U.S. patent application number 15/789783 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-17 for slip clip connection.
The applicant listed for this patent is Larry Randall Daudet. Invention is credited to Larry Randall Daudet.
Application Number | 20180135293 15/789783 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60182362 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180135293 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daudet; Larry Randall |
May 17, 2018 |
Slip Clip Connection
Abstract
An improved connection between supporting and supported
structural members, particularly between curtain walls and interior
support structures, wherein the connector is an angular member
having first and second plates joined at an angular junction and
the second plate is formed with a plurality of elongated slots and
the fastening of the angled connector to the second structural
member is strengthened with a reinforcing bracket.
Inventors: |
Daudet; Larry Randall;
(Brentwood, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Daudet; Larry Randall |
Brentwood |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60182362 |
Appl. No.: |
15/789783 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62411534 |
Oct 21, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 5/0225 20130101;
E04B 2/96 20130101; E04B 2001/2484 20130101; E04B 2001/2415
20130101; E04B 2001/2439 20130101; E04B 2001/2448 20130101; E04B
1/2403 20130101; E04B 2/768 20130101; E04B 2001/405 20130101; E04B
2001/2445 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/24 20060101
E04B001/24; E04B 2/76 20060101 E04B002/76 |
Claims
1. A first building structural connection comprising: a. a first
structural member; b. a second structural member; c. a first
connector, connecting said first structural member to said second
structural member, said first connector having a first plate
fastened to said first structural member, and a second plate
fastened to said second structural member, said second plate being
joined to said first plate at an angular juncture, wherein said
second plate has a plurality of fastener openings, said plurality
of fastener openings are formed as a plurality of substantially
parallel elongated slots in said second plate, said plurality of
elongated slots being disposed substantially parallel to the
angular juncture between the first and second plates, and one of
the elongated slots is disposed closer to the angular juncture than
the other elongated slots, and at least two of the plurality of
elongated slots in said second plate is a site of a fastening to
the second structural member, and at least two of the plurality of
elongated slots receives at least one fastener having an elongated
shank and a head, wherein the elongated shank of each fastener is
received in the second structural member, and each at least one
fastener can move along the elongated slot in the second plate when
the second structural member moves with respect to the second
plate, and wherein the elongated slot disposed closer to the
angular juncture than the other elongated slots is one of the at
least two of the plurality of elongated slots that is a site of a
fastening to the second structural member and receives at least one
fastener having an elongated shank and a head; and d. a reinforcing
member, said reinforcing member being connected to said second
structural member and having portions that overlie the second plate
of the angled connector.
2. The building structural connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the
second structural member has an attachment face and the second
plate of the angled connector is connected to the attachment face
of the second structural member; b. the second plate has an
attachment side that interfaces with the attachment face of the
second structural member and an open side disposed opposite the
attachment side; and c. the reinforcing member has portions that
overlie the open side of the second plate.
3. The building connection of claim 2, wherein: the reinforcing
member has portions that interface with the attachment face of the
second structural member.
4. The building connection of claim 3, wherein: the reinforcing
member is directly connected to the attachment face of the second
structural member at the portions of the reinforcing member that
interface with the attachment face of the second structural
member.
5. The building structural connection of claim 2, wherein: a. the
second structural member has a side flange that is disposed at a
different angle than the attachment face of the second structural
member; b. the reinforcing member has portions that interface with
the side flange of the second structural member.
6. The building connection of claim 5, wherein: the reinforcing
member is directly connected to the side flange of the second
structural member at the portions of the reinforcing member that
interface with the side flange of the second structural member.
7. The building connection of claim 1, wherein: the reinforcing
member overlies a portion of the angled connector close to the
elongated slot disposed closer to the angular juncture than the
other elongated slots.
8. The building connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the second
structural member has a longitudinal axis and the second structural
member is elongated along the longitudinal axis; b. the second
plate of the angled connector is formed with a first side edge and
a second side edge, and the first side edge lies above the second
side edge on the longitudinal axis of the second structural member;
and c. the reinforcing member interfaces with the second structural
member at a positions above the first side edge of the second
plate, and the reinforcing member interfaces with the second
structural member at position below the second side edge of the
second plate along the longitudinal axis of the second structural
member.
