AU768263B2 - Structural framework - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): MITEK HOLDINGS, INC.

Invention Title: STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2- STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK This invention relates to a framework including reinforcing webs, such as building trusses.

Building trusses are used in a number of environments and include pitched trusses which are used in roofing, and straight or parallel chord trusses which are used in floors. Trusses are formed with chords having webs connected thereto to reinforce the truss.

Our International Patent Application No.

PCT/USOO/23367 discloses structural framework which includes metal webs. The application discloses various techniques for connecting the metal webs to chords of a truss. The contents of this application are incorporated into this specification by this reference.

The object of the present invention is to provide additional improvements to the manner in which the webs are connected in a framework.

The invention, in the first aspect, may be said 20 to reside in a structural framework for a building, including: a first beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface; 25 a second beam at least partially spaced from the first beam, the second beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface; at least one web extending between the first and second beams, the web having at least one tab at one end of the web which sits flush on the first surface of one of the first and second beams; a separate saddle connector having a first wall, and a second wall extending transverse to the first wall, the first wall overlying said tab so that the tab is sandwiched between the first wall and the said first surface of the said one of the first and second beams; \\melbfiles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 3 connecting means for connecting the tab to the saddle connector; and the second wall having integral teeth punched therefrom and penetrating one of the transverse surfaces of the said one of the first and second beam to thereby secure the tab and therefore the metal web to the said one of the first and second beam.

Preferably the saddle connector has a third wall extending transverse to the first wall and in the same direction as the second wall, the third wall having integral teeth penetrating the other transverse surface of the said one of the first and second beams.

Preferably the connection means is selected from the group comprising: self-piercing rivets which pass through the tab and the first wall; spot welding of the tab to the first wall; a portion of the tab clenched over the first wall; and 20 projections on one of the first wall or tab and extending through holes in the other of the first wall or S tab.

In the embodiment which has projections on one of the tab or first wall and which pass through holes in the :25 other of the tab or first wall, the projections may be in the form of punched teeth punched from the first wall and extending through holes in the tab and penetrating the •first surface of the beam.

According to this embodiment the projections may also be formed on the tab and extend through holes in the first wall of the saddle connector, the projections being bent over after passing through the holes so as to secure the tab to the first wall of the saddle connector.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the teeth punched from the second and third walls of the saddle connector comprise grasshopper teeth having a first portion which extends at an angle outwardly of the wall and away \\melbfiles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 -4from surfaces of the wall which will be adjacent the transverse surfaces of the beam, and a second portion arranged at an angle to the first portion and extending towards the said surfaces of the wall but terminating short of the said surfaces so that the punched teeth are arranged entirely outwardly of said surfaces of the wall, the second and third walls therefore being able to be arranged perpendicular with respect to the first wall so that the saddle connector can be located over the beam with the second and third walls being flush with the transverse surfaces of the beam, and to connect the saddle connector to the beam the teeth are pressed so as to move inwardly towards the beam and penetrate the transverse surfaces of the beam.

In other embodiments the teeth on the second and third walls can be punched teeth which extend inwardly from the surfaces of the second and third walls which are adjacent the transverse surfaces of the beam, the said second and third walls being arranged at an acute angle 20 relative to a plane transverse to the first wall to enable the teeth to clear the beam when the connector is located over the tab and onto the beam, and the second and third :walls being pressed inwardly to a perpendicular orientation with respect to the first side to cause the teeth to •25 penetrate the transverse surfaces.

In this embodiment the teeth closest to the first surface of the saddle connector may be shorter than the •remaining teeth on each of the second and third sides, to reduce the angle of the second and third wall relative to the perpendicular plane whilst still enabling location of the saddle connector on the tab and beam.

In a further aspect the invention may be said to reside in a method of securing a web having at least one tab at one end, to a beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface, the beam forming part of a structural framework for a building, the method including: \\melbfiles\ho$eS\Luisa\Kee\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 locating the tab of the web so that the tab sits flush on the first surface of the beam; locating a saddle connector having a first wall and a second wall with integral teeth punched from the second wall, over said tab so the tab is sandwiched between the first wall and the first surface of the beam; connecting the tab to the saddle connector; and pressing the teeth so that the teeth penetrate one of the transverse surfaces of the beam to thereby secure the tab and therefore the metal web to the beam Preferably the tab is connected to the first wall by one of the following methods: locating self-piercing rivets through the tab in the first wall; spot-welding the tab to the first wall; clenching a portion of the tab over the first wall; and forming projections on the first wall or tab and locating the projections through holes in the other of the 20 first wall or tab.

