Nail Pin Assemblies In Light Gauge Steel

United States Patent Application 20070295778

A lightweight structural steel frame assembly uses nail pins as structural fasteners between structural frame members, such as studs, joists, channels and tracks. The structural frame assembly may be substantially free of screws, rivets or other prior art fasteners known for making structural connections between light gauge steel structural members. Structural steel in the range of about 10 to 30 gauge is used for the light gauge structural steel members, or more preferably, in the range of about 14 to 25 gauge. The nails pins are made of a high-strength, ductile steel formed with a ballistic tip for piercing the steel and may include a knurled shank. The nail pins are arranged in a defined pattern.

Suder, David (Tustin, CA, US)

11/736570

12/27/2007

04/17/2007

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NGUYEN, CHI Q

POLSINELLI PC (Kansas City, MO, US)

What is claimed is:

1. A structural lightweight gauge steel frame assembly, comprising: a first lightweight gauge steel frame member; a second lightweight gauge steel frame member fastened to the first member; and means for fastening the first and second members together, said means including at least one ballistic-pointed nail pin piercing both the first and second members and being free of any riveted fastener and of any threaded fastener.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/792,493, filed Apr. 17, 2006, which application is specifically incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to structural light gauge steel assemblies such as used in building construction.

2. Description of Related Art

Structural steel shapes formed from light gauge (e.g., approximately 10-30 gauge) sheet steel are known in the art of building construction. For example, interior non-structural walls are commonly constructed using light gauge structural shapes to which gypsum wall board or other covering materials are fastened using nail pins or screws. Less commonly, buildings incorporate load-bearing structural walls constructed primarily of light gauge structural steel shapes as structural members. Such assemblies provide superior strength, durability, and value for selected installations. In load-bearing assemblies of this type, wall elements are generally fastened to each other using threaded screws or rivets.

Notwithstanding their advantages, structural wall assemblies using light gauge structural steel shapes are subject to certain disadvantages. In some assemblies, reliance on threaded fasteners or rivets leads to longer assembly times. It is desirable to provide a structural steel assembly that maintains the advantages of prior-art assemblies, but that can be assembled more quickly.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a method for constructing load-bearing structures constructed primarily of light gauge structural steel shapes as structural members. Certain structural steel shapes are joined using by driving specially adapted nail pins through abutting webs of adjacent shapes. The pins essentially replace prior-art threaded or riveted fasteners in the assembly, and can be installed much more quickly than these traditional fasteners. Hence, the entire assembly may be constructed more quickly, without sacrificing its strength or structural integrity.

A more complete understanding of the structural steel assembly, and method of making it, will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings which will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-45 are scaled side, front and plan views of exemplary nail pin and light structural steel assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A lightweight structural steel frame assembly uses special nail pins as structural fasteners between structural frame members, such as studs, joists, channels and tracks. The structural frame assembly may be substantially free of screws, rivets or other prior art fasteners known for making structural connections between light gauge steel structural members. Structural steel in the range of about 10 to 30 gauge is used for the light gauge structural steel members, or more preferably, in the range of about 14 to 25 gauge. The nails pins are made of a high-strength, ductile steel formed with a ballistic tip for piercing the steel and may include a knurled shank.

A 0.100 inch diameter gripshank Versapin™ nail pin manufactured by Aerosmith Fastening Systems of Indianapolis, Ind. may be used to fasten light-gauge structural steel members. The nails may be loaded into a suitable nail gun and nailed into opposing parallel sheets of structural members. The nail should have a ballistic tip, so that when the nail is shot out of the gun, the tip uniformly pierces the adjacent parallel sheets. Nail patterns should be arranged so that the primary load on each nail pin is a shear load.

Exemplary configurations of nails and lightweight gauge steel structural members are shown in FIGS. 1-45. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary stud-to-stud or joist-to-joist connection using nail pins. Table 1 below shows details of different structural members fastened according to FIGS. 2-43. A safe working load, maximum applied load, assumptions, and other details are shown or described for each configuration depicted in the figures.

