Metal gusset plate for the construction of wooden support structures in the building sector
The metallic gusset plate provides scalable and reproducible load-bearing connections for timber structures by using asymmetric fastener openings, addressing the inefficiencies of traditional joints and engineering fasteners in timber support structures.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BLOCKHAUS FR
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing timber support structures in building construction face challenges with traditional joints that are time-consuming, require specialized skills, and have unpredictable load-bearing capacity, while engineering fasteners need site-specific calculations and can lose certifications when reused.
A metallic gusset plate with asymmetric fastener openings for connecting timber components, allowing scalable, reproducible, and predictable load-bearing connections without specialized tools or training.
Enables quick, reproducible, and predictable load-bearing connections in timber structures, eliminating the need for complex manual joints and ensuring consistent load transfer regardless of workmanship quality.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
State of the art
[0001] Timber support structures are used, particularly in building construction, by emergency response, disaster relief, and civil protection organizations to support damaged or structurally unsound buildings. They serve to temporarily or permanently shore up structural components and buildings to absorb and transfer loads. Such support structures consist of squared timbers of varying cross-sections and lengths, connected at joints to form three-dimensional load-bearing structures, for example, in the form of struts, trusses, sill beams, or buttresses. The joints are typically constructed in two ways: a) Traditional timber joints, especially mortise and tenon joints, butt joints, braces, or similar joinery techniques. While these have been known for a long time, they have significant disadvantages in technical rescue operations.They are time-consuming, require a high level of craftsmanship, specialized tools, and experience, and their load-bearing capacity is highly dependent on the quality of workmanship. A reproducible, statically defined load-bearing capacity is generally not guaranteed. b) Engineering fasteners, such as perforated plates, metal plates, joist hangers, bolts, or timber connector screws. These typically require prior static calculations and a location- and load-specific selection of the fasteners. Such requirements often cannot be met at the installation site. Furthermore, modifying or using industrial fasteners for purposes other than their intended use regularly leads to the loss of existing approvals or certifications.Overall, there is therefore a need for structurally defined, easy-to-handle and scalable connecting elements with which nodes in timber support structures can be produced quickly, reproducibly and with predictable load-bearing behavior. Description of the gusset plate-100
[0002] The gusset plate 100 is a metallic connecting element for forming connection points in timber support structures, particularly in the area of building bracing. The gusset plate 100 consists of a substantially flat metallic base body, which is designed for the force-fit connection of at least two, preferably several, timber components ( Fig. 1; Fig. 2) The basic body has a defined sheet metal shape with bent, offset or planar functional surfaces through which forces from connected wooden components can be absorbed, bundled and transferred ( Fig. 4; Fig. 5; Fig. 6; Fig. 7) The base body has several through-openings for receiving fasteners, in particular screws or bolts ( Fig. 2; Fig. 3) The openings are not symmetrical, but deliberately arranged asymmetrically or offset, so that the fasteners engage in different grain directions of the connected timber components. The gusset plate-100 is designed to be attached to the end faces, surfaces, or edges of squared timbers, where it acts as a central connecting element. This design allows timber components to be connected from different directions, especially at variable angles ( Fig. 4; Fig. 5; Fig. 6; Fig. 7) The structural design of the gusset plate-100s-100 is scale-independent, so that the design can be scaled to different wood cross-sections and load requirements without changing the structural principle. Advantages of the gusset plate-100 - Design-based protective effect: The function results from the geometry and arrangement of the sheet metal elements and holes, not from specific dimensions. - Scalability: The design is independent of specific wood cross-sections and can be transferred to larger or smaller dimensions. - Defined force flow: The geometry and hole arrangement enable controlled load transfer within the node. - Reduced training and time requirements: Complex manual wood joints are completely eliminated. - High flexibility of use: Several wooden components can be connected at a node at different angles. - Reproducibility: The load-bearing capacity remains largely consistent regardless of the quality of workmanship. - Usability under operating conditions: The gusset plate-100 can be assembled without special machines or preparations. List of reference symbols for the drawings Fig. 1 Gusset plate perspective Fig. 2 Gusset plate side view Fig. 3 Gusset plate rear view Fig. 4 Gusset plate side view with square timbers inserted at right angles to each other Fig. 5 Gusset plate with inserted square timbers at different angles Fig. 6 Gusset plate attached to object and wood inserted at an angle to it. Fig. 7 Gusset plate placed on continuous timber with branching timbers
Claims
[1] Gusset plate for connecting timber components in timber support structures, characterized by , that the gusset plate consists of a metallic base body which serves to form a force-transmitting node between several wooden components, wherein the base body has several through-openings for receiving connecting means and is shaped in such a way that at least two wooden components can be force-fitted to the gusset plate from different directions. [2] Gusset plate according to claim 1, characterized by that the basic body has angled, offset or planar functional surfaces designed to be attached to the end faces, sides or surfaces of the wooden components. [3] Gusset plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the passage openings are arranged asymmetrically to each other. [4] Gusset plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the arrangement of the through-openings is designed in such a way that the connecting means engage in different fiber orientations of the connected wooden components. [5] Gusset plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the gusset plate is designed to connect more than two wooden components at a common node. [6] Gusset plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the structural design of the gusset plate is independent of absolute dimensions and the design can be adapted to different wood cross-sections. [7] Gusset plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the function of the gusset plate is determined by the geometric design of the base body and the arrangement of the through-openings, and not by specific dimensions. [8] Gusset plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the gusset plate is intended for the formation of nodes in temporary or permanent support structures in the building area.