times.6 wooden beam.
[0004] It should be noted that the various aforementioned framing
members are typically secured together using one or more fasteners
(e.g., nails, screws, etc.). Specifically, a plurality of fasteners
(not shown) are driven through the top plate 13 and each stud 11
and, in turn, a plurality of fasteners (not shown) are driven
through the top plate 13 and the rafter tail 19 for each rafter 17.
In this manner, fasteners serve to secure and maintain the
interrelation of framing members and, as a result, the overall
skeletal design of the building.
[0005] With the framing members secured together in this manner,
large segments of plyboard are typically secured to the framing
members to enclose the building structure. Additional materials
(e.g., roofing tiles, clapboard, vinyl siding, insulation, etc.)
are commonly secured to the exterior of the plyboard to render the
building structure more resistant to various types of environmental
conditions.
[0006] However, it should be noted that natural environmental
conditions often exert violent and destructive forces onto a
building. In extreme circumstances (e.g, hurricanes, earthquakes,
etc.), these forces can disconnect the various framing construction
members of a building apart from one another which, in turn, can
result in significant destruction to the building. For example,
significant wind forces which commonly accompany a hurricane can
often disconnect the various rafters of a building from its
corresponding top plates. In this manner, the extreme wind forces
can literally dislodge the roof from of the remainder of the
building, which is highly undesirable.
[0007] Accordingly, sheet metal ties are commonly used in
conjunction with conventional fastening members to secure together
two or more wood framing members. As can be appreciated, sheet
metal ties serve to strengthen (i.e., reinforce) the
interconnection of wood framing members in a building structure and
thereby render said building structure more capable of adequately
withstanding extreme environmental conditions.
[0008] As an example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,372 to A. D. Commins
(hereinafter the '372 patent), there is disclosed a hurricane tie
for connecting wood members in a building structure. The tie has a
unitary sheet metal body member which includes a truncated
generally right angled triangular base member and a generally right
angled triangular web member arranged in reverse apex order with
respect to one another. The base and web members lie in planes
which are mutually angularly related to one another. The base and
web members are formed with fastener openings for connecting the
tie to wood members.
[0009] The hurricane metal tie described in the '372 patent serves
to strengthen the connection between two wood framing members.
However, said tie is limited to the connection of only two wood
framing members. Stated another way, said tie is incapable of
securing together a stud, a top plate and a rafter (which together
serve as the foundation of most conventional building
structures).
[0010] Accordingly, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,781 to T. C. Thompson
(hereinafter the '781 patent), there is disclosed a one-piece metal
connector that securely ties together the structural members of the
roof and wall of a wood frame house. The connector has a vertical
web on the top that is attached to a rafter and a vertical web on
the bottom that is connected to a wall stud. The connector
correctly places each structural member for maximum structural
integrity, forming a direct load path. The middle part of the
connector has a vertical plate and horizontal tabs that form a
box-section around the top plate. Horizontal and vertical tabs form
open boxes that hold sheathing tight to the wall. Gussets brace the
rafter and stud against racking. The connector has a large surface
area for maximum strength, and precise nail holes to avoid
splitting the structural member. The connector grasps the
structural members to avoid detachment of an structural members
during hurricanes and seismic events. The connector's webs and
bends help to avoid twisting, lateral forces, thrusting, and
uplift.
[0011] Although the tie described in the '781 patent is designed to
secure together a stud, a top plate and a rafter, said tie suffers
from a notable shortcoming. Specifically, the tie disclosed in the
'781 patent is designed for securement against only a single
surface of most of the wood framing members. As a consequence, the
relative strength of the connection of said tie with certain wood
framing members is less than optimal, which is highly
undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel
sheet metal tie.
[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
novel sheet metal tie for securing together various wood framing
members of a building structure.
[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a sheet metal tie as described above which secures together in a
building structure a vertical stud, a top plate disposed
horizontally across the top end of the vertical stud and a rafter
extending up from the top plate at an acute angle.
[0015] It is yet still another object of the present invention to
provide a sheet metal tie as described above which includes a
limited number of parts, which is easy to use and which is
inexpensive to manufacture.
[0016] Accordingly, there is provided a tie for securing together
in a building structure a vertical stud, a top plate disposed
horizontally across the top end of the vertical stud and a rafter
extending up from the top plate at an acute angle, each of said
rafter, top plate and stud comprising at least four surfaces, said
tie comprising a unitary sheet metal body which is adapted for
securement against at least two surfaces of each of said rafter,
said top plate and said stud.
