TRUSS BRACKET

Abstract

The truss bracket may comprise a first side plate, a second side plate, and one or more web plates. The first side plate may be coupled to the second side plate by the web plates such that the first side plate is parallel to the second side plate. The truss bracket may join two or more coplanar timber elements in a predefined orientation at a joint of a roofing truss. The truss bracket may be operable to align the timber elements, to limit insertion distance of timber elements, to establish a pitch of a roof made from the roofing trusses, to hide an end face of the timber elements, or combinations thereof. The timber elements may be coupled using embodiments of the truss bracket. The truss bracket may aid in the rapid construction of a plurality of the roofing trusses in a consistent, reproducible manner.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of roofing systems, more specifically, a truss bracket.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The truss bracket may comprise a first side plate, a second side plate, and one or more web plates. The first side plate may be coupled to the second side plate by the web plates such that the first side plate is parallel to the second side plate. The truss bracket may join two or more coplanar timber elements in a predefined orientation at a joint of a roofing truss. The truss bracket may be operable to align the timber elements, to limit insertion distance of timber elements, to establish a pitch of a roof made from the roofing trusses, to hide an end face of the timber elements, or combinations thereof. The timber elements may be coupled using embodiments of the truss bracket. The truss bracket may aid in the rapid construction of a plurality of the roofing trusses in a consistent, reproducible manner.

An object of the invention is to couple two or more coplanar timber elements at a joint of a roofing truss.

Another object of the invention is to retain each of the timber elements in a predefined position and orientation relative to the other timber elements of the joint.

A further object of the invention is to provide a truss bracket that may orient at least one of the timber elements at an oblique angle to at last one other timber element of the joint.

Yet another object of the invention is to contain the truss bracket and the joined timber elements within two parallel boundary planes that are coincide with the outermost faces of the truss bracket.

These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the truss bracket will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the truss bracket in detail, it is to be understood that the truss bracket is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the truss bracket.

It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the truss bracket. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a roofing truss constructed from multiple embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a corner bracket.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a corner bracket.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a corner bracket.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a corner bracket.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a corner bracket.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure across 7-7 as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a center bracket.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a center bracket.

FIG. 10 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a center bracket.

FIG. 11 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a center bracket.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a top bracket.

FIG. 13 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a top bracket.

FIG. 14 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a top bracket.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a top bracket.

FIG. 16 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a top bracket.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a mid chord bracket.

FIG. 18 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a mid chord bracket.

FIG. 19 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a mid chord bracket.

FIG. 20 is a left side view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a mid chord bracket.

FIG. 21 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a mid chord bracket.

FIG. 22 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a first boundary plane and a second boundary plane.

FIG. 23A is an in-use detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a corner bracket used in a roofing truss.

FIG. 23B is an in-use detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a center bracket used in a roofing truss.

FIG. 23C is an in-use detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a top bracket used in a roofing truss.

FIG. 23D is an in-use detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating a mid chord bracket used in a roofing truss.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the word “or” is intended to be inclusive.

Detailed reference will now be made to a first potential embodiment of the disclosure, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 23D.

The truss bracket 100 (hereinafter invention) comprises a first side plate 200, a second side plate 210, and one or more web plates 220. The first side plate 200 may be coupled to the second side plate 210 by the one or more web plates 220 such that the first side plate 200 is parallel to the second side plate 210. The invention 100 may join two or more coplanar timber elements 900 at a joint of a roofing truss such that the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 may be retained in a predefined orientation. The predefined orientation may vary based upon the position of the joint on the roofing truss. The invention 100 may be operable to align the two or more coplanar timber elements 900, to limit insertion distance of an individual timber element selected from the two or more coplanar timber elements 900, to establish a pitch of a roof made from the roofing trusses, to hide an end face of one or more of the individual timber elements, or combinations thereof. As a non-limiting example, the roofing truss may be a rigid structure constructed by arranging the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 into an open framework while the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 are lying in a horizontal orientation. The two or more coplanar timber elements 900 may be coupled using embodiments of the invention 100. The roofing truss may then be rotated to a vertical orientation for installation on a building. The roofing truss may be replicated multiple times and used to provide distributed support for the roof. The invention 100 may aid in the rapid construction of a plurality of the roofing trusses where each of the roofing trusses requires joining of the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 in a consistent, reproducible manner.

