Patents by Inventor Steven Brekke

Steven Brekke 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).

  • Publication number: 20190284794
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall that can have sheathing mounted thereon either before or after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive the structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing to engage the wall at a first location. A connection portion is configured for attachment to the wall at a second location spaced from the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Brekke, Mark R. Rolf
  • Publication number: 20190249705
    Abstract: A screw with an asymmetrical thread for securing wooden members together is disclosed. The screw includes a shaft with a head at one end and a tip at the other end. A continuous asymmetrical thread extends along the shaft. The asymmetrical thread has a front surface facing the tip and a rear surface facing the head, the front and rear surfaces each having an angle relative to a plane normal to the shaft. The asymmetrical thread has a first section and a second section. The portion of asymmetrical thread in the first section has front and rear surfaces of first angles with respect to the plane normal to the shaft. The portion of asymmetrical thread in the second section has front and rear surfaces of second angles different than the first angles. The asymmetrical thread includes a transition portion between the first and second sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Brekke, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190217454
    Abstract: An installation guide for installing a screw at a predetermined angle relative to a reference plane is disclosed. The installation guide includes a housing configured for releasable connection to a bit. The housing includes a channel being sized and shaped to receive the bit therein for retaining the housing on the bit. The channel allows the bit to rotate relative to the housing. An indicator is supported by the housing and is configured for movement relative to the housing to indicate an angle of the housing relative to a reference plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Patent number: 10316510
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall that can have sheathing mounted thereon either before or after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive the structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing to engage the wall at a first location. A connection portion is configured for attachment to the wall at a second location spaced from the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Steven Brekke, Mark R. Rolf
  • Publication number: 20190119901
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall that can have sheathing mounted thereon either before or after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive the structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing to engage the wall at a first location. A connection portion is configured for attachment to the wall at a second location spaced from the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Brekke, Mark R. Rolf
  • Publication number: 20190078320
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural member to a structural support including a base sized and shaped for receiving the structural member thereon. First and second side panels extend upward from the base. First and second back panels each extend from a respective one of the side panels. First and second top flanges each extend from a respective one of the back panels. An opening in one of said first and second side panels and said first and second back panels is configured to receive a fastener to attach the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support. A slot is adjacent the opening. An area between the opening and the slot defines a yieldable portion selected to deform at a load that is less than the shear load capacity of the fastener when received through the opening for connecting the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Patent number: 10184242
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall that can have sheathing mounted thereon either before or after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive the structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing to engage the wall at a first location. A connection portion is configured for attachment to the wall at a second location spaced from the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Steven Brekke, Mark R. Rolf
  • Patent number: 10179992
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall having sheathing mounted thereon after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive a structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing. A connection portion extends from the extension portion and is configured for attachment to the wall. The connection portion includes connector flanges configured to attach to a stud of the wall. The extension portion minimally disrupts the continuity of the sheathing to maintain the fire resistive rating of the sheathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Patent number: 10072412
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural member to a structural support including a base sized and shaped for receiving the structural member thereon. First and second side panels extend upward from the base. First and second back panels each extend from a respective one of the side panels. First and second top flanges each extend from a respective one of the back panels. An opening in one of said first and second side panels and said first and second back panels is configured to receive a fastener to attach the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support. A slot is adjacent the opening. An area between the opening and the slot defines a yieldable portion selected to deform at a load that is less than the shear load capacity of the fastener when received through the opening for connecting the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Patent number: 10024049
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall that can have sheathing mounted thereon either before or after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive the structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing to engage the wall at a first location. A connection portion is configured for attachment to the wall at a second location spaced from the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Steven Brekke, Mark R. Rolf
  • Patent number: 9995035
    Abstract: A holdown connection assembly for attachment to a form used to make a concrete foundation includes a holdown including an elongate plate member having an upper section with a plurality of holes sized and shaped to receive fasteners to attach the holdown to a wood frame member supported by the concrete foundation. A lower section extends from the upper section and is configured to be at least partially embedded in the concrete foundation when the holdown is attached to the wood frame member. A support is configured to be mounted to the holdown to attach the holdown to the form. The support includes a wire member engageable with the holdown for locating the holdown relative to the form when the support is mounted to the holdown and attached to the form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Publication number: 20180135296
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural member to a structural support including a base sized and shaped for receiving the structural member thereon. First and second side panels extend upward from the base. First and second back panels each extend from a respective one of the side panels. First and second top flanges each extend from a respective one of the back panels. An opening in one of said first and second side panels and said first and second back panels is configured to receive a fastener to attach the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support. A slot is adjacent the opening. An area between the opening and the slot defines a yieldable portion selected to deform at a load that is less than the shear load capacity of the fastener when received through the opening for connecting the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Patent number: 9920514
    Abstract: A valley truss tie for connecting a valley truss to an underlying support truss of a roof has a front plate and a back plate connected to the front plate so the front and back plate are adjacent one another. The valley truss tie also has a fastener guidance system for holding fasteners at prescribed angles relative to the front and back plate as the fasteners are driven through the valley truss tie into the underlying support truss. The fastener guidance system has a first set of convex projections extending from a side of the front plate opposite the back plate, a second set of convex projections extending from a side of the back plate opposite the front plate, and openings in the convex projections for guiding the fasteners through the front and back plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Publication number: 20180073239
    Abstract: A valley truss tie for connecting a valley truss to an underlying support truss of a roof has a front plate and a back plate connected to the front plate so the front and back plate are adjacent one another. The valley truss tie also has a fastener guidance system for holding fasteners at prescribed angles relative to the front and back plate as the fasteners are driven through the valley truss tie into the underlying support truss. The fastener guidance system has a first set of convex projections extending from a side of the front plate opposite the back plate, a second set of convex projections extending from a side of the back plate opposite the front plate, and openings in the convex projections for guiding the fasteners through the front and back plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Publication number: 20180038094
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall having sheathing mounted thereon after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive a structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing. A connection portion extends from the extension portion and is configured for attachment to the wall. The connection portion includes connector flanges configured to attach to a stud of the wall. The extension portion minimally disrupts the continuity of the sheathing to maintain the fire resistive rating of the sheathing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Publication number: 20170342701
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall that can have sheathing mounted thereon either before or after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive the structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing to engage the wall at a first location. A connection portion is configured for attachment to the wall at a second location spaced from the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Steven Brekke, Mark R. Rolf
  • Publication number: 20150184370
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall that can have sheathing mounted thereon either before or after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive the structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing to engage the wall at a first location. A connection portion is configured for attachment to the wall at a second location spaced from the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Steven Brekke, Mark R. Rolf