Architectural connectors for modular framing systems

Abstract

Connectors for modular framing systems having T-shaped slots are disclosed. The connectors connect framing members to each other or connect floor panels to framing members. Architectural structures and modular framing systems containing the connectors are also disclosed.

1 . A connector for joining a framing member of a modular framing system to an architectural element, the framing member having at least one T-shaped slot extending lengthwise along at least one surface of the framing member, said connector comprising:
 a first leg comprising: (a) a first proximal face adapted to contact a surface of the framing member and span across at least one T-shaped slot of the framing member, and (b) a first distal face opposite the first proximal face;   a plurality of first holes through the first leg, wherein the first holes are adapted to receive bolts also received by at least one T-shaped slot of the framing member;   at least one first projection on the first proximal face of the first leg, wherein the at least one first projection is adapted to be received by the framing member, provided that the first leg is adapted to be reversibly attached to the framing member by the bolts and the at least one first projection;   a second leg attached to the first leg at an angle from 1 to 179 degrees; and   second holes through the second leg and adapted to receive bolts for reversibly attaching the connector to the architectural element.   
   
   
       2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg is adapted to span across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of one surface the framing member. 
   
   
       3 . The connector of  claim 1 , further comprising nuts and bolts adapted to reversibly join to form fasteners having a T-shaped terminus sized to fit within the at least one T-shaped slot. 
   
   
       4 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is 89-91 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the architectural element is an additional framing member. 
   
   
       6 . The connector of  claim 5 , wherein the second leg comprises:
 a second proximal face adapted to contact a surface of the additional framing member and span across at least one T-shaped slot of the additional framing member;   at least one second projection on the second proximal face of the second leg, wherein the at least one second projection is adapted to be received by the additional framing member; and   a second distal face opposite the second proximal face,   wherein: (a) the second holes are adapted to receive bolts also received by at least one T-shaped slot of the additional framing member, and (b) the second leg is adapted to be reversibly attached to the additional framing member by the bolts and the at least one second projection retained by the additional framing member.   
   
   
       7 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein the first leg is adapted to span across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of one surface of the framing member and the second leg is adapted to span across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of one surface of the additional framing member. 
   
   
       8 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein a first width of the first proximal face is equivalent to a width of the surface of the framing member, and a second width of the second proximal face is equivalent to a width of the surface of the additional framing member. 
   
   
       9 . The connector of  claim 6 , further comprising a gusset joined between the distal faces of the first and second legs. 
   
   
       10 . The connector of  claim 9 , further comprising a clevis attached to the gusset, a turnbuckle attached to the clevis and a threaded rod attached to the turnbuckle. 
   
   
       11 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the architectural element is flooring. 
   
   
       12 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein the second leg comprises a load bearing face adapted to contact the flooring. 
   
   
       13 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein a first width of the first proximal face is equivalent to a width of the surface of the framing member. 
   
   
       14 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are formed from a single mass of at least one metal, or the first leg and the second leg are formed from more than one mass of at least one metal. 
   
   
       15 . The connector of  claim 1 , comprising a metallic core coated with a non-metallic coating. 
   
   
       16 . The connector of  claim 15 , wherein the metallic core comprises steel and the non-metallic coating comprises an epoxy. 
   
   
       17 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first holes are adapted to receive no bolts from T-shaped slots that receive at least one projection. 
   