In the embodiment in which projections on the •first wall or tab locate through holes in the other first S wall or tab, the projections may penetrate the first surface of the beam or alternatively be bent over to secure the tab and first wall together.

A further aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a structural framework for a building including: "a first beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface; a second beam at least partially spaced from the first beam, the second beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces and an opposite surface opposite the first surface; at least one web extending between the first and second beams, the web having at least one tab at one end of the web which sits flush on the first surface of one of the \\melbfiles\home\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 -6first and second beams, the tab having a second wall extending transverse to the first wall so that the tab and the second wall form an integral saddle connector, the second wall having grasshopper teeth which before the teeth penetrate one of the transverse walls, are comprised of: a first portion which extends at an angle outwardly of the second wall and away from a surface of the second wall adjacent said one of the transverse surface of the beam, and a second position extending from the first portion at an angle to the first portion towards the said surface of the second wall but terminating short of said surface so that the punched teeth are arranged outwardly of the said surface of the second wall so they do not interfere with location of the saddle connector onto the beam; and the teeth being pressed to move towards and passed the said surface of the second wall so as to 20 penetrate said one of the transverse surfaces and are embedded in the beam to secure the web to the beam.

.Preferably the tab includes a third wall extending transverse to the tab and in the same direction as the second wall, the third wall having further said grasshopper teeth.

Preferably the tab also includes a connector member for connecting the tab to the first surface of the beam.

The connection member may include a group of teeth punched from the tab and which penetrate the first surface of the beam.

0 "The invention may also be said to reside in a metal web for a building framework including a beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface, said web including: a web body; \\melbfiles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 -7a tab formed at one end of the web body and integral with the web body, the tab forming a first wall of a saddle connector, a second wall extending transverse to the tab and integral with the tab and forming a second wall of the saddle connector, the saddle connector being locatable on the beam so that the tab sits flush with the first surface of the beam and the second wall sits flush with a transverse surface of the beam; and the second wall having grasshopper teeth punched from the second wall, the grasshopper teeth being comprised of a first portion which extends at an angle outwardly of the second wall and away from a surface of the second wall which will be adjacent said one of the transverse surfaces of the beam when the saddle connector is located on the beam, and a second portion extending from the first portion at an angle to the first portion towards the said surface of the second wall but terminating short of the said surface so that the punched teeth are arranged outwardly of the said surface of the second wall so they do not 20 interfere with location of the saddle connector onto the beam.

Preferably the tab includes a third wall extending transverse to the tab and in the same direction as the second wall, the third wall having further said grasshopper teeth.

In one embodiment the tab which forms the first wall of the saddle connector may include a connector member for connecting the tab to the first surface of the beam.

•The connector member may include a group of teeth punched from the tab for penetrating the first surface of the beam.

The invention in a still further aspect may be said to reside in a metal web for a structural framework which includes a beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces and an opposite surface opposite the first surface, said web including: a web body; and \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 -8a tab arranged at one end of the web body, the tab having at least one projection extending outwardly of the tab for location through a hole of a saddle connector having a first wall in which the hole is formed and a second wall transverse to the first wall so that the projection can be bent over to secure the tab to the saddle connector.

Preferably the tab includes a plurality of projections for location through a plurality of holes in the saddle connector.

The invention may also be said to reside in a saddle connector for connecting a tab of a metal web to a beam of a framework, the beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface, the saddle connector including: a first wall; a second wall extending transverse to the first wall; and teeth punched out of the second wall for penetrating one of the transfer surfaces of the beam.

Preferably the saddle connector includes a third wall extending transverse to the first wall in the same direction as the second wall, the third wall having teeth punched from the third wall for penetrating the other of 25 the transverse surfaces of the beam.

Preferably the first wall includes connector elements for facilitating connection of the tab of the metal web to the first wall of the saddle connector.

In one embodiment the connector elements include holes through which projections can locate and be bent over so as to connect the first wall to the tab.

oeoio S"In other embodiments the first wall may include punched teeth which pass through openings in the tab and penetrate the first surface of the beam, to thereby couple the tab to the first wall of the saddle connector.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the \\melb files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\itek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 -9 accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of a structural framework in the form of a pitched roof truss for a building, embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a view of a web according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a view of a saddle connector used in one embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a view showing the web connected to a chord of the building truss of Figure 1 in a partly installed condition; Figure 4A is a view of the embodiment of Figure 4 in a more completed condition; Figures 5 and 6 are views of further embodiments of the invention; Figures 7 and 8 are views of still further embodiments; Figures 9 and 10 are views of further embodiments to the invention; Figures 11 and 12 are views of still further embodiments; Figures 13 and 14 are views of yet further S: embodiments of the invention; Figures 15 and 16 are views of still further 25 embodiments of the invention; Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 18 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 17 in a connected condition; Figure 19 is a cross-sectional of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a structural framework in the form of a building truss for a pitched roof. The truss 10 is formed from three beams, usually referred to as chords, 12, 14 and 16 As clearly seen the chords 12 and 14 are angled with respect to the chord 16. A plurality of webs 20 (only one shown) extend between the chord 16 and 14 and chord 16 \\melbf iles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 complete.doc 16/11/01 and 12. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the webs 20 are constructed as disclosed in our aforesaid International application and regard should be had to that application for full structural details of the webs 20. Suffice to say that the web 20 includes tabs 22 and 24 at its ends which sit flush with chord 16 and chord 12 or 14 as the case may be. The part of the web between the tabs 22 and 24 may be of tubular construction, generally U shaped channel shape construction, and the webs 20 may be single discrete items or formed as a continuous zig zag shape, or as disclosed in our aforesaid International application.

The web 20 is shown in Figure 2 in which the tab 22 can be more clearly seen. Figures 3, 4 and 4A show how the web 20 is secured to the beams 16 and 14. Only the beam 16 is shown in these figures but the other end of the web 20 is secured to the beam 14 in an identical manner.

The beam 16 has a first surface S, two transverse surfaces T and T' and a surface 0 opposite the first 20 surface S. The surface S of the chords 16 and 14 and 16 and 12 generally face one and other in the truss shown in Figure 1.

The tab 22 sits flush on the surface S and is either bent in manufacture of the web 20 to the desired angle so as sit flush on the surface S or is bent as the web 20 is installed in the truss. The tab 22 is fixed to the surface S of the chord 16 by a saddle connector i which is best shown in Figure 3. The saddle connector comprises a first wall 32 a second wall 34 arranged transverse to the first wall 32 and a third wall 36 also arranged transverse to the wall 32 and extending in the same direction as the wall 34. The walls 34 and 36 have teeth 38 punched from them. The teeth 38 are preferably in the form of grasshopper teeth shown in Figures 4 and 4A (and also in the cross-sectional view in the embodiment of Figure 19). The grasshopper teeth 38 are also known under the trade mark TYLOK. The grasshopper teeth 38 are \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 characterised before the teeth are pressed into a beam or structure with which the teeth are to connect, by extending on one side of the wall from which they are struck opposite to the surface of that wall which is to be directly adjacent the beam or structure to which the teeth are to penetrate. This configuration allows the connector to be located on the beam or structure without interference from the teeth 38.

As shown in Figures 3, 4, 4A and 19, the teeth 38 comprise a first portion 38a which extends outwardly of the walls 34 and 36 and second portion 38b located at the end of the portion 38a which extends back towards the walls 34 and 36 which terminates just short of the inner surface 36a or 34a of the wall 36 or 34 which is to be adjacent the surfaces T' and T of the beam 16 when the saddle connector is located on the chord 16. Thus, the teeth 38 before being pressed into the chord 16, are located outwardly of the surfaces 34a and 36a and therefore do not interfere with location of the saddle connector 30 onto the beam 16.

20 Thus, the walls 34 and 36 in this embodiment can be made perpendicular to the first wall 32.

In the embodiments of Figures 3, 4 and 4A two rows of teeth 38 are provided on each of the walls 34 and 36. In the embodiment of Figure 19 only one row is 25 provided. In each row the teeth 38 are arranged so that the first portion extends from one end of the slot which is left when the tooth is struck, and the adjacent tooth •extends from the opposite end of the slot from which it is •struck so the adjacent teeth alternate with regard to the end of the slot from which they extend as is best shown in Figure 19 with the adjacent tooth being labelled by prime reference numerals in Figure 19. This configuration is well known in connectors including TYLOK (trade mark) or grasshopper teeth.

