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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 10/680,585, filed Oct. 6, 2003.  
         [0002]     The most common connection in the construction of a residential or light frame commercial building is the connection of the vertical wall framing studs to the bottom and top horizontal wood plates. This connection is most commonly made by toe nailing at an angle through an end of the stud into the respective top or bottom wood plate.  
         [0003]     The problem with the toe nail stud to plate connection is the fact that end splitting of the stud is common; particularly if installation is effected by an unskilled workman but the main problem is that toe nailing creates inadequate resistance to uplift where the structure is subject to earthquake or high wind forces.  
         [0004]     Some commercially available metal connectors have been placed on the market, which decrease wood splitting and improve uplift resistance, but these metal connectors do not provide indexing for both single and double plates with the same part of the connector. Moreover, none provide tension resistance in addition to that provided by the fasteners with the same part used for indexing.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The gist of the present invention is to provide a sheet metal connector for connecting vertical studs to horizontal wood plates which is easier to use and to install than presently known connectors and which can resist greater uplift loads.  
         [0006]     The present invention provides a pair of identical connectors, attached to the stud and plates of a building wall, that resist tension loads through fasteners and a face member flange.  
         [0007]     A still further purpose of the present connector is to provide a single connector which can be interchangeably used to connect the stud to either a top double wood plate or a bottom single wood plate.  
         [0008]     Another purpose of the present connector is to provide easy installation by allowing for full hammer strokes and quick installation with the best line of sight installation by providing that all nails are installed on the outside surface of the stud and plates.  
         [0009]     A further objective is to provide a connector in which all fasteners are in shear resistance rather than “pull-out” resistance. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the first stud to plate tie connector of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention in the connection of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the first stud to plate tie connector of the present invention in the connection of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the connection of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is plan view of the blank of a preferred embodiment of the first stud to plate tie connector of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of a first end of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention showing the face member.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention showing the edge member.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention showing the face member and the edge member.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is an elevation view of a second end of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention showing the face member and an end of the edge member.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the first stud to plate tie connector of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention in the connection of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the first stud to plate tie connector of the present invention in the connection of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is plan view of the blank of a preferred embodiment of the first stud to plate tie connector of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the connection of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is an elevation view of a first end of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention showing the face member.  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention showing the edge member.  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention showing the face member and the edge member.  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is an elevation view of a second end of a preferred embodiment of the second stud to plate tie connector of the present invention showing the face member and an end of the edge member.  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a wall section showing multiple connections of the present invention with a single ply base plate and a concrete foundation as the underlying structural member.  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a wall section showing multiple connections of the present invention with a double ply base plate and a subfloor as the underlying structural member.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     As best seen in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18 , the present invention is a stud to plate tie connection  1  in a wood frame structure  2 . The connection comprises a base plate  3 , a top plate  7 , an elongated stud  11 , a first stud to plate tie connector  16 , and a second stud to plate tie connector  20 . The base plate  3 , top plate  7  and elongated stud  11  are all typically nominal 2×4 wood members. Most typically, the base plate  3  is a single width, while the top plate  7  is typically a double width. The stud  11  is typically either a single 2×4 or a double 2×4, although triple ply or greater are also possible. These structural members could also be a material other than wood, such as steel. The base plate  3  has an upper face  4 , a lower face  5 , and an edge face  6 . The top plate  7  has an upper face  8 , a lower face  9 , and an edge face  10 . The elongated stud  11  has sides  12  and an edge face  13  therebetween and has an upper end  14  in abutting registration with the lower face  9  of the top plate  7  and a lower end  15  in abutting registration with the upper face  4  of the base plate  3 . The first stud to plate tie connector  16  has an edge member  17 , and a face member  18  connected to the edge member  17  and projecting at a right angle thereto for engaging the lower face  5  of the base plate  3 . A plurality of fasteners  19  pass through the edge member  17  into the edge face  13  of the stud  11  and into the edge face  6  of the base plate  3 . The second stud to plate tie connector  20  identical to the first stud to plate tie connector  16  has an edge member  21 , and a face member  22  connected to the edge member  21  and projecting at a right angle thereto for engaging the upper face  8  of the top plate  7 . A plurality of fasteners  19  pass through the edge member  21  into the edge face  13  of the stud  11  and into the edge face  10  of the top plate  7 .  
