The disclosure herein relates generally to permanent roof truss ties and support system. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a device to facilitate the deployment of a series of roof trusses in a stable, rapid, precise, and reliable manner which results in stronger overall roof construction.
Roof trusses, or engineered roof systems, are an essential part of any wood frame residential or commercial building project involving pitched roof designs. Roof trusses provide the structural framework necessary to support the weight and pitch of a roof. Roof trusses come in a variety of construction designs, but all carry the same essential requirement of substantially even spacing between adjacent trusses. Such spacing is required for later construction stages where the roof will be sheeted with plywood or other sheeting material.
Modern-day roof trusses are identified by two primary portions of a truss, the chords, and the webs. Chords form the larger outline shape of the roof truss, with the web working to support the chords from the interior of the truss. Of the chords, there are top chords and bottom chords. The top chords form the pitch of the roof and will tie to the roof sheeting material. The bottom chords form the lower span on the bottom of the truss and will tie into the top plate of a wall. Commonly, the tie in point of the roof truss and the wall will constitute a bearing point and they are generally located to the outer edge of the truss.
A variety of methods may be employed to install roof trusses and ensure proper placement of the truss which ensures adequate support of the roof. Common methods of installation include spacing blocks or measurement layouts. Blocks are nailed to the prior installed truss which is pre-cut to aid in ensuring that proper spacing is maintained as each subsequent truss is tipped upright and nailed into place, said method is labor-intensive. Alternatively, measurement layouts require a worker to physically mark the top plate of a wall with a tape measure and markers which are prone to error.
Accordingly, truss installation can be dangerous since access to the truss by workers is limited, the working area tends to be well above ground level, and the trusses are heavy and awkward to move. The trusses may move or even fall while being manipulated by the workers. Because of the associated danger, getting even and substantially precise spacing between rafter segments can be challenging. To achieve precision placement of trusses during construction, workers commonly place themselves in danger trying to reach a more desirable working vantage point.
What is needed is a spacing system that eliminates the need for spacing blocks or other truss installation methods, is inexpensive to use, and is designed to ensure precise spacing between each truss. Such a truss tie would reduce hazards posed to construction workers installing the roof trusses and would be simple to install and manufacture thereby passing cost savings from reduced installation and manufacturing times onto the consumers.
This disclosure herein may relate to the use of a permanent spacing beam for the rapid deployment of roofing trusses on-site. Such permanent spacing beams and truss ties may further be described as having a mount end, a retention end, and an elongate portion which spans the distance between the mount end and the retention end. The mount end may have a mount slot, a mount member, and a support flange. Accordingly, the support flange may be folded laterally with respect to the elongate portion and the mount member may additionally be folded vertically with respect to the elongate portion. The mount slot may be additionally be defined as being disposed between the mount member and the support flange. The mount slot may be configured to permanently mount to a first truss member stud.
The retention end may have a retention slot, a guide flange, and a stop flange. The guide flange may further have a leading edge and a back stop edge. The retention slot may additionally be defined as being disposed between the stop flange and the back stop edge. The retention slot may be further configured to permanently couple with an adjacent truss member stud with the leading edge configured to guide a portion of the adjacent truss member into the retention slot.
The mount end may further have a plurality of first retention apertures and the retention end may further have a plurality of second retention apertures. The permanent spacing beam may be constructed from any plastic or any metal. The permanent spacing beam may be configured for permanent installation in home construction and under a roof sheet material. The elongate member, the retention end, and the mount end may further comprise a plurality of utility apertures which may be configured for the attachment of utilities to the permanent spacing beam and under a roof sheet material.
The distance between the mount slot and the retention slot may be configured so that conventional on center framing can be maintained for 16 inches and 24 inches of truss spacing.
Further advantages of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding features throughout the several views. Further, described herein are certain non-limiting embodiments of a permanent spacer beam 100 for installation with trusses 200.
