Patent Publication Number: US-7707785-B2

Title: Variable girder tie

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The roof members of building structures, particularly those located in high wind areas, are often tied down to the supporting wall system to resist the uplift forces caused by winds blowing into, over, and around the structure. Conventionally, these members are tied down to the walls with simple light gauge steel brackets and/or straps which attach to the sides and tops of the roof members and the wall system. The connectors are fastened to the roof and wood wall members with nails or wood screws. The connectors are fastened to concrete or masonry walls with masonry screws, epoxied rods, or are simply embedded into the substrate during construction of the walls. Often the roof is configured such that multiple roof members are supported on one end by the wall and on the other end by a single roof member, commonly referred to as a girder. Each of the roof members which are supported by the girder carry both uplift and download forces which are transferred into the girder through mechanical connections. Often the accumulated forces transferred into the girder can be significant, so much that conventional light gauge connectors do not adequately resist the high uplift forces in the member and as such heavy duty connectors are required to be attached to these girders. Attachment of these heavy duty connectors can be challenging in areas of the country which use concrete or masonry walls because many products are installed to the top of the wall system. This poses problems particularly when products are installed after the framing is complete, which is a common occurrence. Finally, it is standard engineering practice that these high uplift forces are resisted through connector attachment to the top chord of a truss member by either fastening directly to the member or wrapping over the top of the member. Top chord pitches vary widely from job to job and can even vary on the same job in different areas of the roof. The present invention provides a significant improvement on these prior art connectors by offering a connector which can be field adjusted to meet the variable roof pitches and can attach to the face of the wall by means of masonry anchors driven into the constructed wall. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable connector for connecting an elongate substantially vertical supporting structural member and an elongate generally horizontal supported structural member. This object is achieved by providing a connector with a U-shaped seat that has an obround opening that is elongated from side to side, allowing the connector to rotate while the anchor member remains substantially vertical. 
     The function of the U-shaped seat is enhanced by providing a matching washer that can maintain a substantially horizontal top surface when the rest of the connector is rotated around it. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a connector that is firmly secured to the generally horizontal supported structural member. This object is achieved by providing back attachment plates that extend from their attachments to the side members down to the level of the seat member, allowing additional fasteners to be driven through them. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can be used at the ends of generally horizontal supported structural members as well as further in. This object is achieved by providing forms of the connector that have splayed back plates as well as back plates that both bend either left or right together. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of the connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2 . is a right side elevation view of the connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of a right-handed connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a right side elevation view of a right-handed connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of a right-handed connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of a left-handed connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a right side elevation view of a left-handed connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of a left-handed connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevation view of the connector of the connector of the present invention with all of the connector apart from the washer member rotated counterclockwise. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the connection of the present invention in which the second building structural member is a masonry wall. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the connection of the present invention in which the second building structural member is a wood-framed wall. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a connector  1  for tying a first building structural member  2  to a second building structural member  3  in conjunction with fastener means  4  and an anchor member  5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , preferably the first building structural member  2  is a truss  2 , most preferably a girder truss  2 . A girder truss  2  is a heavy truss that generally carries other structural members, such as smaller trusses. Preferably, the first building structural member  2  is made primarily of wood. Preferably, the second building structural member  3  is a wall  3 , most preferably a masonry wall  3 . Preferably, the fastener means  4  is a plurality of mechanical fasteners  4 , most preferably Simpson Strong-Drive wood screws  4 , although other mechanical fasteners, as well as adhesives and welding, could be used. The Strong-Drive screw has a hex washer head for driving with a ⅜″ hex head socket, a built-in reamer and a type  17  tip that cuts a hole to allow installation without predrilling (depending on the type and moisture content of the wood). If the first building structural member  2  is not made of wood, another fastener  4  would be preferred, such as Simpson Quik Drive TRSD #10 or PHSD #8 steel-to-steel screws for cold-formed steel. 
     Basically, the connector  1  of the present invention comprises a rounded concave seat member  6 , a first side member  10 , a second side member  10 , a first back plate  11  and a second back plate  11 . 
