Patent Application
20240360660
The present disclosure relates to a sub floor pile fixing connector and related system. More particularly but not exclusively it relates to a sub floor pile fixing system where a timber pile is used to support a bearer on top of which floor joists are assembled to support a floor such as a timber deck.
Subfloor pile fixing systems are known. Such systems are provided for connecting a pile to a bearer and the bearer to a joist to support a floor such as a deck above. In certain jurisdictions such systems are rated to a performance standard to ensure the connections made between the subfloor structure are not sub optimal.
Some such systems are provided as a kit of parts that includes fasteners such as nails and plates through which the fasteners can pass or penetrate. Because there may be two types of subfloor structure interfaces (pile-to-bearer and bearer-to-joist) and because these structural components are often of a different size to each other, the kit of parts comprises of dedicated plates for each interface type. This means that a kit or parts may include at least two plates (and sometimes 2 pairs of mirror imaged plates) and a bunch of fasteners that may also vary in size based on the interface they are to be used at. For a builder using such known systems, it can be very frustrating. They need to rummage around a box of parts to find components and if one component is missing, a new kit of parts may need to be acquired.
It is therefor an object of the present disclosure to address these disadvantages and/or to provide the public with a useful choice.
In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present disclosure. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.
For the purpose of this specification, where method steps are described in sequence, the sequence does not necessarily mean that the steps are to be chronologically ordered in that sequence, unless there is no other logical manner of interpreting the sequence.
The present disclosure relates to improvements in subfloor pile fixing systems and related connector used in such systems.
In a first aspect the present disclosure may broadly be said to be a connector to selectively connect one of each of (i) a joist to a bearer and (ii) a bearer to a pile, of a sub floor support structure that comprises a vertically extending pile of a quadrilateral cross section on top of which a horizontally extending bearer of quadrilateral cross section rests and on top of which parallel joists of quadrilateral cross section may rest horizontally and in a manner parallel each other and perpendicular to the bearer, the connector comprising of a sheet metal plate that is configured (preferably by folding) to define two planar leaves that extend at substantially right angles from each other from a corner interface of the leaves, a first of said leaves defining a first pattern of apertures therethrough and a second of said leaves defining a second pattern of apertures therethrough that is different to said first pattern, wherein:
In a second aspect the present disclosure may be said to be a sub floor structure comprising a vertically extending pile of a quadrilateral cross section on top of which a horizontally extending bearer of quadrilateral cross section rests and on top of which a horizontally extending joist of quadrilateral cross section rest perpendicular to the bearer and wherein
Preferably the leaves are each of a quadrilateral shape.
Preferably the leaves are each of a rectangular shape.
Preferably the leaves are each of the same size.
Preferably the leaves are each of a different size.
Preferably each leaf has two opposed and parallel lateral edges and two opposed and parallel transverse edges that extend between the two opposed and parallel lateral edges.
Preferably the pile is square in cross section.
Preferably the pile is in the range of 100 mm-150 mm wide in a first direction and 100 mm-150 mm thick in second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
Preferably the pile is a 125 mm square pile.
Preferably the pile is a 140 mm square pile
Preferably the joist is between 42 and 48 mm wide and between 90 and 290 mm thick.
Preferably the joist is one selected from 290×45 and 240×45 and 190×45 and 140×45 and 90×44 (mm×mm).
Preferable the bearer is at least 135 mm thick and at least 70 mm wide.
Preferably the bearer is a 140 mm×70 mm bearer.
Preferably the bearer is a 190 mm×70 mm bearer.
Preferably the bearer is a 140 mm×90 mm bearer.
Preferably the bearer is a 190 mm×90 mm bearer.
Preferably the plate has two parallel lateral edges each running along the opposed lateral sides of the two leaves and has two parallel transverse edges one at each of said two leaves that are parallel and opposite the corner interface.
Preferably the plate is in cross section of an “L” shape.
