Furring strip fastening bracket

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/879,851, filed Jan. 11, 2007, entitled “Furring Strip Anchoring—Fastening Bracket for 1×2 and 2×2 Wood Fur Strip” by Peter Lynn.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to the construction industry and more particularly to the framing of buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heat loss due to thermal bridging has been an ongoing problem in the construction industry. Several methods of installing insulation of various forms have been put forth.

Dow Chemical Company has introduced products TuffR™ and super TuffR™ both of which are recommended to utilize a dead air space between the sheet rock and the insulation. This dead air space would augment the thermal insulation as well as improve noise reduction and may improve stability in an earthquake zone. A method of attaching the furring strip to the structural frame was needed. The instant invention solves that problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The furring strip fastening bracket of the present invention comprises a stamped metal plate having a hole in the center for a screw or other fastener. The plate describes a truncated disc having two side flanges which are bent at 90° angles to embrace the furring strip. The bracket is mortised into the furring strip so that it is flush to the wide surface of the furring strip.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for fastening a furring strip to a structural frame.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for fastening a furring strip to a structural frame which reduces thermal bridging.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device for fastening a furring strip to a structural frame which increases structural integrity to support the weight of sheet rock.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device for fastening a furring strip to a structural frame which improves noise reduction.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device for fastening a furring strip to a structural frame which improves stability in an earthquake zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the fastener of the present invention with flanges flat.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the fastener of the present invention with flanges bent.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the fastener of the present invention with flanges bent.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fastener of the present invention with flanges flat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The furring strip fastening bracket of the present invention is designed to hold a wood or man-made furring strip securely in a structural building application. FIG. 1 shows the fastener of the present invention with the flanges flat. The fastener comprises a main body 10 describing a truncated disc, two flanges 12 at opposite side which flanges 12 can be bent at 90° angles along crease 16 to form a u-shape to hold the furring strip. Center hole 14 is used to insert a screw or other fastener into the fastening bracket through the bracket, through the furring strip, through the foam insulation and into the structural frame.

Typical furring strips in the building industry are 1×2 inch or 2×2 inch furring strips. The actual size of a 1×1 inch furring strip is about ¾×1-½ inches and the actual size of a 2×2 inch furring strip is about 1-½×1-½ inches. The flanges of the fastener would typically be about ⅝×1-½ inches for a 1×2 inch furring strip and about 1-⅜×1-½ inches for a 2×2 inch furring strip. The truncated disc would typically be about 2-¼ inch at its longest dimension.

The bracket could also be used to locate the center of the furring strip.

A shallow mortise in the furring strip could be used to fit the bracket flush with the furring strip. The mortise can be accomplished in a variety of ways. A Forshner bit or self-feed drill bit modified with a stop collar and elongated center pin could be used. A drill press with a jig having a stop could be used, or the furring strip having the mortise could be generated at the mill.

The bracket can be made of any suitable material such as sheet metal, for example. The material used should be easily deformable so the flanges can be bent. The flanges are bent during manufacturing of the bracket.

Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.