Patent ID: 6139667
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: E04C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a variable length truss having top and bottom chord members and interior open webbing for installation in a structure comprising the following steps:(a) forming a first strut having a top and bottom with the distance between the top and bottom of said first strut being equal to the desired spacing between the chord members so that the top of said first strut contacts the top chord member and the bottom of said first strut contacts the bottom chord member, with said first strut being spaced inwardly from one end of the chord members which defines a first end of said truss;(b) mounting a first solid web member having a top, a bottom, an inboard side and an outboard side to said first strut by inserting said inboard side of said first web member into a vertical slot formed in an outboard side of said first strut with the top and bottom of said first web member extending beyond the top and bottom of said first strut;(c) mounting the top chord member to the top of said first web member by seating the top of said first web member in a first longitudinal groove in a bottom surface of the top chord member with said first web member being outboard of said first strut;(d) mounting the bottom chord member to the bottom of said first web member by seating the bottom of said first web member in a second longitudinal groove in a top surface of the bottom chord member with the bottom chord member having a bottom surface thereof beneath said first strut and said first web member defining a first load bearing surface for said truss, and said outboard side of said first web member forming an outer surface of said truss; and(e) mounting a plurality of open web members inboard of said first web member to interconnect the top chord member and the bottom chord member and thereby define the interior open webbing;(f) at said first end of said truss, in steps (a) to (d), means including the top chord member, the bottom chord member and said first web member forming a first weight bearing I-beam section (1) for supporting said truss on the first load bearing surface in the structure, and (2) for being trimmable up to a distance as defined by the length of said first web member when necessary during installation in the structure to change the length of said truss.