9. The building connection of claim 8, wherein: the portions of the
reinforcing member that interface with the second structural member
are spaced a selected distance from the first and second side edges
so as to allow the second plate to move along the longitudinal axis
of the second structural member with respect to the second
structural member.
10. The building connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the second
structural member has a longitudinal axis and the second structural
member is elongated along the longitudinal axis; b. the second
plate of the angled connector is formed with a first side edge and
a second side edge, and the first side edge lies above the second
side edge on the longitudinal axis of the second structural member;
and c. the reinforcing member interfaces with the second structural
member at a position above the first side edge of the second
plate.
11. The building connection of claim 10, wherein: the portions of
the reinforcing member that interface with the second structural
member are spaced a selected distance from the first side edge so
as to allow the second plate to move along the longitudinal axis of
the second structural member with respect to the second structural
member.
12. The building connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the second
structural member has a longitudinal axis and the second structural
member is elongated along the longitudinal axis; b. the second
plate of the angled connector is formed with a first side edge and
a second side edge, and the first side edge lies above the second
side edge on the longitudinal axis of the second structural member;
and c. the reinforcing member interfaces with the second structural
member at position below the second side edge of the second plate
along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member.
13. The building connection of claim 12, wherein: the portions of
the reinforcing member that interface with the second structural
member are spaced a selected distance from the second side edge so
as to allow the second plate to move along the longitudinal axis of
the second structural member with respect to the second structural
member.
14. The building structural connection of claim 1 further
comprising: one or more gusset darts in the angular juncture that
reinforce the angular juncture.
15. The building structural connection of claim 1 wherein: said
fasteners that attach said second plate to said second structural
member are screws.
16. The building structural connection of claim 15 wherein: said
fasteners that attach said second plate to said second structural
member are shouldered screws.
17. The building structural connection of claim 1 wherein: said
first structural member is fastened to said first connector so that
said first building structural member cannot move relative said
first plate of said angular connector.
18. The building structural connection of claim 1, wherein: each of
the plurality of elongated slots in the second plate is the site of
a fastening to the second structural member.
19. The building structural connection of claim 1, wherein: a. said
first structural member is horizontally disposed member, and b.
said first structural member is a vertically disposed member that
is part of a wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention belongs to a class of stud mounting
clips that are useful in the construction of buildings. The present
invention provides an improved connection between two structural
members made with a slip clip and a reinforcing bracket.
[0002] Many buildings are constructed with steel stud wall systems.
For a variety of reasons, it is often advantageous to construct
these walls systems with connectors that permit a degree of
relative movement between the portions of the building. Buildings
often settle unevenly on their foundations once they are
constructed and this can cause exterior walls to shift with respect
to the interior structural elements of the building. Exterior walls
and frames, particularly of light commercial buildings, are also
often made from materials that have different coefficients of
expansion than that of the structure's exterior sheathing. With
exposure to extremes of temperature, gaps can be produced in the
exterior sheathing panels if they expand or contract more than the
framing, allowing cold air and moisture to intrude. Exterior walls
of buildings are also subject to deflection from wind or seismic
forces. A degree of freedom of movement between portions of the
building can reduce stress and prevent fracture of connected parts,
or opening of gaps between parts. Similarly, certain walls are not
designed to support vertical loads and must therefore by isolated
from the deflection of the primary load-bearing support structure
of the building due to changes in live or dead loads carried by
that structure.
[0003] There are a variety of patented slip clips that permit
relative movement between structural members. U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,664,392, 6,612,087, 6,688,069 and 8,555,592 all teach metal slip
clips with special reinforcing members such as flanges or
embossments to strengthen the clip. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,720,571 and
5,846,018 teach slip clips that use a rivet as the fastener on
which sliding between the members occurs. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,104,024
and 7,503,150 teach connecting sliding fasteners in separate slots
with a u-shaped washer to strengthen the connection. U.S. Pat. No.
8,511,032 teaches using multiple sliding fasteners in a single
slot.
