Variable pitch connector brackets for use in attaching supporting members to bearing members in roofs

Abstract

A roof framing system includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket attaches a first rafter and a second rafter to a ridge beam. The second bracket attaches a third rafter, through the first bracket, to the ridge beam. The first bracket and/or the second bracket includes one or more projections for interlocking with the other one of the first bracket and the second bracket such that the second bracket can be moved between a fixed position and a released position by moving the second bracket relative to the first bracket to attach the third rafter, through the first bracket, to the ridge beam.

1 - 50 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       51 . A roof framing system comprising: 
 a first bracket; and    a second bracket to attach a rafter, through the first bracket, to a beam,    wherein at least one of (i) the first bracket and (ii) the second bracket includes one or more projections for interlocking with the other one of (i) the first bracket and (ii) the second bracket such that the second bracket can be moved between a fixed position and a released position by moving the second bracket relative to the first bracket to attach the rafter, through the first bracket, to the beam.    
   
   
       52 . The roof framing system of  claim 51 , 
 wherein the first bracket includes: 
 first and second fixed base surfaces;  
 first and second movable base surfaces extending from the respective first and second fixed base surfaces, and movably attached to the respective first and second fixed base surfaces to move the movable base surfaces relative to the fixed base surfaces;  
 first and second movable side surfaces extending from the respective first and second movable base surfaces, and configured to be movable relative to the fixed base surfaces; and  
 first and second fixed side surfaces extending from the respective first and second fixed base surfaces,  
   wherein the first fixed base surface is coupled to the second fixed base surface,    wherein the fixed base surfaces engage the beam, and    wherein the first and second fixed side surfaces are attached to the respective first and second movable side surfaces to fixedly secure the movable side surfaces and the movable base surfaces relative to the fixed base surfaces.    
   
   
       53 . The roof framing system of  claim 52 , wherein the second bracket includes the one or more projections for interlocking with the first and second fixed side surfaces of the first bracket.  
   
   
       54 . The roof framing system of  claim 52 , wherein the first and second fixed side surfaces of the first bracket includes the one or more projections for interlocking with the second bracket.  
   
   
       55 . The roof framing system of  claim 52 , wherein the fixed side surfaces form a plane located at an end surface of the beam, and oriented substantially parallel to the end surface of the beam.  
   
   
       56 . The roof framing system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more projections includes one or more lugs.  
   
   
       57 . The roof framing system of  claim 51 , wherein the rafter includes a common rafter.  
   
   
       58 . The roof framing system of  claim 51 , further comprising 
 a third bracket to attach the rafter, through the second bracket, to the beam,    wherein at least one of (i) the second bracket and (ii) the third bracket includes one or more projections for interlocking with the other one of (i) the second bracket and (ii) the third bracket such that the third bracket can be moved between a fixed position and a released position by moving the third bracket relative to the second bracket to attach the rafter, through the second bracket, to the beam.    
   
   
       59 . The roof framing system of  claim 58 , wherein the rafter is a hip rafter.  
   
   
       60 . The roof framing system of  claim 58 , 
 wherein the third bracket includes: 
 a fixed base surface;  
 a movable base surface extending from the fixed base surface, and movably attached to the fixed base surface to move the movable base surface relative to the fixed base surface;  
 a movable side surface extending from the movable base surface, and configured to be movable relative to the fixed base surface; and  
 a fixed side surface extending from the fixed base surface,  
   wherein the fixed base surface engages the second bracket,    wherein the movable base surface and the movable side surface engage the rafter, and    wherein the fixed side surface is attached to the movable side surface to fixedly secure the movable side surface and the movable base surface relative to the fixed base surface.    
   
   
       61 . The roof framing system of  claim 60 , wherein the second bracket includes the one or more projections for interlocking with the fixed base surface of the third bracket.  
   
   
       62 . The roof framing system of  claim 60 , wherein the fixed base surface of the third bracket includes lug keyways to engage the second bracket.  
   
   
       63 . The roof framing system of  claim 62 , wherein the lug keyways include single lug keyways.  
   
   
       64 . The roof framing system of  claim 63 , wherein the lug keyways include double lug keyways.  
   
   
       65 . The roof framing system of  claim 62 , 
 wherein the fixed base surface of the third bracket has three lug keyways, and    wherein the second bracket engages two of the three lug keyways to vertically adjust the rafter relative to the beam.    
   
   
       66 . The roof framing system of  claim 65 , wherein the vertical adjustment of the rafter relative to the beam is of approximately 2 inches.  
   
   
       67 . The roof framing system of  claim 60 , wherein the fixed base surface of the third bracket includes the one or more projections for interlocking with the second bracket.  
   
   
       68 . The roof framing system of  claim 58 , 
 wherein the second bracket includes (i) first projections for interlocking with the first bracket, and (ii) second projections for interlocking with the third bracket, and    wherein the relative vertical distance between the first projections and the second projections of the second bracket can be adjusted.    
   
