Deck Ledger Bracket

Abstract

A connection is provided between an anchoring structural member such as an exposed portion of the foundation of a building and an anchored member such as a structural member of a deck that is attached to the building with a connector being used in conjunction with separate fasteners to tie the anchored structural member to the anchoring structural member.

Description

The present invention provides a connection between an anchoring structural member such as an exposed portion of the foundation of a building and an anchored member such as a structural member of a deck that is attached to the building. In the present invention, a connector is used in conjunction with separate fasteners to tie the anchored structural member to the anchoring structural member.

It is well known in the prior art that it is important to fasten decks and other external members to the building they are part of in a secure manner. When a structure, such as a deck or shed that is outside of the building envelope has a side which is to be supported by, or anchored to a building, it is important to attach the outside structure to a structural wall or other structural member of the building.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,358, granted to Paul A Stratton, teaches a bracket that has a u-shaped member for supporting a ledger board of a deck. The ledger board typically runs parallel to the face of the wall of the building to which it is attached and the ledger board supports joists that extend away from the ledger board and the face of the wall of the building. The u-shaped member is bolted to an interior structural member of the building and the fastener that connect the u-shaped member typically passes through the water barrier of the building that is part of the building's exterior envelope that protects the interior structural members from water and the elements. U.S. Pat. No. 9,151,058, granted to Brian Leathe, teaches a similar connection between a ledger board and an interior structural member of a building. The connector of U.S. Pat. No. 9,151,058 has a channel that spaces the seat that holds the ledger board away from the structural wall of the building. U.S. Pat. No. 9,151,058 also teaches that the connector can be made with a hanger for holding a joist.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,024,046, invented by Gary Higginbotham, teaches a multi-piece connector that can attach a ledger board to a rim board in the interior of the building. The multi-piece connector is designed to hold the ledger board away from the rim board of the building.

US Patent Publication 2018/0298603 with listed inventors Russel Preece and Ryan Machado teaches a connector that supports the post for a deck attached to a building. The connector also anchors the post, and thus the deck, to the foundation of the building. The connector is generally L-shaped with a gusset extending between the flanges of the L-shaped member to strengthen the connector. The connector attaches to a portion of the building, namely the foundation, that does not need additional sheathing members to protect it from the elements.

U.S. Pat. No. 12,146,313, with listed inventors Rachel Marie Holland, Timothy M. Stauffer, Jin-Jie Lin, and Benedict Ang, teaches a connection between a ledger board and interior structural members of a building. The connection utilizes a horizontally extending compression strut that abuts against a side surface of an interior member. The connection also utilizes a connector plate and one or more separate tension fasteners that connect the connector plate to the interior members, with the connector plate connecting the ledger board to the compression strut, and the separate tension fasteners extending upwardly at an acute angle to the compression strut.

The present invention provides a connection between a deck and the foundation of a building that is both amenable to current building practices and economical to produce and erect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a connection that is easy to assemble.

The present invention provides a connector that is economical to fabricate.

The present invention provides a connection that makes a secure connection between a structural member of a deck and the foundation of a building to which the deck is attached.

The present invention provides a connection between an anchoring structural member and an anchored structural member made with a connector and one or more first fasteners and one or more second fasteners, with the anchoring structural member having an outer surface, the anchored structural member having an outer surface, the connector having a right portion, the right portion having an attachment plate interfacing with the outer surface of the anchoring structural member, a gusset plate attached to the attachment plate along an inner edge and extending away from the attachment plate and the outer surface of the anchoring structural member, the gusset plate having an upper edge to which a seat member is attached with the anchored structural member resting on the seat member and the seat member having a buttress plate which interfaces with the outer surface of the anchored structural member and extends upwardly from the seat member, with the one or more first fasteners attaching the attachment plate of the right portion to the anchoring structural member, and the one or more second fasteners attaching the buttress plate of the right portion to the anchored structural member.

The present invention also provides a connection where the connector has a left portion joined to the right portion by one or more tying members, the left portion having an attachment plate interfacing with the outer surface of the anchoring structural member, a gusset plate attached to the attachment plate along an inner edge, the gusset plage having an upper edge to which a seat member is attached with the anchored structural member resting on the seat member and the seat member having a buttress plate which interfaces with the outer surface of the anchored structural member, with the one or more first fasteners attaching the attachment plate of the left portion to the anchoring structural member, and the one or more second fasteners attaching the buttress plate of the left portion to the anchored structural member.

