AU747435B2 - A bridging member - Google Patents

Description

I

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

a a Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Woodroffe Industries Pty Limited David Isaac Newton Brian Lionel Zwar MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: A BRIDGING MEMBER Details of Associated Provisional Application Nos: PQ 6093 dated 7 th March 2000 PQ 7185 dated 1 st May 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

(Pat AU131) This invention relates to a bridging member and in particular to a means of attaching a bridging member between adjacent structural members.

Bridging members locate between adjacent structural members to increase structural stiffness. Typical structural members may include those used in the building industry and include rafters, joists such as ceiling and flooring joists and studs.

In the majority of cases, the structural members comprise a number of parallel longitudinal members and the bridging members are aligned end to end between adjacent structural members so that they extend transversely with respect to the S. "structural members.

Typically, such structural members comprise roll formed steel sections such as C-section, Z-section or I-section beams. Each of these beams have a central web and it is common for the ends of known bridging members to be attached to a web. In the past, such attachment means have included riveting, welding or bolting.

An improvement over these attachment means is described in Australian 20 Patent No. 605417 (33129/89) in the name of John Lysaght (Australia) Limited. This specification describes the use of hooks at either end of the bridging member 0 0oo together with apertures within the webs of structural members. The bridging ooo* 00 member shown in the earlier Australian patent specification has the advantage of being easily and quickly installed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a similar means of securing a bridging member between adjacent structural members which is if a simpler design while at the same time having the ease of assembly of the bridging member shown in that Australian patent.

According to its broadest form, the invention is a bridging member that extends between two adjacent structural members where each structural member has at least one aperture therein, said bridging member comprising: a body that extends between two adjacent said structural members, a first hook at the first end of said body to engage through an aperture to hold said body to one of said adjacent structural members; a plate member at the second end of said body that abuts against the second of said adjacent structural members; an opening in said plate member that aligns with an aperture in said second adjacent structural member so that the said first hook of a second adjacent bridging member locates through both said aperture and opening, and a second hook projecting from said plate member that engages the aperture of said second adjacent structural member.

Preferably, the first hook has a head that has a width greater than the aperture. However, the hook can be located into the aperture with the bridging member at an angle with respect to the structural member. The hook can then be engaged through the aperture by rotating the bridging member to a position where it is normal with respect to the structural member. In this position, the first hook is 20 located through the aperture, and as its head is wider than the aperture, the bridging member is locked with respect to the structural member.

The plate member may comprise a formed end of the body of the bridging member, or may also comprise a separate bracket fixed to the body. The plate member is positioned so that when the body is rotated to its normal position, the plate is substantially parallel to and preferably abuts against the adjacent structural member. This provides a further degree of rigidity by restraining movement of the bridging member about its longitudinal axis.

The plate member has an opening which might comprise an aperture or a slot which aligns with the aperture in the structural member when the bridging member is positioned between adjacent structural members. This opening is designed to 3 allow the first hook to freely locate through the aperture, and accordingly the hook also locates through the opening in the plate member. The opening may be designed such that the hook also bears or locates against the plate member, but preferably, the opening is large enough to allow the first hook to bear against only the structural member.

However, the opening is such that the plate member is restrained from substantial movement by the first hook.

A second hook projects from the plate member and is designed to locate through and engage with the aperture in the structural member. This hook will locate the end of the bridging member against the adjacent structural member prior to fitting of the next bridging member. Accordingly, the second hook holds the opening aligned with the aperture and also prevents the bridging member from swinging away from this position once it is released. Once the next bridging member and its associated first hook is located through the respective aperture, the first hook will act to restrain movement of the adjacent bridging member.

Preferably, the second hook may be formed by a punching operation which at 20 the same time forms the opening. Accordingly, material is punched away to form the shape of the hook within the opening. The second hook and opening are formed by °folding the hook shape out of the opening so that the hook is substantially normal to the plate.

Although the bridging member may be provided with one first and second hook, preferably, at least two first and second hooks are provided with tw6 associated apertures within the structural member. The invention may also comprise three or more first and second hooks and apertures.

In order to fully understand the invention, a preferred embodiment will now be described. However, it should be realised that the invention is not confined or restricted to this particular embodiment.

I, This embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 comprises three orthogonal views (Figs. la-lc) of a first end of a bridging member, Figure 2 comprises three orthogonal views (Figs. 2a-2c) of a second end of a bridging member, Figure 3 shows a top (Fig 3a) and side view (Fig 3b) of a pair of first hooks and second hooks engaged with apertures within a web of a structural member, Figure 4 shows a series of drawings (Figs. 4a-4f) illustrating the sequence of steps of installing bridging members between adjacent structural members, Figure 5 shows three orthogonal views (Figs. 5a-5c) of a second end of a bridging member of a second embodiment of the invention, and Figure 6 and Figure 7 shows a perspective and side view of assembled bridging members according to a third embodiment.

15 Figure 1 and 2 show brackets 10 and lOa which incorporate a pair of first and o second hooks respectively. The bridging member is formed by fixing a respect bracket at each end of a body which in this embodiment comprises a C-shaped beam.

This construction process enables bridging members of various lengths to be easily formed. In this embodiment, the brackets 10 can be fixed to either end of the beam by 20 riveting or any other fastening means.

In Figure 1, the bracket 10 comprises a generally U-shaped channel having a base 11 and a pair of side walls 12. At one end of the bracket, the side walls 12 extend beyond the base 11 with each extended side wall being formed into a first hook 13.

The dimension W indicates the width of the head of the first hook 13. The relevance of this dimension will be discussed below.

Each first hook 13 comprises a point 14 and a recess 15. The outer edge 16 of each first hook 13 is curved. A step 18 is formed between the first hook 13 and side wall 12 on the side of the first hook 13 opposite to the point 14.

The bracket 10a shown in Figure 2 is secured to the opposite end of the bridging member in a manner similar to the bracket 10 shown in Figure 1. Brackets as shown in Figure 2 comprises a base 20 and a plate 21. A pair of openings 22 are formed in the plate 21 and the process of forming the openings 22 is also used to produce the second hooks 23.

The openings 22 are formed by a punching process in which the shape of the second hook 23 is formed within the perimeter of the opening 22. The hook 23 is then folded outwardly to result in a fully formed aperture 22 and a second hook 23 projecting from the planar plate 21.

i Figure 3 shows assembly of two adjacent bridging members which are located ~either side of the web 25 of a structural member. Figure 3 shows the use of the invention both with a Z- and C-section beam that are commonly used as structural 15 members. The web 25 is pierced with a pair of apertures (not drawn). The length of the aperture is dependent on the width W of the first hook 13. In order to ensure that :i the first hooks 13 are locked with respect to the web 25 of the structural member, then the relevant dimension of the aperture must be less than the width W of each hook 13. Accordingly, when the hooks 13 are positioned as shown in Figure 3, the 20 bridging member is held in place with respect to the structural member.

As seen in Figure 3, the second hooks 23 are located between and spaced from respective first hooks 13. Accordingly, the aperture within the web 25 is sufficiently wide to allow for location of both a first and second hook 13 and 23 within each aperture. Alternatively, the second hooks 23 may be spaced wider than the first hooks 13 so that they are each located on the outer side of the first hooks 13 with the apertures positioned and sized to allow two hooks into a single aperture.

The method of engaging the hooks 13 with the apertures in the web 25 is illustrated in Figure 4. The point 14 of the hook 13 is located within the aperture so that the recess 15 locates over one edge of the aperture. This then enables the bridging member to be rotated so that it is brought normal to the web of the structural member which results in the point 14 being located behind the plate 21 of the adjacent bridging member that is located on the other side of the web 25. The step 18 abuts against the web 25 with the bridging member in this position. This prevents further rotation of the bridging member, assists in locking the plate 21 in place, and prevents movement of the bridging member with respect to the web 25. In this position, tensile force on a bridging member is resisted by the hook point 14 engaging against the planar plate 21, and when a compressive force is applied, the step 18 abuts against the web 25 and prevents substantial movement in that direction.

When the first hooks 13 are engaged with respective apertures and the bridging member is brought to position where it is normal with respect to the web of the structural member, the second hooks 23 are brought into alignment and locate within and engage apertures of an adjacent structural member. The second hooks 23 15 are arranged so that they locate through these apertures and hold the bridging member in place so that it can be released to enable the next adjacent bridging member to be put into place. It is not necessary that the points of the second hooks 23 point downwardly. The bridging member will be adequately held even if the points are pointing upwardly or if the second hooks 23 are lying in an horizontal plane.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment for the second end of the bridging member. As with Figure 2, it comprises a bracket 10a that is secured to the opposite end of the bridging member in the same manner as the bracket shown in Figure 2. It also comprises a base 20 and a planar plate 21. It differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 2 in that the hooks 23 are formed separately from the openings 22. Instead of the hooks 23 being formed out of the openings 22, the hooks 23 are punched out of a central aperture with the openings 22 being formed on either side of the hooks 23.