     Preferably, the connector  1  is formed from 7 gauge G90 (0.173″ minimum thickness) galvanized steel. In the most preferred embodiment, the seat member  6  is 2¾″ wide, and the distance between the first and second side members  10  is 2¾″. In the most preferred embodiment, the seat member  6  has a maximum depth of 3 15/16″. In the most preferred embodiment, connector  1  has a front edge  18  that has a curved portion  19  on the seat member  6  that rises to either side from the lowest point  7  of the seat member  6  to a maximum height of approximately 11/16″. In the most preferred embodiment, the front edge  18  then angles back at a 30-degree angle from within the seat member  6  to the tops  20  of the first and second side members  10 . In the most preferred embodiment, the tops  20  of the first and second side members  10  are the shallowest parts of the connector  1  and are 1 25/32″ deep. In the preferred embodiment, the connector  1  is 4 3/16″ from the lowest point  7  of the seat member  6  to the tops  20  of the first and second side members  10 . 
     The rounded concave seat member  6  has a lowest point  7  and is formed with an anchor-receiving opening  8  partially at that lowest point  7  of the seat member  6 . The opening  8  is formed for receiving the anchor member  5  therethrough to attach the connector  1  to the second building structural member  3 . The rounded concave seat member  6  tapers towards the lowest point  7  with tapering portions  9  on either side of the lowest point  7 . Preferably, the opening  8  is obround, having first and second flat sides  16  and first and second rounded ends  17 , the first and second rounded ends  17  oriented to face the first and second side member  10 , respectively. In the most preferred embodiment, the obround opening  8  is 2⅝″ long and 0.688″ wide. In the most preferred embodiment, the obround opening  8  is 2 3/32″ from the front edge  18  of the connector  1  at the lowest point  7  of the seat member  6 . The seat member  6  has a concave inner surface  38  and a convex outer surface  39 . 
     The first side member  10  is integrally connected to the concave seat member  6 , and the second side member  10  is also integrally connected to the concave seat member  6 . The first back plate  11  is integrally connected to the first side member  10 , and the second back plate  11  is also integrally connected to the second side member  10 . The first back plate  11  is formed to interface with the fastener means  4  to attach the first back plate  11  to the first building structural member  2 . The second back plate  11  is also formed to interface with the fastener means  4  to attach the second back plate  11  to the first building structural member  2 . Preferably, the first and second back plates  11  are each formed with a plurality of fastener openings  21 . In the most preferred embodiment, each of the first and second back plates  11  has eight fastener openings  21 . Each of the first and second back plates  11  has a back interface side  40  that interfaces with the first building structural member  2  and a front opposite side  41 . 
     In the most preferred embodiment, the fastener openings  21  in the first back plate  11  are spaced on center as follows: a first fastener opening  21  is 13/16″ from the outer edge  22  and ½″ from the upper edge  13  of the first back plate  11 ; a second fastener opening  21  is 1 11/16″ from the outer edge  22  and 11/16″ from the upper edge  13  of the first back plate  11 ; a third fastener opening  21  is 2 11/32″ from the outer edge  22  and  1  1/16″ from the upper edge  13  of the first back plate  11 ; a fourth fastener opening  21  is 9/16″ from the outer edge  22  and 1⅞″ from the upper edge  13  of the first back plate  11 ; a fifth fastener opening  21  is 1 19/32″ from the outer edge  22  and 1 13/16″ from the upper edge  13  of the first back plate  11 ; a sixth fastener opening  21  is 2/1132″ from the outer edge  22  and 2 3/16″ from the upper edge  13  of the first back plate  11 ; a seventh fastener opening  21  is ½″ from the outer edge  22  and ½″ from the lower edge  14  of the first back plate  11 ; an eighth fastener opening  21  is 1 7/16″ from the outer edge  22  and ½″ from the lower edge  14  of the first back plate  11 . 
