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US 9,849,497 B2Granted
Teardrop and offset notch bridging connector
AssigneeSimpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.
InventorsLarry Randall Daudet, Paul Howard Oellerich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connection between metal studs and bridging members using a separate light gauge bridging connector with teardrop-shaped interface notches and longitudinally-offset interface notches.
Claims36
A building connection (1) comprising:
- a. a substantially vertical wall stud (2) having:
- i. a central web (3) having an opening (8) a first side face (6) and second opposed side face (96);
- ii. a first side flange (9) integrally attached to the central web (3);
- and
- iii. a second side flange (99) integrally attached to the central web (3);
- b. a substantially horizontal channel-shaped bridging member (11) passing through the opening (8) in the central web (3) of the wall stud (2);
- c. a bridging connector (19) contacting the central web (3) of the wall stud (2) and fastened to the bridging member (11), the bridging connector (19) comprising:
- i. a first body part (20) having:
- (a) a first inner edge (23);
- (b) a central portion (111) bounded at least in part by first inner edge (23) and a first boundary bend (33);
- and
- (c) a first side flange (35) joined to the central portion (111) along the first boundary bend (33), the first side flange (35) having a first inner end edge (103) that contacts the first side face (6) of the central web (3) of the wall stud (2), the first inner end edge (103) being at least partially coincident with the first inner edge (23) of the first body part (20);
- ii. a second body part (220) having a second inner edge (223);
- iii. a first web-interface notch (134) having a first edge (136) at least partially coincident with a portion of the first inner edge (23) of the first body part (20), the first edge (136) extending from a first innermost point (137) where the first edge (136) joins a second edge (236), the first edge (136) extending from the first innermost point (137) toward the first side flange (35), the second edge (236) being at least partially coincident with a portion of the second inner edge (223) of the second body part (220), the second edge (236) extending from the first innermost point (137) and extending at least partially beside the second opposed side face (96) of the central web (3);
- wherein:
- (a) a portion of the first edge (136) arcs away from the central web (3) of the wall stud (2), presenting a substantially ellipsoid arc edge portion (138) that is open toward, and not in contact with, the central web (3) of the wall stud (2);
- iv. a neck (32) joining the first body part (20) to the second body part (220).
14 more elements
A method of forming a bridging connector, the method comprising:
- a. selecting a sheet metal blank (131);
- b. substantially cutting the outer edge contour (133) of the bridging connector (19), the outer contour (133) including:
- i. a first elongated web-interface notch (134), the first elongated web-interface notch (134) having:
- (a) a first edge (136) that extends from a first innermost point (137), a second edge (236) that extends from the innermost point (137), wherein the greater part of the first edge (136) and the greater part of the second edge 236 are mutually parallel;
- ii. a first body part (20) and a second body part (220) joined by a neck (32), wherein:
- (a) the first body part (20) has a central portion (111) bounded by a first inner edge (23) at least partially coincident with the first edge (136) of the first elongated web-interface notch (134);
- (b) the second body part (20) has a central portion (111) bounded by a second inner edge (223) at least partially coincident with the second edge (236) of the first elongated web-interface notch (134);
- c. bending down a first portion of the first body part (20) to form a first boundary bend (33) and a first side flange (35) joined to the central portion (111) of the first body part (20) along the first boundary bend (33), wherein:
- i. a portion of the first edge (136) of the first elongated web-interface notch (134) at least partially coincident with the first boundary bend (33) arcs away from the second edge (236) of the first elongated web-interface notch (134), presenting a substantially ellipsoid arc edge portion (138) that is open toward the second edge (236) of the first elongated web-interface notch (134) such that the greater part of the first edge (136) and the greater part of the second edge (236) are no longer mutually parallel.
6 more elements
A building connection (1) comprising:
- a. a substantially vertical wall stud (2) having:
- i. a central web (3) having an opening (8), a first side face (6) and a second opposed side face (96);
- ii. a first side flange (9) integrally attached to the central web (3);
- and
- iii. a second side flange (99) integrally attached to the central web (3);
- b. a substantially horizontal channel-shaped bridging member (11) passing through the opening (8) in the central web (3) of the wall stud (2);
- c. a bridging connector (19) contacting the central web (3) of the wall stud (2) and fastened to the bridging member (11), the bridging connector (19) comprising:
- i. a first body part (20) having:
- (a) a first inner edge (23);
- (b) a central portion (111) bounded at least in part by the first inner edge (23) and a first boundary bend (33);
- and
- (c) a first side flange (35) joined to the central portion (111) along the first boundary bend (33), the first side flange (35) having a first inner end edge (103) that contacts the first side face (6) of the central web (3) of the wall stud (2), the first inner end edge (103) being at least partially coincident with the first inner edge (23) of the first body part (20);
- ii. a second body part (220) having:
- (a) a second inner edge (223);
- (b) a central portion (111) bounded at least in part by the second inner edge (223) and a second boundary bend (233);
- and
- (c) a second side flange (235) joined to the central portion (111) along the second boundary bend (233), the second side flange (235) having a second inner end edge (203) that contacts the central web (3) of the wall stud (2), the second inner end edge (203) being at least partially coincident with the second inner edge (223) of the second body part (220);
- iii. a first web-interface notch (134) having a first edge (136) at least partially coincident with a portion of the first inner edge (23) of the first body part (20), the first edge (136) extending from a first innermost point (137) where the first edge (136) joins a second edge (236), the first edge (136) extending from the first innermost point (137) toward the first side flange (35), the second edge (236) being at least partially coincident with a portion of the second inner edge (223) of the second body part (220), the second edge (236) extending from the first innermost point (137) and extending at least partially beside the second opposed side face (96) of the central web (3);
- wherein:
- (a) a portion of the first edge (136) arcs away from the central web (3) of the wall stud (2), presenting a substantially ellipsoid arc edge portion (138) that is open toward, and not in contact with, the central web (3) of the wall stud (2);
- (b) the first inner end edge (103) of the first side flange (35) is at least partially coincident with a portion of the first edge (136) and the first inner end edge (103) is the only portion of the first edge (136) that contacts the central web (3) of the wall stud;
- and
- (c) the second inner end edge (203) of the second side flange (235) is at least partially coincident with a portion of the second edge (236) and the second inner end edge (203) is the only portion of the second edge (236) that contacts the central web (3) of the wall stud (2);
- iv. a neck (32) joining the first body part (20) to the second body part (220).
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.