초록 ▼

A rafter bracket configured to connect a vertical post to a rafter is described herein. The rafter bracket may include lower vertical side plates, a horizontal plate, and upper vertical side plates. The horizontal plate may be perpendicular to the upper and lower vertical side plates and may separat

A rafter bracket configured to connect a vertical post to a rafter is described herein. The rafter bracket may include lower vertical side plates, a horizontal plate, and upper vertical side plates. The horizontal plate may be perpendicular to the upper and lower vertical side plates and may separate the upper vertical side plates from the lower vertical side plates. The horizontal plate and lower vertical side plates may create an upper cavity that receives the vertical post. Meanwhile, the rafter may be positioned on one of the upper vertical side plates and positioned between two of the upper vertical side plates and may be angled at an acute angle relative to the vertical post as well as the upper and lower vertical side plates.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A rafter bracket configured to connect a vertical post of a building to a rafter of the building, the rafter bracket comprising: a first lower vertical side plate comprising at least one first lower vertical side plate fastener aperture, a first lower vertical side plate top, a first lower vertic

1. A rafter bracket configured to connect a vertical post of a building to a rafter of the building, the rafter bracket comprising: a first lower vertical side plate comprising at least one first lower vertical side plate fastener aperture, a first lower vertical side plate top, a first lower vertical side plate bottom, a first lower vertical side plate height extending from the first lower vertical side plate top to the first lower vertical side plate bottom, a first lower vertical side plate first end, a first lower vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a first lower vertical side plate width extending from the first lower vertical side plate first end to the first lower vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first lower vertical side plate height;a second lower vertical side plate opposite the first lower vertical side plate and extending substantially parallel to the first lower vertical side plate, the second lower vertical side plate comprising at least one second lower vertical side plate fastener aperture, a second lower vertical side plate top, a second lower vertical side plate bottom, a second lower vertical side plate height extending from the second lower vertical side plate top to the second lower vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first lower vertical side plate height, a second lower vertical side plate first end, a second lower vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a second lower vertical side plate width extending from the second lower vertical side plate first end to the second lower vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first lower vertical side plate height;a third lower vertical side plate extending substantially perpendicular to the first and second lower vertical side plates and comprising a third lower vertical side plate top, a third lower vertical side plate bottom, a third lower vertical side plate height extending from the third lower vertical side plate top to the third lower vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first and second lower vertical side plate heights, a third lower vertical side plate proximal end, a third lower vertical side plate distal end, and a third lower vertical side plate length extending from the third lower vertical side plate proximal end to the third lower vertical side plate distal end and substantially perpendicular to the first and second lower vertical side plate widths;a fourth lower vertical side plate opposite the third lower vertical side plate, extending substantially parallel to the third lower vertical side plate and extending substantially perpendicular to the first and second lower vertical side plates, the fourth lower vertical side plate comprising a fourth lower vertical side plate top, a fourth lower vertical side plate bottom, a fourth lower vertical side plate height extending from the fourth lower vertical side plate top to the fourth lower vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first, second and third lower vertical side plate heights, a fourth lower vertical side plate proximal end, a fourth lower vertical side plate distal end, and a fourth lower vertical side plate length extending from the fourth lower vertical side plate proximal end to the fourth lower vertical side plate distal end and substantially parallel to the third lower vertical side plate length;a horizontal plate connected to at least one of the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plates, the horizontal plate located above the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plate bottoms, the horizontal plate extending substantially perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth lower vertical side plate heights, the horizontal plate comprising a horizontal plate first end, a horizontal plate second end, a horizontal plate width extending from the horizontal plate first end to the horizontal plate second end and substantially parallel to the first lower vertical side plate width and second lower vertical side plate width, a horizontal plate proximal end, a horizontal plate distal end, and a horizontal plate length extending from the horizontal plate proximal end to the horizontal plate distal end and substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plate width;a lower cavity defined by the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plates;a first upper vertical side plate comprising at least one first upper vertical side plate fastener aperture, the first upper vertical side plate having a first upper vertical side plate top located above the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plate tops and above the horizontal plate, a first upper vertical side plate bottom, a first upper vertical side plate height extending from the first upper vertical side plate top to the first upper vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first and second lower vertical side plate heights, a first upper vertical side plate first end, a first upper vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a first upper vertical side plate length extending from the first upper vertical side plate first end to the first upper vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first upper vertical side plate height;a second upper vertical side plate opposite the first upper vertical side plate and extending substantially parallel to the first upper vertical side plate, the second upper vertical side plate comprising at least one second upper vertical side plate fastener aperture, the second upper vertical side plate having a second upper vertical side plate top