Construction Clip For Joining Structural Infrastructure

Abstract

Devices for joining structural infrastructure and methods of making and using such devices are set forth herein. According to one embodiment, a device for joining structural infrastructure includes first and second flanges and a clip extending from the second flange away from the first flange. The first flange is adapted to be fastened to a first building support member using at least one fastener, and the second flange extends generally perpendicular from the first flange. The clip has an upper end and a wall; the clip upper end couples the clip wall to the second flange. The clip is adapted to secure the device to a second building support member by maintaining a portion of the second building support member between the clip wall and the second flange.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/026,655, filed Feb. 6, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to clips used in construction, and particularly to clips used in constructing buildings (e.g., commercial buildings, government buildings, residential buildings, etc.) to permanently couple structural infrastructure together.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a device for joining structural infrastructure includes first and second flanges and a clip extending from the second flange away from the first flange. The first flange is adapted to be fastened to a first building support member using at least one fastener, and the second flange extends generally perpendicular from the first flange. The clip has an upper end and a wall; the clip upper end couples the clip wall to the second flange. The clip is adapted to secure the device to a second building support member by maintaining a portion of the second building support member between the clip wall and the second flange.

According to another embodiment, a device for joining structural infrastructure includes first and second flanges and a clip extending from the second flange away from the first flange. The first flange is generally planar and has at least one aperture for use in coupling the first flange to a first piece of structural infrastructure. The second flange extends generally perpendicular from the first flange. The clip has an upper end and a wall; the clip upper end couples the clip wall to the second flange. The clip wall is separated from the second flange to allow at least a portion of a second piece of structural infrastructure to be positioned between the second flange and the clip wall, so that placing the second piece of structural infrastructure between the second flange and the clip wall couples the device to the second piece of structural infrastructure and causes the second flange to be situated generally vertically.

According to yet another embodiment, a device for joining structural infrastructure includes first and second flanges and a clip extending from the second flange away from the first flange. The first flange is generally planar and has at least one aperture for use in coupling the first flange to a first piece of structural infrastructure. The second flange extends generally perpendicular from the first flange. The clip has an upper end and a wall; the clip upper end couples the clip wall to the second flange. The clip is adapted to secure the device to a second piece of structural infrastructure by maintaining a portion of the second piece of structural infrastructure between the clip wall and the second flange in a friction fit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a PRIOR ART device in use;

FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of the PRIOR ART device shown in FIG. 1 when used in a different orientation;

FIG. 2b is a top view of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3a shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed construction clip;

FIG. 3b shows a front view of the construction clip of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 3c shows a top view of the construction clip of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 3d is a sectional view taken from FIG. 3b;

FIG. 3e is a sectional view taken from FIG. 3b;

FIG. 3f illustrates part of a process of creating the construction clip of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4a shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the disclosed construction clip;

FIG. 4b shows a front view of the construction clip of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5a shows a perspective view of still another embodiment of the disclosed construction clip;

FIG. 5b shows a front view of the construction clip of FIG. 5a; and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the disclosed construction clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide devices and methods for use in the connection of studs, angle iron, and other structural infrastructure in the construction of buildings.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional (prior art) device 100 that is mounted on an outside vertical wall 104a of an angle iron support structure 104 supporting a horizontal building structure 106. A horizontal wall 104b of angle iron 104 is shown as being underneath the structure 106. Device 100 includes a small flange 110 which receives a plurality of fasteners 112 to rigidly secure device 100 to angle iron wall 104a. Typically, fasteners 112 are ½ inch ram-set powder-driven pins. Larger flange 120 is slidingly fixed to stud 108 using a plurality of screws 116. Screws 116 are received in a plurality of slots 122 defined in the larger flange 120, and interaction between the screws 116 and slots 122 allows slideable movement vertically but not horizontally. As those skilled in the art will know, vertical movement allowed by slots 118 is useful to enable structures to endure relative vertical movement (e.g., movement due to earthquakes, settling, etc.) without failing.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show the conventional device 100 used in a different orientation. As will be apparent by comparing FIGS. 2a and 2b to FIG. 1, a stud 208 is oriented in a different way than stud 108. Because of this, the components of device 100 in FIGS. 2a and 2b appear as a mirror image to FIG. 1. Apart from stud 208 being oriented differently than stud 108, an angle iron support structure 204 (generally similar to angle iron support structure 104) is atop an I-beam 206. The small flange 110 is secured to vertical wall 204a of the angle iron 204 by fasteners 112, as set forth above regarding the angle iron wall 104a, and the larger flange 120 is secured to the stud 208 by screws 116, as set forth above regarding stud 108.

