Apparatus for Connecting Two Structures

This application claims priority to AU2024901788 filed on Jun. 13, 2024, the entireties of which are included herein by reference.

This invention relates to apparatus for connecting two structures and in particular to apparatus for connecting a track or rail in a building system to a bracing member in a building structure.

Ceiling structures generally include a framework which is suspended from a building structure and the framework supports the ceiling tiles or plasterboard linings. In some cases, rooms are divided by walls that are constructed to stop at the ceiling level and are fixed to the ceiling framework rather than passing through the ceiling cavity space and being connected to the building structure above. In the event of seismic activity from earthquakes or similar events, it is possible for the ceiling structure and less-than-full-height walls to move and gain momentum which ultimately causes the ceiling and walls to fail and collapse, potentially injuring people located in its vicinity and causing damage to the building's fixtures and fittings.

As result a number of recommendations of building guidelines and standards it has been recommended to provide bracing in ceilings and in internal walls to limit the amount of movement that a ceiling mass and internal wall can have.

In order to achieve this, the less-than-full-height walls are generally braced at the head or top of the wall to the underside of the building structure, such as the roof or concrete slab, while a ceiling framework is braced from the topside of the ceiling mass upper structure to the underside of the building structure, such as the roof or concrete slab.

Bracing the less-than-full-height wall also limits the transfer of movement within the wall structure to the ceiling structure in the event of a seismic occurrence. Bracing of suspended ceilings and less-than-full-height walls has been performed previously, however such bracing arrangements ad hoc, site-built systems that are built from general site materials, with no specific engineering design to the sections used or the connection methods employed. As a result, it is not possible to be sure that the ad-hoc bracing systems were fit for purpose or perform adequately in the event of an earthquake until a seismic event actually occurred.

Another particular problem that may occur, in the event of seismic activity, is that a connector that connects a building track, such as a furring channel or a top cross rail, to a bracing component, can fail at various connection points in the event of an earthquake or similar seismic activity. This can have catastrophic consequences, such as the track not being held in position and either being dislodged or falling due to gravity. It can have disastrous effects on maintaining the integrity of either a ceiling structure or a roof structure.

The present invention seeks to overcome at least one of the above disadvantages by providing apparatus for connecting two different structures, such as a ceiling structure and a building structure (roof structure) that have features to prevent the immediate fall or collapse of such structures and can temporarily hold a structure in place until it can be further secured.

According to a first aspect of the invention that is provided apparatus for connecting a building component to a brace component, said apparatus including:

Preferably the first member has a depending portion that is secured to a part of the building component.

After the apparatus initially contacts the building component, the apparatus is preferably moved through a ninety degree rotation in order to be in a position to secure the apparatus to the building component at the first connection.

The apparatus may further include a recess or receiving section for receiving the building component to enable the apparatus to move through the ninety degree rotation.

The recess or receiving section may have a portion in the first member and a portion in the second member. The retaining means can be located on one or both of the first and second members.

The apparatus preferably has a third member integrally formed with and substantially perpendicular to the first member, the third member enabling connection of the apparatus to another like apparatus.

The retaining means may be located at a lower part of the second member such that after the apparatus is moved through the rotation and secured to the building component, the retaining means extends underneath and is orthogonal to the building component and is in frictional engagement with the building component, the building component extending through the recess or receiving section. The building component is preferably a top cross rail.

The retaining means is preferably located at the depending portion of the first member.

The depending portion may be offset from the first member such that a curved section is defined that integrally joins the depending portion to the remainder of the first member.

The curved section can be in contact with a first flange of a first leg of the building component and the depending portion is preferably abutting against and affixed at the first connection to an outer side of the first leg.

The retaining means may be further formed at a lower part of the second member such that the retaining means follows a profile of a second flange and associated second leg of the building component.

The retaining means preferably includes a corner recess that receives and fits against the second flange. The retaining means preferably has a fold line in contact with an outer side of the second leg of the building component. The fold line can be created by a component extending orthogonal to the retaining means, the component being affixed at a third connection to an outer side of the second leg of the building component.

In the event of failure of either or both of the first and third connections, the profile of the retaining means preferably abuts against an underneath portion of the first and second flanges to prevent complete separation of the building component from the apparatus.

The building component is preferably a furring channel.

Referring tothere is shown apparatus, in the form of a bracket assembly or connector which is able to connect a building component, such as a rail or track used in the construction of a less than full height wall, to a bracing component of a building structure, such as a roof structure. In particular, the apparatusconnects one or more bracing components to a rail, track or channel.

