Building frame member

Description

Background of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to a building frame member such as a roof truss or hip rafter.

[0002] Roof trusses generally comprise a bottom chord and at least one (and more commonly two or more) obliquely arranged top chord. A web defined by a plurality of web members extends between the bottom chord and the top chord. When the truss is installed in a building, some of the web members are subjected to compressive forces which can cause the web members to bend or flex out of the plane of the truss. The bending or flexing weakens the truss and can lead to total failure of the truss.

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 6,148,579 (Rolf) teaches a wood truss including web members with braces attached thereto. In one embodiment, the braces have side walls with integrally formed teeth for imbedding into front and/or back sides of the web members. In another embodiment, the braces are generally planar with extending sides walls and are embedded into the lateral sides of the web members.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 5,946,879 (Pellock) teaches a truss including web members with braces attached thereto. The braces have flanges with integrally formed teeth embedded into front or back sides of the web members.

[0005] In order to prevent the web members from bending or flexing, web members are reinforced in a number of different ways. One method is to tie the web members together. Other methods use a reinforcing member, such as a brace. However, conventional methods of reinforcing the truss make truss manufacture more difficult, particularly when the truss is formed in a semi-automated fashion. For example, some reinforcing members have integral, punched teeth for attaching to web members. The teeth are pressed into web members by a floating press, i.e., a clamp suspended from an overhead carriage for movement between several splice pedestals supporting the web members and chords in assembled position. Unfortunately, it takes substantial time for an operator to attach the reinforcing members. The teeth require multiple, repetitive press cycles by the floating press at each of several positions along the reinforcing member. Further, it can be difficult or impossible for operators to reach the press into positions at the interior of the truss. An additional difficulty is that a portion of each reinforcing member typically extends beyond the confines of the truss. Because the reinforcing member is attached to a side of the web member which faces out of the plane of the truss, it extends to a thickness greater than a thickness of the truss. Consequently, the reinforcing member interferes with stacking or nesting of assembled web members and completed trusses during handling and transportation. Further, the reinforcing member is subject to being crushed.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a building frame member which is suitably reinforced with minimum disruption to the normal manufacturing process, particularly if a floating press-type system is used to form the frame member; the provision of a brace secured to a web member by a separate fastener such that the web member can be manufactured in the normal fashion and the brace simply connected in a separate operation which does not interfere with the construction of the frame member; and the provision of a brace which is entirely within the confines of the truss.

[0007] Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structural truss comprising a plurality of structural members arranged in a configuration defining a plane; a web including at least one web member extending between two structural members within said plane for being subjected to compression forces when the truss is in use, the web member having a front side and an opposite back side which face opposite directions substantially out of said plane, and having lateral sides located between the front and back sides which face opposite directions substantially within said plane, said truss being characterised by a brace having a base and at least one side wall projecting outwardly from the base in a direction away from said at least one web member, the brace being secured to the web member for reinforcing the web member, the brace engaging the web member at one of said lateral sides ; and at least one fastener securing the brace to the web member, the fastener penetrating the web member at one of said lateral sides; wherein said front and back sides of the web member remain free from fasteners.

[0008] Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brace used in the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the brace of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view of a truss according to one embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 4 to 8 are cross-sectional views of embodiments of the invention showing various different brace configurations.

[0010] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0011] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a reinforcing member, or brace 10, according to the present invention is shown. The brace 10 includes a base 12 and a pair of side walls 14 and 16 which extend from the base 12 and are separated by the base 12. The walls 14 and 16 are generally parallel and extend in the same direction at right angles with respect to the base 12. The walls 14 and 16 have in-turned flanges 18 at their free ends.

[0012] The base 12 is provided with a plurality of holes 20 along its length. In the embodiments shown, three such holes are provided but a different number of holes could be used if desired.

[0013] The brace 10 typically has a length of 1.5 meter to 3 meters. If desired, sets of braces in stock lengths could be provided so that a suitable length can be selected for connection to a web member depending on the length.

[0014] Figure 3 shows one embodiment of the frame member in the form of a building truss which has structural members arranged in a plane. The truss includes a bottom chord 30, two oblique upper chords 32, and a web comprising web members 33 and 35 extending between the chords. The configuration of the truss is standard and, as is well known, the exact location of the web members will vary depending on the configuration and intended use of the truss. The web members 33 generally form tension web members which will be subjected to tensile forces when the truss is in use. The web members 35 will generally form compression web members which will be subjected to compression forces when the truss is in use. To prevent the compression web members 35 from bending or flexing out of the plane of the truss, braces 10 according to Figures 1 and 2 are connected to the web members 35. In the embodiment shown, the web members 35 are formed from wood and have a generally rectangular cross section.

[0015] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through one of the web members 35 of Figure 3 showing the brace 10 secured to the web member. The web member 35 has first side portions including a front side 35a and a back side 35b which face opposite directions substantially out of the plane of the truss. Second side portions include lateral sides 35c and 35d which face opposite directions substantially within the plane of the truss. The section view of the web member shown in Fig. 4 is oriented with lateral sides 35c and 35d positioned as the bottom and top surfaces, respectively. The brace 10 is secured in place by screws or nails 40 which are hammered or screwed through the holes 20 and which penetrate the web member 35, as shown in Figure 4.

[0016] Significantly, the screws or nails 40 are distinct and non-integral with the brace 10. Therefore, the web member and brace may be attached prior to a truss manufacturing process. During that process, there is no need for an operator to reach a floating press to an interior position of the truss, nor any need for repetitive press cycles such as when embedding punched teeth in web members. Thus, the truss manufacturing process is more efficient.

[0017] Although the brace 10 is attached to the side 35c of the web member 35, it could be connected to a different side of web member 35. Connecting to sides 35c or 35d locates the brace 10 within the thickness confines of the truss, that is, within a region bounded by parallel planes corresponding to front and back sides 35a and 35b which are spaced apart by the maximum spacing between front and back sides. The brace is positioned entirely between vertical side faces of the chords and web members of the truss when located in position in a building. The brace 10 does not project beyond the vertical side surfaces 35a and 35b of the web member. This arrangement therefore has the advantage that no part of the brace extends beyond the confines of the truss, and the brace will not be crushed nor interfere with stacking of web members or completed trusses. If the brace 10 were connected to sides 35a or 35b or had any portion overlying sides 35a or 35b, a disadvantage is that the brace would project out of the confines of the truss which makes transportation, handling, and stacking of trusses more difficult.

[0018] Figure 5 shows an embodiment similarly to Figure 4, but of a configuration in which the brace 10a has a base 12a, a first side wall 14a and a second side wall 16a which extends in a direction opposite the side wall 10a. The wall 14a has in-turned flange 18a, but it will be noted that the wall 16a does not have a flange. The brace 10a is secured to the web 35 by a nail or screw 40 in the same manner as previously described.

[0019] In the embodiment of Figure 6, the brace 10b is somewhat similar to the brace 10 of Figure 4, except that the side walls 14b and 16b converge towards one another, and have outwardly turned flanges 18b at their free ends. The brace 10b is secured to the web 35 in the same manner previously described by locating nail or screws 40 through holes in base 12b.

[0020] In the embodiments of Figures 4 to 6, the base of the brace is flat.

[0021] Although the embodiments of Figures 4 to 6 have been described with reference to web members 35 of a truss of the type shown in Figure 3, the invention is applicable to other frame elements such as hip rafters and braces of the same configuration as those described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 can be secured to a hip rafter in exactly the same manner as described with reference to Figures 4 to 6, so as to reinforce the hip rafter and prevent the hip rafter from bowing in a vertical plane when loaded.

[0022] Figure 7 shows a still further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the brace 10h includes a base 12h which extends within the confines of the truss. The base 12h has an inwardly directed V-shaped flange 18h at each end. The fastener 40 for securing the brace 10h to the web 35 passes through the base 12h between the flanges 18h.

