WO2003093594A1

WO2003093594A1 - Framework and hold down connector

Info

Publication number: WO2003093594A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/013239
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Tadich
Original assignee: Mitek Holdings, Inc.
Priority date: 2002-04-30
Filing date: 2003-04-29
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: AUPS203902A0

Abstract

A building framework and hold down connector is described. The hold down connector includes a first plate which is intended to be connected to one face of a building framework, and a second plate which is intended to be connected to a supporting framework when the building framework is located on the supporting framework. The first plate comprises the sole heel connector of the framework to join an upper chord of the framework to a lower chord of the framework. After location of the framework on the supporting frame member, the second plate is bent into a location where it is adjacent the supporting frame member and is secured to the supporting frame member. The first plate includes punched nails for enabling the first plate to be connected to the framework, and the second plate includes holes for enabling nails to be hammered through the holes to secure the second plate to the supporting frame member.

Description

FRAMEWORK AND HOLD DOWN CONNECTOR Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a framework and hold down connector for connecting the framework to a frame element of a building construction. The invention has particular application, but not exclusive application, to the connection of roof trusses to top plates of the building construction.

Background Art

Building trusses of the type which include a bottom chord and at least one oblique top chord are used to form the roof structure of a building, and are connected to top plates of the wall frames of the building. These trusses generally include two oblique upper chords with a plurality of webs extending between the upper chords and the lower chord. The webs are generally connected to the chords by nail plates. The oblique upper chords are connected to the lower chord by similar plates which are generally referred to as heel plates. When the trusses are to be installed in a building, the trusses are located on top plates of two spaced apart wall structures and are then fixed in place. Usually the trusses are fixed in place by cleats or other separate connectors which require a workman to nail or otherwise fix the cleat to the truss and then fix the cleat to one of the respective top plates. This requires the workman to first obtain the required cleat, locate the cleat in position, fix the cleat to the truss, and then fix the cleat to the top plate.

In order to reduce the amount of work required for the workman to secure such a bracket in place and, indeed, to locate such a cleat, proposals have been put forth whereby a connector is formed on the truss ready for use when the truss is to be installed in a building framework. Patents which disclose such systems include US Patent 5,735,087 owned by the present applicant, Australian Patent 730001 issued to Martin A Lott, and Australian Patent No. 643228 issued to David McLeod. All of these patents suffer from the disadvantage that the attached connector extends beyond the confines or perimeter of the truss or framework to which it is connected, thereby increasing the difficulty of stacking, handling, and positioning the truss in the building framework. Furthermore, the fact that the connector protrudes beyond the confines of the truss also provides a possible danger to workmen because such connectors are generally formed from sheet metal, which presents sharp edges and therefore provides the possibility for a workman being cut or otherwise injured when lifting and manipulating the truss.

Summary of the Invention

An object of a first aspect of the invention is to provide a building framework and connector which reduces the amount of componentry and assembly required in order to firstly form the building framework, and then locate the framework in a building structure. Another aspect of the invention is specifically concerned with arrangements which overcome the problem of protrusion of the connector plate and the object of this aspect is to provide a framework and bracket which reduces problems with stacking, handling and positioning of the framework, as well as preventing danger to workmen handling the framework.

In general, a building framework according to the present invention comprises a lower chord and at least one upper chord extending at an oblique angle with respect to the lower chord, the lower chord and upper chord meeting at a joint. The building framework has a first face and an opposite face. A hold down connector has a first plate which spans the joint between the upper chord and the lower chord and which forms a sole heel connector plate on the first face of the framework at the joint. A first connection formation is on the plate which attaches the first plate to the first face of the framework at the joint. A second plate is integral with the first plate, and a second connection formation is on the second plate for attaching the second plate to a supporting frame member upon which the building framework is to rest to connect the building framework to the supporting frame member.

Thus, according to this aspect of the invention, because the first plate forms the connector plate which joins the upper chord to the lower chord, an additional connector plate is not required. The hold down connector therefore performs the dual function of the heel plate for the building framework, as well as providing the second integral plate to tie the framework to the supporting frame member. Thus, the amount of componentry required to form the building framework is reduced, and also the framework is more easily and conveniently installed in a building structure.