The apparatushas three connecting members including a first member, a second memberlocated perpendicularly to and integrally formed with the first member, and a third member, also integrally formed with first memberand also perpendicular to member. Both the second the third members,are generally parallel to one another and located at opposite extremities of the first member.

shows the apparatusready to engage with a structural componentwhich is, in this case, a top cross rail. The railhas a web, first legand second legwith each of the legsandextending generally perpendicularly from the web. Inthe apparatusis shown with the lower part of first memberin contact with the rail. More particularly, the railis located within first receiving sectionwhich is a cutout from the lower part of first memberwhich is formed by first sideand second side. Second sideforms part of a depending portionthat depends from a lower part of first member. The depending portion, in addition to side, also has a bottom edgeand a side edgewhich is in line with a fold line between first memberand third member. Thus, the first sideis brought into contact with the outer surfaceof webof the rail. The first side can be frictionally engaged with or slightly loose with respect to outer surfaceto enable further movement described in relation to.

At a lower portion of the second memberthere is a retaining portionthat, together with a middle portionand a lower edgedefine a second receiving section. Alternatively, the first receiving sectionand second receiving sectioncan be considered to be a single receiving section. The middle portionis located between the retaining portionand the main upper section of second member, which has various apertures for the location and securing of bracing components. The retaining portionhas an extension or tongue that together with the second receiving sectioncan retain the railand prevent it from dislodging or falling due to gravity, in the event of a seismic condition.

Referring to, in order to position or locate the apparatusas shown in, the apparatus shown inis moved 90 degrees (clockwise from above) as shown by the arrowin. The railis effectively positioned into the second receiving sectionwith the retaining portionnow positioned underneath the railsuch that its upper edgeis contact with or very close proximity to the underneath side of rail, opposite web, and in particular first flangeand second flange. Thus the retaining portionis essentially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axisof rail. The depending portionis now adjacent to legand is in contact with second ridgeand second flange. The bottom edgeof the third memberis in contact with the top of railand specifically on the outer faceof web. Edgeis also in this position. The internal sideof middle portionis in contact with the first ridgeand first flangeon legof rail. The positioning of the apparatusfromthrough tois simply done by moving apparatusby an installer's hand. There may be a small gap between the various sides or edges and the rail, but in general there is an interference fit or engagement between those contacting surfaces and edges. The apparatuscan then be secured to both legs,of the railvia securing means such as boltsand, through corresponding apertures,in depending portion, shown in.

The first memberhas a number of elongated slotsand the second memberhas a series of elongated slots. Fasteners can be threaded through the slots,to allow the temporary positioning of a further component with respect to the membersand, such as a bracing component. Once a position of that further component is finalised, fasteners can be used through the various apertureson first memberand apertureson second memberto finally locate and fix the further component to each of the membersand. This is shown inwhereby bracing component, which can be a stud, having weband flanges or legsandcan be connected to memberthrough nut and bolt arrangements, connecting to the webto an outside face of the second member. Similarly, bracing component, having weband first and second legs or flangesandcan be connected through the webto an outside face of first memberthrough securing means such as nuts and bolts.

The main purpose of the retaining portionis, in the event of an earthquake or other seismic event, to assist in holding the weight of forces that are applied to the railand to prevent railfrom falling due to gravity, which would otherwise make the structure weaker or even to disintegrate. This is in the event that the securing meansandare somehow damaged or sheared off, and therefore do not effectively attach the apparatusto the rail. That is, if the shearing force on the fastenersandis too great so that they are ineffective, the retaining portionis able to maintain and hold the railto keep the structure together and prevent catastrophic damage.

The above system provides an easy way to install, by a simple 90 degree twist, the apparatusto railand securing to both legs,of the rail.

shows a perspective view having two such apparatuses connected together on the same rail. This enables the connection of up to four bracing components in varied and different directions, rather than just two bracing components. The second apparatus, similar to apparatus, has first member, second memberand third member. The retaining portionlocated at the lower part of second memberis positioned oppositely to the direction of retaining portionof apparatus. Retaining portionsits underneath and is in contact with the first and second flangesandof rail. The third membersandof respective apparatusesandare secured together through the use of aperturesand(and corresponding apertures on third member) whereby securing means such as nut and bolt combinationsandare used to secure both apparatusesand. A third bracing componentcan be connected to first memberthrough securing means. A fourth bracing componentcan be used and secured to second connecting sectionsthrough the use of such securing means.

With reference tothere is shown a further embodiment of an apparatus for connecting a building component to a bracing component in a building structure. The apparatusis shown ready to be engaged and connected with the building component, which is a furling channel. Apparatushas a number of connecting members including a first member, a second memberand a third member. The second and third membersandare generally perpendicular to and integral with the first member, being at respective peripheries of the first member. First memberhas a depending portionthat has a profile at edgesandadapted to match with the profile of one of the legs, in this case second legand corresponding second flange such asof the furring channel. The furring channelalso has a weband a first legwith a corresponding first flangelocated at the outer extremity of the leg. The webexists between the first legand second leg.

