Abstract: An asymmetrical engineering flooring nail for driving through an exposed surface of this flooring and fully thereinto. The nail defines an elongated shank having a transverse head at one end and a tapered tip at the opposite end; an intermediate portion of the shank includes a plurality of pairs of opposite teeth: Each transversely registering pair of opposite teeth are lengthwisely offset relative to one another by a small acute angle relative thereto; the number of first teeth on one side of shank is greater than the number of second teeth on the opposite side thereof, so that a smooth toothless upper side portion of said shank portion corresponds to the shank side of said second teeth is longer than that of the first teeth.

Abstract: A metal flange member for use in making a composite structural member, the flange member having a base wall and two side walls extending from the base wall, the base wall and side walls forming a pocket to receive a portion of a web member. Each side wall is doubled with an inner wall panel and an outer wall panel joined along a fold line spaced from, and parallel to, the base wall. Fasteners are formed from each side wall adjacent the fold line, each fastener having inner and outer wall panel sections joined by a section of the fold line and extending transversely from its side wall toward the other side wall. A composite structural member employs the flange with a web, the web mounted in the pocket with the side walls of the flange adjacent the sides of the web and the fasteners pressed into the sides of the web to secure the flange to the web.

Abstract: Lintels having metal side plates are described. In an exemplary embodiment, a lintel constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a generally rectangular frame of a height, length and thickness substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the opening in which the lintel is to be installed. The frame is formed by connected, first and second elongate chord members (e.g., nominal “2×N” members) that extend in spaced, substantially parallel, overlying relationship to each other. The subject lintel also includes at least one generally rectangular, metal side plate having at least first and second spaced groupings of integrally formed teeth extending from one side along opposite longitudinal edges thereof. The respective teeth groupings engage the first and second chords.

Abstract: A fastener clip for use in constructing a security wall system, and a security wall system so constructed are disclosed. The fastener clip has an elongate smooth surfaced planar body, a counter-sunk fastener recess formed s centrally within the body, a fastener opening defined within the recess and extending therethrough, and at least two spaced prongs formed as a part of the body which extend away from the body in a common direction. The fastener recess is sized and shaped to fit within an opening of a rigid mesh wall panel placed in registry with at least one structural frame member of a building. A threaded fastener is passed through the fastener opening and driven into the frame member to seat a bottom portion of the recess and a driving head of the fastener against the frame member.

Abstract: A web-reinforced wood joist defines a top edge surface, a bottom edge surface opposite to the top edge surface, a first lateral web surface, and a second lateral web surface opposite to the first lateral web surface. A longitudinal metal reinforcement is applied to at least one of the first and second lateral web surfaces. This metal reinforcement includes at least one sheet metal strip formed with integral teeth distributed at predetermined intervals along the entire length thereof and driven into the wood to fixedly secure the metal reinforcement to the joist's wood. This web-reinforcing method is suitable to reinforce any type of elongated structural wood members to improve their strength in bending, direct tension, direct compression, direct shearing and any combination thereof.

Abstract: A truss plate includes a generally planar backing member that includes a plurality of elongate apertures defined by a pair of side edges and a pair of end edges and a plurality of teeth, each of which extends in a first direction from one side of the backing member. At least some of the teeth comprise a shank and a tip portion. The shank extends from a position adjacent an end edge of one of the apertures and comprises a major shank portion, a minor shank portion, and an arcuate base portion. The major shank portion is generally arcuate in cross-section. The major and minor shank portions are separated by a crease extending in the first direction from the backing member, with one end of the crease being substantially centered between the side edges of the aperture. The shank is twisted about an axis parallel to the first direction so that the major shank portion is substantially larger than the minor shank portion.

