Apparatus and Method of Forming Roof Anchors for a Building
An anchor for connecting a roof truss to the wall of a building. The anchor has a panel that associates with a plurality of clamps. The clamps having two surfaces which associate with the panel and the roof truss, respectively. The anchor has a member that extends into the wall. The member may have various shapes to provide increased strength to the anchor. The anchor is connected to the roof truss by a connector that may pass through the clamp and the roof truss. The clamp is attached to the panel by a connector that is adhered to the panel.
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The present invention relates in general to construction materials and, more particularly, to anchors for connecting the roof to the walls of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe construction of a building is a time-consuming process. While building techniques have improved and become more efficient, the process for constructing a building requires a substantial amount of time. The construction of a building includes the process of combining multiple dependent features with each other to form one complete building. The possibility of error is constant because of the assorted parts necessary to be assembled to create a building; and, the errors cause substantial time delays.
Errors result from manufacturing error or human error. Manufacturing errors occur when components are not constructed according to the dimensions or specifications provided. An incorrect measurement of any component of the building causes major delays. Because the components are dependent on each other, a miscue in the measurement of one component will have an impact on the entire construction of the building.
Another problem is the considerable amount of time taken to make accurate measurements of every component in the building. Because of the intricate relationship between all of the parts of the building, an accurate measurement is required. If a measurement is not correct by even the smallest of margins, the resulting error can be large and costly. Further, the error causes an increase in time for correction. The workers may be forced to re-cut a new component or make changes to other parts to accommodate the error. Either method results in the waste of goods and workers' time.
The roof of a building is formed by the use of roof trusses. Roof trusses can be made of steel, metal, or wood. The roof trusses need to be anchored to the walls of the building to become part of the building and to prevent the roof from being dislodged. Depending on the weather forces of different regions of the earth, the strength of the anchor varies. The roof trusses can be anchored into the stud located in the wall with nails or bolts directly into the roof truss and the stud. Other techniques include nailing a metal plate around the roof truss and the stud located in the wall.
These techniques provide only so much strength and bonding of the roof truss to the wall. Additionally, the nailing of numerous nails or screws into the roof truss weakens the wood because of all the penetrations into the material. These techniques have limited resistance to the force they can achieve.
If the roof truss is not properly aligned to the stud in the wall, then a time consuming error has occurred. Correcting the error results in lost time and materials. The error may require additional holes being placed in the wall resulting in the wall losing strength and resilience, or the roof truss may need to be reconstructed to correct the error. Correcting the errors on the job site cause waste of time and resources.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, the present invention is an anchor for securing a roof truss of a building to a wall comprising a panel having a top surface and bottom surface, the bottom surface being flat, a member having connection to the bottom surface of the panel, the member further having length for placing the member in the wall, a plurality of clamps for adhering the anchor to the roof truss, each having a first area and second area respectively, the first area associating with the top surface of the panel, the first area having an opening, the opening having a length to provide movement of the clamp along the panel, the second area associating with the roof truss, the second area having an opening for providing access to the roof truss, a first connector for attaching the first area of the clamp to the panel through the opening in the first area, and a second connector for attaching the second area of the clamp to the roof truss through the opening in the second area.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a fastener for connecting a roof truss to a wall comprising a panel having a surface for associating with the wall, a member having connection to the surface of the panel, the member further having length for placing the member in the wall, a plurality of clamps attached to the panel for connecting the anchor to the roof truss, each having an area for associating with the roof truss, the area having an opening for providing access to the roof truss, and a connector for attaching the clamps to the roof through the opening in the area.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of forming an anchor for anchoring a roof truss of a building to a wall comprising of providing a panel for associating with the wall, providing a member having connection to the panel, the member further having length for placing the member in the wall, providing a plurality of clamps for adhering the anchor to the roof truss, each having a first area and second area respectively, the first area associating with the panel, the first area having an opening, the opening having a length to provide movement of the clamp along the panel, the second area associating with the roof truss, the second area having an opening for providing access to the roof of the building, providing a first connector for attaching the first area of the clamp to the panel through the opening in the first area, and providing a second connector for attaching the second area of the clamp to the roof truss through the opening in the second area.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a building structure having a roof truss anchored to a wall by a process of comprising the steps of providing a panel for associating with the wall, providing a member having connection to the panel, the member further having length for placing the member in the wall, providing a plurality of clamps for adhering the anchor to the roof truss, each having a first area and second area respectively, the first area associating with the panel, the first area having an opening, the opening having a length to provide movement of the clamp along the panel, the second area associating with the roof truss, the second area having an opening for providing access to the roof truss, providing a first connector for attaching the first area of the clamp to the panel through the opening in the first area, and providing a second connector for attaching the second area of the clamp to the roof truss through the opening in the second area.
