AU2008233436B2 - A bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A bracket for use in a structure including one or more trusses includes a base and a pair of support members extending from the base. The support members are 5 separated by a gap. The gap is sized to receive a member of the truss. At least one of the support members further includes a brace wall and a guide wall having a slot. The guide wall extends from the brace wall generally at a right angle. N.\Melboume\Cases\Patent\790O0-79999\P79335.AU\Soecis\P79335.AU Specification 2008-10-24.doc24/10/08 33 P 23- 27 e33

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant (a): MITEK HOLDINGS, INC. Invention Title: A BRACKET The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: P79335.AU PatSet_FiRng Appication 2008-10-24.doc (M) -2 BRACE WALL BRACKET FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to s bracket connectors and more particularly to a slotted brace wall bracket for use in a building or other structure. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 In some structures, roof trusses are placed on top of wall frames. Some wall frames, particular some of those internal to the structure are non-load bearing. In addition, some of these internal non-load bearing wall frames contain bracing panels to resist lateral forces on is the structure. A rigid connection is required between the truss and wall to transfer the forces from the ceiling to the bracing panel. At the same time, this connection has to control the lateral position of the truss frame and hold the wall frame against tipping over, whilst 20 permitting some relative vertical movement of the truss and wall frame. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the present invention, a bracket for 25 use in a structure including a truss and a wall structure, the bracket comprising: a base attachable to a wall structure; a pair of support members extending from the base; at least one of the support members comprising a 30 brace wall and a guide wall having a slot and extending from the brace wall generally at a right angle, wherein a gap is defined between one of the support members and the guide wall of the other support member, the gap being sized to receive a member of the truss at a position 35 between ends of the truss, wherein the slot extends vertically such that a longitudinal axis of the slot is perpendicular to the base, and wherein the slot is 38432361 (GHMatters) P79335.AU iimi -3 configured to receive a fastener and to allow movement of the fastener in a vertical direction along the longitudinal axis of the slot while restricting movement of the fastener in a horizontal direction. 5 In another aspect of the invention, a bracket for use in a building structure including a wall frame and a ceiling member extending over the wall frame, the bracket comprising: 10 a base for connection to the wall frame; a pair of support members extending from the base; at least one of the support members comprising a brace wall and a guide wall having a slot and extending from the brace wall generally at a right angle, wherein a 15 gap is defined between one of the support members and the guide wall of the other support member, the gap being sized to receive the ceiling member at a position between ends of the ceiling member, wherein the slot extends vertically such that a longitudinal axis of the slot is 20 perpendicular to the base, and wherein the slot is configured to receive a fastener and to allow movement of the fastener in a vertical direction along the longitudinal axis of the slot while restricting movement of the fastener in a horizontal direction. 25 The invention also extends to a building structure comprising a wall frame, a ceiling member extending over and across the wall frame and a bracket comprising a base secured to the wall frame, and a pair of support members 30 extending upwardly from the base, at least one of the support members comprising a brace wall and a guide wall, a gap being defined between one of the support members and the guide wall of the other support member, the gap being configured to receive the ceiling member at a position 38432361 (GHMatters) P79335.AU 91112 3a between ends of the ceiling member, the guide wall including a vertically extending slot configured to receive a fastener and to permit vertical movement of the 5 fastener, and thereby vertical movement of the ceiling member, relative to the wall frame while restricting movement of the fastener in a horizontal direction. A vertical slot in a bracket can permit vertical movement of a truss, for example, under heavy wind loading 10 or when the ground beneath a building swells (e.g. under increases/decreases in moisture). Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. is BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective of a bracket of the present invention Fig. 2 is a front view of the bracket; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the 20 bracket attached to a wall frame and roof truss assembly; Fig. 4 is a front view of the bracket, wall frame and roof truss assembly of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a variant fragmentary perspective of the bracket attached to a wall and roof truss assembly 25 through a trimmer between trusses. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 30 Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a brace wall bracket of the present invention is indicated generally as 11. The bracket includes a base 13 and a pair of support members 15 extending from the base separated by a gap G. 38432361 (GHMatters) P79335.AU e112 -4 The support members 15 extend in the same direction, generally at right angles to the base 13. The support members 15 each comprise a brace wall 19 and guide wall 21 extending from the brace wall generally at a right angle. 5 A pair of vertically elongate slots 23 extend along the length of the guide wall 21. A lip 17 of the bracket between the pair of support members 15 extends across the gap G near the base 13. In the illustrated embodiment, each guide wall 21 is shown as extending from the brace 10 wall 19 in the same direction as the base 13 however the guide wall could extend in the opposite direction. Additionally, the guide wall 21 of one support member 15 could extend in the same direction as the base 13 and the other guide wall could extend in the opposite direction. 15 The embodiment also shows two slots 23 on each guide wall 21; however, a different number of slots could be used. Holes 27 in the base 13 are provided for attaching the bracket 11 to a non-load bearing wall frame 31 (see Fig. 3). A plurality of integrally formed ribs 33 20 in the bracket 11 are provided for increased rigidity. The bracket 11 can be made of any suitable material for use in roof truss construction, such as steel. Referring to Fig. 3, the bracket is mounted on the wall frame 31 for connecting the wall frame to a roof 25 truss, generally indicated at 35. Only a fragment of the wall frame 31 and truss 35 are illustrated, and they may be of conventional construction and of conventional material such as wood or metal. As illustrated, the bracket 11 is nailed onto a top plate 37 of the wall frame 30 31 with nails 39 in holes 27 of the bracket 11. The gap G receives a bottom chord 41 of the roof truss 35 (see also Fig. 4). The chord 41 is one of plural members making up the truss 35 that may be connected together with nailing plates, such as nailing plate 42. The chord 41 may rest 35 on the lip 17 between the support members 15. Nails 43 are inserted in the slots 23 and driven into the bottom N:\Melboume\Cases\Patent\79000-799 \P79335.AU\Specis\P79335.AU Specification 2008-10-24. doc24/10/08 -5 chord 41 leaving a clearance (not shown) between a head of the nail 43 and the guide wall 21. The gap G is sized to restrict movement of the bottom chord 41 laterally within the gap. The elongate slots 23 and clearance of the nail 5 heads from the bracket 11 allow the chord 41 to move vertically along the length of the gap G relative to the top plate 37 of the wall frame 31, while remaining at all times attached to the wall frame and restricting lateral movement. The nails 43 and slots 23 also guide the 10 movement of the bottom chord 41 along the gap G. Figure 6 illustrates the manner in which the bracket 11 can also be used in a building construction in which roof trusses 35A extend parallel to wall frames of which one wall frame 31A is shown. In this case the 15 bracket 11 is fitted to a trimmer 41 extending between adjacent trusses 35A and to the top of a wall frame 35A disposed between those roof trusses. The base of bracket 11 is nailed onto a top plate of the wall frame 31A and nails are inserted through the slots 23 in the bracket and 20 nailed to the trimmer so as to form a connection in similar fashion to the previously described connection to the bottom chord of a roof truss. Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are 25 possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and "said" are intended to mean 30 that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. In view of the above, it will be seen that the 35 several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. N:\MelboumeXCases\Patent\79000-79999\P79335 AU\Specis\P79335.AU Specification 2008-10-24.doc24/10/08 -6 As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings 5 shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context 10 requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further 15 features in various embodiments of the invention. 2729917_1 (GHMatters) P79335.AU23/09/11

