Patent Application
20170233998
This invention relates to a hanger bracket for mounting a beam at a junction of two adjacent beams, particularly for mounting a skewed beam between two adjacent beams.
Trusses used in building constructions largely comprise roof trusses and floor trusses. To achieve a variety of building frame designs truss-to-truss connections can be perpendicular and also skewed. In roof trusses a skewed truss is used to form a ‘hip’ roof and the roof trusses are known as hip trusses. The trusses in a ‘hip’ roof are designed such that, at a junction of two trusses, there is a third truss which intersects the junction at an angle. Generally, the junction between adjacent beams in a hip roof is a perpendicular junction between the two adjacent beams. Such trusses are found not only in hip roof trusses, but could also apply to floor trusses supporting a skewed floor truss or any other trusses fixed at an angle to a junction, and are referred to herein as a ‘skewed truss’. Such connections are therefore made at a junction of two beams, where a third beam intersects the junction at an angle.
There are standard techniques for mounting a skewed truss or beam in-between a perpendicular truss and a girder truss. One technique is to mount both the skewed truss and the perpendicular truss using a single bracket. When using a single bracket the weight of the skewed truss and the perpendicular truss are supported by the bracket, which is fixed to the girder truss. The skewed truss is secured in position on the bracket and between the girder truss and perpendicular truss by a tie that is nailed to the skewed truss. The disadvantage of this method is that the bracket is not necessarily optimised for the purpose of supporting a skewed truss, resulting in the securing method being unstable and the bracket being oversized. Furthermore, heavy loads from skewed trusses can lead to deflection of brackets.
There also exist fixed angle brackets for mounting to a girder truss that allow both a perpendicular and a skewed truss to be mounted. However, each bracket is restricted to a single angle at which the skewed truss can be mounted, and have complex geometry to accommodate mounting multiple trusses.
Another technique for mounting a skewed truss or beam is to first mount the perpendicular truss to the girder truss with a first bracket, and then use a supplementary bracket, known as a hanger bracket, to mount the skewed truss. The supplementary bracket relies on the perpendicular truss connection to already be made, at least in part, by the first bracket. The supplementary hanger bracket is then mounted to the already constructed perpendicular connection, and the skewed truss, supported on the hanger bracket, is secured thereto from underneath through one or more holes in the bottom of the hanger bracket. This technique is effective in securing the hip truss to the hanger bracket; however, the supplementary bracket has been known to deflect under loads, resulting in shifting of the skewed truss. Another disadvantage of the supplementary bracket method is that the head of the fixing screw can interfere with the plasterboard ceiling, which is mounted directly onto the underside of the truss or beam.
The current methods and products for attaching a skewed beam, while effective, could be improved.
In one aspect, a hanger bracket for mounting a skewed beam at a junction of two adjacent beams generally comprises a supporting section configured to support the skewed beam. Fixing flanges substantially perpendicular to the supporting section are configured for attaching the bracket to the adjacent beams along surfaces of the fixing flanges positioned to engage respective ones of the adjacent beams when attached thereto. The surfaces define planes that are non-parallel and non-coincident with each other. Reinforcing faces are located between the supporting section and each of the fixing flanges. The reinforcing faces are inclined relative to the supporting section and fixing flanges. Holes in at least one of the supporting section and the reinforcing faces are configured to receive fasteners to secure the skewed beam to the hanger bracket.
In another aspect, a hanger bracket for mounting a skewed beam at a junction of two adjacent beams generally comprises a supporting section having a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge. A first reinforcing face extends upward from a bend along the first side edge of the supporting section. The first reinforcing face has an angled edge opposite the bend along the first side edge of the supporting section. A second reinforcing face extends upward from a bend along the second side edge of the supporting section. The second reinforcing face has an angled edge opposite the bend along the second side edge of the supporting section. A first fixing flange extends upward from a bend along the angled edge of the first reinforcing face. A second fixing flange extends upward from a bend along the angled edge of the second reinforcing face. The first and second fixing flanges are non-parallel and non-coincident with each other.
In yet another aspect, a hanger bracket for mounting a skewed beam at a junction of two adjacent beams generally comprises a supporting section configured to support the skewed beam. Fixing flanges substantially perpendicular to the supporting section are configured for attaching the bracket to the adjacent beams. The fixing flanges lye in different planes to each other. Reinforcing faces are located between the supporting section and each of the fixing flanges. The reinforcing faces are inclined relative to the supporting section and fixing flanges. The reinforcing faces have one or more holes configured to receive fasteners to secure the skewed beam to the hanger bracket.
In an embodiment of the invention the reinforcing faces are structured to bear the load of the skewed beam. In some embodiments the reinforcing faces form a diagonal inclination between the support section and the fixing flanges. In further embodiments, the reinforcing faces are inclined at obtuse angles relative to the supporting section and fixing flanges.
In a further embodiment the supporting section has one or more holes through which the skewed beam is secured to the hanger bracket.
In another embodiment of the current invention the reinforcing faces have one or more holes through which the skewed beam is secured to the hanger bracket and, in some embodiments, the supporting section defines a lowermost plane of the bracket and holes in the securing faces are positioned above the lowermost plane.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention the reinforcing faces are inclined relative to the supporting section at an inclination angle of between 5° and 85°, and preferably between 30° and 60°.
In an embodiment each reinforcing face is substantially triangular, whereby the supporting section is connected along one side of the triangle and a fixing flange is connected along another side of the triangle.
In order to use the bracket in combination with different girder brackets, the fixing flanges may, in one aspect, have groups of fixing holes where each group corresponds to overlap with the fixing holes of different girder brackets, over which the hanger bracket can be fixed.