TABLE 1
Reference	Detail	Smith-Emery
Number	Number	Test Number	Attachment Description
1	14A	49-53	20g RC	-to-	14g Stud
2	14B	94-98	16g FS	-to-	14g Stud
3	14C	64-68	14g Track	-to-	14g Stud
4	14D	64-68	14g Rim Track	-to-	14g Stud
5	14E	94-98	16g Rim Track	-to-	14g Stud
6	14F	94-98	14g Rim Track	-to-	lOg FS & 14g Stud
7	14G	94-98	16g Rim Track	-to-	16 FS & 14g Stud
8	14H.1	64-88	14g Stud	-to-	14q Stud At Shearwall Joint
9	14H.2	64-88	14g Stud	-to-	14g Stud T ical
10	14H.3	64-68	14g Joist	-to-	14 Joist
11	141	29-33	25g RC	-to-	14g Stud
12	16A	89-93	20g RC	-to-	16g Stud
13	168	84-88	lOg FS	-to-	169 Stud
14	ISC	84-88	16 Track	-to-	lOg Stud
15	16D	94-98	14g Rim Track	-to-	lOg Stud
16	16E	84-88	lOg Rim Track	-to-	lOg Stud
17	IGF	84-88	14g Rim Track	-to-	lOg FS & lOg Stud
18	16G	84-88	lOg Rim Track	-to-	lOg FS & lOg Stud
19	16H.1	84-88	16g Stud	-to-	lOg Stud At Shearwall Joint
20	1OH.2	84-88	16g Stud	-to-	16 Stud I pical
21	16H.3	84-88	16g Joist	-to-	lOg Joist
22	161	34-38	25g RC	-to-	16g Stud
23	18A	1-5	20g RC	-to-	18g Stud
24	188	11-15	16gFS	-to-	18gStud
25	18C	21-23	18g Track	-to-	18g Stud
26	18D	24-28	14g Rim. Track	-to-	1 Bg Stud
27	18E	11-15	lOg Rim Track	-to-	18g Stud
28	1SF	11-15	14g Rim Track	-to-	lOg FS & 18g Stud
29	18G	11-15	lOg Rim Track	-to-	lOg FS & 18g Stud
30	18H.1	21-23	18g Stud	-to-	18 Stud At Shearwall Joint
31	18H.2	21-23	18g Joist	-to-	18 Joist T ical
32	18H.2	21-23	18g Stud	-to-	18g Stud
33	181	16-20	25g RC	-to-	18g Stud
34	20A	69-73	20g RC	-to-	20g Stud
35	208	89-93	16 FS	-to-	20g Stud
36	2CC	69-73	20g Track	-to-	20g Stud
37	200	49-53	14g Rim Track	-to-	20g Stud
38	20E	89-93	lOg Rim Track	-to-	20g Stud
39	20F	89-93	14g Rim Track	-to-	lOg FS & 20g Stud
40	20G	89-93	16g Rim Track	-to-	lOg FS & 20g Stud
41	20N.1	69-73	20g Stud	-to-	20g Stud At Shearwafl Joint
42	20H.2	69-73	20g Joist	-to-	20g Joist
43	20H.2	69-73	20g Stud	-to-	20g Stud Typical
44	201	6-10	25g RC	-to-	20g Stud

FIG. 2 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 inch diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail positioned at 20 inches on-center spacing. The fastening means is free of threaded fasteners, rivets, adhesive, or welds, as is true for all fastening assemblies shown in FIGS. 1-43.

FIG. 3 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 4 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge track to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 5 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 6 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 7 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track and a 16 gauge flat stock to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 8 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 9 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge stud to a 14 gauge stud at a shearwall joint using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 10 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge stud to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 11 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge joist to a 14 gauge joist using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 6 inches on center.

FIG. 12 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 13 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 14 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 15 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge track to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 16 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 17 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 18 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 19 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 20 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge stud to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail at a shearwall joint.

FIG. 21 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge track to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 22 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge joist to a 16 gauge joist using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 23 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 24 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 25 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 26 shows a means for fastening a 18 gauge track to a 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 27 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 28 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 29 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 30 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and a 16 gauge flat stock to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 31 shows a means for fastening an 18 gauge stud to an 18 gauge stud at a shearwall joint using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 32 shows a means for fastening an 18 gauge joist to an 18 gauge joist using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 33 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 34 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 35 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 36 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge track to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 37 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 38 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 39 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 40 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 41 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge stud to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail at a shearwall joint.

FIG. 42 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge joist/stud to a 20 gauge joist/stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nails in pairs spaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 43 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

In a building frame, primary load on the nail pins should be in shear. To measure shear capacities of various configurations, light gauge steel coupons were fastened by a single 0.100 nail pin and tested in shear loading in conformance with AISI Standard CF-92-1, Test Methods For Mechanically Fastened Cold-Formed Steel Connections. Each sample was uniformly loaded to failure, defined as the peak load just before fastener fracture, fastener pull out, or fastener tear our from the base coupon material. Various combinations of 14, 16, 18, 20 and 25 gauge steel coupons were tested. Results are reported in the tables provided below.

