Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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HOLDOWN WITH REINFORCED BACK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a connector for anchoring a first building
structural member
to a second building structural member. The connector works in conjunction
with a separate
anchor member that is received by or is attached to the second building
structural member
and fastener means for attacliing the connector to the first building
structural member.
[0002] Earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods impose forces on a
building that can
cause structural failure. To counteract these forces, it has become common
practice to
strengthen or add ties between the structural members of a building in areas
where such
cataclysmic forces are typically focused. For example, framed walls can be
attached to the
foundation instead of merely resting on it. The connections between the framed
walls of each
floor can be strengthened. And joists can be connected to both their headers
and the support
member for their header. One of the most common connectors designed for
strengthening
structural connections in called a holdown by the inventor. Holdowns are
commonly used to
anchor framed walls to the foundation.
[0003] Early holdowns where constructed from two or more separate pieces of
metal, and the
pieces were welded together. These holdowns had to be painted to resist
rusting because
welding destroys the zinc coating of galvanized sheet metal. They were heavy
and costly to
produce because of the additional manufacturing steps and manual labor
involved in welding
and painting operations.
[0004] State of the art holdowns are made from galvanized sheet metal formed
on progressive
die machines and require no welding or painting. These advancements have
reduced the cost
of making holdowns while increasing their ability to withstand tension forces.
However,
ongoing research and development have demonstrated that it is possible to
produce holdowns
that are more inexpensive to produce and stronger for many connections.
[0005] Most of the holdown connectors of the prior art that work in
conjunction with a
separate anchor member worlc in a similar fashion. The anchor member, which is
attached to
the second structural member, attaches at the seat of the connector. This seat
is connected to
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a back member. The back member attaches to the first building structural
member, generally
a stud in a framed wall. Most holdown connectors have one or more side members
to
increase the strength of the connector or to connect the seat member to the
back member.
[0006] Most prior art holdown connectors that attached to a separate anchor
member share a
common characteristic: they are formed with a planar or flat seat.
Furthermore, the interfaces
between the seat member and the back and side members are generally
perpendicular.
[0007] When sufficiently strong tension forces are exerted on structural
members attached to
such prior art holdown connectors, the seat of the connector will deflect, and
the back
member, and side members, if present, will bend inward, toward the attachment
point of the
seat with the anchor member. The action is somewhat analogous to pulling a
slack rope
taught. This deflection of the seat, back and side members elongates the
holdown connector,
loosening the connection between the joined structural members. The
effectiveness of the
holdown is thereby reduced.
[0008] Accordingly, the state of the art was advanced by the design of
holdowns that have
seats that taper toward the attachment point of the seat with the anchor
member. Under even
the strongest tension forces, such a connector will have little capacity for
further inward
bending and will, therefore, not have its effectiveness reduced in this
manner.
[0009] There is still a continuing need in the art for a connector that can be
made more
inexpensively, installed more easily, and with better withstands forces
imposed by
cataclysmic events.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector, for tying
a first building
structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with
fastener means
and an anchor member, that better withstands tension forces than the prior
art. This object is
achieved by providing a connector that has a unique back member with a
reinforcing flange
along the back of the seat member. This object is also achieved by providing a
connector
with relatively uniform material thickness throughout, as can be achieved by
forming this
connector by means of a wiping bends on progressive die machinery.
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[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector, for tying
a first building
structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with
fastener means
and an anchor member, that is more economical to produce than the prior art.
This object is
achieved by providing a connector that can be manufactured with standard die
press
machinery from a blank of galvanized metal, that is simpler to manufacture
than prior art
connectors also manufactured with standard die press machinery, that uses less
material than
the prior art, that can be manufactured from lighter gauge materials, that
requires no costly
secondary operations such as painting and welding, that does not require such
difficult
primary operations as drawing, and that wastes less material than the prior
art.
[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector, for tying
a first building
structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with
fastener means
and an anchor member, that is easier to produce than the prior art. This
object is achieved by
providing a connector that can be manufactured with standard die press
machinery, that
requires no costly secondary operations such as painting and welding, that
does not require
such difficult primary operations as drawing, and that has fewer parts than
the prior art.
