Patents by Inventor Karen W. Colonias
Karen W. Colonias has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8479470Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wall for resisting lateral forces imposed on a building that incorporates the wall. Specifically, this invention relates to a wall in a light-frame building having within it a sub-component specifically designed to resist lateral forces imposed on the building such as those caused by an earthquake or by wind loading. The wall is formed with a bottom plate that rests on the underlying structural component of the building. A plurality of vertically-disposed studs connect to the bottom plate, and a top plate is supported by and connects to the vertically-disposed studs. A shear-resisting assembly connects to the top plate and the underlying structural component. The shear-resisting assembly has top and bottom struts and first and second chords and a planar shear resisting element connected thereto.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2001Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Alfred D. Commins, Robert C. Gregg, William F. Leek, Karen W. Colonias, Arthur R. Linn
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Patent number: 8397454Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wall for resisting lateral forces imposed on a building that incorporates the wall. Specifically, this invention relates to a wall in a light-frame building having within it a sub-component specifically designed to resist lateral forces imposed on the building such as those caused by an earthquake or by wind loading. The wall is formed with a bottom plate that rests on the underlying structural component of the building. A plurality of vertically-disposed studs connect to the bottom plate, and a top plate is supported by and connects to the vertically-disposed studs. A shear-resisting assembly connects to the top plate and the underlying structural component. The shear-resisting assembly has top and bottom struts and first and second chords and a planar shear resisting element connected thereto.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1997Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Alfred D. Commins, Robert C. Gregg, William F. Leek, Karen W. Colonias, Arthur R. Linn
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Publication number: 20020002806Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wall for resisting lateral forces imposed on a building that incorporates the wall. Specifically, this invention relates to a wall in a light-frame building having within it a sub-component specifically designed to resist lateral forces imposed on the building such as those caused by an earthquake or by wind loading. The wall is formed with a bottom plate that rests on the underlying structural component of the building. A plurality of vertically-disposed studs connect to the bottom plate, and a top plate is supported by and connects to the vertically-disposed studs. A shear-resisting assembly connects to the top plate and the underlying structural component. The shear-resisting assembly has top and bottom struts and first and second chords and a planar shear resisting element connected thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2001Publication date: January 10, 2002Applicant: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Alfred D. Commins, Robert C. Gregg, William F. Leek, Karen W. Colonias, Arthur R. Linn
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Publication number: 20010002529Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wall for resisting lateral forces imposed on a building that incorporates the wall. Specifically, this invention relates to a wall in a light-frame building having within it a sub-component specifically designed to resist lateral forces imposed on the building such as those caused by an earthquake or by wind loading. The wall is formed with a bottom plate that rests on the underlying structural component of the building. A plurality of vertically-disposed studs connect to the bottom plate, and a top plate is supported by and connects to the vertically-disposed studs. A shear-resisting assembly connects to the top plate and the underlying structural component. The shear-resisting assembly has top and bottom struts and first and second chords and a planar shear resisting element connected thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 1997Publication date: June 7, 2001Applicant: CHARLES R. CYPHERInventors: ALFRED D. COMMINS, ROBERT C. GREGG, WILLIAM F. LEEK, KAREN W. COLONIAS, ARTHUR R. LINN
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Patent number: 5380115Abstract: A hip corner plate connection in which a single element sheet metal hip corner plate connector is used to connect a hip rafter most commonly occurring in wood frame buildings having a stick-framed roof of either dimensional lumber or plywood I-rafters to the top plates of the supporting walls. The sheet metal hip corner plate connector includes base members which attach to the single or double top plates of the framed wall, and flanges which attach to the hip rafter.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Co., Inc.Inventor: Karen W. Colonias
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Patent number: 5380116Abstract: A hip ridge connection in a building structure in which two hip rafters are connected to a ridge member by a sheet metal hip ridge connector having a base which is in registration with the end face of the ridge member and has flanges fastened to the side faces of the ridge member, and two seat members holding the two hip members in selectable sloping relation to the ridge member. The same sheet metal hip ridge connector may also be used to connect two hip rafters to a wall or the face of two common rafters. Modified forms of the sheet metal hip ridge connector may be used to connect 2x or 4x dimensional lumber hip rafters to 2x or 4x dimensional ridge members. One sheet metal hip ridge connector is slope adjustable in the field up to a 12/12 pitch for the hip rafters.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventor: Karen W. Colonias
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Patent number: 5317850Abstract: An anchor bolt connection in a framed building which includes a concrete foundation for supporting and anchoring a framed building against uplift forces and an anchor bolt for connecting the frame of the building to the concrete foundation. The anchor bolt is formed with an offset so that a substantial portion of the embedded portion of the anchor bolt is at an angle to the axis of the upper portion of the anchor bolt. In an optimum form of the invention, substantially all of the embedded portion of the anchor bolt is at an angle to the upper portion. In a preferred form of the anchor bolt connection, indicia marks are placed on the anchor bolt so that the rotational orientation of the anchor bolt can be inspected before, during and after the concrete is poured.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1992Date of Patent: June 7, 1994Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Karen W. Colonias, Thomas J. Fitzmyers