The hanger bracket is preferably formed by folding a blank of sheet metal that has been cut to shape, and that may have been first pre-punched, pre-lasered or pre-drilled with fixing holes.
Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
d illustrate a hanger bracket 100 for mounting a skewed beam 600 at a junction of two adjacent beams.
The hanger bracket 100 comprises a horizontal supporting section 120 to support a skewed beam 600 and fixing flanges 140, 142, that attach the hanger bracket 100 to the perpendicular beams 400, 500. Fixing flanges 140, 142 attach to vertical faces of adjacent beams 400, 500 so that supporting section 120 lies horizontally to support the load of skewed beam 600. The spatial planes in which the fixing flanges lie are different to each other as the fixing flanges are intended to fix to adjacent beams that lie in different planes, and namely that meet at an angled junction, such as the perpendicular junction illustrated. It is however understood that the junction could be formed at any angle greater than 0° and less than 180°, and hence the fixing flanges 140 also lie in planes that are angled at greater than 0° and less than 180°.
Reinforcing faces 130, 132 located between the supporting section 120 and each of the fixing flanges 140, 142 are inclined relative thereto and connect the supporting section 120 to each of the perpendicular fixing flanges 140, 142. The supporting section 120 and/or reinforcing faces 130, 132 also have one or more securing holes 122 through which the skewed beam 600 can be secured to the hanger bracket 100 using screws 700. The screws 700 used for securing the skewed beam 600 may have a countersunk head, capable of being recessed into the supporting section 120, in order to avoid protrusion of the head of the screw into the plasterboard ceiling.
In this description it is understood that the term ‘skewed beam’ can also refer to a skewed truss, such as a ‘hip truss’, or any other structural component to be joined to another structural component at an angle other than 90° or a straight connection.
Referring to
Referring to
It is understood that the invention will function using either the securing holes 122 of the supporting section 120 or the securing holes 122 of the reinforcing faces 130, 132. As such, choosing to only include only one set of securing holes 122 would not deviate from the scope of the invention.
The hanger bracket 100 is typically used as a secondary bracket, or supplementary bracket, in conjunction with a girder bracket. Illustrated in
The fixing flanges 140, 142 of the hanger bracket 100 each have a number of fixing holes 144. As shown in
As shown in
Once the hanger bracket 100 is mounted to the perpendicular beams 400, 500, the skewed beam 600 can be placed on the supporting section 120 of the hanger bracket 100, providing vertical support to the skewed beam 600. The skewed beam 600 can be permanently secured to the hanger bracket 100 by screws 700 through securing holes 122 in the supporting section 120 or securing holes 122 in the reinforcing faces 130, 132. Alternatively, the skewed beam 600 can be permanently secured to the hanger bracket 100 by screws 700 through securing holes 122 in the supporting section 120 and securing holes 122 in the reinforcing faces 130, 132.
As discussed, the reinforcing faces 130, 132 of the hanger bracket 100, which are inclined from the supporting section 120 to the fixing flanges 140, 142, may have securing holes 122 for securing the skewed beam 600 to the hanger bracket 100. The skewed beam 600 can be permanently fixed to the hanger bracket 100 by screws 700 which extend through the securing holes 122 in the reinforcing faces 130, 132. As the reinforcing faces 130, 132 are inclined, when the screws 700 are in their final position the heads of the screws 700 are also above the lowermost plane of the hanger bracket 100, and as a result will also be above the ceiling line and will not protrude into the plasterboard ceiling.
The blank 110 can be made out of sheet metal; however it could also be made of other materials. Preferably the blank 110, and the holes 122, 144, are stamped from sheet metal that is between 1 mm to 3 mm thick. It is, however, understood that other methods of manufacturing, such as laser cutting, and/or using another thicknesses of material would be capable of providing a similar outcome without moving away from the scope of the current invention.
As will be clear, the positions at which the bend lines 114, 115, 116, 117 are placed, and the angle at which the reinforcing faces 130, 132 and fixing flanges 140, 142 are bent, will be directly related to the specific design. In this embodiment the reinforcing faces 130, 132 are substantially triangular with the supporting section 120 connected along one side of the triangle and a fixing flange 140, 142 connected along another side of the triangle. An inclination angle α of 45° is considered ‘ideal’, however, various constraints will affect the angle that is chosen for a specific hanger bracket 100. However, it is understood that, depending on the shape of reinforcing faces 130, 132, the inclination angle between the reinforcing faces 130, 132 and the supporting section 120 could range from anywhere between 5° and 85°, and more preferably between 30° and 60°.
While the embodiment of the hanger bracket 100 shown in the figures is designed for a skewed beam 600 at an angle of 45°, it can accommodate a limited range of skewed angles either side of 45°. It is also understood that if a skewed beam 600 is required to be mounted at an angle other than substantially 45° the bend lines 114, 115, 116, 117, and the angle at which the reinforcing faces 130, 132 and fixing flanges 140, 142 are bent, may be modified to accommodate a skewed beam at the desired angle.
Referring to
From the foregoing, it is evident that the present invention provides a bracket, for mounting a skewed beam, including trusses, at a junction of two beams, which is less likely to deflect under the weight of the skewed beam.
Furthermore, it is evident that the present invention may also provide the ability to mount a skewed beam, including trusses, at a junction of two beams, using a hanger bracket that allows the fasteners securing the skewed beam to be attached above the ceiling line.
It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013205474 | Apr 2013 | AU | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/265,006, filed Apr. 29, 2014, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14265006 | Apr 2014 | US |
| Child | 15587058 | US |
