Connector Plate and Method of Securing a Building Frame to a Foundation

Abstract

A connector plate for securing a building frame together with a building foundation comprises a first section that is secured against an outer surface of the building frame and a second section secured to an outer surface of the foundation. In an embodiment, portions of the outer surfaces of the building frame and foundation are substantially flush. The first section and second section of the connector plate are coplanar and each has one or more holes through which fasteners are inserted and driven into the building frame and foundation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/915,451 filed May 2, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention relates to connector plates used to connect together building construction members. More specifically, an embodiment of the invention pertains to connector plates used to secure wall frames to a building foundation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A system or method for securing a building frame to a foundation wherein the building frame has an outer surface that is substantially coplanar with an outer surface of a foundation comprises affixing a plurality of connector plates to the building frame and foundation. One or more of the connector plates comprise a first section having one or more holes and a second section connected to the first section and also having one or more holes. Fasteners are inserted through the holes on the first section and driven into the outer surface of the building frame, and fasteners are inserted through the holes in the second section and into the outer surface of the foundation thereby securing the building frame to the foundation. In an embodiment, the first section and second section are integrally formed as a single unit having a uniform thickness, or the first section has a thickness dimension that is substantially equal to a thickness dimension of the first section. In another embodiment, the first section has a flange disposed at an angle relative to the second section. For example, the flange may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the first section and second section and the flange is affixed to a surface of the building frame. In addition, holes may be disposed on the first section so fasteners may affix the first section to the outer surface of the building frame that is coplanar with the outer surface of the foundation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the connector plate.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the first embodiment of the connector plate.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector plate installed on a building foundation and building frame.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the connector plate installed against building frame and foundation.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the connector plate.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the connector plate installed on a building foundation and frame.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the connector plate installed against a floor system and building foundation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The features of the invention believed to be novel are specifically set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention itself, both as to its structure and method of operation, may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings.

With respect to FIGS. 1 through 4, there is illustrated an embodiment of a connector plate 10 that is used to secure a building frame 34 to a foundation 26. A typical building construction is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein the building frame 34 includes a wall frame 19 secured to a floor system 20, which is in turn secured to the foundation 26. The foundation 26 includes a footing 44 supporting a foundation wall 46 that consists of a plurality of stacked concrete blocks. However, the invention is not limited to this particular construction and may be used with other type of foundation constructions such as a concrete slab foundation.

The floor system 20 may include a plurality of floor trusses 22 supported on the foundation 26 to form the floor system 20. A horizontally disposed base joist 40 is secured to the foundation 26 and supporting ends of the floor trusses 22 on the foundation 26. An end joist 42 is secured ends of the floor joists 22 and supported on the base joist 40. The end joist 42 is disposed perpendicular relative to the base joist 40 forming at least a portion of an outer surface 36 of the building frame 34.

A decking 24 is secured to and covers a top of the floor trusses 22 and end joist 42 so an edge 23 is substantially flush with an outer surface of the end joist 42. Accordingly, the edge 23 of the decking may also be considered to form a portion of the outer surface 36 of the building frame 34.

The wall frame 19 is mounted to and supported by the floor system 20. The wall frame typically includes horizontally disposed based stud 30 secured to the floor system 20 and a plurality of vertically disposed wall studs 32 secured to and spaced apart on the base stud 30. Edges 30A and 32A of the base stud 30 and wall stud 32 respectively are substantially flush with one another and with an outside surface of the floor system 20.

The building frame 34 including the floor system 20 and wall frame 19 has an outer surface 36 that is substantially coplanar with an outer surface 38 of the foundation 26. The outer surface 36 of the building frame 34 may comprise one or more of the outer surfaces or edges of the wall frame 19 and floor system 20.

A plurality of connectors plate 10 are secured to the building frame 34 and foundation 26 to secure together the building frame 34 and foundation 26. In each of the embodiments disclosed herein, a single connector plate 10 is shown as representative of the plurality connector plates used for construction of a building. The connector plate 10 comprises a first section 12 having one or more holes 16 for securing the first section 12 of the connector plate 10 to the outer surface of the building frame 34. The connector 10 may also comprise a second section 14 having one or more holes 18 for securing the second section 14 of the connector plate 10 to the outer surface 38 of the foundation 26.

With respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the first section 12 of the connector plate 10 is integrally formed with the second section 14 both of which are coplanar relative to one another. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first section 12 has a width dimension and thickness that are substantially the same as similar dimensions for the second section 14.