[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector, for tying
a first building
structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with
fastener means
and an anchor member, that is easy to install. This object is achieved by
using a design that
is amenable to current building practices.
[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector for tying
a first building
structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with
fastener means
and an anchor member. The connector comprises a seat member, a first side
member, a
second side member, and a unitary back member. The seat member has a back
edge, the seat
member being formed with an opening, the opening being forined for receiving
the anchor
member therethrough to attach the connector to the second building structural
member. The
first side member is connected to the seat member. The second side member is
com-iected to
the seat member. The unitary back member has a lower portion, an upper portion
and an
enlarged opening. The lower portion is connected to the seat member. The upper
portion is
connected to the first and second side members. The enlarged opening is
proximate the seat
member such that the lower portion of the back member adjacent the seat member
forms a
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reinforcing flange along at least a portion of the back edge of the seat
member. The back
member is formed to interface with the fastener means to attach the back
member to the first
building structural member. The upper portion of the back member is divided
into first and
second back plates each having an inner edge extending away from the enlarged
opening.
[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide a method of making
this connector.
According to the metliod, the opening is formed in the seat member, the
connector has an
outer circumference, the greater part of the outer circumference is lance cut
from a sheet
metal blank, the greater part of the unitary back member is bent out of the
sheet metal blank,
the first and second side members are bent out of the sheet metal blank, the
remainder of the
outer circumference is cut from the sheet metal blank, separating the
connector from the sheet
metal blanlc, and the remainder of the unitary back member is bent into its
final form.
[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that
comprises a seat
member, a first side member, a second side member, and a back member that is
not unitary.
The seat member has a back edge, and is formed with an opening, the opening
being formed
for receiving the anchor member therethrough to attach the connector to the
second building
structural member. The first side member has a back edge and is connected to
the seat
member. The second side member also has a back edge and the second side member
is also
connected to the seat member. The back member has a lower portion, an upper
portion, and
an enlarged opening. The lower portion is connected to the back edge of the
seat member,
and the upper portion is connected to the back edges of the first and second
side members.
The enlarged opening is proximate the seat member such that the lower portion
of the back
member adjacent the seat member forms at least one reinforcing flange along at
least a
portion of the back edge of the seat member. A part of the upper portion of
the back member
is formed to interface with the fastener means to attach the back meinber to
the first building
structural member. The part of the upper portion of the back member formed to
interface
with the fastener means has first and second back plates, each having an inner
edge extending
away from the enlarged opening. The first back plate is connected to the back
edge of the
first side member. The second back plate is connected to the back edge of the
second side
member. The lower portion of the back member connects to at least one of the
back edges of
the first and second side members.
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[0017] These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent
with reference
to the drawings, the description of the preferred embodiment and the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector formed in accordance with
the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the connector of FIG. 1.
The connector is
shown with an n-shaped washer.
[0020] FIG. 3 is front elevation view of the connector of FIG. 1, shown with
an n-shaped
washer.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the connector of FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a top.plan view of the connector of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the connector of FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the connector of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a back elevation view of the connector of FIG. 1, shown with
an n-shaped
washer.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the n-shaped washer of FIG. 12.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the n-shaped washer of FIG. 12.
[0028] FIG. 11 is a bottom elevation view of the n-shaped washer of FIG. 12.
[0029] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an n-shaped washer formed with flanges
having
rounded edges to fit in registration with the rounded form of seat member of
the present
invention.
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[0030] FIG. 13 is a side view of a section of the connector of FIG. 1, shown
with an n-shaped
washer. The holdown of FIG. 1 is shown fastened to a wooden stud and to a
concrete
foundation.
[0031] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a section of the connector of FIG. 1,
shown witli an n-
shaped washer, taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.
[0032] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a connector
formed in
accordance with the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a section of the connector of FIG. 15.
The connector
is shown with an n-shaped washer.
[0034] FIG. 17 is front elevation view of the connector of FIG. 15, shown with
an n-shaped
washer.
[0035] FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of the connector of FIG. 15.
[0036] FIG. 19 is a back elevation view of the connector of FIG. 15, shown
witli an n-shaped
washer.
