Angle clip for float mounting of a vertical stud to a horizontal roof angle

Abstract

An angle clip for float mounting of a vertical stud to a horizontal roof angle includes rigid first and second flanges, wherein the first flange is mounted orthogonally to the second flange, and the first flange is adapted for rigid mounting to a first side of the vertical stud. The second flange is forming as an inverted channel between a second side of the stud, which is adjacent and orthogonal to the first side of the stud, and a planar channel-forming member of the second flange, so that an opening of the channel opens downwardly. The channel-forming member is substantially parallel to the second side of the stud when mounted thereon with the first flange mounted to the first side of the stud. The channel is sized to receive in snug vertical sliding engagement in the channel the upper vertical flange of the horizontal roof angle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of metal fabricated building structures and in particular to a device for the mounting of a horizontal roof angle to the vertical studs of a metal fabricated building structure so as to allow vertical floating movement of the horizontal roof angle relative to the vertical studs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known in the prior art to construct buildings using metal building elements, for example, building walls using vertical studs between horizontal tracks and then mounting a roof supporting structure including joists and the like to the walls and in particular to the vertical studs. One method known to the applicant in the prior art was the use of an L-shaped bracket which consisted of two metal plates mounted to each other along a single common edge. The L-shaped bracket was mounted both to a vertical stud and to a horizontal roof supporting member, where conventionally the roof supporting members is referred to as a roof angle or otherwise alternatively sometimes referred to as “red iron”.

Using the prior art L-shaped brackets for mounting the horizontal roof angles to the vertical studs entailed framing of the walls vertically in place, that is, constructing the wall in its vertical orientation one stud at a time which precluded prefabrication of the wall frame as now facilitated in the present invention as described below.

In the prior art, applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,594 which issued Oct. 3, 2000 to Hudson for a Roof Angle Attachment Device. Hudson describes his invention as an L-shaped bracket which supports a vertical stud, where the L-shaped bracket has a clip attached to the top of one side of the bracket, and where the clip is adapted to securely attach to a roof angle. The opposite side of the L-shaped bracket has predrilled holes so that it may be fastened to a stud. Although Hudson teaches moveably attaching the clip on the L-shape bracket to a roof angle so that the bracket may be moved along the roof angle to a pre-selected position, because the height of the clip portion is taught to be in a range between ten percent and twenty percent of the height of the bracket, the bracket and in particular the clip will release the roof angle from under the clip upon deflection of the roof under, for example, a snow load. In applicant's experience roof deflection under loading of the roof may cause, for example, a one inch drop in the roof elevation relative to the vertical studs. Hudson neither teaches nor suggests that his invention is adapted to allow vertical deflection of the roof angle due to roof loading without causing the roof angle to release from the clip mounted to the vertical studs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In summary, the angle clip for float mounting of a vertical stud to a horizontal roof angle may be characterized in one aspect as including rigid first and second flanges, wherein the first flange is mounted orthogonally to the second flange, and the first flange adapted for rigid mounting to a first side of the vertical stud. The second flange is forming as an inverted channel between a second side of the stud, which is adjacent and orthogonal to the first side of the stud, and a planar channel-forming member of the second flange, so that an opening of the channel opens downwardly. The channel-forming member is substantially parallel to the second side of the stud when mounted thereon with the first flange mounted to the first side of the stud. The channel is sized to receive in snug vertical sliding engagement in the channel the upper vertical flange of the horizontal roof angle. The channel-forming member extends vertically a distance substantially equal to, or greater than, the sum of a deflection allowance for vertically downward deflection under load of the roof angle and a bearing allowance.

In a preferred embodiment, the second flange includes a planar adjacent member for mounting flush against the second side of the stud. The adjacent member forms a parallel array with, and is spaced from, the channel-forming member. A rigid vertex is mounted between the adjacent member and the channel-forming member so that the channel is defined by the adjacent member, the channel-forming member and the vertex.

The vertex may be mounted across upper-most edges of the adjacent member and the channel-forming member. The adjacent member has a corresponding height. The height of the channel-forming member is a percentage of the height of the adjacent member. The percentage may be in the range of substantially fifty to one-hundred percent, or more restrictively in the range of substantially seventy-five to one-hundred percent, or more restrictively still the percentage may be substantially ninety percent. Advantageously the height of the channel-forming member is less than a height of the upper vertical flange of the horizontal roof angle.

In one embodiment of the present invention at least one crease is formed laterally across the vertex so as to increase bending resistance of the vertex to bending moments bending the channel-forming member away from the adjacent member about the vertex.

A method according to the present invention of float mounting of at least one vertical stud in a wall to a horizontal roof angle using an angle clip such as described above may include the steps of:

• • a) pre-fabricating a wall having a substantially parallel plurality of the studs;
  • b) positioning the wall, once fabricated, against the horizontal roof angle so that the second side of the stud is adjacent and substantially flush against the upper vertical flange of the horizontal roof angle;
  • c) sliding the channel down onto the upper vertical flange so that the upper vertical flange substantially entirely fills the channel and so that the first flange is adjacent and substantially flush against the first side of the stud; and,
  • d) rigidly fastening the first flange to the first side of the stud.

Presuming that the amount of vertical deflection of the roof angle does not exceed the height of the upper vertical flange of the roof angle less the minimum bearing allowance a preliminary step in the present invention is to estimate or determine the deflection allowance and the bearing allowance so that the appropriate clip may be provided, that is where the height of the channel-forming member of the clip is substantially equal to or greater than the sum of the deflection allowance and the bearing allowance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, in perspective view, an angle clip according to one embodiment of the present invention positioned for sliding mating of the channel portion of the clip onto the upstanding portion of a section of roof angle.

FIG. 2 is, in side elevation view, the angle clip of FIG. 1 rigidly mounted to a vertical stud and float mounted onto a roof angle, the roof angle supporting a roof.

FIG. 3 is, in perspective view, the angle clip and a section of roof angle of FIG. 1 with the roof angle mounted into the channel portion of the clip.

FIG. 4 is the view of FIG. 3 with the roof angle deflected downwardly relative to the clip.

FIG. 5 is, in side elevation view, the view of FIG. 2 with the roof removed and so as to illustrate the relative deflection and clip bearing allowances.

FIG. 6 is the view of FIG. 1 illustrating an alternative embodiment of the angle clip wherein the channel-forming member 14b is of the same height as the planar portion 14a.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the angle clip of FIG. 1 illustrating more clearly the creases 26 in Vertex 14c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows for the prefabrication of walls constructed using metal studs, and in particular, walls which, once erected, have vertical studs. Using the angle clips according to the present invention to attach the vertical wall studs to the red iron or horizontal roof angles supporting the roof, for example, a twenty foot wall may be prefabricated while lying on the ground surface and then stood up so as to bring the studs in the wall to a vertical orientation resting against the red iron. Once the wall is brought to the vertical the clips according to the present invention may then be slideably mounted onto the vertical upstanding flange of the horizontal roof angle by sliding the channel portion of the clip down onto the upstanding flange of the roof angle. The free end of the clip which extends perpendicularly from the channel portion of the clip is then secured to the side or web portion of the vertical stud which also extends perpendicularly away from the roof angle. The roof, which may include steel ribbed so-called “Q-deck”, sits on the horizontal roof angle supports. When the roof experiences a heavy loading for example such as a snow load, the roof may be depressed by the weight of the load thereby deflecting downwardly its supporting structure including the roof angle. The deflection may be up to approximately one inch of deflection. The angle clip according to the present invention is rigidly mounted to a corresponding vertical stud in the wall. However, and because the channel portion of the angle clip is only slideably mounted onto the upstanding flange of the roof angle, downward deflection of the roof angle only results in relative movement between the channel portion and the upstanding flange. That is downward deflection of the roof angle merely slides the upstanding flange of the roof angle downwardly relative to the channel portion of the clip, without releasing the roof angle from its mounting to the stud.

Thus as seen in the accompanying figures wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, angle clip 10 includes a first rigid planar flange 12 mounted at right angles at and along one edge thereof to a second flange 14. Flange 14 includes a rigid planar portion 14a, a substantially parallel planar channel-forming portion 14b substantially coextensive with planar portion 14a, and rigidly mounted thereto a rigid vertex 14c extending between and along the length of both planar portion 14a and channel-forming portion 14b so as to define a channel 14d therebetween.

As seen in FIG. 2, once the prefabricated wall including the representative metal stud 16 is elevated to the vertical so that the metal studs in the wall are themselves vertical and resting against red iron or horizontal roof angle 18, angle clip 10 is mounted onto the upstanding flange 18a of roof angle 18 by sliding flange 14 downwardly in direction A so as to snugly slideably engage channel 14d over upstanding flange 18a. As better described below, advantageously the height “a” of channel 14d, and in particular the height of channel-forming portion 14b, is a substantial percentage of, if not substantially equal to, the corresponding height “b” of upstanding flange 18a. Thus, with angle clip 10 mounted onto roof angle 18, the upstanding portion 18a is almost entirely encased within channel 14d along the length of roof angle 18 corresponding to the length of flange 14, almost entirely encased within channel 14d.

Flange 14 is positioned on roof angle 18 so as to bring flange 12 flush with the side 16a of stud 16. Flange 12 is then rigidly mounted to side 16a by inserting fasteners 20 through apertures 22.

Once the roof 24 is then subsequently constructed and resting on the horizontal flange 18b of roof angle 18, roof angle 18 is free to deflect downwardly in direction B thereby resulting in sliding translation downwardly of roof angle 18 relative to angle clip 10 such as depicted by way of example in the progression between FIGS. 3 and 4.