Abstract: A fastener for fastening a paper retaining binder mechanism to an inner surface of a binder while remaining entirely concealed from an outer surface of the binder. The fastener includes an anchor plate and a post. The anchor plate defines first and second major surfaces. The first major surface is in confronting relation fastened to an inner surface of the binder. The post extends directly away from the second major surface of the anchor plate and serves to secure the binder mechanism to the inner surface of the binder. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for fastening an apertured paper retaining binder mechanism to the binder in a manner concealing the fasteners from an outer surface of the binder.

Abstract: In a reheat system of an aircraft gas turbine engine there is provided a cantilever mounting for a ceramic tubular flameholder 10 on a metal bracket 11, the bracket being provided with a face having an upstanding annular flange 16 adapted to mate with the outer surface 19 of an end portion of the flameholder, there being further provided fastener means 12 adapted to retain the end face of said end portion of the flame holder adjacent and facing said face of the bracket, characterized in that said end portion of the flameholder is provided by a frusto-conical section 27 having first and second surfaces 18, 19 of different angles such that line extensions of each surface coincide at respective imaginary vertices on the axis of the flame holder.

Abstract: A locator for accurately positioning a connector plate in a predetermined location on a jig for interconnecting structural members that are to be assembled in the jig. The locator comprises a base which supports the locator on the jig. The base has at least one opening therethrough for mounting the locator to the jig and at least one retaining tab projecting from the base. The retainer tab is adapted to cooperate with the connector plate to retain the connector plate in a predetermined position relative to the locator during the assembly of the structural members in the jig.

Abstract: A method for quickly manufacturing a connector plate of varying design strength in a minimum size plate for joining wooden members which approximates the ideal connector plate for that particular design, thereby making it unnecessary to use plates of greater strength than required. The plate is produced with a controlled number of teeth extending transversely outwardly from one major side of the plate in varying patterns. The new and improved method includes feeding sheet metal stock of predetermined width through a die having a plurality of punches that are controlled for relative movement with respect to the stock, striking the sheet metal plate with the die at predetermined intervals to form the particular desired pattern of teeth extending from the plate and leaving a plurality of longitudinally extending slots formed in the plate, and cutting the plate when the desired total length of the plate is reached.

Abstract: A wood joint connector plate is formed of a thin, rigid metal sheet having numerous narrow, elongated, struck-out openings. The struck-out sheet material is bent perpendicularly at each end of each opening to form a pair of opposing reverse-oriented mirror-image teeth. Each tooth is bent about a lengthwise bend line that is offset relative to the central longitudinal axis of its opening to divide the tooth into a narrow portion and a wide portion along its length. The free end of each tooth is formed as an asymmetrical V-shaped tip, whose apex coincides with the bend line, to provide a short leg terminating the tooth narrow portion and a long leg terminating the tooth wide portion. Each tooth is twisted around its bend line so that its tip short leg extends approximately parallel to the axis of the opening and towards its opposing tooth. The tip long leg extends away from its opposing tooth and its opening at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the opening.

Abstract: A truss plate for connecting together wood members forming trusses, joists, beams and the like construction parts, formed of stiff sheet metal having struck-out teeth extending perpendicularly to the body of the plate. The teeth are struck-out in pairs, leaving an elongated slot between each pair of teeth. The slots, and their teeth, are aligned in numerous longitudinal rows. The rows form groups whose slots are also transversely aligned, but with the slots of one group being longitudinally offset relative to the slots of its adjacent group. The teeth are V-shaped in cross-section and are axially twisted. Their free ends form asymmetrical V-shaped tips. A pair of such plates are arranged in face-to-face contact with the teeth of the uppermost plate extending through the slots in the lowermost plate for closely positioning together adjacent teeth to form a double thickness plate with pairs of double teeth.

Abstract: A method for quickly manufacturing a connector plate of varying design strength in a minimum size plate for joining wooden members which approximates the ideal connector plate for that particular design, thereby making it unnecessary to use plates of greater strength than required. The plate is produced with a controlled number of teeth extending transversely outwardly from one major side of the plate in varying patterns. The new and improved method includes feeding sheet metal stock of predetermined width through a die having a plurality of punches that are controlled for relative movement with respect to the stock, striking the sheet metal plate with the die at predetermined intervals to form the particular desired pattern of teeth extending from the plate and leaving a plurality of longitudinally extending slots formed in the plate, and cutting the plate when the desired total length of the plate is reached.