[0037] FIG. 20 is a side view of a section of the connector of FIG. 1, shown
with an n-shaped
washer. The holdown of FIG. 1 is shown fastened to a steel channel stud and to
a concrete
foundation.
[0038] FIG. 21 is a top plan view of a section of the connector of FIG. 1,
shown with an n-
shaped washer, talcen along line 21-21 of FIG. 20.
[0039] FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the progressive die formation of the
connector of FIG.
15.
[0040] FIG. 23 is a top plan view of the progressive die formation of the
connector of FIG. 1.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 1NVENTION
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 15, a connector 1 formed in accordance with the
present
invention consists of a seat member 2, having a back edge 3, a first side
member 4 connected
to the seat member 2, a second side member 5 connected to the seat member 2,
and a unitary
back member 6, in which the parts of the back member 6 are joined to each
other without
parts outside the back member intervening. The seat member 2 is formed with an
opening 7.
The back member 6 has a lower portion 8 comiected to the seat member 2, and an
upper
portion 9 connected to the first side member 4 and the second side member 5.
The back
member 6 has an enlarged opening 10 proximate the seat member 2, such that the
lower
portion 8 of the back member 6 adjacent the seat member 2 forms a reinforcing
flange 8
along at least a portion of the back edge 3 of the seat member 2. The enlarged
opening 10
means that there is less material in the back member 6 so that it is less
likely that the material
of the back member 6 will be stretched when the connector 1 is formed. The
upper portion 9
of the back member 6 is divided into a first back plate 11 and a second back
plate 12. The
first and second back plates 11 and 12 are opposed, and each has an inner edge
13 that
extends away from the enlarged opening 10.
[0042] The first and second back plates 11 and 12 are extensions of the
reinforcing flange S.
In the preferred embodiment, the upper and lower portions of the back member
6, where the
lower portions connectors to the back edge 3 of the seat member 2 and the
upper portion
connects to the first and second side members 4 and 5, preferably lie in
substantially the same
plane.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 20, the connector 1 is used for tying a first
building
structural member 14 to a second building structural member 15 in conjunction
with fastener
means 16 and an anchor member 17. The opening 7 in the seat member 2 is formed
to
receive the anchor member 17 therethrough to attach the connector 1 to the
second building
structural member 15. The back member 6 is formed to interface with the
fastener means 16
to attach the back member 6 to the first building structural member 14. In the
preferred forin
of the invention, the first building structural member 14 is a wood post or
wall stud 14. In an
alternate form of the invention, as shown in FIG. 20, the first building
structural member 14
is a steel channel post or wall stud 14. As shown in FIG. 13, when the
connector 1 is
attached to a wood post or wall stud 14, it is preferably mounted on an outer
face of the wood
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post or wall stud 14, and the fastener means 16 are preferably self-drilling
wood screws 16.
As shown in FIG. 20, when the connector 1 is attached to a steel channel post
or wall stud
14, the connector 1 is preferably mounted within the steel channel post or
wall stud 14, and
the fastener means 16 are preferably steel framing screws 16. Although the
fastener means
16 are preferably screws 16, the fastener means 16 could be another form of
mechanical
fastener, such as nails, bolts, rivets, welds or adhesives.
[0044] If the comiector 1 is formed for attachment to a wood post or wall stud
14, the
connector 1 is preferably formed so that it is approximately as wide as the
wood post or wall
stud 14, which is typically a double 2x4 member. This form is best shown in
FIGS. 17 and
19. If the comiector 1 is formed for attachment to a steel channel post or
wall stud 14, the
connector 1 is preferably formed so that it is narrow enough to fit within the
steel channel
post or wall stud 14. This fonn is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 8.
[0045] The connector 1 of the present invention is a significant improvement
over the prior
art. It can be produced on automated progressive die machinery with
essentially no waste of
material. This means that there is virtually no manual labor involved in the
formation and
assembly of the connector, and there is a 30% material saving when compared to
the most
similar prior art connectors. Both translate into substantial cost savings,
and the enormous
material savings translates directly into less waste and savings in time,
money and energy
related to disposal or recycling of waste material. The connector 1 of the
present invention is
such a significant improvement over prior art holdown connectors that is can
be used to
replace several different types, further reducing production, inventory,
shipping and related
costs. Furthermore, quality is highly uniform as compared to prior art holdown
connectors,
which means that quality control is less burdensome and less expensive. The
design of the
connector 1 of the present invention is not only a substantial step forward in
ease of
production, but can achieve load values the same as or better than prior art
holdown
connectors using lighter gauge steel, which again conserves raw materials,
energy and cost.