Preferably the leaves are each of a quadrilateral shape with one of its edges of each of said leaves being coincident the corner interface.
Preferably the lateral sides of the first of said leaves are spaced apart each other at substantially the width of the bearer.
Preferably the lateral side of the first of said leaves are spaced apart at substantially 90 mm or 70 mm apart.
Preferably the first of said leaves has no said apertures within 20 mm of each lateral side.
Preferably the first of said leaves has no said apertures positioned to prevent a penetrative fastener penetrating the bearer within 20 mm of both longitudinal sides of the face of the bearer on which the first of said leaves abuts or will abut.
Preferably the first of said leaves has no said apertures positioned that would otherwise allow a penetrative fastener to pass through the leaf to penetrate the bearer within a regulated or dedicated fastener free area (such as a strip) at both of the sides of the face of the bearer on which the first of said leaves abuts or will abut.
Preferably the first of said leaves has no said apertures positioned that would otherwise allow a penetrative fastener to pass through the leaf to penetrate the bearer within a predetermined fastener free area at both of the sides of the face of the bearer on which the first of said leaves abuts or will abut.
Preferably there are two apertures through the first of said leaves at each of said lateral sides.
Preferably there are two apertures through the first of said leaves at each of said lateral sides one more proximate to the corner interface than the other.
Preferably at each lateral side of the first of said leaves, the aperture more proximate the corner interface is less than 20 mm from the corner interface.
Preferably there are two additional apertures through said first of said leaves located adjacent said corner interface.
Preferably there are two additional apertures through said first of said leaves located within 20 mm from and adjacent said corner interface.
Preferably the lateral sides of the second of said leaves are spaced apart each other at substantially the width of the bearer.
Preferably the lateral side of the of the second of said leaves are spaced apart at substantially the 90 mm or 70 mm apart.
Preferably the second of said leaves has said apertures within 20 mm of each lateral side.
Preferably the second of said leaves has no said apertures within 20 mm of said corner interface.
Preferably the second of said leaves has no said apertures positioned to that would otherwise allow a penetrative fastener to penetrate the joist within 20 mm of a longitudinal side of the face of the joist on which the second of said leaves abuts or will abut.
Preferably the second of said leaves has no said apertures positioned to allow a penetrative fastener to penetrate the joist within a dedicated or regulated fastener free area at a longitudinal side of the face of the joist on which the second of said leaves abuts or will abut.
Preferably the second of said leaves has no said apertures positioned to allow a penetrative fastener to penetrate the joist within a predetermined fastener free area at a longitudinal side of the face of the joist on which the second of said leaves abuts or will abut.
Preferably there are two apertures through the second of said leaves at each of said lateral sides.
Preferably there are two apertures through the second of said leaves at each of said lateral sides one more proximate to the corner interface than the other.
Preferably at each lateral side of the second of said leaves, the aperture more proximate the corner interface is greater than 20 mm from the corner interface.
Preferably said first of said leaves has 6 apertures for receiving said penetrative fasteners.
Preferably said second of said leaves has 4 apertures for receiving said penetrative fasteners.
Preferably the connector has a notional mirror image line midway between the lateral edges and the apertures through the first of said leaves are in mirror image configuration about the mirror image line.
Preferably the connector has a notional mirror image line midway between the lateral edges and the apertures through the second of said leaves are in mirror image configuration about the mirror image line.
Preferably the plate is of sheet metal.
Preferably the metal is mild steel or stainless steel.
Preferably the metal is a coated mild steel.
The faces mentioned herein are the longitudinally extending faces and not end faces of the joists, bearers and piles.
Preferably the first of said leaves of the first connector is identical to the first of said leaves of said second connector.
Preferably the second of said leaves of the first connector is identical to the second of said leaves of said second connector.
Preferably the first of said leaves of the first connector is identical to the first of said leaves of said second connector and the second of said leaves of the first connector is identical to the second of said leaves of said second connector.
