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 with fasteners for attaching the connector to the first building structural member.
The present invention finds particular use in anchoring the vertical stud of a wall to a base supporting the wall, and even more particularly to anchoring a sheet metal stud that is part of wall made from cold formed steel members. State of the art connectors for this application are typically made from sheet metal. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,803, granted Jun. 15, 1993, to Jeff A. Wright; U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,593 granted Nov. 27, 2007 to diGirolamo and Torres; U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,508, granted May 19, 2009, to diGirolamo and Torres, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,321, granted Mar. 5, 2013 to diGirolamo, Herrman and Abdel-Rahman. These patents teach connectors that are specifically designed to help the studs in steel-framed walls resist tension forces. U.S. Pat. No. 8,516,769 also teaches a similar connector designed to resist uplift forces. While there are many recent patents in this field, the inventors have found that a connector that is capable of being mass produced and installed inexpensively should be made even stronger for this connection.
Typically, these connectors work in conjunction with a separate anchor member and attach to the side face of the first building structural member, generally a vertically disposed stud in a vertical wall. The anchor member attaches at the seat of the connector. This seat is connected to a back member, and the back member attaches to the side face of the stud or post. In some of the prior art connectors, there are one or more side member to increase the strength of the connector or to connect the seat member to the back member.
The holdown connector of the present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a holdown that withstands very high tension loads with minimal deflection, while being economical to produce.
The present invention is a connection between a first building structural member and a second building structural member using a connector, an anchor member and fasteners.
The anchor member is held by the second building structural member. The anchor member has a first end which protrudes above the second building structural member. A connector receives the first end of the anchor member. The connector consists of a connection element and a stiffener. The connection element has a base and back member. The base of the connection element is formed with an opening for receiving the anchor member there through. The separate stiffener, which overlays the base and is in contact with the back member of the connection element, is formed with an opening for receiving the anchor member. The stiffener is connected to the anchor member. A first building structural member is in contact with the back member. Fasteners complete the connection by connecting the back member of the connection element to the first building structural member. These same fasteners also connect the stiffener to the first building structural member. The stiffener and the connection element of the connector are formed with closely or exactly conforming members and surfaces so that stretch of the connection element is minimized. Furthermore, the junctures between different members of the stiffener and connection element are formed as continuously curved members with large radii so as to reduce failure of the connection element.
The object of the present invention is to provide a connector that better withstands tension forces than the prior art, while still being economical to produce and simple to install.
The object of making a holdown that is economical to produce is achieved by utilizing a design that is easily formed from sheet steel with a minimum of costly secondary operations, such as painting and welding.
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.
As seen in
The anchor member 5 is held by the second building structural member 3 and has a first end 8 protruding above the second building structural member 3.
The preferred connection element 6 of the present invention is formed as an L-shaped member 6 having a base 21 and a back member 9. The base 21 is set at an angle to the back member 9, preferably at an angle substantially close to 90 degrees. The base 21 and the back member 9 are joined at a first juncture 24, preferably this juncture is curved. The base 21 of the connection element 6 is formed with an opening 10 for receiving the anchor member 5 there through for attaching the connector 1 to the second building structural member 3. The back member 9 of the connection element 6 has an inner surface 54.