In another embodiment, the first section 12 may have a width dimension that is different than the width dimension of the second section 14. For example, the first section 12 may be wider than the second section 14; or, the second section 14 may be wider than the first section 12. The dimensions including the length, width and thickness may vary according to a number of factors including the grade of material (for example, stainless steel) used and the amount of load to be supported or controlled. One skilled in the art may be able readily ascertain acceptable dimensions of a connector, as well as the number of connectors to be used, when considering these and other factors.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connector plate 10 is positioned relative to the floor system 20 so the holes 16 are aligned with the edge 30 of the base stud 30A. So the first section 12 is secured by known securing means, such as nails, bolts, screw etc inserted through holes 16 and driven into the base stud 30. However, the connector plate 10 may be dimensioned or positioned relative to the floor system 20 so the first section 12 is secured to other components making up the outer surface 36 of the floor system 20. For example, the connector plate 10 may be lowered, or contain additional holes below holes 16, so the connector plate 10 may be secured to the end joists 42 of the floor system 20. Additionally, or alternatively, the connector plate 10 may be secured to the vertically disposed wall studs 32. The connector plate 10 may contain holes 16 that are aligned with a wall stud 32, the base stud 30 and/or the end joist 42 so the connector plate 10 is connected to one or more components making up the outer surface 36 of the floor system 20.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the outer surface 36 of the building frame 25 is substantially flush or coplanar with the outer surface 38 of the foundation 26. Nails, bolts, screws or other known securing means are inserted through holes 18 on the second section 14 and driven into the foundation wall 46 securing the second section 14 against the foundation 26. The connector plates 10 are spaced apart along the coextensive surfaces 36 and 38 of the building frame 34 and foundation 26 securing these components of the building together.

In an embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 5 through 7, the first section 12 includes a flange portion 48 that is disposed at an angle relative to the second section 14. As illustrated, the flange portion 48 may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the second section 14 and has holes 17 through which fasteners as nails, bolts, screws are inserted driven into the stud 30. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the flange portion 48 is secured to a top surface of the base stud 30 of the wall frame 40; however, the flange portion 48 may be secured against other horizontally disposed surfaces of the building frame 34. For example, the flange portion 48 may be secured to the top, or horizontally disposed surface of the floor system such as on the decking 24 or joists 42, and sandwiched between components of the building frame 34. Additionally, holes 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 may be disposed on the first section 12 so fasteners may be driven through the outer surface 36 of the floor system 20 and into one or more components of the floor system 20 as above-describe.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skill in the art without departing from the invention herein. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connector plate for securing a building frame to a building foundation, comprising:

an first section secured to a building frame which is mounted to a building foundation; and,

a second section connected to the first section and the second section is secured to the building foundation.

2. The connector plate of claim 1, wherein the first section and second section are integral with one another and the first section having a width dimension that is substantially equal to a width dimension of the second section and the first section and second section each having one or more apertures through which a fastener is inserted to secure the connector plate to the building frame and foundation, and thereby secure the building frame and foundation together.

3. The connector plate of claim 2, wherein the building frame has an outer surface at least a portion of which is coplanar with an outer surface of the foundation and the first section of the connector plate is secured to the outer surface of the building frame and the second section of the connector plate is secured to the outer surface of the foundation.

4. A connector plate for securing a building frame to a building foundation, comprising:

a first section secured to a building frame which is mounted to a building foundation;

a second section connected to the first section and the second section is secured to the building foundation;

wherein the building frame has an outer surface that is substantially coplanar with an outer surface of the foundation, and the second section is secured to the outer surface of the foundation; and,

the first section having a flange portion disposed at angle relative to the second section and the flange portion is secured to a surface of the building frame.

5. The connector plate of claim 4, wherein the flange portion is disposed substantially perpendicular relative to the second section of the connector plate.

6. The connector plate of claim 5, wherein the building frame includes a wall frame having a surface that is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the building foundation and the flange portion of the first section is secured to the surface of the wall frame.

7. The connector plate of claim 5, wherein the building frame includes a floor frame having a surface that is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the building foundation and the flange portion of the first section is secured to the surface of the floor frame.

8. A building having a system for securing a building frame to a foundation, the building comprising:

a building frame supported on a foundation wherein the building has an outer surface that is substantially coplanar with an outer surface of the foundation;

a plurality of connector plates wherein each connector plate includes a first section affixed the outer surface of the building frame and a second section affixed to the outer surface of the foundation;

the first section is integrally formed with the second section for each connector plate, and the first section is substantially coplanar with the second section, and each section having a substantially equal thickness dimension; and,

one or more holes formed in the first section and second section of each connector plate;

a plurality of fasteners inserted through the one or more holes in the connector plates and driven into the building frame and foundation to secure the building frame to the foundation.

9. The building of claim 8, wherein each connector plate has a generally rectangular shape.

10. The building of claim 8, wherein the building frame includes a wall frame secured to a floor system and surfaces thereof forming the outer surface of the building frame and the first section of a connector plate having one or more holes aligned with a surface of the wall frame and one or more holes aligned with a surface of the floor system and fasteners are inserted into the holes and driven into the wall frame and floor system.

11. The building of claim 8, wherein the building frame includes a wall frame secured to a floor system and surfaces thereof forming the outer surface of the building frame and the first section of one or more of the connector plates includes a flange disposed at an angle relative to the second section of the connector plate and the flange is positioned over the floor system or the wall frame and has holes through which fasteners are inserted and driven into the floor system or wall frame.

12. A method of securing a building frame to a foundation, comprising the steps of:

construction a building frame having a floor system and wall frame wherein the floor system is supported on the foundation and the wall frame is mounted to the floor system;

wherein the building frame has one or more outer surfaces that are coplanar with one or more outer surfaces of the foundation;

providing one or more connector plates having a first section with one or more holes connected to a second section with one or more holes;

positioning the connector plates relative to the building frame so the holes on the first section are aligned with an outer surface the building frame and the holes on the second section are aligned with an outer surface of the foundation; and,

inserting one or more fasteners through the holes on the first section and second section of the connector plate and driving the fastener through the outer surfaces of the building frame and foundation and into components thereof.