Abstract:
A connector for attaching a first building structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with fasteners and an anchor member to resist forces on buildings imposed by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and other similar cataclysmic forces is made with a strap and a standoff base. The standoff base receives the anchor member, and bears upon the strap. The strap is connected the first building structural member by means of the fasteners. The first building structural member bears upon the standoff base while being lifted above the anchor member by the standoff base.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    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.  
           [0002]    Earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods impose forces on a building that can cause structural failure. To counteract these forces, it has become common practice to strengthen or add ties between the structural members of a building in the areas of the building where these cataclysmic forces may be concentrated. For example: framed walls can be attached to the foundation rather than merely rest on it; connections between the framed walls of each floor can be strengthened; and joists can be connected to both their headers and the walls that support the headers. One of the most common connectors designed for this application is called a holdown by the inventor. Holdowns are commonly used to anchor framed walls to the foundation.  
           [0003]    Early holdowns were constructed from two or more separate pieces of metal welded together. These holdowns had to be painted to prevent rusting. They were heavy and costly to produce.  
           [0004]    State of the art holdowns are made from galvanized sheet metal formed on progressive die machines that require no welding or painting. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,672, granted May 19, 1987, to Commins, Gilb and Littleton; U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,097 granted Mar. 3, 1992, to Young; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,404, granted Oct. 5, 1993, to Leek and Commins. These advancements have reduced the cost of making holdowns while increasing their ability to withstand tension forces. However, severe earthquakes in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Kobe, Japan, demonstrate that holdowns capable of being mass produced and installed inexpensively should be made even stronger for many connections.  
           [0005]    Typical holdowns 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 vertical applications in walls. In these holdowns that attach to the side of a stud or post, 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. Often, these holdowns have one or more side members  9  to increase the strength of the connector or to connect the seat member to the back member.  
           [0006]    Another style of holdown attaches to the bottom end of the stud or post. A patented example of this type of holdown is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,384, granted to Yehuda Wolfson on Dec. 27, 1994. The advantage of a holdown that attaches to the bottom end of a post or stud is that it can remove any eccentricity from the connection. The holdown of the present invention is this type of holdown.  
           [0007]    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.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    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.  
           [0009]    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 channel-shaped strap and a standoff base. The strap has a base and two side members  9  . The base of the strap is formed with an opening for receiving the anchor member there through. The separate standoff base, which is received between the side members  9  of the strap and rests on said base of the strap, is formed with an opening for receiving the anchor member. The standoff base is connected to the anchor member. A first building structural member is received between the side members  9  of the strap. This member rests on and is supported by the top of the standoff base which lifts the bottom of the first structural building member above the first end of said anchor member. Fasteners complete the connection by connecting the side members  9  of the strap to the first building structural member.  
           [0010]    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.  
           [0011]    The connector of the present invention has been tested, and found to have very high design loads. An embodiment of the connector of the present invention which is formed to anchor a 4×4 post or two sistered 2×4 studs and uses 24 2.5″ Simpson Strong-Drive wood screws has been found to have a design load of 9735 pounds. This design load is based on a static load tests conducted on a steel jig, using wood posts. The design load is the lowest of three different possible measures of the strength of the connection: the value at which the holdown deflects 0.125″, the deflection being measured as the movement in the connection due to movement of the connector between the anchor bolt and the strap portion of the holdown; the load at which failure of the connection occurs—ultimate load—divided by 3, or the calculated values for 24 wood screws loaded in shear and connecting a wood member to a 10 gauge steel strap.  
           [0012]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a base for the first building structural member that resists design compression loads. The preferred base is formed from cast aluminum, making it very strong.  
           [0013]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a connector that does not create any eccentric loading. This is accomplished by setting the post that is anchored by the connector directly over the point where the connector attaches to the bolt or anchor member.  
           [0014]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a connector that accommodates variations in the position of the anchor member parallel to the face of the first building structural member to which the holdown connector attaches. This object is achieved by forming the connector with a relatively wide opening for receiving the anchor member.  
