Hoist Clip

Abstract

A connection between a hoist and a structural panel, wherein a clip connects a sling of the hoist to the structural panel, and the clip includes a plate portion having an eye opening receiving the sling. The clip also includes a tongue portion extending from the plate portion, the plate portion lying in registration with the attachment surface of one or more structural member that form part of the structural panel. Fasteners connect the tongue portion of the clip to the attachment surface of the structural member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of light frame construction, and in particular to a clip that can be attached to a pre-built portion of a wall or other member to allow the member to be attached to a hoist and lifted.

In light frame construction it is a common practice to build the walls of the structure lying down on a flat surface and then to lift or tilt them upright and into place. The walls can be constructed on site on the floor of the structure, or they can be built off-site in a factory and then transported to the site. In either case, after the wall or a portion of a wall has been completed, it needs to be lifted upright, moved into place and secured to the structure. The present invention provides a clip that can be attached to the wall at its top portion, which in turn is connected to a sling or chord which is in turn attached to a hoist for lifting the wall.

There are commercially available clips designed for lifting walls in place using hoists and slings. The clip of the present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a clip that is easy and economical to use, and makes a strong connection to the wall so as to protect the wall from damage during lifting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a secure connection between a hoist and structural panel, such as a wall, wherein a clip connects a sling of the hoist to the structural panel, and the clip includes a plate having an eye opening receiving the sling. The clip also includes a tongue extending from the plate. When lifting a structural panel, such as a wall section, the tongue is preferably disposed in registration with a web surface of an upright stud located in the wall. Fasteners connect the tongue of the clip to the web of an upright stud of the wall.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a clip that will not deform when loaded or damage the structural panel. This object is achieved in part by forming the clip with an upper plate portion and a tongue portion extending therefrom, and providing the clip with left and right strengthening flanges that extend along the tongue portion and into the plate portion on the left and right side edges of the clip.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a clip that is easy to install. This object is achieved by forming the clip in a manner that makes it safe to handle and intuitive to use.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a clip that is economical to manufacture. This object is achieved in part by forming the clip in a manner such that can it be made from sheet metal on an automated die press with a minimum of waste of the sheet stock.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a clip that is strong and can also fit in a narrow opening. This object is achieved in part by forming the clip with strengthening flanges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the clip of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the clip of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the clip of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the clip of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the clip of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the clip of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the clip of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the clip of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the connection of the present invention, showing the clip inserted through an opening in the top plate of a wall section and the clip attached to the web of a stud of the wall-section and a cover or cap is also inserted in the opening in the top plate with the clip inserted through the cover. The hoist and sling are not shown.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the connection shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the connection of the present invention similar to FIG. 9, except the cover is not shown.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the connection of the present invention, showing the hoist and sling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a component hoist clip 1 is shown formed from a single sheet of material, preferably from sheet steel with a thickness and strength to resist bending of the clip 1 under the design load forces. The clip 1 has a plate 2, and a tongue 3 extending from the plate 2. Preferably the plate 2 and the tongue 3 are substantially planar members and extend in substantially the same plane. The tongue 3 has first and second strengthening flanges 4 and 5.

Preferably, the plate 2 is formed with a wide eye or hoist opening 6, having a beveled edge 7 or strengthening flange that extends around the entire periphery of the eye opening 6. Fastener openings 8 are preferably formed in the tongue 3.

The preferred embodiment of the clip 1 of the present invention joins to lifting slings or straps 9 which are connected to a hoist 10 which is used to raise a structural panel 11 made from one or more structural members 15. The clip 1 is especially useful in lifting standard-framed stud walls 11 built with standard metal studs 15 and tracks 12 as used in the United States. It is common practice in the United States to build a stud wall 11 with a top track 12. The top track 12 is preferably formed with openings 13 for receiving the component hoist clips 1.

In the preferred form of the clip 1, the fastener openings 8 on the tongue 3 are located for the optimal spacing of fasteners 14, preferably threaded fasteners, which are driven through the openings 8 and into a structural member 15 such as an upright stud 15 which is connected to the top track 12. The preferred fasteners 14 are preferably self-drilling fasteners 14. The upright stud 15 is connected to the top track 12 at an angle thereto, preferably a right angle. There is sufficient spacing of the fasteners to securely engage the upright stud 15 without damaging the stud when loaded. In the preferred or typical installation, these fasteners 14 that are driven through the tongue 3 are driven into the broad webs or attachment surfaces 17 of the upright studs 15.

