Connection for a lightweight steel frame system
AssigneesBethlehem Steel Corporation, Steel Construction Systems
InventorsBarry J. Carlin, David P. Green, Richard H. Gustafson, Jay W. Larson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a lightweight steel frame system having end nailed connections where lightweight steel structural members frame into support members. The end nailed connection is made by driving fasteners through the support member and directly into the connection end of a lightweight steel structural member without the need for using additional connection hardware. Where the lightweight steel structural member is a roof or floor truss, the support member may include a leveling member to facilitate positioning each roof truss at an elevation set point to produce a level roofline along the finished structure.
Claims22
A method of making an end fastened connection to attach structural members in a lightweight steel frame system, the steps of the method comprising:
- a) providing a lightweight steel structural frame member having a top chord, a bottom chord and at least one connection end, said at least one connection end including a web member extending between said top chord and said bottom chord;
- b) positioning said lightweight steel structural frame member to abut said at least one connection end against a second structural frame member;
- and
- c) driving at least one fastener through the second structural frame member and directly into said web member, said at least one fastener providing an end fastened connection that attaches the lightweight steel structural frame member to the second structural frame member so that said second structural frame member supports said lightweight steel structural frame member.
A lightweight steel frame system having end fastened connections that attach lightweight steel structural frame members to second structural frame members, the end nailed fastened connections comprising:
- a) at least one second structural frame member;
- b) at least one lightweight steel structural frame member having a top chord, a bottom chord, and at least one connection end, said at least one connection end including a web member that extends between said top chord and said bottom chord, said at least one connection end positioned to abut against said at least one second structural frame member;
- and
- c) at least one fastener that extends through said second structural frame member directly into said web member to provide said end fastened connection that attaches said at least one lightweight steel structural frame member to said at least one second structural frame member so that said second structural frame member supports said lightweight steel structural frame member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.