Head-of-Wall Slip Clip

Abstract

An improved connection between first and second structural members, particularly between the vertical and horizontal framing members of walls, wherein the connector has first and second legs joined to a main plate formed with a plurality of elongated slots.

Claims

1. A first building structural connection comprising: a. a first structural member, having a web and first and second side flanges projecting from the web, with the first and second side flanges projecting from the web in similar directions to form a u-shaped member, the first and second side flanges having end edges; b. a second structural member having an end disposed near the web of the first structural member, the second structural member having a longitudinal axis and a web extending along the longitudinal axis, and the web of the second structural member extending along the longitudinal axis past the end edges of the first and second side flanges; c. a first connector, connecting the first structural member to the second structural member, the first connector having first and second legs, with the first leg fastened to the first side flange of the first structural member and the second leg fastened to the second side flange of said first structural member, the first connector also having a main plate fastened to the web of the second structural member, the main plate being joined to the first and second legs at angular junctures which are disposed in parallel relation, wherein: 1. said main plate has one or more fastener openings, and said one or more fastener openings are formed as elongated slots in the main plate, the one or more elongated slots are disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second structural member between the first and second legs; 2. the first and second legs of the connector extend along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member, but do not extend past the top edges of the first and second side flanges of the first structural member; and 3. the main plate of the connector has a portion that extends along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member past the top edges of the first and second side flanges of the first structural member.

2. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the first and second side flanges of the first structural member are formed with return flanges at the top edges of the first and second side flanges that extend inwardly towards each other.

3. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the main body of the main plate of the connector is not as wide as the web of the second structural member.

4. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the first and second legs of the connector extend along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member similar distances.

5. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the first and second side flanges of the first structural member extend along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member similar distances, with the first and second side flanges extending farther along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member than the first and second legs of the connector.

6. The connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the main plate is a T-shaped member with a main body having a longitudinal axis along which the main body extends and the longitudinal axis of the main body is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the second structural member when the connector is attached to the second structural member; and b. first and second ear extensions are connected to opposite sides of the main body and extend laterally from the longitudinal axis of the main body, and the first ear extension is connected to the first leg and the second ear extension is connected to the second leg, and the first and second ear extensions do not extend along the longitudinal axis of the main body as much as the main body extends along the longitudinal axis of the main body.

7. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the first and second legs and the first and second ear extensions extend along the longitudinal axis similar amounts.

8. The connection of claim 1, wherein: there are a plurality of the one or more elongated slots in the main plate arranged in parallel relation with each other.

9. The connection of claim 8, wherein: a. at least two of the one or more elongated slots in said main plate is a site of a fastening to the second structural member, and b. at least two of the one or more elongated slots receives at least one fastener having an elongated shank and a head, wherein the elongated shank of each fastener is received in the second structural member, and each at least one fastener can move along the elongated slot in the second structural member when the second structural member moves with respect to the first structural member.

10. The building structural connection of claim 1 further comprising: one or more gusset darts in the inner angular juncture between the main plate and the legs that reinforce the angular juncture.

11. The building structural connection of claim 1 wherein: said fasteners that attach said main plate to said second structural member are screws.

12. The building structural connection of claim 10 wherein: said fasteners that attach said main plate to said second structural member are shouldered screws.

13. The building structural connection of claim 1 wherein: said first structural member is fastened to said connector so that said first building structural member cannot move upwardly relative said first and second legs of said connector.

14. The building structural connection of claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of elongated slots in the second plate is the site of a fastening to the second structural member.

15. The building structural connection of claim 1, wherein: a. said first structural member is horizontally disposed member, and b. said first structural member is a vertically disposed member that is part of a wall.

16. The building structural connection of claim 1, wherein: a. the elongated slots in the second plate are of equal width; and b. the fasteners received in the second structural member are of similar dimensions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the connection of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connection of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 1, showing the attachment side of the main plate of the connector.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1, showing the open side of the main plate of the connector.

[0014] FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the connector of FIG. 1, showing the attachment side of the main plate of the connector.

[0015] FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the connector of FIG. 1, showing the open side of the main plate of the connector.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the connector of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the connector of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a side view of the connector of FIG. 1, showing the first side leg.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a side view of the connector of FIG. 1, showing the second side leg.

[0020] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the connection of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the connection shown in FIG. 11.

[0022] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 11, showing the attachment side of the main plate of the connector.

[0023] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 11, showing the open side of the main plate of the connector.