   
       69 . The roof framing system of  claim 51 , 
 wherein the first bracket engages a plurality of common rafters,    wherein the second bracket attaches a hip rafter, through the first bracket, to the beam, and    wherein the second bracket provides a vertical adjustment of the hip rafter relative to the common rafters such that edges of the hip rafter and the common rafters are substantially in the same horizontal plane.    
   
   
       70 - 97 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       98 . A roof framing system comprising: 
 a first supporting member extending in a first direction;    a first bracket attached to the first supporting member;    a second supporting member extending at an angle to the first direction; and    a second bracket attached to the second supporting member,    wherein at least one of (i) the first bracket and (ii) the second bracket includes one or more projections for interlocking with the other one of (i) the first bracket and (ii) the second bracket such that the second bracket can be moved between a fixed position and a released position by moving the second bracket relative to the first bracket to attach the second supporting member to the first supporting member.    
   
   
       99 . The roof framing system of  claim 98 , wherein the second supporting member extends substantially at a 45 degree angle to the first direction.  
   
   
       100 . The roof framing system of  claim 98 , 
 wherein the first bracket includes: 
 a base surface extending in the first direction, and  
 a side surface extending from the base surface at the angle to the first direction,  
   wherein the base surface engages the first supporting member, and    wherein the side surface includes the one or more projections for interlocking with the second bracket to attach the second supporting member to the first supporting member.    
   
   
       101 . A roof framing system comprising: 
 a first bracket;    a plurality of second brackets;    a third bracket; and    a rafter including a first end and a second end,    wherein a first one of the plurality of second brackets is attached to the first end of the rafter, and a second one of the plurality of second brackets is attached to the second end of the rafter,    wherein the first bracket is coupled, through the first one of the plurality of the second brackets, to the rafter, and    wherein the third bracket is coupled, through the second one of the plurality of the second brackets, to the rafter.    
   
   
       102 . The roof framing system of  claim 101 , 
 wherein at least one of (i) the first bracket and (ii) the first one of the second brackets includes one or more projections for interlocking with the other one of (i) the first bracket and (ii) the first one of the second brackets such that the first one of the second brackets can be moved between a fixed position and a released position by moving the first one of the second brackets relative to the first bracket to couple the first bracket, through the first one of the second brackets, to the rafter.    
   
   
       103 . The roof framing system of  claim 101 , 
 wherein at least one of (i) the third bracket and (ii) the second one of the second brackets includes one or more projections for interlocking with the other one of (i) the third bracket and (ii) the second one of the second brackets such that the second one of the second brackets can be moved between a fixed position and a released position by moving the second one of the second brackets relative to the third bracket to couple the third bracket, through the second one of the second brackets, to the rafter.    
   
   
       104 . The roof framing system of  claim 101 , wherein each of the plurality of the second brackets includes: 
 a fixed base surface;    a movable base surface extending from the fixed base surface, and movably attached to the fixed base surface to move the movable base surface relative to the fixed base surface;    a movable side surface extending from the movable base surface, and configured to be movable relative to the fixed base surface; and    a fixed side surface extending from the fixed base surface,    wherein the fixed side surface is configured to be attached to the movable side surface to fixedly secure the movable side surface and the movable base surface relative to the fixed base surface.    
   
   
       105 . A roof framing system comprising: 
 a beam;    a plurality of rafters;    a first bracket; and    a plurality of second brackets,    wherein the first bracket is attached to the beam,    wherein a first one of the plurality of the second brackets is attached to (i) a first one of the plurality of rafters and (ii) the first bracket to secure the first one of the second brackets to the beam through the first bracket,    wherein a second one of the plurality of the second brackets is attached to (i) a second one of the plurality of rafters and (ii) the first bracket to secure the second one of the second brackets to the beam through the first bracket, and    wherein a third one of the plurality of the second brackets is attached to (i) a third one of the plurality of rafters and (ii) the first bracket to secure the third one of the second brackets to the beam through the first bracket.    
   
   
       106 . The roof framing system of  claim 105 , wherein at least one of (i) the first bracket and (ii) the second brackets includes one or more projections for interlocking with the other one of (i) the first bracket and (ii) the second brackets such that the second brackets can be moved between a fixed position and a released position by moving the second brackets relative to the first bracket to secure the second brackets to the beam through the first bracket.  
   
   
       107 . The roof framing system of  claim 105 , wherein each of the plurality of the second brackets includes: 
 a fixed base surface;    a movable base surface extending from the fixed base surface, and movably attached to the fixed base surface to move the movable base surface relative to the fixed base surface;    a movable side surface extending from the movable base surface, and configured to be movable relative to the fixed base surface; and    a fixed side surface extending from the fixed base surface,    wherein the fixed side surface is configured to be attached to the movable side surface to fixedly secure the movable side surface and the movable base surface relative to the fixed base surface.    
   
   
       108 . A bracket comprising: 
 a first surface to attach to a top plate of a wall;    a second surface, extending from the first surface, to attach to a rafter; and    a third surface, extending from the first surface, to attach to a wall stud, wherein the bracket attaches the rafter to the wall stud.    
   
   
       109 . The bracket of  claim 108 , wherein the rafter is a hip rafter.  
   
   
       110 . The bracket of  claim 108 , wherein the rafter is a valley rafter.