located above the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plate tops and above the horizontal plate, a second upper vertical side plate bottom, a second upper vertical side plate height extending from the second upper vertical side plate top to the second upper vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first and second lower vertical side plate heights, a second upper vertical side plate first end, a second upper vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a second upper vertical side plate length extending from the second upper vertical side plate first end to the second upper vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first and second upper vertical side plate height;a third upper vertical side plate extending substantially perpendicular to the first and second upper vertical side plates and comprising a third upper vertical side plate top located above the horizontal plate, a third upper vertical side plate bottom, a third upper vertical side plate height extending from the third upper vertical side plate top to the third upper vertical side bottom and substantially parallel to the first and second lower vertical side plate heights, a third upper vertical side plate first end, a third upper vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a third upper vertical side plate length extending from the third upper vertical side plate first end to the third upper vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first and second upper vertical side plate length;an upper cavity defined by the first upper vertical side plate, second upper vertical side plate, third upper vertical side plate, and horizontal plate;wherein the first lower vertical side plate and second lower vertical side plate are separated a first distance, the first distance substantially constant along the first lower vertical side plate and second lower vertical side plate widths and substantially parallel to the horizontal plate length,wherein the first upper vertical side plate and second upper vertical side plate are separated a second distance, the second distance substantially constant along the first upper vertical side plate and second upper vertical side plate lengths,wherein the vertical post of the building is positioned between the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plate in the lower cavity,wherein the rafter of the building is positioned on the third upper vertical side plate top and between the first and second upper vertical side plates,wherein at least one upper fastener is positioned through a fastener aperture of the first upper vertical side plate, through the rafter and then through the second upper vertical side plate, andfurther wherein at least one lower fastener is positioned through a fastener aperture of the first lower vertical side plate, through the vertical post and then through the second lower vertical side plate. 2. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the first lower vertical side plate comprises a plurality of first lower vertical side plate fastener apertures, wherein the second lower vertical side plate comprises a plurality of second lower vertical side plate fastener apertures aligned with the first lower vertical side plate fastener apertures, wherein the first upper vertical side plate comprises a plurality of first upper vertical side plate apertures, and further wherein the second upper vertical side plate comprises a plurality of second upper vertical side apertures aligned with the first upper vertical side plate fastener apertures, and further wherein each fastener aperture comprises a fastener. 3. The rafter bracket of claim 2, wherein the first upper vertical side plate comprises at least two upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate first end, wherein the first upper vertical side plate comprises at least two upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate second end, wherein the second upper vertical side plate comprises at least two upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate first end, wherein the second upper vertical side plate comprises at least two second upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate second end, wherein the third upper vertical side plate is adjacent to the first and second upper vertical side plate first ends, wherein at least one first upper vertical side plate fastener aperture adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate first end is above all of the first upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate second end, wherein at least one second upper vertical side plate fastener aperture adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate first end is above all of the second upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate second end, and further wherein the rafter extends upwardly at an acute angle relative to the first and second upper vertical side plate heights from the first and second upper vertical side plate second ends to the first and second upper vertical side plate first ends. 4. The rafter bracket of claim 3 wherein the rafter bracket is open opposite the third upper vertical side plate. 5. The rafter bracket of claim 3 wherein the first and second upper vertical side plates each comprise a variable height, wherein the first upper vertical side plate tapers in decreasing height from the first upper vertical side plate first end to the first upper vertical side plate second end and further wherein the second upper vertical side plate tapers in decreasing height from the second upper vertical side plate first end to the second upper vertical side plate second end. 6. The rafter bracket of claim 5 wherein the third upper vertical side plate top is located below the tops of the first and second upper vertical side plate along the entire length of the first and second upper vertical side plates. 7. The rafter bracket of claim 3 wherein the at least two upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate first end are aligned in a first vertical row substantially parallel to the first upper vertical side plate height, wherein the at least two upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate second end are aligned in a second vertical row substantially parallel to the first upper vertical side plate height, wherein the at least two upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate first end are aligned in a first vertical row substantially parallel to the second upper vertical side plate height, and further wherein the at least two second upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate second end are aligned in a second vertical row substantially parallel to the first upper vertical side plate height. 8. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the vertical post comprises a vertical post top end located in the lower cavity, a vertical post bottom end, a vertical post height extending from the vertical post top end to the vertical post bottom end and substantially parallel to the first and second lower vertical side plate heights and the first and second upper vertical side plate heights, wherein the rafter comprises a rafter first end, a rafter second end, and a rafter length extending from the rafter first end to the rafter second end, and further wherein the rafter length is angled relative to the vertical post height and the first and second upper vertical side plate heights at an angle less than 60 degrees. 9. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the first and second upper vertical side plates are oriented approximately 90 degrees relative to the first and second lower vertical side plates, and further wherein the third upper vertical side plate is oriented approximately 90 degrees relative to the third and fourth lower vertical side plates. 10. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the first and second upper vertical side plates are substantially mirror images of each other and further wherein the first and second lower vertical side plates are substantially mirror images of each other. 11. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the third and fourth lower vertical side plates extend between the first lower vertical side plate and the second lower vertical side plate and the third upper vertical side plate extends between the first upper vertical side plate and the second upper vertical side plate. 12. The rafter bracket of claim 11 wherein the third and fourth lower vertical side plate heights are less than the first and second lower vertical side plate heights. 13. The rafter bracket of claim 11 wherein the first and second lower vertical side plate each comprise a variable width with a wider portion and a narrower portion and the third and fourth lower vertical side plates extend between the first and second lower vertical side plate wider portions. 14. The rafter bracket of claim 11 wherein the third upper vertical side plate top is substantially flat as the third upper vertical side plate top extends between the first and second upper vertical side plates. 15. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the lower cavity is substantially rectangular in shape. 16. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the first and second lower vertical side plate tops are attached to the horizontal plate and further wherein the first, second, and third upper vertical side plate bottoms are attached to the horizontal plate. 17. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the third and fourth lower vertical side plate heights are less than the first and second lower vertical side plate heights and further wherein the third upper vertical side plate height is no more than about ⅓ the median height of the first and second upper vertical side plate. 18. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the vertical post and the rafter are comprised of wood and the rafter bracket is comprised of metal. 19. The rafter bracket of claim 18 wherein the vertical post is a wall stud of the building. 20. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the rafter is also positioned on the horizontal plate. 21. The rafter bracket of claim 1 wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. 22. A rafter bracket configured to connect a vertical post of a building to a rafter of the building, the rafter bracket comprising: a first lower vertical side plate comprising a first lower vertical side plate top, a first lower vertical side plate bottom, a first lower vertical side plate height extending from the first lower vertical side plate top to the first lower vertical side plate bottom, a first lower vertical side plate first end, a first lower vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a first lower vertical side plate width extending from the first lower vertical side plate first end to the first lower vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first lower vertical side plate height;a second lower vertical side plate opposite the first lower vertical side plate and extending substantially parallel to the first lower vertical side plate, the second lower vertical side plate comprising a second lower vertical side plate top, a second lower vertical side plate bottom, a second lower vertical side plate height extending from the second lower vertical side plate top to the second lower vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first lower vertical side plate height, a second lower vertical side plate first end, a second lower vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a second lower vertical side plate width extending from the second lower vertical side plate first end to the second lower vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first lower vertical side plate height;a third lower vertical side plate extending substantially perpendicular to the first and second lower vertical side plates and comprising a third lower vertical side plate top, a third lower vertical side plate bottom, a third lower vertical side plate height extending from the third lower vertical side plate top to the third lower vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first and second lower vertical side plate heights, a third lower vertical side plate proximal end, a third lower vertical side plate distal end, and a third lower vertical side plate length extending from the third lower vertical side plate proximal end to the third lower vertical side plate distal end and substantially perpendicular to the first and second lower vertical side plate widths;a fourth lower vertical side plate opposite the third lower vertical side plate, extending substantially parallel to the third lower vertical side plate and extending substantially perpendicular to the first and second lower vertical side plates, the fourth lower vertical side plate comprising a fourth lower vertical side plate top, a fourth lower vertical side plate bottom, a fourth lower vertical side plate height extending from the fourth lower vertical side plate top to the fourth lower vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first, second and third lower vertical side plate heights, a fourth lower vertical side plate proximal end, a fourth lower vertical side plate distal end, and a fourth lower vertical side plate length extending from the fourth lower vertical side plate proximal end to the fourth lower vertical side plate distal end and substantially parallel to the third lower vertical side plate length;a horizontal plate connected to at least one of the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plates, the horizontal plate located above the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plate bottoms, the horizontal plate extending substantially perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth lower vertical side plate heights, the horizontal plate comprising a horizontal plate first end, a horizontal plate second end, a horizontal plate width extending from the horizontal plate first end to the horizontal plate second