# US 2021/0340754 A1 · Concealed structural connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0340754 A1 - Document ID: US20210340754A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/866,146 - Filed: 2020-05-04 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-04 - Assignees: Columbia Insurance Company - Applicants: Columbia Insurance Company - Inventors: Steven Brekke; Trent Kortenbusch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210340754A1 ## CPC - E04B 1/2604: {Connections specially adapted therefor (shear dowels E04B1/486, E04B1/49)} - E04B 1/2612: {Joist hangers} - E04B 1/2608: {Connectors made from folded sheet metal (E04B1/2612 takes precedence)} - E04B 2001/2648: {located in slots of the elongated wooden members} - E04B 2001/2652: {Details of nailing, screwing, or bolting} - E04B 2001/268: {Connection to foundations} - E04B 2001/2684: {with metal connectors} - 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 concealed connector for connecting a first structural component to a second structural component includes a connection portion and a connection plate. The connection portion attaches to the second structural component. The connection plate attaches to the first structural component. The connection plate is coupled to the connection portion and extends into a slot in the first structural component. The connection plate has a perforated region that is penetrated by at least one fastener to attach the connection plate to the first structural component. The perforated region is deformed by the at least one fastener to permit the at least one fastener to penetrate the perforated region of the connection plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A concealed connector for connecting a first structural component to a second structural component, the concealed connector comprising: a connection portion configured to attach to the second structural component; and a connection plate configured to attach to the first structural component, the connection plate being attached to the connection portion and configured to extend into a slot in the first structural component, the connection plate having a perforated region having pre-formed openings therein, the openings located in at least a subregion of the perforated region being configured in relation to the size of a fastener of a plurality of fasteners to be used to make a connection between the first and second structural components so that the fastener passing through any location within the subregion of the perforated region engages and deforms the connection plate to attach the connection plate to the first structural component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The concealed connector of claim 1, wherein a distance between adjacent openings of the plurality of openings in the subregion of the perforated region is less than an outer diameter of the at least one fastener. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The concealed connector of claim 2, wherein the distance between adjacent openings of the plurality of openings in the subregion of the perforated region is equal to or less than a minor diameter of the at least one fastener. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The concealed connector of claim 3, wherein the distance between adjacent openings of the plurality of openings of the subregion of the perforated region is equal to or greater than half the minor diameter of the at least one fastener. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The concealed connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings in the subregion of the perforated region include a first type of opening having a dimension less than an outer diameter of the at least one fastener. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The concealed connector of claim 5, wherein the dimension of the first type of opening is equal to or less than a minor diameter of the at least one fastener. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The concealed connector of claim 6, wherein the dimension of the first type of opening is equal to or greater than half the minor diameter of the at least one fastener. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The concealed connector of claim 5, wherein the plurality of openings in the subregion of the perforated region includes a second type of opening having a dimension less than the outer diameter of the at least one fastener, the first and second types of openings having different shapes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The concealed connector of claim 8, wherein the first type of opening has an elongate shape and the second type of opening has a circular shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The concealed connector of claim 9, wherein the connector plate has a height and a width, and wherein the elongate shape of the first type of opening is oriented at an angle to the height and width of the connection plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The concealed connector of claim 10, wherein the first and second types of openings are arranged in an alternating pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The concealed connector of claim 11, wherein the dimension of the second type of opening is equal to or less than an outside diameter of the at least one fastener. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The concealed connector of claim 12, wherein the dimension of the second type of opening is equal to or less than a minor diameter of the at least one fastener. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The concealed connector of claim 1, the perforated region has a surface area and the pre-formed openings having an open area, the perforated region having a void percentage defined by the open area divided by the surface area of the perforated region, wherein the void percentage is within the inclusive range of about 10% to about 70%. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The concealed connector of claim 14, wherein the void percentage is within the inclusive range of about 20% to about 50%. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The concealed connector of claim 15, wherein the void percentage is about 40%. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The concealed connector of claim 16, wherein a distance between adjacent openings of the plurality of openings is equal to or less than a minor diameter of the at least one fastener. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The concealed connector of claim 1, wherein the perforated region is configured to be deformed by the at least one fastener with minimal thread-jacking. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The concealed connector of claim 1, in combination with the at least one fastener. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The concealed connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings in the perforated region are configured so that the fastener passing through any location within the perforated region intersects and deforms the connection plate.