MOMENT BRACKET CONFIGURED TO JOIN COLUMNS, BEAMS, AND/OR BRACES

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/608,845, entitled “MOMENT BRACKET CONFIGURED TO JOIN COLUMNS, BEAMS, AND/OR BRACES” filed Dec. 12, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to a bracket configured to join columns, beams, and/or braces, and transmit forces that are not colinear with the long axis of the column. Further, the disclosure relates a process of implementing a bracket configured to join columns, beams, and/or braces. In aspects, the disclosure relates to connections for hollow structural sections (HSS) to beams during construction projects. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a connection, such as a bracket, which is configured to absorb energy as forces are transferred between the HSS columns and structural beams during a seismic event.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Connections that transfer forces, including moments, to hollow structural members may be complicated in design and construction, or have limited strength, because the hollow interior of such members obstructs the flow of force into or through the member. Efforts have been made to address this shortcoming, either by installing diaphragms that pass through the hollow member, or collars on its exterior. Such solutions are often difficult to fabricate or occupy large amounts of space, leading to a preference for I-shaped members even in cases where an I-shaped member requires more material than a hollow member would.

Accordingly, a bracket that is compact, easy to fabricate, and facilitates high strength attachments to hollow structural members is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the disclosure, wherein in one aspect a technique and apparatus provide a moment bracket configured to join columns, beams, and/or braces. Further, the foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the disclosure, wherein in one aspect a technique and apparatus provide a bracket configured to attach structural beams to a hollow structural columns.

In one aspect, a bracket includes a central portion, an upper protrusion, and a lower protrusion. The bracket in addition includes the central portion being located adjacent to a front face of the supporting member, and being configured to be attached to a supported member. The bracket moreover includes the upper protrusion configured for attachment to a side face of a supporting member, and the lower protrusion configured for attachment to an opposing side face of the supporting member. The bracket also includes the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion configured to extend away from the central portion in parallel planes.

In aspects, the bracket may have a central portion, an upper protrusion, and a lower protrusion. The upper protrusion and the lower protrusions may extend away from the central portion in parallel planes and are configured to attach to two parallel faces of a hollow, rectangular member, forming a general c-shape profile. Further, the upper protrusion may extend orthogonally above the central portion of the bracket while the lower protrusion may extend orthogonally below the central portion of the bracket, each parallel to the vertical axis of an HSS column.

Each bracket may be configured to be attached to a hollow, rectangular column, beam, or brace by welds along the upper and lower protrusions of the brackets. Further, each central portion of a bracket preferably has a series of holes for bolts and nuts to attach the central portion to a structural beam. Each upper and lower protrusion may also be configured to attach either to the respective central portion of another bracket or a thickened portion that extends from another bracket.

The bracket may also be configured to be placed in an assembly of two, three, four, or more brackets in series allowing two, three, four, or more structural beams to be respectively attached to each central portion of each bracket for attachment to an HSS column. For example, four assemblies of two brackets may be used to connect the top and bottom sides of four beams to a supporting member. In this configuration, each bracket may be attached to the top surface of a structural beam will have an opposite chirality (i.e., a mirror-like image) of the bracket attached to the bottom surface of that structural beam.

The bracket may also have voids which promote a ductile failure in the material of the bracket between the voids when the bracket is acted on a force parallel to the long axis of the beam or brace, such as during seismic activity.

The upper and lower protrusions may be integrally formed of the same piece of material as the central portion of the bracket or may be distinct portions of material attached to the central portion of the bracket. Each bracket may be made of a ductile material, such as metal, and preferably is made of steel. Each bracket may be made to be cut out of a single piece of material and then bent into shape to form the upper protrusion, lower protrusion, and central portion. Alternatively, each bracket may be cast, 3D printed, and/or the like.

The upper and lower protrusions may take a variety of shapes including an L-shaped cross section, a tapered profile, a non-tapered profile, and/or the like and may have a beveled edge, and/or the like.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain aspects of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of the disclosure that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one aspect of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of aspects in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the disclosure. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a bracket according to aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the bracket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the bracket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the bracket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of the bracket of FIG. 1 welded to a column.

FIG. 6 illustrates an isometric view of a series of four implementations of the bracket of FIG. 1 welded onto a column.

FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of a multi-beam assembly including eight implementations of the bracket of FIG. 1 welded onto a column for mounting four corresponding beams.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view of a series of flat patterns of the bracket of FIG. 1 that may be formed from a single sheet of metal.

FIG. 9 illustrates an isometric view of a bracket with a non-tapered profile according to aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates an isometric view of a bracket with a thickened portion and beveled edge according to aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a front view of the bracket of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the bracket of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 illustrates an isometric view of a series of four implementations of the bracket of FIG. 10 welded onto a column.

