Slip Clip Connection

Abstract

An improved connection between supporting and supported structural members, particularly between curtain walls and interior support structures, wherein the connector is an angular member having first and second plates joined at an angular junction and the second plate is formed with a plurality of elongated slots and the fastening of the angled connector to the second structural member is strengthened with a reinforcing bracket.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A first building structural connection comprising:
 a. a first structural member;   b. a second structural member;   c. a first connector, connecting said first structural member to said second structural member, said first connector having a first plate fastened to said first structural member, and a second plate fastened to said second structural member, said second plate being joined to said first plate at an angular juncture, wherein said second plate has a plurality of fastener openings, said plurality of fastener openings are formed as a plurality of substantially parallel elongated slots in said second plate, said plurality of elongated slots being disposed substantially parallel to the angular juncture between the first and second plates, and one of the elongated slots is disposed closer to the angular juncture than the other elongated slots, and at least two of the plurality of elongated slots in said second plate is a site of a fastening to the second structural member, and at least two of the plurality of elongated slots receives at least one fastener having an elongated shank and a head, wherein the elongated shank of each fastener is received in the second structural member, and each at least one fastener can move along the elongated slot in the second plate when the second structural member moves with respect to the second plate, and wherein the elongated slot disposed closer to the angular juncture than the other elongated slots is one of the at least two of the plurality of elongated slots that is a site of a fastening to the second structural member and receives at least one fastener having an elongated shank and a head; and   d. a reinforcing member, said reinforcing member being connected to said second structural member and having portions that overlie the second plate of the angled connector.   
     
     
         2 . The building structural connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the second structural member has an attachment face and the second plate of the angled connector is connected to the attachment face of the second structural member;   b. the second plate has an attachment side that interfaces with the attachment face of the second structural member and an open side disposed opposite the attachment side; and   c. the reinforcing member has portions that overlie the open side of the second plate.   
     
     
         3 . The building connection of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the reinforcing member has portions that interface with the attachment face of the second structural member.   
     
     
         4 . The building connection of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the reinforcing member is directly connected to the attachment face of the second structural member at the portions of the reinforcing member that interface with the attachment face of the second structural member.   
     
     
         5 . The building structural connection of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a. the second structural member has a side flange that is disposed at a different angle than the attachment face of the second structural member;   b. the reinforcing member has portions that interface with the side flange of the second structural member.   
     
     
         6 . The building connection of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the reinforcing member is directly connected to the side flange of the second structural member at the portions of the reinforcing member that interface with the side flange of the second structural member.   
     
     
         7 . The building connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the reinforcing member overlies a portion of the angled connector close to the elongated slot disposed closer to the angular juncture than the other elongated slots.   
     
     
         8 . The building connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the second structural member has a longitudinal axis and the second structural member is elongated along the longitudinal axis;   b. the second plate of the angled connector is formed with a first side edge and a second side edge, and the first side edge lies above the second side edge on the longitudinal axis of the second structural member; and   c. the reinforcing member interfaces with the second structural member at a positions above the first side edge of the second plate, and the reinforcing member interfaces with the second structural member at position below the second side edge of the second plate along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member.   
     
     
         9 . The building connection of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the portions of the reinforcing member that interface with the second structural member are spaced a selected distance from the first and second side edges so as to allow the second plate to move along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member with respect to the second structural member.   
     
     
         10 . The building connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the second structural member has a longitudinal axis and the second structural member is elongated along the longitudinal axis;   b. the second plate of the angled connector is formed with a first side edge and a second side edge, and the first side edge lies above the second side edge on the longitudinal axis of the second structural member; and   c. the reinforcing member interfaces with the second structural member at a position above the first side edge of the second plate.   
     
     
         11 . The building connection of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the portions of the reinforcing member that interface with the second structural member are spaced a selected distance from the first side edge so as to allow the second plate to move along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member with respect to the second structural member.   
     
     
         12 . The building connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the second structural member has a longitudinal axis and the second structural member is elongated along the longitudinal axis;   b. the second plate of the angled connector is formed with a first side edge and a second side edge, and the first side edge lies above the second side edge on the longitudinal axis of the second structural member; and   c. the reinforcing member interfaces with the second structural member at position below the second side edge of the second plate along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member.   
     
     
         13 . The building connection of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the portions of the reinforcing member that interface with the second structural member are spaced a selected distance from the second side edge so as to allow the second plate to move along the longitudinal axis of the second structural member with respect to the second structural member.   
     
     
         14 . The building structural connection of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more gusset darts in the angular juncture that reinforce the angular juncture. 
 
     
     
         15 . The building structural connection of  claim 1  wherein:
 said fasteners that attach said second plate to said second structural member are screws. 
 
     
     
         16 . The building structural connection of  claim 15  wherein:
 said fasteners that attach said second plate to said second structural member are shouldered screws. 
 
     
     
         17 . The building structural connection of  claim 1  wherein:
 said first structural member is fastened to said first connector so that said first building structural member cannot move relative said first plate of said angular connector. 
 
     
     
         18 . The building structural connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of elongated slots in the second plate is the site of a fastening to the second structural member.   
     
     
         19 . The building structural connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. said first structural member is horizontally disposed member, and   b. said first structural member is a vertically disposed member that is part of a wall.