US 8,910,367 B2Granted

Slip bracket connector for rigid members

AssigneeBTI, Inc.

InventorVaughn P. Adams, Jr.

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A one-piece rigid connector allows a nominal construction wood member to slip axially while fixed at its distal end, to accommodate the naturally occurring shrinkage of lumber. The connector surrounds the wood member and attaches to a second wood member to secure the members together. The connector may be slightly larger radially than the first member to accommodate natural movement. In one embodiment, the connector is made of a light gauge sheet metal and attaches a vertical baluster to the horizontal lower deck rail of an elevated wood deck guard rail system. The connector secures the baluster horizontally, but allows the baluster to move vertically to accommodate expansion or contraction of the baluster after construction. The distal end of the baluster is secured using conventional wood screw attachment. The connector includes tabs on each side to allow fastening of the connector to the lower deck rail using conventional wood screws.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method of attaching a first wood member to a second member so that the natural dimensional fluctuations of the first wood member are not restricted, the method comprising the following steps:

placing a bracket around the first wood member such that the bracket is in contacting relationship with the second member and in non-contacting relationship with the first wood member, the bracket being a three-sided structure including:
a planar front portion and planar left and right portions attached to opposing edges of the front portion and defining a proximal end and a distal end of the bracket that are each open, the left, front, and right portions leaving a clearance gap between the bracket and the first wood member;
and
at least two tabs, one of the tabs attached to the left portion of the bracket and another of the tabs attached to the right portion of the bracket, each of the tabs including a first section projecting from the respective left or right portion of the bracket and a second section projecting from and angularly transverse to the first section, wherein only the first section or the second section of each tab has at least one aperture disposed through the tab for receiving a fastener;
abutting at least one of the tabs attached to the left portion and at least one of the tabs attached to the right portion against the second member such that the first section of each tab makes flush contact with the second member;
and
driving a fastener through each aperture into the second member, the fasteners securing the bracket to the second member such that the bracket remains in non-contacting relationship with the first wood member, the non-contacting relationship creating a clearance gap, thereby permitting natural dimensional fluctuations of the first wood member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/204,246Filed 11 Mar 2014 · continuation
Priority: 27 Sep 2012
Published: US 2014/0082921 A110 Jul 2014
Granted: 16 Dec 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

F16B 7/04
Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections: clamping or clipping connections
F16B 7/00
Connections of rods or tubes
F16B 7/0493
For rods or for tubes without using the innerside thereof: forming a crossed-over connection
B23P 11/00
Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise

Family

Application13/628,408Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Sep 2012
US 2014/0189997 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Jul 2014
US 2014/0082921 A1Published application
US 8,834,057 B2Related patent
US 8,910,367 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.