Moment bracket configured to join columns, beams, and/or braces

Abstract

A bracket and assemblies configured to attach a plurality of structural members using a plurality of brackets. The plurality of brackets including a central portion, an upper protrusion, and a lower protrusion; the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion may extend away from the central portion in parallel planes and may be configured to attach to a supporting member; and the central portion may be configured to attach the bracket to a supported member.

1 . A bracket configured for attachment of a supported member to a supporting member comprising:
 a central portion, an upper protrusion, and a lower protrusion;   the central portion being located adjacent to a front face of the supporting member, and being configured to be attached to a supported member;   the upper protrusion configured for attachment to a side face of a supporting member, and the lower protrusion configured for attachment to an opposing side face of the supporting member; and   the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion configured to extend away from the central portion in parallel planes.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the upper protrusion is configured to extend orthogonally above the central portion and the lower protrusion is configured to extend orthogonally below the central portion. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is configured to not conflict with a second bracket comprising a central portion, an upper protrusion, and a lower protrusion, when the central portions of two brackets are positioned at a same location along a length of the supporting member, and adjacent to two different faces of the supporting member. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion are configured to be attached to a central portion of a second bracket,
 the second bracket being at a same location along a length of the supporting member as the bracket, and having the central portion of the second bracket adjacent to a side face of the supporting member.   
     
     
         5 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the upper protrusion and/or the lower protrusion and/or the central portion are configured to be attached to the supporting member by welding. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion has a plurality of holes configured to receive fasteners to attach the bracket to the supported member. 
     
     
         7 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion comprises a plurality of voids configured to create a zone of ductile failure. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion are configured to be of a same material, integral, or attached separately to the central portion. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper protrusion or the lower protrusion are configured to have an L-shaped cross section, a tapered profile, or a non-tapered profile. 
     
     
         10 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper protrusion or the lower protrusion are configured to have a beveled edge. 
     
     
         11 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a 3D printing, a casting construction, or a construction formed by bending. 
     
     
         12 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the upper protrusion and/or the lower protrusion form a c-shaped or a u-shaped profile. 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing the bracket of  claim 1  comprising:
 cutting a plurality of c-shaped patterns, each having a center and two tips, from a flat sheet of material, 
 wherein prior to cutting the flat sheet of material, the plurality of c-shaped patterns are arranged in one or more lines, with the center of each c-shaped pattern nested between the tips of an adjacent c-shaped pattern, and 
 bending each of the tips of the plurality of c-shaped patterns in opposite directions to form the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion of a plurality of brackets. 
 
     
     
         14 . The bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a thickened portion that extends from an edge of the central portion closest to the supporting member in one or both directions along a long axis of the supporting member. 
     
     
         15 . A one-beam assembly comprising a supported member, and two implementations of the bracket of  claim 1 ,
 the two implementations comprising an upper bracket and a lower bracket;   the central portion of the upper bracket attached to a top surface of the supported member, and the central portion of the lower bracket attached to a bottom surface of the supported member; and   the lower protrusion of the upper bracket and the upper protrusion of the lower bracket configured to attach to a same side face of the supporting member, and the upper protrusion of the upper bracket and the lower protrusion of the lower bracket being configured to be attached to a same opposing side face of the supporting member.   
     
     
         16 . A multi-brace assembly comprising a supporting member, a plurality of supported members, and a plurality of brackets of  claim 1 , configured such that central portions of the plurality of brackets are each located adjacent to different faces of the supporting member, and each attached a supported member. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-brace assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion of at least one of the plurality of brackets is attached to a central portion of a second bracket. 
     
     
         18 . A multi-beam assembly, comprising a supporting member and a plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the supported member of each of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly are located adjacent to different faces of the supporting member; and   wherein upper brackets of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly have a same chirality, and wherein lower brackets of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly have a chirality opposite that of the upper brackets.   
     
     
         19 . The multi-beam assembly of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion of a first bracket is configured to attach to a central portion of a second bracket of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-beam assembly of  claim 18 , wherein one or more faces of the supporting member are connected to a web of the supported member of at least one of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly.