A building assembly utilized in connecting building members together while permitting limited relative movement between the members. The assembly includes a structure such as a track or plate that includes one or more longitudinal slots. Integrally formed in the longitudinal slot is a breakaway washer that receives a fastener that extends into an adjacent structure. When a certain force is applied to the breakaway washer, the breakaway washer breaks away from the slot and this permits the slot to move about the breakaway washer and fastener which results in there being relative movement between two connected structures.
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19. A connector assembly for connecting to at least one structural member, comprising:
a connecting member;
at least one elongated slot formed in the connecting member, the elongated slot including opposed edges;
a breakaway washer connected to the slot and including a main body having a fastener center opening and at least one tab projecting from the main body and connected to one edge of the slot such that the main body is suspended in the slot by the at least one tab;, the main body of the breakaway washer including a face; and
a fastener having a flange and a shaft extending through the centering opening, the flange of the fastener facing the face of the breakaway washer configured to engage the breakaway washer;
one or more dimples or a burr formed on the face of the breakaway washer and elevated with respect to the face of the breakaway washer and configured for engaging the flange of the fastener such that there exists a space between the flange of the fastener and the connecting member; and
wherein the breakaway washer is configured such that when a force is applied to the breakaway washer, the breakaway washer will break away from the slot and permit relative movement between the slot and the combination of the breakaway washer, and fastener, and connecting member.
1. A building assembly, comprising:
a first building member having one or more elongated slots with each slot having a length and a width formed therein; and
a second building member;
a connector assembly configured for connecting the first and second building members together such that the building members may move relative to each other while still being connected; member to a second building member, the connector assembly including:
one or more breakaway washers, with each breakaway washer integrally formed connected to the first building member in one slot of the first building member, and each breakaway washer having a face;
each breakaway washer having a fastener centering opening and one or more tabs projecting into edges of the slots;
a fastener extending through the centering opening of configured to engage the breakaway washer and connected connect to the second building member so as to connect the first and second building members; the breakaway washer having a face having a surface area;, the fastener including a flange that faces the face of the breakaway washer; and
one or more raised dimples formed on extending away from the face of the breakaway washer and projecting towards the flange of the fastener for causing the breakaway washer to be fastened to the second building member when the fastener is tightened;
wherein the flange of the fastener engages is configured to engage the one or more dimples and, wherein the one or more dimples function as an interface between the flange and the surface area of the face of the breakaway washer and prevents the flange of the fastener flange from directly engaging the surface area face of the breakaway washer face;
wherein the dimples are further configured to maintain a spacing between the flange of the fastener and the flange of the first building member; and
wherein the breakaway washer is configured such that when a certain force is applied to the breakaway washer, the breakaway washer will break away from the slot and permit the slot to move relative to the fastener, breakaway washer, and second building member thereby permitting relative movement between the first and second building members.
9. A building assembly, comprising:
a first building member having one or more elongated slots with each slot having a length and a width formed therein; and
a second building member;
a connector assembly configured for connecting the first and second building members together such that the building members may move relative to each other while still being connected; member to a second building member, the connector assembly including;
one or more breakaway washers, with each breakaway washer integrally formed connected to the first building member in one slot of the first building member;, and each breakaway washer having a face and a fastener centering opening;
a fastener extending through the centering opening of configured to engage the breakaway washer and connected connect to the second building member so as to connect the first and second building members; the breakaway washer having a face having a surface area;, the fastener including a flange that faces the face of the breakaway washer; and
a raised burr formed on projecting outwardly from the face of the breakaway washer adjacent the centering opening of the breakaway washer, the burr projecting outwardly from the face of the breakaway washer towards the flange of the fastener such that the burr causes the breakaway washer to be affixed to the second building member when the fastener is tightened;
wherein the flange of the fastener engages is configured to engage the burr and, wherein the burr functions as an interface between the flange and the face of the breakaway washer and prevents the flange of the fastener from directly engaging the face of the breakaway washer;
wherein the burr maintains is configured to maintain a spacing between the flange of the fastener and the first building member; and
wherein the breakaway washer is configured such that when a certain force is applied to the breakaway washer, the breakaway washer will break away from the slot and permit the slot to move relative to the fastener, breakaway washer, and second building member such that the first and second members can move relative to each other.