[0024] FIG. 15 is an elevation view of the connector of FIG. 11, showing the attachment side of the main plate of the connector.

[0025] FIG. 16 is an elevation view of the connector of FIG. 11, showing the open side of the main plate of the connector.

[0026] FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the connector of FIG. 11.

[0027] FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the connector of FIG. 11.

[0028] FIG. 19 is side elevation view of the connector of FIG. 11, showing first side leg.

[0029] FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the connector of FIG. 11, showing the second side leg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The present invention is a building structural connection 1 between a first structural member 2 and a second structural member 3. As shown in FIG. 1, in one application, the first structural member 2 is a track that is horizontally disposed 2 and the second structural member 3 is a vertically-oriented, channel-shaped wall post or stud 3 that is part of a wall, the first and second structural members 2 and 3 are disposed in orthogonal relation to each other.

[0031] In one embodiment, the connection 1 between the first structural member 2 and the second structural member 3 is made with a first connector 4. The first connector 4 preferably has first and second legs 5 and 7 fastened to the first building structural member 2 and a main plate 6 fastened to the second building structural member 3. Preferably, the first and second legs 5 and 7, and the main plate 6 are generally planar members and are joined at right angles to each other. The main plate 6 is preferably a generally T-shaped member with a main body 8 and first and second ear extensions 9 and 10 connected to opposite sides of the main body 8. The first ear extension 9 is connected to the main body 8 on a first side edge 17 of the main body and connected to the first leg 5 at an opposed outer side edge 12 of the first ear extension 9. The second ear extension 10 is connected to the main body 6 on a second side edge 18 of the main body 6 and to the second leg 7 at an opposed outer side edge 13 of the second ear extension 10. The main body 8 has a longitudinal axis 11 with the first and second legs 5 and 7 and the first and second ear extensions 9 and 10 extending from opposed lateral sides of the main body 8 with respect to the longitudinal axis 11. The first and second legs 5 and 7 and the first and second ear extensions 9 and 10 preferably extend along the longitudinal axis 11 similar amounts. The main body 8 of the main plate 6 extends farther along the longitudinal axis 11 of the main body 8 than the first and second legs 5 and 7 and the first and second ear extensions 9 and 10. The connector 4 allows for relative vertical movement between the first and second building structural members 2 and 3. The connector 4 is preferably made from cold formed sheet steel, bent, cut, embossed and punched on automated manufacturing machinery.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the main plate 6 has a plurality of fastener openings formed as elongated slots 15. The main plate 6 is also provided with a first upper edge 16. The main plate 6 is also provided with a lower edge 26. Preferably, the main plate lower 26 is not as wide as the upper edge 16 of the main plate 6. The plurality of fastener openings 15 are preferably disposed parallel to each other and extend along the longitudinal axis 11 of the main body 6 of the connector 4 in a direction parallel to the elongated longitudinal axis 19 of the second structural member or stud 3 when the connector 4 is attached to the second structural member 3. In a preferred form of the invention two elongated fastener openings 15 are provided. Each elongated slot 15 in the main plate 6 is preferably a site of a fastening to the second structural member 3.

[0033] Preferably, there are inner angular junctures 20 where the first and second legs 5 and 7 attach to the main plate 6. The first and second legs 5 and 7 have inner end edges 21 and 22 respectively where they meet the first and second ear extensions 9 and 10 of the main plate 6. In the preferred embodiment, the inner angular junctures 20 are disposed parallel to each other.

[0034] Preferably, a first plurality of fasteners 27 attaches the first and second legs 5 and 7 to the first building structural member 2. As shown in the drawings the preferred fasteners 27 are sheet metal screws.

[0035] A plurality of fasteners 28 preferably attaches the main plate 6 to the second building structural member 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of fastener openings 15 in the main plate 6 are preferably formed as a plurality of elongated slots 15 as movement between the structural member 3 and the connector 4 is desired. The elongated slots 15 are wide enough so that they can receive the shanks of fasteners 28 and allow for movement between the fasteners 28 and the main plate 6. When the fastener 28 is inserted through the fastener opening 15 and drilled into or connected to the stud or second structural member 3, the fastener is anchored in the stud 3. When the stud 3 moves relative to the first structural member 2, the fastener 28 moves in the elongated slot 15.

