Multipurpose holdown

1. A building connection ( 1 ) comprising:

(a) an anchored structural member ( 2 );

(b) an anchoring structural member ( 3 );

(c) a sheet metal connector ( 4 ) fastened to said anchored structural member ( 2 ) and anchored to said anchoring structural member ( 3 ) by an anchor member ( 5 ) restrained by said anchoring structural member ( 3 ), said connector ( 4 ) comprising:

i. a first back member ( 6 ) having an inner side edge ( 7 ), an outer side edge ( 8 ), an inner surface ( 9 ) and an outer surface ( 10 ), said outer surface ( 10 ) lying in registration with said anchored structural member ( 2 ) and connected thereto by a plurality of fasteners ( 47 ), all portions of said outer surface ( 10 ) immediately adjacent said fasteners ( 47 ) lying in registration with said anchored structural member ( 2 );

ii. a first side member ( 11 ) having an inner surface ( 13 ), an outer surface ( 14 ), a back edge ( 15 ) and a bottom edge ( 16 ), said back edge ( 15 ) of said first side member ( 11 ) being integrally connected to said outer side edge ( 8 ) of said first back member ( 6 ) at an angle ( 17 ) less than 180 degrees between said inner surface ( 13 ) of said first side member ( 11 ) and said inner surface ( 9 ) of said first back member ( 6 );

iii. a seat member ( 18 ) having an anchor member receiving opening ( 19 ) receiving said anchor member ( 5 ) therethrough with said anchor member ( 5 ) connected to said anchoring structural member ( 3 ) and said anchoring structural member disposed on said side of said seat member ( 18 ) away from said first back member ( 6 ) and said first side member ( 11 ) with a nut ( 46 ) connected to said anchor member ( 5 ) and disposed on said side of said seat member ( 18 ) away from said anchoring structural member ( 3 ), an upper surface ( 21 ), a lower surface ( 22 ), a first side edge ( 23 ) and a second side edge ( 24 ), said first side edge ( 23 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) being integrally connected to said bottom edge ( 16 ) of said first side member ( 11 ) at a first juncture ( 25 ) greater than 90 degrees between said upper surface ( 21 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) and said inner surface ( 13 ) of said first side member ( 11 );

iv. a second side member ( 26 ) having an inner surface ( 28 ) facing said inner surface ( 13 ) of said first side member ( 11 ), an outer surface ( 29 ), a back edge ( 30 ) and a bottom edge ( 31 ), said bottom edge ( 31 ) of said second side member ( 26 ) being integrally connected to said second side edge ( 24 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) opposite said first side member ( 11 ) at second juncture ( 32 ) greater than 90 degrees between said upper surface ( 21 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) and said inner surface ( 28 ) of said second side member ( 26 );

v. a second back member ( 34 ) having an inner side edge ( 35 ), an outer side edge ( 36 ), an inner surface ( 37 ) and an outer surface ( 38 ), a substantial portion of said outer surface ( 38 ) lying in registration with said anchored structural member ( 2 ) and connected thereto by a plurality of fasteners ( 47 ), said outer side edge ( 36 ) of said second back member ( 34 ) being integrally connected to said back edge ( 30 ) of said second side member ( 26 ) at an angle ( 40 ) less than 180 degrees between said inner surface ( 28 ) of said second side member ( 26 ) and said inner surface ( 37 ) of said second back member ( 34 ), said outer side edge ( 36 ) of said second back member ( 34 ) facing away from said outer side edge ( 8 ) of said first back member ( 6 ) and wherein;

vi. a portion of said first back member ( 6 ) extends past said first side edge ( 23 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) and at least one of said plurality of fasteners ( 47 ) connects said portion to said anchored structural member ( 2 );

vii. a portion of said first back member ( 6 ) overlies said seat member ( 18 ) and at least one of said plurality of fasteners ( 47 ) connects said portion to said anchored structural member ( 2 );

viii. a portion of said second back member ( 34 ) extends past said second side edge ( 24 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) and at least one of said plurality of fasteners ( 47 ) connects said portion to said anchored structural member ( 2 ); and

ix. a portion of said second back member ( 34 ) overlies said seat member ( 18 ) and at least one of said plurality of fasteners ( 47 ) connects said portion to said anchored structural member ( 2 ).

2. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

(a) said sheet metal connector ( 4 ) is made from cold-formed 14 gauge galvanized sheet steel and said first and second back members ( 6 and 34 ) and said first and second side members ( 11 and 26 ) are substantially planar members, and wherein:

(b) said first and second side members ( 11 ) have stiffening embossments ( 12 and 27 );

(c) said anchor member receiving opening ( 19 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) is reinforced by a circumferential embossment ( 20 );

(d) said first and second junctures ( 25 and 32 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) are reinforced with first gussets ( 33 );

(e) said anchored structural member ( 2 ) is formed from at least one wood 2×4; and

(f) said building connection ( 1 ) achieves a tension load of at least 1850 pounds before failing.

3. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 2 , wherein:

(a) said first side edge ( 23 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) is integrally connected to said bottom edge ( 16 ) of said first side member ( 11 ) at a first juncture ( 25 ) of between 95 and 110 degrees between said upper surface ( 21 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) and said inner surface ( 13 ) of said first side member ( 11 ); and

(b) said bottom edge ( 31 ) of said second side member ( 26 ) is integrally connected to said second side edge ( 24 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) opposite said first side member ( 11 ) at second juncture ( 32 ) of between 95 and 110 degrees between said upper surface ( 21 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) and said inner surface ( 28 ) of said second side member ( 26 ).

4. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein:

(a) said first side edge ( 23 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) is integrally connected to said bottom edge ( 16 ) of said first side member ( 11 ) at a first juncture ( 25 ) of 103 degrees between said upper surface ( 21 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) and said inner surface ( 13 ) of said first side member ( 11 ); and

(b) said bottom edge ( 31 ) of said second side member ( 26 ) is integrally connected to said second side edge ( 24 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) opposite said first side member ( 11 ) at second juncture ( 32 ) of 103 degrees between said upper surface ( 21 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) and said inner surface ( 28 ) of said second side member ( 26 ).

5. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said stiffening embossment ( 12 ) in said first side member ( 11 ) is elongated and embossed into said inner surface ( 13 ) of said first side member ( 11 ) to a depth equal to the thickness of said first side member; and

(b) said stiffening embossment ( 27 ) in said second side member ( 26 ) is elongated and embossed into said inner surface ( 28 ) of said second side member ( 26 ) to a depth equal to the thickness of said first side member.

6. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 5 , wherein:

(a) said stiffening embossment ( 12 ) is said first side member ( 11 ) has two straight, angularly-related linear segments ( 43 ); and

(b) said stiffening embossment ( 27 ) in said second side member ( 26 ) has two straight, angularly-related linear segments ( 43 ).

7. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 2 , wherein:

(a) said circumferential embossment ( 20 ) in said seat member ( 18 ) is circular and embossed into said upper surface of ( 21 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) to a depth equal to thickness of said seat member ( 18 ).

8. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said first juncture ( 25 ) is reinforced by a first gusset ( 33 ) and a second gusset ( 39 ); and

(b) said second juncture ( 32 ) is reinforced by a first gusset ( 33 ) and a second gusset ( 39 ).

9. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

(a) said first back member ( 6 ) has four fastener openings ( 41 ) arranged in a zig-zag pattern; and

(b) said second back member ( 34 ) has four fastener openings ( 41 ) arranged in a zig-zag pattern.

10. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 9 , wherein:

(a) said fastener openings ( 41 and 42 ) are each 0.265 inches in diameter.

11. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein:

(a) said seat member ( 18 ) is 1⅝ inches wide from said first side member ( 11 ) to said second side member ( 26 ).

12. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 11 , wherein:

(a) said anchor member receiving opening ( 19 ) is 0.612 inches in diameter.

13. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

(a) said sheet metal connector ( 4 ) is made from cold-formed 14 gauge galvanized sheet steel, and wherein:

(b) said first and second side members ( 11 ) have stiffening embossments ( 12 and 27 );

(c) said anchor member receiving opening ( 19 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) is reinforced by a circumferential embossment ( 20 );

(d) said first and second junctures ( 25 and 32 ) of said seat member ( 18 ) are reinforced with first gussets ( 33 );

(e) said anchored structural member ( 2 ) is a double wood 2×4; and

(f) said building connection ( 1 ) achieves a tension load of 2000 pounds before failing.

14. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

(a) said anchored structural member ( 2 ) is vertically-oriented.

15. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 2 , wherein:

(a) said anchored structural member ( 2 ) is a wall stud ( 2 ).

16. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 13 , wherein:

(a) said anchoring structural member ( 3 ) is a concrete foundation ( 3 ).

17. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim of claim 13 , wherein:

(a) said anchoring structural member ( 3 ) is part of an upper floor structure.

18. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

(a) said anchored structural member ( 2 ) is horizontally-oriented.

19. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 16 , wherein:

(a) said anchored structural member ( 2 ) is a floor beam ( 2 ).

20. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 17 , wherein:

(a) said anchored structural member ( 2 ) is a deck floor beam ( 2 ).

21. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 18 , wherein:

(a) said anchoring structural member ( 3 ) is a deck post ( 3 ).

22. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 17 , wherein:

(a) said anchored structural member ( 2 ) is a roof beam ( 2 ).

23. The building connection ( 1 ) of claim 20 , wherein:

(a) said anchoring structural member ( 3 ) is a wall ( 3 ).