As shown in Figure 2, according to one embodiment of the invention, the tab 22 is provided with projections which are struck from the tab 22 and extend upwardly as \\melbfiles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 -12shown in Figure 2. The first wall 22 of the saddle connector 30 is provided with holes 44 which are intended to register with the projections 40 so that when the connector 30 is located on the tab 22 and on the chord 16 as shown in Figures 4 and 4A the projections 40 extend upwardly through the holes 42. This configuration is clearly shown in Figure 4. In order to secure the tab 22 to the wall 32 of the connector 30 the projections 40 are bent over by a press or the like as shown in Figure 4A so as to securely couple the tab 22 to the wall 32 of the connector 30. This configuration is clearly shown in Figure 4A.

The connector 30 can then be secured to the beam 16 by applying a press to the teeth 38 to force the teeth inwardly towards the beam so that the teeth 38 penetrate the surfaces T' and T to securely connect the connector to the beam 16. Thus, the tab 22 is securely coupled to the connector 30 and sandwiched between the wall 32 of the connector 30 and the surface S of the chord 16, and the 20 connector is securely connected to the chord 16 by the teeth 38 penetrating the surfaces T and T' and being embedded in the beam 16.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention which is the same as Figure 4 except in this embodiment rather than connecting the tab 22 to the surface 32 by projections 40, the tab 22 is connected to the wall 32 by rivets 46.

In the embodiment of Figure 6, two webs 20 are shown which have respective tabs 22 secured by. a single 30 saddle connector 30. In this embodiment the saddle o° connector 30 is of sufficient length so that it can lie over both tabs 22 of the webs 20 and as in the embodiment of Figure 5, the first wall 32 is connected to the tabs 22 by rivets 46.

Figures 7 and 8 show embodiments similar to Figures 5 and 6 except that the webs 20 are formed from generally square U shaped channel section rather than being \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 -13tubular as in the case of the earlier embodiments.

Of course, it should be understood that the tab 22 in the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 could be connected to the wall 32 by a hole and projection arrangement the same as that described with reference to Figures 4 and 4A.

Figures 9 and 10 are embodiments similar to Figures 5 and 6 except that rather than connect the wall 32 to the tab 22 by rivets, spot-welding at locations 48 is used.

Figures 11 and 12 show still a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention the first wall 32 of the connector 30 is formed with grasshopper teeth similar to those described and the tab 22 is provided with holes or slots through which the grasshopper teeth can project when pressed to penetrate the surface S of the chord 16. In this embodiment the tab 22 is secured to the wall 32 by the teeth 38 passing through the holes or slots in the tab 22 and then penetrating the surface S of the chord 16 and embedding in the chord 16.

In the embodiments of Figures 6, 8, 10 and 12 the webs 20 may be formed as a continuous web of zig zag configuration with a single and integral tab extending between the adjacent webs Figures 13 and 14 are views similar to Figure 4 25 except that in this embodiment the tab 22 has an end portion which is clenched over the wall 32 of the connector so as to secure the tab 22 to the wall 32. In the •embodiment of Figure 13 spot-welding at locations 48 can also be used and in the embodiment of Figure 14 rivets 46 are also employed. In this embodiment the tab 22 is longer than the length of the wall 32 so that a portion of the tab 22 extends beyond the wall 32 so it can be bent over to form the clench portion 23 as shown in Figures 13 and 14.

Figures 15 and 16 show embodiments in which the web 20 is provided with an integral tab and connector formed as a single unit. Thus, in this embodiment the tab 22 and the wall 32 are the same component and this combined \\melbfies\homeS\Luis\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Completedoc 16/11/01 -14component is integrally formed on the web 20. The tab-wall 22, 32 is provided with second and third walls 34 and 36 as in the earlier embodiments and those walls have teeth 38 which are struck from the walls as also previously described. Once again, in order to secure the web 20 to the chord 16 the teeth 38 are pressed so that they penetrate and embed into the surfaces T and T' of the chord 16.

In the embodiment of Figure 16 the two webs are joined together by the wall/tab 22, 32 to form a single piece. A web structure of generally zig zag configuration can be formed from a number of webs 20 formed in this fashion so as to form a continuous web of the type described in our aforesaid International application.