end and substantially parallel to the first lower vertical side plate width and second lower vertical side plate width, a horizontal plate proximal end, a horizontal plate distal end, and a horizontal plate length extending from the horizontal plate proximal end to the horizontal plate distal end and substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plate width;a lower cavity defined by the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plates;a first upper vertical side plate comprising at least one first upper vertical side plate fastener aperture, the first upper vertical side plate having a first upper vertical side plate top located above the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plate tops and above the horizontal plate, a first upper vertical side plate bottom, a first upper vertical side plate height extending from the first upper vertical side plate top to the first upper vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first and second lower vertical side plate heights, a first upper vertical side plate first end, a first upper vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a first upper vertical side plate length extending from the first upper vertical side plate first end to the first upper vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first upper vertical side plate height;a second upper vertical side plate opposite the first upper vertical side plate and extending substantially parallel to the first upper vertical side plate, the second upper vertical side plate comprising at least one second upper vertical side plate fastener aperture, the second upper vertical side plate having a second upper vertical side plate top located above the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plate tops and above the horizontal plate, a second upper vertical side plate bottom, a second upper vertical side plate height extending from the second upper vertical side plate top to the second upper vertical side plate bottom and substantially parallel to the first and second lower vertical side plate heights, a second upper vertical side plate first end, a second upper vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a second upper vertical side plate length extending from the second upper vertical side plate first end to the second upper vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first and second upper vertical side plate height;a third upper vertical side plate extending substantially perpendicular to the first and second upper vertical side plates and comprising a third upper vertical side plate top located above the horizontal plate, a third upper vertical side plate bottom, a third upper vertical side plate height extending from the third upper vertical side plate top to the third upper vertical side bottom and substantially parallel to the first and second lower vertical side plate heights, a third upper vertical side plate first end, a third upper vertical side plate second end opposite the first end, and a third upper vertical side plate length extending from the third upper vertical side plate first end to the third upper vertical side plate second end and substantially perpendicular to the first and second upper vertical side plate length;an upper cavity defined by the first upper vertical side plate, second upper vertical side plate, third upper vertical side plate, and horizontal plate;wherein the first lower vertical side plate and second lower vertical side plate are separated a first distance, the first distance substantially constant along the first lower vertical side plate and second lower vertical side plate widths and substantially parallel to the horizontal plate length,wherein the first upper vertical side plate and second upper vertical side plate are separated a second distance, the second distance substantially constant along the first upper vertical side plate and second upper vertical side plate lengths,wherein the vertical post of the building is configured to be positioned between the first, second, third and fourth lower vertical side plate in the lower cavity,wherein the rafter of the building is configured to be positioned on the third upper vertical side plate top and between the first and second upper vertical side plates,wherein the first lower vertical side plate comprises a plurality of first lower vertical side plate fastener apertures,wherein the second lower vertical side plate comprises a plurality of second lower vertical side plate fastener apertures aligned with the first lower vertical side plate fastener apertures,wherein the first upper vertical side plate comprises a plurality of first upper vertical side plate apertures, andfurther wherein the second upper vertical side plate comprises a plurality of second upper vertical side apertures aligned with the first upper vertical side plate fastener apertures. 23. The rafter bracket of claim 22, wherein the first upper vertical side plate comprises at least two upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate first end, wherein the first upper vertical side plate comprises at least two upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate second end, wherein the second upper vertical side plate comprises at least two upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate first end, wherein the second upper vertical side plate comprises at least two second upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate second end, wherein the third upper vertical side plate is adjacent to the first and second upper vertical side plate first ends, wherein at least one first upper vertical side plate fastener aperture adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate first end is above all of the first upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the first upper vertical side plate second end, wherein at least one second upper vertical side plate fastener aperture adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate first end is above all of the second upper vertical side plate fastener apertures adjacent to the second upper vertical side plate second end, and further wherein the rafter bracket is configured to allow a rafter to extend upwardly at an angle of less than 60 degrees relative to the first and second upper plate heights from the first and second upper vertical side plate second ends to the first and second upper vertical side plate first ends. 24. The rafter bracket of claim 23 wherein the rafter bracket is open opposite the third upper vertical side plate. 25. The rafter bracket of claim 23 wherein the first and second upper vertical side plate each comprise a variable height, wherein the first upper vertical side plate tapers in decreasing height from the first upper vertical side plate first end to the first upper vertical side plate second end and further wherein the second upper vertical side plate tapers in decreasing height from the second upper vertical side plate first end to the second upper vertical side plate second end.