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Retention end 104 may flex over previously installed adjacent truss timber stud 201 or member thereof such that retention slot 124 may engage with adjacent truss 200 as previously described. To aid in this engagement, stop flange 112 may extend, in a downward direction relative to the installation of truss 200, past extension of guide flange 112 such that an edge of stop flange 112 may catch truss 200 during installation. Mount slot 120 and retention slot 124 may be gapped such that permanent spacer beam 100 may engage with lumber commonly sized by standard measures known in the construction industry, for example, lumber measuring in cross-section of approximately 1.5×3.5-inches known as “2×4” or approximately measuring about 1.5×5.5-inches known as 2″×6″ or other standard size such as 3.5-inches×3.5-inches also known as 4″ by 4″. Retention slot 124 may be defined as being a space between stop flange 112 and back stop edge 113. Mount slot 120 may be defined as being a space between retention tang 116 and support flange 118 (shown in
Having disclosed the structure of the preferred embodiments, it is now possible to describe its function, operation, and use. Permanent spacer beam 100 may be utilized during placement of truss 200 to locate an adjacent truss 200 at a predetermined distance and to secure each subsequent truss 200 in place next to each previous truss 200. In this manner, the next trust 200 is placed, located again by means of permanent spacer beam 100. Each time a truss 200 has been located by permanent spacer beam 100, the permanent spacer beam 100 and truss 200 may be secured together by applying fasteners 122 through a retention aperture 108. This may save time and costs for the builder.
The permanent spacer beam 100 may be installed during construction of the roof, which is comprised of a multitude of trusses 200 at equal distances, for example, 24-inches on center. Installation of truss 200 may occur by moving truss 200 into place with permanent spacer beam 100 pre-secured to mount end 102 as depicted in
As a truss 200 is lifted into place next to an adjacent truss 200, guide flange 110 will engage with the previously installed, and adjacent truss 200. Guide flange 110 may guide retention end 104 up and over adjacent truss 200 and may engage with adjacent truss 200 at retention slot 124 as shown in
Further to guide flange 110, said guide flange 110 may form a ramp for positioning of truss 200 needing to be installed. A feature that encourages rapid and easy positioning of the adjacent truss to retention slot 124 is that guide flange 110 maintains an acute angle from the perspective of the end of mount end 102 of permanent spacer beam 100, thus, as shown in
Stop flange 112 may further aid in ensuring that permanent spacer beam 100 does not move beyond adjacent truss 200 by way of having a height greater than that of guide flange 110. As illustrated in
Further, it should be particularly pointed out that retention slot 124 and mount slot 120 may engage with a chord of a truss 200, a web of a truss 200, or a multiplicity of chords and/or webs of the same truss 200. More than one permanent spacer beam 100 may be installed per truss 200, or a singular permanent spacer beam 100 may be installed per truss 200.
Prior to lifting truss 200 into position, permanent spacer beam 100 may be installed to retention tang 116 in mount slot 120. Specifically, mount slot 120 is defined as being a space between retention tang 116 and support flange 118. The permanent spacer beam 100 may be attached to truss 200 prior to the installation of truss 200 by way of attachment means already discussed. The attachment utilizes the retention aperture 108 for securing truss 200 to permanent spacer beam 100. Retention aperture 108 may aid to fixedly retain truss 200 in mount slot 120. Once secured, the permanent spacer beam 100 may be stable and cannot move or fall from truss 200 as installation proceeds. After installation of all necessary trusses 200 for the project, permanent spacer beam 100 may remain in place and become permanent features in the construction design.
As mentioned, an important aspect of permanent spacer beam 100 may be the ease of achieving required truss spacing 202 for builders. Because permanent spacer beam 100 may be manufactured to any length desired, any spacing may be achieved for final installation with no requirement for the builder to perform prior layout of truss positioning. For example, if a builder so desired 24″ spacing on center for truss 200 layout, permanent spacer beam 100 may be manufactured such that this spacing is achieved, the same is true for any other desired spacing. Permanent spacer beam 100 may typically be manufactured by die stamping in conventional machining operations. The metal used for fabrication may be comprised of 16-gauge sheet metal, galvanized steel, or other metal which may offer sufficient strength and rigidity to retain the trusses in position and resist unwanted movement. Said metal may further offer a resilient bias along the length of permanent spacer beam 100 and specifically near mount end 102 and retention end 104 such that engagement of retention slot 124 with truss 200 may readily occur.