Figures 17 and 18 are cross-sectional views of embodiments of the connector saddle 30 which have conventional punched teeth 50 which extend inwardly from surfaces 34a and 36a of the walls 34 and 36. In this embodiment the walls 34 and 36 are at least partly angled 20 at an acute angle with respect to a perpendicular plane P to the first wall 32 so as to provide clearance to enable the saddle connector to be located on the chord 16. In this embodiment the teeth 50 closest to the first wall 32 can be made shorter than the other teeth so as to make the 25 angle between the wall 36 and plane P as small as possible.

In other embodiments rather than having teeth struck from both ends of a slot, a single tooth could be struck from a slot adjacent the wall 32 and extend from the end of the slot furthest from the wall 32.

In this embodiment the wall 32 is slightly wider than the width of the chord 16 and is formed with a channel section 60 extending upwardly from the surface 32. In order to attach the connector 30 of this embodiment to the chord 16 a press is applied to the connector 30 so as to force the walls 34 and 36 inwardly and also to crimp the channel 60 in a generally V shaped configuration as shown in Figure 18, which pulls the side walls 36 inwardly so \\melbfies\hoeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 that the short perpendicular portions 34c and 36c of the walls 34 and 36 are pulled in tight against the surfaces T and T' of the chord 16. The press also forces the teeth to penetrate the surfaces T and T' to securely couple the connector 30 to the chord 16.

In the embodiment of Figures 17 and 18, the walls 34 and 36 are shown at an angle to the plane P as described above before the walls 34 and 36 are pressed so that the teeth 50 penetrate the chord 16. However, in this embodiment because the first wall 32 is wider than the width of the chord 16 and includes the channel 60 the walls 34 and 36 can be perpendicular to the first wall 32 with the teeth 50 being accommodated by the additional width of the first wall 32 with respect to the chord 16. Pressing of the walls 34 and 36 crimps the channel 60 into the configuration shown in Figure 18 to cause the walls 34 and 36 to move towards the chord 16 so that the teeth penetrate the transverse surfaces T and T'.

The embodiments of the connector 30 which have 20 the second and third walls 34 and 36 perpendicular to the first wall 12 have the advantage that during pressing of the walls to embed the teeth in the chord, the walls move whilst maintaining a substantially parallel relationship with respect to the transverse surfaces T and This 25 means that the teeth will penetrate the surfaces T and T' t* at a right angle to those surfaces which ensures good penetration and connection of the teeth to the chord 16.

In the embodiments where the sides 34 and 36 are at an acute angle, the movement into a position in which the teeth embed and penetrate the surfaces T and T' will involve some rotation thereby meaning that the direction of "motion of the teeth into the chords will not be perpendicular which may result in the connection of the teeth not being as strong as in the embodiment in which the walls 34 and 36 are perpendicular to the wall 32.

The embodiment in which the walls 34 and 36 are perpendicular with respect to the wall 32 have the \\melb.files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Completedoc 16/11/01 -16additional advantage of making it easier to store the saddles 30 because the saddles take up less room than the embodiments where the walls 34 and 36 are at an acute angle to the plane P. These embodiments can also reduce the size of press heads and other equipment which are required to engage the walls 34 and 36 in order to press them into the chord 16.

The embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 10 are provided with teeth of the type shown in Figures 17 and 18 and this is why the sides 34 and 36 in these embodiments are shown arranged at an acute angle to the first wall 32 rather than perpendicular to the wall 32 as in the case of the embodiment of Figures 4 and 4A.

*g 55* \\melbfiles\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01

Claims (12)

1. A structural framework for a building, including: a first beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface; a second beam at least partially spaced from the first beam, the second beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface; at least one web extending between the first and second beams, the web having at least one tab at one end of the web which sits flush on the first surface of one of the first and second beams; a separate saddle connector having a first wall, and a second wall extending transverse to the first wall, the first wall overlying said tab so that the tab is sandwiched between the first wall and the said first 20 surface of the said one of the first and second beams; S connecting means for connecting the tab to the saddle connector; and C the second wall having integral teeth punched therefrom and penetrating one of the transverse surfaces of 25 the said one of the first and second beam to thereby secure the tab and therefore the metal web to the said one of the first and second beam. S

2. The framework of claim 1 wherein the saddle connector has a third wall extending transverse to the *oo* first wall and in the same direction as the second wall, the third wall having integral teeth penetrating the other transverse surface of the said one of the first and second beams.

