# US 11,078,661 B2 · Rolling block restraint connector having an improved linkage assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,661 B2 - Document ID: US11078661B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/593,823 - Filed: 2019-10-04 - Published: 2021-04-08 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-04 - Applicants: Timothy William Canby - Inventors: Timothy William Canby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078661B2 ## CPC - E04B 1/2604: {Connections specially adapted therefor (shear dowels E04B1/486, E04B1/49)} - E04B 1/388: {Separate connecting elements (Connecting devices specially adapted for embedding in concrete E04B1/41; Dowels, i.e. members adapted to penetrate the surfaces of two parts and to take the shear stresses E04B1/48)} - E04B 2001/2616: {Hinged connections of wooden members} - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) ## Abstract A rolling block restraint connector for forming a moment resisting connection at a joint intersection between a continuous first structural member and at least a first continuous second structural member that intersects the continuous first structural member is shown. The connector includes a first restraint assembly including (i) a first block, (ii) a second block, and (iii) a first shaft that passes through channels of the first block and the second block, a second restraint assembly including (i) a third block, (ii) a fourth block, and (iii) a second shaft that passes through channels of the third block and the fourth block, a first linkage that couples the first restraint assembly with the second restraint assembly, and a second linkage that couples the first restraint assembly with the second restraint assembly, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft each pass through the first linkage and the second linkage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rolling block restraint connector for forming a moment resisting connection at a joint intersection between a continuous first structural member and at least a continuous second structural member located adjacent to the continuous first structural member, the connector comprising: a first restraint assembly including (i) a first block, (ii) a second block, and (iii) a first shaft that passes through channels of the first block and the second block; a second restraint assembly including (i) a third block, (ii) a fourth block, and (iii) a second shaft that passes through channels of the third block and the fourth block; a first linkage that couples the first restraint assembly with the second restraint assembly; and a second linkage that couples the first restraint assembly with the second restraint assembly, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft each pass through the first linkage and the second linkage, wherein the continuous first structural member is a beam and the continuous second structural member is a column, and wherein the first block and the third block each cause pressure to be applied to the beam, and the second block and the fourth block each cause pressure to be applied to the column. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the second restraint assembly is configured to be located diagonally across the joint intersection from the first restraint assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first restraint assembly further includes a first clamp module configured to apply pressure to an external side of each of the first linkage and the second linkage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connector of claim 3, wherein the first clamp module passes through a cavity of each of the first block and the second block. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connector of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the cavity of the first block is located between a channel of the first block and the first continuous beam, and wherein at least a portion of the cavity of the second block is located between a channel of the second block and the continuous second structural member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The connector of claim 3, wherein the second restraint assembly further includes a second clamp module configured to apply pressure to an external side of each of the first linkage and the second linkage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first column block is configured to contact an exterior of the continuous second structural member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The connector of claim 7, wherein the fourth block is configured to contact the exterior of the continuous second structural member opposite the second block. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first restraint assembly includes a first insert configured for placement in between the continuous first structural member and the first block. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first restraint assembly includes a second insert configured for placement in between the continuous second structural member and the second block. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first linkage comprises one of a fixed-length linkage or a variable-length linkage. ### Claim 12 A method for installing a rolling block restraint connector for forming a moment resisting connection at a joint intersection between a continuous first structural member and at least a continuous second structural member located adjacent to the continuous first structural member, the connector comprising: placing a first restraint assembly at the joint intersection, wherein the first restraint assembly includes (i) a first block, (ii) a second block, and (iii) a first shaft that passes through channels of the first block and the second block; placing a second restraint assembly at the joint intersection, wherein the second restraint assembly includes (i) a third block, (ii) a fourth block, and (iii) a second shaft that passes through channels of the third block and the fourth block; and coupling the first restraint assembly with the second restraint assembly via a first linkage and a second linkage, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft each pass through the first linkage and the second linkage, wherein the continuous first structural member is a beam and the continuous second structural member is a column, and wherein the first block and the third block each cause pressure to be applied to the beam, and the second block and the fourth block each cause pressure to be applied to the column. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the second restraint assembly is configured to be located diagonally across the joint intersection from the first restraint assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first restraint assembly further includes a first clamp module configured to apply pressure to an external side of each of the first linkage and the second linkage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first clamp module passes through a cavity of each of the first block and the second block. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the cavity of the first block is located between a channel of the first block and the continuous first structural member, and wherein at least a portion of the cavity of the second block is located between a channel of the second block and the continuous second structural member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second restraint assembly further includes a second clamp module configured to apply pressure to an external side of each of the first linkage and the second linkage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first linkage comprises one of a fixed-length linkage or a variable-length linkage.