The present invention is described in one or more embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numerals represent the same or similar elements. While the invention is described in terms of the best mode for achieving the invention's objectives, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents as supported by the following disclosure and drawings.
The construction of a building can be made more efficient by the use of pre-manufactured pieces that are used on the job site. The pieces can be made in a controlled environment that will ensure the piece is constructed to the desired dimensions and materials that are desired by the builder. The use of pre-manufactured pieces allows the workers on site to work efficiently and not have to make any measurements in order to use the pieces.
To construct a building with the anchors as described herein, an architect or builder designs the layout of the building structure. The building may be a home, office, industrial, hotel, or commercial structure of any size and shape and as tall as the local building codes permit. The building designer creates a blueprint of the building, including dimensions for the roof of the building. The roof of the building provides shelter and protection to the inside of the building. The roof of a building may be flat or have any desired pitch as called for by the building plans. The roof is constructed by creating roof trusses that form the shape of the roof. The roof trusses may be constructed of wood, steel, or metal.
Anchor 10 mates with panel 14. Panel 14 has a thickness which depends on the type of building being constructed. The thickness provides weight to anchor 10. The thickness may be 0.5 to 3 inches. Panel 14 has an area with a length and width. Panel 14 may have a length to provide area for a plurality of clamps 21 to be placed on panel 14. The length of panel 14 may be enough to allow for two clamps 21 to associate with roof truss 12, but must be of length to allow one clamp 21 to attach to roof truss 12. The length of panel 14 may be limited by the space between two roof trusses 12 in order to allow one anchor 10 to attach to each roof truss 12. The distance between each roof truss 12 may depend on the size of the roof described in the building plans and the desired pitch of the roof.
The width of panel 14 may be dependent on the width of the wall on which anchor 10 is placed. The width of panel 14 may be equal to the width of the wall to allow a flush surface between the roof and the wall to be constructed. The width of panel 14 must be at least equal to the width of clamp 21 because panel 14 provides the area for clamp 21 to be located. The design of a building may call for the wall and roof to form a flush surface, so having a width of panel 14 that is not greater than the width of the wall will allow a flush surface to be formed between the wall and roof.
Panel 14 has two surfaces. The bottom surface associates with the top of the wall. Member 24 is connected to the bottom surface of panel 14. The bottom surface of panel 14 may be flat to provide the most surface contact with the top of the wall. Having a greater amount of contact with the top of the wall allows anchor 10 to have better attachment to the wall.
The top surface of panel 14 provides an area for a plurality of clamps 21 to be located. The top surface of panel 14 may be flat to allow clamps 21 to have increased surface contact with the top surface of panel 14. The top surface may have raised portions to act as a locking mechanism for clamp 21.
Attached to the top surface of panel 14 is first connector 18. First connector 18 is adhered to a location on panel 14 to allow clamps 21 to be secured to panel 14. First connector 18 may be threaded to allow a nut to be used to connect clamp 21 with panel 14. First connector 18 may be a nail, screw, nut and bolt system, or pinion. Anchor 10 may have the same number of connectors 18 as the number of clamps 21 to be used in anchor 10. When more than one first connector 18 is used in anchor 10, the location of connectors 18 must be a distance apart from each other to allow a roof truss 12 to be connected between clamps 21.