The present invention also provides a connection where the one or more tying members that connect the left portion of the connector to the right portion of the connector are one or more separate members, or where the tying member that connects the left portion of the connector to the right portion of the connector is an integral part of the left and right portions of the connector.

The present invention also provides a connection where the buttress plate is a front buttress plate that extends parallel to the attachment plate, or the buttress plate is a side buttress plate that extends orthogonally to the attachment plate.

The present invention also provides a connection where the gusset plate of the right portion of the connector is formed with an outer edge and a strengthening lip is attached to the outer edge and extends from the gusset plate at an angle.

The present invention also provides a connection where the gusset plate of the right portion of the connector is formed with an outer edge and a strengthening lip is attached to the outer edge and extends from the gusset plate at an angle, and the gusset plate of the left portion of the connector is formed with an outer edge and a strengthening lip is attached to the outer edge and extends from the gusset plate at an angle.

The present invention provides a connector that is formed from cold-formed sheet steel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is front view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is right side view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is sectional side view of the connection of the present invention made with the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connection shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is front view of the connection shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 a perspective view of another connection of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the connection of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is perspective view of another embodiment of the connector of the present invention with the left and right portions of the connector shown spaced from each other. The connector shown in FIG. 10 is the connector used to make the connection in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a right side view of the connector of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a side view of another connection made according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another connector of the present invention. The connector shown in FIG. 15 is used to make the connection in FIG. 14. The connector is shown with the left and right portions spaced apart from each other.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a right side view of the connector of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is an upper, front perspective view of another embodiment of the connector of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a back perspective view of the connector of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a lower, front perspective view of the connector of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of the connector of FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the connector of FIG. 19.

FIG. 24 is a right side view of the connector of FIG. 19.

FIG. 25 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 5, the present invention is a connection between an anchoring structural member 1 and an anchored structural member 2 made with a connector 3 and first and second fasteners 4 and 5.

The anchoring structural member 2 is typically the foundation of a building and the anchored structural member can be a support post 6 that is part of a larger member such as a deck 7 as shown in FIG. 9, or the anchored structural member 22 can be the ledger board 8 of a deck 7 as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, joists 9 for the deck are shown supported by the ledger board 8, and the post 6 supports the ledger board 8.

As shown in FIG. 9, the connector 3 of the present invention is attached to the anchoring structural member 1 and the anchored structural member 2 is attached to the connector 3. The first fasteners 4 attach the connector 3 to the anchoring structural member 1 and are typically anchor bolts or wedge anchors. The second fasteners 5 are run through the connector 3 and into the anchored structural member 2 and are typically self-drilling screws or nails.

The connector 3 can be formed from left and right portions 10 and 11. The left and right portions 10 and 11 can be separate members joined by a separate tying member 12 as shown in FIG. 9, or the left and right portions 10 and 11 and the conjoined tying member 13 can be formed as a single member as shown in FIG. 19. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector can be formed with just a right portion 11. The connector can also just be formed with just a left portion 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, each of the left and right portions 10 and 11 is formed with an attachment plate 14, a gusset plate 15 joined to the attachment plate 14 and extending from the attachment plate 14 at an angle, and a seat member 16 that is joined to the gusset plate 15 and extends at an angle to the gusset plate 15. In the preferred embodiments, the attachment plate 14 and the gusset plate 15 are generally planar members, and the gusset plate 15 is set at an orthogonal angle to the attachment plate 14, and the seat member 16 is set at an orthogonal angle to the gusset plate 15. The anchored structural member 2 rests on the seat member 16 and the gusset plate 15 and the attachment plate 14 extend below the anchored structural member 2 so that the attachment plate 14 can interface with the anchoring structural member 1.

As shown in FIG. 15, the left and right portions 10 and 11 can also be formed with a front buttress plate 17 that is attached to the seat member 16. In the installed condition, the seat member 16 is generally disposed in a horizontal manner and the front buttress plate 17 extends upwardly therefrom. The front buttress plate 17 is preferably a generally planar member and it is disposed both at an orthogonal angle to the seat member 16 and the gusset plate 15.