3. The framework of claim 1 wherein the connection means is selected from the group comprising: \\melbfies\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Seci\Mitek PR2064 Completedoc 16/11/01

17- self-piercing rivets which pass through the tab and the first wall; spot welding of the tab to the first wall; a portion of the tab clenched over the first wall; and projections on one of the first wall or tab and extending through holes in the other of the first wall or tab. 4. The framework of claim 3 wherein the projections are in the form of punched teeth punched from the first wall and extending through holes in the tab and penetrating the first surface of the beam. 5. The framework of claim 3 wherein the projections are formed on the tab and extend through holes in the first wall of the saddle connector, the projections being bent over after passing through the holes so as to secure the tab to the first wall of the saddle connector. 6. The framework of claim 2 wherein the teeth punched from the second and third walls of the saddle connector comprise grasshopper teeth having a first portion which extends at an angle outwardly of the wall and away from surfaces of the wall which will be adjacent the transverse surfaces of the beam, and a second portion arranged at an angle to the first portion and extending towards the said surfaces of the wall but terminating short of the said surfaces so that the punched teeth are arranged 30 entirely outwardly of said surfaces of the wall, the second and third walls therefore being able to be arranged S0' perpendicular with respect to the first wall so that the saddle connector can be located over the beam with the second and third walls being flush with the transverse surfaces of the beam, and to connect the saddle connector to the beam the teeth are pressed so as to move inwardly towards the beam and penetrate the transverse surfaces of \\melb-fies\home$\Luisa\eep\Speci \?itek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 -18- the beam. 7. The framework according to claim 2 wherein the teeth on the second and third walls can be punched teeth which extend inwardly from the surfaces of the second and third walls which are adjacent the transverse surfaces of the beam, the said second and third walls being arranged at an acute angle relative to a plane transverse to the first wall to enable the teeth to clear the beam when the connector is located over the tab and onto the beam, and the second and third walls being pressed inwardly to a perpendicular orientation with respect to the first side to cause the teeth to penetrate the transverse surfaces. 8. The framework of claim 7 wherein the teeth closest to the first surface of the saddle connector may be shorter than the remaining teeth on each of the second and third sides, to reduce the angle of the second and third wall relative to the perpendicular plane whilst still 20 enabling location of the saddle connector on the tab and beam. 9. A method of securing a web having at least one tab at one end, to a beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface, the beam forming part of a structural framework for a building, the method including: locating the tab of the web so that the tab sits flush on the first surface of the beam; 30 locating a saddle connector having a first wall and a second wall with integral teeth punched from the second wall, over said tab so the tab is sandwiched between the first wall and the first surface of the beam; connecting the tab to the saddle connector; and pressing the teeth so that the teeth penetrate one of the transverse surfaces of the beam to thereby secure the tab and therefore the metal web to the beam \\melbfiles\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 -19- The method of claim 9 wherein the tab is connected to the first wall by one of the following methods: locating self-piercing rivets through the tab in the first wall; spot-welding the tab to the first wall; clenching a portion of the tab over the first wall; and forming projections on the first wall or tab and locating the projections through holes in the other of the first wall or tab. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the projections penetrate the first surface of the beam or are bent over to secure the tab and first wall together. 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the saddle connector has a third wall with integral teeth punched from i: 20 the third wall, the second wall and the third wall :extending substantially perpendicular to the first wall and in the same direction, the first wall having a box section :upstanding from the first wall, the first wall having a width which is greater than the width of the first surface of the beam so that the teeth punched from the second and third wall, prior to pressing of the connector, can be accommodated between the respective second or third wall and the respective transverse surface of the beam, and i wherein the pressing of the teeth includes crimping the box 30 section so as to draw the first and second walls inwardly towards the transverse surfaces in generally parallel fashion with respect to the transverse surfaces as the teeth penetrate the transverse surfaces and embed in the beam. 13. A structural framework for a building including: a first beam having a first surface, a pair of \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface; a second beam at least partially spaced from the first beam, the second beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces and an opposite surface opposite the first surface; at least one web extending between the first and second beams, the web having at least one tab at one end of the web which sits flush on the first surface of one of the first and second beams, the tab having a second wall extending transverse to the first wall so that the tab and the second wall form an integral saddle connector, the second wall having grasshopper teeth which before the teeth penetrate one of the transverse walls, are comprised of: a first portion which extends at an angle outwardly of the second wall and away from a surface of the second wall adjacent said one of the transverse surface of the beam, and a second position extending from the first portion at an angle to the first portion towards the said :surface of the second wall but terminating short of said surface so that the punched teeth are :arranged outwardly of the said surface of the second wall so they do not interfere with location of the saddle connector onto the beam; and the teeth being pressed to move towards and passed the said surface of the second wall so as to penetrate said one of the transverse surfaces and are 30 embedded in the beam to secure the web to the beam. 14. The framework of claim 13 wherein the tab includes a third wall extending transverse to the tab and in the same direction as the second wall, the third wall having further said grasshopper teeth. \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/11/01 .1 -21- The framework of claim 13 wherein the tab also includes a connector member for connecting the tab to the first surface of the beam. 16. The framework of claim 15 wherein the connection member may include a group of teeth punched from the tab and which penetrate the first surface of the beam. 17. A metal web for a building framework including a beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface, said web including: a web body; a tab formed at one end of the web body and integral with the web body, the tab forming a first wall of a saddle connector, a second wall extending transverse to the tab and integral with the tab and forming a second wall of the saddle connector, the saddle connector being locatable on the beam so that the tab sits flush with the 20 first surface of the beam and the second wall sits flush with a transverse surface of the beam; and the second wall having grasshopper teeth punched from the second wall, the grasshopper teeth being comprised of a first portion which extends at an angle outwardly of the second wall and away from a surface of the second wall which will be adjacent said one of the transverse surfaces of the beam when the saddle connector is located on the beam, and a second portion extending from the first portion at an angle to the first portion towards the said surface 30 of the second wall but terminating short of the said surface so that the punched teeth are arranged outwardly of the said surface of the second wall so they do not interfere with location of the saddle connector onto the beam.

