Hinged building shrinkage compensation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9938714-B2
Application number	US-201715468610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2017
Priority date	Mar 24, 2016
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A device for compensating for the natural shrinkage of building materials includes a hinged expander mounted on an elongate base plate. The base plate includes a plurality of spaced apart teeth on each longitudinal end that define a notch between each pair of adjacent spaced teeth. The hinged expander included two leafs that are joined at an apex in a hinged relationship. Each leaf has an outer edge configured for receipt within a notch in the base plate. Apex is biased in a direction away from the base plate. The teeth prevent outward movement of the leaf edges while permitting inward movement. The base plate is securely fastened to a first building member. A fastener is longitudinally fixed relative to a second building member and the apex of the hinged expander but not fixed longitudinally relative to the base plate and first building member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A building shrinkage compensation device, comprising:
an elongate base plate extending laterally from a first end with a series of spaced teeth to a second end with a series of spaced teeth and defining a hole laterally between the opposite ends,
a hinged expander with a first leaf with a first outer edge positioned between adjacent teeth in the base plate first end and a second leaf with a second outer edge positioned between adjacent teeth in the base plate second end, the first and second leafs being attached to each other at an apex opposite the outer edges in a hinged relationship, the apex defining an opening substantially laterally aligned with the base plate opening; and
a bias member biasing the apex of the hinged expander away from the base plate.

2. The building shrinkage compensation device of claim 1 , wherein the bias member biases the first outer edge and second outer edge of the hinged expander inward, thereby biasing the apex away from the base plate.

3. The building shrinkage compensation device of claim 2 , wherein the bias member is an expanded spring expanded between the first outer edge and the second outer edge to bias the respective edges laterally inward.

4. The building shrinkage compensation device of claim 1 , wherein the bias member is a compressed spring positioned between the base plate and the expander apex to bias the apex away from the base plate.

5. The building shrinkage compensation device of claim 1 , comprising an elongate fastener with a shank extending through the hole in the base plate, wherein the shank is longitudinally fixed relative to the apex of the hinged expander and not longitudinally fixed relative to the base plate.

6. The building shrinkage compensation device of claim 5 , wherein the base plate is longitudinally fixed relative to a first building member and the shank is fixed relative to a second building member.

7. The building shrinkage compensation device of claim 6 , wherein the shank is threaded at a distal portion for securely fastening to the second building member.

8. The building shrinkage compensation device of claim 1 , wherein the hinged expander defines an opening proximate the apex between the first leaf and second leaf.

9. The building shrinkage compensation device of claim 8 , wherein the opening in the hinged expander is substantially aligned with the hole in the base plate.

10. The building shrinkage compensation device of claim 9 , comprising an elongate fastener with a shank extending from a head, wherein the shank extends through the opening in the hinged expander and the hole in the base plate with the head abutting an edge defined by the hinged expander opening.

11. The building shrinkage device of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the fastener shank is threaded for secure attachment to a building frame member.

12. The building shrinkage device of claim 1 , wherein adjacent pair of spaced teeth on each end of the base plate define a notch between them receipt of the first edge or second edge channel.

13. The building shrinkage device of claim 12 , wherein the teeth permit inward movement while preventing outward movement of the first edge and second edge of the hinged expander.

14. A building frame structure, comprising:
a first level longitudinally displaced from a second level;
a shrinkage compensation device comprising:
an elongate base plate extending laterally from a first end with a series of spaced teeth to a second end with a series of spaced teeth and defining a hole laterally between the opposite ends, the base plate being secured to the first level;
a hinged expander mounted on the base plate and having a first leaf with a first outer edge positioned between adjacent teeth in the base plate first end and a second leaf with a second outer edge positioned between adjacent teeth in the base plate second end, the first and second leafs being attached to each other at an apex opposite the outer edges in a hinged relationship, the apex defining an opening substantially laterally aligned with the base plate opening; and
a bias member biasing the apex of the hinged expander away from the base plate; and

an elongate fastener with a shank extending through the hole in the base plate and passing freely through the first level, wherein the shank is longitudinally fixed relative to the apex of the hinged expander and not longitudinally fixed relative to the base plate or first level.

15. The building frame structure of claim 14 , wherein the fastener has a circumferential flange at a proximal position, and the fastener is positioned with the shank extending through the hinged expander opening, base plate and first level with a distal portion securely engaged with the second level and the flange tightly abutting the apex of the hinged expander.

16. The building frame structure of claim 14 , wherein the fastener shank is unthreaded at a proximal portion, thereby allowing free movement of the shank relative to the base plate and first level.

17. The building frame structure of claim 14 , wherein the bias member is a tension spring extending between the opposite leafs biasing the first and second edges inward.

18. The building frame structure of claim 14 , wherein the fastener is threaded at a distal portion, the threaded distal portion being threadedly engaged with the second level.

Assignees

• Omg Inc

Inventors

• Dicaire Mark A

Classifications

• E04B1/40

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E04H9/14

  against other dangerous influences, e.g. tornadoes, floods · CPC title

• E04B2/706 Primary

  with supporting function · CPC title

• E04B2103/04

  of plastics, fibrous material or wood · CPC title

• E04B1/2604 Primary

  Connections specially adapted therefor (shear dowels E04B1/486, E04B1/49) · CPC title