Creases or grooves 26 better seen in FIG. 7 are formed in vertex 14c and extend laterally across the vertex. Creases 26 assist in resisting outward bending of channel-forming portion 14b in direction C as a result of lateral loading of the channel for example as a consequence of wind loading against the walls.

For a particular height “a” of an angle clip 10, and given a vertical deflection allowance “c” as better seen in FIG. 5, the height “a” of clip 10 relative to the height “b” of upstanding flange 18a must, for a maximum vertical deflection allowance “c”, provide for a minimum clip bearing allowance “d”. So for example, where height “a” is two inches and height “b” is two and one-quarter inches, and given a vertical deflection allowance “c” of one inch, if clip 10 is initially snugly mounted onto upstanding flange 18a prior to loading of roof 24, then upon a maximum deflection of one inch, the clip bearing allowance “d” will be also one inch. Thus in this example, the ratio of deflection allowance “c” to clip bearing allowance “d” is approximately ninety percent, where height “a” is the sum of deflection allowance “c” and clip bearing allowance “d”.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An angle clip for float mounting of a vertical stud to a horizontal roof angle, the clip comprising:

rigid first and second flanges,

said first flange mounted orthogonally to said second flange,

said first flange adapted for rigid mounting to a first side of a vertical stud,

said second flange forming an inverted channel between a second side of the stud adjacent and orthogonal to the first side of the stud, and a planar channel-forming member of said second flange, so that an opening of said channel opens downwardly,

said channel-forming member being substantially parallel to the second side of the stud when mounted thereon with said first flange mounted to the first side of the stud, said channel sized to receive in snug vertical sliding engagement in said channel the upper vertical flange of a horizontal roof angle for supporting a roof,

wherein said channel-forming member has a corresponding height which extends vertically a distance substantially equal to or greater than the sum of a deflection allowance for vertically downward deflection under load of the roof angle and a bearing allowance.

2. The angle clip of claim 1 wherein said second flange includes a planar adjacent member for mounting flush against the second side of the stud in parallel array with, and spaced from, said channel-forming member, and a rigid vertex mounted therebetween so that said channel is defined by said adjacent member, said channel-forming member and said vertex.

3. The angle clip of claim 2 wherein said vertex is mounted across upper-most edges of said adjacent member and said channel-forming member.

4. The angle clip of claim 3 wherein said adjacent member has a corresponding height and wherein said height of said channel-forming member is a percentage of said height of said adjacent member, and wherein said percentage is in the range of substantially fifty to one-hundred percent.

5. The angle clip of claim 4 wherein said range is substantially seventy-five to one-hundred percent.

6. The angle clip of claim 5 wherein said percentage is substantially ninety percent.

7. The angle clip of claim 2 further comprising at least one crease formed laterally across said vertex so as to increase bending resistance of said vertex to bending moments bending said channel-forming member away from said adjacent member about said vertex.

8. The angle clip of claim 1 wherein said height of said channel-forming member is less than a height of the upper vertical flange of the horizontal roof angle.

9. A method of float mounting of at least one vertical stud in a wall to a horizontal roof angle using an angle clip which includes rigid first and second flanges, said first flange mounted orthogonally to said second flange, said first flange adapted for rigid mounting to a first side of the vertical stud, said second flange forming an inverted channel between a second side of the stud adjacent and orthogonal to the first side of the stud, and a planar channel-forming member of said second flange, so that an opening of said channel opens downwardly, said channel-forming member being substantially parallel to the second side of the stud when mounted thereon with said first flange mounted to the first side of the stud, said channel sized to receive in snug vertical sliding engagement in said channel the upper vertical flange of the horizontal roof angle for supporting a roof, wherein said channel-forming member has a height which extends vertically a distance substantially equal to or greater than the sum of a deflection allowance for vertically downward deflection under load of the roof angle and a bearing allowance, the method comprising the steps of:

a) pre-fabricating a wall having a substantially parallel plurality of said studs;

b) positioning the wall, once fabricated, against said horizontal roof angle so that said second side of said stud is adjacent and substantially flush against said upper vertical flange of the horizontal roof angle;

c) sliding said channel down onto said upper vertical flange so that said upper vertical flange substantially entirely fills said channel and so that said first flange is adjacent and substantially flush against said first side of said stud; and,

e) rigidly fastening said first flange to said first side of said stud.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of determining said deflection allowance and said bearing allowance and providing said clip wherein said height of said channel-forming member is substantially equal to or greater than said sum.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said second flange includes a planar adjacent member for mounting flush against the second side of the stud in parallel array with, and spaced from, said channel-forming member, and a rigid vertex mounted therebetween so that said channel is defined by said adjacent member, said channel-forming member and said vertex and wherein said adjacent member has a corresponding height and wherein said height of said channel-forming member is a percentage of said height of said adjacent member, and wherein said percentage is provided in the range of substantially fifty to one-hundred percent.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said percentage is provided in the range of substantially seventy-five to one-hundred percent.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said percentage is provided as substantially ninety percent.