IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,410,603
Granted Patent B2
US 12,410,603 · App. 17/633,677 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Column-to-beam connection systems including a shear component

Inventor: Paul William Richards (Orem, UT)
Assignee: DURAFUSE FRAMES, LLC
E04B1/2403E04H9/024E04B2001/2445E04B2001/2448E04B2001/2457E04B2001/2496
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,410,603
App. No.
17/633,677
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Column-to-beam connection systems are disclosed herein, along with moment-resisting frames including the same and methods of repairing the same. An example column-to-beam connection system includes a shear component. The shear component includes a base plate that is connected to a column flange. The shear component also includes at least one vertical web extending from the base plate. The vertical web is connected to with a beam flange. The vertical web also defines one or more openings therein.

Claims (34)

1. A moment-resisting frame, comprising:

a column having a column flange, the column flange exhibiting a column width measured from a first edge of the column flange to a second edge of the column flange, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge;

a beam including a first beam flange and a second beam flange opposite the first beam flange; and

a shear component connected to the column flange and one of the first beam flange or the second beam flange, the shear component including:

a base plate connected to the column flange; and

at least one vertical web extending from the base plate, the at least one vertical web defining one or more openings therein, the one or more openings exhibiting an elongated shape oriented such that a longitudinal axis thereof is substantially parallel to the flange of the beam, the vertical web configured to yield and form at least one yielded region between the one or more openings and at least one of an adjacent opening or a lateral edge of the vertical web, the lateral edge extending from the base plate towards the flange of the beam.

2. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical web is configured to be directly connected to the first beam flange or the second beam flange.

3. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein the shear component further includes a top plate configured to be directly connected to the first beam flange or the second beam flange of the beam, and wherein the at least one vertical web is configured to extend between the base plate and the top plate.

4. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings includes at least one inner opening spaced from respective lateral edges of the at least one vertical web and at least one outer opening extending inwardly from at least one of the lateral edges of the at least one vertical web.

5. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , further comprising a top plate configured to be connected to the flange of the column, the shear component is configured to be connected to the first beam flange of the beam and the top plate configured to be connected to the second beam flange of the beam.

6. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the column or the beam is an I-beam.

7. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein the shear component exhibits a shear component width that is less than the column width, wherein the shear component width is measured parallel to the column width.

8. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein the base plate is welded directly to the column flange.

9. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical web is welded directly to the first beam flange.

10. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical web includes:

a first vertical web extending directly from the base plate;

a second vertical web that is distinct from the first vertical web; and

at least one connector web configured to be coupled to the first vertical web and the second vertical web, the at least one connector web defining the one or more openings therein.

11. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , further comprising a top plate connected to the second beam flange.

12. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein the shear component further includes an opposing plate directly coupled to the first beam flange, wherein the at least one vertical web extends between the base plate and the opposing plate.

13. The moment-resisting frame of claim 12 , wherein the opposing plate is bolted to the first beam flange.

14. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , further comprising an end plate that is directly attached to the column flange, wherein the beam and the base plate are coupled to the end plate.

15. The moment-resisting frame of claim 14 , wherein the end plate is connected to the column flange using a plurality of bolts.

16. The moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , wherein the elongated shape is one of substantially rectangular or substantially oval.

17. A method of repairing the moment-resisting frame of claim 1 , the method comprising:

removing at least a portion of the shear component from the moment-resisting frame, the moment-resisting frame including the column having the column flange and the beam having the first beam flange, the shear component including the base plate and the at least one vertical web defining the one or more openings therein, wherein the at least a portion of the shear component includes the at least one yielded region is adjacent to the one or more openings;

wherein, at least before removing at least a portion of the shear component from the moment-resisting frame, the shear component connects the first beam flange to the column flange, the base plate is connected to the flange of the column, and the at least one vertical web extends from the base plate; and

attaching a replacement component to the rest of the moment-resisting frame, wherein the replacement component is substantially the same as the at least a portion of the shear component before the shear component yielded.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

removing at least a portion of the shear component from the rest of the moment-resisting frame includes grinding or cutting the at least a portion of the shear component; and

attaching a replacement component to the moment-resisting frame includes welding the replacement component to the rest of the moment-resisting frame.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

removing at least a portion of the shear component from the rest of the moment-resisting frame includes unbolting the at least a portion of the shear component from the rest of the moment-resisting frame; and

attaching a replacement component to the moment-resisting frame includes bolting the replacement component to the rest of the moment-resisting frame.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2026
From: COREBRACE, LLC; DURAFUSE FRAMES, LLC; SME STEEL CONTRACTORS, INC.
To: BMO BANK N.A.
Reel/Frame 074234/0004 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62884901 · Aug 9, 2019
Related Publication 20220316202A1 · Oct 6, 2022
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