Patent attributes
A U-shaped connector (10) for connecting together abutting or adjoining timber elements includes a stem portion extending between two kinked spike portions (14,16) with each spike portion (14,16) extending in a common direction from the stem portion. Each kinked spike portion (14,16) is comprised of four straight portions (15,18,20,22 and 17,19,21,23) of equal length joined end-to-end, with each straight portion extending at an angle to its adjacent portion. Distal ends (24,25) of each tip portion (22,23) are sharpened and splayed wider than the stem portion. On installation, the flexibility of connector (10) is sufficient to provide a compressive force to the abutting faces of the timbers being joined with the kinked spike portions (14,16) moving outwards away from each other so as to increase the connector's pull out resistance.
