Patent Abstract:
A connector having a first substantially planar member connected to a second substantially planar member by means of a fold line between the first and second members that allows the first member and the second member to be bent across the fold line such that the first member and the second member are disposed at one of a variety of selected angles to one another.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a light-frame structural connection; in particular, the present invention provides a connector for connecting two light framing members at an acute angle, the connector itself occupying the complementary outside obtuse angle. 
     There are many connectors in light frame construction for connecting two members orthogonally. The present invention provides a connector that can be used to connect two members to each other and in particular two members that are at an acute angle to each other such as in the creation of brace. The connector is particularly adapted for making a strong connection between members at a variety of acute angles. 
     The present connector is an improved knee-brace stabilizer that makes a structural connection between a first elongated structural member in the form of knee bracing and a second elongated structural member in the form of columns or beams to help stabilize free-standing structures and to comply with many prescriptive deck bracing requirements such as the American Wood Council&#39;s “Design for Code Acceptance 6—Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide”. The connector is particularly adapted for bracing 2×, 4× and 6× in line post-to-beam configurations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a connector that has a first substantially planar member connected to a second substantially planar member by means of a fold region or line between the first and second substantially planar members. The fold region allows the first substantially planar member and the second substantially planar member to be bent relative to each other at the fold between them so that the first substantially planar member and the second substantially planar member are disposed at one of an unlimited variety of selected angles to one another. The first substantially planar member has a first longitudinal axis with the fold being at one end of the axis while a distal end of the first substantially planar member is at the opposite end of the axis. The second substantially planar member has a second longitudinal axis with the fold being at one end of the axis while a distal end of the second substantially planar member is at the opposite end of the axis. The distal ends of the two substantially planar members generally face away from each other. Also in the present invention, a first panel member is connected to the first planar member at a first angular juncture or bend line, and a second panel member is connected to the second planar member at a second angular juncture or bend line. 
     The first bend line is disposed orthogonally to the fold line, and the second bend line is also disposed orthogonally to the fold line, and when the first and second planar members are disposed at an angle of 180 degrees to each other, such that they lie in a single plane, the first and second bend lines are aligned. The first bend line is laterally disposed away from the longitudinal axis of the first substantially planar member and the second bend line is laterally disposed away from the longitudinal axis of the second substantially planar member. The first panel member is disposed at an angle to the first substantially planar member such that they do not lie in the same plane and the second panel is disposed at an angle to the second substantially planar member such that they do not lie in the same plane. The first and second panel members occupy substantially the same plane. Also in the present invention, the first panel member is formed with a proximal end and a distal end with the proximal end disposed near the fold between the first and second members and the distal end disposed away from the fold. Similarly, the second panel member is formed with a proximal end and a distal end with the proximal end disposed near the fold between the first and second members and the distal end disposed away from the fold. The proximal end of the first panel is formed with a first extension that extends away from the first panel member and extends beyond the fold between the first and second members. Similarly, the proximal end of the second panel is formed with a second extension that extends beyond the fold between the first and second members. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector that can be manufactured inexpensively. This object is achieved in part by forming the connector from a generally rectangular metal blank, such that the lateral edges of the first and second panel members are aligned when the first and second members are aligned in the same plane. This object is further achieved by forming the first extension of the first panel member by notching the material of the second panel member, and similarly forming the second extension of the second panel member by notching the material of the first panel member. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector that is readily configured to connections of various angles. 
     The present invention also provides a connection between a first elongated framing member and a second elongated framing member, the first connection having a connector that attaches to the first and second framing members by means of fasteners inserted through the connector into the first and second framing members. The first elongated framing member is formed with a first planar attachment face and a lateral attachment face disposed at an angle to the first planar attachment face. The second elongated framing member is formed with a second planar attachment face and a lateral attachment face disposed at an angle to the second planar attachment face. One or both of the first and second elongated framing members is also formed with a planar abutment face when the first and second framing members are connected at an angle of less than ninety degrees. 
     The abutment face of either the first or second elongated framing members is in an interfacing or abutting relation with either the first planar attachment face of the first elongated framing member, if the abutment face is formed on the second elongated framing member, or it is in an interfacing or abutting relation with the second planar attachment face of the second elongated framing member if the abutment face is formed on the first elongated framing member. 
     In some circumstances, the connector is attached to coplanar faces of the first and second structural members that are adjacent to each other. In such an arrangement, the connector is unbent, with both the first and second substantially planar members occupying the same plane. 