         [0031]     As best seen in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 17 , preferably one of the top plate  7  and the base plate  3  is a double ply of wood. The plies are preferably nominal 2×4 wood members, running parallel, one on top of the other, narrow faces vertically side by side, two of the broad faces face-to-face. A single ply base plate  3  is preferred because compression loads crush the lumber, and a single ply is less material to crush. A double top plate  7  is preferred because it allows the wood members to be lapped at wall corners and where one wood member ends and another continues. The actual dimensions of nominal 2×4 lumber are 1½ inches by 3½ inches. The preferred embodiments of the stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  of the present invention were engineered for use with nominal 2×4 lumber.  
         [0032]     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , preferably the first stud to plate tie connector  16  has fastener openings  23  in the edge member  17 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the second stud to plate tie connector  20  has fastener openings  24  in the edge member  21 .  
         [0033]     As best seen in  FIGS. 2B and 10B , preferably the fastener openings  23  in the edge member  17  of the first stud to plate tie  16  are spaced so that when the face member  18  of the first stud to plate tie  16  engages the lower face  5  of the base plate  4  at least one of the plurality of fasteners  19  passes through one of the fastener openings  23  in the edge member  17  directly into the edge face  13  of the stud  11  and at least one of the plurality of fasteners  19  passes through one of the fastener openings  23  in the edge member  17  directly into the base plate  3 . As best seen in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 10A , preferably the fastener openings  24  in the edge member  21  of the second stud to plate tie  20  are spaced so that when the face member  22  of the second stud to plate tie  20  engages the upper face  8  of the top plate  7  at least one of the plurality of fasteners  19  passes through one of the fastener openings  24  in the edge member  21  directly into the edge face  13  of the stud  11  and at least one of the plurality of fasteners  19  passes through one of the fastener openings  24  in the edge member  21  directly into the top plate  7 .  
         [0034]     As best seen in  FIGS. 2B and 10B , preferably, at least four of the plurality of fasteners  19  pass through the fastener openings  23  in the edge member  17  of the first stud to plate tie  16  into the stud  11 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2A and 10A , at least four of the plurality of fasteners  19  pass through the fastener openings  24  in the edge member  21  of the second stud to plate tie  20  into the stud  11 .  
         [0035]     Preferably, the fastener openings  23  and  24  are staggered to prevent splitting the lumber with the plurality of fasteners  19 . Testing arrived at four fasteners as giving the maximum load values. Additional fasteners in the stud  11  would not substantially increase load values. When used with nominal 2×4 wood members, the preferred distance from the nearest of these four fasteners to the face member is 4 inches.  
         [0036]     As best seen in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 11 , most preferably each of the first and second stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  has four fastener openings  23  or  24  for attaching to a single ply stud  11  and eight fastener openings  23  or  24  for attaching to a double ply stud  11 . Preferably, each of the first and second stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  has three fastener openings  23  or  24  that could be used for attaching to the base plate  3  or top plate  7  when there is a single ply stud  11 . One of the fastener openings  23  or  24  is used when the base plate  3  or top plate  7  is single ply; all three of the fastener openings  23  or  24  are used when the base plate  3  or top plate  7  is double ply. Preferably, each of the first and second stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  has six fastener openings  23  or  24  that could be used for attaching to the base plate  3  or top plate  7  when there is a double ply stud  11 . Two of the fastener openings  23  or  24  are used when the base plate  3  or top plate  7  is single ply; all six of the fastener openings  23  or  24  are used when the base plate  3  or top plate  7  is double ply. Preferably, the fastener openings  23  and  24  for base plate connection are laterally centered in line on a stud to plate tie connector  16  or  20  designed for use with a single ply stud  11 , and the spacing is centered on either side of a center line on a stud to plate tie connector  16  or  20  designed for use with a double ply stud  11 . On a stud to plate tie connector  16  or  20  designed for use with a single ply 2×4 stud  11 , the fastener openings  23  and  24  for base plate connection nearest the face member  18  or  22  is preferably ⅜ inches from the face member  18  or  22 . The next is preferably 1 1/16 inches from the face member  18  or  22  and the third is preferably 1⅞ inches from the face member  18  or  22 . On a stud to plate tie connector  16  or  20  designed for use with a double ply 2×4 stud  11 , the second row of fastener openings  23  and  24  for base plate connection are each slightly further away from the face member  18  or  22 , ½ inches, 1 3/16 inches, and 2 inches, respectively.  