In another aspect, a building according to the present invention comprises a framework and an underlying support on which the framework rests. The framework comprises a lower chord and at least one upper chord extending at an oblique angle with respect to the lower chord, the lower chord and upper chord meeting at a joint. The building framework has a first face which is generally vertical and a bottom face. A hold down connector is for connecting the framework to the support . The hold down connector has a first plate which spans the joint between the upper chord and the lower chord and which forms a connector plate on the first face of the framework at the joint. A first connection formation is on the first plate for attaching the first plate to the first face of the framework at the joint. A second plate is integral with the first plate, at least a portion of the second plate being disposed between the bottom face and the support such that a portion of weight of the chords bears upon the second plate. A second connection formation is on the second plate for attaching the second plate to the support .

Because the present invention provides the second plate which extends along and flush with the second face of the frame element and within the confines of the second face, the connector does not protrude or extend beyond the confines of the framework. Thus, the hold down connector does not interfere with stacking, handling or location of the building framework or provide a protrusion which is likely to injure a workman during handling and manipulation of the building framework. When the building framework is located in place, the hold down connector provides a connector which can be easily manipulated by bending the second plate into the position in contact with the supporting frame member to thereby facilitate securement of the building framework to the supporting frame member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of a building truss including a hold down connector according to the preferred embodiment, which is shown connecting the building truss to a top plate;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connector used in the embodiment of Figure 1 in an initial condition; Figure 3 is a view of the connector of Figure 2 in a condition where the connector connects the truss to the top plate; Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming hold down connectors in accordance with the embodiment of Figure

1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing a second embodiment of the hold down connector, connecting a truss to a top plate;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the connector used in the embodiment of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view of a further embodiment of the invention showing the building truss connected to a top plate;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the connector used in the embodiment of Figure 7, in an initial condition;

Figure 9 is a view of the connector of Figure 8 in the position in which it connects the truss to the top plate;

Figure 10 is a view of a still further embodiment of the invention, showing the truss connected to the top plate;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the connector used in the embodiment of Figure 11; Figure 12 is a view of a connector according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 13 is a view of the connector of Figure 12 connecting a framework to a supporting member according to one embodiment ; Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 showing connection of the framework to the supporting frame member in another embodiment; and

Figure 15 is a view of an installed framework according to the embodiment of Figures 12 to 14.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

With reference to Figures 1 to 3 , a building framework 10 in the form of a roof truss having a lower chord 12 and at least one oblique upper chord 14 is shown coupled to a top plate 16 in a building frame construction. As is well known, such roof trusses 10 generally span two top plates 16 (only one shown in Figure 1) , which are arranged at the top of wall frames of a building. As is also well known, a plurality of the roof trusses 10 are arranged in spaced apart side by side relationship and the chords 14 support battens and roofing material, and the chords 12 support the ceiling of the building.

The roof truss 10 has a first face 10a which is arranged in a vertical plane when the truss is installed in a building construction, a third face 10a' which is opposite the first face 10a and generally parallel with the first face 10a, and a second face 10b which is a lowermost face of the roof truss 10 and which extends between the faces 10a and 10a', and which is the face which sits on the top plates 16 of the building construction when the truss is installed in the building construction.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the truss 10 is provided with a hold down connector 20. The hold down connector 20, as is best shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a first plate 22 which is provided with a plurality of punched teeth 24 which extend perpendicular to the plate 22. The formation of such teeth on a plate is well known and therefore need not be described in any further detail . The plate 22 also has a web 26. The web 26 extends for only part of the length of the plate 20, as is shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

A second plate 28 is formed integral with the first plate 22 and is connected to the web 26 by a fold line 30. The connector 20 is bent along the fold line 30 so that the plate 28 is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the plate

22. The plate 28 has a first portion 28a which is that part of the plate 28 which is connected to the web 26 by the fold line 30, and a second portion 28b which is that part of the plate which is extends beyond the web 26 and which, as is clearly shown in Figure 2, is spaced from the plate 22. The second portion 28b is provided with holes 33 through which nails can be hammered to secure the second plate 28 to the top plate 16, as will be described hereinafter.