[0017] Various other features and advantages will appear from the
description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which is
shown by way of illustration, an embodiment for practicing the
invention. The embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of
the invention. The following detailed description is therefore, not
to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present
invention is best defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] In the drawings wherein like reference numerals represent
like parts:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a prior art wood
framing structure for a building, the wood framing structure
comprising a rafter, a pair of top plates and a pair of vertical
studs;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front, right side perspective view of a sheet
metal tie constructed according to the teachings of the present
invention, said sheet metal tie being shown securing together a
rafter, a top plate and a vertical stud in the wood framing
structure shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a blank which can be shaped to
form the sheet metal tie shown in FIG. 2;
[0022] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, front, right side perspective view of
the sheet metal tie shown in FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, rear, left side perspective view of
the sheet metal tie shown in FIG. 2; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is a front, right side view of the sheet metal tie
shown in FIG. 2, the sheet metal tie being shown securing together
a top plate and a vertical stud, the top plate and vertical stud
being shown in fragmentary form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a tie which is
constructed according to the teachings of the present invention,
the tie being identified generally by reference numeral 31. As will
be described further in detail below, tie 31 is designed to help
secure together a vertically disposed, elongated wooden stud 11, a
horizontal top plate 13 (represented herein as being in the form of
a pair of stacked 2.times.4 wooden beams 15) and a rafter 17
(represented herein as being in the form of a single 2.times.6
wooden beam). Together, stud 11, top plate 13 and rafter 17
partially define the support structure, or framing, for a
building.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a flat pattern
layout, or blank, of tie 31 prior to bending, tie 31 preferably
being constructed from a rigid, durable and strong piece of sheet
metal, such as an 18 gauge galvanized steel or an 18 gauge 316
stainless steel.
[0027] Tie 31 comprises a rectangularly-shaped base 33 which serves
as the main plate for tie 31.
[0028] Tie 11 also comprises a pair of rafter plates 35-1 and 35-2
which are connected to opposite sides of base 33 through fold lines
37-1 and 37-2, respectively. Each plate 35 has an enlarged
trapezoidal configuration and is shaped to define a plurality of
circular holes 39 through which the stem of a conventional
fastening device may be disposed, each hole being preferably 0.18
inches in diameter. As seen most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, rafter
plates 35-1 and 35-2 are folded about fold lines 37-1 and 37-2,
respectively, until plates 35-1 and 35-2 extend vertically upward
from base 33 at an approximate right angle relative thereto. Shaped
in this manner, base 33, plate 35-1 and plate 35-2 together define
a recess 40. As will be described further below, recess 40 is sized
and shaped to fittingly receive at least a portion of rafter
17.
[0029] Tie 31 additionally comprises a pair of stud tails 41-1 and
41-2 which are connected to opposite ends of base 33 through fold
lines 43-1 and 43-2, respectively. Each tail 41 has an elongated
rectangular configuration and is shaped to define a plurality of
circular holes 39 through which the stem of a conventional
fastening device may be disposed. As seen most clearly in FIGS. 4
and 5, tails 41-1 and 41-2 are folded about lines 43-1 and 43-2,
respectively, until tails 41-1 and 41-2 extend vertically downward
from base 33 at an approximate right angle relative thereto. Shaped
in this manner, base 33, tail 41-1 and tail 41-2 together define a
channel 45. As will be described further below, channel 45 is sized
and shaped to fittingly receive at least a portion of top plate 13
and at least a portion of stud 11.
[0030] Tie 31 can be used to secure together a stud 11, a top plate
13 and a rafter 17 in the following manner. During the initial
framing process of a building, a plurality of vertical studs 11 are
spaced apart from one another and a horizontal top plate 13 is
secured across the free top end of each vertical stud 11. With top
plate 13 secured to studs 11, a tie 31 is mounted on the framing
over each stud 11 and its corresponding top plate 13.
[0031] Specifically, as seen most clearly in FIG. 6, a tie 31 is
mounted on top plate 13 such that top plate 13 and stud 11 are
fittingly received (i.e., nest snugly) within channel 45. Mounted
as such, tie 31 (in particular, base 33 and stud tails 41-1 and
41-2) is disposed flush in contact against three surfaces of top
plate 13 and tie 31 (in particular, stud tails 41-1 and 41-2) is
disposed flush in contact against two surfaces of stud 11.
Fastening elements (e.g., screws, nails) are then driven through
holes 39 in tails 41-1 and 41-2 (with the head of each element
sized greater in diameter than each opening 39) so as to fixedly
secure tie 31 to top plate 13 and stud 11.
[0032] Referring back to FIG. 1, rafter 17 is then manipulated such
that rafter tail 19 fittingly protrudes (i.e., nests snugly) within
in recess 40 of tie 31. Configured as such, tie 31 (in particular,
base 33 and rafter plates 35-1 and 35-2) is disposed flush in
contact against three surfaces of rafter 17. Fastening elements
(e.g., screws, nails) are then driven through holes 39 in rafter
plates 35-1 and 35-2 (with the head of each element sized greater
in diameter than each opening 39) so as to fixedly secure tie 31 to
rafter 17.
[0033] In this manner, it is to be understood that tie 31 serves to
secure together stud 11, top plate 13 and rafter 17. The fact that
tie 31 is secured against at least two surfaces of the rafter, top
plate and stud means that the strength of the connection that tie
31 affords between all three wood framing members is maximized,
which is highly desirable.
[0034] The embodiment shown of the present invention is intended to
be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art shall be able to
make numerous variations and modifications to them without
departing from the spirit of the present invention. As an example,
the particular size and/or shape of base 33, rafter plates 35-1 and
35-2 and/or stud tails 41-1 and 41-2 could be modified without
departing from the spirit of the present invention. As another
example, the size, number and/or location of holes 39 in tie 31
could be modified without departing from the spirit of the present
invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be
within the scope of the present invention as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *