AU628834B2

AU628834B2 - Improved timber connectors

Info

Publication number: AU628834B2
Application number: AU39292/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kevin Graham Doole
Original assignee: Timber Connections Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Timber Connections Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1988-08-03
Filing date: 1989-08-03
Publication date: 1992-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-03
Also published as: AU3929289A

Description

1w~ 62083 4 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952 @0 P 0 0* 0* 0*09 *0 *0 0 00 0 *0 *0 00*0 0 00 0* 0 00 @0 00 0 0 1K EVN7 r GF~I-IAJ 4 0*6I 0 al 6# 4 1DOOI)--j PI 9639) (Patent Application No.

0 00 0 00 *0 00 04 0 0 0 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION EN.TITLED:- "IMPROVED TIMBER CONNECTORS" The following statement is full description of this invention, including the best method of perforT'Lng it know to me/us:- This invention relates to improvements in and relating to timber connectors.

Traditional timber construction utilizes nails to secure joints between timber structural members. Such nailed joints generally provide adequate strength since nails are very effective in shear but their poor pull-out resistance has "oi lead to failure particularly as a result of lifting loads 0000 o. 0 such as produced by cyclonic winds. As a result tie down a S"bolts and the like have been incorporated into modern o 10 structures to make them able to withstand high wind loadings.

@0 09 *o o While these are effective in use they add to the cost and complexity of such structures.

Gang-nail connector plates are also used to form joints S o between adjacent structural members however to date these 15 have not provided such secure joints as to preclude the need o @0 o° for additional hold down means to ensure that structures built using such connectors will withstand high wind loadings. In addition many types of gang-nail connectors are expensive and suited only to specialised applications.

Other forms of connectors, in the form of cranked nails have been provided to connect timber components together, however these have not been particularly successful because of the difficulty of securing the connector to the timber members in a correct orientation to achieve the desired structural connection.

This invention aims to alleviate the abovementioned

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3 disadvantages and to provide improved timber connectors which will be reliable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a connector suitable for connecting a stud to a stringer or like pairs of components and including two spaced spikes adapted to piercingly engage respective ones of said components, said spikes being inter-connected by a cranked stem, each said spike being substantially contained within a respective plane of a pair of planes extending angularly to one another and one said spike forming an acute angle with the adjacent portion of said cranked stem. Suitably the planes are disposed substantially perpendicular to one another.

The said one spike preferably constitutes a primary 15 spike which is adapted to be driven into a side face of a o OZ. timber member prior to the other spike which constitutes a o °secondary spike adapted to be driven into a complementary "0 face of a further timber component. Preferably the acute 0 S"angle is in the range of 60 to 85 degrees. It is also 20 preferred that the secondary spike is also inclined at an acute angle to its respective adjacent portion of the stem S.o and suitably the acute angle is in the range of 70 to .o degrees. Of course if desired the primary spike and the secondary may be formed at identical angles to their respective adjacent stem portions.

Preferably, the distance from the outer end of the secondary spike to the junction of the primary spike with its adjacent stem portion is greater than the distance between the respective junctions of the primary and secondary spikes 1 xz I-1 :i with the stem. This arrangement is such that the act of driving the secondary spike into the complementary face of a further timber component will result in a tensioning of the stem. It is also preferred that the primary spike is provided with a sharpened portion contained in the centreline of the spike whereas the secondary spike is formed with o: a chisel shape sharpened end portion in which the bevel is formed on the face of the spike facing said primary spike.

0 .0In the preferred embodiment of the invention the stem is *009 o pp 1 0 resilient to the extent that the stem will bend resiliently *9 PC p with respect to the primary spike when the latter is driven into the side face of a timber member at right angles thereto and the part of the stem remote from the spike engages the 9090 Pp p side face prior to the portion of the stem adjacent the spike, the resilient bending occurring as the spike is driven o home to bring the portion of the stem adjacent the timber member into abutting relationship therewith.

pP *s 0 Preferably the stem and the spikes are formed as a one piece member and suitably from a length of metal wire or rod.

Preferably, the faces of the stem adjacent the spikes are planar so that they may lie flush against the adjacent surface of the timber component to which they are connected.

For this purpose, the wire may have a circular cross-section which is deformed in the areas adjacent the spikes to provide the flattened face portions or the wire may have a rectangular cross-sectional configuration and be twisted i; i intermediate the spikes.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a typical embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG 1 illustrates invention: FIG 2 illustrates invention; FIG 3 illustrates of the invention; FIG 4 illustrates of connector, and FIG 5 illustrates As shown in Fig.

invention may be used a typical application of the a further application of the the geometry of a preferred embodiment the installation of a preferred form a further embodiment of the invention.

1, connectors 10 of the present A i to secure together timber members 8 and 9 butted togeth.Br at right angles to one another. For this purpose, four connectors 10 are utilised, disposed at opposite sides of the respective timber members to be connected together.

Each connector 10 includes a cranked stem 11 having respective end parts 12 and 13 arranged in a first plane illustrated in dotted outline at 14 and extending at approximately 135 degrees to one another. Of course this angle can be varied to suit the particular application. This -i~ angle is provided so that when the end part 12 is supported against the side face 15 of one timber member 9, the other end part 13 extends across the complementary face 16 of the adjacent timber member 8 to enable the connector 10 to be engaged therewith.

A primary spike 17 extends inwardly from the end part 12 °oo substantially in the plane 14 and in this embodiment at an O o angle to the adjacent stem part 12. The angle is 4o 0 O o suitably 70 degrees but of course it may be varied as 9 1 0 described above.