         [0037]     As best seen in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 11 , preferably the first stud to plate tie  16  additionally comprises reinforcing embossments  25  in the edge member  17 , and the second stud to plate tie ( 20 ) additionally comprises reinforcing embossments  26  in the edge member  21 . Preferably, there are two embossments  25  and  26  when there is a single ply stud  11  and four when there is a double ply stud  11 . Testing has shown that these embossments reinforce the juncture between the edge members  17  and  21  and the face member  18  and  22  of the stud to plate tie connectors  16  and against bending, which is critical because under tension loads the connectors  16  and  20  will otherwise bend at the juncture or in the edge members  17  and  21  and allow the face members  18  and  22  to pull from below the base plate  3  or above the top plate  7 . Preferably, the first stud to plate tie  16  additionally comprises reinforcing embossments  27  in the face member  18 , and the second stud to plate tie  20  additionally comprises reinforcing embossments  28  in the face member  22 . Preferably, there are two embossments  27  and  28  when there is a single ply stud  11  and four when there is a double ply stud  11 . Preferably, the reinforcing embossments in the edge member  17  and the reinforcing embossments  27  in the face member  18  of the first stud to plate tie  16  are connected and continuous, and the reinforcing embossments  26  in the edge member  21  and the reinforcing embossments  28  in the face member  22  of the second stud to plate tie  20  are connected and continuous.  
         [0038]     As best seen in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 12 , preferably one of the top plate  7  and the base plate  3  is a double ply of wood, and at least two of the plurality of fasteners  19  enter the double ply of wood. Most preferably, three of the plurality of fastener  19  enter the double ply of wood. Preferably, three of the plurality of fasteners  19  enter the double ply of wood when there is a single ply stud  11 , and six of the plurality of fasteners  19  enter the double ply of wood when there is a double ply stud  11 .  
         [0039]     Preferably, the edge member  17  of the first stud to plate tie  16  is substantially the same width as the edge face  13  of the stud  11 , and the edge member  21  of the second stud to plate tie  20  is substantially the same width as the edge face  13  of the stud  11 . Most preferably, the stud to plate ties  16  and  20  are 1⅜ inches wide for use with a single ply stud  11  and 2¾ inches wide for use with a double ply stud. This helps to ensure that the stud to plate tie connector  16  and  20  are within the edge face  13  of the stud  11 . Preferably, the edge members  17  and  21  and the same width as the face members  18  and  22 . Most preferably, the stud to plate ties  16  and  20  are 6 11/16 inches long in both cases. However, the stud to plate ties  16  and  20  can be made to other dimensions for other than nominal 2×4 lumber. Preferably, the stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  are made from 18 gauge sheet steel, cut, embossed, pierced and bent, but other thicknesses are possible, as are other materials than steel. The minimum thickness is essentially determined by load requirements, but it is otherwise preferable that the stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  be as thin as possible so that they do not interfere with attaching sheathing and other materials.  
         [0040]     As best seen in  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 10A  and  FIG. 12 , preferably, the face member  18  of the first stud to plate tie  16  does not extend beyond the lower face  5  of the base plate  3 , and the face member  22  of the second stud to plate tie  20  does not extend beyond the upper face  8  of the top plate  7 . This is preferable because a projecting face member  18  or  22  would interfere with interfere with attaching sheathing and other materials.  
         [0041]     Preferably, the plurality of fasteners  19  are nails, most preferably 10dx1½ or 10d nails, but other fasteners such as screws could be used.  
         [0042]     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , in a preferred embodiment the elongated stud  11  is a double ply of wood. If so, the edge member  17  of the first stud to plate tie  16  has a visual guide  29  to aid in centrally aligning the first stud to plate tie  16  on the double ply stud  11 , and the edge member  21  of the second stud to plate tie  20  has a visual guide  30  to aid in centrally aligning the second stud to plate tie  20  on the double ply stud  11 . Preferably, the visual guides  29  and  30  are notches centered in the end of the edge members  17  and  21  away from the face members  18  and  22 . However, another form of visual guide or marking could be used.  
