CA2616743C

CA2616743C - Structural member joints

Info

Publication number: CA2616743C
Application number: CA2616743A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Richard W. Kauppila
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-25
Filing date: 2006-07-11
Publication date: 2013-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-11
Also published as: EP1913266A4; EP1913266A2; WO2007013905A2; CA2616743A1; WO2007013905A3

Abstract

A connector and method for joining one end of a first member such as a wood log or beam to a side of a second member involving metal sleeves secured in aligned holes in a respective member with a protruding one of the sleeve slidable into the other sleeve. A bolt is threaded into an internally threaded element on the inner end of the sleeve in the first member and advanced to pull the members together. The sleeves are secured in the holes with spike features driven out into the surrounding material. Alternatively, a tee connector has a plate portion fitting into a slot extending through aligned holes in the plate and one end of the first member. A cross plate is held against the one side of the other member with thread fasteners.

Description

7 Background of the Invention 8 This invention concerns joinery and more particularly joining one end of a 9 member such as a timber or composite beam or log to the side of another member.
Such connections have heretofore been made by mortise and tenon joints or other 11 joints involving shaping of the members themselves, by metal connectors, by lag screws 12 or bolts, etc. For large member joints, screw threads in wood or other sofi material have 13 insufficient holding power.
14 All of these prior methods have disadvantages, primarily in the cost or time involved in making the joint due to the need to machine the wood or to install costly, 16 complicated connectors or result in a joint of inadequate strength.
17 Many such joints use components which are conspicuously exposed, to be 18 unsightly.
19 It is the object of the present invention to provide a joint between such members using simpler connectors which can be quickly and easily installed, which creates a 21 strong joint, and involves only minimal exposed components to have a neat appearance.

1 Summary of the Invention 2 The above recited object as well as other objects which will be appreciated by 3 reading the following specification and claims are achieved by making a joint using first 4 and second tubular metal sleeves inserted in respective holes in each member which holes can be easily and quickly made as by drilling. The first sleeve is inserted into a first hole 6 drilled into the end of a first member with a substantial portion of its length remaining 7 protruding out of the hole. The inserted end of the sleeve has an end wall with a weld nut 8 attached thereto. The hole may have a smaller diameter clearance hole at its bottom to 9 receive the protruding end of a bolt to be threaded into the nut, described below. A third, slightly smaller diameter sleeve is driven into the first sleeve, driving out an array of 11 recessed spike features formed around and along the first sleeve out to be set into the 12 surrounding wood to securely anchor the first sleeve therein. The third sleeve is left in 13 position within the first sleeve to reinforce the same.

14 A hole is drilled through the side of the second member and the second sleeve, which is shorter than the first sleeve inserted therein, also having an array of spike 16 features, formed therein, which are set with a tool driven into the third sleeve, which tool 17 is then removed.

18 An end piece is inserted into the outside end of the through hole aligned with the 19 second sleeve, and is attached to the opposite side of the second member as with screws.

After assembling the members together by inserting the protruding first sleeve 21 end into the second sleeve, a long bolt is inserted through the end piece and threaded into 22 the weld nut at the inner end of the first sleeve, and tightened against an end wall of the 23 end piece to complete the joint.

An alternative joint connection involves a connector including a flat plate having a transverse end piece attached thereto, the plate inserted into a slot machined into the end of a first member.
Bolts are inserted into holes drilled through the first member end and through aligned holes in the plate thereafter, secured with nuts threaded on the bolt ends, the drilled holes counter-bored to recess the bolt heads and nuts.
The integral transverse piece, which may be curved to match a log surface, is seated against the second member and secured thereto with screws.
An end stabilizer is preferably used when wood members are to be joined. An annular groove is machined into the end of a log or beam and a ring pressed there into.
The spikes can be formed by first cutting pointed end three sided tabs to a metal sheet to be formed into a sleeve. The tab is then bent into one side of the sheet to be angled out of the plane of the sheet with the pointed end pointing to the inside. Next, the end of each spike is reversely bent back so that this pointed tip points in the opposite direction. The angled tab provides a cam surface for forcing the tip out and into the surrounding material.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a joint between two penetrable members in a position with a surface of a first member abutting against a surface of a second member, comprising a first sleeve secured within a first hole extending in from the first member surface by engagement with surrounding portions of the first member defining the first hole; a second sleeve separate from the first sleeve fixedly secured in a second hole extending through the second member by engagement with surrounding portions of the second member defining the second hole, the sleeves overlapping with the first sleeve having an end portion protruding from the first member and slidably received within an inside diameter of the second sleeve with the surfaces of the members in the abutting position against each other; an internally threaded element secured adjacent to an inmost end of the first sleeve in the first hole; a threaded locking bolt extending through both of the sleeves and threaded into the internally threaded element fixed to the first sleeve, the bolt having a head engaging a surface fixed relative the second member to enable the first and second sleeves to be drawn together by threaded advancement of the bolt in the element each of the sleeves are secured in their respective associated holes by penetrating spike features on the sleeves penetrating radially into portions of the penetrable members surrounding the holes, and a third sleeve extends into the inside of the first sleeve to force the spike features thereon radially outwardly into the portions of the first member defining the first hole and driving a cylindrical tool into the second sleeve to drive the spikes radially out into the second member; and an end piece having a sleeve portion fit into the hole in the second member and against an end of the second sleeve remote from the first member and also having an end wall comprising the surface fixed relative the second member abutted by the head on the bolt with an opening therein allowing a body portion of the bolt to pass through the end wall.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of joining a first penetrable member to a second penetrable member with respective surfaces thereof in abutment, including forming a first hole extending into a surface of the first penetrable member; inserting a first sleeve into the first hole and securing the same therein by attachment to surrounding portions of the first member defining the first hole; forming a second hole extending through the second member and the surface of the first member; separately inserting a second sleeve separate from the first sleeve into the hole in the second member; securing the first and second sleeves to the first and second members respectively by forcing spike features formed inside each of the sleeves out into the surrounding portions of the respective members defining the first and second holes by forcing a third sleeve into the inside of the first sleeve to force the spike features thereon radially outwardly into the portions of the first member defining the first hole and driving a cylindrical tool into the second sleeve to drive the spikes radially out into the second member; configuring the first sleeve to protrude out of the first hole and slidably fit in an inside diameter of the second sleeve when the respective surfaces of the members are positioned against each other; inserting a threaded bolt through the sleeves from an opposite side of the second member and threading the same into an internally threaded element fixed at the inside end of the first sleeve, with a head on the bolt engaging a surface fixed relative the second member so that the first and second members are drawn together by advancement of the threaded bolt in the internally threaded element.

3a Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a partially sectional view of one end of a part of a wood member with a first sleeve tube installed in a drilled hole therein.
Figure 2 is a view of an intermediate segment of a second wood member with a sleeve installed therein with a separated tool shown for setting spikes in the tube.

3b 1 Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of a second sleeve being installed in the first 2 sleeve shown previously shown being installed in the first member in Figure 1.
3 Figure 4 is a partially exploded view of the two members shown in Figures 4 being joined with a separated end piece being installed on the second member.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the two members to be joined in 6 abutment, with the sleeves assembled, but with a locking bolt shown in an aligned 7 preparatory to being inserted into the sleeves.
8 Figure 6 is the same view as Figure 5 but with the locking bolt fully tightened.
9 Figure 7 is a sectional view of two log members connected together at right angles using a connector according to another embodiment of the invention.
11 Figure 8 is an end view of one of the log members with the connector attached.
12 Figure 9 is a sectional view of a log member and a square beam connected 13 together at right angles by a variation of the connector shown in Figure 7.
14 Figure 10 is an end view of the log member with connector attached.
Figure 11 is a sectional view of two log members connected at an acute angle to 16 each other with a variation of the connector shown in Figures 7 and 9.
17 Figure 12 is a sectional view of two log members connected at an acute angle to 18 each other with a variation of the connector shown in Figures 7 and 9.
19 Figure 13 is a partially exploded view of an end of a log member and a withdrawn hole saw used to cut an annular groove into the log end.
21 Figure 14 is an end view of the log end shown in Figure 13 with a ring stabilizer 22 pressed therein.

1 Figure 15 Is a partiaIly sectional view of the log end of Figure 13 and 14 with the 2 stabilizer ring in place.
3 Figure 16 is a fragmentary partially sectional enlarged view of a metal plate used 4 to form the spiked sleeves used in the connector shown in Figures 1-6.
Figure 17A is a fragmentary side view of the sheet section shown in Figure 16.
6 Figure 17B is an end view of the sheet section shown in Figure 17A.
7 Figure 18A is a side view of the sheet section with the tab bent up out of the plane 8 of the sheet.
9 Figure 18B is an end view of the sheet section shown in Figure 18A.
Figure 19A is a side view of the sheet section with the end of the tab bent 11 outwardly.
12 Figure 19B is an end view of the sheet section shown in Figure 19A.

14 Detailed Description In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be 16 employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance 17 with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not 18 intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is 19 capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.
Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figure 1, an end 10 of a first wood 21 member 12 such as a log, has the face 14 cut at an angle corresponding to the angle of a 22 joint to be made with a second member 16 (Figure 2). Such members can be of wood, 23 composite or other composition.

1 "A: haidi 'irdiilte'd"intOlfigliface 14 in a direction aligned with the longitudinal 2 axis of the member 10.

3 A first metal sleeve 18, preferably of steel which is galvanized or otherwise rust 4 protected is pressed into the hole 19.

