HINGED HEELED CONNECTOR FOR TRUSSES FOR MANUFACTURED HOUSING

Abstract

A connector and a method of providing a framing component for building construction are disclosed, the connector including a first member having opposite plate members with a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion is pivotally connected to the bottom portion, and a second member having a base member with attachment members, wherein the second member is attached at an angle of 14-50 degrees to the first member. The method is a method of providing a framing component for building construction, the method including the steps of providing the connector, connecting a top chord to the top portion of the connector, and connecting a bottom chord of a wooden joist to the bottom portion of the connector, wherein the connector connects the top chord and the bottom chord in such a way to allow for the top chord and bottom chord to stay in intact.

Claims

1. A connector for attaching building framing components together comprising: a first member having opposite plate members each of which comprises a top portion pivotally connected to a bottom portion; and a second member having a base member with attachment members; wherein the second member is attached at an angle of 14-50 degrees to the first member and the first member and the second member include holes configured to receive fasteners for fastening the connector to the building framing components.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion of the opposite plate members are brackets.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the opposite plate members is pivotally connected to the bottom portion by a hinge.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the opposite plate members connects to the second member to form a U-shape.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the attachment members are opposite plate members perpendicularly connected to each side of the base member so as to form two separate upside down U-shapes on opposite ends of the base member.

6. A method of providing a framing component for building construction, said method comprising: providing the connector of claim 1; connecting a top chord to the top portion of the connector; and connecting a bottom chord of a wooden joist to the bottom portion of the connector; wherein the connector connects the top chord and the bottom chord in such a way to allow for the top chord and bottom chord to stay intact.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion of the opposite plate members are brackets.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the top portion of the opposite plate members is pivotally connected to the bottom portion by a hinge.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the bottom portion of the opposite plate members connects to the second member to form a U-shape.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the attachment members are opposite plate members perpendicularly connected to each side of the base member so as to form two separate upside down U-shapes on opposite ends of the base member.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising transporting the framing component from a manufacturing site to a building construction site with the top chord and the bottom intact.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 is an side view of an embodiment of the connector connecting a top chord and a bottom chord of a truss.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the connector including brackets and a circular hinge where the first member is attached to a top chord of a truss and the second member is attached to a bottom chord of a truss.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the connector where the first member includes mirrored brackets that form a U-shape and the second member form an upside down U-shape.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the connector including brackets and a circular hinge.

[0026] FIG. 5 is an overhead view of a workpiece from which an embodiment of the connector can be manufactured.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0027] A truss for a modular home must be broken down or collapsed in order to transport the house module or modular home within the legal limits of the roadways. The hinged heel connector connects a top chord rafter and the bottom chord of a wooden joist all while allowing the rafter to hinge at the location of the hinge connector.

[0028] The benefit of this invention is that the chords of the truss do not have to break like they would on a typical heel connector. Instead of splitting at the middle of the chord to break down the truss to transport, the inventive connector breaks down at the crux of the joist, leaving the top chord and bottom chord intact. In addition to this benefit, the inventive connector connects the top and bottom chord before shipment. Conventional connectors are generally connected to the top and bottom chord offsite (e.g., at a manufacturing site) and must be attached at the building site.

[0029] A first aspect of the invention includes a connector 10 for attaching components together comprising a first member 12 having opposite plate members 14 with a top portion 16 and a bottom portion 18 wherein the top portion 16 is pivotally connected to the bottom portion 18 and a second member 20 having a base member 22 with attachment members 24, wherein the second member 20 is attached at an angle of 14 degrees to 50 degrees to the first member 12, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0030] The angle at which the second member 20 is attached to the first member 12 is within a range of 14 degrees to 50 degrees, or more preferably from 20 degrees to 40 degrees.

[0031] The first member 12 attaches to the top chord rafter 26 of a truss. The top chord rafter 26 is secured between the opposite plate members 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0032] In certain embodiments, the top portion 16 and the bottom portion 18 of the opposite plate members 14 are brackets 28. These brackets 28 are preferably identical opposing metal-plated brackets. The brackets are preferably made from materials such as steel with a zinc galvanized coating, but can be made from other suitable materials.

[0033] In certain embodiments, the top portion 16 of the opposite plate members 14 is pivotally connected to the bottom portion 18 by a hinge 30. The hinge 30 is preferably a circular hinge but can be other suitable alternative hinges. The hinges 30 on the brackets 28 allow the top chord rafter 26 to neatly fold down while still being secured to the bottom chord 36 of the wooden joist 32.

[0034] In certain embodiments, the bottom portion 18 of the opposite plate members 14 connects to the second member 20 to form a U-shape, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0035] In certain embodiments, the attachment members 24 on the second member 20 are opposite plate members 14 perpendicularly connected to each side of the base member 22 such to form upside down U-shapes on each side of the base member 22, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The attachment members 24 are preferably identical opposing metal brackets that are connected at the top of the brackets to form an upside down U-shaped piece. The second member 20 attaches to the bottom chord 36 of a dimensional wood joist or an engineered wood joist and is secured in the U-shaped center of the second member 20, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0036] The connector 10 is manufactured by using a die-punch or other tools producing the same or similar result. A workpiece from which an embodiment of the connector 10 can be manufactured is shown in FIG. 5.

[0037] The connector 10 also serves the additional purpose of providing extra support at the crux of the joist 34 because of the way the connector 10 saddles the bottom chord 36 of the wooden joist 32.

[0038] A second aspect of the invention includes a method of providing a framing component for building construction which includes the steps of providing the connector 10, connecting a top chord rafter 26 to the top portion 16 of the connector 10, and connecting a bottom chord 36 of a wooden joist 32 to the bottom portion 18 of the connector 10. The connector 10 connects the top chord rafter 26 and the bottom chord 36 in such a way to allow for the top chord rafter 26 and the bottom chord 36 to stay intact, in particular during transport.

[0039] In certain embodiments, the method includes the step of transporting the framing component from a manufacturing site to a building construction site with the top chord and the bottom intact. This method of transportation prevents the chords of the truss from breaking as typically seen with known hinged connectors in the art.