           [0015]    The object of making a holdown that is economical to produce is achieved by utilizing a design that can be formed on automated machinery with a minimum of costly secondary operations, such as painting and welding.  
           [0016]    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. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vertical member in a building structure. The post is anchored by the holdown connector of the present invention in conjunction with threaded fasteners and an anchor member.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a connector constructed in accordance with the present invention. Examples of the preferred threaded fasteners for making the connection between the first building structural member and connector are shown as well.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the strap of the connector of FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the strap of the connector of FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the strap of the connector of FIG. 1.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a side view of the strap of the connector of FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a side view of the strap of the connector of FIG. 1.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the standoff base of the connector of FIG. 1.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the standoff base of the connector of FIG. 1.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the standoff base of the connector of FIG. 1.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is a side view of the standoff base of the connector of FIG. 1.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 is an enlarged front elevation view of the connector of the present invention showing the standoff base inserted into the strap  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view taken along line  13 - 13  of FIG. 1. The vertical member is not shown in FIG. 13. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0030]    As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a connector  1  for tying a first building structural member  2  to a second building structural member  3  in conjunction with fasteners  4  and an anchor member  5 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, consists of a strap  6  which receives the fasteners  4  for attaching the strap  6  to the first building structural member  2 , and a standoff base  7  which nests within the strap  6  and which receives the first end  8  of the anchor member  5  for attaching the connector  1  to the second building structural member  3 .  
         [0031]    The anchor member  5  is held by the second structural building member  3  and has a first end  8  protruding above the second structural building member  3 .  
         [0032]    The preferred connector  1  of the present invention is formed as a channel-shaped strap  6  having a base  21  and two side members  9 . The base  21  of the strap  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 .  
         [0033]    The preferred standoff base  7  is a separate member from the channel-shaped strap  6 . The preferred standoff base  7  is received between the side members  9  of the strap  6  and bears on the base  21  of the strap  6 . The standoff base  7  is formed with an opening  11  for receiving the anchor member  5 . The standoff base  7  is connected to the anchor member  5 .  
         [0034]    The first building structural member  2  which can be a vertically disposed wooden post  2  is also received between the side members  9  of the strap  6  and rests on and is supported by the top  18  of the standoff base  7 . At the same time, the bottom  22  of the post  2  is disposed above the first end  8  of the anchor member  5 .  
         [0035]    As is shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the strap  6  and the standoff base  7  are preferably formed with obround openings  10  and  11  for receiving the anchor member  5 . This provides the connector  1  with the ability to accommodate anchor members  5  that have not been attached to the second building structural member  3  in exactly the right place. Anchor members  5  are rather simple to place when the second building structural member  3  is a wooden component of a lower level of the building; however, once an anchor member  5  is set in a concrete foundation  3  it is very difficult to correct its placement.  
         [0036]    Preferably, the strap  6  of the connector  1  is formed with openings  12  and  26  for receiving the fasteners  4 .  
         [0037]    Referring to FIG. 13, the anchor member  5  can consist of an anchor bolt  13  and a holding member  14  attached thereto. When the second building structural member  3  is a concrete foundation  3 , the bottom portion of the anchor bolt  13  is embedded in the second building structural member  3 , as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the bottom end of the anchor bolt  13  is formed with a compound curve to provide pullout resistance. The top end  8  of the anchor bolt  13  can be formed with a threaded portion to which the holding member  14 , generally a threaded nut  14 , can releasably attach, completing the anchor member  5 .  
         [0038]    In the preferred embodiment, the standoff base  7  has a bottom face  15  four sides  16  and  17  and a top  18 . Two of the four sides of the base  7  are labeled as the two opposing lateral sides  17 . The bottom face  15  meets the two opposing lateral sides  17  at two lateral junctures  19 . The bottom face  15  of the standoff base  7  is also formed with a bearing surface  20 . The two opposing lateral sides  17  each have a selected height.  