Using the same or heavier gauge steel, the connector 1 of the present
invention can achieve
marlcedly higher load values. Testing has shown that the failure mode for the
connector 1 of
the present invention is shearing of the fasteners 16 or of the first building
structural member
14, which demonstrates how strong the connector 1 of the present invention is.
The
connector 1 of the present invention also incorporates a design that allows
connectors 1
manufactured according to the same method to be made relatively wide, for
attachment to
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wood structural members, and sufficiently narrow to be inserted in steel
channel structural
members, as well as other narrow installation environments.
[0046] The tables below show the remarkable load values achieved in early
testing of the
connector 1 (labeled PHD-B1-g through PHD-B2-14) of the present invention:
Test Data and Allowable Loads Summary
Fasteners Test Data per pair of Holdowns (Ibs)
Model Test
No. Ga
Anchor Qty Screw No. Setup A Setup B Setup C
Dia. (in) SDS1/4 Length Load @ Ultimate Load @ Ultimate Load @ Ultimate
118" Defi Load 118" Defl Load 118" Defi Load
PHD- 12 7/8 16 2.5" L035 11760 36080 11760 38160 - -
81-8
PHD- 10 718 16 2.5" L032 13350 32210 12230 33050 - -
B2-14
PHD- 10 7/8 20 2,5" K990 19260 43070 23000 48560 - -
B1-8
PHD- 10 7/8 24 2.5" K845 24130 43360 25360 47310 - -
B1-8
PHD- 10 7/8 24 3.0" K923 28850 42090 25880 45500 - -
B1-8
PHD- 10 7/8 24 2.5" K992 29840 58030 24070 57020 - -
B2-8
PHD- 10 7/8 30 2,5" L033 18680 74950 13590 68870 - -
82-14
Test Data and Allowable Loads Summary continued
Calculated Allowable Tension Load Allowable Tension Load
Test Results (per connector) Allowable Load Unrounded (Ibs) (Ibs)
Mod (Ibs)
el Ave Comments
No. Avg Ult Lowest Load @ DFL SPF DF/SP SPF/HF DF/SP SPF/HF
(Ibs) (Ibs) 11(Ib )efl (133) (133) (133) (133) (133) (133)
PHD 5880 original design, no
-BI- 18560 6013 7520 6320 5880 5057 5880 5055 cookie cutter
8
PHD 6395 Cookie cutter
-B2- 16315 5368 7520 6320 5368 4617 5370 4615 w/improved screw
14 pattem
PHD 10565 original design, no
-B1- 22908 7178 9400 7900 7178 6173 7180 6175 cookie cutter, skip
8 lowest 4 screw holes
PHD 12373 original design, no
-81- 22668 7227 11280 9480 7227 6215 7225 6215 cookie cutter
8
PHD 13683 original design, no
-81- 21898 7015 11280 9480 7015 6033 7015 6035
8 cookie cutter, 3" SDS
PHD 13478 Cookie cutter
-82- 28763 9503 11280 9480 9503 8173 9505 8175 w/improved screw
8 pattem
PHD 8068 Cookie cutter
-132- 35955 11478 14100 11850 8068 6938 8070 6940 w/improved screw
14 pattem
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[0047] As shown in FIGS. 1, 8, 15 and 19, the first and second back plates 11
and 12
preferably are mutually opposed and, more particularly, the inner edge 13 of
the first back
plate 11 faces the inner edge of the second back plate, but the first and
second back plates
could overlap. Preferably, the first and second opposed back plates 11 and 12
are integrally
connected to and joined by the reinforcing flange 8. Preferably, the first and
second side
members 4 and 5 are integrally connected to the seat member 2. Preferably, the
back member
6 is integrally connected to the first and second side members 4 and 5.
