US 8,074,416 B2Granted

Structural members with gripping features and joining arrangements therefor

AssigneeTSF Systems, LLC

InventorWilliam John Andrews

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Abstract

A joining arrangement is provided for use in the construction of stud frame which includes a releasable attachment/detachment feature. The first member (plate) includes in at least one side wall a formation which, when members are joined, engages a corresponding formation in at least one wall of the second member (stud). The formation, such as a V-shaped protrusion, is/are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the member and the formation on the second member is disposed generally parallel to its longitudinal axis such that upon engagement of the first and second members, the respective formations in the first and second members engage such that they are in alignment, thereby, securing the first member to the second. Additionally, a plurality of protrusions, which provide a gripping feature, may be formed on the upper surface of web for inhibiting the stud from sliding, slipping, moving and/or migrating within the plate.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system for interconnecting structural members, the system comprising:

a horizontal top plate structural member including a top plate planar web with a plurality of first anti-sliding protrusions formed on a first surface thereof, and a pair of opposing walls extending from the top plate planar web, the walls having inwardly directed protrusions formed along a length of the horizontal top plate structural member;
and
a vertical stud structural member having a first terminus end portion, the first terminus end portion of the vertical stud structural member being in contact with the first anti-sliding protrusions formed on a substantial portion of the top plate planar web of the horizontal top plate structural member, the vertical stud structural member having a pair of inwardly protruding female recesses formed on a first terminus end portion of the vertical stud structural member, the inwardly directed protrusions of the horizontal top plate structural member disposed within the female recesses of the vertical stud structural member to engage the vertical stud structural member to the horizontal top plate structural member;
wherein the first terminus end portion of the vertical stud structural member can be moved over the first anti-sliding protrusions for positional adjustment of the vertical stud structural member along the length of the horizontal top plate structural member;
and
wherein the first anti-sliding protrusions are disposed over the length of the top planar web in rows that are perpendicular to the opposing walls of the horizontal top plate structural member and formed to so grip the vertical stud structural member as to inhibit a positionally adjusted vertical stud structural member from sliding, slipping, moving and/or migrating over the first planar web of the horizontal structural member.

3 more elements

A system for interconnecting structural members, the system comprising:

a horizontal structural member including a first planar web with a plurality of anti-sliding protrusions formed on a first surface thereof, and a pair of opposing walls extending from the first planar web, the walls having a first retaining portion extending toward the opposing wall at a skewed angle with respect to the first planar web;
and
a vertical structural member having a first terminus end at least partially disposed between the first planar web and the first retaining portion for transversely interconnecting the horizontal structural member and the vertical structural member, the vertical structural member having a first retaining surface wedged against the first retaining portion of the horizontal structural member to bias the first terminus end of the vertical structural member toward the first surface of the horizontal structural member and to bias the first terminus end of the vertical structural member against the anti-sliding protrusions formed on the first surface of the horizontal structural member to inhibit the vertical structural member from sliding along a longitudinal length of the horizontal structural member;
wherein the vertical structural member can be moved over the anti-sliding protrusions for positional adjustment of the vertical structural member along the length of the horizontal top plate structural member;
and
wherein the anti-sliding protrusions are disposed over the length of the web in rows that are perpendicular to the opposing walls of the horizontal structural member and formed to so grip the vertical structural member as to inhibit a positionally adjusted vertical structural member from sliding, slipping, moving and/or migrating over the first planar web of the horizontal structural member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/537,397Filed 7 Aug 2009 · continuation
Priority: 7 Jun 2005
Published: US 2010/0218451 A12 Sep 2010
Granted: 13 Dec 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E04B 2/767
T-connections: connections between wall studs and upper or lower locating rails
E04B 2/7459
With panels and support posts, extending from floor to ceiling: with telescoping posts to compensate for floor or ceiling irregularities
Y10T 403/46
Joints and connections: rod end to transverse side of member
E04B
General building constructions