FIG. 14 illustrates an isometric view of a bracket with an L-shaped upper and lower protrusions according to aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 illustrates an isometric view of the bracket of FIG. 14 welded onto a column.

FIG. 16 illustrates an isometric view of a series of four implementations of the bracket of FIG. 14 welded onto a column.

FIG. 17 illustrates an isometric view of a bracket with a central portion that has a series of voids according to aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. Aspects of the disclosure advantageously provide a bracket 100 configured to attach a supporting member 200 to a supported member 300. In aspects, the bracket 100 may be formed by folding a flat piece of material. For example, the bracket 100 may be formed by folding a flat piece of metallic material, such as steel.

In particular, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an exemplary variant of the bracket 100 in an isometric view, front view, top view, and side view respectively. The bracket 100 may have a central portion 101, an upper protrusion 102, and a lower protrusion 103. The upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 may extend away from the central portion 101 in parallel planes. Further, the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 may be configured to attach to two faces of a supporting member 200, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In aspects, the central portion 101, the upper protrusion 102, and the lower protrusion 103 may be structured and arranged to form a general c-shape profile or u-shape profile as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Further, the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 may be displaced in opposite directions. In particular, the upper protrusion 102 may extend orthogonally above the central portion 101 of the bracket 100 while the lower protrusion 103 may extend orthogonally below the central portion 101 of the bracket 100 parallel to a vertical axis of a supporting member 200. In aspects, because the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 are vertically displaced in opposite directions, the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 may not conflict with the central portion 101, upper protrusion 102 or lower protrusion 103 of implementations of the bracket 100 mounted to adjacent faces of the supporting member 200. In aspects, the supporting member 200 may be a structural support, column, chord, or other structural member comprising an H-beam, an I-beam, a hollow rectangle, a C-shaped beam, and/or other structural profile known to those skilled in the art.

The central portion 101 of the bracket 100 may be configured with a series of holes 120. In aspects, the holes 120 may be configured to receive fasteners 301 which may attach the central portion 101 of the bracket 100 to the supported member 300. In aspects, the fasteners 301 may include bolts with nuts, rivets, and/or the like. In aspects, the supported member 300 may be a structural support, a beam, a brace, or other structural member comprising an H-beam, an I-beam, a hollow rectangle, a C-shaped beam, and/or other structural profile known to those skilled in the art.

In aspects, the upper protrusion 102 may include an inner face surface 112, an outer face surface 122, an upper edge surface 132, a lower edge surface 142, a tip portion 152, and/or the like. In aspects, the inner face surface 112 may be opposite the outer face surface 122. In aspects, the upper edge surface 132 may be opposite the lower edge surface 142. In aspects, the inner face surface 112, the outer face surface 122, the upper edge surface 132, and the lower edge surface 142 may extend and terminate at the tip portion 152.

In aspects, the lower protrusion 103 may include an inner face surface 113, an outer face surface 123, an upper edge surface 133, a lower edge surface 143, a tip portion 153, and/or the like. In aspects, the inner face surface 113 may be opposite the outer face surface 123. In aspects, the upper edge surface 133 may be opposite the lower edge surface 143. In aspects, the inner face surface 113, the outer face surface 123, the upper edge surface 133, and the lower edge surface 143 may extend and terminate at the tip portion 153.

In aspects, the central portion 101 may include an upper surface 111, a lower surface 121, a front edge 131, a back edge 141, and/or the like. In aspects, the upper surface 111 may be opposite the lower surface 121. In aspects, the front edge 131 may be opposite the back edge 141. Further, where the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 extend away from the central portion 101 of the bracket 100, there may be a curved edge 151, an angled edge, a bent surface and/or the like for connecting the upper protrusion 102 to the central portion 101 and/or connecting the lower protrusion 103 to the central portion 101.

A horizontal distance between the inner face surface 112 of upper protrusion 102 and the inner face surface 113 of lower protrusion 103 may be substantially equal to the width of the supporting member 200. Moreover, a width of the central portion 101 may be substantially equal to the width of the supported member 300 and/or the supporting member 200. Further, a distance between implementations of the curved edge 151 may be substantially equal to the width of the supported member 300 and/or the supporting member 200.

