Abstract: A structural joint for bearing a structural load is formed by a pair of wooden members fastened together by at least one metal connector plate. The connector plate is formed from a metal plate having a plurality of pairs of teeth punched therefrom. The teeth are punched from the plate so as to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate. Each pair of teeth is struck so as to leave a corresponding longitudinally extending slot between the teeth. Each of the teeth has a knife edge portion that extends from the plate. This knife edge portion is thinner than the remaining portion of each tooth and has a sharp edge with a cross-sectional angle of less than 20.degree., preferably 8.degree. to 12.degree., for facilitating penetration of each of the teeth into the wooden members to be secured together. These knife edge portions of the teeth are made by a metal forming process which serves to shape such portion of the teeth and simultaneously widen and elongate each tooth.

Abstract: A sheet metal web unit for interconnecting vertically spaced apart, horizontal wood chords, is formed as an elongated channel-shaped strut with integral, flat, connector plates on its upper and lower ends. The channel is curved and shallower at the lower end of the strut and gradually gets deeper and flatter towards the upper end. The width of the channel gradually decreases and the depth of the channel legs gradually increases from the lower end to the upper end of the strut. A W-shaped web unit is formed of four of such struts integrally connected together by common connector plates. The connector plates overlap vertical face portions of the wood chords and have struck-out teeth for embedding within those overlapped face portions. The ends of the channel leg portions which are closest to the connector plate teeth are extended to overlap and also embed into the adjacent chord face portion to thereby reduce the load on the tooth nearest to the respective strut end.

Abstract: There is disclosed a metal connector for diagonal interconnection between the upper and lower chords and two adjacent vertical studs of a wooden truss so as to form a tension web thereof. The connector is of unitary one-piece construction, including an elongated support member having a stiffening rib and stiffening side flanges, and being provided at the opposite ends thereof with two generally rectangular end plates. Each end plate has stamped therefrom a plurality of pairs of fastening brads or nails which are adapted to be embedded in the overlapped portions of the chords and studs to be interconnected. Indexing holes are also provided in the end plates to facilitate manufacture of the connector and locating of the connector with respect to the truss.

Abstract: A suspension assembly is provided for suspending gypsum board panels from a horizontal support member. The plate portion of the suspension assembly has panel piercing tangs of a novel twisted conformation projecting rearwardly to affix the plate to the panel. A narrow neck portion of the plate forms channel means to receive the upper portion of a separate suspension clip. The lower portion of the clip is inclined outwardly to engage the horizontal support member. A plurality of transverse lines of weakness comprising slots and notch means extending substantially across the width of the neck portion of the plate are designed such that when the gypsum board panel is suspended from the support member, the load applied between the clip and the plate causes the neck portion of the plate to bend outwardly from the panel along said lines of weakness, while the upper and lower plate portions remain affixed to the panel.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved construction member and a plate therefor wherein the construction member comprises an upper and a lower chord preferably interconnected by a web or strut and rigidly joined by a perpendicular spacer lock plate or plurality of plates or by a combination of a perpendicular rectangular spacer guide plate and opposing lock plates. The novel spacer lock plate adds considerable strength and stability to the construction member.

Abstract: An improved connector plate is provided for securing abutting wooden truss members to one another. The connector plate comprises a metal sheet and at least one pair of prongs integrally formed with the sheet by punching the prongs outwardly from the sheet. The prongs form an elongated slot in the sheet having a reduced central portion wherein the prongs break apart from each other at the reduced central portion of the slot when the prongs are punched to thereby form a relatively dull point for each prong.

Abstract: A building press for joining building components including building trusses, which consists of a frame having a fixed portion and at least one movable hammer, which frame is designed to receive a predetermined number of building components and to join the components with selected fasteners by means of fluid pressure such as air. The frame is equipped with at least one expandable conduit or several fluid actuated cylinders positioned between a fixed member of the frame and the hammer or hammers, and in a preferred embodiment, a multiplicity of fasteners are magnetically positioned on segments of the hammer to be driven into the building components. When a fluid such as air, oil or water is forced through the conduit, the conduit expands and the hammer or hammers force the nail plates into the building components to securely join the components in a selected configuration.

