Patent ID: 6907820

Claim:
A press for use in pressing connector plates into opposing surfaces of structural members which are to be secured together at one or more joints to form a structure, the press comprising: first and second platens sized and shaped for engaging connector plates to press the connector plates into the structural members; a frame including a first mounting portion mounting the first platen, a second mounting portion mounting the second platen and a third portion interconnecting the first and second mounting portions, the frame positioning the first and second platens in generally opposed relation for relative movement toward each other to press connector plates into the structural members and away from each other to clear the structural members and connector plates; and an actuator mounted on the frame for applying a force to at least one of the first and second platens to forcibly move said at least one platen; the third portion of the frame being free of straight sections thereby to inhibit the concentration of stress in one location of the frame in operation of the press, and wherein the third portion of the frame has inner and outer load carrying surfaces, said inner load carrying surface extending along a first arc and said outer load carrying surface extending along a second arc, such that forces applied to the frame while the platens are pressing the connector plates are transmitted in loadpaths through the inner or outer load carrying surfaces which are smooth and free from discontinuity to inhibit concentration of stress at any position along the load carrying surfaces and thereby strengthen the frame against fatigue damage.