Member to structural member connector

Abstract

A member to structural member connector, having a strap assembly with first and second lateral sides, and a top side; and a fastening assembly, wherein the strap assembly secures at least one member to a fixed structure, wherein the strap assembly wraps over the at least one member and the first and second lateral sides are fixed to the fixed structure by the fastening assembly. The first lateral side has a first top edge and a first bottom end. The second lateral side has a second top edge and a second bottom end. The first lateral side has a first hole that is a first predetermined distance from the first bottom end. The second lateral side has a second hole that is a second predetermined distance from the second bottom end. The top side is in between the first and second top edges.

Claims

1. A member to structural member connector, comprising: A) a strap assembly having first and second lateral sides, and a top side defining an upmost planar surface, said upmost planar surface having first and second edges, wherein said first and second lateral sides diverge away from respective said first and second edges of said upmost planar surface at an angle of less than 90 degrees, said first lateral side comprises a first top edge, a first bottom end, and a first hole that is a first predetermined distance from said first bottom end, said second lateral side comprises a second top edge, a second bottom end, and a second hole that is a second predetermined distance from said second bottom end, said first and second lateral sides are entirely planar and define a substantially triangular shape and a predetermined angle, wherein said predetermined angle is less than 90 degrees; and B) a fastening assembly, comprising first and second fasteners and first and second washers; and C) wherein said strap assembly is configured to wrap over said at least one member, whereby said first and second lateral sides are fixed to said fixed structure with said fastening assembly when a predetermined force is placed onto said first and second fasteners and said first and second washers respectively to secure said first and second fasteners into said fixed structure, whereby said first and second lateral sides are configured to bend by said predetermined force to define respective base sections, whereby, when bent, said base sections are parallel to said fixed structure and define an obtuse angle with respect to corresponding said first and second lateral sides, said first and second holes receive said first and second fasteners respectively for fixing said first and second lateral sides to said fixed structure, said predetermined force is configured to cause strain, and stretching said strap assembly to define respective said base sections and is configured to cause a compression force, which is adapted to keep said at least one member substantially attached and secured to said fixed structure.

2. The member to structural member connector set forth in claim 1, wherein said top side is in between said first and second top edges.

3. The member to structural member connector set forth in claim 1, wherein said top side comprises a top hole.

4. The member to structural member connector set forth in claim 3, wherein said top hole receives an anchor to fix said top side to said at least one member.

5. The member to structural member connector set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second washers are positioned in between said first and second fasteners and said first and second lateral sides respectively.

6. The member to structural member connector set forth in claim 1, wherein said strap assembly when stretched comprises a tension force holding structural members according to a design capacity.

7. The member to structural member connector set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one member is a structural member of a roof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the present invention in a preinstalled configuration.

(3) FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the present in an installed configuration.

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention in the preinstalled configuration ready for installation to illustrate a process of a step-by-step installation procedure.

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention in the installed configuration after installation.

(6) FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the present invention in the installed configuration after installation and securing two members onto a structural member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(7) Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is a member to structural member connector, and is generally referred to with numeral 10. It can be observed that it basically includes strap assembly 20 and fastening assembly 60.

(8) As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, strap assembly 20 comprises first lateral side 22, second lateral side 24, and top side 26.

(9) Lateral side 22 comprises top edge 30 and bottom end 34. Lateral side 24 comprises top edge 32 and bottom end 36. Lateral side 22 comprises hole 38 that is a first predetermined distance from bottom end 34, and lateral side 24 comprises hole 40 that is a second predetermined distance from bottom end 36. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second predetermined distances are the same. Top side 26 comprises top hole 28, and is in between first top edge 30 and second top edge 32. First and second lateral sides 22 and 24 respectively define a predetermined angle. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined angle is less than 90 degrees. As illustrated in FIG. 1, first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 respectively are substantially straight in a preinstalled configuration.

(10) As seen in FIG. 2, fastening assembly 60 comprises fasteners 62 and washers 64. For illustrative purposes, present invention 10 is an installed configuration, whereby first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 have been bent by a predetermined force placed upon fasteners 62 and washers 64, to define respective base sections BS.

(11) As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, top hole 28 receives top fastener 80 to fix top side 26 to at least one member M. First and second holes 38 and 40, seen in FIG. 1, receive first and second fasteners 62 respectively to fix first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 to fixed structure S. Washers 64 are positioned between fasteners 62 and respective first and second lateral sides 22 and 24.

(12) As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, strap assembly 20 secures at least one member M to fixed structure S, whereby strap assembly 20 wraps over at least one member M. Top hole 28 receives top fastener 80 to fix top side 26 onto at least one member M, and first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 are fixed to fixed structure S by fastening assembly 60, whereby first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 have been bent by a predetermined force placed upon fasteners 62 and washers 64, to define respective base sections BS. A length of strap assembly 20 is variable allowing several sizes according to dimensions of member M.

(13) As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, first and second washers 64 bend first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 causing strain, and stretching strap assembly 20. Strap assembly 20 is stretched with first and second fastening means 60 causing a compression force, which keeps at least one member M substantially attached and secured to fixed structure S. More specifically, a predetermined force is placed onto first and second fasteners 62 and first and second washers 64 respectively to secure first and second fasteners 62 into fixed structure S, whereby first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 bend by said predetermined force causing strain, and stretching strap assembly 20 to define respective base sections BS and causing a compression force, which keeps at least one member M substantially attached and secured to fixed structure S.

(14) Strap assembly when stretched comprises a tension force holding the structural members according to the design capacity. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one member M is a structural member of a roof, and the fixed structure S is a beam.

(15) In a preferred embodiment, a method to install a member to a structural member connector according to present invention 10, comprises the following steps:

(16) A) selecting a strap assembly 20 according to a dimension of at least one member M;

(17) B) wrapping said strap assembly 20 over said at least one member M;

(18) C) fixing a top side 26 of strap assembly 20 onto said at least one member M;

(19) D) correcting an angle between first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 of said strap assembly 20 less than 90 degrees, wherein said first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 are substantially straight;

(20) E) fixing said first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 onto a fixed structure S, specifically onto a beam, with first and second fasteners 62; and

(21) F) placing a predetermined force onto said first and second fasteners 62 and first and second washers 64 respectively to secure said first and second fasteners 62 into said fixed structure S, whereby said first and second lateral sides 22 and 24 bend by said predetermined force causing strain, and stretching strap assembly 20 to define respective base sections BS and causing a compression force, which keeps said at least one member M substantially attached and secured to said fixed structure S.

(22) Present invention 10 may be used to connect at least one wood member M to a wood fixed structure S or to a concrete fixed structure S.

(23) The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.