Joints and connections – With adjunctive protector – broken parts retainer – repair,... – Position or guide means
Reexamination Certificate
1994-10-04
2001-03-20
Kim, Harry C. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
With adjunctive protector, broken parts retainer, repair,...
Position or guide means
C403S283000, C052S712000, C052SDIG006, C411S461000, C411S466000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203232
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gusset plates for joining abutting wooden members in the construction of roof trusses, floor or ceiling joists and the like and more particularly, to a calibrated gusset plate having a calibration at the mid-point of each longitudinal edge and each transverse edge of the gusset plate to facilitate equal distribution of each wooden member on the gusset plate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the calibrated gusset plate is characterized by a rectangular gusset plate stock which is constructed of sheet metal and includes multiple prongs or teeth which are struck from the plate and project to one side thereof in a series of perpendicular, longitudinally-extending rows. In a preferred embodiment a calibrating notch is formed in the gusset plate at substantially the mid-point of the longitudinal edge and transverse edge of the gusset plate for alignment with the abutting edges of the wooden members to be connected by the gusset plate. In another embodiment, a bead projects from the mid-point of each longitudinal edge and each transverse edge of the calibrating gusset plate. In still another embodiment, a calibrating scribe is formed in the gusset plate at the mid-point of each longitudinal and transverse edge thereof, and in yet another embodiment a calibrated aperture or opening is formed at the mid-point of each longitudinal and transverse edge of the calibrating gusset plate.
One of the problems frequently encountered in using conventional gusset plates to join a pair of abutting wooden members in the construction of roof trusses, floor and ceiling joists and the like is the difficulty in achieving an even distribution of the area of the gusset plate on each of the two wooden members which are to be joined by the gusset plate. This is difficult since the worker positioning the gusset plates on the wooden truss members typically does so with one of each pair of gusset plates underlying the wooden members. The calibrated gusset plate of this invention is characterized by a calibrating notch, bead, scribe or aperture formed in the gusset plate at the mid-point of each longitudinal edge or each transverse edge, or both, of the gusset plate. The calibrations allow the worker to align the calibrations in the gusset plate with the junction of the wooden truss members to be connected, in order to achieve an equal area of distribution of the gusset plate on each of the wooden members.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Various plates or struts having prongs or teeth extending from one surface thereof are known in the art for connecting a pair of abutting wooden members in the construction of roof trusses and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 2,117,308, dated May 17, 1938, to Frank W. Frey, describes a “Connector” characterized by a metallic strip having multiple piercing elements projecting perpendicularly from each end of the strip portion. The connector is driven into a pair of abutting wooden members to hold the wooden members together. U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,452, dated Jun. 15, 1976, to John Calvin Jureit and Gerald E. Robey, discloses a “Connector Plate Stock” characterized by a sheet metal plate having multiple elongated, nail-like teeth struck from the plate and projecting to one side thereof in a series of longitudinally-extending rows. Repetitive scorelines are formed in the stock plate, thus identifying multiple discrete connector plates and also to define weakened portions along the stock plate between adjacent discrete connector plates, such that the respective connector plates in the stock plate are separable from one another and from the stock plate. U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,854, dated Jun. 30, 1981, to Calvin Jureit, etal, details “Rolled Nail Strips Packed Without Spools” for joining wooden members. The nail strips are characterized by a plate of sheet metal having integrally struck teeth projecting from one side. The wooden members are placed between first and second press heads and a coiled composite of connector plate stock has first and second lengths of connector stock in juxta position with intermeshing teeth. The first and second lengths of connector stock are unwound separately and oriented so that the teeth thereof point toward the wooden members to be joined. A cutting mechanism associated with the pressheads then cuts connector plates from the stock and the plates are positioned on opposite sides of the wooden members and at the junctures to be joined. The pressheads then press the plates into the wooden members.
It is an object of this invention to provide a calibrated gusset plate for joining a pair of wooden members in the construction of roof trusses, ceiling and floor joists and the like (hereinafter called wooden truss members).
Another object of this invention is to provide a calibrated gusset plate having multiple elongated prongs struck from a sheet metal plate and projecting to one side of the plate for penetrating each of two abutting wooden truss members and joining the wooden truss members in the construction of roof trusses, ceiling joists, floor joists and the like.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a calibrated gusset plate characterized by a square or rectangular sheet metal plate having multiple elongated prongs struck from the plate and extending to one side thereof and having a calibrated notch formed in the plate at the mid-point of each longitudinal edge and/or transverse edge of the plate, to facilitate alignment of the calibrating notches with the abutting surfaces of wooden truss members to be connected, in order to achieve a like area of distribution of the calibrated gusset plate on each of the two wooden truss members.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a calibrated gusset plate having a calibrated bead projecting from the gusset plate at the mid-point of each longitudinal and/or transverse edge of the gusset plate for alignment with the abutting surfaces of the wooden truss members to be joined, to achieve like area of distribution of the gusset plate on each of the wooden truss members.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a calibrated gusset plate having calibrating scribes pressed in the gusset plate at the mid-point of each longitudinal edge and/or transverse edge of the gusset plate to facilitate a like area of distribution of the calibrated gusset plate on each of the two wooden truss members to be joined, prior to pressing the calibrated gusset plate into each of the wooden truss members.
Another object of this invention is to provide a calibrated gusset plate having calibrating apertures formed at the mid-point of each longitudinal edge and/or transverse edge of the calibrated gusset plate to facilitate a like area of distribution of the gusset plate on each of the two wooden truss members to be joined before pressing the calibrated gusset plate into the wooden truss members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects of the invention are provided in a calibrated gusset plate characterized by a rectangular sheet metal plate having multiple elongated prongs or teeth struck therefrom to project to one side of in a series of longitudinally-extending rows, for joining a pair of abutting wooden truss members in the construction of a roof truss, ceiling joist, floor joist or the like. In a preferred embodiment the calibrating gusset plate includes a calibrating notch formed in substantially the mid-point of each longitudinal edge and/or each transverse edge of the calibrated gusset plate for alignment with the abutting surfaces of the wooden truss members in order to achieve an even or like area of distribution of the calibrated gusset plate on each of the two wooden truss members prior to pressing the calibrated gusset plate into the wooden truss members. In another embodiment, the calibrated gusset plate includes calibrating beads projecting from substantially the mid-point of each longitudinal edge and/or each transverse edge of the gusset plate, or both, to facilitate proper alignment and distribution of t
Howard & Howard
Kim Harry C.
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