In this embodiment of the invention, the plate 22 forms a heel plate of the truss 10 to connect the upper chord 14 to the lower chord 12. Thus, in this embodiment, the hold down connector 20 will both form the heel plate of the roof truss 10 and also facilitate the connection of the truss 10 to the top plate 16. Thus, the plate 22 is positioned so it overlaps the chords 12 and 14 with teeth 24 penetrating first face 10a to therefore form the heel plate connecting the chords 12 and 14 together at the heel of the truss 10.

The second plate 28 sits immediately beneath the face 10b of the truss 10, and which is perpendicular to the face 10a.

As is apparent from Figure 2, the plate 28 is generally a flat, straight plate. As is also clear from Figure 1, when the connector 20 is initially installed on the building truss 10, the plate 28 extends along and flush with the face 10b, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. The plate 28 is substantially within the confines of the face 10b between the first face 10a and the third face 10a' so that there is no part of the plate 28 which protrudes or extends beyond the confines of the truss 10. Thus, since the first plate 22 is effectively hammered onto the face 10a and sits flush with the face 10a, and the plate 28 is originally arranged flush and within the confines of the face 10b, the connector is entirely within the confines of the truss and does not present any projecting part which would cause difficulty in stacking, handling and location of the truss in place for installation, nor the possibility of a projecting sharp edge which could cut or otherwise injure a workman.

When the building truss 10 is located on horizontal faces 16' of a pair of top plates 16 ready for installation, the first portion 28a is sandwiched between the bottom face of the chord 12 and the top plate 16, as is apparent from Figure 1. The second portion 28b extends along the face 10b inwardly of the building construction from the top plate 16 (as is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) . The second portion 28b is then simply bent down generally in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1 from the position flush with the face 10b and shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, to the position shown in solid lines in Figure 1 (and in Figure 3) , in which the plate 28b is adjacent and in engagement with the vertical face 16a of the top plate 16. The length of the second portion 28b may be such that it is equal to or slightly less than the height of the face 16b or, as shown in Figure 1, may be slightly longer than the height of the face 16a, in which case, the plate 28b is further bent so that the end portion 28b' is simply bent around onto the lower face 16b of the plate 16. The second portion 28b is then secured to the plate 16 by hammering nails through the holes 33 to fix the truss 10 to the top plate 16.

The weight of the truss 10 tends to hold the truss and top plate 16 together in assembled position. As discussed above, the first portion 28a of the plate 28 is sandwiched between the chord 12 and the top plate 16. A portion of the weight of the chords 12 and 14 bears upon the first portion 28a. That augments the holding power of the nails in fixing the connector 20 to the top plate 16 and augments the effectiveness of the connector in holding the truss 10 to the top plate. Relative motion between the truss and top plate is opposed by firm securement of the connector to the top plate both by nails and the weight of the truss pressing it downwardly against the top plate. Any twisting of the connector is inhibited by its placement underlying the truss .

In the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3 the plate 22 is preferably positioned on the face 10a so that when the second portion 28b is bent about bend line 31, as shown in

Figure 3, the bend will occur at the end 29 of web 26 and at the edge 16c of plate 16. This prevents the formation of a hinge region or curved portion of the second plate 28 from being formed if the bend takes place at a position partly along the second portion 28b, rather than level with the end 29 of the web 26 as shown in Figure 3. In order to correctly position the plate 22 so the end 29 is level with the edge 16c of a top plate 16 having a width of 90 mm, the corner C of plate 22 in Figure 1 is made level with the position where the lower face 10b of the chord 12 meets the oblique chord 14. Thus, the distance from the corner C to the end of the first portion 28a is made to be 90 mm, which matches the width of the 90 mm top plate 16. For a top plate which has a width of 70 mm, the inner corner C in cut-out region 27 is made level with the intersection of the lower face 10b with the chord 14. The cut-out 27 has a thickness of 20 mm so that this will position the connector 20, 20 mm to the right in Figure 1, thereby locating the edge 29 level with edge 16c of the 70 mm top plate 16.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector 20 which will be located at the other end of the truss is a mirror image of the connector shown in Figure 1, and thus "right" and "left" hand connectors are utilised. This ensures that the connectors 22 are on the same side of the truss 10. The reason for this is due to the automated manufacture of the trusses and the machinery which is used to press the plates 22 of the two connectors at each end of the truss into the truss. That equipment may design to work on only one of the faces (ie. the face 10a) of the truss, and not on both the face 10a and 10b. However, in other embodiments, if the connectors are manually inserted or the equipment is able to operate on both faces 10a and 10b, only one connector need be provided which is applied on the face 10a at one end of the truss 10 and on the face 10b at the other end of the truss 10.