[0004] The slip clip connection of the present invention has been
designed to achieve strong load values while being inexpensive to
manufacture and install. The present invention focuses on
strengthening the connection of the angled connector to the second
structural member, and in particular that portion of the angled
connector interfacing with the second structural member that is
near the fastener connecting the angled connector to the second
structural member that is closest to the first structural
member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a connection between a first
structural member and a second structural member by means of an
angled connector having first and second plates joined at an angled
juncture. The first plate is connected to the first structural
member and the second plate is joined to the second structural
member by a plurality of fastenings that allow the second
structural member to move relative to the first structural member a
selected distance and wherein the fastening of the angled connector
to the second structural member closest to the angled juncture is
reinforced.
[0006] The present invention provides an angled connector used in
connection with a reinforcing member or bracket to connect the
first structural member to the second structural member. The
reinforcing bracket connects to the second structural member and
prevents the angled connector from pulling too far away from the
second structural member by having portions that extend over the
angled connector.
[0007] The present invention provides a reinforcing bracket that
overlies the angled connector while still providing the
designed-for freedom of movement between the first and second
structural members. According to the present invention, the
reinforcing bracket can be one member joined to the second
structural member both above and below the angled connector, or the
reinforcing member can be joined to the second structural member at
one location. In another embodiment, the reinforcing bracket can be
a plurality of members that overlay portions of the angled
connector.
[0008] In selected embodiments, the reinforcing bracket anchors to
the web of the second structural member, and in other selected
embodiments the bracket is connected to the web and to a different
face of the second structural member.
[0009] The angled connector and the reinforcing bracket of the
present invention are preferably made from light-gauge steel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wall stud to floor member
connection formed according to the present invention
[0011] FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of the connection of
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
connector of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top view of the connection shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a close-up top view of the connection of FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the connection
shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a back view of the connector of FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the connector of FIG. 3.
[0020] FIG. 11 is left side view of the connector of FIG. 3.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a wall stud to floor member
connection formed according to the present invention
[0022] FIG. 13 is a close-up perspective view of the connection of
FIG. 12.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
connector of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a top view of the connection shown in FIG.
12.
[0025] FIG. 16 is a close-up top view of the connection of FIG.
12.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view of the connection
shown in FIG. 12.
[0027] FIG. 18 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 14.
[0028] FIG. 19 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 14.
[0029] FIG. 20 is a back view of the connector of FIG. 14.
[0030] FIG. 21 is a right side view of the connector of FIG.
14.
[0031] FIG. 22 is left side view of the connector of FIG. 14.
[0032] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a wall stud to floor member
connection formed according to the present invention
[0033] FIG. 24 is a close-up perspective view of the connection of
FIG. 23.
[0034] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of connectors of the present
invention.
[0035] FIG. 26 is a top view of the connection shown in FIG.
23.
[0036] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional side view of the connection
shown in FIG. 23.
[0037] FIG. 28 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 25.
[0038] FIG. 29 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 25.
[0039] FIG. 30 is a back view of the connector of FIG. 25.
[0040] FIG. 31 is a right side view of the connector of FIG.
25.
[0041] FIG. 32 is left side view of the connector of FIG. 25.
[0042] FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a wall stud to floor member
connection formed according to the present invention
[0043] FIG. 34 is a close-up perspective view of the connection of
FIG. 33.
[0044] FIG. 35 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
connector of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 36 is a top view of the connection shown in FIG.
33.
[0046] FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional side view of the connection
shown in FIG. 33.
[0047] FIG. 38 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 35.
[0048] FIG. 39 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 35.
[0049] FIG. 40 is a back view of the connector of FIG. 35.
[0050] FIG. 41 is a right side view of the connector of FIG.
35.
[0051] FIG. 42 is left side view of the connector of FIG. 35.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0052] The present invention is a building structural connection 1
between a first structural member 2 and a second structural member
3. Preferably, the first structural member 2 is a supporting member
or anchoring member 2 and the second structural member 3 is a
supported structural member 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the first
structural member 2 is a floor member that is horizontally disposed
2 with an attached ledger and the second structural member 3 is a
vertically-oriented channel-shaped wall post or stud 3 that is part
of a wall.