18. The web of claim 17 wherein the tab includes a third wall extending transverse to the tab and in the same \\melb-files\homeS\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Completedoc 16/11/01 -22- direction as the second wall, the third wall having further said grasshopper teeth.

19. The web of claim 17 wherein the tab which forms the first wall of the saddle connector may include a connector member for connecting the tab to the first surface of the beam. The web of claim 17 wherein the connector member includes a group of teeth punched from the tab for penetrating the first surface of the beam.

21. A metal web for a structural framework which includes a beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces and an opposite surface opposite the first surface, said web including: a web body; and a tab arranged at one end of the web body, the tab having at least one projection extending outwardly of the tab for location through a hole of a saddle connector having a first wall in which the hole is formed and a second wall, having integral teeth punched therefrom, transverse to the first wall so that the projection can be bent over to secure the tab to the saddle connector.

22. The web of claim 21 wherein the tab includes a plurality of projections for location through a plurality of holes in the saddle connector. 30 23. A saddle connector for connecting a tab of a metal web to a beam of a framework, the beam having a first surface, a pair of transverse surfaces, and an opposite surface opposite the first surface, the saddle connector including: 35 a first wall; a second wall extending transverse to the first wall; and \\melbfiles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 16/09/03 -23- teeth punched out of the second wall for penetrating one of the transverse surfaces of the beam.

24. The connector of claim 23 wherein the saddle connector includes a third wall extending transverse to the first wall in the same direction as the second wall, the third wall having teeth punched from the third wall for penetrating the other of the transverse surfaces of the beam. The connector of claim 23 wherein the first wall includes connector elements for facilitating connection of the tab of the metal web to the first wall of the saddle connector.

26. The connector of claim 25 wherein the connector elements include holes through which projections can locate and be bent over so as to connect the first wall to the tab.

27. The connector of claim 25 wherein the connector elements are punched teeth which pass through openings in the tab and penetrate the first surface of the beam, to thereby couple the tab to the first wall of the saddle connector.

28. The connector of claim 23 wherein the second and third wall are perpendicular with respect to the first wall, the first wall having a width which is greater than the width of the first surface of the beam so that the teeth, prior to pressing of the connector onto the beam, are accommodated in the space between the second and third wall and the transverse surfaces of the beam, the first wall having a box section upstanding from the first wall so that when the connector is pressed to force the teeth into the transverse surfaces the box section is deformed to cause the second and third walls to be drawn inwardly \\me lb-fies\home$\Luisa\ Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 24/03/03 -24- towards the transverse surfaces, whilst remaining parallel to the transverse surfaces, so the teeth can penetrate the transverse surfaces of the beam. Dated this 19th day of November 2001 MITEK HOLDINGS, INC. By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek PR2064 Complete.doc 19/11/01