Framing fastener for connecting construction support members

Abstract

A framing fastener for connecting framing construction members providing multi-planar attachment surfaces which is made from a single piece of stock. The framing fastener is perfect for attaching a brace to a post or a beam. It is economically made from one piece of sheet metal stock and produces added strength because it is a single member.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:  
     
         1 . A framing fastener for connecting a first construction support member having at least one flat exterior surface to a second construction support member having at least one flat outer surface and a pair of outer side surfaces extending away from said at least one flat outer surface comprising: 
 a stiff sheet having a peripheral edge,    said sheet having a primary area and a flap,    said primary area including a central flat portion extending from an edge of the flap and at least one opposing side surface,    said at least one opposing side surface extending from and being bendable to a first angle relative to the central flat portion,    the flap being formed by a pair of spaced cuts extending inwardly from the peripheral edge,    the flap being bendable to a second angle relative to said central flat portion and being adapted to overlie a portion of the at least one flat exterior surface of the first construction support member,    said central flat portion being adapted to overlie a portion of the at least one flat outer surface of the second construction support member, and    each of said opposing side surfaces being adapted to respectively overlie a portion of each of the pair of outer side surfaces.    
     
     
         2 . A framing fastener for connecting a first construction support member having at least one flat exterior surface to a second construction support member having at least one flat outer surface and a pair of outer side surfaces extending away from said at least one flat outer surface comprising: 
 a stiff sheet having a peripheral edge,    said sheet having a primary area and a flap,    said primary area including a central flat portion extending from an edge of the flap and at least one opposing side surface,    said at least one opposing side surface extending from and being bendable to a first angle relative to the central flat portion,    the flap being formed by a pair of spaced cuts extending inwardly from the peripheral edge, and    the flap being bendable to a second angle which is acute relative to said central flat portion,    whereby, said flap can be bent to the second angle relative to said central flat portion and attached to a portion of the at least one flat exterior surface of the first construction support member, the central flat portion can be attached to a portion of the at least one flat outer surface of the second construction support member, and each of the at least one opposing side surface can be bent to the first angle relative to the central flat portion and attached to a portion of one of the pair of outer side surfaces to fasten the first construction support member to the second construction support member.    
     
     
         3 . A framing fastener for connecting a first construction support member having at least one flat exterior surface to a second construction support member having at least one flat outer surface and a pair of outer side surfaces extending away from said at least one flat outer surface comprising: 
 a stiff sheet having a peripheral edge,    said sheet having a primary area and a flap,    said primary area including a central flat portion extending from an edge of the flap and having opposing side surfaces,    said opposing side surfaces extending from and each being bendable along a first fold line to a first angle relative to the central flat portion,    said flap being formed by a pair of spaced cuts extending inwardly from the peripheral edge, and    said flap being bendable along a second fold line to a second angle relative to said central flat portion,    whereby, said flap can be bent to the second angle relative to said central flat portion and attached to a portion of the at least one flat exterior surface of the first construction support member, the central flat portion can be attached to a portion of the at least one flat outer surface of the second construction support member, and each of the opposing side surfaces can be bent to the first angle relative to the central flat portion and respectively attached to a portion of one of the pair of outer side surfaces to fasten the first construction support member to the second construction support member.    
     
     
         4 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , wherein the first construction support member has a pair of exterior side surfaces and each of the bent opposing side surfaces can be respectively attached to a portion of one of the pair of exterior side surfaces to further secure the first construction support member to the second construction support member.  
     
     
         5 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , wherein a lateral dimension of the central flat portion measured by the distance between the opposing side surfaces is at least as great as a width of one of the at least one flat exterior surface of the first construction support member and a transverse dimension between the spaced cuts is less than a breath of said one of the at least one flat exterior surface of the first construction support member.  
     
     
         6 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , wherein a transverse dimension between the spaced cuts is equal to a lateral dimension of the central flat portion measured by the distance between the opposing side surfaces and is at least as great as a width of the at least one flat outer surface of the second construction support member from which the pair of outer side surfaces extend, so that the opposing side surfaces of the framing fastener can be disposed proximate to the respective outer side surfaces of the pair of outer side surfaces of the second construction support member.  
     
     
         7 . The framing fastener of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of spaced cuts extending inwardly from the peripheral edge are parallel.  
     
     
         8 . The framing fastener of  claim 2 , wherein the sheet is rectangular.  
     
     
         9 . The framing fastener of  claim 8 , wherein each of the pair of spaced cuts is perpendicular to one of the sides of the sheet.  
     
     
         10 . The framing fastener of  claim 8 , wherein each of the pair of spaced cuts is obliquely angled relative to one of the sides of the sheet.  
     
     
         11 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , wherein each of the opposing side surfaces has the shape of a right triangle.  
     
     
         12 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , wherein each of the opposing side surfaces has the shape of a rectangle.  
     
     
         13 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , wherein each of the pair of spaced cuts has a blunt terminus.  
     
     
         14 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first fold line and the second fold line comprise a live hinge pivot means to facilitate bending.  
     
     
         15 . The framing fastener of  claim 2 , wherein the sheet has a plurality of spaced holes for receiving at least one of a nail, screw and staple for attaching the framing fastener to one of the first construction support member and the second construction support member.  
     
     
         16 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , wherein the sheet has a plurality of spaced holes for receiving at least one of a nail, screw and staple for attaching the framing fastener to one of the first construction support member and the second construction support member.  
     
     
         17 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , wherein the first angle to which the opposing side surfaces can be bent relative to the central flat portion is 90 degrees and wherein the second angle to which the flap can be bent relative to said central flat portion is 45 degrees, 
 whereby, a brace disposed at a 45 degree angle between a vertical post and a horizontal beam can be secured on each end to the post and beam respectively by said framing fastener.    
     
     
         18 . The framing fastener of  claim 17 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are made preformed.  
     
     
         19 . The framing fastener of  claim 3 , further comprising a pair of triangular wedges, each of said pair of triangular wedges having a first edge and a second edge and having a third angle there between, 
 said third angle being equal to the second angle between the flap and the central flat portion,    each of said pair of triangular wedges being disposed between an edge of the flap and an edge of the central flat portion from which the edge of the flap was cut, with the first edge of the wedge being attached to one of the edge of the flap and the edge of the central flat portion from which the edge of the flap was cut, and with the second edge of the wedge being attached to the other of the edge of the flap and the edge of the central flat portion from which the edge of the flap was cut.    
     
     
         20 . The framing fastener of  claim 19 , wherein the respective edges of the wedge and the sheet are welded together.