In the preferred embodiment, the clip 1 is attached to the wall 11 with the plate 2 extending above the top surface 20 of the wall 11.

Preferably, the fasteners 14 that are used are self-drilling metal fasteners with a hexagonal head 22 that allows the fasteners to easily be driven with a power tool. If desired, the self-drilling metal fasteners 14 can easily be removed once the stud wall 11 has been lifted into place, and the fasteners 14 and clip 1 can be reused.

It is important for the integrity of the stud wall 11 and the ability to reuse the clip 1 that the clip 1 not pull away from the wall 11 or deform when under load. In the preferred form of the clip 1, the fasteners 14 are arranged in such a manner and the fasteners 14 used have sufficient strength and pull-out resistance to hold the clip 1 in place without deformation of the clip 1, pull-out of the fasteners 14 or deformation of the structural panel or wall 11. The clip 1 resists deformation even as the directional loads on the clip 1 changes, as the stud wall 11 is lifted from lying flat on the ground to hanging upright from the hoist 10.

The clip 1 of the present invention is economical to manufacture, because it can be produced on an automated die with minimal waste of material. The die for the clip 1 can be set up so that clips 1 can be cut from the material in a side-by-side, but oppositely-oriented, manner, such that the tongue 3 of one clip 1 lies adjacent the plate 2 of the clips 1 to either side of it.

The sling 9 of the hoist 10 can be any member that attaches to the hoist and can be received and connect to the eye opening of the clip. Slings are usually flexible and generally allow for attachment to structural panels 11 of different sizes.

The tongue 3 has first and second strengthening flanges 4 and 5 formed at opposed first and second side edges 23 and 24 of the tongue 3, and the first and second strengthening flanges 5 and 6 preferably extend into the plate 2, along first and second side edges of the plate 25 and 26.

In the preferred embodiment, the plate 2 has a neck portion 27 and a body portion 28 with the neck portion 27 being disposed between the tongue 3 and body portion 28 of the plate 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the body portion 28 of the plate 2 between the first and second side edges 25 and 26 of the plate 2 is wider than the tongue 3 between the first and second side edges 23 and 24 of the tongue 3 with the neck portion 27 having first and second side edges 29 and 30 and the first and second side edges 29 and 30 of the neck portion 27 flaring outwardly and extending from the first and second side edges 23 and 24 of the tongue 3 to the first and second side edges 25 and 26 of the plate 2.

In the preferred form of the invention, the first and second strengthening flanges 4 and 5 extend substantially the length of the clip 1 from a tongue end 31 of the clip 1 and along the tongue 3, the neck portion 27 and the body portion 28 of the plate 2 to a plate end 32 of the clip 1. The plate end 32 is preferably formed with chamfered corners 45 to help prevent the sling 9 from catching on the clip 1. The eye opening 6 is also preferably spaced close to the plate end 32 so as to limit interference between the plate 2 and the sling 9. The center of the eye opening 6 is preferably spaced 1½″ from the plate end 32 of the clip 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tongue 3 is a substantially planar member having an open surface 33 and an opposed connection surface 34 that interfaces with the attachment surface 17 of a structural member 15, and the first and second strengthening flanges 4 and 5 extend outwardly away from the open surface 33 of the tongue 3. Preferably, the first and second strengthening flanges 4 and 5 extend outwardly and away from the tongue 3 and plate 2 a similar height all along the length of the clip 1, except at the plate end 32 and the tongue end 31 of the clip 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, preferably the clip 1 has a portion that extends through an opening 13 in the top surface 20 of the structural panel 11 such that the body portion 28 of the plate 2 extends above the top surface 20 of the structural panel 11. As is shown in FIG. 9, the connection can be provided with a cover or cap 35, having a barrier member 36 with the barrier member 36 having a fitted opening 37. The cap 35 is placed in alignment with the opening 13 in the top surface 20 of the wall 11 such that the cap 35 substantially covers the opening 13 and the clip 1 extends through the fitted opening 37 in the cap 35. The opening 13 in the top surface 20 of the structural panel 11 is preferably only 1.5 inches wide and the tongue 3 of the clip 1 is received in the opening 13. The tongue 3 of the clip 1 is the only portion of the clip that needs to be able to be received in the opening 13. The body portion 28 of the plate 2 is preferably wider than 1.5 inches. The tongue 3 is preferably 1⅜″ wide.

