[0001] The present invention relates to a truss, and in particular to a truss which can
be employed as a crossbar or portion of arc in the supporting structures of the movable
coverings.
[0002] Known trusses comprise a pair of horizontal beams connected by means of a reticulated
structure comprising a plurality of diagonal bars. The beams and the diagonal bars
are generally made up of metal sections welded to each other. In particular, one or
both beams include substantially rectangular metal sections whereby it is necessary
to weld to the beams pairs of vertical metal plates or U-shaped portions of metal
sections in order to contain laterally and to properly weld the ends of the diagonal
bars, thus reinforcing the truss. The welding of these reinforcing members to the
beams obviously increases the manufacturing time and cost of the truss, while decreasing
its aesthetic value.
[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a truss which is free
from said disadvantages. Said object is achieved with a truss, the main features of
which are disclosed in the first claim and other features are disclosed in the subsequent
claims.
[0004] Thanks to the particular longitudinal groove of the beams, the diagonal bars can
be directly introduced and fixed therein, so that the truss according to the present
invention can be obtained in a simple and resistant way without the help of said reinforcing
members. Furthermore, with this arrangement, the diagonal bars can be simply cut at
right angle, since their joint with the beams is carried out through the side walls,
thereby reducing the surfaces to be mutually welded, with a consequent reduction of
manufacturing times and costs.
[0005] Another advantage of the truss according to the present invention is its better aesthetic
appearance thanks to the hiding of the ends of the diagonal bars.
[0006] Further advantages and features of the truss according to the present invention will
be clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting
description of an embodiment thereof with respect to the attached drawings, wherein:
- figure 1 shows a partial front view of the truss according to said embodiment; and
- figure 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the truss of figure 1 according
to plane II-II of figure 1.
[0007] Referring to said figures, there is seen that the truss according to the present
embodiment of the invention comprises in a known way a pair of beams 1 connected by
means of a reticulated structure comprising a plurality of diagonal bars 2 arranged
so as to form a series of triangular openings.
[0008] According to the invention, one or both beams 1 consist of metal sections which have
a cross-section, for example with a substantially rectangular shape, with the surface
1 a facing the diagonal bars 2 provided with a longitudinal groove 1b having a substantially
rectangular cross-section. The width of groove 1b is substantially equal to the width
of the diagonal bars 2, so that the ends of the latter can be introduced in groove
1b and easily fixed therein, in particular by means of weldings 3 or bolts passing
through holes formed along axis 4.
[0009] In the present embodiment, the cross-section of the diagonal bars 2 is substantially
rectangular, but it is clear that in other embodiments it could be different, e.g.
U-shaped. Moreover, in this embodiment the angles between a diagonal bar 2 and the
adjacent bars are substantially right, whereas the angles between bars 2 and beams
1 may change according to the specific strength requirements.
[0010] In other embodiments of the invention, beams 1 could be not straight but rather curved,
so that the resulting truss is also curved and can be used as a portion of a semicircular
arc for coverings, for example of sports fields or protective coverings.
[0011] Possible additions and/or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to
the above-described and illustrated embodiment, yet without departing from the scope
of the invention
1. Truss comprising a pair of beams (1) connected by means of a reticulated structure
comprising a plurality of diagonal bars (2), characterized in that one or both beams (1) consist of a metal section provided with a longitudinal groove
(1b) facing the diagonal bars (2) and having a substantially rectangular cross-section,
the width of said groove (1b) being substantially equal to the width of the diagonal
bars (2) so that the ends of the latter can be introduced and fixed in the groove.
2. Truss according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ends of the diagonal bars (2) are fixed in the longitudinal groove (1b) of the
beams (1) by means of weldings (3).
3. Truss according to claim 1, characterized in that the ends of the diagonal bars (2) are fixed in the longitudinal groove (1b of the
beams (1) by means of bolts.
4. Truss according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angles between a diagonal bar (2) and the adjacent bars are substantially right.
5. Truss according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beams (1) are curved.