15. A building structure for connecting to studs and for connecting to another building member, the building structure comprising:
a track having a web and a pair of flanges and configured to move both vertically and horizontally while being connected to the studs and to the other building member;
a series of flange slots formed in each flange with each slot having opposed edges and extending vertically and generally normal with respect to the web;
a one or more first breakaway washer integrally connected to each flange in the flange slots formed in each flange, each breakaway washer including a centering opening and a main body and one or more tabs projecting from the main body and joining at least one edge of the flange slot; the first breakaway washers integrally connected in the flange slots configured such that when a certain force is applied to the first breakaway washers, the first breakaway washers will break away from the associated flange slot and the flange slot will move relative to the first breakaway washer;
one or more elongated web slots formed in the web with each web slot including opposed edges and extending parallel relative to the flanges and generally normal relative to the flange slots;
a one or more second breakaway washer integrally connected to the web in each web slot and including a centering opening, a main body, and one or more tabs projecting from the main body and joining at least one edge of the web slot;, each second breakaway washer integrally connected in a web slot configured such that when a certain force is applied to the second breakaway washer integrally connected in the web slot, the second breakaway washer will break away and wherein the web slot can move horizontally about the second breakaway washer;
wherein when the first breakaway washers within the flange slot break away, the track is moveable vertically;
wherein when the second breakaway washer in the web slot breaks away, the track is moveable horizontally; and
wherein when the first and second breakaway washers in the flange slots and the web slots break away, respectively, the track is moveable both vertically and horizontally.
2. The building assembly of
3. The building assembly of
4. The building assembly of
5. The building assembly of
6. The building assembly of
7. The building assembly of
8. The building assembly of
10. The building assembly of
11. The building assembly of
13. The building assembly of
14. The building assembly of
16. The building structure of
17. The building structure of
18. The building structure of
20. The connector assembly of
21. The connector assembly of
22. The connector assembly of
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The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,419, issued May 22, 2012, entitled “Connector for Connecting Building Members”. The contents of this patent U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,419 are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to lightweight metal building components and more particularly to connecting assemblies for connecting metal building components together.
Movable or slideable construction member connections can be utilized in building design to prevent or limit damage due to varying or dynamic loads. Varying loads can arise from movement of equipment and personnel in the building as well as from environmental factors such as high winds and seismic activity. Flexing of construction members under varying load is expected and acceptable within code-specified limits. However, such flexing often means that some connections between members can cause damage if some relative movement between the connected members is not allowed. The building industry has recognized this problem. Movement between connected members has been accommodated by having sliding connections between the members to permit limited relative movement between the members while keeping the members otherwise securely connected together.
An approach commonly used is that of a slotted connection. In a typical configuration, a connector in the form of a plate or bracket is rigidly secured to or part of one of the members and slideably connected to the other member by means of one or more slots and fasteners. Typically the plate has slots, and shouldered or bushed screws, are projected through slots and into the other member. The screws are tightened to secure the members together but yet permit the members some range of relative sliding movement. The head of the fastener is prevented by the shoulder or bushing from clamping against the connector plate so that the plate can move along the length of the slot. For a more complete and detailed description of such connection devices, reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,906,080; 6,612,087; 5,467,566; 7,503,150; and, 8,181,419; the disclosures of these patents are expressly included herein by reference.
The degree to which such devices function as intended is dependent upon proper installation. For example, should a shouldered screw be inserted and tightened off center in the slot, the shoulder would overlap and clamp the plate to the member. This clamping would render the connection more or less rigid and not slideable. Avoiding this kind of improper installation requires time and installer dexterity to properly align the screw in the slot.