In FIG. 5, the bracket 100 may be attached to the supporting member 200 by welds 201 along the top and/or bottom edge surfaces of the upper protrusion 102 and lower protrusion 103. In aspects, the bracket 100 may be attached to the supporting member 200 by the welds 201 along the upper edge surface 132 and lower edge surface 142 of the upper protrusion 102 and the upper edge surface 133 and lower edge surface 143 of the lower protrusion 103. In aspects, the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 may be welded to a face of the supporting member 200 on two sides. In other embodiments only one side can be welded to the supporting member 200 when a second implementation of the bracket 100 is present on an adjacent face of the supporting member 200.

Further, the central portion 101 of the bracket 100 may be welded to the surface of the supporting member 200. In aspects, the back edge 141 of the central portion 101 of the bracket 100 may be welded to the surface of the supporting member 200.

In aspects, each implementation of the bracket 100 may have a reentrant corner 104 on the central portion 101. This reentrant corner 104 may be configured to prevent conflicts when a central portion 101 of another implementation of the bracket 100 is attached to an adjacent face of the supporting member 200. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of four implementations of the bracket 100 featured in FIGS. 1-4 with one implementation of the bracket 100 attached to each of the four planar exterior faces of the supporting member 200. The reentrant corner 104 of one implementation of the bracket 100 allows the upper protrusion 102 of another implementation of the bracket 100 to fit along an adjacent side without interfering with the other implementations of the bracket 100 attached to the supporting member 200. The supporting member 200 may have a hollow square cross section, but may also be a hollow rectangle, I-shaped member, and/or the like. In aspects, each implementation of the bracket 100 may be mounted at the same height as the other three implementations of the bracket 100. That is, the central portion 101 of each respective implementation of the bracket 100 may lie in and be attached to the supporting member 200 on the same plane.

FIG. 7 illustrates a multi-beam assembly 500 configuration including eight implementations of the bracket 100 of those seen in FIGS. 1-4. Four implementations of the bracket 100 may be mounted to top surfaces 304 of four I-beam implementations of the supported member 300 utilizing the holes 120 in the respective implementations of the central portions 101 of the implementations of the bracket 100 to insert fasteners 301. Accordingly, the implementations of the bracket 100 may be securely fastened to the implementations of the supported member 300. While FIG. 7 depicts four implementations of the supported member 300 attached to the supporting member 200 via brackets, similar configurations with one, two or three supported members 300 are also envisioned.

Further, the bracket 100 may be attached to the supporting member 200 using the welds 201 in the manner described in the previous paragraphs. Four implementations of the bracket 100 may also be connected to bottom surface 305 of the four I-beam implementations of the supported member 300 in a similar manner to the top surface 304 of the supported member 300.

In this configuration, the assembly of four implementations of the bracket 100 may be attached to the top surfaces 304 of the supported members 300 and may have an opposite chirality (i.e., a mirror-like image) of the assembly of four other implementations of the bracket 100 attached to the bottom surface 305 of the supported member 300. The holes 120 in the central portions 101 of the brackets 100 may be in two rows with the spacing as seen in the Figures. The holes 120 may also be in any number of rows and spacing, parallel or staggered configuration, or any suitable amount known to those skilled in the art configured to attach the bracket 100 to the supported member 300. Arrangements of the disclosure may also allow for additional connections between the supporting member 200 to the supported member 300, including attachments 306 connecting an exterior face of supporting member 200 with the web 307 of supported member 300, by means of the welds, fasteners, and/or the like. Such additional connections may be single plate, single angle, double angle, or through plate shear connections, and/or the like.

In other aspects, the bracket 100 may be configured with an opposite attachment configuration. For example, the bracket 100 may be connected to the supported member 300 through implementation of the welds 201; and the bracket 100 may be connected to the supporting member 200 through implementation of the fasteners 301. The bracket 100 may also be connected to both the supporting member 200 and supported member 300 using the welds 201, or to both using fasteners 301.

The bracket 100 of the disclosure may be made by several different methods. In aspects, the bracket 100 may be made of a ductile material, such as metal, and preferably may be made of steel. Each implementation of the bracket 100 may be cut out as a flat pattern 108 from a single piece of material, such as a metal sheet 400 as seen in FIG. 8, and then bent into shape which may form the upper protrusion 102, lower protrusion 103, and central portion 101. For example, the flat pattern 108 may be bent with a break to form a curved edge 151 and have a desired shape of the bracket 100. When brackets are cut from a flat sheet of material, a plurality of brackets may be nested within it, and thereafter each of the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 are bent to form the bracket 100. In this regard, the nested arrangement of the flat patterns 108 in the metal sheet 400 minimizes material waste of the metal sheet 400.

