Nail plate hanger with bendable tabs

{
  "publication_number": "US9080325B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Nail plate hanger with bendable tabs",
  "abstract": "A building connection between a first structural member and a second structural member made with a nail prong plate connector that has integral tabs. The second structural member supports the first structural member.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A building connection (1) comprising: a. a first structural member (2) with a first attachment surface (3); b. a second structural member (18) with a second attachment surface (19) angularly related to the first attachment surface (3) of the first structural member (2), the second structural member (18) supporting the first structural member (2); and c. a connector (4) having: i. a body (5) with a first perimeter edge (6), an attachment face (21) and an open face (22) opposite the attachment face (21), the body (5) being fastened to the first structural member (2) with the attachment face (21) interfacing with the first attachment surface (3) of the first structural member (2); and ii. a first tab (7) joined to the body (5) at a first bend (8) located away from the first perimeter edge (6), the first tab (7) having: (a) a first tab attachment face (23) and a first open face (24) opposite the first tab attachment face (23); (b) a first tab extension portion (9) joined to the first bend (8); and (c) a first tab attachment portion (10) joined to the first tab extension portion (9) and separated from the first bend (8) by the first tab extension portion (9), the first tab attachment portion (10) having a first free end (11) oriented away from the first tab extension portion (9), the first tab attachment portion (10) being fastened to the second structural member (18) with the attachment face (23) interfacing with the second attachment surface (19) of the second structural member (18), wherein: i. the first bend (8) has a first end (12) and the body (5) has a first lateral portion (13) that extends beyond the first end (12) of the first bend (8); ii. the first lateral portion (13) of the body (5) extends to either side of the first bend (8); iii. the first tab extension portion (9) and the first attachment portion (10) of the first tab (7) do not occupy a single plane; and iv. the attachment face (23) of the first tab extension portion (9) and the open face (22) of the body (5) between the first bend (8) and the first perimeter edge (6) define a first acute angle (25); and wherein: (d) the body (5) of the connector (4) has an outer boundary (26), the first perimeter edge (6) is one of a plurality of perimeter edges (6) that comprise the outer boundary (26) of the body (5) of the connector (4), and the first bend (8) is entirely within the outer boundary (26), and the first tab (7) does not intersect the outer boundary (26), and the body (5) of the connector (4) has a plurality of protruding nail prongs (14) that are embedded in the first attachment surface (3) of the first structural member (2); and wherein (e) an additional lateral portion (13) is provided at the other end of the bend (8), the additional lateral portion (13) extending to both sides of the bend (8), and the lateral portions (13) at the end of the bend (8) have protruding nail prongs on both sides of the bend (8).",
    "2. The building connection (1) of claim 1 wherein: a. a portion of the body (5) of the connector (4) extends away from the first perimeter edge (6) further than the distance between the first bend (8) and the free end (11) of the first tab attachment portion (10).",
    "3. The building connection (1) of claim 2 wherein: a. the first tab extension portion (9) does not make contact with the body (5) of the connector (4) except through the first bend (8).",
    "4. The building connection (1) of claim 3 wherein: a. the first perimeter edge (6) extends to the first lateral portion (13) of the body (5) of the connector (4).",
    "5. The building connection (1) of claim 1 wherein: a. the first tab (7) has first and second extension portions (9) joined to the body (5) of the connector (4) at two separate bends (8), respectively; and b. the attachment portion (10) of each tab (7) connects the first and second extension portions (9) of each tab.",
    "6. The building connection (1) of claim 5 wherein: a. the bends (8) joining the first tab (7) to the body (5) of the connector (4) are linear and linearly aligned.",
    "7. The building connection (1) of claim 6 wherein: a. the first tab (7) is generally arcuate, with the first and second bends (8) at respective ends of the arc.",
    "8. The building connection (1) of claim 7 wherein: a. the first tab (7) has an obtuse angled juncture (16) between the open face (24) of each tab extension portion (9) and the open face (24) of each tab attachment portion (10).",
    "9. The building connection (1) of claim 8 wherein: a. the connector (4) has a second tab (7) having: i. a second tab attachment face (23) and a second open face (24) opposite the second tab attachment face (23); ii. a second tab extension portion (9) joined to a second bend (8); and iii. a second tab attachment portion (10) joined to the second tab extension portion (9) and separated from the second bend (8) by the second tab extension portion (9), the second tab attachment portion (10) having a second free end (11) oriented away from the second tab extension portion (9), the second tab attachment portion (10) being fastened to the second structural member (18) with the second tab attachment face (23) interfacing with the second attachment surface (19) of the second structural member (18), wherein: a. the second bend (8) has a second end (12) and the body (5) has second lateral portion (13) that extends beyond the second end (12) of the second bend (8); b. the second lateral portion (13) of the body (5) extends to either side of the second bend (8); c. the second tab extension portion (9) and the second attachment portion (10) of the first tab (7) do not occupy a single plane; and d. the second attachment face (23) of the second tab extension portion (9) and the open face (22) of the body (5) between the second bend (8) and the first perimeter edge (6) define a second acute angle (25).",
    "10. The building connection (1) of claim 1 wherein: a. the body (5) of the connector (4) is fastened to the first structural member (2) with integral nail prongs (14) that project from the attachment face (21) of the body (5); and b. each tab (7) is fastened to the second structural member (18) with separate fasteners (17).",
    "11. The building connection (1) of claim 10 wherein: a. the first structural member (2) has a plurality of chords (15); and a. the body (5) of the connector (4) is attached to a vertical chord (15) and a horizontal chord (15) of the first structural member (2).",
    "12. The building connection (1) of claim 11 wherein: a. the second structural member (18) has a plurality of chords (20); and a. each tab (7) is fastened to a different chord (20) of the second structural member (18).",
    "13. The building connection (1) of claim 12 wherein: a. the first structural member (2) is supported by the second structural member (18) through the nail prong connector (4).",
    "14. The building connection (1) of claim 13 wherein: a. the first and second structural members (2) are trusses (2).",
    "15. The building connection (1) of claim 14 wherein: a. the first structural member (2) is a jack truss (2) and the second structural member (18) is a girder truss (2).",
    "16. The building connection (1) of claim 15 wherein: a. the first perimeter edge (6) of the body (5) of the connector (4) abuts the second attachment surface (19) of the second structural member (18).",
    "17. The building connection (1) of claim 16 wherein: a. the body (5) of the connector (4) is fastened to the first structural member (2) between every pair of bends (8)."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Plated trusses are trusses, most often roof trusses that join the tops of building walls and support the roof sheathing, in which the truss chords, typically wood, are joined together using truss connector plates. A truss connector plate is a kind of tie. A truss connector plate is typically manufactured from ASTM A653/A653M, A591, A792/A792M, or A167 structural quality steel that is protected with zinc or zinc-aluminum alloy coatings or their stainless steel equivalent. These metal connector plates have integral teeth and are manufactured in various sizes (that is, length and width) and thicknesses, or gauges, and are designed to laterally transmit loads in wood. These plates are also known as stud ties, metal connector plates, mending plates, or nail plates. Not all types of nail plates are approved for use in trusses and other structurally critical placements. Nail plates are used to connect timber of the same thickness in the same plane. When used on trusses, they are pressed into the side of the timber using special hydraulic tools. As the plate is pressed in, the nails are all “driven” simultaneously and the compression between adjacent nails reduces the tendency to split. When one truss, such as a girder or hip truss, is used to support another truss, such as a jack truss, that abuts against it, a separate connector is usually required. The present invention is preferably a nail plate with integral tabs that allow the nail plate to function as a hanger at the abutting end of the supported truss.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04B 1/2608",
    "F16B 15/0046"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04B 1/26",
    "E04B 1/32",
    "E04B 7/08",
    "F16B 15/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Simpson Strong Tie Co Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Sam Thomas Hensen"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-03-25",
  "publication_date": "2015-07-14",
  "grant_date": "2015-07-14",
  "priority_date": "2014-03-25",
  "application_number": "US-201414224081-A",
  "family_id": "53052657",
  "cited_by_count": 7,
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}