A first embodiment of the disclosed device for joining structural infrastructure (also referred to herein as a “construction clip”) is shown in FIGS. 3a through 3e. Referring to the figures, a construction clip 300 includes a generally planar first flange 302, which, in some embodiments, will be fastened to a first piece of structural infrastructure (e.g., a stud oriented similar to stud 208 shown in FIG. 2a) through holes 314 using fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, etc.). An electrically driven device may be used to drive the fasteners. Alternatively, the flange 302 could be welded or adhered to the first piece of structural infrastructure.

A second flange 304 of the device 300 exists in a substantially perpendicular plane to the first flange 302, and the flanges 302, 304 meet at a corner 305 that extends generally vertically. While various configurations may be utilized, in some embodiments the flanges 302, 304 have generally equal heights and the first flange 302 is longer than (e.g., at least twice as long as) the second flange 304. The length of the first flange 302 is denoted L1 and the length of the second flange 304 is denoted L2 in FIG. 3a. As discussed in additional detail below, the second flange 304 may be void of apertures (i.e., holes, slots, etc.) for use with fasteners.

A clip 350 extends from the second flange 304 away from the first flange 302. The clip 350 has an upper end 352 and a wall 354, and the clip upper end 352 may couple the clip wall 354 to the second flange 304. For example, the clip upper end 352 may extend from an upper end 304a of the second flange 304 to an upper end 354a of the clip wall 354. The clip 350 is configured to fit over a vertical portion of a second piece of structural infrastructure (e.g., vertical wall 204a of angle iron shown in FIG. 2a) and secure the device 300 to the second piece of structural infrastructure by maintaining a portion of the second piece of structural infrastructure between the clip wall 354 and the second flange 304. As such, the clip wall 354 is separated from the second flange 304 at least a sufficient distance to allow a portion of the second piece of structural infrastructure to be located between the second flange 304 and the clip wall 354.

The clip 350 may be configured to cause a friction fit when the second piece of structural infrastructure is between the clip wall 354 and the second flange 304. For example, the clip wall 354 may be spaced apart from the second flange 304 a distance approximately equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the second piece of structural infrastructure that will be located therebetween. The interaction between the device 300 (i.e., the clip wall 354 and the second flange 304) and the second piece of structural infrastructure, with or without a friction fit present, may be configured to allow the second piece of structural infrastructure to move laterally relative to the device 300 after the second piece of structural infrastructure is between the clip wall 354 and the second flange 304. This lateral movement may be useful to enable structures to endure relative lateral movement (e.g., movement due to wind, earthquakes, etc.) without failing.

As shown in FIG. 3b, the clip wall 354 of the device 300 is generally planar and extends generally parallel to the second flange 304 (e.g., less than thirty degrees from vertical). In some embodiments, the clip wall 354 extends within ten degrees of being parallel to the second flange 304. It may be desirable for a lower end 354b of the clip wall 354 to extend toward (instead of away from) the second flange 304 if the clip wall 354 is not parallel to the second flange 304. In other words, with reference to FIGS. 3d and 3e, it may be desirable for a distance denoted D1 between the clip wall lower end 354b and the second flange 304 to be less than or equal to a distance denoted D2 between the clip wall upper end 354a and the second flange 304.

Returning to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the second flange 304 has a height denoted H1, the clip wall 354 has a height denoted H2, and it may be desirable for the height H2 to be at least one fourth as tall as the height H1. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a through 3e, the height H2 is over half as tall as the height H1.

While the device 300 may be made using various processes, FIG. 3f shows a piece of metal 380 that has been cut (i.e., along the solid lines, by a punch, saw, etc.) into two blanks 382, and holes 314 have been added (e.g., through a punch process, a drill process, etc.). Waste material is labeled 384 in FIG. 3f. After being cut, each blank 382 may then be bent (i.e., along the dashed lines) to form the corner 305 and the clip upper end 352.