[0023] Figure 8 shows an embodiment similar to that of Fig. 4. Brace 10k has a flat base 12k with side walls 14k and 16k extending from the base. Flanges 18k are provided to give the brace greater strength. The flanges are inwardly turned by about 180 degrees, thereby providing a wider spacing between the flanges than would a smaller turn to permit ready access for inserting screws 40 (Fig. 8). As shown in Fig. 8, the brace 10k remains within the thickness confines of the rectangular web member, and the side walls project outward from the web member 35. The brace engages and is secured to one of the lateral sides 35c or 35d so that the front and back sides 35a and 35b remain free from fasteners. Therefore, the assembled web members and trusses can be firmly stacked, and the reinforcing members and screws or nails will not be crushed.

[0024] The embodiments of Figures 4, 6, 7 and 8 have the advantage that the brace 10 is within the confines of the truss to facilitate stacking or nesting of web members and also manufactured trusses.

[0025] Furthermore, in some embodiments the brace functions to prevent buckling by increasing the moment of inertia. A portion of the mass of each brace is placed at a distance from the centroid of the web, which increases critical buckling load for a given length web. Embodiments which have: (a) greater mass, or (b) further distance from the web, such as flanges at positions of extremity, provide additional strength benefits relative to embodiments of lesser mass and where the brace is closely adjacent to the web.

[0026] The various embodiments provide various relative advantages and may be selected for use according to the particular frame member and/or preference of the operator. Relative dimensions between the side walls, bases, and/or flanges of all embodiments may be selected to achieve desired advantages in moment of inertia and reinforcement while effectively fitting within the dimensions of the particular framework.

[0027] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fasteners 40 may be any suitable screw, nail, or staple, such as, for example, 14 gauge x 30 mm long type 17 screw.

[0028] The embodiment of Figure 7 also offers the advantage of a compact, low profile design which permits stacking/nesting of web members.

[0029] Although the rectangular web members of Figures 4 to 8 are preferably formed from wood, the invention is not restricted to such web members and is suitable for any shape and any material web.

[0030] Furtherstill, in applications of trusses in which conventional framed hip ends, with their trussed roofs, are used, the hip requires to be 120 mm deep, whereas the rest of the truss top chords are 90 mm deep. This means that they have to rip cut the overhang and make a reduction cut at the support point. This is a time consuming and costly operation. The present invention offers the advantage of providing the alternative of using 90 mm hip rafter and fixing a brace 10 to the bottom edge to effectively reinforce the rafter so that it acts like a 120 mm member. Thus, the web members promote efficiency and lower costs by avoiding additional chord sizes and on-site modifications.

[0031] Since modifications within the scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

[0032] When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

Claims

1. A structural truss comprising:

a plurality of structural members (30, 32) arranged in a configuration defining a plane;

a web including at least one web member (35) extending between two structural members (30, 32) within said plane for being subjected to compression forces when the truss is in use, the web member (35) having a front side (35a) and an opposite back side (35b) which face opposite directions substantially out of said plane, and having lateral sides (35c, 35d) located between the front and back sides (35a, 35b) which face opposite directions substantially within said plane,

said truss being characterised by:

a brace (10) having a base (12) and at least one side wall (14, 16) projecting outwardly from the base (12) in a direction away from said at least one web member (35), the brace (10) being secured to the web member (35) for reinforcing the web member (35), the brace (10) engaging the web member (35) at one of said lateral sides (35c, 35d); and

at least one fastener (40) securing the brace (10) to the web member (35), the fastener (40) penetrating the web member (35) at one of said lateral sides (35c, 35d);

wherein said front and back sides (35a, 35b) of the web member (35) remain free from fasteners (40).

2. A structural truss as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said web member (35) has a cross-sectional shape which is circular.

3. A structural truss as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said web member (35) has a cross-sectional shape which is rectangular.

4. A structural truss as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the brace (10) has one or more fastener holes (20) for receiving corresponding one or more said fasteners (40).

5. A structural truss as set forth in Claim 4 wherein said fastener (40) is distinct and non-integral with the brace (10).

6. A structural truss as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the front and back sides (35a, 35b) of the web member (35) have a spacing therebetween defining thickness confines of the truss, and wherein the brace (10) is entirely within said thickness confines such that the brace (10) does not interfere with stacking of multiple trusses.

