Patent ID: 8910367

Claim:
A method of attaching a first wood member to a second member so that the natural dimensional fluctuations of the first wood member are not restricted, the method comprising the following steps: placing a bracket around the first wood member such that the bracket is in contacting relationship with the second member and in non-contacting relationship with the first wood member, the bracket being a three-sided structure including: a planar front portion and planar left and right portions attached to opposing edges of the front portion and defining a proximal end and a distal end of the bracket that are each open, the left, front, and right portions leaving a clearance gap between the bracket and the first wood member; and at least two tabs, one of the tabs attached to the left portion of the bracket and another of the tabs attached to the right portion of the bracket, each of the tabs including a first section projecting from the respective left or right portion of the bracket and a second section projecting from and angularly transverse to the first section, wherein only the first section or the second section of each tab has at least one aperture disposed through the tab for receiving a fastener; abutting at least one of the tabs attached to the left portion and at least one of the tabs attached to the right portion against the second member such that the first section of each tab makes flush contact with the second member; and driving a fastener through each aperture into the second member, the fasteners securing the bracket to the second member such that the bracket remains in non-contacting relationship with the first wood member, the non-contacting relationship creating a clearance gap, thereby permitting natural dimensional fluctuations of the first wood member.