US 5,848,866 AGranted

Truss plates, punch for forming same, and associated method for using same

AssigneeTee-Lok Corporation

InventorWilliam H. Black, Jr.

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A truss plate includes a generally planar backing member that includes a plurality of elongate apertures defined by a pair of side edges and a pair of end edges and a plurality of teeth, each of which extends in a first direction from one side of the backing member. At least some of the teeth comprise a shank and a tip portion. The shank extends from a position adjacent an end edge of one of the apertures and comprises a major shank portion, a minor shank portion, and an arcuate base portion. The major shank portion is generally arcuate in cross-section. The major and minor shank portions are separated by a crease extending in the first direction from the backing member, with one end of the crease being substantially centered between the side edges of the aperture. The shank is twisted about an axis parallel to the first direction so that the major shank portion is substantially larger than the minor shank portion. The tip portion has a generally planar inner surface and a pair of sloping edges terminating in a sharp point. The tip portion is fixed to and merges with the major and minor shank portions opposite the base. The sloping edges are of different lengths. Truss plates having teeth with this configuration have proven to be stronger than prior art truss plates of equivalent thickness and material type. A punch tool for forming such truss plates is also disclosed.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A truss plate, formed by the steps of:

providing a punch tool, said punch tool comprising:
an elongate shank defined by a pair of opposing, planar, generally parallel side faces and a pair of opposed edge portions, said shank having a base portion at one longitudinal end thereof and a contact end portion at the opposite end thereof, each edge portion comprising a pair of elongate end faces and further comprising an arcuate shoulder at said contact end portion, each end face abutting an edge of the corresponding end face of the pair and also abutting an edge of a side face, said abutting end faces forming an angle of between about 125 and 145 degrees, each of the side faces terminating at a side face termination point at the contact end thereof;
and
a tip portion located on the contact end of said shank, said tip portion comprising a pair of opposed major faces, each of which is bordered by a portion of one of said side faces, a portion of one of said shoulders, a contact edge that extends between two contact edge termination points, each of which is immediately adjacent a respective side face termination point, and one of a pair of dividing edges, each of which extends between a respective contact edge termination point and a central portion of a respective shoulder, each of said major faces extending away from said bordering end face to the most distant contact edge termination point, said tip portion further comprising a pair of minor faces, each of which is bordered by one of said dividing edges, a portion of one of said side faces, and a portion of one of said shoulders, each of said minor faces extending away from said bordering end face to the contact edge termination point;
providing a die to receive said punch tool, said die comprising an upper surface including an elongate receiving aperture with opposed V-shaped end portions, each of said end portions having an angle of about 125 and 145 degrees, and said die further including a pair of fillets positioned between and merging with said end portions and said upper surface;
positioning a generally planar material on said die;
and
striking said generally planar material with said punch tool so that said punch tool penetrates said generally planar material and extends into said die receiving aperture to form teeth in said generally planar material, said teeth extending from one side of said planar material.

5 more elements

A section of a truss, comprising:

a pair of wooden planks having abutting edge portions;
and
a truss plate comprising:
a generally planar backing member that includes a plurality of elongate apertures defined by a pair of side edges and a pair of end edges;
and
a plurality of teeth, each of which extends in a first direction from one side of said backing member, at least some of said teeth comprising:
a shank extending from a position adjacent an end edge of one of said apertures, said shank comprising a major shank portion, a minor shank portion, and an arcuate base portion, said major shank portion being generally arcuate in cross-section, said major and minor shank portions being separated by a crease extending in said first direction from said backing member, one end of said crease being substantially centered between the side edges of said aperture, said shank being twisted about an axis parallel to said first direction so that said major shank portion is substantially larger than said minor shank portion;
and
a tip portion having a generally planar inner surface and a pair of sloping edges terminating in a sharp point, said tip portion being fixed to and merging with said major and minor shank portions opposite said base, said sloping edges being of different lengths
said truss plates being positioned so that at least some of said teeth penetrate one of said wooden planks and some other of said teeth penetrate the other of said wooden planks, and so that said backing member overlies said wooden plank abutting edge portions.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/821,105Filed 20 Mar 1997 · division
Priority: 22 May 1995
Granted: 15 Dec 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B21D 53/46
Making other particular articles: haberdashery, e.g. buckles, combs; pronged fasteners, e.g. staples
B21D 28/34
Perforating, i.e. punching holes: perforating tools; Die holders
B21D 31/02
Other methods for working sheet metal, metal tubes, metal profiles: stabbing or piercing, e.g. for making sieves
F16B 15/0046
With teeth cut out from the material of the plate: from the body of the plate