Preferably, the back
member 6 is also integrally connected to the seat member 2. The integral
connection between
the side members 4 and 5, the back member 6, and the seat member 2 gives the
preferred
embodiment added strength to resist both tension and compression forces.
[0048] The connector 1 formed in accordance with the present invention is
preferably formed
from sheet steel and the design makes it possible to manufacture the connector
1 on a
progressive die machine with a minimum of stretching or compression of the
material. The
prior art includes a similar connector with a concave seat member, back member
and side
members, all of which are formed by drawing a sheet metal blank over a mold,
resulting in
integral connection of the parts. However, the drawing process has the
disadvantage of being
slow, difficult to control, time-consuming and therefore expensive.
Furthermore, it stretches
the material of the connector, wealcening it particularly long its front edge,
where the material
is stretched thinnest. The connector 1 of the present invention improves on
this prior art by
being relatively quick to produce in an easily-controlled process that is less
expensive and
does not weaken the material of the connector 1.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 19, the reinforcing flange 8 is preferably
connected to the
seat member 2 along the greater portion of the back edge 3 of the seat member.
The
reinforcing flange 8 of the present invention prevents deformation of the
connector 1 under
loading and thereby improves its load-bearing capacity. The reinforcing flange
8 introduces a
bend at the back edge 3 of the seat member 2, wllich reinforces the seat
member 2, and the
material of the reinforcing flange 81ies outside the plane of the seat member
2, and closer to
parallel with the forces that otherwise act to deform the seat member 2. The
reinforcing
flange 8 shares the load imposed on the seat member 2. This, combined with the
inherent
improvements in manufacture, mean that the connector 1 of the present
invention can achieve
higher load capacities than the prior art, equal load values with lighter
gauge steel, or both.
In addition, the drawing process of the prior art required material that was
trimmed away
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after the comzector was formed. The connector 1 of the present invention
wastes no material
and this can result in a thirty percent material saving over the prior art.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 17, in the preferred embodiments the first and
second side
members 4 and 5 of the connector 1 are formed generally parallel to each
other. The first and
second side member 4 and 5 can also be formed so that they converge towards
each other or
diverge away from each other as the distance from the seat member 2 increases.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 20, a connector 1 formed in accordance with
the present
invention is preferably used with a substantially rigid washer member
181ocated proximate
the seat member 2. Most preferably, the washer member 18 rests directly on the
seat member
2, since compression forces on the washer member 18 are preferably transmitted
to the
comlector 1 through the seat member 2. The washer member 18 is preferably
formed witli a
receiving portion 19 which has an opening 20 for receiving the anchor member
17
therethrough.
[0052] The washer member 18 can be located proximate the first side member 4
and the
second side member 5 to provide lateral bracing to the first and second side
members 4 and 5
when the connector is under tension loads. When the connector 1 is under load,
the tendency
is for the connector 1 to elongate and for the first and second side members 4
and 5 to be
pulled together near the seat member 2, and the seat member 4 helps resist
this tendency. If
the washer member 18 is so formed, the receiving portion 19 fits closely
between the first and
second side member 4 and 5. Most preferably, the receiving portion 19 of the
washer
member 18 preferably conforms exactly to the shape of the first and second
side members 4
and 5.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 17, in the preferred embodiments the washer
member 18 is
proximate the seat member 2. In the preferred embodiments, the washer member
18 provides
similar lateral bracing as when the washer member 18 sits proximate the first
and second side
members 4 and 5. This is because the receiving portion 19 of the washer member
18 is
preferably of a width that closely fits between the first side member 4 and
the second side
member 5. The seat member 2 that receives the washer member 18 is thereby
braced at
points where it is substantially as wide as the distance between the first and
second side
members 4 and 5. Preferably, the washer member 18 has a base 21 formed to be
in
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registration with the seat member 2. Most preferably, the base 21 of the
washer member 18
conforms exactly to the shape of the seat member 2.
