Hold-down connectors and wall systems
A hold-down connector for attaching metal studs forming a wall assembly to a support structure. One embodiment of the hold-down connector has a base portion that has first and second side gusset plates protruding therefrom. The first and second side gusset plates each have a welding edge constructed to be welded to a portion of a structural member, such as a vertically extending stud. A base plate may be placed onto the base portion and the base portion may be attached to a support structure with at least one fastener that extends through the base portion and base plate. Some embodiments may have cross straps attached thereto. Other embodiments have hook-like fasteners formed in the first and second side gusset plates for hooking engagement with a structure member.
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This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/260,359, filed Oct. 27, 2005, entitled Hold-Down Connector, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to building construction components and, more particularly, to connectors for anchoring wall studs to foundations or underlying support structures and wall systems for commercial and residential structures.
2. Description of the Invention Background
Regardless of whether the frame of a building is constructed from wood and/or steel, such frame structures are commonly subjected to a variety of forces. Among the most significant of such forces are gravity, wind, and seismic forces. Gravity is a vertically acting force, while wind and seismic forces are primarily laterally acting.
The walls of a structure fabricated from wood components are commonly formed from a collection of wall studs that are connected to top and bottom members or “plates” at desired spacing schemes (i.e., 16 inches from center to center). The studs and plates usually comprise 2×4 and or 2×6 boards. In metal frame arrangements, the studs and plates commonly comprise C-shaped members that are interconnected, for example, by screws or other fastening techniques.
To provide the frame with resistance to the types of lateral forces mentioned above, shear wall panels are often attached to portions of the frame formed by the vertically extending studs and top and bottom plates or tracks such that they extend therebetween. Common forms of shear wall panels include one or more types of sheathing such as plywood, fiberboard, particleboard, and/or drywall to the inside or both sides of the wall frame. In multistory applications or applications wherein high shear forces are contemplated, shear wall panels comprising a sheet of steel with gypsum or other material affixed thereto are commonly employed. These shear wall panels transmit the lateral forces acting on the frame of the building to the walls of subsequent floors below it and ultimately to the foundation upon which the walls are supported.
In non-shear applications, common fastener such as nails, screws or bolts are employed to affix the wall structure to the underlying support structure. However, in applications wherein high shear and other forces are contemplated, conventional fastener arrangements employed in non-shear applications are often inadequate. Thus, over the years, various types of connection devices have been developed for connecting the wall studs of a shear wall to the underlying structure or foundation. Such connectors are commonly referred to in the industry as “hold-downs”. Examples of such hold-down connectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 4,665,672 to Commins et al., U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 4,744,192 to Commins, U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 4,825,621 to Jensen, U.S. Ser. Pat. No. 5,092,097 to Young, U.S. Ser. Pat. No. 5,249,404 to Leek et al., U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 6,112,495 to Gregg et al., U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 6,158,188 to Shahnazarian and U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 6,513,290 to Leek.
Prior hold-down connectors, however, are commonly screwed to metal studs. In applications wherein relatively high shear and deflection forces are anticipated, upwards of 10 and even up to 48 or more fasteners have been be used to fasten a hold-down to a corresponding stud and attain the required attachment strength. Regardless of whether the installer employs power tools to install the fasteners, the process of installing large numbers of fasteners results in an undesirably slow installation process. In addition, the hold-downs must be made with vertically extending portions that are large enough to accommodate the required number of fasteners.
Other attempts at fastening hold-down connectors utilizing welding proved to be difficult, time consuming and cumbersome because the welds were made at the outside back edges of the hold-down itself which provided little space for welding and also made it very difficult to inspect the quality of the welds.
Thus, as can be appreciated from the forgoing discussion, there is a need for a simple hold-down connector that can be quickly and easily coupled to metal studs without the use of large numbers of fasteners.