         [0043]     As best seen in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 12 , preferably the first stud to plate tie  16  additionally comprises visual indicia  31  to indicate which fastener openings  23  must be used when fastening a base plate  4  of a given dimension, and the second stud to plate tie  20  additionally comprises visual indicia  32  to indicate which fastener openings  24  must be used when fastening a top plate  7  of a given dimension. These visual indicia  31  and  32  could be markings or instructions on the stud to plate tie  16  and  20 , embossed, engraved, printed or otherwise labeled. Preferably, the visual indicia  31  in the first stud to plate tie  16  are two different shapes of the fastener openings  23  in the edge member  17  of the first stud to plate tie  16 , and the visual indicia  32  in the second stud to plate tie  20  are two different shapes of the fastener openings  24  in the edge member  21  of the second stud to plate tie  20 . Preferably, the stud to plate ties  16  and  17  have, for single ply stud  11  installations, a single round fastener opening nearest the face member  18  or  22  and two triangular fastener openings. Only the round fastener opening is used when the base plate  3  or top plate  7  is single ply. The triangular fastener openings are used when the base plate  3  or top plate  7  is double ply. Preferably, the stud to plate ties  16  and  17  have, for double ply stud  11  installations, two round fastener openings nearest the face member  18  or  22  and four triangular fastener openings. Only the round fastener openings are used when the base plate  3  or top plate  7  is single ply. The triangular fastener openings are used when the base plate  3  or top plate  7  is double ply. Because the fastener openings  23  and  24  for plate attachment are preferably arranged in vertical lines, only the one (in the case of a single ply stud  11 ) or two (in the case of a double ply stud  11 ) are used with single ply plates. The next fastener or fasteners would tend to enter the single ply plate too close to the edge, thereby weakening the connecting by allowing the first fastener to break out of the plate more easily under tension, and the third fastener would go into the stud  11 , which would do no harm, but which would also do little or nothing to improve load values. All of the fastener openings  23  and  24  can be used with double ply plates because those for plate attachments would all go into the plate and the middle fastener or fasteners would no longer do any harm because that ply would be reinforced by the adjacent one.  
         [0044]     Preferably, this stud to plate tie connection  1  is formed by placing the edge member  17  of the first stud to plate tie connector  16  against the edge face  13  of the stud  11  and the edge face  6  of the base plate  3 , and placing the face member  18  of the first stud to plate tie connector  16  against the lower face  5  of the base plate  3 , driving at least one of the plurality of fasteners  19  through the edge member  17  of the first stud to plate tie connector  16  into the edge face  13  of the stud  11  and driving at least one of the plurality of fasteners  19  through the edge member  17  into the edge face  6  of the base plate  3 . The edge member  21  of the second stud to plate tie connector  20  is placed against the edge face  13  of the stud  11  and the edge face  10  of the top plate  7 , and the face member  22  of the second stud to plate tie connector  20  is placed against the upper face  8  of the top plate  7 . The connection is completed by driving at least one of the plurality of fasteners  19  through the edge member  21  of the second stud to plate tie connector  20  into the edge face  13  of the stud  11  and driving at least one of the plurality of fasteners  19  through the edge member  21  into the edge face  10  of the top plate  7 . The edge members  17  and  21  and the face members  18  and  22  are pre-bent to ease installation and indexing. As best seen in  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 10B ,  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18  preferably, the base plate  3  rests on an underlying structural member  33 , and the face member  18  of the first stud to plate tie  16  is driven between the base plate  3  and the underlying structural member  33 . When the connection is in a wall above the first story of a building, the underlying structural member  33  is a subfloor member. When the connection is in a first story wall, the underlying structural member  33  is a cementitious member, and the cementitious member is a concrete foundation.  
         [0045]     The stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  of the present invention can be installed in a wall when it has been framed but not yet raised. The stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  of the present invention can also be installed in a wall that has already been raised, and as such they are suitable for retrofit applications. Preferably, the face members  18  and  22  are long enough and stiff enough to be driven between the plates and any underlying structural member  33  or overlying structure. The embossments  27  and  28  reinforce the face members  18  and  22  against bending under tension loads, but the embossments  27  and  28  also stiffen the face member  18  and  22  so they can be driven more easily and effectively. The stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  of the present invention can also be installed from the inside or outside of the wall.  