Other aspects of the disclosure may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or,” or both.
As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification [and claims] means “consisting at least in part of.” When interpreting statements in this specification [and claims] which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be interpreted in the same manner.
The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.
This disclosure may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this disclosure relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.)
The disclosure will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:
The present disclosure is a connector 1 that is useful in the connection of components of a subfloor structure 2. The subfloor structure may for example be sub subfloor structure for supporting a deck.
A sub subfloor structure 2 may comprise of a pile 3. The pile 3 may be made from a timber and is preferably of a rectangular or square cross-section. In the figures, the pile 3 is shown in a square cross-section. The pile may have thickness TP and a width WP and may be dimensioned for example 140 mm×140 mm. Alternative pile sizes and as herein described may also be used as part of the system of the present disclosure. The pile 3 may for example be set into ground such as being set in concrete in the ground. The pile may project a distance above the ground and may have an upper end 4 at where a bearer 5 can rest.
A plurality of piles 3 may be arranged in a grid like formation and a plurality of bearers may span horizontally and across a plurality of piles in a parallel manner to each other. In the example shown in drawing only one pile and one bearer is shown. However, it will be appreciated the bearer 5 may span across a plurality of piles 3.
In a preferred form the bearers extend in a horizontal condition and are supported on the upper end 4 of the piles 3. In some instances a rebate may be provided at the upper end of the pile into which the bearer can nest.
As seen in
The bearer may be of a square cross-section or a rectangular cross-section. When of a rectangular cross-section the bearer's thickness TB will be greater than the width WB.
Supported on the bearer 5 may be a plurality of joists 10. Each joist is preferably of a rectangular cross section as seen and
Preferably the pile is in the range of 100 mm-150 mm wide in a first direction and 100 mm-150 mm thick in second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
Preferably the pile is a 125 mm square pile.
Preferably the pile is a 140 mm square pile.
Preferably the joist is between 42 and 48 mm wide and between 90 and 290 mm thick.
Preferably the joist is one selected from 290×45 and 240×45 and 190×45 and 140×45 and 90×44 (mm×mm).
Preferable the bearer is at least 135 mm thick and at least 70 mm wide.
Preferably the bearer is a 140 mm×70 mm bearer.
Preferably the bearer is a 190 mm×70 mm bearer.
Preferably the bearer is a 140 mm×90 mm bearer.
Preferably the bearer is a 190 mm×90 mm bearer.
The joists preferably span at right angles to the bearer(s) and preferably in a horizontal orientation also. The bearers may have opposed upper face 11 and lower face 12. The upper face 11 and lower face 12 are preferably parallel to each other. The bearer may also have opposed lateral faces 18 and 14.
The joists preferably have an upper face 16 and an opposed a lower face 17 and a first lateral face 18 and an opposed second lateral face 19. The lateral faces 18 and 19 of the joists are preferably at right angles to the upper face 5 of the bearer. The lateral faces 18 and 19 preferably extend vertically as do the lateral faces 13 and 14 of the bearer. The upper and lower faces of the bearer and joists are preferably horizontal.
The piles have four vertically extending facing 20a-d. (20d not shown). The faces 20a-d extend essentially vertically and faces 20b and 20d are preferably substantially parallel the faces 13 and 14 of the bearer. The faces 20a and 20c of the pile are preferably at right angles to the lower face 12 of the bearer.
The timber components of the subfloor structure as so far described as able to be connected together using a connector 1. The connector 1 is able to be utilized at each of the interface of the joist 10 and the bearer 5 as well as at the interface of the pile 3 with the bearer 5. At the interface of a joist with the bearer one connector is able to be used to connect to the upper face 11 of the bearer and to a lateral face 19 of the joist. At the interface between the pile 3 and the bearer 5 two of such connectors are able to be used to connect to each connect to the downward face 12 of the bearer and to opposed lateral faces 20a and 20c of the pile 3.