SUMMARYIn accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hold-down connector that comprises a base plate that has at least one base plate fastener opening therethrough. A back plate is attached to the base plate and at least one side gusset plate is attached to the base plate and the back plate such that it extends therebetween. At least one close-ended welding slot is provided through the back plate. The welding slot has a slot width and a slot length that is greater than the slot width and is less than the length of the back plate.
In accordance with another embodiment of the subject invention, there is provided a hold-down connector that comprises a base plate that has at least one base plate fastener opening therethrough. A back plate is attached to the base plate and at least one side gusset plate is attached to the base plate and the back plate such that it extends therebetween. A first welding slot is provided through the back plate. The first welding slot has a first slot width and a first slot length that is greater than the first slot width. A second welding slot is provided through the back plate. The second welding slot has a second slot width and a second slot length that is greater than the second slot width.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the subject invention, there is provided a wall system that includes a support structure and a wall frame supported on the support structure. The wall frame comprises at least one vertically extending metal stud that has a stud web and two stud flanges that protrude from the stud web in spaced-apart relation to each other. The wall system further comprises a hold-down connector that includes a base plate that is attached to the support structure. A vertically extending back plate is attached to the base plate. The vertically extending back plate extends between the stud flanges and is welded to the stud web along at least one slot in the back plate.
In accordance with another embodiment of the subject invention there is provided a hold-down connector that comprises a base plate that has at least one base plate fastener opening therethrough and a back plate that is attached to the base plate. The back plate extends vertically therefrom from the base plate and has a length and a width. At least one side gusset plate is attached to the base plate and the back plate and extends therebetween. At least two elongated welding slots are provided through the back plate and at least one other elongated welding slot is provided through another portion of the back plate. At least one of the other elongated welding slots is axially aligned with at least one of the elongated welding slots.
Another embodiment comprises a hold-down connector for attachment to a structural member that has a web. In one embodiment, the hold-down connector includes a base portion that has at least one base portion fastener opening therethrough. A first side gusset plate protrudes from a first side of the base portion. The first side gusset plate has a first welding edge that is constructed to be welded to the web of the structural member. A second side gusset plate protrudes from a second side of the base plate and has a second welding edge that is constructed to be welded to the web of the structural member. The second welding edge is spaced from the first welding edge a first distance. A base plate is received on the base portion between the first and second side gusset plates. The base plate has an opening therethrough that corresponds with one of the at least one base portion fastener openings in the base portion.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a hold-down connector for attachment to a structural member that has a web. One embodiment of the hold-down connector includes a base portion that has at least one base portion fastener opening therethrough. A first side gusset plate protrudes from a first side of the base portion and has a first attachment edge that has at least one first fastener hook formed therein for hooking engagement with a corresponding portion of the web of the structural member. A second side gusset plate protrudes from a second side of the base portion and is spaced a first distance from the first side gusset plate. The second side gusset plate has a second attachment edge that has at least one second fastener hook formed therein for hooking engagement with another corresponding portion of the web of the structural member. A base plate is received on the base portion between the first and second side gusset plates and has an opening therethrough that corresponds with at least one of the at least on base portion fastener openings in the base portion.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a wall system that includes a support structure and a wall frame that is supported on the support structure. The wall frame comprises at least one vertically extending metal stud that has a stud web and two stud flanges protruding from the stud web in spaced-apart relation to each other. The wall system further includes a hold-down connector that has a base portion that is attached to the support structure. A first side gusset plate protrudes from a first side of the base portion and has a first welding edge that is welded to a corresponding portion of the stud web of one of the at least one vertically extending metal studs. A second side gusset plate protrudes from a second side of the base portion and has a second welding edge that is spaced from the first welding edge a first distance and is welded to another corresponding portion of the stud web.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention comprises a wall system that includes a support structure and a wall frame that is supported on the support structure. The wall frame comprises at least one vertically extending metal stud that has a stud web and two stud flanges that protrude from the stud web in spaced-apart relation to each other. Various embodiments of the wall system may also include a hold-down connector that corresponds to one of the vertically extending metal studs and comprises a base portion that is attached to the support structure. A first side gusset plate protrudes from a first side of the base portion and has a first welding edge welded to one of the stud flanges of the corresponding vertically extending metal stud. A second side gusset plate protrudes from a second side of the base portion and has a second welding edge that is spaced from the first welding edge a first distance and is welded to another stud flange of the corresponding vertically extending metal stud.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a wall system that includes a support structure and a wall frame that is supported on the support structure. The wall frame comprises at least one vertically extending metal stud that has a stud web and two stud flanges that protrude from the stud web in spaced-apart relation to each other. Various embodiments may also include a hold-down connector that corresponds to one of the least one vertically extending metal studs. The hold-down connector may comprise a base portion that is attached to the support structure. A first side gusset plate protrudes from a first side of the base portion and has at least one first hook protruding therefrom for hooking engagement with the stud web of the corresponding vertically extending metal studs. A second side gusset plate protrudes from a second side of the base portion and has at least one second hook protruding therefrom for hooking engagement with the stud web of the corresponding vertically extending metal stud.
