Tornado and hurricane roof tie

• US 6,931,813 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony D. Collie
• Original Assignee: Anthony D. Collie
• Inventors: Collie, Anthony D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Application Number:
  US10/604,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20040107653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 527/02, 527/12, 527/13, 527/15, 52/922, 52/931
• US Class Current: 52/713
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/2604 Connections specially adapted therefor shear dowels E04B1/486, E04B1/49
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/2608 Connectors made from folded sheet metal E04B1/2612 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/045 with connectors made of sheet metal for connecting the roof structure to the supporting wall connectors made of sheet metal for wooden elongated load-supporting elements in general E04B1/2608
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/063 Hipped ends

Abstract

A building roof tie for attaching roof trusses and rafters to wood top plates in building structures, such roof tie having a sheet metal body with risers and a bridge for overlapping a rafter and flaps for wrapping on the sides of the top plate. A generally triangular shaped reinforcing wing provides strength and stability, and can also provide additional hold-down strength, allowing the roof tie to be manufactured from different weights of steel. Turnbuckles attached to the bridge provide additional hold-down strength against increased uplift forces. The roof ties are pitched to conform to a variety of framing applications. A plurality of apertures is formed in the roof tie to provide openings for fasteners for connecting the tie to the wood top plate and rafter.

Claims

1. A roof tie for connecting wood members in building structures, comprising:

a. a first connector, comprising;

(1) a first substantially horizontal member having a forward edge, a rear edge, an inside edge, and an outside edge;

(2) a pair of flaps extending downwardly at right angles from such forward edge and such rear edge of such first horizontal member, and

(3) a first riser extending substantially vertical at a right angle from such inside edge of such first horizontal member;

b. a second connector, comprising;

(1) a second substantially horizontal member having a forward edge, a rear edge, an inside edge, and an outside edge;

(2) a pair of flaps extending downwardly at right angles from such forward edge and such rear edge of such second horizontal member, and

(3) a wall extending substantially vertical at a right angle from such inside edge of such second horizontal member, and

c. a substantially horizontal bridge, comprising;

(1) a second riser on a first side of such bridge substantially perpendicular to such bridge, wherein

i. such second riser is shorter than such first riser; and

(2) an overlap plate on a second side of such bridge substantially perpendicular to such bridge;

wherein

i. such overlap plate is pierced by at least one aperture and such wall is pierced by at least one slot for inserting a fastener therethrough, such that such at least one aperture on such overlap plate can align with such at least one slot on such wall when such overlap plate overlaps such wall;

d. such first connector, second connector, and such bridge being adapted for attaching such roof tie to a first roofing member and a second roofing member.

2. The roof tie according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for attaching roof decking to such second roofing member through such bridge.

3. The roof tie according to claim 2, wherein:

such means for attaching roof decking to such second roofing member through such bridge comprises a window area.

4. The roof tie according to claim 1, wherein:

such overlap plate is disposed away from such bridge by a ledge.

5. The roof tie according to claim 1, wherein such second connector further comprises:

a cradle wall extending upwardly at a right angle from such outside edge of such second horizontal member.

6. The roof tie according to claim 5, wherein:

such cradle wall is shorter than such wall of such second connector.

7. The roof tie according to claim 1, further comprising:

a. such first riser having a forward edge and a rear edge, wherein such forward edge is longer than such rear edge;

b. such wall having a forward edge and a rear edge, wherein such forward edge is longer than such rear edge, wherein

c. such bridge is angled corresponding to a predetermined roof pitch.

8. The roof tie according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plate having a wing member extending substantially perpendicular therefrom,

(1) such plate being attached to such riser, and

(2) such wing member being attached, on its bottom edge to such first horizontal member.

9. The roof tie according to claim 8, wherein:

such plate is slidably attached to such riser.

10. The roof tie according to claim 8, such second riser further comprising attachment means, such plate further comprising:

a centrally located elongated opening such that such elongated opening can align with such attachment means when such plate overlaps such second riser.

11. The roof tie according to claim 10, such attachment means further comprising:

an aperture for inserting a fastener therethrough.

12. The roof tie according to claim 10, such attachment means further comprising:

a hook.

13. The roof tie according to claim 1, such second riser further comprising a first attachment means, such roof tie further comprising:

a turnbuckle having a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion,

(1) such first threaded portion being attached to such second riser; and

(2) such second threaded portion being attached to such first horizontal member.

14. The roof tie according to claim 13, such first attachment means further comprising:

an aperture for inserting a fastener therethrough.

15. The roof tie according to claim 13, such first attachment means further comprising:

a hook.

16. The roof tie according to claim 13, such turnbuckle further comprising:

an opening on the end of such first threaded portion for attaching to such first attachment means.

17. The roof tie according to claim 13, further comprising:

a second attachment means connected to such first horizontal member.

18. The roof tie according to claim 17, such turnbuckle further comprising:

an opening on the end of such second threaded portion for attaching to such second attachment means.

19. The roof tie according to claim 18, such second attachment means further comprising:

a. a U-shaped connector projecting from the top of such first horizontal member; and

b. a pin passing through the open end of such U-shaped connector and passing through such opening on the end of such second threaded portion of such turnbuckle.

20. The roof tie according to claim 18, such second attachment means further comprising:

a loop projecting from the top of such first horizontal member, such loop passing through such opening on the end of such second threaded portion of such turnbuckle.