Connector Assembly for Connecting Building Members

A building assembly, comprising:

• a first building member having one or more elongated slots with each slot having a length and a width;
• a second building member;
• a connector assembly for connecting the first and second building members together such that the building members may move relative to each other while still being connected;
• the connector assembly including one or more breakaway washers with each breakaway washer integrally formed in one slot of the first building member;
• each breakaway washer having a fastener centering opening;
• a fastener extending through the centering opening of the breakaway washer and connected to the second building member so as to connect the first and second building members;
• the breakaway washer having a face having a surface area;
• the fastener including a flange that faces the face of the breakaway washer;
• a raised burr formed on the face of the breakaway washer adjacent the centering opening of the breakaway washer, the burr projecting outwardly from the face of the breakaway washer towards the flange of the fastener such that the burr causes the breakaway washer to be affixed to the second building member when the fastener is tightened;
• wherein the flange of the fastener engages the burr and the burr functions as an interface between the flange and the face of the breakaway washer and prevents the flange of the fastener from engaging the face of the breakaway washer;
• wherein the burr maintains a spacing between the flange of the fastener and the first building member;
• and
• wherein the breakaway washer is configured such that when a certain force is applied to the breakaway washer, the breakaway washer will break away from the slot and permit the slot to move relative to the fastener, breakaway washer, and second building member such that the first and second members can move relative to each other.

A building structure for connecting to studs and for connecting to another building member, the building structure comprising:

• a track having a web and a pair of flanges and configured to move both vertically and horizontally while being connected to the studs and to the other building member;
• a series of flange slots formed in each flange with each slot having opposed edges and extending vertically and generally normal with respect to the web;
• a breakaway washer integrally connected in the flange slots formed in each flange, each breakaway washer including a centering opening and a main body and one or more tabs projecting from the main body and joining at least one edge of the flange slot;
• the breakaway washers integrally connected in the flange slots configured such that when a certain force is applied to the breakaway washers, the breakaway washers will break away from the associated slot and the slot will move relative to the breakaway washer;
• one or more elongated web slots formed in the web with each web slot including opposed edges and extending parallel relative to the flanges and generally normal relative to the flange slots;
• a breakaway washer integrally connected in each web slot and including a centering opening, a main body, and one or more tabs projecting from the main body and joining at least one edge of the web slot;
• each breakaway washer integrally connected in a web slot configured such that when a certain force is applied to the breakaway washer integrally connected in the web slot, the breakaway washer will break away and wherein the web slot can move horizontally about the breakaway washer;
• wherein when the breakaway washers within the flange slot break away, the track is moveable vertically;
• wherein when the breakaway washer in the web slot breaks away, the track is moveable horizontally;
• and
• wherein when the breakaway washers in the flange slots and the web slots break away, the track is moveable both vertically and horizontally.

A connector assembly for connecting to at least one structural member, comprising:

• a connecting member;
• at least one elongated slot formed in the connecting member, the elongated slot including opposed edges;
• a breakaway washer connected to the slot and including a main body having a fastener center opening and at least one tab projecting from the main body and connected to one edge of the slot such that the main body is suspended in the slot by the at least one tab;
• the main body of the breakaway washer including a face;
• a fastener having a flange and a shaft extending through the centering opening, the flange of the fastener facing the face of the breakaway washer;
• one or more dimples or a burr formed on the face of the breakaway washer and elevated with respect to the face of the breakaway washer for engaging the flange of the fastener such that there exists a space between the flange of the fastener and the connecting member;
• and
• wherein the breakaway washer is configured such that when a force is applied to the breakaway washer, the breakaway washer will break away and permit relative movement between the slot and the combination of the breakaway washer, fastener, and connecting member.