[0053] The connection 1 between the first structural member 2 and
the second structural member 3 is made with a first angled
connector 4. The first angled connector 4 is preferably L-shaped,
with a first plate 5 fastened to the first building structural
member 2 and a second plate 6 fastened to the second building
structural member 3. Preferably, the first plate 5 and the second
plate 6 are generally planar and joined at right angles to each
other. The connector 4 allows for relative vertical movement
between the first and second building structural members 2 and 3.
The connector 4 is preferably made from cold formed sheet steel
formed on automated manufacturing machinery as much as
possible.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the first plate 5 has first and second
fastener openings 7 and 8. Fastener openings 8 are larger than
fastener openings 7 to accommodate larger fasteners. The angled
connector 4 shown in FIG. 2 is attached to the second structural
member by welds 9.
[0055] The first plate 5 has a first inner edge 11, a first outer
edge 12, a first side edge 13 and a second side edge 14.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 2, the second plate 6 has a plurality of
fastener openings 10 and 15 formed as elongated slots. The second
plate is also provided with a first inner edge 16, a first side
edge 17 and a second side edge 18. The first inner edge 11 of the
first plate 5 is joined to the first inner edge 16 of the second
plate 6 to form an inner angular juncture 19. Preferably the inner
angular juncture 19 is 90 degrees. One of the slotted openings 10
lies closer to the 19 juncture than the other slotted openings 15.
The slotted openings are preferably disposed parallel to the
angular juncture 19 between the first plate 5 and the second plate
6. Each elongated slot 10 and 15 in the second plate 6 is a site of
a fastening to the second structural member 3.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 4 includes a plurality of
gusset darts 26 having a substantially triangular shape when viewed
from a lateral side thereof, the substantially triangular shaped
gusset darts 26 are disposed in the inner angular juncture 19
between the plates 5 and 6. The gusset darts 26 preferably have a
substantially u-shaped cross-section. The gusset darts 26 reinforce
the inner angular juncture 19.
[0058] Preferably, a first plurality of fasteners 27 attaches the
first plate 5 to the first building structural member 2. As shown
in FIG. 2 the fasteners 27 can be welds 9, but anchors and screws
received in the fastener openings 7 and 8 are also preferred. A
plurality of fasteners 28 preferably attaches the second plate 6 to
the second building structural member 3. Preferably, the fasteners
28 that attach the second plate to the second structural member are
screws 28 of similar dimensions. The preferred fasteners 27 for
attaching the connector 4 to first structural member 2 made from
steel are hex-head fasteners, automated power-actuated gun-driven
fasteners or, alternatively, welds 9. The preferred fasteners 27
for attaching the angled connector 4 to first structural members 2
made from concrete are concrete screws. The preferred fasteners 28
for attaching the connector 4 through slots 10 and 15 are
shouldered, or stepped-shank, self-drilling screws 28.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 1, the second plurality of fastener
openings 10 and 15 is preferably formed as a plurality of elongated
slots 10 and 15 in the second plate 6 as movement between the
structural member 3 and the connector 4 is desired. When the
fastener 28 is drilled into or connected to the stud or second
structural member 3, the fastener is anchored in the stud 3. When
the stud 3 moves relative to the first structural member 2 the
fastener 28 moves in the elongated slot 15. Preferably, the first
building structural member 2 is fastened to the angled connector 4
so that the first building structural member 2 cannot move relative
to the first plate 5 of the first connector 4. The second building
structural member 3 is preferably fastened to the first connector 4
so that the second building structural member 3 can move relative
to the second plate 6 of the first connector 4. The plurality of
elongated slot openings 10 and 15 that extend across the second
plate 6 extend generally parallel to the inner angular juncture 19
between the first plate 5 and the second plate 6.
[0060] Preferably, the fasteners of the second plurality of
fasteners 28 are shouldered, or stepped-shank screws 28. Shouldered
screws 28 have a head 29, an unthreaded shank portion 30
immediately below the head 29, a threaded shank portion 31 below
the unthreaded shank portion 30, and a tip 32. The tip 32 is
preferably a self-drilling tip. The unthreaded shank portion 30
allows the second building structural member 3 and the fasteners 28
attached to it to move relative to the second plate 6 without
interference between the second plurality of fastener 28 and the
second plate 6 of the first connector 4, because the unthreaded
shank portion 30 stops driving of the fastener 28 before the head
29 of the fastener reaches the second plate 6. The tip 32 is
designed to drill itself into the web 33 of the stud 3. The web 33
of the stud is preferably a substantially planar member.