     When forming the connection according to the present invention, the first attachment surface of the first structural member interfaces with the attachment surface of the first planar member of the connector, and the second attachment surface of the second structural member interfaces with the attachment surface of the second planar member of the connector, and the fold line between the first and second planar members is disposed at the interface between the first and second elongated members. 
     At least one of the first and second substantially planar members with an extension for most acute-angle connections will have fasteners in both structural members. When the connection is between adjacent coplanar surfaces, both planar members will have fasteners in both structural members. 
     The side panel members of the connector have edges that closely face each other in the connector blank and when the connector is unbent. The narrow space between them forms a S-curve that cuts back along the juncture between one side panel member and one of the planar members so that neither side panel member is attached to a planar member immediately adjacent the fold region that separates the two planar members. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connection formed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a connection formed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a connector formed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of a connector formed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the sheet metal blank of a connector formed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of a plurality of connections formed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of a plurality of connections formed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of a plurality of connections formed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of a plurality of connections formed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of a plurality of connections formed according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is a structural connection  1  comprising a first elongated structural member  50 , a second elongated structural member  50 , a plurality of fasteners  4 , and a connector  5 . Preferably, the connector  5  is a knee-brace stabilizer  5  that makes a structural connection  1  between a first elongated structural member  50  in the form of knee bracing  50  and a second elongated structural member  50  in the form of columns  50  or beams  50  to help stabilize free-standing structures and to comply with many prescriptive deck bracing requirements such as the American Wood Council&#39;s “Design for Code Acceptance 6—Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide”. The connector  5  preferably braces 2×, 4× and 6× in line post-to-beam configurations. 
     As is also shown in  FIG. 1 , The first elongated structural member  50  preferably has a first attachment surface  201  and a second attachment surface  202  angularly related to the first attachment surface  201 . Preferably, the second elongated structural member  50  has a third attachment surface  301  and a fourth attachment surface  302  angularly related to the third attachment surface  301 . 
     The plurality of fasteners  4  preferably are eight-penny ( 8   d ) nails; Simpson Strong-Tie Strong—Drive® SD9×1½ (0.131″×1½″) screws can be substituted for eight-penny nails. Preferably, the connector  5  is attached with a total of 12 eight-penny nails. Preferably, the first and second substantially planar members  6  and the first and second panel members  9  are formed with fastener openings  16  that provide the optimal fastener arrangement. 
     The connector  5  stabilizes the connection  1  between the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  in cooperation with the plurality of fasteners  4 . 
     The connector  5  preferably has first and second substantially planar members  6 , a first panel member  9 , and a second panel member  9 . Preferably, the first and second substantially planar members  6  are formed from a rigid material, preferably galvanized sheet steel. The first substantially planar member  6  preferably includes a first end  7 , the second substantially planar member  6  includes a second end  7 , and there is a fold region  8  disposed between the first end  7  and the second end  7  whereby the first end  7  and the second end  7  are adapted to be disposed at a selectable angle to one another. Preferably, the first substantially planar member  6  is attached to the first attachment surface  201  of the first elongated structural member  50  by at least one fastener  4  between the first end  7  and the fold region  8 , and the second substantially planar member  6  is attached to the third attachment surface  301  of the second elongated structural member  50  by at least one fastener  4  between the second end  7  and the fold region  8 . The connector  5  is preferably factory-formed with the fold region  8  bent at a 45-degree angle. The fold region  8  can be field bent to other angles, with the caveat that it should be field bent only once. 
     Preferably, the first panel member  9  is disposed near the first end  7  of the first substantially planar member  6 . The first panel member  9  preferably has a first distal end  10  and a first inboard end  11 , the first inboard end  11  adjoining the first substantially planar member  6  at a first angular juncture  12 . Preferably, the second panel member  9  is disposed near the second end  7 , the second panel member  9  having a second distal end  10  and a second inboard end  11 , the second inboard end  11  adjoining the second substantially planar member  6  at a second angular juncture  12 . 
     The first panel member  9  and the second panel member  9  are preferably divided from from one another near the fold region  8 . Preferably, the first panel member  9  has a first tab extension  13  near the first substantially planar member  6  and the first inboard end  11  and projecting toward the second panel member  9  when the fold region  8  is not folded. The first tab extension  13  is preferably attached to one of the second attachment surface  202  and the fourth attachment surface  302  by at least one fastener  4 . Preferably, the second panel member  9  has a second tab extension  13  near the second distal end  10  and projecting toward the first panel member  9  when the fold region  8  is not folded, the second tab extension  13  also being attached to one of the second attachment surface  202  and the fourth attachment surface  302  by at least one fastener  4 . 