[0054] The substantially rigid washer member 18 can be formed as a solid block
with an
opening 20 for receiving the anchor member 17 therethrough. As described
above, the
receiving portion 19 should be wide enough so that the washer member 18
closely fits
between the first side member 4 and the second side member 5. If formed as a
solid member,
the washer member 18 preferably has a base 21 that is formed to be in
registration witli the
seat member 2 to provide improved bracing of the seat member 2. Such a base 21
preferably
conforms exactly to the shape of the seat member 2. The preferred embodiment
of the
washer member 18, however, is n-shaped as shown in FIGS. 9-12.
[0055] As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 16, the preferred n-shaped washer member
18 has a
receiving portion 19 formed with a back edge 22 and an outward edge 23. As
shown in FIG.
12, a back flange 24 integrally connects to the back edge 22 and extends
towards the seat
member 2. The back flange 24 has a back flange base 25 that is formed to be in
registration
with the seat member 2. An outward flange 26 integrally connects to the
outward edge 23
and also extends towards the seat member 2. The outward flange 26 has an
outward flange
base 27 that is also forined to be in registration with the seat member 2.
[0056] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 16, the seat member 2 is preferably formed with
at least one
embossment 28 that interface with the washer member 18 to hold the washer
member 18
within the seat member 2. Preferably, the seat member 2 has a front edge 29.
The connector
1 is preferably formed with at least one embossment 28 that interfaces with
the outward
flange base 27 of the washer member 18 within the seat member 2 by preventing
the washer
member 18 from moving toward the front edge 29 of the seat member 2.
Preferably, the first
and second side member 4 and 5 each have a top edge 30 and the connector 1 is
formed with
at least one embossment 28 that interfaces with the receiving portion 19 of
the washer
member 18 to hold the washer member within the seat member 2 by preventing the
washer
member 18 from moving toward the top edges 30 of the first and second side
members 4 and
5. Similar prior art connectors, when failing after achieving maximum loads,
deforin and
allow the washer member, even when similarly restrained, to slip forward and
collapse. In
the connector 1 of the present invention, the design, with its reinforcing
flange 8, is such that
the connector 1 does not deforin and the washer member 18 is restrained,
maintaining its
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shape and allowing the connector 1 of the present invention to achieve higher
loads than the
prior art. The most common mode of failure for the connection 100 of the
present invention
is for the first structural member 14 to split or for the fasteners 16 to
shear off.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, 7 and 8, in some embodiments the inner edges 13
of the first
and second opposed back plates 11 and 12 of the back member 6 preferably have
matching
curvilinear contours that are substantially equidistant. Preferably, the first
and second side
members 4 and 5 each have a front edge 31 and the front edges 31 of the first
and second side
members 4 and 5 have curvilinear contours. The curvilinear contours between
the first and
second opposed back plates 11 and 12 allow for a wider distribution of
fastener meinbers 16
in each of the opposed back plates 11 and 12, allowing the connector 1 to
achieve higher
loads. Preferably, the fastener members 16 are driven through fastener
openings 32, sized to
match the prescribed fastener members 16, in the back member 6. If the first
building
structural member 14 is made of steel, the connector can be welded to it, in
which case no
fastener openings 32 are needed. The curvilinear contours on the front edges
31 of the first
and second side members 4 and 5 are formed because the first and second
opposed back
plates 11 and 12 of one connector 1 of the present invention are contiguous
with the first and
second side member 4 and 5 of the next connector 1 of the present invention
when the
connectors 1 are cut from a sheet metal blanlc. Preferably, the front edges 31
of the first and
second side members 4 and 5 are connected through the front edge 29 of the
seat member 2.
[0058] In the present invention, the seat member 2 is preferably forined as a
concave
member. As seen in FIG. 1, in the preferred form of the invention the concave
seat member
2 is curvilinear, but angular variations are also considered to be within the
scope of the
present invention.
[0059] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 20, the anchor member 17 can consist of an
anchor bolt 33
and a holding means 34 attached thereto. The anchor bolt 33 can be formed with
distal end
and a proximal end 36. When the second building structural member 15 is a
concrete
30 foundation 15, the distal end 35 embedded in the concrete foundation 15, as
shown in FIGS.
13 and 20. The proximal end 36 can be formed with a threaded portion 37 to
which the
holding means 34, generally a threaded nut, can releasably attach, completing
the anchor
member 17.