Throughout this document, reference directions may be stated in terms of the roofing truss being in a vertical orientation as the roofing truss would be when installed on the roof. Front may refer to the side of the roofing truss corresponding to the positions of the first side plates 200 of the brackets and rear may refer to the side of the roofing truss corresponding to the positions of the second side plates 210 of the brackets. Left and right may refer to the viewer's left and right when standing in front of the roofing truss and facing the roofing truss. The top and bottom of the roofing truss are the upper and lower boundaries of the roofing truss as installed, respectively.

The various faces of the individual timber element may be referred as a front face, a rear face, end faces, and side faces. Specifically, the face of the individual timber element that contacts the first side plate 200 may be referred to as the front face of the individual timber element. The face of the individual timber element that contacts the second side plate 210 may be referred to as the rear face of the individual timber element. The smallest faces of the individual timber element may be referred to as the end faces of the individual timber element. The two remaining faces of the individual timber element that are not the front face, the rear face, or the end faces may be referred to as the side faces of the individual timber element.

The first side plate 200 may be a rigid plate that couples to the front faces of the two or more coplanar timber elements 900. The second side plate 210 may be a rigid plate that couples to the rear faces of the two or more coplanar timber elements 900. In some embodiments, the first side plate 200 and the second side plate 210 may be identical in size and shape. In some embodiments, the invention 100 may be operable to retain at least two of the two or more coplanar timer elements 900 to form an oblique angle between the at least two of the two or more coplanar timber elements 900.

The first side plate 200 may comprise a first plurality of fastener apertures 202. The second side plate 210 may comprise a second plurality of fastener apertures 212. The first side plate 200 and the second side plate 210 may couple to the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 using a plurality of fasteners 940 that pass through the first plurality of fastener apertures 202 and the second plurality of fastener apertures 212, respectively. As non-limiting examples, the plurality of fasteners 940 may comprise bolts, nuts, lock washers, flat washers, screws, nails, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, a one-to-one correspondence may exist between the positions of the first plurality of fastener apertures 202 on the first side plate 200 and the positions of the second plurality of fastener apertures 212 on the second side plate 210 such that a path may exist for an individual fastener to pass through one of the first plurality of fastener apertures 202, through one of the two or more coplanar timber elements 900, and through one of the second plurality of fastener apertures 212. As a non-limiting example, the one-to-one correspondence may exist between the first plurality of fastener apertures 202 and the second plurality of fastener apertures 212 such that an individual bolt may pass through one of the first plurality of fastener apertures 202, through one of the two or more coplanar timber elements 900, and through one of the second plurality of fastener apertures 212. An individual nut may then couple to the individual bolt to retain the individual bolt.

The one or more web plates 220 may couple to both the first side plate 200 and the second side plate 210 such that the one or more web plates 220 may establish a spacing between the first side plate 200 and the second side plate 210. An individual web plate selected from the one or more web plates 220 may be a rigid plate that couples to the first side plate 200 and the second side plate 210 along opposing edges of the individual web plate. As a non-limiting example, the individual web plate may be welded to the first side plate 200 and to the second side plate 210. Each of the one or more web plates 220 may be perpendicular to the first side plate 200 and to the second side plate 210.

The one or more web plates 220 may be contained entirely between a first boundary plane 214 defined to be coplanar with the front of the first side plate 200 and a second boundary plane 216 defined to be coplanar with the rear of the second side plate 210. The two or more coplanar timber elements 900 that are joined using the invention 100 may be contained entirely between the first boundary plane 214 and the second boundary plane 216.

In some embodiments, one or more of the individual web plates may be bent into a non-planar shape such that the bent web plate may contact more than one of the coplanar timber elements that are joined by the invention 100.

