1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a standoff connector for use in supporting a wood structural member.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known to those skilled in the art that wood structural members, for example, wood post members, must be raised above concrete surfaces that are subject to wetting. It is conventional to use a standoff connector of some type as a base for such installations. A typical standoff connector includes a base plate (with means for supporting attachment of the base plate to an underlying substrate such as a concrete surface) and at least one pair of laterally spaced apart stirrup members mounted to and extending upwardly from the base plate. The base plate is provided with a thickness in accordance with commercial and residential building codes, typically of between one-half to one inch, to ensure that any wood structural member supported by the standoff connector is attached is sufficiently spaced above the underlying substrate.
For installation, the base plate is first secured to the underlying substrate. A bottom surface of the wood structural member is then placed between the pair of laterally spaced apart stirrup members in a position resting on a top surface of the base plate. The stirrup members are arranged against side surfaces of the received wood structural member. Mounting devices, such as screws or bolts, are then driven through the stirrup members, for example through openings provided therein, to pass into (and perhaps through) the wood structural member. The wood structural member is thus secured to the standoff connector, with the standoff connector secured to the underlying substrate. The thickness of the base plate separates the bottom surface of the wood structural member from the underlying substrate.
There are a number of drawbacks experienced with use of the conventional standoff connector described above. The standoff connector is typically formed of galvanized steel and has a utilitarian appearance driven by its functional configuration. In most applications, it is preferred that such a standoff connector not be visible. It is thus typical for some form of finish carpentry to be used to conceal the standoff connector from view. For example, the finish carpentry may box or case around the standoff connector with wood trim pieces of a type similar to, or complementary of the supported wood structural member. There is accordingly an added cost to use of the standoff connector that is associated with the need to hide the connector itself.
What is needed is a standoff connector which provides the standoff and structural member support functions but is configured to present an attractive appearance obviating the need for finish concealment.
In accordance with an embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a base member having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, wherein each of the first and second edges includes an extending tab member; and a plurality of attachable stirrup plate members, each stirrup plate member including a bottom portion with at least one slot sized and shaped to receive the extending tab member when said attachable stirrup plate members are attached to the first and second edges of the base member.
In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a base member having a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a first projection extending at said first edge; and a second projection extending at said second edge; a first stirrup plate member selectably attachable to the base member at said first edge, the first stirrup plate member including an aperture sized and shaped to receive the first projection; and a second stirrup plate member selectably attachable to the base member at said second edge, the second stirrup plate member including an aperture sized and shaped to receive the second projection.