An additional distinguishing feature of permanent spacer beam 100 is the inclusion of optional utility apertures 114 for hanging utility lines, air conditioning lines, electric lines, internet conduit, or other applicable utility above or near the top plate of the wall and the bottom chord of the truss that is being installed. While optional, utility aperture 114 facilitates ease of construction and further minimizes the time a worker must be among the trusses and in uncomfortable and dangerous areas. As such, additional costs incurred by permanent spacer beam 100 may be compensated for with greater safety, speed of installation, and ease of constructing the roof.
The permanent spacing beam may further be described as potentially comprising a mount end 102, a retention end 104, and an elongate portion 106 which may be disposed between the mount end 102 and the retention end 104. The mount end 102 may further have a mount slot 120, a mount member 116, and a support flange 118. Accordingly, the support flange 118 may be folded laterally at a 90-degree angle with respect to the elongate portion 106 and the mount member 116 may additionally be folded vertically at a 90-degree angle with respect to the elongate portion 106. The mount slot 120 may be additionally defined as being disposed between the mount member 116 and the support flange 118. The mount slot 120 may be configured to permanently mount to a first truss member stud 200.
The retention end 104 may have a retention slot 124, a guide flange 110, and a stop flange 112, the guide flange 110 may further have a leading edge 111 and a back stop edge 113. The retention slot 124 may additionally be defined as being disposed between the stop flange 112 and the back stop edge 113. The retention slot 124 may be further configured to permanently couple with an adjacent truss member stud 201 with the leading edge 111 potentially being configured to guide a portion of the adjacent truss member 201 into the retention slot 124.
The mount end 102 may further have a plurality of first retention apertures 108 and the retention end may further have a plurality of second retention apertures 109. The permanent spacing beam 100 may be constructed from any plastic or any metal. The permanent spacing beam 100 may be configured for permanent installation in home construction and under a roof sheet material 300. The elongate member 106, the retention end 104, and the mount end 102 may further comprise a plurality of utility apertures which may be configured for the attachment of utilities 400 to the permanent spacing beam 100 and under a roof sheet material 400.
The distance between the mount slot 120 and the retention slot 124 may be configured so that conventional on center framing can be maintained for 16 inches of truss spacing 202. Alternatively, the distance between the mount slot 120 and the retention slot 124 may be configured so that conventional on center framing can be maintained for 24 inches of truss spacing 202.
Additional embodiments of a permanent spacing beam 100 may comprise a mount end 102 which may have a mount slot 120, a mount member 116 and a one or more than one support flange 118. The mount member 116 may have one or more than one first retention aperture 108. The one or more than one support flange 118 may have a lateral 90 degree angle with respect to the elongate portion 106, the mount member 116 may also have a vertical 90 degree angle with respect to the elongate portion 106.
The mount end 102 may be configured to envelop a first truss timber stud 200 in the mount slot 120 with the mount slot 120 being further defined as disposed between the mount member 116 and the one or more than one support flange 118. The one or more than one second retention aperture 109 may be configured to receive a fastener 302 such that the fastener 302 may fasten the first truss timber stud 200 to the mount slot 120.
The retention end 104 may have a retention slot 124, a one or more than one guide flange 110, a one or more than one stop flange 112, and a one or more than one second retention aperture 109. The each guide flange 110 may further have a leading edge 111 and a back stop edge 113. The retention slot 124 may be further defined as being disposed between the stop flange 112 and the back stop edge 113.
Seen in
While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited except by the appended claims. Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/863,035 filed Jun. 18, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference in their entireties for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
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