# US 2014/0360123 A1 · Fastening System for Connecting Non-Load Bearing Wall to Truss > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360123 A1 - Document ID: US20140360123A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/300,783 - Filed: 2014-06-10 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-10 - Assignees: OMG, Inc. - Inventors: Mark A. Dicaire - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360123A1 ## CPC - F16B 5/02: by means of fastening members using screw-thread ({F16B5/0004 takes precedence}; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00) - E04B 2/825: {the connection between the floor and the ceiling being achieved without any restraining forces acting in the plane of the partition} - F16B 25/0015: {the material being a soft organic material, e.g. wood or plastic (F16B25/0031 takes precedence)} - F16B 25/0063: {with a non-threaded portion on the shaft of the screw} - E04B 2001/2652: {Details of nailing, screwing, or bolting} - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - 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 fastener assembly for connecting a non-load bearing wall to a truss comprises a fastener with a sleeve retained on the fastener and axially displaceable along the fastener. The fastener has unthreaded shank portion and the sleeve is disposed about the unthreaded shank portion. The sleeve has a length less than the axial length of the unthreaded shank portion. The fastener assembly is employed to form a truss/non-load bearing wall connection system, wherein the non-load bearing wall is disposed below the truss and has a top plate with at least one bore. A fastener assembly is disposed in each bore and threaded into the truss so that a gap is formed between the truss and its top plate. Upon deflection of the truss, one or more fasteners vertically slide axially relative to its associated sleeve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fastener assembly for connecting a non-load bearing wall to a truss comprising: a fastener comprising a head and an axially extending shank comprising an unthreaded shank portion and a threaded shank portion adjacent a distal end; and a sleeve retained on said fastener and disposed about said unthreaded shank portion and axially displaceable therealong. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has opposed ends, one end engageable against a thread of said threaded portion for retaining said sleeve between said head and said threaded portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is a plastic member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fastener assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flange adjacent said head and a tapered neck adjacent said flange and integrally connecting said shank. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fastener assembly of claim 4, wherein said flange and neck each have a maximum diameter and said threaded portion has a major diameter, and said sleeve has a general uniform outside diameter which is less than the maximum diameter of the flange or neck and the outside diameter is less than the major diameter of the threaded portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has a longitudinal length, and said unthreaded shank portion extends an axial length greater than the longitudal length of said sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein said fastener has an axial length of approximately 6 inches, and said unthreaded shank portion has an axial length of approximately 4 inches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fastener assembly of claim 7, wherein said sleeve has a length of approximately 3 inches. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein said fastener has an axial length of approximately 4 inches, and said sleeve has a length of approximately 1½ inches. ### Claim 10 A fastener assembly for connecting a non-load bearing wall to a truss comprising: a fastener comprising a head, an enlarged flange and a tapered neck which integrally connects with a shank having an axially-extending unthreaded portion and a threaded portion comprising a thread with a major diameter; and a sleeve retained on said fastener and having an axial length less than the axial length of said unthreaded portion, and disposed about said unthreaded portion and axially displaceable thereon, said sleeve having a generally uniform outside diameter which is less than an outside diametrical portion of said neck, or said flange and is less than the major diameter of the thread of the threaded portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fastener of claim 10, wherein said head is a hex head. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fastener of claim 10, wherein said sleeve is plastic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The fastener of claim 10, wherein the fastener has a length of approximately 6 inches, and the sleeve has a length of approximately 3 inches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The fastener of claim 10, wherein the fastener has a length of approximately 4 inches, and the sleeve has a length of approximately 1½ inches. ### Claim 15 A truss/non-load bearing wall connection system comprising: a truss; a non-load bearing wall disposed below said truss and comprising a top plate defining a bore; a fastener carrying a sleeve disposed in said bore and threaded into said truss wherein a gap is formed between said truss and said top plate, and said fastener is slidable relative to said sleeve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The connection system of claim 15, wherein said fastener has a shank with an unthreaded portion and a threaded portion, and said unthreaded portion slides along the sleeve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The connection system of claim 16, wherein said sleeve has an axial length which is less than the axial length of the unthreaded portion of said fastener. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The connection system of claim 15 wherein said sleeve is a plastic member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The connection system of claim 15 wherein said top plate further defines a multiplicity of bores, and a multiplicity of fasteners carrying a sleeve and received in a bore and threaded into said truss so that upon deflection of said truss, at least one fastener slides vertically relative to said sleeve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The connection system of claim 15 wherein said fastener has a head and an enlarged portion with an enlarged diameter adjacent said head and said sleeve has an outer diameter less than said enlarged diameter.