     In the most preferred embodiment, the fastener openings  21  in the second back plate  11  are spaced on center as follows: a first fastener opening  21  is 2 5/26″ from the outer edge  22  and 13/32″ from the upper edge  13  of the second back plate  11 ; a second fastener opening  21  is 1¼″ from the outer edge  22  and 19/32″ from the upper edge  13  of the second back plate  11 ; a third fastener opening  21  is 2 5/16″ from the outer edge  22  and 1⅝″ from the upper edge  13  of the second back plate  11 ; a fourth fastener opening  21  is 1⅝″ from the outer edge  22  and 1¼″ from the upper edge  13  of the second back plate  11 ; a fifth fastener opening  21  is 11/16″ from the outer edge  22  and 1 3/16″ from the upper edge  13  of the second back plate  11 ; a sixth fastener opening  21  is 1⅞″ from the outer edge  22  and 2 19/32″ from the upper edge  13  of the second back plate  11 ; a seventh fastener opening  21  is 31/32″ from the outer edge  22  and ½″ from the lower edge  14  of the second back plate  11 ; an eighth fastener opening  21  is 17/32″ from the outer edge  22  and 2 7/16″ from the upper edge  13  of the second back plate  11 . 
     This distribution of the fastener openings  21  is designed to prevent wood splitting in the first structural member  2 . In the most preferred embodiment, the fastener opening  21  closely match the diameter of the mechanical fasteners  4  that they receive. 
     Preferably, the connector  1  also has a washer member  31  with a rounded lower surface  32  that matches the concavity of the seat member  6  and an anchor-receiving opening  33  formed for receiving the anchor member  5  therethrough. As shown in FIG.  10 , the rounded lower surface  32  of the washer member  31  would allow the upper surface  34 , which is preferably flat, to remain horizontal when the rest of the connector  1  is rotated to match the pitch of the first building structural member  2  to which it is attached. In the most preferred embodiment, the washer member  31  has an n-shaped profile with roughly semicircular front and back legs  35 . In the most preferred embodiment, the opening  35  in the washer member  30  is round and closely matches the circumference of the anchor member  5  that it receives. In the most preferred embodiment, the anchor member  5  is an anchor rod  5  that is ⅝″ diameter all thread rod (ATR), and it is restrained against the upper surface  34  of the washer member  30  with a nut  36  that is threaded onto the anchor rod  5 . 
     Preferably, the washer member  31  is held in the seat member  6  by four washer retaining dimples  37  embossed into the seat member  6 , two adjacent the front leg  35  and two adjacent the back leg  35 . In the most preferred embodiment, the dimples  37  are preferably round domes, each with a maximum height within the seat member  6  of 0.219″ and a diameter of 0.625″. In the most preferred embodiment, the two front dimples  37  are 23/32″ on center from the front edge  18  at the lowest point  7  of the seat member  6 ; the two back dimples are ½″ on center from the back edge  25  of the seat member  6 . The dimples  37  are 9/32″ on center from the inner surface  38  at the lowest point  7  of the seat member  6 . 
     In the most preferred embodiment, the first and second back plates  11  each have an outer edge  22 , and each of the first and second back plates  11  is 2¾″ wide from the first and second side members  10 , respectively, to the respective outer edges  22 . In the most preferred embodiment, the first and second back plates  11  are bent outward away from each other to left and right, so that the outer edges  22  face away from each other, and the connector  1  is 8 9/16″ wide from one outer edge  22  to the other outer edge  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 through 9 , in an alternate preferred embodiment, one of the first and second back plates  11  is bent inward, between the first and second side members  10 , so that both back plates  11  are bent in the same direction, and the connector  1  is 5 27/32″ wide from the outer surface  23  of one side member  10  to the outer edge  22  of the back plate  11  connected to the other side member  10 . In this alternate preferred embodiment, both back plates  11  are bent to the left or to the right, allowing for installation where the portion of the first structural member  2  above the second structural member  3  is not wide enough to accommodate a connector  1  with splayed back plates  11 . Preferably, the first and second back plates  11  are bent at 90-degree angles to the first and second side members  10 , respectively, joining the first and second side members  10  at first and second bends  15 . The first and second bends  15  preferably have a radius one times the material thickness of the connector  1 . 
