Gable Restraint Bracket for Timber-to-Masonry Wind Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of securely connecting a timber gable to a masonry wall to transfer wind forces while avoiding undesirable loads on surrounding timbers and trusses in building construction.

Innovation Solution

A restraint bracket with timber and masonry engaging portions that are upstanding from a base plate, allowing for secure attachment of a gable panel to a masonry block and a timber member, transferring loads efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional restraint straps are twisted into position to attach a gable end panel, then the gable panel can be attached to the wall head, but undesirable loads are placed on the surrounding timbers and trusses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidload on surrounding timbers and trusses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The restraint bracket acts as an intermediary device between the gable panel and the wall head. It features a timber engaging portion that interfaces with the wall plate or truss plate, and a masonry engaging portion that interfaces with the masonry block, thereby mediating the connection and distributing loads appropriately without overloading surrounding timbers and trusses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a timber gable is used instead of a masonry gable, then construction speed increases and safety issues are reduced, but secure connection to the masonry wall becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction speedVSAvoidconnection security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The restraint bracket is segmented into distinct functional portions: a base plate for positioning, a timber engaging portion for connecting to the wall plate or truss plate, and a masonry engaging portion for connecting to the masonry block. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function, ensuring secure connection while maintaining construction efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The restraint bracket is designed to interface with both timber (wall plate or truss plate) and masonry (masonry block), effectively creating a composite connection system that bridges the two different materials and ensures secure attachment of the timber gable to the masonry wall

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If the timber engaging portion and masonry engaging portion are both formed by bending, then manufacturing is simpler, but the timber engaging portion may not provide sufficient grip

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidgrip strength on timber
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The restraint bracket employs different forming methods for different portions: the masonry engaging portion is formed by bending to provide a smooth surface for masonry contact, while the timber engaging portion is formed by pressing to create a textured or deformed surface that provides enhanced grip on the timber wall plate or truss plate. This local differentiation of quality ensures optimal performance for each material interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4269714B1Restraint bracket
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP4269714B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4269714B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4269714B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a gable restraint bracket for receiving a masonry block and a timber member comprising a timber engaging portion and a masonry engaging portion upstanding from a base plate configured to engage the upper surface of a brick in a course of bricks forming a wall head, the timber engaging portion upstanding from a surface of the base plate and the masonry engaging portion upstanding from another surface of the base plate. The timber engaging portion is initially integral with the base plate, having been formed out of the plane of the base plate in the formation of the restraint bracket. The invention also relates to a roofing system comprising a gable restraint bracket according to the invention.