Connector for precast concrete structures

A precast concrete structure with a connector system, comprising:

• a precast concrete panel with a front surface, a rear surface, and sidewalls extending around a perimeter edge;
• a receiving member having a pair of vertical apertures and an additional aperture positioned below said pair of vertical apertures, and said receiving member having at least one anchor extending from a back surface of said receiving member into said precast concrete panel to secure said receiving member in said precast concrete structure;
• an attachment member having a pair of opposing side plates and having a horizontal member extending between lower ends of said pair of opposing side plates, each side plate having a protrusion that has a retention surface oriented substantially perpendicular to a bearing surface of said protrusion and a top surface that is adjacent to said retention surface, wherein a distance between said top surface and said bearing surface of each protrusion of each side plate is greater than a vertical dimension of each vertical aperture, said horizontal member also having an additional protrusion positioned below said protrusions of said opposing side plates in a vertical direction, wherein said additional protrusion has a bearing surface;
• wherein said attachment member is configured to engage said receiving member such that said protrusions of said opposing side plates extend through said vertical apertures, and said retention surface of each protrusion of each side plate contacts said back surface of said receiving member, and said bearing surface of each protrusion of each side plate resides within one of said vertical apertures, and said bearing surface of said additional protrusion resides within said additional aperture of said receiving member.

A precast concrete panel connector system, comprising:

• a receiving member having a body with a pair of vertical apertures and a horizontal aperture, wherein said receiving member has at least one anchor extending from a back surface of said body to secure said receiving member to said precast concrete panel;
• an attachment member having:
• a pair of side plates arranged substantially parallel to each other and oriented in a substantially vertical direction;
• a horizontal member extending between lower ends of said pair of side plates, wherein said pair of side plates and said horizontal member define a volume configured to receive a structure;
• and
• a protrusion extending from each of said side plates, wherein each protrusion comprises a retention surface, a top surface adjacent to said retention surface, a bearing surface oriented substantially perpendicular to said retention surface, and a transition surface extending from said top surface to said bearing surface, wherein a distance between said top surface and said bearing surface of each protrusion is greater than a vertical dimension of each vertical aperture;
• an additional protrusion extending from said horizontal member in a horizontal direction;
• wherein said attachment member engages said receiving member where said protrusions of said side plates extend through said vertical apertures such that said retention surface of each protrusion contacts said back surface of said receiving member, said bearing surface of each protrusion rests on said body of said receiving member within one of said vertical apertures, and said additional protrusion extends into said horizontal aperture.