TABLE 1
Shear Capacities of a Single Nail Pin Fastener Installed Into Light Gage Steel
	Quantity & Configuration
	of Steel Base Material		Average
Sample/	Coupons Connected by A Single Nail Pin2	Max. Load,	Load,	Failure Mode
Test No.1	14-GA	16-GA	18-GA	20-GA	25-GA	Lbs.	Lbs.	Type3
1			1	1		637	668	A
2			1	1		672		A
3			1	1		677		A
4			1	1		644		A
5			1	1		709		A
6				1	1	353	356	A, C(25-GA)
7				1	1	377		A, C(25-GA)
8				1	1	294		A, C(25-GA)
9				1	1	380		A, C(25-GA)
10				1	1	378		A C(25-GA)
11		1	1			884	890	B
12		1	1			878		B
13		1	1			861		B
14		1	1			936		B
15		1	1			889		B
16			1		1	293	338	A, C(25-GA)
17			1		1	349		A, C(25-GA)
18			1		1	398		A, C(25-GA)
19			1		1	301		A, C(25-GA)
20			1		1	351		A, C(25-GA)
21			2			690	704	A
22			2			748		A
23			2			675		A
24	1		1			941	1026	B, C(18-GA)
25	1		1			934		B, C(18-GA)
26	1		1			1100		B, C(18-GA)
27	1		1			1125		B, C(18-GA)
28	1		1			1032		B, C(18-GA)
29	1				1	286	301	C(25-GA)
30	1				1	291		C(25-GA)
31	1				1	312		C(25-GA)
32	1				1	305		C(25-GA)
33	1				1	309		C(25-GA)
34		1			1	270	294	C(25-GA)
35		1			1	320		C(25-GA)
36		1			1	284		C(25-GA)
37		1			1	305		C(25-GA)
38		1			1	293		C(25-GA)
39	1	1	1			1265	1144	B
40	1	1	1			1234		B
41	1	1	1			920		B
42	1	1	1			1016		A
43	1	1	1			1283		B
44		2		1		974	903	A
45		2		1		878		A
46		2		1		967		A
47		2		1		884		A
48		2		1		811		A
49	1			1		892	907	B
50	1			1		984		A
51	1			1		877		B
52	1			1		955		B
53	1			1		829		B
54		2	1			991	1020	B
55		2	1			1162		B
56		2	1			1000		A
57		2	1			980		A
58		2	1			966		A
59	1	1		1		958	949	B
60	1	1		1		1060		B
61	1	1		1		971		B
62	1	1		1		813		B
63	1	1		1		945		B
64	2					1217	1218	B
65	2					1233		B
66	2					1129		B
67	2					1313		B
68	2					1199		B
69				2		514	518	A
70				2		520		A
71				2		530		A
72				2		533		A
73				2		491		A
74	1	2				902	1088	A
75	1	2				1335		B
76	1	2				1015		A
77	1	2				982		A
78	1	2				1208		A
79	2	1				1054	989	A
80	2	1				989		A
81	2	1				978		A
82	2	1				947		A
83	2	1				976		A
84		2				540	827	A
85		2				889		A
86		2				951		B
87		2				840		B
88		2				914		A
89		1		1		490	736	A, C(20-GA)
90		1		1		748		B
91		1		1		795		A
92		1		1		860		B, C(20-GA)
93		1		1		789		A, C(20-GA)
94	1	1				1171	1111	A
95	1	1				987		B
96	1	1				1147		B
97	1	1				1104		B
98	1	1				1144		B
99		3				961	1026	A
100		3				994		B
101		3				1049		B
102		3				1067		A
103		3				1058		B
104	3	1				868	868	A
105	1	3				148	148	A
106	1	1	2			675	675	A
1Notes: 1. Unless otherwise noted in the following, the majority of the nail pin fasteners were threaded. The fasteners in Test Nos 104 through 105 had smooth shanks. 2. The 25-GA base material coupons in Sample/Test Nos. 29 through 38 contained corrugations at mid-length. 3. Sample/Test Nos. 74 through 83 were all marked “HELI” when received. 4. All 16-GA coupons contained in Sample/Test Nos. 84 through 103 were stainless steel
2For examples containing a total of three or more base material coupons, the ends of the smallest and largest gage coupons were gripped nto the crosshead of the testing machine while the middle gage coupon(s) served as a ‘filler’ between the two gripped coupons. For similar samples previously described except with two or more of the same gage material, the others served as the ‘filler’.
3Typical Failure More Types: A = Pin fastener pull-out B = Pin fastener sheared C = Base material tear or fastener hole elongated

FIGS. 1-43 describe connections such as may readily be used to construct a building frame from lightweight gauge steel structural members using piercing nail pins and a minimal amount of threaded fasteners or rivets. Nearly all fastening to be completed in a building frame may be accomplished using the depicted means for fastening. Where safe working loads would be exceeded, other fastening methods or structural assemblies may be adapted as known in the art. Care should be taken to conform to the proscribed assemblies depicted in FIGS. 1-43 in constructing the structural frame.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of nail pin assemblies in light gauge steel and a method for fastening lightweight gauge steel structural members together to construct a building frame. it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the within system have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is defined by the following claims.