         [0039]    In the preferred embodiment, the base  21  and side members  9  of the strap  6  are formed to conform exactly to the shape of the bearing surface and to the shape of the standoff base  7  at the two lateral junctures  19 . Also in the preferred embodiment, the side members  9  of the strap  6  are formed to conform exactly to the shape of the opposing lateral sides  17  of the standoff base  7  for substantially all of the height of the two opposing lateral  15  sides  17 .  
         [0040]    In the preferred embodiment, the junctures  19  between the bottom face  15  and the two opposing lateral sides  17  are formed as continuous curves with relatively large radii  23 . The radius  23  of this curve on each side is 0.250 inches.  
         [0041]    In a similar fashion the base of the strap  21  meets the side members  9  at curved junctions  24 . The radii  25  of these curved junctions  24  is also 0.250 inches. The other dimensions of the strap  6  are also selected to match the dimensions of the standoff base  7 , such that the strap  6  receives the standoff base  7  almost exactly. This eliminates practically all deflection of the connector  1  at the design uplift loads.  
         [0042]    Referring to FIG. 2, when the first building structural member  2  is made of wood, the fasteners  4  are preferably wood screws with cutting points. The fasteners  4  can also be nails, threaded bolts with nuts, lag screws, or steel screws to name a few variations. The use of self-drilling wood screws as fasteners  4  eliminates the need for the added step of drilling a hole for a regular bolt that has no drilling point. Self-drilling wood screws  4  create a stronger connection than nails, and self-drilling wood screws can be installed almost as quickly as nails if an electric-powered or pneumatic driver is used. The preferred fasteners  4  are 2.5″ long Simpson Strong Drive Screws.  
         [0043]    Referring to FIG. 5, in the preferred embodiment, the lowest opening  26  for receiving a fastener  4  in the strap  6  is spaced from the top  18  of the standoff base  7  by a selected distance. This distance is dependent on the fasteners  4  used with the connector  1  and the form and composition of the first building structural member  2  to which the strap  6  connects. Splitting of wooden structural members is a problem if fasteners  4  that pierce the first building structural member  2  are placed too close to the end of the first building structural member  2 .  
         [0044]    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  need not be formed with openings  12  and  26  and the fasteners  4  can be welds.  
         [0045]    The strap  6  of the preferred embodiment is formed from pre-galvanized sheet metal. The preferred embodiment of the standoff base  7  if formed as a cast aluminum piece. The preferred form of the connector  1  does not need to be painted or welded. This reduces manufacturing costs.  
         [0046]    The preferred standoff base  7  is formed with a notch  27  at each junction of the two opposed lateral sides  17  of the base  7  with the top  18  of the standoff base  7 . These notches create locking surfaces  29  on the base  7 . These notches  27  in combination with inward embossments  28  in the side members  9  of the strap  6  allow the standoff base  7  to be locked in place in the strap  6 .  
         [0047]    The preferred embodiment is formed in the following manner. A blank, which will become the strap  6 , is cut from the pre-galvanized sheet metal. The openings  10 ,  12  and  26  in the strap  6  are formed by cutting out portions from the blank. The blank is then formed into the generally channel shape shown in FIG. 4, by bending the first and second side members  9  up from the base  21 . The standoff base  7  is cast from aluminum. The standoff base  7  is then inserted into strap  6 , with the embossments  28  in the side members  9  of the strap  6  meeting with the locking surfaces  29  on the base  7 , holding the standoff base  7  in place.  
         [0048]    In the preferred form of the invention for receiving a standard 4×4 post  2 , where the dimensions of the top  18  of the standoff base  7  are 3¼ inches by 3{fraction (9/16)} inches, the bearing area of the top  18  of the standoff base  7  is roughly eight square inches. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom face  15  of the standoff base  7  is formed to be substantially as wide as the post  2  received between the side members  9  of the strap  6 . Thus, the opposing lateral sides  17  of the standoff base  7  are practically vertical. In fact, in the preferred embodiment, where the standoff base  7  is a cast member made from aluminum, the opposing lateral sides  17  taper by 1 degree to aid in their casting.  