Abstract: A packaging arrangement which prevents damage to fragile articles such as automobile windshields and the like. Upper and lower slotted braces extend in pairs between opposite side walls of an outer shipping crate. The windshields are held in slots formed in the braces. A bracket plate having sharp teeth projecting in opposite directions therefrom is interposed between end flaps of the braces and the corresponding side walls of the crate. The teeth bite into the end flaps and side walls in order to anchor the braces in place relative to the crate. A tightly held strap extends along both braces in each pair and along the outside surfaces of both side walls of the crate in order to press the walls inwardly against the bracket plate. An alternative form of the bracket includes a horizontal flange having additional teeth which bite into the brace, along with a boss which resists twisting of the bracket.

Abstract: There is provided a fastener for forming lap-type joints wherein a sheet metal plate has a plurality of teeth projecting in a substantially perpendicular direction from both sides of the plate. On one side of the plate the teeth are in rows of single teeth and on the opposite side of the plate the teeth are in rows of pairs of teeth. The ends of the single teeth are such that upon movement into a nailable member the teeth remain substantially perpendicular to the plate, while the ends of the paired teeth upon movement into a nailable surface are displaceable from the perpendicular direction and accomplishing a clenching between adjacent paired teeth. The paired teeth are of smaller cross-sectional area than the single teeth and may be placed into relatively fragile or thin material to provide secure fastening thereof to a more substantial material, e.g. wooden studs and the like.

Abstract: Mechanically fastened appended tabs invisibly secure common edge-abutting wallboard panels to common wood or metal framing members. The fastener appendants are spaced apart tabs extending from the back of and exposed beyond the vertical edges of the wallboard panels so as to be conveniently screw fastened. When screw fastened to common wall framing members, the appended tabs secure the wallboard panels slightly off the framing member front surface to permit offset appendant tabs of abutting wallboard panels to slide between the fastened wallboard panels and the framing members and be engaged by the fastened wallboard panels in a tongue and groove relationship.

Abstract: A stair nosing structure for stair steps comprises an elongated, substantially rigid base member having an interlocking portion and a channel portion positioned along opposing longitudinal edges thereof. An elongated tread member overlies and is supported by the base member, and includes a portion matingly engaging the base member interlocking portion, and a depending rib having opposed sides thereof positioned between the faces of the channel portion. A plurality of fastening clips are disposed in the channel portion of the base member and are regularly spaced therealong. Each of the clips has a rigidly resilient body with a first portion thereof connected with one of the channel faces, and a second portion thereof frictionally engaging one of the rib sides, and securely interconnects the base and tread members.

Abstract: A truss structure having upper and lower wood chords joined by tubular metal web members. The chords are formed with a plurality of slots for receiving the ends of the web members. Each slot extends from the inner face to the outer face of the chord. Cross bores extend from the inner walls of the slots laterally toward the edges of the chords. Clevis assemblies are inserted into each slot. The ends of the web members are inserted into the slots and attached to the clevis members by metal pins. Load forces from the webs are distributed to the faces of the wood chords through flanges on the clevis member or connector plates. Load forces are also distributed to the wood chords through the clevis member to the pin and directly to the wood by the configuration of the clevis member.

Abstract: An elongated steel member for diagonal attachment to and the bracing of the studding in a building wall without any notching of the studs preliminary to the use of the wall and before it has an outer sheathing mounted thereover. The brace is thin enough at its points of contact with the spaced apart building studs to permit an overlay of an outer wall to the studs without bulging. The formed and shaped brace is relatively deeply ribbed at its locations disposed between the studs and is either flat or relatively extremely shallow edge ribbed at the areas of contact with the studs to enable the brace to be relatively rigid throughout its length and giving the brace both compressive and tensile strength in its reinforcement of the wall.