Article for connecting laterally spaced beams

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the other drawings and more particularly to FIG.
2 thereof, there is shown an embodiment of the present invention for use with a gable overhang 19 of a similar roof 20.
An article 21 in accordance with the invention is positioned between rafters 23a and 23b.
This article has an outside spanning member 25 which extends between the rafters 23a and 23b; a cross-web member 27 (FIG.
3) which connects perpendicularly to the outside spanning member 25; inside clasping members 29 in contact with inner surfaces 31a and 31b of the rafters 23a and 23b, respectively; and outside clasping members 33a and 33b extending perpendicularly from the outside spanning member 25 and contacting outer surfaces 35a and 35b of the rafters 23a and 23b, respectively.
An inside spanning member 28 extends perpendicularly from the cross-web member 27.
The cross-web member 27 and the outside clasping members 33 are connected to the outside spanning member 25 so as to define channels 39 (FIGS.
3, 4 and 5) for receiving the beams 23.
Holes 37a and b, adapted for receiving fasteners, are located on the inside clasping members 29 and on the outside clasping members 33.
In operation, the article 21 is positioned between the rafters 23 and receives portions of the rafters 23 into the channels 39 (FIG.
3).
Upper surfaces 41 of the beams 23 received into the channels 39 are almost coplanar with the upper surface of the outside spanning member 25 (neglecting the thickness of the outside spanning member 25, which is not very great considering that it is manufactured from sheet metal).
This allows for flat portions of roofs, floors, or other structures to be positioned substantially flush against both the interconnected rafters 23 and the outside spanning member 25 of the article as shown for the roof 20 of FIG.
2.
Since the cross-web member 27 and inside clasping members 29 abut the inner rafter surfaces 31, they act to resist flexion of the rafters in a lateral, inward direction (i.
e.
, toward each other)