94 00 The connector assembly 10 also includes a secondary spike 18 which is contained in a further plane illustrated in dotted outline at 19, which extends at approximately 0991 degrees to the plane 14. The axis 20 of the secondary spike 18 forms an acute angle with the axis 21 of the other stem part 13 as illustrated. The stem part 13 may be kinked at 22 so as to pass over an overlapped connector assembly as o illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring particulary to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the acute angle formed between the primary spike 17 and the end part 12 provides a knuckle 23 which may be easily struck by a hammer as indicated at 24 to drive the spike 17 into the lower timber member 9 so that the spike penetrates the member 9 substantially at right angles to its side face 15 or at an upwardly inclined angle relative thereto.

It should be appreciated that if the spike 17 was formed i- l~ bYliiii~i: i I il~y at an obtuse angle with the stem 12 and the latter was inclined in use so that it diverged upwardly away from the end face of a hammer to enable the impact of the hammer to be directed to the spike and not to a point on the stem spaced from the spike, it is likely that the latter would enter the side face 15 in a downwardly inclined manner. This would not form an efficient connection for resisting extraction of the R* 9 spike 17 as a result of tension applied to the stem 11.

99 9 oo Furthermore, when the spike 17 enters the timber member 9 substantially at right angles to the side face 15, the knee 9 S9 portion 25 of the stem will contact the upper corner of the timber member prior to the spike 17 being driven to the fully home position. After contact between the knee portion 25 and the corner 26 occurs, further hammering of the spike 17 will cause the lower end part 12 of the stem 11 to deflect resiliently to enable the lower end part 12 to move inwardly and lie flush against the side face 15. This resilient SOO deflection will maintain a clamp-like grip about the timber 9 member 9 between the knee portion 25 and the spike 17 which will maintain the connection 10 in an operative engaged attitude about the corner of the member 9.

After the primary spike 17 has been hammered into the member 9 the hammer blows may be directed to the knuckle 29 at the upper end of the stem to spike junction to drive the secondary spike 18 into the timber member 8.

The arrangement of the connector 10 is such that the i distance between the outer end 30 of the secondary spike 18 and the knuckle 23 is greater than the distance between the knuckle 23 and the knuckle 29. Thus the action of hammering the secondary spike 18 into the side face 16 will draw the timber member 8 downwardly into firm engagement with the timber member 9 as the knuckle 29 is drawn to the initial Spoint of penetration. This action is further enhanced by the boo* provision of a chisel shaped end part 31 in which the bevelled edge 32 is on the underside of the spike 18 so that 0000 1o 0 the point of entry of the spike 18 to the side face 16 is at o og a maximum distance from the member 9 so that subsequent insertion of the spike 18 will draw the timber members 8 and 9 together.

o The secondary spike 18 is also arranged at an acute angle to the stem 13 so that in use, slightly misplaced Oe hammer blows directed towards the spike 18 will not be deflected by engagement with the adjacent stem portion 13.

Fig. 4 illustrates the degree of misalignment at which a connector 10 may be held for initial assembly purposes and still be in a position for effective engagement with a hammer, that is with both the stem portion 12 and the spike 17 extending from the knuckle 23 towards the face Preferably however, the connector 11 is initially held in a position pivoted in the direction indicated by arrow to align the primary spike 17 closer to the desired penetration angle which is slightly upwardly inclined into the side face

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.1 1 ~sl r~ amrm~n 9 or at right angles thereto. Insertion of the spike at a downwardly inclined angle is unlikely because of the steep angle at which the stem would extend.

Fig 5 illustrates the use of a connector 50 which is similar to the connector 10 in configuration in relation to the relationship between the spikes 51 and the stem 52, however the stem 52 is longer to enable it to span an intermediate member 53 and connect together the members 54 and It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as 15 defined in the following claims.

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Claims

1. A connector suitable for connecting a stud to a stringer or like pairs of components and including two spaced spikes adapted to piercingly engage respective ones of said components, said spikes being inter-connected by a cranked stem, each said spike being substantially contained within a respective plane of a pair of planes extending angularly to one another and one said spike forming an acute angle with the adjacent portion of said cranked stem.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said acute angle is in the range of 60 to 85 degrees. A connector according any one of the preceding .04 claims, wherein said one spike constitutes a primary spike which is adapted to be driven into a side face of a first .said component prior to driving the other, secondary spike .into a side face of a second said component and wherein said 4 secondary spike is inclined at an acute angle to the adjacent portion of said stem. cr I

4. connector according to claim 3, wherein said acute angle between said stem and said secondary spike is in the range of 70 to 85 degrees. hC 11 A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance from the outer end of said secondary spike to the junction of said primary spike with said stem is greater than the distance between the respective junctions of said primary and secondary spikes with said stem.

6. A connector according to claim 5, wherein said primary spike is provided with a sharpened point contained substantially in the centreline of said spike whereas said secondary spike is formed with a 'chisel shape sharpened end portion in which the bevel is formed on the face portion of said secondary spike facing said primary spike.

7. A connector according to claim 3, wherein said stem and said spikes are bent from a length of wire and wherein said o o °stem is resilient whereby it will deflect resiliently with o :respect to the primary spike when the latter is driven substantially perpendicularly into the side face of a timber member.

8. A connector according to any one of the preceding *0rt claims, wherein the faces of said stem adjacent the spikes ttare planar.

9. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said stem comprises two straight portions i' f 9' 12 which extends from a respective spike towards the other and wherein said stem portions are contained in said plane containing said primary spike and interconnect with an included angle of between 115 and 155 degrees. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS Seventeenth DAY OF KEVIN GRAHAM DOOLE by PIZZEY COMPANY PATENT ATTORNEYS June 1992. 0r 0 Su 0r* S. *r C C., S C a t arct cr V ,i