7. A structural truss as set forth in any one of Claim 1 to 6 wherein the brace (10) has a generally flat base (12) and wherein said at least one side wall (14, 16) is a pair of opposite side walls extending from the base (12) generally transverse to the base (12), the base (12) being secured to the web member(35) by said one or more fasteners (40).

8. A structural truss as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said side walls (14, 16) have inwardly turned ends (18).

9. A structural truss as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said ends (18) of the side walls (14, 16) turn at least about 180 degrees.

10. A structural truss as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said web member (35) has a cross-sectional shape which is circular, and the web member (35) is received between the side walls (14, 16).

11. A structural truss as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said web member (35) has a cross-sectional shape which is rectangular, and the side walls (14, 16) of the brace (10) extend from the base (12) and project outward from the web member (35).

Ansprüche

1. Konstruktionsgitterträger mit

einer Mehrzahl von Konstruktionselementen (30, 32), die in einer eine Ebene bestimmenden Gestaltung angeordnet sind,

einem Gitter mit wenigstens einem Gitterelement (35), das sich zwischen zwei Konstruktionselementen (30, 32) in der genannten Ebene erstreckt und bei Benutzung des Gitterträgers Kompressionskräften unterliegt und das eine Vorderseite (35a) und eine entgegengesetzte Rückseite (35b), die in entgegengesetzte Richtungen im wesentlichen aus der genannten Ebene heraus weisen, und zwischen der Vorder- und Rückseite (35a, 35b) angeordnete Querseiten (35c, 35d) hat, die im wesentlichen innerhalb der genannten Ebene in entgegengesetzte Richtungen weisen,

wobei der genannte Gitterträger gekennzeichnet ist durch

ein Winkelband (10) mit einer Basis (12) und wenigstens einer Seitenwand (14, 16), die von der Basis (12) in einer Richtung weg von dem wenigstens einen Gitterelement (35) nach außen vorsteht, wobei das Winkelband (10) zur Verstärkung des Gitterelements (35) an diesem befestigt ist und an einer der Querseiten (35c,35d) dem Gitterelement (35) anliegt, und

wenigstens einem das Winkelband (10) an dem Gitterelement (35) befestigenden Befestigungsmittel (40) mit Eindringung in das Gitterelement (35) an einer der Querseiten (35c, 35d),

wobei die Vorder- und Rückseite (35a, 35b) des Gitterelements (35) von Befestigungsmitteln (40) frei bleiben.

2. Konstruktzonsgitterträger nach Anspruch 1, bei dem das Gitterelement (35) eine kreisförmige Querschnittsform hat.

3. Konstruktionsgitterträger nach Anspruch 1, bei dem das Gitterelement (35) eine rechteckige Querschnittsform hat.

4. Konstruktionsgitterträger nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei dem das Winkelband (10) ein oder mehrere Befestigungslöcher (20) zur Aufnahme eines oder mehrerer entsprechender Befestigungsmittel (40) hat.

5. Konstruktionsgitterträger nach Anspruch 4, bei dem das Befestigungsmittel (40) nicht in das Winkelband (10) integriert und getrennt von diesem ist.

6. Konstruktionsgitterträger nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, bei dem die Vorder- und Rückseite (35a, 35b) des Gitterelements (35) zwischen sich einen die Dickebegrenzung des Gitterträgers bestimmenden Abstand haben und bei dem das Winkelband (10) gänzlich innerhalb der Dickebegrenzung ist, so dass das Winkelband (10) nicht bei der Stapelung mehrfacher Gitterträger stört.

7. Konstruktionsgitterträger nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, bei dem das Winkelband (10) eine im allgemeinen ebene Basis hat und bei dem die genannte wenigstens eine Seitenwand (14, 16) ein Paar sich gegenüberstehender Seitenwände ist, die von der Basis (12) im allgemeinen quer zu der Basis (12) ausgehen, wobei die Basis (12) durch ein oder mehrere Befestigungsmittel (40) an dem Gitterelement (35) befestigt ist.

8. Konstruktionsgitterträger nach Anspruch 7, bei dem die Seitenwände (14, 16) einwärtsgebogene Enden (18) haben.

9. Konstruktionsgitterträger nach Anspruch 8, bei dem die Enden (18) der Seitenwände (14, 16) um wenigstens etwa 180 Grad gebogen sind.