   
       18 . A connector for joining two framing members of a modular framing system, each framing member having at least one T-shaped slot extending lengthwise along at least one surface of each framing member, said connector comprising:
 a first leg comprising: (a) a first proximal face adapted to contact a first surface of a first framing member and span across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of the first framing member, and (b) a first distal face opposite the first proximal face;   a plurality of first holes through the first leg, wherein the first holes are adapted to receive bolts also received by at least two T-shaped slots of the first framing member;   at least one first projection on the first proximal face of the first leg, wherein the at least one first projection is adapted to be received by at least one opening in the first framing member, provided that the first leg is adapted to be reversibly attached to the first framing member by the bolts and the at least one first projection;   a second leg joined to the first leg at an angle of 89-91 degrees, and comprising: (a) a second proximal face adapted to contact a second surface of a second framing member and span across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of the second framing member, and (b) a second distal face opposite the second proximal face;   a plurality of second holes through the second leg, wherein the second holes are adapted to receive bolts also received by at least two T-shaped slots of the second framing member; and   at least one second projection on the second proximal face of the second leg, wherein the at least one second projection is adapted to be received by at least one opening in the second framing member, provided that the second leg is adapted to be reversibly attached to the second framing member by the bolts and the at least one second projection.   
   
   
       19 . The connector of  claim 18 , further comprising nuts and bolts adapted to reversibly join to form fasteners having a T-shaped terminus sized to fit within the T-shaped slots. 
   
   
       20 . The connector of  claim 18 , adapted to withstand a vertical force of at least 6 kips and a horizontal force of at least 3 kips. 
   
   
       21 . The connector of  claim 18 , further comprising a gusset joined between the first distal face of the first leg and the second distal face of the second leg. 
   
   
       22 . The connector of  claim 21 , further comprising a clevis attached to the gusset, a turnbuckle attached to the clevis and a threaded rod attached to the turnbuckle. 
   
   
       23 . The connector of  claim 22 , adapted to withstand a vertical force of at least 8.5 kips, a horizontal force of at least 8.5 kips and a diagonal force of at least 10 kips. 
   
   
       24 . A connector for joining a framing member of a modular framing system to a floor, the framing member having T-shaped slots extending lengthwise along at least one surface of the framing member, said connector comprising:
 a first leg comprising: (a) a proximal face adapted to contact a surface of the framing member and span across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of the framing member, and (b) a distal face opposite the proximal face;   a plurality of first holes through the first leg and aligned with at least two T-shaped slots of the framing member, such that the first holes are adapted to receive bolts also received by at least two T-shaped slots of the framing member;   at least one first projection on the proximal face of the first leg, and adapted to be received within at least one T-shaped slot of the framing member;   a second leg joined to the first leg; and   second holes through the second leg and adapted to receive fasteners for reversibly fastening the second leg to the floor.   
   
   
       25 . The connector of  claim 24 , adapted to withstand a vertical force of at least 4.5 kips and a horizontal force of at least 0.5 kips. 
   
   
       26 . A connector for joining two framing members of a modular framing system, each framing member having at least one T-shaped slot extending lengthwise along at least one surface of each framing member, said connector comprising:
 a proximal face adapted to contact a surface of a first framing member and span across at least one T-shaped slot of the first framing member;   a distal face opposite the proximal face;   a plurality of first holes through the connector, wherein the first holes are adapted to receive first bolts also received by at least one T-shaped slot of the first framing member;   at least one projection on the proximal face and adapted to be received by the first framing member; and   a plurality of second holes through the connector, wherein the second holes are adapted to receive second bolts also received by an end of a second framing member such that the first framing member is reversibly attached to the second framing member.   
   
   
       27 . A connector for joining a diagonal compression brace to two framing members of a modular framing system, each framing member having at least one T-shaped slot extending lengthwise along at least one surface of each framing member, said connector comprising:
 a first wing comprising: (a) a first proximal face adapted to contact a first surface of a first framing member and span across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of the first framing member, and (b) a first distal face opposite the first proximal face;   a plurality of first holes through the first wing, wherein the first holes are adapted to receive bolts also received by at least two T-shaped slots of the first framing member;   at least one first projection on the first proximal face of the first wing, wherein the at least one first projection is adapted to be received by at least one opening in the first framing member, provided that the first wing is adapted to be reversibly attached to the first framing member by the bolts and the at least one first projection;   a base joined to the first wing at a first angle;   a second wing joined to the base at a second angle, and comprising: (a) a second proximal face adapted to contact a second surface of a second framing member and span across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of the second framing member, and (b) a second distal face opposite the second proximal face;   a plurality of second holes through the second wing, wherein the second holes are adapted to receive bolts also received by at least two T-shaped slots of the second framing member;   at least one second projection on the second proximal face of the second wing, wherein the at least one second projection is adapted to be received by at least one opening in the second framing member, provided that the second wing is adapted to be reversibly attached to the second framing member by the bolts and the at least one second projection; and   a diagonal compression brace bolt adapted to pass through a hole in the base and reversibly attach a diagonal compression brace to the base.   
   