The preferred stiffener 7 is a separate member from the L-shaped connection element 6. The preferred stiffener 7 interfaces with the back member 9 of the connection element 6 and bears on the base 21 of the connection element 6. The stiffener 7 is formed with an opening 11 for receiving the anchor member 5. The stiffener 7 is connected to the anchor member 5. The first building structural member 2 which can be a vertically disposed steel stud 2 interfaces with the back member 9. As is shown in
Referring to
In the preferred embodiment, the stiffener 7 has a bottom base 15 and first and second lateral side members 16 and 17. The stiffener bottom base 15 has a top surface 18. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second lateral side members 16 and 17 are preferably flanges. In the preferred embodiment, the first lateral side member 16 of the stiffener 7 has an outer surface 55 and a selected height, and the second lateral side member 17 of the stiffener 7 has an outer surface 57 and a selected height. First lateral side member 16 of the stiffener 7 interfaces with the back member 9, and second side member 17 is opposed to the first side member 16. In the preferred embodiment, the first side member 16 of the stiffener 7 interfaces with the back member 9 of the connection element 6 and the bottom base 15 of the stiffener 7 rests on the base 21 of the connection element 6. The bottom base 15 meets the two opposing lateral sides members 16 and 17 at first and second lateral junctures 19 and 53 respectively. The bottom base 15 of the stiffener 7 is also formed with a bearing surface 20. The two opposing lateral side members 16 and 17 each have a selected height that is preferably not the same. In the preferred embodiment, the inner surface 54 of the back member 9 of the connection element 6 is formed to conform substantially to the shape of the outer surface 55 of the first lateral side member 16 of the stiffener 7 for substantially all of the height of the first lateral side member 16. Also in the preferred embodiment, the base 21 and back member 9 of the connection element 6 are formed to substantially conform to the shape of the bearing surface 20 and to the shape of the stiffener 7 at the first lateral juncture 19. The base 21 and opposed flange 50 of the connection element 6 are also formed to substantially conform to the shape of the bearing surface 20 and to the shape of the stiffener 7 at the second lateral juncture 53
In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners 4 are received by both the back member 9 of said connection element 6 and the first lateral side member 16 of said stiffener 7 to connect said connection element 6 and said stiffener 7 to said first building structural member 2.
In the preferred embodiment, the connection element 6 is also formed with an upward projecting, opposed flange 50 that is opposed to the back member 9. The opposed flange 50 of the connection element has an inner surface 56. The conforming top surface 51 of the base 21 and portions of the back member 9 and the lateral flange 50 of the connection element 6 are preferably formed to conform exactly to the shape of the bearing surface 20 and to the shape of the stiffener 7 at the two lateral junctures 19 and 53. Also in the preferred embodiment, the back member 9 and lateral flange 50 of the connection element 6 are formed to conform exactly to the outer surfaces 55 and 57 of the opposing lateral side members 16 and 17 of the stiffener 7 for substantially all of the height of first lateral side member 16 and a portion of the height of second lateral side member 17.
In the preferred embodiment, the lateral junctures 19 and 53 between the bottom bearing surface 20 of the stiffener 7 and the two opposing lateral side members 16 and 17 are formed as continuous curves with relatively large radii.
In the preferred embodiment, the base 21 of the connection element 6 meets the back member 9 at a first curved juncture 24. The radius of this first curved juncture 24 is also a relatively large radius. the base 21 of the connection element 6 meets the opposed flange 50 at a second curved juncture 52. The radius of this second curved juncture 52 is also a relatively large radius. The other dimensions of the connection element 6 are also selected to match the dimensions of the stiffener 7, such that the connection element 6 closely receives the stiffener 7. This eliminates practically all deflection of the connector 1 at the design uplift loads.
Referring to
As shown in
When the first building structural member 2 is made of steel the connector 1 can be welded to the first building structural member 2, thus the back member 6 and the stiffener 7 need not be formed with openings 12 and the fasteners 4 can be welds. The welds could connect both the stiffener 7 and the back member 9 to the first building structural member 2.
The connection element 6 of the preferred embodiment is formed from sheet metal. The preferred embodiment of the stiffener 7 is also made from sheet steel.
The preferred embodiment is formed in the following manner. A blank, which will become the connection element 6, is cut from sheet metal. The openings 10 and 12 in the connection element 6 are formed by cutting out portions from the blank. The blank is then formed into the generally L-shaped member shown in
As shown best in
Installation of the connector 1 of the preferred embodiment to form a foundation-to-steel-stud connection is illustrated by
Fasteners 4 are driven into the first building structural member 2 through the openings 12 in the connection element 6 and the openings 59 in the stiffener 7, forming a tight fit between the connection element 6 of the connector 1 and the first building structural member 2, completing the connection. As shown in
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