System and apparatus for interconnecting structural members, and method of utilizing same

• US 3,921,356 A
• Filed: 06/22/1973
• Issued: 11/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert S. Hughes
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Hughes
• Inventors: Hughes, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sutherland, Henry C.
• Application Number:
  US05/372,698
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 52/122,126,365,169,369-371,678,296,299 248/226A,226B,357 403/244
• US Class Current: 52/299
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/2604 Connections specially adapted therefor shear dowels E04B1/486, E04B1/49
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2644 Brackets, gussets or joining plates
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/268 Connection to foundations
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2684 with metal connectors
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 5/12 with wooden beams E04B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/503 the flange being separate from the elements to be connected

Abstract

A system and method for erecting a structure elevated off the ground, including rigidly installing a series of posts the upper ends of which lie in a horizontal plane. Sheet material is applied to the ground beneath the structure to be erected to impede the growth of vegetation. On top of each of the posts is placed the tubular portion of a ground saddle. Two wooden joists are placed in each ground saddle to form a series of parallel beams. The beams are fastened in the ground saddles, and on top of the beams there is fastened a plurality of plane saddle devices. Within the plain saddle devices there is fastened a series of substantially parallel joists which are oriented perpendicular to the series of beams. The structural members are fastened on top of the joists to form the elevated structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for facilitating the interconnection of a plurality of structural members comprising, in combination:

a plurality of fastening means;

a plurality of said structural members;

said apparatus including at least one surface thereof which is provided with apertures to facilitate the passage therethrough of at least some of said fastening means which serve to fasten said apparatus to one or more of said structural members;

a first element having a substantially L-shaped cross-section and including a first portion and a second portion;

a second element having a substantially L-shaped cross-section and including a first portion and a second portion;

adjustment means adjustably interconnecting said first and second elements to permit relative motion therebetween in order to accommodate various sizes of or numbers of said structural members therebetween;

said first portion of said first element includes one said surface being provided with a plurality of said apertures which are aligned in a first predetermined direction;

said first portion of said second element includes another said surface being provided with a plurality of said apertures which are aligned in a second predetermined direction which is disposed substantially perpendicular to said first predetermined direction;

a third element which is substantially tubular in shape and which is rotatably interconnected to and affixed to one of said second portions to perMit rotational adjustment of said first and second substantially L-shaped element relative to said third tubular element; and

said adjustment means includes a plurality of slots provided in said second portion of said first substantially L-shaped element, the longitudinal axis of said slots being perpendicularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of said first substantially L-shaped element, a plurality of slots provided in said second portion of said second substantially L-shaped element, said slots being substantially similar to the slot provided in said first substantially L-shaped element and disposed in a vertically collinear relationship thereto, and a plurality of rivets perpendicularly disposed in said slots and abuttingly contacting said first and second substantially L-shaped elements so as to permit relative motion therebetween.

2. An apparatus for facilitating the interconnection of a plurality of structural members, comprising, in combination:

a plurality of fastening means;

a plurality of structural members;

said apparatus including at least one surface thereof which is provided with apertures to facilitate the passage therethrough of at least some of said fastening means which serve to fasten said apparatus to one or more of said structural members;

a first element having a substantially L-shaped cross-section and including a first portion and a second portion;

a second element having a substantially L-shaped cross-section and including a first portion and a second portion;

adjustment means adjustably interconnecting said first and second substantially L-shaped elements to permit relative motion therebetween in order to accommodate various sizes of or numbers of said structural members therebetween;

said first portion of said first element includes one said surface being provided with a plurality of said apertures which are aligned in a first predetermined direction;

said first portion of said second element includes another said surface being provided with a plurality of said apertures which are aligned in a second predetermined direction which is disposed substantially perpendicular to said first predetermined direction;

a third element which is substantially tubular in shape and which is rotatably interconnected to and affixed to one of said second portions by means to permit rotational adjustment of said first and second substantially L-shaped elements relative to said third tubular elements; and

said means for rotatably interconnecting said first and second substantially L-shaped elements to said third tubular element including a circular aperture provided in the second portion of said second element centrally disposed therein;

a truncated conical flange which depends from the lower surface of said second element and is concentric with said aperture; and

an outwardly flared end portion of said third tubular element which forms an annular flange which abuttingly contacts the upper surface of said second element;

said angular flange being disposed between the second portions of said first and second elements and adapted to permit rotation between said first and second elements and said third tubular element.

3. An apparatus for facilitating the interconnection of a plurality of structural members, comprising, in combination:

a first L-shaped element having a first portion which is provided with a plurality of apertures, and a flange portion which is disposed substantially perpendicular to said first portion;

a second L-shaped element having a first portion which is provided with a plurality of apertures, and a flange portion which is disposed substantially perpendicular to said first portion;

a third element constituting a tubular support element having a flared end portion thereof;

each of said flange portions of said first and second L-shaped elements being provided with a pair of oppositely-disposed slots therein;

SAID flange portion of said first L-shaped element being provided with a conical depression therein;

said tubular element being disposed relative to said first and second L-shaped elements so that said flared end of said tubular support element is disposed between said flange portions of said first and second L-shaped elements so that said flared end may rotate within said conical depression;

said first and second L-shaped elements being assembled so that said flange portions are oriented substantially parallel to each other and with the slots of one said flange being disposed adjacent the slots of the other said flange;

said first and second L-shaped elements being connected together by a first fastener disposed through the aligned slots of said flanges near one end thereof, and by a second fastener disposed through the aligned slots of said flanges near the other end thereof, so that said flared end of said tubular support element is captured between said flanges but is capable of rotating relative to said flanges;

said fasteners being constructed and oriented relative to their associated slots to permit slidable adjustment between said flanges;

said first portions of said first and second L-shaped elements are arranged to permit fastening means to be placed through said apertures into said structural members which are placed between the first portion of said L-shaped element and said first portion of said second L-shaped element.