A need exists for a connection assembly that will provide for easy and accurate screw placement to prevent inadvertent clamping together of the building members being connected and to thus facilitate slideable connection between the members
The present invention relates to a metal building component that includes an elongated slot having a breakaway washer integrally formed therein. The breakaway washer in one embodiment includes a series of raised dimples that extend outwardly from the face of the washer. A fastener having a flange is inserted through a centering opening in the washer. The fastener extends through the breakaway washer and connects to another building structure or component. The raised dimples provide an interface between the breakaway washer and a flange that forms a part of the fastener. More particularly, the raised maintain a clearance between the fastener head and the building component so that slideability may be achieved.
In another embodiment, the breakaway washer design is similar but in this case instead of employing the raised dimples, the breakaway washer is provided with a raised burr. The raised burr serves as an interface between the breakaway washer and the flange of the fastener, maintaining a clearance between the fastener head and the building component so that slideability may be achieved.
In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a track that includes one or more breakaway washers in both the flanges and the web of the track. This enables the track to move vertically and horizontally once the breakaway washers break away from the slots.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and obvious from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of the invention.
With further reference to the drawings, a building structure or connector assembly is shown therein. With reference to
Incorporated into the slots 14 of the building member 2 is a breakaway metal washer 20. The breakaway washer 20 shown in
Viewing the breakaway washer 20 shown in
Formed in the main body of the breakaway washer 20 is a series of dimples 20C. The dimples 20C project outwardly from the face 20A of the breakaway washer 20. More particularly, the series of dimples 20C project slightly out of the planar face of the main body of the breakaway washer 20. The height of the dimples can vary but in one embodiment, the dimple height is approximately 0.005 inches above the planar surface of the face 20A. As will be discussed later, the purpose of the dimples 20C is to provide clearance between the screw head and the main body of the flange 2B. In one embodiment, the slot 14 should be able to move relative to the breakaway washer 20 when the washer actually breaks away. If the fastener binds the breakaway washer to the flange 2B, then it is possible that the breakaway washer will not freely move within the slot 14. Thus the dimples 20C effectively provide clearance between the face 16C of the fastener 16 and the main body of the flange 2B, and that makes it more likely that when the breakaway washer actually breaks away in the slot 14 that the slot can freely move relative to the breakaway washer.
Forming a part of the connector assembly or the building assembly of the present invention is a fastener indicated generally by the numeral 16. Fastener 16 includes an enlarged head or flange 16B. Flange 16B includes a face 16C and the fastener 16 further includes a shaft 16D. The design of the assembly disclosed herein is aimed at making the fastener 16 a conventional fastener. Typically fastener 16 is a so called “modified truss-head” screw also known as a “lath” screw. See
A typical application of the track 2 is shown in
At each connection point between the track 2 and the stud 3, the fastener 16 projects through the fastener center opening 22 and the breakaway washer 20 and into the flange 3B of the stud 3. Note that the dimples 20C face the face 16C of the fastener 16. As the fastener 16 is screwed into the flange 3B of the stud 3, the face 16C of the fastener will only contact the raised dimples 20C. That is the dimples 20C serve as a separator between the main body of the flange 2B and the face 16C of the fastener. In other words, the dimples 20C tightly clamp the breakaway washer 20 against the flange 3B of the stud but allow movement of the slot relative to the breakaway washer. As discussed above, this assures that once the breakaway washer is broken loose from the slot the slot can move freely about the washer and enable relative movement between the track 2 and the studs 3.
Note
Turning to
The breakaway washer 20 can be employed in various building components such as components that interconnect building members. For example, the breakaway washer 20 can be employed in a connecting plate or bracket such as that shown in
Turning to
To attach the track 2 to an adjacent structure, the fastener provided is what is commonly referred to as a powder actuated fastener. In the
In the case of the
The terms “underside”, “downward”, “upward”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper side”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical” and similar terms or variation of the terms may be used throughout this disclosure. The terms are used merely to illustrate various embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
diGirolamo, Edward R., Herrmann, John C., Herrmann, James E., Shultz, Michael A.
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