Subfloor pile fixing connector and related systems

Abstract

A connector to selectively connect joists and piles to a bearer of a sub floor support structure. The connector comprising of a sheet metal plate that is formed into an L shape to define two leaves. A leaf defining a first pattern of apertures and second leaf defines a second pattern of apertures that is different to said first pattern. Two of the connectors of the same shape and configuration can be used each at the joist to bearer interface and at the pile to bearer interface.

1 . A connector to selectively connect one of each of (i) a joist to a bearer and (ii) a bearer to a pile, of a sub floor support structure that comprises a vertically extending pile of a quadrilateral cross section on top of which a horizontally extending bearer of quadrilateral cross section rests and on top of which parallel joists of quadrilateral cross section may rest horizontally and in a manner parallel each other and perpendicular to the bearer, the connector comprising of a sheet metal plate that is configured to define two planar leaves that extend at substantially right angles from each other from a corner interface of the leaves, a first of said leaves defining a first pattern of apertures therethrough and a second of said leaves defining a second pattern of apertures therethrough that is different to said first pattern, wherein:
 (i) the first of said leaves is adapted and configured to abut a horizontally extending face of the bearer and to received penetrative fasteners at and through its apertures to secure the connector to the bearer thereat, and   (ii) the second of said leaves is adapted and configured to abut a vertically extending face of one of each of the pile and a said joist and to receive penetrative fasteners at and through its apertures to secure the connector to the one of said pile and joist thereat.   
     
     
         2 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sheet metal plate is in cross section of an “L” shape and has two parallel lateral edges each running along opposed lateral sides of the first and said second leaves and has two parallel transverse edges one at each of said first and said second leaves that are parallel and opposite the corner interface. 
     
     
         3 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the leaves are each of a quadrilateral shape with one of its edges of each of said leaves being coincident the corner interface. 
     
     
         4 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the lateral sides of the first of said leaves are spaced apart at between 90 mm to 70 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the first of said leaves has no said apertures within 20 mm of each lateral side. 
     
     
         6 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the first of said leaves has no said apertures positioned to prevent a penetrative fastener penetrating the bearer within 20 mm of both longitudinal sides of the face of the bearer on which the first of said leaves abuts or will abut. 
     
     
         7 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the first of said leaves has no said apertures positioned that would otherwise allow a penetrative fastener to penetrate the bearer within a dedicated fastener free strip along and at both of the sides of the face of the bearer on which the first of said leaves abuts or will abut. 
     
     
         8 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the first of said leaves has no said apertures positioned that would otherwise allow a penetrative fastener to penetrate the bearer within a predetermined fastener free area at both of the sides of the face of the bearer on which the first of said leaves abuts or will abut. 
     
     
         9 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein there are two apertures through the first of said leaves at each of said lateral sides. 
     
     
         10 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein there are two apertures through the first of said leaves at each of said lateral sides one more proximate to the corner interface than the other. 
     
     
         11 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein at each lateral side of the first of said leaves, the aperture more proximate the corner interface is less than 20 mm from the corner interface. 
     
     
         12 . The connector as claimed in  claim 11  wherein there are two additional apertures through said first of said leaves located adjacent said corner interface. 
     
     
         13 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the second of said leaves has said apertures within 20 mm of each lateral side. 
     
     
         14 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the second of said leaves has no said apertures within 20 mm of said corner interface. 
     
     
         15 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the second of said leaves has no said apertures positioned at a location where a penetrative fastener would otherwise penetrate the joist within 20 mm of a longitudinal side of the face of the joist on which the second of said leaves abuts or will abut. 
     
     
         16 . The connector as claimed  claim 2  wherein the second of said leaves has no said apertures positioned at a location that would otherwise allow a penetrative fastener to penetrate the joist within a dedicated fastener free area at a longitudinal side of the face of the joist on which the second of said leaves abuts or will abut. 
     
     
         17 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the second of said leaves has no said apertures positioned that would otherwise allow a penetrative fastener to penetrate the joist within a predetermined fastener free strip extending along a longitudinal side of the face of the joist on which the second of said leaves abuts or will abut. 
     
     
         18 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the connector has a notional mirror image line midway between the lateral edges and the apertures through the second of said leaves are in mirror image configuration about the mirror image line. 
     
     
         19 . A sub floor structure comprising a vertically extending pile of a quadrilateral cross section on top of which a horizontally extending bearer of quadrilateral cross section rests and on top of which a horizontally extending joist of quadrilateral cross section rest perpendicular to the bearer and wherein:
 (a) at the joist to bearer interface a first connector is secured to secure the joist and bearer together thereat, and   (b) at the bearer to pile interface a second connector is secured to secure the bearer and the joist together thereat, and   wherein the first connector is identical is shape and configuration as the second connector and comprises of a sheet metal plate that is configured to define two planar leaves that extend at substantially right angles from each other from a corner interface of the leaves, a first of said leaves defining a first pattern of apertures and a second of said leaves defining a second pattern of apertures that is different to said first pattern, wherein:   said first connector has:
 (i) its first of said leaves abutting a horizontally extending upwardly facing face of the bearer with penetrative fasteners passing thought its apertures to secure the first connector to the bearer thereat, and 
 (ii) its second of said leaves abutting a vertically extending face of said joist with penetrative fasteners passing through its apertures to secure the first connector to the joist thereat, and 
   said second connector has:
 (i) its first of said leaves abutting a horizontally extending downwardly facing face of the bearer with penetrative fasteners passing thought its apertures to secure the second connector to the bearer thereat, and 
 (ii) its second of said leaves abutting a vertically extending face of said pile with penetrative fasteners passing through its apertures to secure the second connector to the pile thereat. 
   
     
     
         20 . The subfloor structure as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the sheet metal plate of each of said connectors is in cross section of an “L” shape and has two parallel lateral edges each running along the opposed lateral sides of the first and second leaves and has two parallel transverse edges one at each of said first and second leaves that are parallel and opposite the corner interface.