Accordingly, various embodiments of the invention provide solutions to the shortcomings of other hold-down connectors and methods of attaching the hold-down connectors to studs in various applications. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, however, that these and other details, features and advantages will become further apparent as the following detailed description proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the accompanying Figures, there are shown present embodiments of the invention wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts and wherein:
Referring now to the drawings for the purposes of illustrating the present embodiments of the invention only and not for the purposes of limiting the same,
The shear wall structure 10 further includes a top track 20 that also has a web 22 and a pair of flanges 24. The top track 20 may be attached to joists, girders, beams, tracks, etc. depending upon the structure that it is designed to support. A plurality of conventional metal studs 32 extend between the top and bottom tracks and are attached thereto. In the wall structure depicted in
The metal studs 32 may be of conventional design and each have a web 34 and a pair of flanges 36. See
In this embodiment, the base plate 110 may be provided with an opening 112 for receiving a conventional fastener therethrough. In one embodiment, the opening comprises an elongated base plate hole or slot. One embodiment of the base plate 110 depicted in
As indicated above, this embodiment of the hold-down connector 100 of the present invention also includes a back plate 120 and a pair of gusset plates 130. See
Also in this embodiment, the back plate 120 is provided with a pair of elongated (welding) slots 122 that have “closed ends”. As used herein, the term “closed end” means that the slot does not extend longitudinally through either end of the backing plate. In this embodiment, the slots 122 are oriented such that they extend past the lateral sides of a “knockout” opening 40 that is commonly provided through the web 34 of the metal stud 32. See
Each of the slots 122 has a slot length “N” and a slot width “O”. In one embodiment, the slot length “N” is greater than the slot width “O” and is less than the length “H” of the back plate 120 such that the slot 122 is not open ended. In one embodiment, for example, the slot length “N” is at least fifty percent of the length “H” of the back plate 120, but is not greater than or equal to the length “H”. That is, in at least one embodiment, the slots 122 do not extend through the upper or lower ends of the back plate 12O, but stop short of those ends of the back plate 120. See
The hold-down connector 100 may be attached to the support structure 12 by a suitable fastener arrangement 170. In the embodiment depicted in
In this embodiment, a single slot 222 may be provided through the back plate 220. In the embodiment depicted in
In the embodiment depicted in
Somewhat similar to the embodiment depicted in
Another embodiment of the present invention is depicted in
The hold-down connector 400 may otherwise be substantially identical to the hold-down connector 200 described above. In particular, the hold-down connector 400 has a base plate 410, a back plate 420 and two gusset plates 430. The base plate 410 has a fastener opening 412 therethrough. As can be seen in
In various embodiments, a base plate 530 may be received on the base portion 510 between the first side gusset plate 520 and the second side gusset plate 526 as shown. The base plate 530 may comprise a steel plate whose thickness will depend upon the expected loading conditions. For example, base plates having thicknesses ranging from ¼″ to ¾″ could be employed. Base plate 530 has at least one fastener opening 532 therethrough that coincides with a base portion opening 511 in the base portion 510. See
In one embodiment, the first and second side gusset plates 520, 526 may be identical in size and shape and each have a height “HT” of approximately 10″. See
As can be seen in
In the embodiment depicted in
In alternative wall constructions, such as the wall structure 10′ depicted in
In various embodiments, the first welding edge 522 is abutted against the web 34 of the stud 32 such that the first side gusset plate 520 may be welded to a corresponding one of the flanges 36 of the stud 32 by welds 540. Likewise, the second welding edge 528 is abutted against the web 34 of the stud 32 such that the second side gusset plate 526 may be welded to the other flange 36 of the stud 32. An additional first fillet weld 542 may be applied along the inside edge of the first side gusset plate 520 and a second fillet weld 544 may be applied to the inside edge of the second side gusset plate 526 to weld the first and second side gusset plates 520, 526 to the web 34 of the stud 32. See