[0061] Each elongated slot 10 and 15 in said second plate 6 is a
site of a fastening to the second structural member 3, and each
elongated slot 10 and 15 preferably receives at least one fastener
28 having an elongated shank and a head 29, wherein the elongated
shank of each fastener 28 is received in the second structural
member 3, and each at least one fastener 28 can move along the
elongated slot 15 in the second plate 6 when the second structural
member 3 moves with respect to the second plate 6. As shown in FIG.
1, the reinforcing member or bracket 34 reinforces the connection
between the angled connector 4 and the second structural member 3
near the fastening in the elongated slot 10 closest to the angular
juncture 19.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing member 34 is a single
bracket attached to the second structural member 3 and overlies the
angle connector 4 close to the elongated slot 10 closest to the
angular juncture 19. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reinforcing
member 34 spans a distance greater than that of the angled
connector 4 along the length of the second structural member 3 and
is anchored to the second structural member 3 away from the first
and side edges 13 and 14 of the second plate 6 of the angled
connector 4. The reinforcing member is connected to the second
structural manner 3 in a manner that allows for the same amount of
movement between the second structural member 3 and the angled
connector 4 as would occur if the reinforcing bracket 34 was not
used.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 12, the reinforcing member 34 can be formed
with an extending flange 35 so that the reinforcing member 34 can
interface and be attached to a side flange 38 of the second
structural member 3. The second structural member 3 preferably has
an attachment face 36 and an opposite face 37, and the second plate
6 has an attachment side 40 and an open side 41 facing in the
opposite direction. The attachment side 40 of the second plate 6
faces the second building structural member 3. The side flange 38
is set a different angle to the attachment face 36 of the second
structural member 3. The angular connector 4 is preferably disposed
on the attachment face 36 as shown in FIG. 12. Preferably, as shown
in FIG. 12 the overlying portions 39 of the reinforcing member 34
can press against the open side 41 of the second plate 6 if the
angled connector 4 tries to pull away from the second stud 3.
Preferably, the overlying portions 39 of the reinforcing member 34
are located in close proximity to the open side 41 of the second
plate 4 without being in contact with the second plate 4 so as to
not interfere with any movement of the second structural member 3
along its longitudinal axis 45. The reinforcing member 34 resists
the angled connector 4 being moved from the second structural
member 3 orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 45 of the second
structural member 3, as when the second plate 6 may try to separate
from the second structural member 3 under certain load
conditions.
[0064] As best shown in FIGS. 6, 17 and 27, any portions of the
reinforcing member 34 that may interfere with the movement of the
second structural member 3 along the longitudinal axis of the
second structural member 3 with respect to the angled connector 4
are spaced a selected distance away from the side edges 13, 14, 16
and 17 of the first and second side plates 5 and 6 of angled
connector 4. In this manner the second structural member 3 can move
with respect to the second plate 6 along the longitudinal axis of
the second structural member 6 and the reinforcing member 34 does
not interfere.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing member 34 can be formed
with a pair of attachment flanges 44 that interface with the
attachment face 36 of the second structural member 3 and which are
joined by a central bridge 48 that has portions that overlie the
angled connector 4. The reinforcing member 34 shown in FIG. 1 is
connected to the second structural member 4 by fasteners 46 at the
attachment flanges 44. As shown in FIGS. 12-15 the reinforcing
member 34 can be formed with one or more extending flanges 35 that
interface with and attach to the side flange 38 of the second
structural member 3. As best shown in FIG. 18, the central bridge
48 can be formed with a strengthening flange 47 along the upper
portion of the central bridge 34
[0066] As shown in FIGS. 23 and 33, the reinforcing member 34 can
have a stepped central bridge 45 with a series of different
elevations to clear the various portions of the angled connector 4
and fasteners 28 which it overlies.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 2 the first plate 5 has an attachment side
42 and an open side 43 facing in the opposite direction. The
attachment side 42 of the first plate 5 faces the first building
structural member 2.
* * * * *