13
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[0060] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 15, the back member 6 is preferably formed with
a plurality
of fastener openings 32 to receive fastener means 16.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 13, wlZen the first building structural member 14 is
made of wood,
the fastener means 16 are preferably wood screws with cutting points. They can
also be nails,
threaded bolts with nuts, lag screws, steel screws, welds or adhesives, or the
like. The use of
self-drilling wood screws as fastener means 16 eliminates the need for the
added step of
drilling a hole for a regular bolt or screw that has no drilling point. Also,
screws need not
pass all the way through the first building structural member 14 from the
front side 38, so
access to the back side 39 of the first building structural member 14 is not
necessary. Self-
drilling wood screws create a stronger connection than nails, and self-
drilling wood screws
can be installed almost as quickly as nails if a powered driver is used.
[0062] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 15, the enlarged opening 10 in the back member
6 is
preferably bounded by the curved upper edge 40 of the reinforcing flange 8 and
two
upwardly slanted edges 41 that comiect the curved upper edge 40 of the
reinforcing flange 8
to the inner edge 13 of the opposed back plates 11 and 12 of the back member
6. Preferably,
the front edges 31 of the first and second side members 4 and 5 are connected
to the front
edge 29 of the seat member 2 by two downwardly slanted edges 42. The two
upwardly
slanted edges 41 of one connector 1 of the present invention are contiguous
with the two
downwardly slanted edges 42 of the next connector 1 of the present invention
when the
connectors 1 are cut from a sheet metal blank; the curved upper edge 40 of the
reinforcing
flange 8 of one connector 1 of the present invention is contiguous with the
front edge 29 of
the seat member 2 of the next connector 1 of the present invention when the
connectors 1 are
cut from a sheet metal blank.
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 14, the opening 7 in the seat member 2 is
obround in
shape to accommodate misalignment of the anchor member 17 and the first
building
structural member 14.
10064] FIGS. 13 and 20 show typical uses of the preferred embodiment. In both,
the first
building structural member 14 is a vertical stud 14 of a framed wall and the
second building
structural member 15 is a concrete foundation 15. The present invention may
also be used to
14
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transfer tension loads between floors of a framed structure, or to tie
horizontal joists to
masonry or concrete walls, or to tie purlins to each other, or the like.
[0065] Installation of the connector 1 and the n-shaped washer member 18 of
the preferred
embodiment to form a foundation-to-wood-stud connection is shown in FIG. 13.
The
connection also secures the transfer member 43, or mudsill as it is generally
known, to the
second building structural member 15.
[0066] First, an anchor bolt 33 is embedded in the second buildings structural
member 15,
which is commonly a poured concrete foundation. This can be done by placing
the distal end
35 of the anchor bolt 33 in the wet concrete or by forming the second building
structural
member 15 with the proximal end 36 of the anchor bolt 33 protruding from it.
An opening 44
is drilled in the transfer member 43 and the anchor bolt 33 is inserted
therethrough with the
threaded portion 37 of the proximal end 36 of the anchor bolt 33 exposed above
the top of the
transfer member 43.
[0067] The threaded portion 37 of the anchor bolt 33 is inserted through the
opening 7 in the
seat member 2, and the opening 20 in the receiving portion 19 of the n-shaped
washer
member 18. The back member 6 of the connector 1 is set against the front side
38 of the first
building structural member 14. Fastener means 16 are driven through the
fastener openings
32 in the back member 6 and into the first building structural member 14,
forming a tight fit
between the back member 6 of the connector 1 and the first building structural
member 14. A
holding means 34 is then placed on the tllreaded portion 37 of the anchor bolt
33 and
tightened down, completing the anchor member 17, and the connection 100.
[0068] The method of forming of the connector 1 of the present invention is
best illustrated by
FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 which show the connector 1 being formed on a progressive
die. As
illustrated, there are idle stations that leave room for the tool blocks that
are used for wiping
bend operations. The connector 1 of the present invention is preferably formed
on an
automated die press. According to the preferred method of forining the
connector 1, the
opening 7 is formed in the seat member 2. The comiector has an outer
circumference 45.