In various embodiments, a base plate 630 is received on the base portion 610 between the first side gusset plate 620 and the second side gusset plate 626 as shown. The base plate 630 may comprise a steel plate whose thickness will depend upon the expected loading conditions. For example, base plates having thicknesses ranging from ¼″ to ¾″ could be employed. Base plate 630 has at least one fastener opening 562 therethrough that coincides with a base portion opening (not shown) in the base portion 610. A fastener arrangement of the type described above may be employed to affix the hold-down connector 600 to the support structure 12. Also, as with the above-described embodiment, a first end 702 of a first strap 700 may be attached to the first side gusset plate 620 and a second end 706 of a second strap 704 may be attached to the second side gusset plate 626 in the same manner discussed above.
The various embodiments of the subject invention represent vast improvements over prior hold-down arrangements. Various embodiments may be attached to the web of a stud by welding and/or by a unique and novel hook arrangement, thus eliminating the need to install several fastener screws.
The invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. The embodiments are therefore to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such equivalents, variations and changes which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims be embraced thereby.
Claims
1. A hold-down connector for attachment to a structural member having a web, the hold-down connector comprising:
- a base portion having at least one base portion fastener opening therethrough;
- a first side gusset plate protruding from a first side of said base portion and having a first welding edge constructed to be welded to the web of the structural member;
- a second side gusset plate having a second welding edge constructed to be welded to the web of the structural member, said second side gusset plate protruding from a second side of said base portion such that said second welding edge is spaced from said first welding edge a first distance; and
- a base plate received on said base portion between said first and second side gusset plates, said base plate having an opening therethrough that corresponds with one of the at least one base portion fastener openings in said base portion.
2. The hold-down connector of claim 1 wherein the web of the structural member has a width and wherein said first distance is less than said width.
3. The hold-down connector of claim 1 wherein the web of the structural member has a width and wherein said first distance is substantially equal to said width.
4. The hold-down connector of claim 1 further comprising at least one cross-strap attached to a corresponding one of said first and second side gusset plates.
5. The hold-down connector of claim 1 wherein said first and second side gusset plates are integrally formed with said base portion.
6. The hold-down connector of claim 1 wherein said first and second side gusset plates are attached to said base portion.
7. A hold-down connector for attachment to a structural member having a web, the hold-down connector comprising:
- a base portion having at least one base portion fastener opening therethrough;
- a first side gusset plate protruding from a first side of said base portion, said first side gusset plate having a first attachment edge having at least one first fastener hook formed therein for hooking engagement with a corresponding portion of the web of the structural member;
- a second side gusset plate protruding from a second side of the base portion and spaced a first distance from said first side gusset plate, said second side gusset plate having a second attachment edge having at least one second fastener hook formed therein for hooking engagement with another corresponding portion of the web of the structural member;
- a base plate received on said base portion between said first and second side gusset plates, said base plate having an opening therethrough that corresponds with at least one of the at least on base portion fastener openings in said base portion.
8. The hold-down connector of claim 7 wherein the web portion of the structural member has a width and wherein said first distance is less than said width.