The web 26 enables the fold line to be formed at any location on the web 26 which may be advantageous in securing a connector to shape trusses of different sizes or configurations. Thus, the web 26 allows a variety of shaped trusses to be accommodated and the nailing plate may be spaced away from the edge of the plate 22 to a more central location.

Figure 4 shows how connectors 20 are formed from a generally rectangular plate 40. In the embodiment of Figure 4, two connectors 20 are formed from the single plate 40. Initially, the plate 40 is square and is punched to cut out the sections which are cross-hatched in Figure 4. Thus, the amount of material which is wasted when the connectors 20 is formed is minimal. The plate 40 is then cut along slit line 42 to form the separate plates 20. The cutting of the plate 40 along the slit line 42 can be concurrent with, or prior to, or after punching of the teeth 24 and punching of the holes 33. Each of the separate plates 20 is then bent along its respective bend line 30 so as to form the configuration shown in Figure 2.

The plates 20 can then be used to form the heel plates to join the top chords 14 and bottom chord 12 in the truss 10 with the second plate 28 extending along and flush with the face 10b of the lower chord 12.

Figures 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the invention in which a third plate 50 is provided, and which is a mirror image of the plate 22. The third plate 50 is connected to the second plate 28 along a fold line 30' which is of the same length and opposite fold line 30 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3.

It should be noted that in this embodiment, the plates 22 and 50 are generally angled with respect to the vertical so they diverge outwardly from the plate 28. This configuration enables the connector 20 of Figure 6 to be located onto the chord 12 without the teeth 24 interfering with the insertion of the chord 12 between the plates 22 and 50. As in the earlier embodiment, the plate 28 sits flush with the face 10b of the chord 12.

Thus, according to this embodiment of the invention, the connector 20 effectively sandwiches the truss 10 and forms heel plates on both sides of the truss 10. As in the earlier embodiment, the plate 28 is bent down and about the top plate 16 so that nails can be hammered through the holes 33 to thereby fix the truss 10 to the top plate 16.

It should be noted that in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 6, the plate 28 is arranged so that it is on the inside or interior of the top plate 16. This therefore provides easy access to the plate 28 by a workman to firstly bend the plate 28 into the position shown in solid lines in Figure 1, and in Figure 5, and then nail through the holes 33 to connect the plate 28 to the top plate 16.

Figures 7 to 9 show a still further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the connector 20'' includes a first plate 22' and a second plate 28' which is integral with the plate 22' and joined by a fold line 30' . The plate 28' is clearly longer than the plate 22, as shown in Figure 8. The plate 22' is provided with punched teeth 24' and holes 33' are provided in the plate 28'.

In this embodiment, the chords 12 and 14 are joined by a separate heel plate 60. The plate 22' is connected to the chord 14 outwardly of the heel plate 60 and, as is apparent from Figure 7, does not overlap onto the chord 12 because, in this embodiment, the plate 22' is not forming the heel plate of the truss 10. In this embodiment, the plate 28 extends along the face 10b such that part of the plate 28' is flush with the bottom face 14a of the upper chord 14, and the part of the plate 28' which extends beyond the plate 22' is flush with and extends along the bottom face 12a of the lower chord 12. Thus, in this embodiment, the second face 10b of the truss 10 is formed partly by the bottom face 14a of the chord 14 and partly by the bottom face 12a of the chord 12, whereas in the previous embodiment, the bottom face 10b along which the plate 28 extended is formed entirely by the bottom face of the chord 12. Further, in this embodiment, the vertical face 10a to which the plate 22 ' is connected is formed entirely on the chord 14 rather than on both the chords 14 and 12 as in the earlier embodiment .

