Structural device for joining spaced wooden members

Claim 1

A frame comprising a pair of elongated spaced wooden members extending generally parallel one to the other, plural means at longitudinally spaced positions along said members connecting said members one to the other with each connecting means including first and second sheet metal plates each having a base and a flange bent out of the plane containing said base, each said flange extending substantially the entire length of the associated base in reinforcing relation thereto, each said plate including a second flange bent out of the plane containing the associated base and projecting from an end thereof, each said second flange having a plurality of elongated nail-like teeth struck to project in a direction away from the associated base and embedded into one of said members and leaving a plurality of slots in said second flange, and means joining said first and second plates one to the other at the ends thereof remote from their respective second flanges to prevent endwise movement of said plates relative to one another and movement of said wooden members toward or away from one another, the second flanges lying in non-parallel planes generally normal to parallel planes containing the bases of said plates when the plates are joined one to the other, the base of each said plate being substantially planar and having an arcuate edge, the first flange of each plate projecting from said arcuate edge and having a face of like arcuate contour, said arcuately contoured flanges overlapping one another when said plates are joined to provide a substantially smooth continuous arcuate surcace.

Claim 4

A device for joining a pair of spaced wooden members one to the other, said device comprising a sheet metal plate adapted for disposition between the members, said plate including a base and a flange bent out of the plane containing said base and extending generally perpendicular to said base along one edge thereof, said flange extending substantially the entire length of said base in reinforcing relation thereto, said plate having a second flange bent out of the plane containing said base and projecting generally perpendicular to said base from an end thereof, said second flange having a plurality of elongated nail-like teeth struck to project therefrom in a direction away from said base for embedment into the one member and leaving a plurality of slots in said flange, a second sheet metal plate including a base and a flange bent out of the plane containing said base and extending generally perpendicular to said base along one edge thereof, said flange extending substantially the entire length of said base in reinforcing relation thereto, said second plate having a second flange bent out of the plane containing said base and projecting from an end thereof, said second flange having a plurality of elongated nail-like teeth struck therefrom to project in a direction away from the base of said second plate for embedment into the other member and leaving a plurality of slots in said second flange, the base of each plate being substantially planar and having an arcuate edge, the first flange of each plate projecting from said arcuate edge and having a face of like arcuate contour, said arcuately contoured flanges overlapping one another when said plates are joined to provide a substantially smooth continuous upper surface, and means for joining the ends of said plates remote from their respective second flanges thereof one to the other to prevent endwise movement of said plates relative to one another, the second fLanges lying in non-parallel planes generally normal to parallel planes containing the bases of said plates when the plates are joined one to the other.

Claim 5

A device for joining a pair of spaced wooden members one to the other, said device comprising a sheet metal plate adapted for disposition between the members, said plate including a base and a flange bent out of the plane containing said base and extending generally perpendicular to said base along one edge thereof, said flange extending substantially the entire length of said base in reinforcing relation thereto, said plate having a second flange bent out of the plane containing said base and projecting generally perpendicular to said base from an end thereof, said second flange having a plurality of elongated nail-like teeth struck to project therefrom in a direction away from said base for embedment into the one member and leaving a plurality of slots in said flange, a second sheet metal plate including a base and a flange bent out of the plane containing said base and extending generally perpendicular to said base along one edge thereof, said flange extending substantially the entire length of said base in reinforcing relation thereto, said second plate having a second flange bent out of the plane containing said base and projecting from an end thereof, said second flange having a plurality of elongated nail-like teeth struck therefrom to project in a direction away from the base of said second plate for embedment into the other member and leaving a plurality of slots in said second flange, the base of each plate being substantially planar and having an arcuate edge, the first flange of each plate projecting from said arcuate edge and having a face of like arcuate contour, said arcuately contoured flanges overlapping one another when said plates are joined to provide a substantially smooth continuous upper surface, and means for joining the ends of said plates remote from their respective second flanges thereof one to the other to prevent endwise movement of said plates relative to one another, the second fLanges lying in non-parallel planes generally normal to parallel planes containing the bases of said plates when the plates are joined one to the other.