         [0049]    In the preferred embodiment of the standoff base  7 , the opening  11  in the standoff base  7  for receiving the anchor member  5  connects with a bore  30  in the top  18  of the standoff base  7 , and the bore  30  and the opening  11  meet at a shoulder  31  in the standoff base  7 . In the preferred embodiment, the distance from the shoulder  31  to the bottom face  15  of the standoff base  7  is ⅝ inches. In the preferred embodiment the bore  30  in the standoff base  7  and the shoulder  31  are formed so that a threaded nut  14  that will thread onto a bolt  13  that can be received by the opening  11  in the standoff base  7  can be received in the bore  30  and this threaded nut  14  can also reach the shoulder  31 .  
         [0050]    In the preferred embodiment, the center of the opening  11  for receiving the anchor member  5  in the standoff base  7  aligns with the central axis of the first building structural member  2  when it is received between the side members  9 .  
         [0051]    As shown best in FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment, the strap  6  and the standoff base  7  are separate members. In the preferred embodiment, when tension forces are placed on the connector  1  the standoff base  7  resists uplift forces on the strap  6  by holding the base of the strap  6  down.  
         [0052]    As is shown best in FIGS. 2, 8 and  9 , the standoff base  7  is formed with windows  33  through which an inspector can view whether the anchor member  5  protrudes sufficiently into the standoff base  7  and is held on the standoff base  7  by a nut  14  or other holding member  14 . These windows  33  also allow air to circulate under the bottom end of the post  2  or stud to help prevent wood rot.  
         [0053]    The standoff base  7  is preferably made from aluminum. The grade of the aluminum is 6061, T6 or its equivalent. The strap  6  is preferably made from 10 gauge (0.130″) galvanized steel which meets the following specifications: G90, A-653, SS GR 33, F y =33 KSI, F u =45 KSI.  
         [0054]    As stated above, for purposes of manufacturing the preferred embodiment, the two opposed lateral side walls  17  of the cast standoff base  7  are formed with a one degree taper. The side members  9  of the strap  6  where they receive the standoff base  7  are also formed with a one degree taper to match the standoff base  7  exactly.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 1 shows a typical use of the preferred embodiment. In FIG. 1 the first building structural member  2  is a vertical stud  2  of a framed wall and the second building structural member  3  is a concrete foundation  3 . The present invention may also be used to transfer tension loads between floors of a framed structure, or to tie joists to masonry or concrete walls, to name but a few applications.  
         [0056]    Installation of the connector  1  of the preferred embodiment to form a foundation-to-wooden-stud connection is illustrated by FIG. 1.  
         [0057]    First, an anchor bolt  33  having a threaded top portion is embedded in the second building structural member  3 . This can be done by placing the bottom portion of the anchor bolt  13  in the wet concrete or by forming the second building structural member  3  with the top portion of the anchor bolt  13  protruding from it. The latter method is preferred.  
         [0058]    The connector  1  is then fitted over the anchor bolt  13 . The threaded portion of the anchor bolt  13  is inserted into the openings  10  and  11  in the strap  6  and the standoff base  7  at the base of the connector  1 , such that anchor bolt  13  protrudes above the shoulder  31  which represents the base of the larger bore  30  or opening. Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 1, the connector  1  should rest on the second building structural member  3 . Preferably, the threaded portion of the anchor bolt  13  should not protrude above the top level  18  of the standoff base  7 .  
         [0059]    A washer  32  is inserted over the top portion of the anchor bolt  13  so that it rests on the shoulder  31 . A nut  14  is then placed on the threaded portion of the anchor bolt  13  and tightened down so that it bears upon the washer  32 , and the washer  32  bears upon the shoulder  31  of the standoff base  7 . Preferably, a socket wrench is used to tighten the nut  14  on the anchor bolt  13 .  
         [0060]    The vertical framing member  2  is then inserted into the connector  1 , between the side members  9  of the strap  6 , so that it rests on top of the standoff base  7 .  
         [0061]    Fasteners  4  are driven into the first building structural member  2  through the openings  12  and  26  in the strap  6 , forming a tight fit between the strap  6  of the connector  1  and the first building structural member  2 , completing the connection.