US4418509A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Structural joint connector
Assignee: Gang Nail Systems Inc
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Filing: 1981-12-03
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Granted: 1983-12-06
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Expires: 2001-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A structural joint for bearing a structural load is formed by a pair of wooden members fastened together by at least one metal connector plate. The connector plate is formed from a metal plate having a plurality of pairs of teeth punched therefrom. The teeth are punched from the plate so as to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate. Each pair of teeth is struck so as to leave a corresponding longitudinally extending slot between the teeth. Each of the teeth has a knife edge portion that extends from the plate. This knife edge portion is thinner than the remaining portion of each tooth and has a sharp edge with a cross-sectional angle of less than 20°, preferably 8° to 12°, for facilitating penetration of each of the teeth into the wooden members to be secured together. These knife edge portions of the teeth are made by a metal forming process which serves to shape such portion of the teeth and simultaneously widen and elongate each tooth.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony M. Moyer
- 👤 Robert H. Kelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:29
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B15/00; F16B15/0023; F16B15/003; F16B15/0046; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S403/00; Y10S403/15; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/06; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/49; Y10T403/4974
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A structural joint for bearing a structural load comprising: a pair of wooden members fastened together by at least one metal connector plate, said connector plate having: a plurality of pairs of elongated teeth struck from said plate so as to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to said plate; said teeth being struck in pairs so as to leave a plurality of longitudinally extending slots with each of said pairs of teeth being associated with one of said slots; each of said teeth having a pointed tip; each of said teeth having a knife edge portion extending from said plate, said knife edge portion of each said tooth having a cross-sectional thickness thinner than the remaining portion of said tooth and having a sharp edge with a cross-sectional angle of less than 20° and said sharp edge of each said knife portion extending from said pointed tip of each of the respective said teeth along a continuous substantially arcuate path to said plate for facilitating penetration of each of said teeth into the respective wooden member to which said connector plate is attached; said knife edge portion of said teeth of said pairs of teeth lying along opposite longitudinal sides of the corresponding said slot; a first group of said teeth of said pairs of teeth being oriented so that their said knife edge portions extend along the corresponding said slots in one direction; and a second group of said teeth of said pairs of teeth being oriented so that their knife edge portions extend along the corresponding said slots in the opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
A structural joint for bearing a structural load comprising: a pair of wooden members fastened together by at least one metal connector plate, said connector plate having: a plurality of pairs of elongated teeth struck from said plate so as to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to said plate; said teeth being struck in pairs so as to leave a plurality of longitudinally extending slots with each of said pairs of teeth being associated with one of said slots; each of said teeth having a pointed tip; each of said teeth having a knife edge portion extending from said plate, said knife edge portion of each said tooth having a cross-sectional thickness thinner than the remaining portion of said tooth and having a sharp edge with a cross-sectional angle of less than 20° and said sharp edge of each said knife portion extending from said pointed tip of each of the respective said teeth along a continuous substantially arcuate path to said plate for facilitating penetration of each of said teeth into the respective wooden member to which said connector plate is attached; said knife edge portion of said teeth of said pairs of teeth lying along opposite longitudinal sides of the corresponding said slot; a first group of said teeth of said pairs of teeth being oriented so that their said knife edge portions extend along the corresponding said slots in one direction; and a second group of said teeth of said pairs of teeth being oriented so that their knife edge portions extend along the corresponding said slots in the opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A structural joint according to claim 1 wherein all of said teeth project from the same side of said metal plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A structural joint according to claim 1 wherein said metal plate has at least 9 teeth per square inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structural joint according to claim 1 wherein said pointed tip of each of said teeth lies substantially along the longitudinal center line of the corresponding said slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structural joint according to claim 1 wherein each of said teeth is substantially aligned with its corresponding said slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
267 words
A structural joint for bearing a structural load comprising: a pair of wooden members fastened together by two metal connector plates, each of said connector plates having: a plurality of pairs of elongated teeth struck from said plate so as to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to said plate; said teeth being struck in pairs so as to leave a plurality of longitudinally extending slots with each of said pairs of teeth being associated with one of said slots; each of said teeth having a pointed tip; each of said teeth having a knife edge portion extending from said plate, said knife edge portion of each said tooth having a cross-sectional thickness thinner than the remaining portion of said tooth and having a sharp edge with a cross-sectional angle of less than 20° and said sharp edge of each said knife portion extending from said pointed tip of each of the respective said teeth along a continuous substantially arcuate path to said plate for facilitating penetration of each of said teeth into the respective wooden member to which said connector plate is attached; said knife edge portion of said teeth of each of said pairs of teeth lying along opposite longitudinal sides of the corresponding said slot; a first group of said teeth of said pairs of teeth being oriented so that their said knife edge portions extend along the corresponding said slots in one direction; and a second group of said teeth of said pairs of teeth being oriented so that their knife edge portions extend along the corresponding said slots in the opposite direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
267 words
A structural joint for bearing a structural load comprising: a pair of wooden members fastened together by two metal connector plates, each of said connector plates having: a plurality of pairs of elongated teeth struck from said plate so as to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to said plate; said teeth being struck in pairs so as to leave a plurality of longitudinally extending slots with each of said pairs of teeth being associated with one of said slots; each of said teeth having a pointed tip; each of said teeth having a knife edge portion extending from said plate, said knife edge portion of each said tooth having a cross-sectional thickness thinner than the remaining portion of said tooth and having a sharp edge with a cross-sectional angle of less than 20° and said sharp edge of each said knife portion extending from said pointed tip of each of the respective said teeth along a continuous substantially arcuate path to said plate for facilitating penetration of each of said teeth into the respective wooden member to which said connector plate is attached; said knife edge portion of said teeth of each of said pairs of teeth lying along opposite longitudinal sides of the corresponding said slot; a first group of said teeth of said pairs of teeth being oriented so that their said knife edge portions extend along the corresponding said slots in one direction; and a second group of said teeth of said pairs of teeth being oriented so that their knife edge portions extend along the corresponding said slots in the opposite direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A structural joint according to claim 6 wherein all of said teeth project from the same side of said metal plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A structural joint according to claim 6 wherein said metal plate has at least 9 teeth per square inch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structural joint according to claim 6 wherein said pointed tip of each of said teeth lies substantially along the longitudinal center line of the corresponding said slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structural joint according to claim 6 wherein each of said teeth is substantially aligned with its corresponding said slot.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-12-05 | 1987-06-06 | 1987-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-05 | 1991-06-06 | 1991-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-05 | 1995-06-06 | 1995-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |