Patent ID: 8245479

Claim:
A hinged connector for connecting wooden structural members for pivotal movement of one of the members relative to the other, the hinged connector comprising: a first sheet metal plate and a second sheet metal plate pivotally attached to the first sheet metal plate, each of the sheet metal plates including a body portion, an extension portion extending from and parallel to the body portion and generally overlapping the extension portion of the other sheet metal plate, an inner surface and an outer surface, the plates being pivotable with respect to each other about an axis generally perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces; connection formations on each of the first and second sheet metal plates for attaching the plate to a respective one of the structural members so that the structural member pivots conjointly with the sheet metal plate, wherein the extension portions of the first and second sheet metal plates are free from connection formations; an elongate rib formed into the first sheet metal plate, the elongate rib having first and second terminal ends spaced apart from each other, at least a portion of the rib being disposed in the extension portion of the first sheet metal plate, wherein no portion of the rib extends around the connection formations on the first sheet metal plate; and an elongate rib formed into the second sheet metal plate, the elongate rib having first and second terminal ends spaced apart from each other, at least a portion of the rib in the second sheet metal plate being disposed in the extension portion of the second sheet metal plate, wherein the extension portion of the first sheet metal plate overlies at least a portion of the elongate rib in the second sheet metal plate.