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Patent number: 5109646Abstract: A bearing connection in a building structure for distributing downward gravity bearing loads through fasteners driven through sheet metal connectors and into a load carrying wood structural member such as a floor joist, a roof rafter or a wood truss member, through a pair of sheet metal connectors and into a wood plate member via fasteners driven through the connectors and into the plate member. Seismic, hurricane or other upward forces are also resisted by the same connectors and fasteners. Relative movement between the load carrying structural member and the plate member is also resisted in a generally horizontal direction transverse as well as parallel to the plate member.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1991Date of Patent: May 5, 1992Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Karen W. Colonias, Michael W. Bugbee
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Patent number: 5104252Abstract: A connection in a wood frame building wherein a one piece sheet metal hanger connector is used to join together a wood supporting member, and one or two wood supported members. The connector is connected to the supporting member by a top flange and the supported members are joined to the connector as well as to the supporting member by fasteners driven through openings in flanges of the connector, through the supporting member, through the back wall of the connector and into the supporting member. The arrangement places the fasteners in double shear resulting in unusually large load holding capability for the size and weight of the sheet metal connector. The connector seat is fully supported at the sides and back resulting in high load holding capacity both downwardly and upwardly with unusual rigidity and resistance to lateral forces.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1991Date of Patent: April 14, 1992Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Karen W. Colonias, William F. Leek
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Patent number: 5042217Abstract: A light wood truss connection in which a hip truss and a jack truss are joined to a wood supporting girder by means of a sheet metal connector which includes first second and third side wall members and first and second back wall members. A single seat supports the hip truss while the jack truss is supported by fasteners only inserted through the third side wall member. Support for the jack truss is also by fasteners in double shear.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1990Date of Patent: August 27, 1991Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Bugbee, Karen W. Colonias
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Patent number: 4995206Abstract: A metal integral elevated post base for elevating the base of a wood post above a concrete base in which the post base is embedded. The post base includes a metal foot member embedded in the concrete base, a pair of metal post members integrally connected to the foot member partially embedded in and extending above the concrete base, and a pair of seat members integrally connected to the post members for supporting the wood post. Side members integrally connected to the seat members attach to the sides of the wood post. The post base is formed in two halves from a sheet metal blank and is configured as opposite halves and folded to form a single post and seat. Parts of the post base could be welded, but the preferred form is not welded.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 1990Date of Patent: February 26, 1991Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Karen W. Colonias, Alfred D. Commins, Tyrell T. Gilb, Jin-Jie Lin, Richard D. Moore
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Patent number: 4897979Abstract: A multiple wood truss connection in which from two to three hip and jack trusses may be supported by a single sheet metal connector at two locations and connected to a carrying girder. Each carried truss is supported on a common seat and individually supported by nailing to sidewalls and tab members. The sheet metal connector is bolted and nailed to a vertical king post member on the carrying girder. The sheet metal connector is formed with overlapping back members which enable the connector to carry very large loads and to be connected to relatively narrow king posts. No welding of the sheet metal connector is required or desired.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1989Date of Patent: February 6, 1990Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventor: Karen W. Colonias
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Patent number: 4890436Abstract: A multiple wood truss connection in which from three to five hip and jack trusses may be supported by a single sheet metal connector at from two to three location and connected to a carrying girder. Each carried truss is supported on a common seat and individually supported by nailing to sidwalls and tab members. The sheet metal connector is bolted and nailed to a vertical king post member on the carrying girder. The sheet metal connector is formed with overlapping back members which enable the connector to carry very large loads and to be connected to relatively narrow king posts. No welding of the sheet metal connector is required or desired.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1988Date of Patent: January 2, 1990Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventor: Karen W. Colonias
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Patent number: 4817359Abstract: A connector for joining a wood member such as a hip truss and a second wood member such as a jack truss to a third wood member such as a girder truss. The connector is formed with a seat for receiving the bottom edges of the hip and jack truss, side members and tab members which respectively attach to the sides of the hip and jack trusses, and back members which attach to the carrier girder truss. The connector is constructed from a single sheet metal blank member and requires no welding. The hip and jack trusses intersect at an angle less than 90.degree. and attach to the bottom chord of the carrier girder truss.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1988Date of Patent: April 4, 1989Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventor: Karen W. Colonias
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Patent number: D354905Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1992Date of Patent: January 31, 1995Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Fitzmyers, Karen W. Colonias