[0036] Preferably, the fasteners 28 that attach the main plate 6 to the second structural member 3 are screws 28. The preferred fasteners 28 for attaching the connector 4 through slots 15 are shouldered, or stepped-shank, self-drilling screws 28 with the upper portion of the shank 29 being unthreaded and the shoulder 30 of the shank 29 separating the unthreaded upper portion 31 from the threaded lower portion 32 of the fastener. Preferably each of the fasteners 28 is formed with a flaring head 33 at the end of the shank 29 and an opposed tip 34 that is driven into the second structural member or stud 3. The tip 34 is preferably a sheet metal, self-drilling tip. The unthreaded upper shank portion 31 allows the second building structural member 3 and the fasteners 28 attached to it to move relative to the main plate 6 without interference between the second plurality of fasteners 28 and the main plate 6 of the connector 4. The tip 34 is designed to drill itself into the web 36 of the second structural member or stud 3. The web 36 of the second structural member or stud 3 is preferably a substantially planar member, and the stud 3 is preferably made of sheet metal. The stud 3 also preferably has first and second side flanges 37 and 38 joined opposite each other along the side edges of the web 36 and on either side of the longitudinal axis 19 of the second structural member or stud 3.

[0037] Preferably, the first building structural member 2 is fastened to the connector 4 so that the first building structural member 2 is strongly connected to the first and second legs 5 and 7 of the connector 4. The second building structural member 3 is preferably fastened to the first connector 4 so that the second building structural member 3 can move relative to the main plate 6 of the first connector 4.

[0038] Each elongated slot 15 in said main plate 6 is a site of a fastening to the second structural member 3, and each elongated slot 15 receives at least one fastener 28 having an elongated shank 29 and a flaring head 33, wherein the elongated shank of each fastener 28 is received in the second structural member 3, and each at least one fastener 28 can move along the elongated slot 15 in the second plate 6 when the second structural member 3 moves with respect to the second plate 6.

[0039] The second structural member 3 preferably has an attachment face 96 and an opposite face 97. The angular connector 4 is preferably disposed on the attachment face 96 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the attachment face 96 of the second structural member 3 is disposed with the first and second side flanges 37 and 38 extending from the attachment face 97 and away from the connector 4 and the attachment face 96. As is also shown in FIG. 1, the first and second legs 5 and 7 extend in an opposite direction from the direction in which the first and second side flanges 37 and 38 extend.

[0040] The main plate 6 has an attachment side 40 and an open side 41 facing in the opposite direction. The attachment side 40 of the main plate 6 faces the second building structural member 3.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector 4 includes a plurality of gusset darts 39 disposed in the inner angular junctures 20 between the first and second legs 5 and 7 and the first and second ear extensions 9 and 10 of the main plate 6, respectively. When the connector 4 is formed from sheet metal, the gusset darts 39 are preferably formed by drawing portions of the material at the inner angular junctures 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the gusset dart 39 shown strengthening the inner angular juncture 20 between the first leg 5 and the first ear extension 9 draws metal out of the substantially planar first leg 5 and the first ear extension 9 to create a u-shaped substantially triangular bridging member between the first leg 5 and the first ear extension 9. The gusset darts 39 reinforce the inner angular junctures 20.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, preferably the upper edge 16 of the main plate 6 is attached to a main plate lip 46 that is preferably bent from the material of the main plate 6 when the connector 4 is made from light gauge sheet metal. As shown in FIG. 4, the main plate lip 46 preferably projects outwardly from the main plate 6 a short distance along most of the upper edge 16. Preferably, the upper edges 47 and 48 of first and second legs 5 and 7, respectively, are also formed with first and second leg lips 44 and 45. Preferably, first and second leg lips 44 and 45 extend over substantially the entire length of first and second legs 5 and 7, and project inwardly toward each other from the first and second legs 5 and 7 a short distance at an orthogonal angle.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, fastener openings 50 can be formed in legs 5 and 7. As is also shown in FIG. 2, legs 5 and 7 can be formed with elongated embossments 51. The elongated embossments 51 are formed with upper and lower opposed long side edges 52 and 53 and an end edge 54. The embossed material of legs 5 and 7 is pushed out of the generally planar material of legs 5 and 7 towards the center of the connector 4. Preferably, the first and second legs 5 and 7 are also formed with first and second lower edges 57 and 58 respectively, and with end edges 67 and 68 respectively. The end edges 67 and 68 are opposed to the inner edges 21 and 22 where the legs 5 and 7 join with the first and second ear extensions 9 and 10 of the main plate 4. The elongated embossments 51 preferably are formed around the openings 50 and then extend to the end edges 67 and 68.