The connector 1 used at the pile to bearer interface is of the same shape and can figuration as the connector that can be used at the bearer to joist interface. This means that only one type of connector is required for establishing the connections between the timber components of a subfloor structure as herein described.
Each connector is able to be connected to a timber component utilizing penetrative fasteners 30 a plurality of such being shown in each the drawings. The penetrative fasteners may be nails or timber screws or similar threading fastener.
The connector 1 preferably comprises of a plate 40 that is of substantially an L shaped cross-sectional configuration as seen in
Each leaf has a plurality of apertures through each of which a penetrative fastener is able to pass.
In a preferred form the connector has a notional mirror axis MM about which the apertures to receive the penetrative fasteners are mirror imaged.
In a preferred form the first leaf 42 of the connector is shaped and configured for connection to the bearer 5. The first leaf 42 is able to abut and be secured at either of both of the upper and lower faces 11, 12 of the bearer.
The first leaf preferably has lateral sides 50a and 50b that are parallel to each other and are preferably spaced apart substantially the same width as the bearer. In use during construction of the subfloor structure, this allows for the connector to be appropriately aligned by using the lateral faces 14 and 13 of the bearer as a guide to align with the lateral sides 50a and 50b of the connector. By so aligning the connector prior to fastening the connector to the bearer ensures that the connector is appropriately positioned in a lateral manner to the bearer. Regulations in some countries require for there to be a no fastening zone or band extending inwardly from an edge of a bearer. The no fastening zone NF as seen in
The second leaf 43 of the connector may also have lateral edges 51a and 51b that may be each be spaced the same distance as edges 50and 50b. The second leaf 43 includes a plurality of apertures to receive penetrative fasteners. In the preferred form, the apertures through the second leaf 43 proximate the corner interface 41 are spaced from the corner interface at a distance to avoid penetrative fasteners entering the joist 10 in a no fastener zone NF of the joist. This no fastener zone NF may also be for example 20 mm from the downwardly facing face 17 of the joist. The fasteners used at the second leaf 43 are preferably shorter than the fasteners used at the first leaf 42. This is preferably so when a single width joist is used in the subfloor framing however is a double joist or a single wider joist is used, the fasteners used at the second leaf may be the same or longer than those of the first leaf.
The connector may be around 88 mm wide (so that both leafs are that width) and the first leaf 42 may be around 50 mm long and the second leaf 43 may be around 70 mm long. The connector may be around 3 mm in thickness.
Given that the pile is generally going to be wider than the width WB of the bearer, there are no restrictions on the apertures for the fasteners of the second leaf to be within or a certain distance away from the lateral sides 51a and 50b of the second leaf. As such the apertures and the second leaf, maybe more approximate to the lateral edges 51a and 51b of the second leaf, compared to the apertures of the first leaf being approximate to their perspective lateral sides. There may be a limitation for the provision of apertures in the second leaf is to take into account the potential no fastener zone NF into the joist 10. A similar no fastening zone may also exist within proximity of the upper edge 4 of the pile. Given that the length of the pile is going to usually be substantially greater than the thickness TB of the bearer and greater than the thickness TJ of the joist, the distance from the corner interface 41 to the transverse edge 60 of the second leaf can be greater than the distance of the equivalent transverse edge of the first leaf to the corner interface. The second leaf may hence be larger in size compared to the first leaf. The connector of the present disclosure is able to be used at two different types of interfaces of the subfloor structure meaning that less inventory needs to be carried by suppliers and builders and meaning very convenient use of the connectors during the construction of the sub floor structure in that only one connector needs to be selected from a set of connectors for fastening both joists and piles to a bearer. This may save time and also reduce inconvenience and the potential use of bad language on a construction site.
Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth.
Although the disclosure has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.
In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.
These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 799435 | Apr 2023 | NZ | national |
| 799866 | May 2023 | NZ | national |