Alternatively, each implementation of the bracket 100 may be cast, forged, 3D printed and/or the like. Accordingly, each implementation of the bracket 100 may have a cast structural configuration, a forged structural configuration, a 3D printed structural configuration and/or the like. Further, the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 of the bracket 100 may be formed of a separate material and then attached by welds 401 (see in FIG. 14) or fasteners 109 (see FIG. 17), such as bolts. Bolts or other removable fastening methods may be preferred especially if the structure is placed in an area prone to seismic activity as they allow for easy replacement and repair of central portion 101.

The upper protrusion 102 and lower protrusion 103 of bracket 100 of the disclosure may also take a variety of shapes including a tapered profile (seen in FIGS. 1-7), a non-tapered profile (FIG. 9), and an L-shaped cross section (FIG. 14-17).

As illustrated in FIGS. 10-13, the bracket 100 of the disclosure may also include a thickened portion 106 extending orthogonally above and/or below the central portion 101 of the bracket 100 which may increase the strength and stiffness of the supporting member 200. Moreover, the thickened portion 106 may increase the strength and stiffness of the connection between the supporting member 200 and the supported member 300. For example, in FIG. 11, the thickened portion 106 may extend orthogonally above and below the central portion 101 in a manner which may allow the upper protrusion 102 or the lower protrusion 103 of an adjacent implementation of the bracket 100 to be welded to the thickened portion 106. The thickened portion 106 may also have a sloped surface 116 which may interface with an adjacent implementation of the bracket 100.

The bracket 100 may also include a beveled edge 105 on the upper protrusion 102 and/or the lower protrusion 103 which may facilitate a weld 202 connecting said upper protrusion 102 or lower protrusion 103 to the thickened portion 106 of another implementation of bracket 100 connected to an adjacent face of the supporting member 200. This beveled edge 105 lies between the lower edge surface 142 and outer face surface 122 of the upper protrusion 102 and/or between the upper edge surface 133 and the outer face surface 123 of the lower protrusion 103. In other aspects the beveled edge 105 may be located on the edge of the thickened portion 106.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate another aspect of the disclosure where the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 may be distinct portions of material connected to the central portion 101. The upper protrusions may have an L-shaped profile, though profiles with a rectangular or triangular profiles and/or the like are also possible.

FIG. 16 illustrates a configuration utilizing four implementations of the bracket 100 in a configuration where the upper edge surface 133 of lower protrusion 103 and lower edge surface 142 of upper protrusion 102 are substantially flush with the central portion 101 of a corresponding implementation of the bracket 100 attached to an adjacent surface of the supporting member 200. In this configuration, the upper protrusion 102 or the lower protrusion 103 of the bracket 100 may be welded onto the central portion 101 of corresponding implementations of the bracket 100 which may increase the strength and stiffness of the structure.

As seen in FIG. 17, the bracket 100 of the disclosure may also include voids 107 which may promote a ductile failure in the material of the bracket 100 between the voids 107 when the bracket 100 is acted on a force parallel to the long axis of the supported member 300, such as during seismic activity. The voids 107 may be circular, may be staggered, parallel, and/or may be also arranged in any other manner known to a person skilled in the art. In aspects, the voids 107 may be configured as holes extending through the central portion 101 of the bracket 100. In aspects, the voids 107 may be implemented with material removed from the bracket 100 and/or the central portion 101. In aspects, the voids 107 may ensure that this area of the bracket 100 fails first when a supported member 300 transmits a force parallel to its long axis to the bracket. Further, the voids 107 may be configured to ensure that the failure would be ductile. In aspects, the bracket 100 implementing the voids 107 may absorb energy and may be well suited to seismic-resistant structures.

In aspects, the configuration of the bracket 100 illustrated in FIG. 17 may utilize implementations of fasteners 109 for connection of the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 to the central portion 101. Alternatively, the configuration of the bracket 100 illustrated in FIG. 17 may utilize welding for connection of the upper protrusion 102 and the lower protrusion 103 to the central portion 101. The central portion 101 may also be z-shaped when viewed from the front, and the upper protrusion 102 and lower protrusion 103 may attached to the central portion 101 by bolts with their long axis oriented horizontally.

In any of the aspects disclosed herein, implementations of the fasteners 301 in conjunction with the bracket 100 may alternatively be implemented with welding; and implementations of welding in conjunction with the bracket 100 may alternatively be implemented with fasteners as described herein.

Accordingly, the disclosure set forth a bracket which allows for easy assembly of a plurality of structural supports.

The following are a number of nonlimiting EXAMPLES of aspects of the disclosure.

One EXAMPLE: a bracket includes a central portion, an upper protrusion, and a lower protrusion. The bracket in addition includes the central portion being located adjacent to a front face of the supporting member, and being configured to be attached to a supported member. The bracket moreover includes the upper protrusion configured for attachment to a side face of a supporting member, and the lower protrusion configured for attachment to an opposing side face of the supporting member. The bracket also includes the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion configured to extend away from the central portion in parallel planes.

The above-noted EXAMPLE may further include any one or a combination of more than one of the following EXAMPLES: The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the upper protrusion is configured to extend orthogonally above the central portion and the lower protrusion is configured to extend orthogonally below the central portion. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the upper protrusion extends above the central portion and the lower protrusion extends below the central portion. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the bracket is configured to not conflict with a second bracket comprising a central portion, an upper protrusion, and a lower protrusion, when the central portions of two brackets are positioned at a same location along a length of the supporting member, and adjacent to two different faces of the supporting member. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion are configured to be attached to a central portion of a second bracket, the second bracket being at a same location along a length of the supporting member as the bracket, and having the central portion of the second bracket adjacent to a side face of the supporting member. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the central portion is configured to attach to a front face of the supporting member. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the upper protrusion and/or the lower protrusion are configured to be attached to the supporting member by welding. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the central portion has a plurality of holes configured to receive fasteners to attach the bracket to the supported member. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the central portion is configured to be attached to the supported member by welding. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the central portion comprises a plurality of voids configured to create a zone of ductile failure. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE comprises a ductile material. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion are configured to be of a same material, integral, or attached separately to the central portion. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion are configured to be of a same material. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion are configured to be integral. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion are configured to be attached separately to the central portion. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion or the lower protrusion are configured to have an L-shaped cross section, a tapered profile, or a non-tapered profile. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion or the lower protrusion are configured to have an L-shaped cross section. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion or the lower protrusion are configured to have a tapered profile. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion or the lower protrusion are configured to have a non-tapered profile. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion or the lower protrusion are configured to have a beveled edge. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the bracket comprises a 3D printing, a casting construction, or a construction formed by bending. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the bracket comprises a 3D printing. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the bracket comprises a casting construction. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the bracket comprises a construction formed by bending. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion form a c-shaped and a u-shaped profile. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion form a c-shaped profile. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE where the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion form a u-shaped profile. The method of the above-noted EXAMPLE comprising: cutting a plurality of c-shaped patterns, each having a center and two tips, from a flat sheet of material, where prior to cutting the flat sheet of material, the plurality of c-shaped patterns are arranged in one or more lines, with the center of each c-shaped pattern nested between the tips of an adjacent c-shaped pattern, and bending each of the tips of the plurality of c-shaped patterns in opposite directions to form the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion of a plurality of brackets. The bracket of the above-noted EXAMPLE includes a thickened portion that extends from an edge of the central portion closest to the supporting member in one or both directions along a long axis of the supporting member. The one-beam assembly of the above-noted EXAMPLE and two implementations of the bracket the two implementations comprising an upper bracket and a lower bracket; the central portion of the upper bracket attached to a top surface of the supported member, and the central portion of the lower bracket attached to a bottom surface of the supported member; the lower protrusion of the upper bracket and the upper protrusion of the lower bracket configured to attach to a same side face of the supporting member, and the upper protrusion of the upper bracket and the lower protrusion of the lower bracket being configured to be attached to a same opposing side face of the supporting member. The multi-beam assembly of the above-noted EXAMPLE comprising a supporting member and a plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly where the supported member of each of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly are located adjacent to different faces of the supporting member; and where upper brackets of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly have a same chirality, and where lower brackets of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly have a chirality opposite that of the upper brackets. The multi-beam assembly of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion of a first bracket is configured to attach to a central portion of a second bracket of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly. The multi-beam assembly of the above-noted EXAMPLE where one or more faces of the supporting member are connected to a web of the supported member of at least one of the plurality of implementations of the one-beam assembly. The multi-brace assembly of the above-noted EXAMPLE a plurality of supported members, and a plurality of brackets configured such that the central portions of the plurality of brackets are each located adjacent to different faces of the supporting member, and each attached a supported member. The multi-brace assembly of the above-noted EXAMPLE where at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion of at least one of the plurality of brackets is attached to a central portion of a second bracket.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” or extending “onto” another element, it can be directly on or extend directly onto another element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or extending “directly onto” another element, there are no intervening elements present. Likewise, it will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is referred to as being “over” or extending “over” another element, it can be directly over or extend directly over another element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly over” or extending “directly over” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to another element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Relative terms such as “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, layer, or region to another element, layer, or region as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including” when used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The many features and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the detailed specification, and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the disclosure which fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to that fall within the scope of the disclosure.