In some embodiments, the invention 100 may be operable to couple the joint of the roofing truss when the invention 100 is populated with less than a full complement of timber elements. As used herein, ‘the full complement of timber elements’ may refer to the maximum number of timber elements that an embodiment of the invention 100 was designed to join together at a single joint. As a non-limiting example, a center bracket 260 at the bottom center of the roofing truss shown in FIG. 1 may be designed to join five timber elements—two horizontally, one vertically, and two at oblique angles to the others. However, in some construction projects it may be possible to safely construct the truss without the vertical timber element or without the two obliquely angled timber elements, thus saving cost without requiring additional bracket part numbers to be available.

In some embodiments, the invention 100 may be used as a pair of brackets with one bracket of the pair rotated by 180 degrees around a vertical axis. As a non-limiting example, the bracket used at heels 930 on the left side of the roofing truss and on the right side of the roofing truss in FIG. 1 may be identical with the bracket on the right rotated by 180 degrees. When a bracket is rotated by 180 degrees, the terminology of the front, rear, left, and right may change to reflect the new orientation of the bracket with the former front becoming the new rear, the former rear becoming the new front, the former left becoming the new right, and the former right becoming the new left.

The orientation of the individual timber element that is retained by the invention 100 may be determined by the location and orientation of the one or more web plates 220, by the location and orientation of other timber elements that are retained by the invention 100, by the placement of the first plurality of fastener apertures 202 and the second plurality of fastener apertures 212, or by combinations thereof. The invention 100 may align the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 by virtue of the fact that the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 may be held in place by the plurality of fasteners 940 that pass through the first plurality of fastener apertures 202 and the second plurality of fastener apertures 212 and by virtue of the fact that one or more of the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 may be adjacent to and aligned by the one or more web plates 220. The invention 100 may limit insertion distance of a first timber element 901 into the joint by virtue of the fact that one of the individual web plates or a second timber element 902 may interfere with the insertion of the first timber element 901 into the joint. The invention 100 may establish the pitch of a roof made from the roofing truss by virtue of the fact that at least one of the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 comprising the roofing truss may be oriented at an oblique angle relative to horizontal. The invention 100 may hide the end of the individual timber elements by virtue of the fact that the end of the individual timber elements may be obscured by the first side plate 200 and the second side plate 210, the individual web plates, another timber element, or combinations thereof.

The following may be non-limiting examples of embodiments of the invention 100 to illustrate various predefined orientations of the two or more coplanar timber elements 900.

In some embodiments, the invention 100 may retain a first timber element 901, a second timber element 902, and a third timber element 903 to form a corner bracket 250. The corner bracket 250 may be used at the heel 930 of the roofing truss where a top chord 920, a bottom chord 922, and a vertical column 928 meet. The first timber element 901 may be the vertical column 928, the second timber element 902 may be the bottom chord 922, and the third timber element 903 may be the top chord 920. The corner bracket 250 may retain the first timber element 901 in a vertical orientation. The corner bracket 250 may retain the second timber element 902 horizontally with an end of the second timber element 902 positioned adjacent to an end of the first timber element 901. The corner bracket 250 may retain the third timber element 903 above the second timber element 902 at an oblique angle to the second timber element 902. The corner bracket 250 may be operable to retain the third timber element 903 extending in both lateral directions from the corner bracket 250.

In some embodiments, the invention 100 may retain a first timber element 901, a second timber element 902, a third timber element 903, a fourth timber element 904, and a fifth timber element 905 to form a center bracket 260. The center bracket 260 may be used at the bottom center of the roofing truss where bottom chords 922 meet with a king post 924 and webs 926. The first timber element 901 and the second timber element 902 may be the bottom chords 922. The third timber element 903 may be the king post 924. The fourth timber element 904 and the fifth timber element 905 may be the webs 926. The center bracket 260 may retain the first timber element 901 and the second timber element 902 aligned with each other in a horizontal orientation. The center bracket 260 may retain the third timber element 903 in a vertical orientation centered above the ends of the first timber element 901 and the second timber element 902. The center bracket 260 may retain the fourth timber element 904 at a first oblique angle 290 relative to the first timber element 901 and radiating from the junction of the first timber element 901, the second timber element 902, and the third timber element 903. The center bracket 260 may retain the fourth timber element 904 at a second oblique angle 292 relative to the second timber element 902 and radiating from the junction of the first timber element 901, the second timber element 902, and the third timber element 903. The fourth timber element 904 and the fifth timber element 905 may radiate upward from the junction of the first timber element 901, the second timber element 902, and the third timber element 903 in opposite lateral directions. The first oblique angle 290 and the second oblique angle 292 may be congruent angles. In some embodiments, the first timber element 901 and second timber element 902 may be replaced by a single timber element that passes through the bottom of the center bracket 260 and extends in both lateral directions from the center bracket 260.

