Four-way radial connector
An improved connector and connection joining a plurality of supported structural members, preferably four roof trusses or rafters to a supporting structural member, preferably a header or girder truss. The connector is formed with a plurality of seat members, preferably four, that are joined to back member sections at angular junctures stiffened by shallow embossments. Variations can have three or five seat members.
1. A structural building connection ( 1 ) comprising:
a. a supporting structural member ( 2 ) having an attachment face ( 3 );
b. a plurality of supported structural members ( 4 ) each having an attachment end ( 5 ), said plurality of supported structural members ( 4 ) being connected to said supporting structural member ( 2 ) at a plurality of angles to said supporting structural member ( 2 ) by;
c. a connector ( 6 ), comprising:
i. a back member ( 7 ), said back member ( 7 ) being divided into a plurality of adjacent support sections ( 8 ), each support section ( 8 ) being a generally planar member, with said support sections ( 8 ) being joined together at angular junctions ( 22 ); and
ii. a plurality of substantially planar seat members ( 9 ), each of said seat members ( 9 ) having an upper edge ( 36 ), a lower edge ( 37 ), a first side edge ( 38 ) and a second side edge ( 38 ), said seat members ( 9 ) being separated from each other, each seat member ( 9 ) being attached to only one support section ( 8 ) at a single, substantially linear angular juncture ( 10 ) at said upper edge ( 36 ) of said seat member ( 3 ) with said remaining lower and first and second side edges ( 38 ) and ( 38 ) of said seat member ( 9 ) being separated from any other portion of said back member ( 7 ); wherein:
d. said back member ( 7 ) is fastened to said attachment face ( 3 ) of said supporting structural member ( 4 ); and
e. at least one supported structural member ( 4 ) is supported by at least one of said seat members ( 9 ) adjacent said attachment end ( 5 ) of said supported structural member ( 4 ).
2. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
a. said connector ( 1 ) has a plurality of seat support embossments ( 11 ), each of said support embossments ( 11 ) passing through at least one of said angular junctures ( 10 ) from a support section ( 8 ) to a seat member ( 9 ) and reinforcing said angular juncture ( 10 ) between said support section ( 8 ) and said seat member ( 9 ).
3. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 2 , wherein:
a. said seat support embossments ( 11 ) are obround, each having a pair of substantially parallel sides ( 34 ) and a pair of rounded ends ( 35 ) that connect each pair of substantially parallel sides ( 34 ).
4. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 2 , wherein:
a. said seat support embossments ( 11 ) are substantially as wide as said seat members ( 9 ).
5. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 2 , wherein:
a. said back member ( 7 ) has a first attachment section ( 14 ) and a second attachment section ( 15 );
b. said first attachment section ( 14 ) is angularly joined to a first support section ( 12 );
c. said second attachment section ( 14 ) is angularly joined to a last support section ( 13 );
d. said first attachment section ( 14 ) is fastened to said attachment face ( 3 ) of said supporting structural member ( 2 ); and
e. said second attachment section ( 14 ) is fastened to said attachment face ( 3 ) of said supporting structural member ( 2 ).
6. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 5 , wherein:
a. each of said support sections ( 8 ) has an upper edge ( 15 ), a lower edge ( 16 ), a first side edge ( 17 ) and a second side edge ( 17 ).
7. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 6 , wherein:
a. each of said support sections ( 8 ) is generally rectangular, wherein:
i at least a portion of said upper edge ( 15 ) is straight and parallel to a straight portion of said lower edge ( 16 );
ii. at least a portion of said first side edge ( 17 ) is straight and parallel to a straight portion of said second side edge ( 17 ).
8. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 5 , wherein:
a. said angular juncture ( 22 ) where said support sections ( 8 ) meet each other is reinforced by a substantially rigid embossment ( 23 ).
9. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein:
a. said first attachment section ( 14 ) and said first support section ( 8 ) meet at an angular juncture ( 24 ) that is reinforced by a substantially rigid embossment ( 25 ); and
b. said second attachment section ( 14 ) and said last support section ( 8 ) meet at an angular juncture ( 24 ) that is reinforced by a substantially rigid embossment ( 25 ).
10. The structural building connection of claim 9 , wherein:
a. said substantially rigid embossments ( 25 ) are gussets ( 25 ).
11. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 5 , wherein:
a. three separate fasteners ( 45 ) pass through each of said attachment sections ( 14 ) of said connector ( 6 ) into the attachment face ( 3 ) of said supporting structural member ( 2 ).
12. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
a. the first side edge ( 38 ) of each seat member ( 9 ) has a first retention tab ( 43 ) adjacent said lower edge ( 37 ) of said seat member ( 9 ); and
b. the second side edge ( 38 ) of each seat member ( 9 ) has a second retention tab ( 43 ) adjacent said lower edge ( 37 ) of said seat member ( 9 ).
13. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
a. each of said seat members ( 9 ) has an upper face ( 39 ) and an lower face ( 40 ), said upper face ( 39 ) facing toward one of said supported structural members ( 4 ), and said lower face ( 40 ) facing away from one of said supported structural members ( 4 ); and
b. each supported structural member ( 4 ) is supported only by the upper face ( 39 ) of one of said seat members ( 9 ).
14. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
a. each of said supported structural members ( 4 ) has a bottom face ( 46 );
b. at least one separate fastener ( 45 ) passes through each of said seat members ( 9 ) of said connector ( 6 ) into the bottom face ( 46 ) of one of said supported structural members ( 4 ), and only said bottom faces ( 46 ) of said supported structural members ( 4 ) receive any fasteners ( 45 ) that pass through said connector ( 1 ).
15. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 14 , wherein:
a. only one separate fastener ( 45 ) passes through each of said seat members ( 9 ) into the bottom face ( 46 ) of one of said supported structural members ( 4 ).
16. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 15 , wherein:
a. said fasteners ( 45 ) are screws.
17. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
a. each supported structural member ( 4 ) has a relatively planar end face ( 48 ) and first and second relatively planar, elongated sides 44 that are generally disposed orthogonally to said end face 48 and parallel to each other, said end face ( 48 ) being disposed closely adjacent, and parallel to, one of said support sections ( 8 ) of said back member ( 7 ) of said connector ( 6 ) and being substantially as wide as the support section ( 8 ) to which it is closely adjacent.
18. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 17 , wherein:
a. each end face ( 48 ) of each supported structural member ( 4 ) abuts one of said support sections ( 8 ) of said back member ( 7 ) of said connector ( 6 ).
19. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 18 , wherein:
a. each supported structural member has a bottom face ( 46 ); and
b. only one separate fastener ( 45 ) passes through each of said seat members ( 9 ) into the bottom face ( 46 ) of one of said supported structural members ( 4 ).
20. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 17 , wherein:
a. said connector ( 1 ) has a plurality of seat support embossments ( 11 ), each of said support embossments ( 11 ) passing through at least one of said angular junctures ( 10 ) from a support section ( 8 ) to a seat member ( 9 ) and reinforcing said angular juncture ( 10 ) between said support section ( 8 ) and said seat member ( 9 ).
21. The structural building connection of claim 20 , wherein:
a. said support sections ( 8 ) and said seat members ( 9 ) are substantially rectangular.
22. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 21 , wherein:
a. said angular juncture ( 22 ) where said support sections ( 8 ) meet each other is reinforced by a substantially rigid embossment ( 23 ).
23. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 21 , wherein:
a. the first side edge ( 38 ) of each seat member ( 9 ) has a first retention tab ( 43 ) adjacent said lower edge ( 37 ) of said seat member ( 9 ); and
b. the second side edge ( 38 ) of each seat member ( 9 ) has a second retention tab ( 43 ) adjacent said lower edge ( 37 ) of said seat member ( 9 ).
24. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 20 , wherein:
a. said seat support embossments ( 11 ) are substantially as wide as said seat members ( 9 ).
25. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 17 , wherein:
a. each of said support sections ( 8 ) has an outer face ( 26 ) and an inner face ( 27 ), said outer face ( 26 ) facing out and away from said supporting structural member ( 2 ), and said inner face ( 27 ) facing in and toward said supporting structural member ( 2 ), wherein:
i. said inner faces ( 27 ) of said support sections ( 8 ) do not interface with said supporting structural member ( 2 ).
26. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 25 , wherein:
a. each of said support sections ( 8 ) of said back member ( 7 ) is angularly joined to another of said support sections ( 8 );
b. said support sections ( 8 ) are joined in series from a first support section ( 12 ) to a last support section ( 13 ).
27. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
a. each of said support sections ( 8 ) has an outer face ( 26 ) and an inner face ( 27 ), said outer face ( 26 ) facing out and away from said supporting structural member ( 2 ), and said inner face ( 27 ) facing in and toward said supporting structural member ( 2 ), wherein:
i. said inner faces ( 27 ) of said support sections ( 8 ) do not interface with said supporting structural member ( 2 ).
28. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 27 , wherein:
a. each of said support sections ( 8 ) of said back member ( 7 ) is angularly joined to another of said support sections ( 8 );
b. said support sections ( 8 ) are joined in series from a first support section ( 12 ) to a last support section ( 13 ).
29. A method of forming a structural building connector ( 6 ) adapted for connecting a plurality of elongated supported structural members ( 4 ) at a plurality of angles to a supporting structural member ( 2 ) having a substantially planar attachment face ( 3 ), comprising:
a. cutting a generally rectangular blank ( 47 ) from sheet metal, wherein:
i. said blank ( 47 ) defines a back member ( 7 ), said back member ( 7 ) being divided into a plurality of rectangular support sections ( 8 ), each of said support sections ( 8 ) having an upper edge ( 15 ), a lower edge ( 16 ), a first side edge ( 17 ) and a second side edge ( 17 ), and said blank ( 47 ) defines a plurality of generally rectangular seat members ( 9 ), each of said seat members ( 9 ) having an upper edge ( 36 ), a lower edge ( 37 ), a first side edge ( 38 ) and a second side edge ( 38 ), each said seat member being attached to only one support section ( 8 ) at a single, substantially linear juncture ( 10 ) at said upper edge ( 36 ) of said seat member ( 3 ); wherein:
1. said seat members ( 9 ) are parallel and closely adjacent such that the only separation between said seat members ( 9 ) within the blank ( 47 ) is created by the act of cutting the blank ( 47 ); and
2. adjacent side edges ( 38 ) of said seat members ( 9 ) are formed by the same cut;
b. bending said blank ( 47 ) at said first and second side edges ( 17 ) of said support sections ( 8 ) such that each of said support sections ( 8 ) of said back member ( 7 ) is angularly joined to another of said support sections ( 8 ), and said support sections ( 8 ) are joined in series from a first support section ( 12 ) to a last support section ( 13 ), and said seat members ( 9 ) are separated from each other, with said remaining lower and first and second side edges ( 38 ) and ( 38 ) of said seat member ( 9 ) being separated from any other portion of said back member ( 7 ); and
c. bending said blank ( 47 ) at said substantially linear juncture ( 10 ) at said upper edge ( 36 ) of each of said seat members ( 3 ) such that each said seat member ( 3 ) is angularly disposed to said support section ( 8 ) to which it is attached.
30. The structural building connection ( 1 ) of claim 29 , wherein:
a. the first side edge ( 38 ) of each seat member ( 9 ) has a first retention tab ( 43 ) adjacent said lower edge ( 37 ) of said seat member ( 9 );
b. the second side edge ( 38 ) of each seat member ( 9 ) has a second retention tab ( 43 ) adjacent said lower edge ( 37 ) of said seat member ( 9 ).