10. Konstruktionsgitterträger nach Anspruch 7, bei dem das Gitterelement (35) eine kreisförmige Querschnittsform hat und zwischen den Seitenwänden (14, 16) aufgenommen ist.

11. Konstruktionsgitterträger nach Anspruch 7, bei dem das Gitterelement (35) eine rechteckige Querschnittsform hat und die Seitenwände (14, 16) des Winkelbandes (10) von der Basis (12) ausgehen und von dem Gitterelement (35) nach außen vorspringen.

Revendications

1. Ferme de charpente comprenant :

une pluralité d'éléments de charpente (30,32) disposés dans une configuration définissant un plan ;

une armature comprenant au moins un élément d'armature (35) s'étendant entre deux éléments de charpente (30,32) à l'intérieur dudit plan pour être soumis aux forces de compression lorsque la ferme est utilisée, l'élément d'armature (35) ayant un côté avant (35a) et un côté arrière opposé (35b) qui sont en regard de directions sensiblement hors dudit plan, et ayant des côtés latéraux (35c,35d) situés entre les côtés avant et arrière (35a,35b) qui sont en regard de directions sensiblement opposées à l'intérieur dudit plan,

ladite ferme étant caractérisée par :

un contreventement(10) ayant une base (12) et au moins une paroi latérale (14,16) faisant saillie vers l'extérieur à partir de la base (12) dans une direction en éloignement dudit au moins un élément d'armature (35), le contreventement (10) étant fixé sur l'élément d'armature (35) pour renforcer l'élément d'armature (35), le contreventement (10) coopérant avec l'élément d'armature (35) sur l'un des côtés latéraux (35c,35d) ; et

au moins un élément de fixation (40) fixant le contreventement (10) sur l'élément d'armature (35), l'élément de fixation (40) pénétrant dans l'élément d'armature (35) sur l'un desdits côtés latéraux (35c, 35d) ;

dans laquelle lesdits côtés avant et arrière (35a, 35b) de l'élément d'armature (35) demeurent exempts des éléments de fixation (40).

2. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit élément d'armature (35) présente une forme en coupe transversale qui est circulaire.

3. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit élément d'armature (35) présente une forme en coupe transversale qui est rectangulaire.

4. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle le contreventement (10) comporte un ou plusieurs trous d'élément de fixation (20) pour recevoir un ou plusieurs des dits éléments de fixation (40).

5. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans la revendication 4, dans laquelle ledit élément de fixation est distinct et non solidaire du contreventement (10).

6. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans laquelle les côtés avant et arrière (35a, 35b) de l'élément d'armature (35) ont un espacement entre eux définissant les limites d'épaisseur de la ferme, et dans laquelle le contreventement (10) se situe entièrement à l'intérieur des dites limites d'épaisseur de telle sorte que le contreventement (10) n'interfère pas avec l'empilage de fermes multiples.

7. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans laquelle le contreventement(10) présente une base généralement plane (12) et dans laquelle ladite au moins une paroi latérale (14, 16) est une paire de parois latérales opposées s'étendant à partir de la base (12) de façon générale transversalement par rapport à la base (12), la base (12) étant fixée sur l'élément d'armature (35) par ledit un ou plusieurs éléments de fixation (40).

8. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans la revendication 7, dans laquelle lesdites parois latérales (14, 16) présentent des extrémités tournées vers l'intérieur (18).

9. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans la revendication 8, dans laquelle lesdites extrémités des parois latérales (14, 16) sont tournées sur au moins 180 degrés.

10. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans la revendication 7, dans laquelle ledit élément d'armature (35) présente une forme en section transversale qui est circulaire et l'élément d'armature (35) est logé entre les parois latérales (14,16).

11. Ferme de charpente telle que définie dans la revendication 7, dans laquelle ledit élément d'armature (35) a une forme en coupe transversale qui est rectangulaire et les parois latérales (14, 16) du contreventement(10) s'étendant à partir de la base (12) et font saillie vers l'extérieur à partir l'élément d'armature (35).

Drawing