Clamp 21 has two areas, first and second area, respectively. First area 16 associates with the top surface of panel 14. First area 16 has a width to allow first connector 18 to pass through opening 20. A greater width of first area 16 allows more contact of clamp 21 with panel 14. The width of first area 16 may be about 2 to 8 inches. First area 16 has a height. The height may not be greater than the height of first connector 18 because first connector 18 must extend beyond first area 16 to allow for clamp 21 to be attached to panel 14. The height of first area 16 may be about 0.5 to 2 inches.
First area 16 has an opening 20. Opening 20 has a length less than the length of first area 16. By opening 20 having length, clamp 21 may move along panel 14. Because errors occur in measurements, roof truss 12 may not end up in the location called for in the building plans. The length of opening 20 allows for clamp 21 to move along panel 14 to attach roof truss 12 to anchor 10. Anchor 10 may be placed in the wall prior to the placement of roof truss 12. Therefore, the ability to move clamp 21 along panel 14 provides the capability of using anchor 10 even though roof truss 12 is not at the designed location.
Opening 20 allows roof truss 12 to be attached to anchor 10 without having to remove anchor 10 from the wall. Clamp 21 may move along panel 14 until it contacts roof truss 12, and then clamp 21 may attach to panel 14 by first connector 18 passing through opening 20. Because opening 20 has length, there is flexibility in the placement of clamp 21 along anchor 10 to account for any errors or mistakes that may occur in the final location of roof truss 12. While first connector 18 is at a fixed location on panel 14, clamp 21 is able to be placed at the desired location because opening 20 has length.
The width of opening 20 must be large enough for first connector 18 to pass through opening 20. First connector 18 must pass through opening 20 to connect clamp 21 with panel 14. The width of opening 20 should not be significantly greater than the width of first connector 18 in order for the best connection and association of first connector 18 with clamp 21. The connection of clamp 21 with panel 14 is helped by the use of friction between first connector 18 and opening 20.
Second area 30 may be connected to first area 16 to form clamp 21. Second area 30 may be welded or soldered to first area 16. The width of second area 30 may be the same as the length of first area 16. The height of second area 30 is enough to provide association with roof truss 12. To provide sufficient anchoring of roof truss 12, second surface 30 must have a height to provide association with roof truss 12. The height of second area 30 may depend on the pitch of the roof and the angle of roof truss 12 compared to anchor 10.
Second area 30 has opening 32 to allow second connector 22 to connect roof truss 12 with clamp 21. Opening 32 is located on second area 30 to allow second connector 22 to contact roof truss 12. Second area 30 may have additional openings 32 to allow for more connectors 22 to anchor roof truss 12 to anchor 10.
Second connector 22 must have length to provide sufficient connection of roof truss 12 to clamp 21. When more than one clamp 21 is used, second connector 22 may have a length to pass through each clamp 21 and roof truss 12. The width of second connector 22 must not be greater than opening 32. Second connector 22 may be a nail, screw, nut and bolt system, or pinion.
Member 24 may have a bend. The bend in member 24 allows anchor 10 to have a strong connection with wall 28 after the hardenable material has solidified. Anchor 10 is able to withstand greater force when member 24 has a bend. The bend may be ninety degrees as shown in
Anchor 10 may be constructed having two clamps 21, one clamp 21 having a first opening 20 and first connector 18, as illustrated in
First area 16 and second area 30 are illustrated as having a width equal to the width of panel 14 in
As demonstrated in
While one or more embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, the skilled artisan will appreciate that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. An anchor for securing a roof truss of a building to a wall, comprising:
- a panel having a top surface and bottom surface, the bottom surface being flat;
- a member having connection to the bottom surface of the panel, the member further having length for placing the member in the wall;
- a plurality of clamps for adhering the anchor to the roof truss, each having a first area and second area respectively, the first area associating with the top surface of the panel, the first area having an opening, the opening having a length to provide movement of the clamp along the panel, the second area associating with the roof truss, the second area having an opening for providing access to the roof truss;
- a first connector for attaching the first area of the clamp to the panel through the opening in the first area; and
- a second connector for attaching the second area of the clamp to the roof truss through the opening in the second area.
2. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the member includes a U-shape.
3. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the member includes a bend.
4. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the member includes a threaded surface.
5. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the first area of one of the clamps is a continuous surface.
6. The anchor of claim 5, wherein the continuous surface of the first area of one of the clamps is adhered to the top surface of the panel.
7. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the first connector is selected from the group consisting of nail, screw, nut and bolt system, and pinion.
8. The anchor of claim 1, wherein the second connector is selected from the group consisting of nail, screw, nut and bolt system, and pinion.
9. A fastener for connecting a roof truss to a wall, comprising:
- a panel having a surface for associating with the wall;
- a member having connection to the surface of the panel, the member further having length for placing the member in the wall;
- a plurality of clamps attached to the panel for connecting the anchor to the roof truss, each having an area for associating with the roof truss, the area having an opening for providing access to the roof truss; and
- a connector for attaching the clamps to the roof through the opening in the area.
10. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the member includes a U-shape.
11. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the member includes a threaded surface.
12. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the member includes a bend.
13. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the clamps include a second area for attaching the clamp to the panel.
14. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the connector is selected from the group consisting of nail, screw, nut and bolt system, and pinion.
15. A method of forming an anchor for anchoring a roof truss of a building to a wall, comprising:
- providing a panel for associating with the wall;
- providing a member having connection to the panel, the member further having length for placing the member in the wall;
- providing a plurality of clamps for adhering the anchor to the roof truss, each having a first area and second area, respectively, the first area associating with the panel, the first area having an opening, the opening having a length to provide movement of the clamp along the panel, the second area associating with the roof truss, the second area having an opening for providing access to the roof truss;
- providing a first connector for attaching the first area of the clamp to the panel through the opening in the first area; and
- providing a second connector for attaching the second area of the clamp to the roof truss through the opening in the second area.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the member includes a U-shape.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the member includes a bend.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the member includes a tapered surface.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first area of the clamps is a continuous surface.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the continuous surface of the first area of one of the clamps is adhered to the top surface of the panel.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first connector is selected from the group consisting of nail, screw, nut and bolt system, and pinion.
22. The method of claim 15, wherein the second connector is selected from the group consisting of nail, screw, nut and bolt system, and pinion.
23. A building structure having a roof truss anchored to a wall by a process of comprising the steps of:
- providing a panel for associating with the wall;
- providing a member having connection to the panel, the member further having length for placing the member in the wall;
- providing a plurality of clamps for adhering the anchor to the roof truss, each having a first area and second area respectively, the first area associating with the panel, the first area having an opening, the opening having a length to provide movement of the clamp along the panel, the second area associating with the roof truss, the second area having an opening for providing access to the roof truss;
- providing a first connector for attaching the first area of the clamp to the panel through the opening in the first area; and
- providing a second connector for attaching the second area of the clamp to the roof truss through the opening in the second area.
24. The process of claim 23, wherein the member includes a U-shape.
25. The process of claim 23, wherein the member includes a bend.
26. The process of claim 23, wherein the member includes a tapered surface.
27. The process of claim 23, wherein the first area of one of the clamps is a continuous surface.
28. The process of claim 27, wherein the continuous surface of the first area of one of the clamps is adhered to the top surface of the panel.
29. The process of claim 23, wherein the first connector is selected from the group consisting of nail, screw, nut and bolt system, and pinion.
30. The process of claim 23, wherein the second connector is selected from the group consisting of nail, screw, nut and bolt system, and pinion.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 24, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 26, 2009
Applicant: SINCLAIR ABT, LLC (Fort Myers, FL)
Inventor: J. Daniel Sinclair (Fort Myers, FL)
Application Number: 11/844,701
International Classification: E04B 1/38 (20060101); E04C 5/18 (20060101);