Connection hardware for wooden building

1. Apparatus for connecting members of a wooden building, comprising:

a subsidiary hardware to be fixed on an end surface of a lateral member, said subsidiary hardware accommodated in an accommodation space provided on an end surface of said lateral member, said subsidiary hardware having through-holes through which fastening pieces passing from a lateral surface of the lateral member are inserted, said subsidiary hardware being fixedly connected by mounting pieces on a bottom surface of said accommodation space, said subsidiary hardware including an upper receiving portion having a first longitudinal hole surrounded by a first band strip and an outer surface of the subsidiary hardware, the first band strip defining a first inner surface extending between a bottom edge and a top edge, the portion of the first inner surface generally opposite the outer surface of the subsidiary hardware inclining from the bottom edge to the top edge of the first band strip and a lower tapered portion having a first inclined surface that inclines upwards toward the lateral member from a lower part of said subsidiary hardware;

a basic hardware to be fixed on a lateral surface of a longitudinal member, said basic hardware connected by means of mounting pieces on the lateral surface of said longitudinal member, said basic hardware having an upper tapered portion engageable with said first longitudinal hole of said subsidiary hardware and a second inclined surface that inclines downwards toward said longitudinal member, said basic hardware including a lower receiving portion having a second longitudinal hole surrounded by a second band strip and an outer surface of the basic hardware, the second band strip defining a second inner surface extending between a top edge and a bottom edge, the portion of the second inner surface generally opposite the outer surface of the basic hardware inclining from the bottom edge to the top edge of the second band strip and engageable with the lower tapered portion of said subsidiary hardware;

said first inclined surface facing the bottom surface of said accommodation space;

said second inclined surface facing the lateral surface of said longitudinal member;

said first inclined surface and said second inner surface arranged to be in contact with each other in such a manner that said first inclined surface slides along said second inner surface to generate an attracting force therebetween when said lower tapered portion of said subsidiary hardware is inserted into said lower receiving portion of said basic hardware;

said second inclined surface and said first inner surface arranged to be in contact with each other in such a manner that said first inner surface slides along said second inclined surface to generate an attracting force therebetween when said upper tapered portion of said basic hardware is inserted into said upper receiving portion of said subsidiary hardware;

each of said first longitudinal hole and an upper end portion of said basic hardware having a corresponding shape and size so that said upper end portion of said basic hardware does not move in any direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said subsidiary hardware when said upper end portion is fully inserted into said first longitudinal hole; and

each of said second longitudinal hole and a lower end portion of said subsidiary hardware having a corresponding shape and size so that said lower end portion of said subsidiary hardware does not move in any direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said basic hardware when said lower end portion is fully inserted into said second longitudinal hole.

2. Apparatus for connecting members of a wooden building, comprising:

a subsidiary hardware to be fixed on an end surface of a lateral member, said subsidiary hardware accommodated in an accommodation space provided on an end surface of said lateral member, said subsidiary hardware having through-holes, through which fastening pieces passing from a lateral surface of the lateral member are inserted, said subsidiary hardware including an upper receiving portion having a first longitudinal hole surrounded by a first band strip and an outer surface of the subsidiary hardware, the first band strip defining a first inner surface extending between a bottom edge and a top edge, the portion of the first inner surface generally opposite the outer surface of the subsidiary hardware inclining from the bottom edge to the top edge of the first band strip and a lower tapered portion having a first inclined surface that inclines upwards toward said lateral member;

first mounting pieces for fixedly connecting said subsidiary hardware to a bottom surface of said accommodation space, said first mounting pieces including a plurality of first screw receiving means which are to be embedded in said lateral member, and a plurality of first fixing bolts for fixing said subsidiary hardware to said lateral member in such a manner that each of said first fixing bolts penetrates a corresponding through-hole made in said subsidiary hardware and that said first fixing bolt is received in a threaded hole of one of said first screw receiving means;

a basic hardware to be fixed on a lateral surface of a longitudinal member, said basic hardware having an upper tapered portion engageable with said first longitudinal hole of said subsidiary hardware and a second inclined surface that inclines downwards toward said longitudinal member, said basic hardware including a lower receiving portion having a second longitudinal hole surrounded by a second band strip and an outer surface of the basic hardware, the second band strip defining a second inner surface extending between a top edge and a bottom edge, the portion of the second inner surface generally opposite the outer surface of the basic hardware inclining from the bottom edge to the top edge of the second band strip and engageable with the lower tapered portion of said subsidiary hardware;

second mounting pieces for fixedly connecting said basic hardware to said lateral surface of said longitudinal member, said second mounting pieces including a plurality of second screw receiving means which are to be embedded in said longitudinal member, and a plurality of second fixing bolts for fixing said basic hardware to said longitudinal member in such a manner that each of said second fixing bolts penetrates a corresponding through-hole made in said basic hardware and that said second fixing bolt is received in a threaded hole of one of said second screw receiving means;

said first inclined surface facing the bottom surface of said accommodation space;

said second inclined surface facing the lateral surface of said longitudinal member;

said first inclined surface and said second inner surface arranged to be in contact with each other in such a manner that said first inclined surface slides along said second inner surface to generate an attracting force therebetween when said lower tapered portion of said subsidiary hardware is inserted into said lower receiving portion of said basic hardware;

said second inclined surface and said first inner surface arranged to be in contact with each other in such a manner that said first inner surface slides along said second inclined surface to generate an attracting force therebetween when said upper tapered portion of said subsidiary hardware is inserted into said upper receiving portion of said basic hardware;

each of said first longitudinal hole and an upper end portion of said basic hardware having a corresponding shape and size so that said upper end portion of said basic hardware does not move in any direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said subsidiary hardware when said upper end portion is fully inserted into said first longitudinal hole; and

each of said second longitudinal hole and a lower end portion of said subsidiary hardware having a corresponding shape and size so that said lower end portion of said subsidiary hardware does not move in any direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said basic hardware when said lower end portion is fully inserted into said second longitudinal hole.