The outer circumference 45 is the outline of the part in a flat sheet of
material, preferably
galvanized sheet steel. The greater part of the outer circumference 45 is
preferably lance cut
from a sheet metal blanlc 46. Preferably, a small portion in the very middle
of the connector 1
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is left uncut, so that the successive connectors 1 cut out of the sheet metal
blank 46 remain
connected to each other until separated in the last step on the automated die
press. For the
preferred method, the greater part of the unitary back member 6 is bent out of
the sheet metal
blank 46, preferably by a wipe operation. The wipe can either be up or down.
The still flat
side members 4 and 5 and the seat member 2 are held by a tool block. Then, the
first and
second side members 4 and 5 are bent out of the sheet metal blanlc 46, the
remainder of the
outer circumference 45 is cut from the sheet metal blank 46, separating the
connector from
the sheet metal blank 46, and the remainder of the unitary back member 6 is
bent into its final
form, preferably all in one step, a three-sided wipe in which the seat member
2 is held by a
tool block. Although the rest of the unitary back member 6 is preferably bent
up or down in
an earlier step, the middle portion that preferably connects the connectors 1
until the final
step remains flat. In the final step, it is preferably berit and severed at
once.
[0069] In its preferred form, the connector 1 of the present invention has
first and second
back plates 11 and 12 that are formed with a plurality of fastener openings
32. The fastener
openings 32 can be formed by casting, punching, boring or the like, and are
preferably sized
to closely accommodate the preferred fasteners, which for attachment to wood
structural
members are 1/a" diameter self-drilling wood screws. The more preferred self-
drilling wood
screws are Simpson Strong-Tie SDS screws, which come in lengths of 1%2"to 6".
[0070] If the connector 1 of the present invention has first and second back
plates 11 and 12
that are formed with a plurality of fastener openings 32, the method of
forming the connector
I includes the step of forming the plurality of fastener openings 32.
[0071] Preferably, the connector 1 of the present invention has a washer
member 18 that is
located proximate the seat member 2, and the seat member 2 is formed with at
least one
embossment 28 that interfaces with the wasller member 18 to hold the washer
member 18 in
the seat member 2. The washer member 18 is preferably inserted in the
connector 1 after the
connector 1 has been removed from the progressive die machine. Preferably,
there are four
embossments 28, two in front of the washer member 18 and two above the washer
member
18. The embossments 28 in front of the washer member 18 are preferably forlned
on the
progressive die machine, but the two embossments 28 above the washer member 18
are
preferably formed after the washer member 18 has been inserted in the
connector 1, a
secondary operation.
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[0072] In an alternate embodiment, the connector 1 of the present invention
comprises a seat
member 2, a first side member 4, a second side member 5, and a back member 6
that is not
unitary. The seat member 2 has a back edge 3, and is formed with an opening 7,
the opening
7 being formed for receiving the anchor member 33 therethrough to attach the
connector 1 to
the second building structural member 15. The first side member 4 has a back
edge 47 and is
connected to the seat member 2. The second side member 5 also has a back edge
47 and the
second side member 5 is also connected to the seat member 2. The back member 6
has a
lower portion 8, an upper portion 9, and an enlarged opening 10. The lower
portion 8 is
connected to the back edge 3 of the seat member 2, and the upper portion 9 is
connected to
the back edges 47 of the first and second side members 4 and 5. The enlarged
opening 10 is
proximate the seat member 2 such that the lower portion 8 of the back member 6
adjacent the
seat member 2 forms at least one reinforcing flange 8 along at least a portion
of the back edge
3 of the seat member 2. A part of the upper portion 9 of the back member 6 is
formed to
interface with the fastener means 16 to attach the back member 6 to the first
building
structural member 14. The part of the upper portion 9 of the back member 6
formed to
interface with the fastener means 16 has first and second back plates 11 and
12, each having
an inner edge 13 extending away from the enlarged opening 10. The first back
plate 11 is
connected to the back edge 47 of the first side member 4. The second back
plate 12 is
connected to the back edge 47 of the second side member 5. The lower portion 8
of the back
member 6 connects to at least one of the back edges 47 of the first and second
side member 4
and 5.
17