   
       28 . An architectural structure comprising:
 a foundation at least partially embedded in soil;   a frame reversibly attached to the foundation and comprising framing members reversibly held together by first connectors;   floors reversibly attached to the frame by second connectors;   walls reversibly attached to at least one of the frame and the floors; and   a roof reversible attached to the frame,   wherein the architectural structure is adapted to withstand winds of up to 100 mph and the first and second connectors are connectors in accordance with  claim 1 .   
   
   
       29 . The architectural structure of  claim 28 , wherein the architectural structure is located outdoors. 
   
   
       30 . The architectural structure of  claim 28 , wherein the frame is free of bracing and binding devices other than the framing members and the first and second connectors. 
   
   
       31 . The architectural structure of  claim 28 , wherein the architectural structure is a multiple story residence. 
   
   
       32 . The architectural structure of  claim 28 , further comprising a column to beam connector and a diagonal compression brace connector. 
   
   
       33 . In a modular framing system comprising framing members having at least one T-shaped slot extending lengthwise along at least one surface thereof and connectors joining the framing members to each other, the improvement wherein the connectors comprise at least one connector according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       34 . The modular framing system of  claim 33 , further comprising a column to beam connector and a diagonal compression brace connector. 
   
   
       35 . In a modular framing system comprising framing members having at least one T-shaped slot extending lengthwise along at least one surface thereof and connectors joining the framing members to each other, the improvement wherein the connectors comprise:
 a first leg comprising: (a) a first proximal face contacting a first surface of a first framing member and spanning across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of the first framing member, and (b) a first distal face opposite the first proximal face;   a plurality of first holes through the first leg, wherein the first holes receive bolts also received by at least two T-shaped slots of the first framing member;   at least one first projection on the first proximal face of the first leg, wherein the at least one first projection is received by at least one opening in the first framing member, provided that the first leg is reversibly attached to the first framing member by the bolts and the at least one first projection;   a second leg joined to the first leg at an angle of 89-91 degrees, and comprising: (a) a second proximal face contacting a second surface of a second framing member and spanning across at least two parallel T-shaped slots of the second framing member, and (b) a second distal face opposite the second proximal face;   a plurality of second holes through the second leg, wherein the second holes receive bolts also received by at least two T-shaped slots of the second framing member; and   at least one second projection on the second proximal face of the second leg, wherein the at least one second projection is received by at least one opening in the second framing member, provided that the second leg is reversibly attached to the second framing member by the bolts and the at least one second projection.   
   
   
       36 . The modular framing system of  claim 35 , wherein a first width of the first proximal face is equivalent to a first width of the first surface of the first framing member, and a second width of the second proximal face is equivalent to a second width of the second surface of the second framing member. 
   
   
       37 . The modular framing system of  claim 35 , further comprising a gusset joined between the distal faces of the first and second legs. 
   
   
       38 . The modular framing system of  claim 37 , further comprising a clevis attached to the gusset, a turnbuckle attached to the clevis and a threaded rod attached to the turnbuckle. 
   
   
       39 . The modular framing system of  claim 35 , wherein the connectors comprise a metallic core coated with a non-metallic coating. 
   
   
       40 . The modular framing system of  claim 39 , wherein the metallic core comprises steel and the non-metallic coating comprises an epoxy. 
   
   
       41 . The modular framing system of  claim 35 , further comprising a column to beam connector and a diagonal compression brace connector.