     The first tab extension  13  preferably lies between the second tab extension  13  and the substantially planar member  6  when the fold region  8  is not folded. The spacial relationships of the constituent parts of the connector  5  of course change as the angle of fold region  8  is changed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , preferably the first panel member  9  and the second panel member  9  are bounded by a rectangle  100  when the fold region  8  is not folded. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the flat blank  17  of the entire connector  5  is substantially rectangular, so that material waste is minimized in manufacturing. The connector  5  is preferably formed on automated sheet metal forming machinery. 
     The width of the first panel member  9  between the first distal end  10  and the first inboard end  11  is preferably the same as the width of the second panel member  9  between the second distal end  10  and the second inboard end  11 . Preferably, the first tab extension  13  and the second tab extension  13  are together substantially as wide as the first panel member  9  between the first distal end  10  and the first inboard end  11 . The first tab extension  13  and the second tab extension  13  preferably are together substantially as wide as the second panel member  9  between the second distal end  10  and the second inboard end  11 . 
     Preferably, at least one of the first tab extension  13  and the second tab extension  13  extends past the fold region  8 . The fold region  8  laterally divides the first and second substantially planar members  6  and one or both of the first and second tab extensions  13  can reach past that division alongside the first and second substantially planar members  6 . 
     The first panel member  9  and the second panel member  9  are preferably separated by a narrow s-curved gap  15  when the fold region  8  is not folded. When the connector  5  is folded, the first and second panel members  9  draw away from each other but the first and second tab extensions  13  remain in close proximity as one rotates around the end of the other. 
     Preferably, the first panel member  9  is substantially planar and the second panel member  9  is also substantially planar. The first panel member  9  is preferably orthogonal to the portion of the first substantially planar member  6  between the first end  7  and the fold region  8 . Preferably, the second panel member  9  is also orthogonal to the portion of the second substantially planar member  6  between the second end  7  and the fold region  8 . The fold region  8  preferably can be folded to any angle between 180 degrees and 90 degrees. 
     Preferably, the substantially planar member  6  of the connector  5  is embossed. The substantially planar member  6  of the connector  5  preferably has a first embossment  14  between the first end  7  and the fold region  8 , at least one fastener  4  is located within the first embossment  14 . The substantially planar member  6  of the connector  5  preferably has a second embossment  14  between the second end  7  and the fold region  8 , at least one fastener  4  is located within the second embossment  14 . The embossments  14  are preferably formed as annular rectangles with rounded corners with an un-embossed portion inside each annular rectangle where the fasteners  4  are located. The embossments  14  preferably are discrete elements that do not cross the fold region  8 . 
     Preferably, one of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  is a vertical post. One of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  preferably is a vertical post and the other of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  is a diagonal bracing member. Alternatively, one of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  is a vertical post and the other of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  is a horizontal beam. 
     Preferably, at least one of the first panel member  9  and the second panel member  9  is additionally attached to one of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  with a fastener  4  that is not in its corresponding tab extension  13 . 
     At least one of the first panel member  9  and the second panel member  9  is preferably attached to one of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  with the fastener  4  that is in its corresponding tab extension  13 , and the same panel member  9  is attached to the other of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  with the fastener  4  that is not in its corresponding tab extension  13 . 
     Preferably, both the first and second tab extensions  13  extend past the fold region  8 . The first panel member  9  and the second panel member  9  are preferably separated by a narrow gap  15  when the fold region  8  is not folded. Preferably, the first angular juncture  12  does not extend to the fold region  8  such that the narrow gap  15  also separates the first panel member  9  from the first substantially planar member  6  between the fold region  8  and the first end  7  of the substantially planar member  6  adjacent the fold region  8 . This effectively separates the first tab extension  13  from the first substantially planar member  6 , and not joining the first panel member  9  to the substantially planar member  6  adjacent the fold region  8  substantially increases the strength of the connector  5  because the connector  5  would otherwise be prone to failure by tearing along the first angular juncture  12  adjacent the fold region  8 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in most connections  1  typically made with the connector  5 , one of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50  has an end surface  400  that abuts one of the attachment surfaces  201  or  301  of the other of the first elongated structural member  50  and the second elongated structural member  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9  and  10 , the typically connection made with the connector  5  of the present invention is a knee brace where an elongated structural member  2  is disposed at an acute angle to two orthogonally disposed elongated structural members  3 , further strengthening the connection between the orthogonally disposed, elongated structural members  3 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 5