Again, when it is intended to install the truss 10 on a top plate 16, the plate 28' is bent from the position flush with the second face 10b into the position shown in Figures 7 and 9, so that the plate 28' is in engagement with face 16a and face 16b of the top plate 16. The plate 28' is then fixed by hammering nails through the holes 33.

It should be noted that in this embodiment, the plate 28' is arranged on the outside of the truss 10a and is therefore slightly more difficult to fix to the top plate 16 because of the part of the upper chord 14 which overhangs the plate 16, and the angle the chord 14 makes with the horizontal . As the angle of the chord 14 with respect to the chord 12 increases, less space will be available in which the workman can work and swing a hammer in order to hammer nails through the holes 33'. Thus, this embodiment is slightly less advantageous as the embodiment in Figure 1, because it may be more difficult for the workman to secure the plate 28' to the top plate 16.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6, it is apparent that the first portion 28a of the plate 28' is sandwiched between the top plate 16 and the chord 12, which facilitates securement of the connector 20 in the completed building construction. Furthermore, the edge 16c of the top plate 16 acts as a fulcrum about which the plate 28 can be bent so as to arrange it in the orientation shown in Figure 1 for securement to the top plate 16.

In the embodiment of Figures 7 to 9, the plate 28 needs to be bent into the configuration shown in Figures 7 and 9 before the truss 10 is seated on the top plates 16.

Figures 10 and 11 show a still further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the connector 20'' is formed from a first connector 70 and a second connector 80. The first connector 70 generally has the same configuration as the connector 20' ' in Figure 8, except in this embodiment, the plate 22' is not formed with teeth 24, but rather with elongate slots 72. However, instead of elongate slots 72, circular holes could be used.

The connector 80 is in the form of a generally conventional nail plate having punched teeth 82 punched from the plate 80.

As is shown in Figure 11, in this embodiment, the connector 70 is located on the chords 12 and 14 with the plate 28' extending along the second face 10b, as shown in Figure 11 and in generally the same manner as described with reference to Figure 1.

The plate 80 is then located over the plate 22' so that the teeth 82 pass through the slot 72 and penetrate into the chords 12 and 14. The plate 80 in combination with the plate 22' therefore forms the heel plate of the truss 10.

When the truss 10 is located in position on the top plate 16, the plate 28' is bent from the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 11 into the position shown in solid lines in Figure 11 so the plate 28' engages with the top plate 16 so that the plate 28' can be nailed in place in the same manner as previously described.

Figure 12 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the tie down connector 20 has a first plate 50 of generally rectangular shape which is provided with a plurality of punched nail teeth 52. The plate 50 is integral with a second plate 54 which extends at right angles to the plate 50 and has a transition portion or line 56 which is integral with the first plate 50. The second plate 54 has a plurality of holes 58 for receiving nails to secure the second plate to a supporting frame member, as will be described hereinafter.

The transition region 56 between the first plate 50 and the second plate 54 includes a plurality of slots 60 which form a weakening to enable the second plate 54 to be bent out of the plane of the first plate 50 into a plane substantially at right angles to the first plate 50 so that when the second plate is so bent, the second plate 54 forms a strip for connection to the supporting frame member.

The second plate 54 which is in the form of a strip therefore extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plate 50 away from the plate 50 but in the direction of the plane of the plate 50 (prior to bending of the plate 54) . As noted above, after bending of the plate 54, the plate is moved to a position where it is out of the plane of the plate 50 but, as is shown in Figure 13 and Figure 14, still extends away from the plate 50.

Figure 13 shows a building framework 10 in the form of a roof truss in which like reference numerals indicate like parts to those described with reference to Figure 1. As in the previous embodiments, the truss 10 sits on the supporting frame member 16. Figure 15 is a view of the complete truss 10 sitting on a pair of supporting frame members 16 which are intended to support the truss in order to form a roof of a building. As is shown in Figure 13, and also in Figure 15, the second plates 54 of each connector 20 are originally disposed so that they are in the same plane as the first plates 50. The truss is located on the supporting frame member 16 and then the plates 54 are bent along the weakening defined by the slots 56 so the second plate 54 of the connector 20 is bent from the position shown in Figure 12 into a plane perpendicular to the plane of the first plate 50 as shown in Figure 13. The strips 54 are therefore locating adjacent face 16a of the supporting frame member 16, as is best shown in Figure 13. The plate 54 is then secured to the face 16a by hammering nails through the holes 58. In the embodiment of Figure 13, supporting frame member 16 is of sufficient thickness so that the face 16a accommodates all of the second plate 54 which extends below the plate 50.