9. The hold-down connector of claim 7 wherein the web of the structural member has a width and wherein said first distance is substantially equal to said width.
10. The hold-down connector of claim 7 further comprising at least one cross-strap attached to a corresponding one of said first and second side gusset plates.
11. The hold-down connector of claim 7 wherein said first and second side gusset plates are integrally formed with said base portion.
12. The hold-down connector of claim 7 wherein said first and second side gusset plates are attached to said base portion.
13. A wall system, comprising:
- a support structure;
- a wall frame supported on said support structure, said wall frame comprising at least one vertically extending metal stud having a stud web and two stud flanges protruding from said stud web in spaced-apart relation to each other;
- a hold-down connector comprising: a base portion attached to said support structure; a first side gusset plate protruding from a first side of said base portion and having a first welding edge welded to a corresponding portion of said stud web of one of the at least one vertically extending metal studs; and a second side gusset plate protruding from a second side of said base portion and having a second welding edge that is spaced from said first welding edge a first distance and is welded to another corresponding portion of said stud web.
14. The wall system of claim 13 wherein said stud web to which said first and second welding edges are welded has a width that is substantially greater than said first distance.
15. The wall system of claim 13 wherein said stud web to which said first and second welding edges are welded has a width that is substantially equal to said first distance.
16. The wall system of claim 15 wherein said first side gusset plate is further welded to one of said stud flanges and said second side gusset plate is further welded to another of said stud flanges.
17. The wall system of claim 13 wherein said hold-down connector further comprises a base plate received on said base portion between said first and second gusset portions and wherein said base portion is fastened to said support structure by a fastener extending through said base portion and said base plate.
18. The wall structure of claim 17 further comprising at least one cross-strap corresponding to at least one of said first and second side gusset plates and being attached thereto.
19. A wall system, comprising:
- a support structure;
- a wall frame supported on said support structure, said wall frame comprising at least one vertically extending metal stud having a stud web and two stud flanges protruding from said stud web in spaced-apart relation to each other;
- a hold-down connector corresponding to one of said vertically extending metal studs and comprising: a base portion attached to said support structure; a first side gusset plate protruding from a first side of said base portion and having a first welding edge welded to one of said stud flanges of the corresponding vertically extending metal stud; and a second side gusset plate protruding from a second side of said base portion and having a second welding edge that is spaced from said first welding edge a first distance and is welded to another said stud flange of the corresponding vertically extending metal stud.
20. A wall system, comprising:
- a support structure;
- a wall frame supported on said support structure, said wall frame comprising at least one vertically extending metal stud having a stud web and two stud flanges protruding from said stud web in spaced-apart relation to each other;
- a hold-down connector corresponding to one of said at least one vertically extending metal studs, said hold-down connector comprising: a base portion attached to said support structure; a first side gusset plate protruding from a first side of said base portion and having at least one first hook protruding therefrom for hooking engagement with said stud web of the corresponding vertically extending metal studs; and a second side gusset plate protruding from a second side of said base portion and having at least one second hook protruding therefrom for hooking engagement with said stud web of said corresponding vertically extending metal stud.
21. The wall system of claim 20 wherein said web of said corresponding vertically extending metal stud has a first series of first slots therethrough that correspond in number to a plurality of said first fastener hooks and a second series of second slots that correspond in number to a plurality of second fastener hooks.
22. The hold-down connector of claim 20 wherein said stud web of said corresponding vertically extending metal stud has a width and wherein said first side gusset plate is spaced from said second side gusset plate a first distance that is less than said width.
23. The hold-down connector of claim 20 wherein said first and second side gusset plates are integrally formed with said base portion.
24. The hold-down connector of claim 20 wherein said first and second side gusset plates are attached to said base portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 29, 2006
Publication Date: May 24, 2007
Applicant:
Inventor: Larry Daudet (Chesterton, IN)
Application Number: 11/511,553
International Classification: E04B 1/38 (20060101);