Abstract: A structural joint for bearing a structural load is formed by a pair of wooden members fastened together by at least one metal connector plate. The connector plate is formed from a metal plate having a plurality of pairs of teeth punched therefrom. The teeth are punched from the plate so as to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate. Each pair of teeth is struck so as to leave a corresponding longitudinally extending slot between the teeth. Each of the teeth has a knife edge portion that extends from the plate. This knife edge portion is thinner than the remaining portion of each tooth and has a sharp edge with a cross-sectional angle of less than 20.degree., preferably 8.degree. to 12.degree., for facilitating penetration of each of the teeth into the wooden members to be secured together. These knife edge portions of the teeth are made by a metal forming process which serves to shape such portion of the teeth and simultaneously widen and elongate each tooth.

Abstract: A relatively flat sheet metal structural web member for interconnecting a pair of generally parallel spaced-apart chord members to form a floor truss or the like. The web member is generally V-shaped, comprising first and second legs integrally joined at one of their respective ends, and a plurality of teeth struck from opposite ends of the legs for being driven into the chord members. The teeth struck from of each leg are oriented to present their relatively wide surfaces generally broadside within the range of 45.degree.-90.degree. with respect to the central longitudinal plane of the leg for maximizing the resistance of the teeth to movement through the wood chord members so as to increase the load-holding capacity of the web member.

Abstract: A structural joint for bearing a structural load is formed by a pair of wooden members fastened together by at least one metal connector plate. The connector plate is formed from a metal plate having a plurality of pairs of teeth punched therefrom. The teeth are punched from the plate so as to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate. Each pair of teeth is struck so as to leave a corresponding longitudinally extending slot between the teeth. Each of the teeth has a knife edge portion that extends from the plate. This knife edge portion is thinner than the remaining portion of each tooth and has a sharp edge with a cross-sectional angle of less than 20.degree., preferably 8.degree. to 12.degree., for facilitating penetration of each of the teeth into the wooden members to be secured together. These knife edge portions of the teeth are made by a metal forming process which serves to shape such portion of the teeth and simultaneously widen and elongate each tooth.

Abstract: A connector plates for joining together wooden members is formed by striking out longitudinally aligned rows of pairs of teeth from a thin metal plate leaving a single elongate slot in the plate between the two teeth of each pair. Each of the pairs of teeth in each row is longitudinally staggered relative to the pairs of teeth in adjacent rows a distance sufficient to position each tooth of each pair slightly longitudinally offset from a tooth of a pair of teeth in a laterally adjacent row. Each tooth of each pair of teeth includes an elongate shank section rising upwardly from the metal plate, an asymmetrically shaped tip section extending upwardly from the shank section, and a laterally offset point at the upper end of the tip section. The tip sections of each tooth are configured so that the teeth of adjacent rows which are slightly longitudinally offset relative to each other have their points alternating laterally offset toward and then away from each other along the length of the connector plate.

Abstract: A sheet metal web unit for interconnecting vertically spaced apart, horizontal wood chords, is formed as an elongated channel-shaped strut with integral, flat, connector plates on its upper and lower ends. The channel is curved and shallower at the lower end of the strut and gradually gets deeper and flatter towards the upper end. The width of the channel gradually decreases and the depth of the channel legs gradually increases from the lower end to the upper end of the strut. A W-shaped web unit is formed of four of such struts integrally connected together by common connector plates. The connector plates overlap vertical face portions of the wood chords and have struck-out teeth for embedding within those overlapped face portions. The ends of the channel leg portions which are closest to the connector plate teeth are extended to overlap and also embed into the adjacent chord face portion to thereby reduce the load on the tooth nearest to the respective strut end.