When the structural panel 11 is a wall, the structural members 15 are preferably studs that form part of the wall 11, with the studs 15 arranged in a spaced-apart, generally parallel manner with the wall 11 having a top track 12 with the top track 12 connected to and disposed above the one or more upright studs 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, preferably the clip 1 has a longitudinal axis 38 that extends from the plate end 32 of the plate 2 to an opposed tongue end 31 of the tongue 3 and a lateral axis 39 that extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 38. In the preferred embodiment the clip 1 is made from 12 guage, galvanized steel. In the preferred embodiment, the tongue 3 is preferably 1⅜″ wide along the lateral axis. In the preferred embodiment the body portion 28 of the plate 2 is 2¼″ wide along the lateral axis. In the preferred embodiment, the tongue 3 is formed with a plurality of fastener openings 8 for receiving the fasteners 14, and the plurality of fastener openings 8 includes a front pair of fastener openings 40 formed closer to the eye opening 6 than the other fastener openings 8 of the plurality of fastener openings 8 and the fastener openings 8 that make up the front pair of fastener openings 40 are aligned on a line parallel to the lateral axis 39 of the clip 1. The fastener openings that make up the front pair of fastener openings 40 are spaced between ½″ and 1″ from the interface 44 between the neck portion 27 and the tongue 3, and preferably within ⅝″ of the interface 44. The interface 44 is preferably spaced 3 5/16″ from the plate end 32 of the clip 1 and the clip is 10⅜″ long. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of fastener openings 8 also includes a back pair of fastener openings 41 formed farthest away from the eye opening 6 than the other fastener openings 8 of the plurality of fastener openings 8 and the fastener openings 8 that make up the back pair of fastener openings 41 are aligned on a line parallel to the lateral axis 39 of the clip 1. The back pair of fastener openings 41 are preferably spaced 7/16″ from the tongue end 31 of the clip 1.

Preferably, twelve spaced fastener openings 8 are formed in the tongue portion 3, and preferably either eight fasteners 14 are used or twelve fasteners 14 are used to attach the clip 1 to the structural member 15. In the preferred form of the invention eight of the fastener opening 8 are formed with a first shape 42, and 6 of the fastener openings are formed with a second shape 43. The first shape 42 of some of the fastener openings 8 can be a circle and the second shape 43 of some of the fastener openings 8 can be a substantially triangular-shape as shown in the drawings. The front and back pairs of openings 40 and 41 of the plurality of fastener openings 8 are preferably formed with the first shape 42 as well as a group of four fastener openings 8 disposed in a central area between the front and back pairs of openings 40 and 41 of the plurality of fastener openings 8. In the preferred embodiment, three of the fastener openings 8 with the second shape 42 are disposed close to the front pair of openings 40 of the plurality of fastener openings 8 and three of the fastener openings 8 with the second shape 42 are disposed close to the back pair of openings 41 of the plurality of fastener openings 8.

Claims

1. A connection between a hoist and a structural panel, the connection comprising: a. the hoist, having at least one sling;b. the structural panel having a top surface and one or more structural members;c. a clip connected to the structural panel and the hoist, the clip comprising: i. a plate having an eye opening, the eye opening receiving at least one sling connected to the hoist, and;ii. a tongue extending from and connected to the plate, the tongue lying in registration with an attachment surface of one of the one or more structural members of the structural panel, the tongue having first and second strengthening flanges formed at opposed first and second side edges of the tongue, and the first and second strengthening flanges extending into the plate along first and second side edges of the plate; andd. fasteners connecting the tongue of the clip to the attachment surface of one of the one or more structural members of the structural panel.