A first receiving sectionis formed as a gap and bounded by lower edgeand edgeof the depending portion. The width of the lower edgefrom where it meets bottom edgeof second memberup to edgeis substantially the same as the width across the channelfrom one outer edge of the first flangeto an outer edge of the second flange. The second member, which is opposite the third member, has a retaining portionthat depends from a lower section of the second member. In an initial form, the retaining portionhas a componentinitially in line or in the same plane as the remainder of the second member. A slot is cut into the connecting sectionand has a rounded extremity Or cornerto match the shape of the outer edge of the first flangeof the channel. Prior to use the componenthas been outwardly formed (or it can be formed that way after manufacture) at right angles to the remainder retaining portion. The fold lineof the retaining portionhas a profile to match the outer side of the first legand the first flange. Moving the componentfrom an in-plane position with the rest of second memberto a position that is perpendicular to the second member, creates a second receiving section. This is bounded by the fold line, the cornerand bottom edge.

Referring tothere is shown apparatuspositioned on top of the furring channelwith lower edgein contact with the top sections of the first and second flangesand.

Inthere is shown the position of the apparatuswith respect to the channel. In order to move the apparatusto the position shown in, an installer will by hand rotate the apparatusby 90 degrees in a clockwise direction as indicated by the circular arrowin. The depending portionis now positioned flush against and engages with second legof channel. The first memberto which the depending portionis connected, is parallel with the longitudinal axisof the channelwhile the second memberis perpendicular to the channeland the lower edgecontacts and abuts against the top edges of the flangesand. The componentat the bottom of second membersits flush against and engages with the outer side of legwhile the corner elementabuts the curved outside part of first flange. Thus, the retaining portionfits and exactly follows the contour of the first flangeand extends down the outer face of the first leg. The depending portionhas a curved sectionsuch that the depending portionis offset and in a slightly different plane to the first member. The curved sectionessentially enables the profile or contour of the depending portionto be able to abut against the outer face of second leg. The depending portionis then secured to the legof channel(referring to) by securing means such as bolts and screwsand. Referring to, the componentis affixed to first legby retaining means such as screws and boltsand.

In the event of a seismic episode or earthquake or substantial movement created by external conditions, if any or all of the securing means,orandare sheared so that they are no longer functioning to attach the apparatusto the channel, both the depending portion, with its curved sectionand the retaining portionwill be able to retain and hold the channeland prevent it from falling due to gravity and potentially weakening the structure to which it is attached. This is due to the specific profile of depending portionfitting to second flangeand the outer side of leg, and due to the fold lineand corner sectionalso closely fitting to the first flangeat the outer side of first leg. Both of these profiles enable the holding of the furring channelat the underneath parts of the flangesand.

Referring to, the first memberhas a pair of elongated slotsand apertureswhile second memberhas a pair of elongated slotsand a set of apertures. The slotsandthrough which one or more fasteners can be threaded can allow the location or temporary positioning of a further component such as a bracing componentor. Relative adjustment of its position can be made and once a final position of the bracing component is attained, then fasteners can be used to select aperturesandto finally secure and fix a respective bracing component to the membersand. Inbracing componenthas first and second legsand, while webis secured through selected apertureson second memberusing securing means, being nuts and bolts,.

Referring also tothe bracing component, having weband first and second legsandis able to be securely located in selected aperturesusing securing means in the form of nuts and boltsonce the final location is selected. Towards the other end of the bracing componentit is connected to a bracketvia securing means, with the bracketenabling attachment to a roof structure (not shown). Similarly bracing elementat its upper end is connected to a bracketthrough securing meansand in turn the bracketis connected to the roof structure.

Thus, the connector of the apparatusenables the connection of a track, either being a top cross railor a furring channel, to a series of bracing components which in turn are connected to a roof structure.

Referring tothere is shown a further connecting apparatuswhich is connected to apparatus. This is to enable two additional bracing components to be connected to the same furring channel. The second apparatushas first memberon an opposite side of the furring channelcompared to first memberof apparatus. It also has second memberin a reverse orientation to second memberof the first apparatus. The third memberis connected to the third memberof apparatusthrough a series of apertures which are to secure the two third members together through nuts and boltsand.

A third bracing componentis able to be connected to second memberthrough securing meansand at an upper end it is connected to bracketwhich in turn is connected to a structure, such as a roof structure. Securing meansconnects the bracing componentto the bracket. Similarly, a fourth bracing componentis connected between the second memberand a bracketwhich in turn is connected to a structure (not shown). Bracketis connected to the roofing structure through securing means. The lower end of the fourth bracing componentis connected to the second memberthrough securing means in the form of nuts and bolts. Again, each of the membersandhave elongated slots and a series of apertures for temporary connection or location of respective bracing components and the smaller apertures are used to secure, in a final position, the bracing componentsandwith respect to the membersand.