In the embodiment of Figure 14, the frame member 16 is thinner and the second plate 54 wraps around the supporting frame member 16 to engage lower horizontal face 16b and nails are then hammered through the holes 58 to penetrate the face 16b and connect the frame member 10 to the supporting frame member 16. The plate 54 is bent around the supporting frame member 16 simply by hammering the plate 54 so that it folds around the corner 16e of the frame member 16, with the corner acting as a fulcrum to facilitate bending of the plate 54 until a lowermost part of the plate 54 lies flush with the surface 16b of the frame member 16.

It will be understood that whilst in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 11, only one end of a truss 10 is shown, the other end also includes a tie down connector and is connected to a pair of supporting frame members 16, as in the embodiments of Figures 12 to 15.

As is also evident from Figure 15, and as has been explained previously, the first plate 50 of the connectors 20 forms the sole heel plate at each joint 70 where the lower chord 12 meets a respective one of the upper oblique chords 14 and 14'. Thus, the tie down connector 20 forms the sole heel plate without the need to use another heel plate spaced apart from and separate to the connector 20. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the connectors 20 are applied to the first face 10a of the truss 10 and, as explained above, and is obviously shown in Figure 15, the plates 50 form the sole heel plates at each end of the truss on the face 10a. The opposite third face 10a' may also have connector plates 20 secured to them in a position generally opposite the plates 20 shown in Figure 15. However, in still other embodiments, the third face 10a' may not include any connector plates at all, or may include a conventional punched tooth connector plate (not shown) which bands the joint 70 on the face 10a' of the truss.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

For the purposes of this specification it will be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and that the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A building framework comprising: a lower chord, at least one upper chord extending at an oblique angle with respect to the lower chord, the lower chord and upper chord meeting at a joint, the building framework having a first face and an opposite face; a hold down connector having:

(a) a first plate which spans the joint between the upper chord and the lower chord and which forms a sole heel connector plate on the first face of the framework at the j oint ;

(b) a first connection formation on the plate which attaches the first plate to the first face of the framework at the j oint ; (c) a second plate integral with the first plate; and

(d) a second connection formation on the second plate for attaching the second plate to a supporting frame member upon which the building framework is to rest to connect the building framework to the supporting frame member.

2. The framework of claim 1 wherein the second plate extends transverse to the first plate, and wherein the first connection formation on the first plate comprises punched teeth which penetrate the framework, and wherein the second connection formation on the second plate are holes for receiving nails.

3. The framework of claim 1 wherein the first plate is a rectangular plate and the second plate is in the form of a strip which extends perpendicular to the first plate.

4. The framework of claim 1 wherein the hold down connector has a weakening to facilitating bending of the strip out of the plane of the first connector plate and into a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first connector plate.

5. The framework of claim 4 wherein the weakening comprises a plurality of slots which divide the first plate from a portion of the second plate which is integral with the first plate.

6. The framework of claim 1 wherein the second plate is flush with and extends along a face of the building framework within the confines of the building framework.

7. A building comprising a framework and an underlying support on which the framework rests, the framework comprising: a lower chord, at least one upper chord extending at an oblique angle with respect to the lower chord, the lower chord and upper chord meeting at a joint, the building framework having a first face which is generally vertical and a bottom face; a hold down connector for connecting the framework to said support, the hold down connector having:

(a) a first plate which spans the joint between the upper chord and the lower chord and which forms a connector plate on the first face of the framework at the joint;

(b) a first connection formation on the first plate for attaching the first plate to the first face of the framework at the joint;

(c) a second plate integral with the first plate, at least a portion of the second plate being disposed between the bottom face and the support such that a portion of weight of the chords bears upon the second plate; and

(d) a second connection formation on the second plate for attaching the second plate to the support .