The sleeve 18 is longer than the hole 19 so that a substantial segment 20 thereof 6 protrudes out of the hole 19.
7 An end plate 22 is affixed as by welding to the end of the sleeve 18 within the 8 hole 19 to which is in turn attached a weld nut 24 aligned with the longitudinal axis of the 9 sleeve 18. A short clearance hole 21 allows the end of a bolt described below to protrude through the nut 24.

11 An array of circumferential sets of formed spike features 26 is arranged 12 distributed along the length of the sleeve 18, with successive sets rotated out of alignment 13 with the prior set. These features are punched or otherwise formed into the side wall of 14 the sleeve 18 so as to be recessed below the surface of the sleeve 18 to allow unimpeded insertion into the drilled hole 18.

16 The second wood member 16 has a through hole 27 drilled through the sides 28 17 thereof at an angle normal to the angle of the face 14 of the first member.

18 A shorter angled end second metal sleeve 30 is inserted in the drilled hole 26.

19 The sleeve 30 also has an array of sets of spikes 32 punched or otherwise formed into the side wall of the sleeve 30, distributed along the length of the sleeve 30 in similar fashion 21 to the first sleeve 18.

ritir r"
1 "T` g-lpike''STaieµ dt bylthol 34 driven into the inside of the sleeve 30, with a 2 chamfered end 35 forcing the pointed tips of the spikes 32 out and into the surrounding 3 wood to lock the sleeve 30 in the hole 26. The tool 34 is then removed.

4 Referring to Figure 3, a third liner sleeve 36 is inserted into the previously inserted sleeve 18, of a diameter slidably fit within the sleeve 18. A
chamfered lead end 6 38 engages the spikes 26 forcing the pointed tips out into the surrounding wood to lock 7 the sleeve 18 in place in the hole 19. The third liner sleeve 36 is left in place and is 8 substantially coextensive with the sleeve 18 to strengthen the same.

9 Figure 4 shows the members 12, 16 positioned with the respective first, second and third sleeves 18, 30, 36 in alignment, with the second sleeve 30 of an inside diameter 11 sized to slidably receive the protruding end of the first sleeve 18 and allow the members 12 12, 16 to be brought into abutment with each other the end 10 of the first member 12 13 against one side of the second member 16, as seen in Figure 5.

14 An end piece 40 is installed in the outer end of the hole 26 in the second member 16, with a truncated sleeve portion 42 received therein and a flange 44 overlying the 16 adjacent surfaces of the side 28A. Screws 46 are used to secure the end piece 40 in place.

17 A clearance hole 48 is formed in an end wall 50 of the end piece 40.

18 A locking bolt 52 is inserted through the hole 48 and sleeves 18, 30, 36 and 19 threadably engaged with the nut 24, and advanced therein to draw the head 54 against the end wall 50 and tightened to pull the remembers 12, 16 together, as seen in Figure 6.

21 The large number of spikes 26, 32 distributed along the sleeves 18, 30 creates a 22 holding power which is greater than can be obtained with screw threads to create a strong 23 joint in members of wood or other soft material.

1 WO 2007/013905 Figure8 anci id snow an alternate form of joint in which a single piece metal tee CA 02616743 2008-01-2 connector 56 is utilized including an anchoring plate 58 and a curved cross piece 60 3 integral therewith extending across an outer end thereof, each having a pattern of through 4 holes 62, 64 formed therein. As seen in Figure 12, the anchor plate 58 is received in a slot 66 machined into the end of a first wood member 68. A series of bolts 70 pass 6 through the holes 62 in the plate 58 and align holes 72 through the first wood member.
7 Counter bores 74 accommodate the bolt heads 74 and nuts 76 to positively secure the 8 plate 58 in the slot 66.
9 The curved cross piece 60 is recessed into a curved space 78 machined into the end of the first member.
11 The outwardly concave shape allows a second wood member, log 80 to be 12 received against the curved cross piece 60, secured thereto with lag screws 82.
13 For square or rectangular timbers 86, a flat cross piece 84 can be used in a 14 connector 85 to abut flat against the same (Figures 9, 10).
Figure 11 shows an angled joint in which a first log member 88 is connected at an 16 angle to a second member 90 using a concavely curved cross piece 92 of another formed 17 connector 94 attached at an angle to the anchor plate 96.
18 Figure 13 shows a step in an end reinforcement method for a log 98 in which a 19 hole saw 100 is used to cut an annular groove 102.
A steel metal ring 104, (preferably of steel) is pressed into the groove 102 serving 21 to prevent splitting, etc. (Figures 14, 15). This can be used in conjunction with the joints 22 described above.
23 Figures 16-19B show details of the spikes 26 and 32.

liFiigi;liAlitb?sfaal'tatidbalififrises the spike 26 outline is cut as by punching or CA 02616743 2008-01-25 2 laser cutting, with a pointed shape 106 at the end, as seen in Figures 16, 17A, 17B.
3 Next, the spike-tabs 26 are bent in towards what will be the inside of the sleeve 18, 4 (Figures 18A, 18B) along the connected side of the tab-spike 26. That is, the tab-spikes 26 can be formed in steel sheet stock prior to forming the sleeve 18, with the sheet 6 rolled and welded to form the sleeve 18.
7 Finally, the pointed end of each spike is bent down to be pointed down towards 8 the other side of the sheet as seen in Figure 19A, 19.
9 Thus, the sloping backside 108 provides a camming surface recessed within the sleeve 18 for engagement by the third liner sleeve 36 to force the sharp tips 106 out and 11 into the surrounding wood when the liner sleeve is driven into the sleeve 18. The spikes 12 26 are initially completely recessed within the first sleeve 18 to allow the sleeve 18 to be 13 slidably seated within the hole 19.

14 The spikes 32 can be made in the same way.
The large number of spikes 26, 32 create considerable holding power in wood 16 compared to screws.
17 Each set of spikes 26, 32 are arranged circumferentially with four or more in each 18 set depending on the size of the sleeves. Succeeding sets are distributed axially down the 19 length of the sleeve, each set rotated to be located between spikes in the previous set so as to not be aligned and thereby better distribute the stress imposed on the wood.
21 The connector and joint can be used with members of material other than w000d 22 such as plastic or composite which can be penetrated by the spikes as described.

Claims

1. A joint between two penetrable members in a position with a surface of a first member abutting against a surface of a second member, comprising a first sleeve secured within a first hole extending in from said first member surface by engagement with surrounding portions of said first member defining said first hole;
a second sleeve separate from said first sleeve fixedly secured in a second hole extending through said second member by engagement with surrounding portions of said second member defining said second hole, said sleeves overlapping with said first sleeve having an end portion protruding from said first member and slidably received within an inside diameter of said second sleeve with said surfaces of said members in said abutting position against each other;
an internally threaded element secured adjacent to an inmost end of said first sleeve in said first hole;
a threaded locking bolt extending through both of said sleeves and threaded into said internally threaded element fixed to said first sleeve, said bolt having a head engaging a surface fixed relative said second member to enable said first and second sleeves to be drawn together by threaded advancement of said bolt in said element each of said sleeves are secured in their respective associated holes by penetrating spike features on said sleeves penetrating radially into portions of said penetrable members surrounding said holes, and a third sleeve extends into the inside of the first sleeve to force said spike features thereon radially outwardly into said portions of said first member defining said first hole and driving a cylindrical tool into said second sleeve to drive said spikes radially out into said second member; and an end piece having a sleeve portion fit into said hole in said second member and against an end of said second sleeve remote from said first member and also having an end wall comprising said surface fixed relative said second member abutted by said head on said bolt with an opening therein allowing a body portion of said bolt to pass through said end wall.

2. The joint according to claim 1 wherein said third sleeve extends substantially coextensively within said first sleeve including said protruding portion.

3. The joint according to claim 1 wherein said end piece has a flange portion overlying a side surface of said second member adjacent said hole therein securing said end wall fixed relative said second member.

4. The joint according to claim 3 wherein said flange is fastened to said second member.

5. The joint according to claim 1 wherein said members are wood.

6. A method of joining a first penetrable member to a second penetrable member with respective surfaces thereof in abutment, including forming a first hole extending into a surface of said first penetrable member;
inserting a first sleeve into said first hole and securing the same therein by attachment to surrounding portions of said first member defining said first hole;
forming a second hole extending through said second member and said surface of said first member;
separately inserting a second sleeve separate from said first sleeve into said hole in said second member;
securing said first and second sleeves to said first and second members respectively by forcing spike features formed inside each of said sleeves out into said surrounding portions of said respective members defining said first and second holes by forcing a third sleeve into the inside of said first sleeve to force said spike features thereon radially outwardly into said portions of said first member defining said first hole and driving a cylindrical tool into said second sleeve to drive said spikes radially out into said second member;
configuring said first sleeve to protrude out of said first hole and slidably fit in an inside diameter of said second sleeve when said respective surfaces of said members are positioned against each other;

inserting a threaded bolt through said sleeves from an opposite side of said second member and threading the same into an internally threaded element fixed at the inside end of said first sleeve, with a head on said bolt engaging a surface fixed relative said second member so that said first and second members are drawn together by advancement of said threaded bolt in said internally threaded element.

7. The method according to claim 6 further including leaving said third sleeve in place therein after creating said joint.

8. The method according to claim 6 further including installing an end piece in said second hole in said second member on a side opposite said surface of said second member, and affixing one or more flanges thereon to said second member, and engaging said bolt head with an end wall on said end piece to cause said first and second members to be pulled together upon advancement of said bolt in said element.