Attachment device for a roof nailer pane.

Abstract

A system including an attachment device having a body with a hollow, axially oriented core and a radially outwardly extending flange coupled to the core. The body has an opening configured to receive a fastener therethrough, and the core has a plurality of slots formed therein. The core is configured such that at least about 20% of a perimeter of at least one location along a length of the core is defined by the slots.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising attachment device including:
 a body having a hollow, axially oriented core and a radially outwardly extending flange coupled to the core, wherein the body has an opening configured to receive a fastener therethrough, wherein the core has a plurality of slots formed therein and is configured such that at least about 20% of a perimeter of at least one location along a length of the core is defined by the slots.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the core is generally cylindrical, and wherein the flange is generally annular and coupled to a distal end of the core. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the flange include a plurality of slots that are aligned with the slots of the core. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of slots divide the body into a plurality of axially oriented legs, each leg having a radially-outwardly extending foot at an end thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the core includes a radially aligned end surface, and wherein the opening extends axially through the end surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the end surface has a thickness of at least about ½″ and wherein the end surface extends in a radial plane, in all directions, less than about 2 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a fastener configured to received through the opening, and wherein the end surface has a thickness of at least about ⅓ of a thickness of a head of the fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a fastener that is retained in the opening by a press fit between a shank of the fastener and the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the attachment device further comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced stiffening ribs, each rib being coupled to the body and to the flange, each stiffening rib having an outer edge that is arranged at an angle relative to an axial center of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the attachment device includes only a single opening. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each slot extends at least about 60% of a length of the core. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the core is configured such that, at locations where the slots are present, at least about 20% of a perimeter of the core is defined by the slots. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a roof nailer and a fastener having a head and a threaded portion, wherein the fastener extends through the opening such that the head abuts against the attachment device and the threaded portion is threaded into the roof nailer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a concrete support structure, and wherein the attachment device in anchored in the support structure to thereby couple the roof nailer to the support structure. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the roof nailer is made of wood or wood products, wherein the support structure is a vertically oriented wall or wall portion, and wherein the core of the attachment device is filled with concrete. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the attachment device is made of a single, unitary piece of material having a thickness less than about ¼″. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising an attachment device including:
 a body having a hollow, axially oriented generally cylindrical core and a radially outwardly extending, generally annular flange coupled to the core, wherein the body has an opening configured to receive a fastener therethrough.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the core has a plurality of slots formed therein and is configured such that at least about 20% of a perimeter at a location along a length of the core is defined by the slots. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising attachment device including:
 a body having a radially oriented end surface and a plurality of axially oriented legs coupled to the end surface, each leg having a radially outwardly-extending foot located at a distal end thereof, wherein the end surface has an opening configured to receive a fastener therethrough.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein body has a plurality of slots formed therein defining the legs and the feet, and wherein the body is configured such that at least about 20% of a perimeter of at least one location along a length of the body is defined by the slots. 
     
     
         21 . A method for forming a panel comprising:
 accessing an attachment device including body having a hollow, axially oriented core and a radially outwardly extending flange coupled to the core, the body having an opening, wherein the core has a plurality of slots formed therein and is configured such that at least about 20% of a perimeter of at least one location along a length of the core is defined by the slots;   accessing a roof nailer;   accessing a fastener having a head and a threaded portion; and   passing the fastener through the opening and into the roof nailer such that the threaded portion is threaded into the roof nailer and fastener thereby attaches the attachment device to the roof nailer.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising constructing a form including or coupled to the roof nailer, pouring concrete into the form such that the body is embedded in the concrete, allowing the poured concrete to cure to form a concrete panel, removing the form, and positioning the resultant concrete panel in a vertical orientation with the roof nailer positioned above the concrete panel and coupled thereto.