In some embodiments, the invention 100 may retain a first timber element 901, a second timber element 902, and a third timber element 903 to form a top bracket 270. The top bracket 270 may be used at the top center of the roofing truss where top chords 920 meet with a king post 924. The first timber element 901 may be the king post 924. The second timber element 902 and the third timber element 903 may be the top chords 920. The top bracket 270 may retain the first timber element 901 in a vertical orientation. The top bracket 270 may direct the second timber element 902 and the third timber element 903 in opposite directions at congruent oblique angles relative to horizontal. In some embodiments, a single web plate may be adjacent to the first timber element 901, the second timber element 902, and the third timber element 903. An end of the second timber element 902 may meet with an end of the third timber element 903 directly above the top end of the first timber element 901. In some embodiments, the ends of the first timber element 901 and the second timber element 902 that are inserted into the top bracket 270 may be mitered such that the ends may butt against each other along a vertically oriented plane.

In some embodiments, the invention 100 may retain a first timber element 901 and a second timber element 902 to form a mid chord bracket 280. The mid chord bracket 280 may be used to couple a top chord 920 and a web 926. The first timber element 901 may be the web 926 and the second timber element 902 may be the top chord 920. The mid chord bracket 280 may retain the first timber element 901 such that the mid chord bracket 280 is linearly aligned with the first timber element 901. The mid chord bracket 280 may retain the first timber element 901 to the second timber element 902 such that the first timber element 901 and the second timber element 902 form an oblique angle. The mid chord bracket 280 may be operable to retain the third timber element 903 extending in both directions from the mid chord bracket 280. In some embodiments, the upper ends of the first side plate 200 and the second side plate 210 may be mitered to prevent the first side plate 200 and the second side plate 210 from extending beyond the second timber element 902.

In use, a roofing truss may be constructed by joining two or more coplanar timber elements 900 using embodiments of the invention 100. As non-limiting examples: A corner bracket 250 may be used on either side of the roofing truss to join a vertical column 928, a bottom chord 922, and a top chord 920. A center bracket 260 may be used at the bottom center of the roofing truss to join two of the bottom chord 922, a king post 924, and two webs 926. A top bracket 270 may be used at the top center of the roofing truss to join the king post 924 and two of the top chords 920. A mid chord bracket 280 may be used at two positions along the top chords 920 to join the top chord 920 to the web 926. A plurality of fasteners 940 may be used to retain the two or more coplanar timber elements 900 within the brackets.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in FIGS. 1 through 23D, include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention.

It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A truss bracket comprising: a first side plate, a second side plate, and one or more web plates;wherein the first side plate is coupled to the second side plate by the one or more web plates such that the first side plate is parallel to the second side plate;wherein the truss bracket joins two or more coplanar timber elements at a joint of a roofing truss such that the two or more coplanar timber elements are retained in a predefined orientation;wherein the truss bracket is operable to align the two or more coplanar timber elements, to limit insertion distance of an individual timber element selected from the two or more coplanar timber elements, to establish a pitch of a roof made from the roofing trusses, to hide an end face of one or more of the individual timber elements, or combinations thereof.

2. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the first side plate is a rigid plate that couples to front faces of the two or more coplanar timber elements;wherein the second side plate is a rigid plate that couples to rear faces of the two or more coplanar timber elements.

3. The truss bracket according to claim 2wherein the first side plate and the second side plate are identical in size and shape.

4. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the truss bracket is operable to retain at least two of the two or more coplanar timber elements to form an oblique angle between the at least two of the two or more coplanar timber elements.

5. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the first side plate comprises a first plurality of fastener apertures;wherein the second side plate comprises a second plurality of fastener apertures;wherein the first side plate and the second side plate couple to the two or more coplanar timber elements using a plurality of fasteners that pass through the first plurality of fastener apertures and the second plurality of fastener apertures, respectively.