     The lowest point  7  of the seat member  6  is substantially midway between the first side member  10  and the second side member  10 . In the most preferred embodiment, the lowest point  7  of the seat member  6  is 1⅜ between the inner surface  24  of the first side member  10  and the inner surface  24  of the second side member. 
     Preferably, at least a portion of the seat member  6  lies between a portion of the first back plate  11  and a portion of the second back plate  11 . Preferably, the back edge  25  of the seat member  6  will be the only portion of the seat member  6  that lies between portions of the first and second back plates  11 . 
     Preferably, the seat member  6  joins the first side member  10  at a first juncture line  12  and the second side member  10  at a second juncture line  12 . The first juncture line  12  and the second juncture line  12  preferably lie in a common plane. Preferably, a portion of the first back plate  1  lies on the same side of the common plane  13  as the seat member  6 , and a portion of the second back plate  11  lies on the same side of the common plane  13  as the seat member  6 . 
     The first back plate  11  preferably has a first lower edge  14  that joins the first side member  10  at a first intersection  15 , and the second back plate  11  has a second lower edge  14  that joins the second side member  10  at a second intersection  15 . Preferably, a portion of the first back plate  11  lies on the same side of the first intersection  15  as the seat member  6 , and a portion of the second back plate  1  lies on the same side of the second intersection  15  as the seat member  6 . In the most preferred formed of the invention, the first and second lower edges  14  of the first and second back plates  11  each have a 45-degree ½″ chamfer  26  where they meet the outer edges  22  of the first and second back plates  11 . In the most preferred embodiment, the first and second lower edges  14  of the first and second back plates  11  each have a slightly longer 45-degree chamfer  26  where they meet the bends  15  between the first and second back plates  11  and first and second side members  10 . In the most preferred form of the invention, the first and second back plates  11  each have an upper edge  13  that has a 45-degree ½″ chamfer  27  where they meet the outer edges  22  of the first and second back plates  11 . In the most preferred embodiment, the first and second back plates  11  each have a maximum height of 3½″. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the present invention includes the connector  1  in a connection  28 . In the connection  28 , the first back plate  11  is attached to the first building structural member  2  by fastener means  4 , and the second back plate  11  is also attached to the first building structural member  2  by fastener means  4 . The anchor member  5  is received by the anchor-receiving opening  8  in the seat member  6 , and the anchor receiving member  5  is secured to the connector  1 . The anchor member  5  also is secured by the second building structural member  3 . 
     Preferably, the fastener means  4  are mechanical fasteners  4  that pass through the first and second back plates  11  and into the first building structural member  2 . The anchor member  5  is preferably an anchor rod  5 . 
     Preferably, the second building structural member  3  is a wall  3  that supports the first building structural member  2 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , in one embodiment the wall  3  is preferably a wood-framed wall  3 . If so, the wall  3  preferably has a top plate  29  and the anchor rod  5  passes through the top plate  29 , preferably through a hole drilled in the top plate  29 . Preferably, the anchor rod  5  would be secured below the top plate  29  with a nut threaded onto the anchor rod  5  in combination with a washer. As shown in  FIG. 11 , in another embodiment the wall  3  is a preferably a masonry wall  3 . If so, the wall  3  has a top portion  30  and the anchor rod  5  is embedded in the top portion  30 . The anchor rod  5  could be embedded before the masonry sets, or it could be dropped into a hole drilled in the masonry and fixed there with an epoxy adhesive. 
     In the basic method of making the connection  28  of the present invention, one attaches the first back plate  11  to the first building structural member  2 . One attaches the second back plate  11  to the first building structural member  2 . One passes the anchor member  5  through the anchor-receiving opening  8  in the seat member  6  and secures the anchor member  5  to the connector  1 . One also secures the anchor member  5  to the second building structural member  3 .