In one method of use, the clip 350 is placed over a vertical portion of a second piece of structural infrastructure (e.g., vertical wall 204a of angle iron shown in FIG. 2a) so that a portion of the second piece of structural infrastructure is between the clip wall 354 and the second flange 304 and the second flange 304 is generally vertical. The first piece of structural infrastructure (e.g., a stud oriented similar to stud 208 shown in FIG. 2a) may be moved adjacent to the first flange 302, either before or after the device 300 is attached to the second piece of structural infrastructure, and fasteners may be inserted through holes 314 to couple the first flange 302 to the first piece of structural infrastructure. It may be advantageous to couple the device 300 to the second piece of structural infrastructure before coupling the device 300 to the first piece of structural infrastructure, as coupling the second piece of structural infrastructure to the device 300 does not require the use of fasteners, can be done relatively quickly and with relatively little effort, and can easily align the device 300 (i.e., so that the second flange 304 and the corner 305 are generally vertical). Further, if the second piece of structural infrastructure is coupled to the device 300 first, the user does not have to manually hold the device 300 while inserting a screw or other fastener through the device 300, which is an advantage over the prior art.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show another embodiment of the disclosed construction clip. Referring to the figures, a construction clip 400 is generally similar to the construction clip 300, except for as set forth herein, shown in the drawings, and/or inherent. Elements of the construction clip 400 that are specifically discussed as being different from those of the construction clip 300 may have reference numbers between 400 and 499; common elements/features may be referred to herein and in the drawings by the same reference numbers set forth above. In construction clip 400, the holes 314 have been replaced by generally vertical slots 414. The slots 414 may allow the fasteners coupling the first flange 302 to the first piece of structural infrastructure to move vertically, which in turn may allow the first piece of structural infrastructure to move vertically relative to the construction clip 400. It should be appreciated that, while not shown, slots 414 and holes 314 may both be included.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show another embodiment of the disclosed construction clip. Referring to the figures, a construction clip 500 is generally similar to the construction clip 400, except for as set forth herein, shown in the drawings, and/or inherent. Elements of the construction clip 500 that are specifically discussed as being different from those of the construction clip 300 or the construction clip 400 may have reference numbers between 500 and 599; common elements/features may be referred to herein and in the drawings by the same reference numbers set forth above.

The first flange 302 in the device 500 includes channels 502 that may be stamped or otherwise formed in the first flange 302 to increase the strength of the first flange 302, and the second flange 304 and the corner 305 similarly include reinforcing channels 504, 505. By including channels 502, 504, and/or 505, it may be possible to utilize lighter gauge or different materials than would otherwise be appropriate.

While the clip wall 354 is shown to be parallel to the second flange 304 in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the lower end 354b of the clip wall 354 in the device 500 extends toward (instead of away from) the second flange 304 and a flared portion 510 is included that extends away from the second flange 304. The angling of the clip wall 354 in the device 500 may provide a friction fit when in use (as discussed above regarding device 300), and the flared portion 510 may ease insertion of a vertical portion of a second piece of structural infrastructure (e.g., vertical wall 204a of angle iron shown in FIG. 2a) between the clip wall 354 and the second flange 304.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the disclosed construction clip. Referring to the figure, a construction clip 600 is generally similar to the construction clip 300, except for as set forth herein, shown in the drawings, and/or inherent. Elements of the construction clip 600 that are specifically discussed as being different from those of the construction clip 300 may have reference numbers between 600 and 699; common elements/features may be referred to herein and in the drawings by the same reference numbers set forth above.

The construction clip 600 differs from the construction clip 300 in three main ways: construction, orientation, and holes in the second flange. First, instead of bending a piece of material (e.g., a blank 382) to form the corner 305 and the clip upper end 352 (as in the construction clip 300), the device 600 is formed by coupling separate members together. More particularly, in the device 600, the first flange 302, the second flange 304, the clip upper end 352, and the clip wall 354 are separate plates 602, 604, 652, 654 welded together. Though not shown, various embodiments may include a mixture of bends (as in the device 300) and welding (as in the device 600); for example, the corner 305 may be formed by bending, the clip upper end 352 may be welded to the second flange 304 and the clip wall 354, etc.

Second, as can be seen by comparing FIG. 6 to FIG. 3a, the device 600 is oriented as a mirror image of the device 300; the first flange 302 in the device 300 is at a right-hand side of the corner 305 in FIG. 3a and at a left-hand side of the corner 305 in FIG. 6. This mirror orientation may be useful in coupling a first piece of structural infrastructure oriented similar to stud 108 in FIG. 1 to a second piece of structural infrastructure oriented similar to outside vertical wall 104a in FIG. 1 and outside vertical wall 204a in FIG. 2a. To obtain this mirror orientation in the device 300, the first flange 302 and the clip 350 may be bent in opposite directions relative to the second flange 304 from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a. To obtain an opposite orientation than that shown for the device 600, the clip upper end 352 (i.e., the plate 652) may be welded to the opposite end of the second flange 304 (i.e., onto end 604b instead of end 604a).