2. The connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the plate has a neck portion and a body portion with the neck portion being disposed between the tongue and the body portion of the plate; andb. the body portion of the plate between the first and second side edges of the plate is wider than the tongue between the first and second side edges of the tongue with the neck portion having first and second side edges and the first and second side edges of the neck portion flaring outwardly and extending from the first and second side edges of the tongue to the first and second side edges of the plate.

3. The connection of claim 2, wherein: the first and second strengthening flanges extend substantially the length of the clip from a tongue end of the clip and along the tongue, the neck portion and the body portion of the plate to a plate end of the clip.

4. The connection of claim 3, wherein: a. the tongue is a substantially planar member having an open surface and an opposed connection surface that interfaces with the attachment surface of one of the one or more structural members of the structural panel; andb. the first and second strengthening flanges extend upwardly away from the open surface of the tongue.

5. The connection of claim 4, wherein: a. the plate is also a substantially planar member disposed in the same plane as the tongue, andb. the first and second strengthening flanges extend upwardly and away from the tongue and plate a similar height all along the length of the clip, except at the plate end and the tongue end of the clip.

6. The connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the eye opening in the plate has a perimeter edge; andb. the perimeter edge is formed with a rolled strengthening flange.

7. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the clip has a portion that extends through an opening in the top surface of the structural panel such that at least a portion of the plate extends above the top surface of the structural panel.

8. The connection of claim 7, wherein: a cap, having a barrier member with the barrier member having a fitted opening, is placed in alignment with the opening in the top surface of the wall such that the cap substantially covers the opening and the clip extends through the fitted opening in the cap.

9. The connection of claim 7, wherein: the opening in the top surface of the structural panel is no more 1.5 inches wide and the tongue of the clip is received in the opening.

10. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the structural panel is a wall and the one or more structural members are studs that form part of the wall, with the studs arranged in a spaced-apart, generally parallel manner.

11. The connection of claim 10, wherein: the wall has a top track with the top track connected to and disposed above the one or more upright studs.

12. The connection of claim 11, wherein: the one or more upright studs are set at an angle to the top track and are connected to the top track.

13. The connection of claim 11, wherein: the opening in the top surface of the structural panel is formed in the top track and the opening in the top surface of the structural panel is no more than 1.5 inches wide.

14. The connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the clip has a longitudinal axis that extends from a plate end of the plate to an opposed tongue end of the tongue and a lateral axis that extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis; andb. the tongue is formed with a plurality of fastener openings for receiving the fasteners, and the plurality of fastener openings includes a front pair of fastener openings formed closer to the eye opening than the other fastener openings of the plurality of fastener openings and the fastener openings that make up the front pair of fastener openings are aligned on a line parallel to the lateral axis of the clip.

15. The connection of claim 14, wherein: a. the plate has a neck portion and a body portion with the neck portion being disposed between the tongue and the body portion of the plate;b. the body portion of the plate between the first and second side edges of the plate is wider than the tongue between the first and second side edges of the tongue with the neck portion having first and second side edges and the first and second side edges of the neck portion flaring outwardly and extending from the first and second side edges of the tongue to the first and second side edges of the plate; andc. the fastener openings that make up the front pair of fastener openings are spaced between ½″ and 1″ from the interface between the neck portion and the tongue.

16. The connection of claim 14, wherein: the plurality of fastener openings includes a back pair of fastener openings formed farthest away from the eye opening than the other fastener openings of the plurality of fastener openings and the fastener openings that make up the back pair of fastener openings are aligned on a line parallel to the lateral axis of the clip.

17. The connection of claim 1, wherein: no more than twelve fasteners are used to connect the clip to the structural panel.

18. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the fasteners are threaded.

19. The connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the clip has a longitudinal axis that extends from a plate end of the plate to an opposed tongue end of the tongue and a lateral axis that extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis; andb. the tongue is formed with a plurality of fastener openings for receiving the fasteners, and the plurality of fastener openings includes a back pair of fastener openings formed farthest away from the eye opening than the other fastener openings of the plurality of fastener openings and the fastener openings that make up the back pair of fastener openings are aligned on a line parallel to the lateral axis of the clip.

20. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the plate has a plate end opposed from the tongue and the plate end is formed with chamfered corners.