         [0046]     As best seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 11 , preferably the reinforcing embossments  25  in the edge member  17  of the first stud to plate tie  30  connector  16  extend at least as far from the face member  18  as the one of the fastener openings  23  in the edge member  17  closest to the face member  18 . Preferably, the reinforcing embossments  26  in the edge member  21  of the second stud to plate tie connector  20  extend at least as far from the face member  22  as the one of the fastener openings  24  in the edge member  21  closest to the face member  22 . In a preferred embodiment, the reinforcing embossments  25  and  26  extend beyond all of the fastener openings  23  and  24  for plate attachment, and the exactly preferred length of the reinforcing embossments  25  and  26  is 2½ inches.  
         [0047]     Preferably, the face member  18  of the first stud to plate tie connector  16  is at least one quarter the width of the lower face  5  of the base plate  3  as measured from the edge member  17  to the opposite side of the face member  18 . Preferably, the face member  22  of the second stud to plate tie connector  20  is at least one quarter the width of the upper face  8  of the top plate  7  as measured from the edge member  21  to the opposite side of the face member  22 . Preferably, the face members  18  and  22  are 1⅛ inches, and the reinforcing embossments  27  and  28  are ⅞ inches long.  
         [0048]     Average ultimate loads are the average of the highest loads that were achieved when static load testing the preferred embodiments of the stud to plate tie connectors  16  and  20  of the present invention to destruction. With four 10dx1½ nails in the stud  11  and three 10dx1½ nails in a double top plate  7 , when both the stud  11  and the double top plate  7  were douglas fir or southern pine, the average ultimate load for the preferred stud to plate tie connector  20 , designed for a single ply stud  11 , was 1107 pounds. With four 10dx1½ nails in the stud  11  and one 10dx1½ nail in a single base plate  3 , when both the stud  11  and the single base plate  3  were douglas fir or southern pine, the average ultimate load for the preferred stud to plate tie connector  16 , designed for a single ply stud  11 , was 1360 pounds. With four 10d nails in the stud  11  and three 10d nails in a double top plate  7 , when both the stud  11  and the double top plate  7  were douglas fir or southern pine, the average ultimate load for the preferred stud to plate tie connector  20 , designed for a single ply stud  11 , was 1310 pounds. With four 10d nails in the stud  11  and one 10d nail in a single base plate  7 , when both the stud  11  and the single base plate  3  were douglas fir or southern pine, the average ultimate load for the preferred stud to plate tie connector  16 , designed for a single ply stud  11 , was 1397 pounds. With eight 10dx1½ nails in the stud  11  and six 10dx1½ nails in a double top plate  7 , when both the stud  11  and the double top plate  7  were douglas fir or southern pine, the average ultimate load for the preferred stud to plate tie connector  20 , designed for a double ply stud  11 , was 2417 pounds. With eight 10dx1½ nails in the stud  11  and two 10dx1½ nails in a single base plate  3 , when both the stud  11  and the single base plate  3  were douglas fir or southern pine, the average ultimate load for the preferred stud to plate tie connector  16 , designed for a double ply stud  11 , was 2160 pounds. With eight 10d nails in the stud  11  and six 10d nails in a double top plate  7 , when both the stud  11  and the double top plate  7  were douglas fir or southern pine, the average ultimate load for the preferred stud to plate tie connector  20 , designed for a double ply stud  11 , was 2538 pounds. With eight 10d nails in the stud  11  and two 10d nails in a single base plate  7 , when both the stud  11  and the single base plate  3  were douglas fir or southern pine, the average ultimate load for the preferred stud to plate tie connector  16 , designed for a double ply stud  11 , was 2474 pounds.

Summary:
A connection in wood frame construction such as in frame walls of homes, wood framed apartment buildings and light wood framed commercial buildings. Specifically, the disclosure describes a pair of connectors for joining wall studs to a base plate and to a top plate for framing a wall. The two connectors used in the connection are identical and include an edge member for connection to the edge faces of the stud and the base or top plates, and a face member for engaging the lower face of the base plate or the upper face of the top plate. The face member is joined to the edge member and projects at a right angle thereto. The face member serves the dual purposes of locating the connected at the ends of the studs and of resisting tension forces.