Third, the second flange 304 in the device 600 includes holes 614 that may be used for securing the second flange 304 to a piece of structural infrastructure (e.g., using fasteners after the piece of structural infrastructure is positioned between the second flange 304 and the clip wall 354). But, as discussed above in relation to the device 300, it may be disadvantageous and/or unnecessary to secure the second flange 304 to the piece of structural infrastructure using fasteners.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out or carried out in the specific order described.

Claims

1. A device for joining structural infrastructure, comprising:

a first flange adapted to be fastened to a first building support member using at least one fastener;

a second flange extending generally perpendicular from the first flange; and

a clip extending from the second flange away from the first flange, the clip having an upper end and a wall, the clip upper end coupling the clip wall to the second flange, the clip being adapted to secure the device to a second building support member by maintaining a portion of the second building support member between the clip wall and the second flange.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the clip wall is generally planar and extends within ten degrees of being parallel to the second flange;

the clip wall has upper and lower ends;

the clip wall lower end is a distance D1 from the second flange;

the clip wall upper end is a distance D2 from the second flange; and

the distance D1 is not greater than the distance D2.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the clip includes a flared portion extending from the clip wall lower end away from the second flange.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein:

the first and second flanges meet at a corner extending generally vertically;

the first flange extends a length L1 from the corner;

the second flange extends a length L2 from the corner;

the length L1 is at least twice as long as the length L2;

the second flange has a height H1;

the clip wall has a height H2; and

the height H2 is at least one fourth as tall as the height H1.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein a piece of metal is bent to form the corner and bent to form the clip upper end.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second flanges meet at a corner extending generally vertically;

the first flange extends a length L1 from the corner;

the second flange extends a length L2 from the corner;

the length L1 is at least twice as long as the length L2;

the second flange has a height H1;

the clip wall has a height H2; and

the height H2 is at least one fourth as tall as the height H1.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein a piece of metal is bent to form the corner and bent to form the clip upper end.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the clip wall has upper and lower ends;

a point along the clip wall is a distance D from the second flange;

the clip wall upper end is a distance D2 from the second flange; and

the distance D is less than the distance D2.

9. A device for joining structural infrastructure, comprising:

a first flange being generally planar and having at least one aperture for use in coupling the first flange to a first piece of structural infrastructure;

a second flange extending generally perpendicular from the first flange; and

a clip extending from the second flange away from the first flange, the clip having an upper end and a wall, the clip wall being separated from the second flange to allow at least a portion of a second piece of structural infrastructure to be positioned between the second flange and the clip wall, the clip upper end coupling the clip wall to the second flange, wherein placing the second piece of structural infrastructure between the second flange and the clip wall couples the device to the second piece of structural infrastructure and causes the second flange to be situated generally vertically.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein:

the first and second flanges meet at a corner extending generally vertically;

the first flange extends a length L1 from the corner;

the second flange extends a length L2 from the corner; and

the length L1 is at least twice as long as the length L2.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the second flange has a height H1;

the clip wall has a height H2; and

the height H2 is at least one fourth as tall as the height H1.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein a piece of metal is bent to form the corner and bent to form the clip upper end.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein:

the clip wall extends within ten degrees of being parallel to the second flange;

the clip wall has upper and lower ends;

the clip wall lower end is a distance D1 from the second flange;

the clip wall upper end is a distance D2 from the second flange; and

the distance D1 is not greater than the distance D2.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the clip includes a flared portion extending from the clip wall lower end away from the second flange.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one aperture in the first flange is a generally vertical slot.

16. A device for joining structural infrastructure, comprising:

a first flange being generally planar and having at least one aperture for use in coupling the first flange to a first piece of structural infrastructure;

a second flange extending generally perpendicular from the first flange; and

a clip extending from the second flange away from the first flange, the clip having an upper end and a wall, the clip upper end coupling the clip wall to the second flange, the clip being adapted to secure the device to a second piece of structural infrastructure by maintaining a portion of the second piece of structural infrastructure between the clip wall and the second flange in a friction fit.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the friction fit allows the second piece of structural infrastructure to move laterally relative to the clip after the portion of the second piece of structural infrastructure is between the clip wall and the second flange.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein a piece of metal is bent to form the clip upper end.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the second flange does not include an aperture for use in coupling the second flange to the second piece of structural infrastructure.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein:

the second flange has an upper end; and

the clip upper end extends from the flange upper end.