Simpson Strong-tie Company Inc.

Samuel T Hensen

Daniel M Gray

Bryan Ables

Steven E Pryor

Timothy S Ellis

Brandon Y Chi

A structural fuse is disclosed including a fuse base and a fuse plate extending from the fuse base. The fuse plate may include a reduced diameter yield section configured to yield at loads on the structural fuse above a threshold. The reduced diameter yield section includes a pair of slots on either side of the yield section, which slots receive a pair of spacers. The spacers are integrally formed as part of the fuse plate, and remain attached to the fuse plate during fabrication of the structural fuse.

Structural fuse with integral spacer plates

A take-up fastener is disclosed for fastening a level in a frame construction to the level below so as to resist upward forces generated by wind and other sources on the framed construction. The take-up fastener in general includes a take-up plate, or washer, fastened to a portion of the upper level and a take-up screw fit through the take-up plate and fastened to the adjacent level below. Once the take-up fastener is fully assembled, the take-up plate includes a pair of tabs which are capable of engaging threads on a take-up screw in a way that allows one-way motion of the take-up screw relative to the take-up plate. In particular, the take-up plate can move downward relative to the take-up screw, for example on constricting of the wooden members to which the take-up plate is affixed. However, the engagement between the take-up plate and take-up screw prevents movement of the take-up plate upward with respect to the take-up screw, for example upon an upward load due to wind or other external force.

Growing community of inventors

Prosper, TX, United States of America

Samuel T Hensen