As shown in FIG. 10, the left and right portions 10 and 11 can each also be formed with a side buttress plate 18 that is attached to the seat member 16. In the installed condition, the seat member 16 is generally disposed in a horizontal manner and side buttress plate 17 extends upwardly therefrom. The front buttress plate 17 is preferably a generally planar member and it is disposed at an orthogonal angle to the seat member 16 and parallel to the gusset plate 15.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the attachment plates 14 are preferably formed with first fastener openings 19 that receive the first fasteners 4, and flaring members 20 on the first fasteners engage an outer surface 21 of the first attachment plates 12 to closely hold the attachment plates 14 to a first outer surface 22 of the anchoring member 1. The first fasteners 4 are received in and anchored by the anchoring member 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the anchoring structural member 1 or foundation for the building has an outer surface 22 with which the attachment plate 14 closely interfaces.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the front and side buttress plates 17 and 18 are preferably formed with second fastener openings 23 that receive the second fasteners 5, and flaring members 20 on the second fasteners engage an outer surface 24 of the front and side buttress plates 17 and 18 to closely hold the front and side buttress plates 17 and 18 to a first outer surface 25 of the anchored member 2. The second fasteners 5 are received in and anchored by the anchored member 2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the gusset plates 15 of left and right portions 10 and 11 can have aligned openings 26 and the tying member 12 which is a bolt with a flaring head and which receives a nut joins the left and right portions closely together, or the left and right portions 10 and 11 and the conjoined tying member 13 can be formed as a single member as shown in FIG. 19.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gusset plates 15 are preferably attached to the attachment plates 14 at first inner edges 26 of the gusset plates 15. The gusset plates 15 are also preferably formed with opposed outer edges 27 that connect to strengthening lips 28 that are set at an angle to the gusset plates 15. The angle is preferably orthogonal.

The connectors 3 are preferably formed from cold-formed sheet steel and are formed on die presses. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, in some embodiments of the present invention, the gusset plates 15 are preferably formed with more than one tying opening 29, preferably two such openings, that receive the separate tying members 12 through them to join the left and right portions 10 and 11 together. The gusset plates 15 are also formed with upper edges 30 where the seat members 16 are joined to the gusset plates 15.

Claims

1. A connection between an anchoring structural member and an anchored structural member made with a connector and one or more first and one or more second fasteners, comprising:

a. the anchoring structural member having an outer surface;

b. the anchored structural member having an outer surface;

c. the connector having a right portion, the right portion having an attachment plate interfacing with the outer surface of the anchoring structural member, a gusset plate attached to the attachment plate along an inner edge and extending away from the attachment plate and the outer surface of the anchoring structural member, the gusset plate having an upper edge to which a seat member is attached with the anchored structural member resting on the seat member and the seat member having a buttress plate which interfaces with the outer surface of the anchored structural member and extends upwardly from the seat member;

d. the one or more first fasteners attaching the attachment plate of the right portion to the anchoring structural member; and

e. the one or more second fasteners attaching the buttress plate of the right portion to the anchored structural member.

2. The connection of claim 1, the connector further comprising:

a. a left portion joined to the right portion by one or more tying members, the left portion having an attachment plate interfacing with the outer surface of the anchoring structural member, a gusset plate attached to the attachment plate along an inner edge, the gusset plage having an upper edge to which a seat member is attached with the anchored structural member resting on the seat member and the seat member having a buttress plate which interfaces with the outer surface of the anchored structural member;

d. the one or more first fasteners attaching the attachment plate of the left portion to the anchoring structural member; and

e. the one or more second fasteners attaching the buttress plate of the left portion to the anchored structural member.

3. The connection of claim 2, wherein:

the one or more tying members that connect the left portion of the connector to the right portion of the connector are one or more separate members.

4. The connection of claim 2, wherein:

the tying member that connects the left portion of the connector to the right portion of the connector is an integral part of the left and right portions of the connector.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the buttress plate is a front buttress plate that extends parallel to the attachment plate.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the buttress plate is a side buttress plate that extends orthogonally to the attachment plate.

7. The connection of claim 3, wherein:

the tying members that connect the left and right portions of the connector are separate bolts that pass through one or more aligned openings in the gusset plates of the left and right portions.

8. The connection of claim 1, wherein:

the gusset plate of the right portion of the connector is formed with an outer edge and a strengthening lip is attached to the outer edge and extends from the gusset plate at an angle.

9. The connection of claim 2, wherein:

a. the gusset plate of the right portion of the connector is formed with an outer edge and a strengthening lip is attached to the outer edge and extends from the gusset plate at an angle; and

b. the gusset plate of the left portion of the connector is formed with an outer edge and a strengthening lip is attached to the outer edge and extends from the gusset plate at an angle.