Mitek Holdings, Inc.

Michael Marc Olden

Kathy Liuhui Jin

A coil advance drive apparatus for connector plate coils is described. The coil advance drive apparatus includes a support structure, a motor coupled to the support structure, at least one elongate coil support member coupled to the support structure, and at least one drive wheel operatively coupled to the motor Each drive wheel is configured to engage the connector plate coil stock. The coil support member includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally in one surface of the support member The grooves are configured to receive the pre-punched teeth extending from the connector plate coil stock. The drive wheel includes a plurality of teeth extending from a circumferential surface of the drive wheel. The teeth are configured to engage the open slots in the connector plate coil stock so as to move the coil stock along the support member as the drive wheel rotates. An elongate coil guide cover is coupled to the surface of each coil support member above the grooves. The coil guide cover is configured to at least partially cover the surface of the coil support member to form a channel. The channel is configured to permit the connector plate stock to move along the surface of the support member with the teeth located in the grooves and the coil stock prevented from bending up off the coil support by the coil support cover.

Coil advance drive for an apparatus applying plate coils to wooden frames

A truss, having an integral hold down strap, which can be attached to a wall of a structure. The truss contains an upper and lower chord and typically contains web members that extend between the upper and lower chords to provide strength and rigidity. The lower and upper chord converge at the heel of the truss and are connected by at least one nailing plate. The hold down strap is an elongate piece of sheet metal which is smooth and free of teeth, and has a first portion which contains two opposing flanges that are bent such that the first portion has a generally U-shaped cross section. The hold down strap also has a second portion sized to extend from the first portion and into engagement with one of the other structural components of a wall. The first portion of the hold down strap is sized to engage the end surface of the lower chord with the two opposing flanges engaging the side surfaces of the lower chord. The hold down strap is attached to the lower chord with a nailing plate, typically with the same nailing plate that connects the lower chord to the upper chord member.

Truss with integral hold down strap

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a crate subassembly including four side units, and each side unit has a top cord, a bottom cord, and vertical cords extending between and secured to the top and bottom cords. The top cord and bottom cord of each side unit extend substantially parallel to each other, and each side unit further includes a diagonal cord extending from and connected to the top and bottom cords. Connector plates are located to connect the respective adjacent vertical cords of each side unit, as well as to secure each side unit cord. When it is desired to form a crate, and by simply separating opposing side units, the subassembly is opened. When opening, the connector plates on the inner surface of the subassembly flex, or bend, and the connector plates have sufficient rigidity so that once opened, the subassembly does not close on itself during handling. With the subassembly in the open condition, the subassembly is readily secured to a pallet using, for example, screws. The above described subassembly enables safe, easy, and fast assembly of sturdy and reusable crates. In addition, such subassembly is low in cost and does not easily collapse.

Crating methods and apparatus

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a crate subassembly including four support cords with connector plates securing respective adjacent cords. More particularly, the connector plates extend over the interfaces between adjacent cords, and the connector plates secure adjacent cords together so as to prevent relative lateral movement between adjacent cords yet allow relative rotational movement of the cords as described below. By simply separating opposing cords, the subassembly can be easily and quickly opened. Specifically, the connector plates flex, or bend, and the connector plates have sufficient rigidity so that once opened, the subassembly does not close on itself during handling. Also, notches are formed between adjacent cords, and these notches are utilized when forming a crate as described below. To form a crate, and in an exemplary configuration, three subassemblies are positioned in a spaced relationship, and girders are positioned to extend through respective notches in each subassembly. The girders may, for example, be secured to each subassembly using screws which pass through the girder and into one of cords. In this manner, a crate for an elongate object such as a tub is easily and quickly assembled.

Apparatus for crating elongate items such as tubs

A jig system for aligning wooden chords and metal web members in the manufacture of joists, the system includes an assembly surface having a longitudinally extending track therein, and a plurality of jigs positionable in the track. The jigs have upwardly projecting pins for engaging alignment holes in the webs for properly orienting and spacing the webs. The jigs may also have generally parallel alignment bars on either side of the pin for holding the portion of the metal web surrounding the alignment hole therebetween. The jig system can be used in a method of assembling joists which includes the steps of providing web members having a alignment hole at a predetermined height; providing at least one jig having a plurality of pins adapted to engage the alignment holes on the web members; mounting the web members on the jig to vertically align the web members; aligning the top and bottom chords with the aligned web members on the jigs; and pressing the chords and web members together to embed the integral nails on the web members in the top and bottom chords.

Jig system for the manufacture of composite joists and method of

A hinge for use in pairs hingedly connecting two generally coplanar wooden structural members of a wooden truss structure enabling folding of the structure to reduce its height for transport over the road, comprising two pivotally interconnected plates each having teeth for nailing them to the wooden members and one having fingers for engagement with a surface of a wooden member for accurate alignment of two of the hinges for being nailed to the two members at opposite faces thereof to form a hinged joint between the members, and hinged joints utilizing the hinges.

Growing community of inventors

Pacific, MO, United States of America

Michael Marc Olden