Holdown with reinforced back

Abstract

A connector for tying a first building structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with fastener means and an anchor member, that better withstands tension forces than the prior art, is more economical to produce than the prior art, is easier to produce than the prior art, and is easy to install.

1 . A connector for tying a first building structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with fastener means and an anchor member, said connector comprising: 
 a. a seat member, having a back edge, said seat member being formed with an opening, said opening being formed for receiving said anchor member therethrough to attach said connector to said second building structural member;    b. a first side member connected to said seat member;    c. a second side member connected to said seat member; and    d. a unitary back member having: 
 i. a lower portion connected to said seat member, and an upper portion connected to said first and second side members;  
 ii. an enlarged opening proximate said seat member such that said lower portion of said back member adjacent said seat member forms a reinforcing flange along at least a portion of said back edge of said seat member; wherein: 
 a) said back member is formed to interface with said fastener means to attach said back member to said first building structural member; and  
 b) said upper portion of said back member is divided into first and second back plates each having an inner edge extending away from said enlarged opening.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. said first and second back plates are mutually opposed.    
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a. said inner edge of said first plate faces said inner edge of said second plate.    
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. said first and second opposed back plates are integrally connected to and joined by said reinforcing flange.    
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 a. said first and second side members are integrally connected to said seat member.    
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 a. said back member is integrally connected to said first and second side members.    
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 a. said back member is integrally connected to said seat member.    
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. said reinforcing flange is connected to said seat member along the greater portion of said back edge of said seat member.    
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. said connector has a substantially rigid washer member formed with a receiving portion having an opening for receiving said anchor member therethrough, and said substantially rigid washer member is located proximate said first side member and said second side member to provide lateral bracing to said first and second side members when said connector is under tension loads.    
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a. said receiving portion of said washer member is dimensioned to closely fit between said first side member and said second side member to provide lateral bracing when said connector is under tension loads.    
     
     
         11 . The connector of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a. said receiving portion of said washer member conforms exactly to the shape of said first and second side members.    
     
     
         12 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. said connector has a substantially rigid washer member located proximate said seat member and formed with a receiving portion having an opening for receiving said anchor member therethrough.    
     
     
         13 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 a. said washer member has a base formed to be in registration with said seat member.    
     
     
         14 . The connector of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 a. said base of said washer member conforms exactly to the shape of said seat member.    
     
     
         15 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 a. said washer member is n-shaped;    b. said receiving portion is formed with a back edge and an outward edge;    c. said washer member has a back flange integrally connected to said back edge and extending towards said seat member, said back flange formed with a back flange base that is formed to be in registration with said seat member; and    d. said washer member has an outward flange integrally connected to said outward edge of said receiving portion and extending towards said seat member, said outward flange formed with an outward flange base that is formed to be in registration with said seat member.    
     
     
         16 . The connector of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a. said seat member is formed with at least one embossment that interfaces with said washer member to hold said washer member in said seat member.    
     
     
         17 . The connector of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 a. said seat member has a front edge; and    b. said connector is formed with at least one embossment that interfaces with said outward flange base of said washer member to hold said washer member within said seat member by preventing said washer member from moving toward said front edge of said seat member.    
     
     
         18 . The connector of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 a. said first and second side members each have a top edge; and    b. said connector is formed with at least one embossment that interfaces with said receiving portion of said washer member to hold said washer member within said seat member by preventing said washer member from moving toward said top edges of said first and second side members.    
     
     
         19 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 a. said inner edges of said first and second opposed back plates of said back member have matching curvilinear contours that are substantially equidistant.    
     
     
         20 . The connector of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 a. said first and second side members each have a front edge; and    b. said front edges of said first and second side members have curvilinear contours.    
     
     
         21 . The connector of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 a. said seat member has a front edge; and    b. said front edges of said first and second side members are connected through said front edge of seat member.    
     
     
         22 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. said seat member is a concave seat member.    
     
