Abstract:
The present invention provides a connection having a plurality of parallel structural members. The structural members are bridged by strap member, preferably light gauge steel. The end of the strap member is held in place by an overlapping strap holder. Fasteners hold the strap holder and the strap to the underlying structural member, with at least one passing through only the strap holder into the first side of the the first structural member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a connection in which a strap bridges a plurality of substantially parallel structural members and is secured by a strap holder, especially where an elongate utility strap is used, typically in pairs forming X bracing, to reinforce roof trusses against forces acting along the length of the roof. Single diagonal braces of this general type are also commonly used in walls in light wood frame construction, and might also be used to brace floor beams or other series of parallel structural members.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a secure connection between an elongated strap member and a structural member. The present invention improves on the prior art of simply nailing through the strap and into the structural member beneath it. The present invention provides a connection having a plurality of parallel structural members. The structural members are bridged by strap member, preferably light gauge steel. The end of the strap member is held in place by an overlapping strap holder. Fasteners hold the strap holder and the strap to the underlying structural member, with at least one passing through only the strap holder into the first side of the the first structural member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a roof, showing three sections of roof trusses connected by strap members arranged in X patterns.  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a plurality of roof trusses, joined by perpendicular bracing and by connections of the present invention.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the strap holder of the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the strap holder of the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the strap holder of the present invention, perpendicular to the view of FIG. 3.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of the strap holder of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a roof truss showing a plurality of connections of the present invention, in particular the interface of first structural member, strap and strap holder.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the strap holder, strap member and first structural member of the present invention, connected by fasteners.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the plurality of substantially parallel structural members are wall studs.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 10 is an an isometric view of a second alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the plurality of substantially parallel structural members are floor joists. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    As best seen in FIG. 2, the preferred form of the present invention is a connection  1  comprising a plurality of substantially parallel structural members  2 , a first structural member  3  having a first side  4 , a strap member  5  having an upper surface  6 , a lower surface  7 , a first side edge  8 , a second side edge  9 , and a first end edge  10 , a strap holder  12  having an upper face  13  and a lower face  14 , the lower face  14  being dimensioned to interface with the first side  4  of the first structural member  3  and attached only to the first structural member  3  of the plurality of structural members  2 , and a plurality of fasteners  15 . The lower surface  7  of the strap member  5  interfaces with the first side  4  of the first structural member  3 , the lower face  14  of the strap holder  12  interfaces with the upper surface  6  of the strap member  5 , extending beyond the first side edge  8  to interface with the first side  4  of the first structural member  3 , at least one of the plurality of fasteners  15  passes through both the strap holder  12  and the strap member  5  and into the first side  4  of the first structural member  3 , at least one of the plurality of fasteners  15  passes through only the strap holder  12  into the first side  4  of the first structural member  3 , and the strap member  5  crosses over the plurality of substantially parallel structural members  2 . As shown in FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substantially parallel structural members  2  are the top members of roof trusses  11 . The connection  1  of the present invention is paired to create X bracing that reinforces the roof  16  against forces acting primarily along the length of the roof  16 , which is otherwise relatively rigid where it joins the wall below, which is typically reinforced by sheathing against shear forces acting along the length of the wall. As shown in FIG. 1, a number of areas of the roof  16  are reinforced with X bracing, which is often required by building codes.  
         [0014]    As best shown in FIG. 7 and in detail in FIG. 8 in the preferred embodiment the first structural member  3  further comprises a second side  17  and a first juncture  18  between the first side  4  and the second side  17 . The strap member  5  is bent over the first juncture  18  and interfaces with the second side  17 .  
         [0015]    As best shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, in the preferred embodiment the strap holder  12  additionally comprises a first transition line  19  and a second transition line  20 , the first transition line  19  and the second transition line  20  dividing the upper face  13  and the lower face  14  into a first attachment portion  21 , a second attachment portion  22 , and a first securement portion  23  between the first transition line  19  and the second transition line  20 , and wherein the first securement portion  23  is dimensioned to closely interface with the upper surface  6  of the strap member  5 , the first transition line  19  closely parallel to the first side edge  8  and the second transition line  20  closely parallel to the second side edge  9 . In the preferred embodiment, the first transition line  19  and the second transition line  20  are double bends that create a raised securement portion  23  that bisects the middle of the strap holder  12 .  
         [0016]    As best shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in the preferred embodiment one or more of the plurality of fasteners  15  passes through the first attachment portion  21  into the first side  4  of the first structural member  3 , one or more of the plurality of fasteners  15  passes through the second attachment portion  22  into the first side  4  of the first structural member  3 , and one or more of the plurality of fasteners  15  passes through the first securement portion  23 , through the strap member  5 , and into the first side  4  of the first structural member  3 .  
         [0017]    As shown in FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment, the plurality of substantially parallel structural members  2  and the first structural member  3  are the top chords of roof trusses  11  and the top chords of roof trusses  25  are made of wood. As shown in FIG. 10, in an alternate preferred embodiment, the plurality of substantially parallel structural members  2  and the first structural member  3  are floor beams, and the floor beams are made of wood. As shown in FIG. 9, in another alternate preferred embodiment, the plurality of substantially parallel structural members  2  and the first structural member  3  are wall studs. Notwithstanding the above, the substantially parallel structural members  2  may be any such series of structural members, and may made of any material, such as steel. In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners  15  are nails, although they may be screws, bolts or any other type of pin-like fastener.  
         [0018]    In the preferred embodiment, the strap member  5  and strap holder  12  are both formed from light gauge steel, but either or both may be formed from other metals or plastics, or any other material that may be formed into the necessary shapes.  
         [0019]    In the preferred embodiment, the strap holder  12  is formed with a plurality of fastener openings  24  and the strap member  5  is also formed with a plurality of fastener openings  25 .