Knife plate fastener
A connector referred to herein as a knife plate, and the structural connections formed using the knife plate. The knife plate may have a first portion configured to affix to a first structural member, such as a vertical column. The knife plate may have a second portion configured to fit within a slot formed in a second structural member, such as a horizontal beam. The second structural member may be pinned to the knife plate using one or more dowels fit through the second structural member and the knife plate.
1. A system for securing a first structural member to a second structural member in a construction, the second structural member having one or more holes, the system comprising:
a first section specifically made to be affixed to the first structural member; and
a second section, formed contiguous with the first section, and specifically made to be inserted into a slot in the second structural member and to receive one or more dowels through one or more holes in the second section and the second structural member, the second section and one or more dowels specifically made to support the second structural member on the first structural member without transferring moment forces from second structural member onto the first structural member; and
wherein the one or more dowels are specifically made to fit through the one or more holes in the second structural member and the one or more holes in the second section to support the second structural member on the first structural member with a space between the first and second structural members, the space allowing rotation of the first structural member relative to the second structural member.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sections are formed at right angles to each other.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein first and second sections are integrally formed with each other.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more holes comprise a plurality of holes in the second section.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of holes comprise a circular hole specifically made to receive a dowel and specifically made to be an axis about which the second structural member rotates relative to the first structural member.
6. The system of claim 5 , the circular hole supporting the second structural member against axial movement and against gravitational forces.
7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of holes further comprise one or more oblong holes specifically made to receive one or more of the dowels.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more oblong holes are straight along their length.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more oblong holes are radiused along their length.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more oblong holes are oriented parallel to a long axis of the second structural member and specifically made to support the second structural member against gravitational forces.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more oblong holes are oriented perpendicularly to a long axis of the second structural member and specifically made to support the second structural member against axial movement.
12. A system within a construction, comprising:
a first structural member;
a second structural member comprising an end face, a slot provided in the second structural member through the end face and one or more holes formed a first distance from the end face;
a knife plate for pinning the first and second structural members to each other, the knife plate comprising:
a first section specifically made to be fastened to the first structural member, and
a second section specifically made to fit within the slot in the second structural member and comprising at least one hole formed at a second distance from the first section; and
one or more dowels specifically made to fit through the one or more holes in the second structural member and the at least one hole in the second section, the one or more dowels and second section specifically made to pin the second structural member to the knife plate and first structural member without transferring moment forces from second structural member onto the first structural member; and
wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance to provide a space between the end face of the second structural member and the first structural member when the second section is mounted on the knife plate, the space enabling rotation of the second structural member relative to the first structural member.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein one of the first and second structural members comprises a column, beam, joist, stud, girder, chord, truss, shear wall or frame.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one hole in the second section comprises a plurality of holes.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of holes comprise a circular hole specifically made to receive a dowel of the one or more dowels, and specifically made to be an axis about which the second structural member rotates relative to the first structural member.
16. The system of claim 15 , the circular hole supporting the second structural member against axial movement and against at least gravitational forces.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of holes further comprise one or more oblong holes specifically made to receive one or more of the dowels.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more oblong holes are straight along their length.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more oblong holes are radiused along their length.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more oblong holes are oriented parallel to a long axis of the second structural member and specifically made to support the second structural member against gravitational forces.
21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more oblong holes are oriented perpendicularly to a long axis of the second structural member and specifically made to support the second structural member against axial movement.
22. A system within a construction, comprising:
a first structural member;
a second structural member comprising multiple holes;
a knife plate for pinning the first and second structural members to each other, the knife plate comprising:
a first section specifically made to be fastened to the first structural member, and
a second section comprising a plurality of holes, the plurality of holes comprising
a circular hole and one or more oblong holes; and
a plurality of dowels specifically made to fit through the multiple holes in the second structural member and the plurality of holes in the second section, the plurality of dowels in the multiple holes and plurality of holes supporting the second structural member on the knife plate and first structural member while allowing rotation of the second structural member relative to the knife plate and first structural member.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the one of the plurality of holes in the second section is open to a top edge of the knife plate.
24. The system of claim 22 , wherein the first and second structural members are formed of wood.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the wood comprises natural wood, composite wood and engineered lumber.
26. The system of claim 22 , wherein the first and second sections are formed at oblique angles with respect to each other.
27. The system of claim 22 , wherein the first and second sections are formed at 180° to each other, such that the knife plate is a flat plate.
28. A system within a construction, comprising:
a first structural member;
a second structural member comprising multiple holes;
a knife plate for pinning the first and second structural members to each other, the knife plate comprising:
a first section specifically made to be fastened to the first structural member, and
a second section comprising a plurality of holes, the plurality of holes comprising a circular hole and two or more oblong holes, each of the two or more oblong holes having a length, and a center point midway along the length, a straight line through the center points of the two or more oblong holes passing through an axis of rotation of the circular hole; and
a plurality of dowels specifically made to fit through the multiple holes in the second structural member and the plurality of holes in the second section, the plurality of dowels in the multiple holes and plurality of holes supporting the second structural member on the knife plate and first structural member while allowing rotation of the second structural member relative to the knife plate and first structural member.
29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the one of the plurality of holes in the second section is open to a top edge of the knife plate.
30. The system of claim 28 , wherein the first and second structural members are formed of wood.
31. The system of claim 30 , wherein the wood comprises natural wood, composite wood and engineered lumber.
32. The system of claim 28 , wherein the first and second sections are formed at oblique angles with respect to each other.
33. The system of claim 28 , wherein the first and second sections are formed at 180° to each other, such that the knife plate is a flat plate.
34. A system for securing a first structural member to a second structural member in a construction, the second structural member having one or more holes, the system comprising:
a first section specifically made to be affixed to the first structural member; and
a second section, formed contiguous with the first section, and specifically made to be inserted into a slot in the second structural member, the second section having one or more holes specifically made to be aligned with the one or more holes in the second structural member upon insertion of the second section into the slot in the second structural member;
wherein the second structural member and the second section are specifically made to receive one or more dowels having a diameter equal to or smaller than diameters of the one or more holes in the second structural member and the one or more holes in the second section, the second section and one or more dowels specifically made to support the second structural member on the first structural member without transferring moment forces from second structural member onto the first structural member.
35. The system of claim 34 , wherein the first and second sections are formed at right angles to each other.
36. The system of claim 34 , wherein the one or more holes comprise a plurality of holes in the second section.
37. The system of claim 36 , wherein the plurality of holes comprise a circular hole specifically made to receive a dowel and specifically made to be an axis about which the second structural member rotates relative to the second section.
38. The system of claim 37 , wherein the plurality of holes further comprise one or more oblong holes specifically made to receive one or more of the dowels, the one or more oblong holes being oriented in a circle having the circular hole as its center so that the one or more oblong holes allow rotation of the second structural member relative to the second section.
39. The system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of holes further comprise one or more oblong holes specifically made to receive one or more of the dowels, the one or more oblong holes being oriented in a circle having the circular hole as its center so that the one or more oblong holes allow rotation of the second structural member relative to the second section.