     
         23 . The connector of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 a. said first and second back plates are mutually opposed;    b. said inner edge of said first plate faces said inner edge of said second plate;    c. said first and second opposed back plates are integrally connected to and joined by said reinforcing flange;    d. said first and second side members are integrally connected to said concave seat member;    e. said back member is integrally connected to said first and second side members;    f. said back member is integrally connected to said concave seat member;    g. said reinforcing flange is connected to said concave seat member along the greater portion of said back edge of said concave seat member;    h. said connector has a substantially rigid washer member located proximate said first side member and said second side member to provide lateral bracing to said first and second side members when said connector is under tension loads, said washer member formed with a receiving portion having an opening for receiving said anchor member therethrough;    i. said connector has a substantially rigid washer member located proximate said concave seat member and formed with a receiving portion having an opening for receiving said anchor member therethrough;    l. said washer member has a base formed to be in registration with said concave seat member;    m. said base of said washer member conforms exactly to the shape of said concave seat member;    n. said washer member is n-shaped;    o. said receiving portion is formed with a back edge and an outward edge;    p. said washer member has a back flange integrally connected to said back edge and extending towards said concave seat member, said back flange formed with a back flange base that is formed to be in registration with said concave seat member;    q. said washer member has an outward flange integrally connected to said outward edge of said receiving portion and extending towards said concave seat member, said outward flange formed with an outward flange base that is formed to be in registration with said concave seat member;    r. said concave seat is formed with at least one embossment that interfaces with said washer member to hold said washer member in said concave seat;    s. said concave seat has a front edge;    t. said connector is formed with at least one embossment that interfaces with said outward flange base of said washer member to hold said washer member within said concave seat member by preventing said washer member from moving toward said front edge of said concave seat member;    u. said first and second side members each have a top edge;    v. said connector is formed with at least one embossment that interfaces with said receiving portion of said washer member to hold said washer member within said concave seat member by preventing said washer member from moving toward said top edges of said first and second side members;    w. said first and second side member each have a front edge;    x. said concave seat member has a front edge; and    y. said front edges of said first and second side members are connected through said front edge of concave seat member.    
     
     
         24 . The connector of  claim 1  in a connection, wherein: 
 a. said connector is fastened to a first building structural member with a plurality of fastener members;    b. said connector receives an anchor member, which is restrained against said connector; and    c. said anchor member is attached to and restrained by a second building structural member.    
     
     
         25 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. said first and second back plates are formed with a plurality of fastener openings.    
     
     
         26 . The connector of  claim 25  wherein: 
 a. said connector has a washer member located proximate said seat member; and    b. said seat member is formed with at least one embossment that interfaces with said washer member to hold said washer member in said seat.    
     
     
         27 . A method of forming the connector of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. said opening is formed in said seat member;    b. said connector has an outer circumference;    c. the greater part of said outer circumference is lance cut from a sheet metal blank;    d. the greater part of said unitary back member is bent out of said sheet metal blank;    e. said first and second side members are bent out of said sheet metal blank;    f. said remainder of said outer circumference is cut from said sheet metal blank, separating said connector from said sheet metal blank; and    g. the remainder of said unitary back member is bent into its final form.    
     
     
         28 . A method of forming the connector of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 a. said opening is formed in said seat member;    b. said plurality of fastener openings in said first and second back plates are formed;    c. said connector has an outer circumference;    d. the greater part of said outer circumference is lance cut from a sheet metal blank;    e. the greater part of said unitary back member is bent out of said sheet metal blank;    f. said first and second side members are bent out of said sheet metal blank;    g. said remainder of said outer circumference is cut from said sheet metal blank, separating said connector from said sheet metal blank; and    h. the remainder of said unitary back member is bent into its final form.    
     
     
         29 . A method of forming the connector of  claim 26  wherein: 
 a. said opening is formed in said seat member;    b. said plurality of fastener openings in said first and second back plates are formed;    c. said at least one embossment is formed in said seat member;    d. said connector has an outer circumference;    e. the greater part of said outer circumference is lance cut from a sheet metal blank;    f. the greater part of said unitary back member is bent out of said sheet metal blank;    g. said first and second side members are bent out of said sheet metal blank;    h. said remainder of said outer circumference is cut from said sheet metal blank, separating said connector from said sheet metal blank; and    i. the remainder of said unitary back member is bent into its final form.    
     
     
         30 . A connector for tying a first building structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with fastener means and an anchor member, said connector comprising: 
 a. a seat member, having a back edge, said seat member being formed with an opening, said opening being formed for receiving said anchor member therethrough to attach said connector to said second building structural member;    b. a first side member, having a back edge, connected to said seat member;    c. a second side member, having a back edge, connected to said seat member; and    d. a back member having: 
 i. a lower portion connected to said back edge of said seat member, and an upper portion connected to said back edges of said first and second side members;  
 ii. an enlarged opening proximate said seat member such that said lower portion of said back member adjacent said seat member forms at least one reinforcing flange along at least a portion of said back edge of said seat member; wherein: 
 a) a part of said upper portion of said back member is formed to interface with said fastener means to attach said back member to said first building structural member;  
 b) said part of said upper portion of said back member formed to interface with said fastener means has first and second back plates each having an inner edge extending away from said enlarged opening;  
 c) said first back plate is connected to said back edge of said first side member;  
 d) said second back plate is connected to said back edge of said second side member; and  
 e) said lower portion of said back member connects to at least one of said back edges of said first and second side members.