This enables the upper edge of the apertures 22 to be below the upper level of each point of hooks 23. This ensures that there is no free play between adjacent bridging members.

Figures 5 and 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention. As with the previous embodiments, the brackets 10 and 10a are secured to the body which in this embodiment is a beam 26 having a C-shaped cross-section. The brackets 10 and are attached to the beam 26 by rivets 27.

The brackets 10 and 10a are similar to the previous embodiments in that bracket 10 has a base wall 11 and side walls 12. Bracket 10a has a base 20 and a plate 21. The bracket 10 has first hooks 13 and the bracket 10a has second hooks 23. The first hooks 13 locate through apertures within the web 25 and openings 22 in the plate 21. The bracket 10a has second hooks 23 that also locate through the apertures in the web 25 in a manner similar to the previous embodiments.

As seen in Figure 6, the width of the first hooks 13 are greater than either the aperture in the web 25 or the opening 22. In place of the step 18, the first hook 13 has an edge 28 that is formed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the bridging member.

A portion of the edge 28 abuts against the web 25, and in combination with the point 14 prevents further rotation of the bridging member with respect to the structural member.

o20 The second hooks 23 of bracket 10a are also formed from material punched from the plate 21 when the openings 22 are formed. When the second hooks 23 are engaged in the apertures in the web 25, the bridging member is prevented from rotating and the openings 22 are maintained in the required alignment with the apertures in the web 25 to allow assembly of the next bridging member. The first hooks 13 also have a pressed portion 30 that increases the width of the first hook 13 so that it has an effective width that is greater than the sheet metal from which the first hook 13 is formed. This pressed out region 30 of the first hook 13 bears against the upper second hook 23 as shown in Figure 6. Accordingly, the second hook 23 cannot move far enough away with respect to the aperture and the web 25 to enable it to disengage from the aperture. Although only one of the second hooks 23 is prevented from moving, this will obviously prevent either hook 23 from disengaging.

As can be seen from the above description, the invention provides a relatively simple construction for the bridging member and also provides a means which enables the bridging member to quickly and simply locate between adjacent structural members.

Claims (12)

1. A bridging member that extends between two adjacent structural members where each structural member has at least one aperture therein, said bridging member comprising: a body that extends between two adjacent said structural members, a first hook at the first end of said body to engage through an aperture to hold said body to one of said adjacent structural members; a plate member at the second end of said body that abuts against the second of said adjacent structural members; an opening in said plate member that aligns with an aperture in said second adjacent structural member so that the said first hook of a second adjacent bridging member locates through both said aperture and opening, and da second hook projecting from said plate member that engages the aperture of 15 said second adjacent structural member.

A bridging member according to claim 1 wherein said first hook has a head S" portion and recess portion where the maximum width of said head portion is greater than the diameter or width of said aperture. ooo0

3. A bridging member according to claim 2 wherein the maximum width of said head portion is greater than the diameter or width of said opening.

4. A bridging member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said second hook is formed from the portion of said plate member material that is displaced to form said opening.

A bridging member according to claim 4 wherein said plate member is formed from sheet metal and where said opening is formed by a punching operation so that the material or part of the material displaced from said opening is used to form said second hook.

6. A bridging member according to either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said second hook is planar and substantially normal to said plate portion.

7. A bridging member according to either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said second hook is U-shaped so that a portion of said second hook is parallel to said plate portion.

8. A bridging member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a pair of first hooks are provided to locate through a corresponding pair of apertures in said structural members. S•

9. A bridging member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a .pair of second hooks are provided to locate through a corresponding pair of 0 apertures in said structural members.

A bridging member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first hook or hooks are formed on a bracket that is secured to said body.

11. A bridging member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said 20 second hook or hooks are formed on a bracket that is secured to said body.

12. A bridging member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 7th day of March, 2001. WOODROFFE INDUSTRIES PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys MADDERNS