Claims (17)

1. A bracket for use in a structure including a truss 5 and a wall structure, the bracket comprising: a base attachable to a wall structure; a pair of support members extending from the base; at least one of the support members comprising a brace wall and a guide wall having a slot and extending 10 from the brace wall generally at a right angle, wherein a gap is defined between one of the support members and the guide wall of the other support member, the gap being sized to receive a member of the truss at a position between ends of the truss, wherein the slot extends is vertically such that a longitudinal axis of the slot is perpendicular to the base, and wherein the slot is configured to receive a fastener and to allow movement of the fastener in a vertical direction along the longitudinal axis of the slot while restricting movement 20 of the fastener in a horizontal direction.

2. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slot is elongate. 25

3. A bracket as set forth in claim 2 wherein the guide wall has two slots arranged end to end.

4. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a lip extending between the support members. 30

5. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein both support members comprise a brace wall and a guide wall having a slot and extending from the brace wall at a right angle. 35 38432361 (GHMatters) P79335.AU wiom

6. A bracket for use in a building structure including a wall frame and a ceiling member extending over the wall frame, the bracket comprising: a base for connection to the wall frame; 5 a pair of support members extending from the base; at least one of the support members comprising a brace wall and a guide wall having a slot and extending from the brace wall generally at a right angle, wherein a gap is defined between one of the support members and the 10 guide wall of the other support member, the gap being sized to receive the ceiling member at a position between ends of the ceiling member, wherein the slot extends vertically such that a longitudinal axis of the slot is perpendicular to the base, and wherein the slot is is configured to receive a fastener and to allow movement of the fastener in a vertical direction along the longitudinal axis of the slot while restricting movement of the fastener in a horizontal direction. 20

7. A bracket as set forth in claim 6 wherein the slot is elongate.

8. A bracket as set forth in claim 7 wherein the guide wall has two slots arranged end to end. 25

9. A bracket as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a lip extending between the support members.

10. A bracket as set forth in claim 6 wherein both 30 support members comprise a brace wall and a guide wall having a slot and extending from the brace wall at a right angle.

11. The bracket as set forth in claim 6, wherein 35 both of the support members extend from a same side of the base. 38432361 (GHMauers) P79335.AU11112 -9

12. The bracket as set forth in claim 6, wherein the guide wall extending from the brace wall does not contact the base. 5

13. A building structure comprising a wall frame, a ceiling member extending over and across the wall frame and a bracket comprising a base secured to the wall frame, and a pair of support members extending upwardly from the base, at least one of the support members comprising a 10 brace wall and a guide wall, a gap being -defined between one of the support members and the guide wall of the other support member, the gap being configured to receive the ceiling member at a position between ends of the ceiling member, the guide wall including a vertically extending 15 slot configured to receive a fastener and to permit vertical movement of the fastener, and thereby vertical movement of the ceiling member, relative to the wall frame while restricting movement of the fastener in a horizontal direction. 20

14. A building structure as claimed in claim 13 wherein the ceiling member is a bottom chord of a ceiling truss. 2S

15. A building structure as claimed in claim 13 wherein the ceiling member is a trimmer extending between ceiling trusses.

16. A bracket substantially, substantially as herein 30 described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A building structure substantially, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 38432361 (GHMatters) P79335.AU 911/12