6. The truss bracket according to claim 5wherein a one-to-one correspondence exists between the positions of the first plurality of fastener apertures on the first side plate and the positions of the second plurality of fastener apertures on the second side plate such that a path exists for an individual fastener to pass through one of the first plurality of fastener apertures, through one of the two or more coplanar timber elements, and through one of the second plurality of fastener apertures.

7. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the one or more web plates couple to both the first side plate and the second side plate such that the one or more web plates establish a spacing between the first side plate and the second side plate;wherein an individual web plate selected from the one or more web plates is a rigid plate that couples to the first side plate and the second side plate along opposing edges of the individual web plate;wherein each of the one or more web plates are perpendicular to the first side plate and to the second side plate.

8. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the one or more web plates are contained entirely between a first boundary plane defined to be coplanar with the front of the first side plate and a second boundary plane defined to be coplanar with the rear of the second side plate.

9. The truss bracket according to claim 8wherein the two or more coplanar timber elements that are joined using the truss bracket are contained entirely between the first boundary plane and the second boundary plane.

10. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein one or more of the individual web plates are bent into a non-planar shape, forming a bent web plate, such that the bent web plate contacts more than one of the coplanar timber elements that are joined by the truss bracket.

11. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the truss bracket is operable to couple the joint of the roofing truss when the truss bracket is populated with less than a full complement of timber elements.

12. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the truss bracket is used as a pair of brackets with one bracket of the pair rotated by 180 degrees around a vertical axis.

13. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the truss bracket retains a first timber element, a second timber element, and a third timber element to form a corner bracket;wherein the corner bracket retains the first timber element in a vertical orientation;wherein the corner bracket retains the second timber element horizontally with an end of the second timber element positioned adjacent to an end of the first timber element;wherein the corner bracket retains the third timber element above the second timber element at an oblique angle to the second timber element.

14. The truss bracket according to claim 13wherein the corner bracket is operable to retain the third timber element extending in both lateral directions from the corner bracket.

15. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the truss bracket retains a first timber element, a second timber element, a third timber element, a fourth timber element, and a fifth timber element to form a center bracket;wherein the center bracket retains the first timber element and the second timber element aligned with each other in a horizontal orientation;wherein the center bracket retains the third timber element in a vertical orientation centered above the ends of the first timber element and the second timber element;wherein the center bracket retains the fourth timber element at a first oblique angle relative to the first timber element and radiating from the junction of the first timber element, the second timber element, and the third timber element;wherein the center bracket retains the fourth timber element at a second oblique angle relative to the second timber element and radiating from the junction of the first timber element, the second timber element, and the third timber element;wherein the fourth timber element and the fifth timber element radiate upward from the junction of the first timber element, the second timber element, and the third timber element in opposite lateral directions;wherein the first oblique angle and the second oblique angle are congruent angles.

16. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the truss bracket retains a first timber element, a second timber element, and a third timber element to form a top bracket;wherein the top bracket retains the first timber element in a vertical orientation;wherein the top bracket directs the second timber element and the third timber element in opposite directions at congruent oblique angles relative to horizontal.

17. The truss bracket according to claim 16wherein a single web plate is adjacent to the first timber element, the second timber element, and the third timber element;wherein an end of the second timber element meets with an end of the third timber element directly above the top end of the first timber element.

18. The truss bracket according to claim 16wherein the ends of the first timber element and the second timber element that are inserted into the top bracket are mitered such that the ends butt against each other along a vertically oriented plane.

19. The truss bracket according to claim 1wherein the truss bracket retains a first timber element and a second timber element to form a mid chord bracket;wherein the mid chord bracket couples to the first timber element such that the mid chord bracket is linearly aligned with the first timber element;wherein the mid chord bracket retains the first timber element to the second timber element such that the first timber element and the second timber element form an oblique angle;wherein the mid chord bracket is operable to retain the third timber element extending in both directions from the mid chord bracket.

20. The truss bracket according to claim 19wherein the upper ends of the first side plate and the second side plate are mitered to prevent the first side plate and the second side plate from extending beyond the second timber element.