Limited access building connection

• US 20060201285A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company Incorporated (Simpson Manufacturing Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company Incorporated (Simpson Manufacturing Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Leek, William F., Powell, Gregory S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,168,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 81/176.100
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/481 for operating in areas having limited access
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 17/00 Hand-driven gear-operated wrenches or screwdrivers ratchet-operated B25B13/46 B25B13/467, B25B15/04; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/005
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/2604 Connections specially adapted therefor shear dowels E04B1/486, E04B1/49
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2684 with metal connectors
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2688 self adjusting, e.g. for compensation of shrinkage
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3583 using permanent tensioning means, e.g. cables or rods, to assemble or rigidify structures (not pre- or poststressing concrete), e.g. by tying them around the structure
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/02 Shape of thread; Special thread-forms F16B25/00 takes precedence; used to remove paint or dirt layers F16B35/007, F16B37/002; used as screw-locking device F16B39/30

Abstract

A limited access building connection for connecting a holding structure and a held structure which includes an anchor member having a threaded end adapted for connection to holding structure. A nut having an inner threaded wall threadably engages the threaded end of anchor member. Nut has a base which engages connector structure. Connector structure is adapted for connection to held structure. A nut rotational member is provided for imparting rotational motion to nut. Connection has dimensional limited access parameters existent between nut and connector structure and held structure. A linear power member is dimensioned and configured to work within the dimensional limited access parameters and is adapted for engaging and imparting rotational energy to nut rotational member.

Claims

1. A limited access building connection for connecting a holding structure and a held structure having a base comprising

a. an anchor member adapted for connection to said holding structure and having a threaded end;

b. a nut having an inner threaded wall for threadably engaging said threaded end of said anchor member and having a base;

c. connector means adapted for engaging said base of said nut and adapted for connection to said held structure, including a washer member having an outer wall and formed with a recess having a recess wall and a recess base for registration with said base of said nut;

d. nut rotational means adapted for connection on the perimeter of said nut for imparting rotational motion to said nut and including a ring of externally formed rotational driven members formed to create ratchet teeth for one way rotation of said nut and the distance between the outermost lateral dimension of said ratchet teeth and said recess wall of said washer member is a distance only slightly greater than the width of said linear power means;

e. dimensional limited access parameters existent between said nut and said connector means and said held structure;

f. multiple pull linear power means dimensioned and configured to work within said dimensional limited access parameters and including a plurality of driving means for engaging said rotational driven members for imparting rotational motion to said nut; and

g. said washer member is formed and dimensioned to receive said nut and said nut rotational means within said washer recess, said recess is formed with an opening in its upper end which is substantially covered by said base of said held structure preventing removal of said nut rotational means, said washer member is formed with a narrow lateral tunnel formed and dimensioned to receive said linear power means only therethrough and communicating between said outer wall and said recess wall providing the sole, direct sightline access of said linear power means to said rotational driven members and permitting engagement of said linear power means with said nut rotational means.

6. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. said nut forming a disc having an annular circumferential wall and a base having a substantial planar portion adapted for engaging said connector means;

b. said nut rotational means includes a ring of externally formed driven members mounted on annular circumferential wall; and

c. said linear power means includes a plurality of driving means for engaging said rotational driven members for imparting rotational motion to said nut.

7. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 6 wherein:

a. said rotational driven members are ratchet teeth.

8. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 6 wherein:

a. said rotational driven members are gear teeth.

9. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 6 wherein:

a. said rotational driven members are sprocket teeth.

10. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 1 wherein:

a. said multiple pull linear power means is an elongated pull member having a generally straight portion made from plastic.

11. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 10 wherein:

a. said driving means are a plurality of openings formed in said plastic elongated pull member; and

b. said driving means of said multiple pull linear power means include a plurality of fully enclosed openings arranged in a linear sequence for receiving and engaging said ratchet teeth for one way rotation of said nut rotational means.

15. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. said washer member is formed with a base and a bore for receiving said anchor member therethrough and includes a support surface for receiving said base of said held structure;

b. said connector means includes a concentric connector member formed with a seat member integrally connected to upright strap members and formed with an opening in said seat member for receiving said anchor member therethrough;

c. said washer member base is positioned to register with said seat member of said concentric connector member; and

d. said held structure is supported on said support surface of said washer member and is connected to said upright strap members.

16. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. said nut rotational means includes;

(1) a cap member formed for coaxial movement along the axis of said anchor member and formed with a base section having an annular outer wall and having an inner wall configured and dimensioned to inter fit with said outer wall of said internally threaded nut and a head section having an integrally formed inner ring wall and an integrally formed outer ring wall having externally formed cap rotational driven members formed to engage and to be rotationally driven one way by said driving means of said linear power means.

18. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 16 wherein:

a. said rotational driven members are formed as sprocket teeth in integrally formed outer ring wall.

19. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. said nut rotational means and said linear power means are combined in an integral spiral hand pull device including;

(1) a modified cap member formed with ring wall forming an opening therethrough for coaxial movement along axis of said anchor member and formed with a base section having an annular outer wall and having a plurality of segments forming a hexagonal inner wall configured and dimensioned to inter fit with said outer wall of said internally threaded nut and a head section having an integrally formed inner ring wall and an integrally formed outer ring wall; and

b. a spirally wound flexible elongated member attached to said integrally formed outer ring wall and to a handle.

20. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 19 comprising:

a. said spiral hand pull device includes;

(1) at least one spoke releasably attached to said spirally wound flexible elongated member and to said integrally formed outer ring wall and holding said spirally wound flexible elongated member in an initially flat plane.

21. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 20 comprising:

a. at least one spoke finger releasably attached to a face wall of the outermost spiral of said spirally wound flexible elongated member and to at least one spoke.

22. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. an automatic take up means adapted for connection to said linear power means exteriorally from said nut rotational means.

23. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 22 wherein;

a. said automatic take up means includes a housing for retaining compression spring and an abutment end operatively bearing against said limited access building connection;

b. said linear power means is an elongated pull member having a distal end and having a bearing stop member formed on the proximal end of said elongated pull member; and

c. said compression spring has a proximal end engaging said housing and a distal end in thrust engagement with said bearing stop member on said elongated pull member.

24. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 1 comprising:

a. said anchor member is formed with an end; and

b. said base of said held structure is axially distant from said end a negligible distance to a distance less than the height of said nut.

25. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 1 wherein:

a. said linear power means is a worm gear bit dimensioned and configured to engage nut rotational means for imparting rotational motion to said nut.

27. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 1 wherein:

a. said inner threaded wall of said nut is formed with multistart threads for rapid tightening of said nut on said anchor member with a limited number of rotations of said nut.

28. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 10 wherein:

a. said multiple pull linear power means is an elongated member made from a spring memory material which has sufficient longitudinal stiffness to be extended through said narrow lateral tunnel and into said recess, but having sufficient flexibility to be deflected and extended past said rotational driven members;

b. said multiple pull linear power means having sufficient spring memory to cause said elongated member to spring back to a generally straight portion wherein said driving means engage said rotational driven members for imparting one way rotational motion to said nut upon pulling said linear power means;

c. the length and width of said tunnel and the width of said elongated pull member are such that said pull member cannot be inserted beyond said ratchet teeth without bending of said multiple pull member; and

d. said linear power means, said nut rotation means, and said dimensional access parameters are dimensioned and configured to permit said linear power means to be extended through said tunnel and pulled multiple times to effect one way rotation of said nut rotational means.

2. (canceled)

4. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 2 wherein the rotational driven members are gear teeth for two way rotation of said nut.

5. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 2 wherein said rotational driven members are sprocket teeth for two way rotation of said nut.

3. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

26. A limited access building connection as defined in claim 14 comprising:

a. said linear power means is a worm gear bit formed with a bit end for engagement with a power drill and dimensioned and configured with worm gear threads to engage nut rotational means for imparting rotational motion to said nut; and

b. said worm gear bit is dimensioned to be received in said narrow lateral tunnel.

17. (canceled)