Veneer anchoring system

Abstract

A masonry anchoring system for use in commercial and residential construction is described. In one aspect, the invention includes a brick tie that interfaces the masonry veneer and interlocks with an anchor plate mounted on a structure.

1 . In a system for coupling a masonry veneer to a structure, a brick tie that interfaces the masonry veneer and interlocks with an anchor mounted on the structure, comprising: 
 a substantially triangular shaped body including a base portion capable of interlocking with the anchor;    a first side leg portion and a second side leg portion, wherein each side leg portion extends from the base portion at diverging obtuse angles; and    a first front leg portion and a second front leg portion, wherein the first and second front leg portions each extend from the first and second side leg portions at converging acute angles; and wherein the first leg portion and the second leg portion each include a region of deflection.    
   
   
       2 . The brick tie of  claim 1 , wherein the first front leg portion and the second front leg portion are substantially parallel to one another and partially overlap one another.  
   
   
       3 . The brick tie of  claim 2 , wherein the first front leg portion and the second front leg portion are spaced apart from one another by a distance sufficient to allow the second leg portion to be inserted into a slot defined by a projecting member of the anchor plate.  
   
   
       4 . The brick tie of  claim 2 , wherein the first front leg portion and the second front leg portion are substantially the same length.  
   
   
       5 . The brick tie of  claim 2 , wherein the first front leg portion and the second front leg portion are different lengths.  
   
   
       6 . The brick tie of  claim 1 , wherein the region of deflection on the first front leg portion is a first deflected distal end portion and wherein the region of deflection on the second front leg portion is a second deflected distal end portion.  
   
   
       7 . The brick tie of  claim 6 , wherein the deflected distal end portion and the second deflected distal end portion are deflected in the same direction.  
   
   
       8 . The brick tie of  claim 6 , wherein the deflected distal end portion and the second deflected distal end portion are deflected in different directions.  
   
   
       9 . The brick tie of  claim 1 , wherein the region of deflection on the first front leg portion is a first bowed portion and wherein the region of deflection on the second front leg portion is a second bowed portion.  
   
   
       10 . The brick tie of  claim 9 , wherein the first bowed portion and the second bowed portion are deflected in the same direction.  
   
   
       11 . The brick tie of  claim 9 , wherein the first bowed portion and the second bowed portion are deflected in different directions.  
   
   
       12 . The brick tie of  claim 1 , wherein the brick tie comprises steel wire in a gauge of from about 11 to about 20.  
   
   
       13 . The brick tie of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion is at least about 1 inch in length.  
   
   
       14 . A masonry coupling system, comprising: 
 at least one anchor plate mounted on a structure for anchoring a masonry veneer to the structure, each anchor plate including a backing member comprising means for securing the anchor plate to the structure and a projecting member defining a slot for receiving a brick tie therethrough; and    at least one brick tie, each brick tie interfacing with the masonry veneer and interlocking with at least one anchor plate mounted on the structure, each brick tie comprising a substantially triangular body including a base portion capable of interlocking with the anchor;    a first side leg portion and a second side leg portion, wherein each side leg portion extends from the base portion at diverging obtuse angles; and    a first front leg portion and a second front leg portion, wherein the first and second front leg portions each extend from the first and second side leg portions at converging acute angles;    wherein the first leg portion and the second leg portion each include a region of deflection.    
   
   
       15 . A method for manufacturing a brick tie for use in a masonry anchoring system, the method comprising: 
 fabricating a steel wire of appropriate gauge and dimension into a truncated triangular shape comprising:    bending the wire at a first position and a second position to form a base portion, a first side leg portion and a second side leg portion each extending from the base portion at divergent obtuse angles;    bending the wire at a third position to form a first front leg portion extending from the first side leg portion at an acute angle;    bending the wire at a fourth position to form a second front leg portion extending from the second side leg portion at an acute angle;    wherein the first front leg portion and the second front leg portion are substantially parallel to, and partially overlap, one another; and    stamping a region of deflection into the first and second front leg portions.