[0044] Connectors 4 formed with elongated embossments 51 in the first and second legs 5 and 7 are particularly of use for connections to special tracks 2. As shown in FIG. 1, most tracks 2 for light-gauge steel frame walls have a web 76 and first and second side flanges 77 and 78. As shown in FIG. 1, in some instances the upper edges 79 of the side flanges 77 and 78 of the track 2 will also be formed with narrow return flanges 80 to strengthen the track. The return flanges 80 extend inwardly towards each other. These return flanges 80 will have notches 81 or will be interrupted where the second structural members or studs 3 are received and engage the track 2. Typically, the studs 3 are inserted into the track 2 with the side flanges 77 and 78 of the track overlying and hiding from view the side flanges 37 and 38 of the second structural member 3 where they overlap. Typically, the notches 81 in the return flanges 80 are dimensioned to closely received the side flanges 37 and 38 of one or more second structural members 3. Forming the embossments 51 in the first and second legs 5 and 7 allows the first and second legs 5 and 7 to better slide along the side flanges 77 and 78 of the track 2 when the track is also formed with dimpled embossments 90 in the side flanges 77 and 78. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dimpled embossment 90 is formed around a fastener opening 91 in the track 2. When the embossments 51 fully engage the dimpled embossments 90 in the track 2, such that the dimpled embossment 90 of the track sits at the end of the embossment 51 away from the end edge 67 or 68, the connector 4 will be optimally positioned with respect to the track 2.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the upper and lower opposed long side edges 52 and 53 of the elongated embossments 51 are generally straight and converge inwardly as they extend from the end edges 67 and 68 of the first and second legs toward the inner end edges 21 and 22 on each of the respective legs 5 and 7. The end edge of the embossment 51 is preferably formed as a half-circle centered on fastener opening 50. By stiffening the first and second legs 5 and 7, the embossments 51 also make it easier to drive fasteners 27 through the side flange 77 or 78 of the track 2 and into the first or second leg 5 or 7 of the connector 4.

[0046] Additional openings 69 may be formed in the main plate 6 to allow for a non-sliding connection between the connector 4 and the second structural member 3. This additional opening 69 is shaped to closely receive a fastener. This feature allows the first and second structural members 2 and 3 to be fastened together with the connector 4 in a fixed manner for transporting the connected members. Once the connected members have been installed or are in the final phases of installation, the fastener can be removed from the additional opening to allow for the relative movement between the first and second members 2 and 3 to take place.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the invention, the first structural member 2 receives the second structural member 3 with an end 82 of the second structural member 3 disposed in contact with or closely adjacent the web 76 the first structural member 2, and second legs 5 and 7 of the second structural member 3 interface with or lie closely adjacent the inner faces of the first and second side flanges 77 and 78 of the first structural member 2. The main body 8 of the main plate 6 attaches to the web 36 of the second structural member 3. The projecting portion of the main body 8 above the first and second ear extensions 9 and 10 is not as wide as the web 36 of the second structural member or stud 3 or the web 76 of the track or first structural member 2. The first and second ear extensions 9 and 10 extend away from the main body 8 and connect the main body 8 to the first and second legs 5 and 7. The extending first and second ear extensions 9 and 10 allow for the main plate 6 to be attached to the web 36 of the second structural member 3 without interference from the inwardly projecting return flanges 80 attached to the side flanges 77 and 78 of the first structural member 2. The inwardly projecting return flanges 80 of the first structural member 2 are generally aligned with each other as the first and second side flanges 78 and 79 of the second member 2 are generally of equal heights. The inwardly projecting flanges 80 define a first selected distance 92 between them that is less than the overall width of the second structural member 2. In the preferred embodiment, the main plate 6 where it is received between the projecting return flanges 80 when it is attached to the second structural member 3 has a selected width 93 that is less than the first selected distance 92 between the inwardly projecting flanges 80.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the first and second legs 5 and 7 extend upwardly along the longitudinal axis 19 of the second structural member similar distances. As also shown in FIG. 1, the first and second side flanges 77 and 78 of the first structural member 2 extend along the longitudinal axis 19 of the second structural member similar distances with the first and second side flanges 77 and 78 extending farther along the longitudinal axis 19 of the second structural member 3 than the first and second legs 5 and 7 of the connector 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 8 of the connector 4 extends farther along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member than the first and second legs 5 and 7 and the main body 8 preferably extends past the upper edges 79 of the first and second side flanges 77 and 78 of the first structural member 2 when it is installed.