Truss pitch break connector plate

A truss pitch break connector plate having a main body portion. A first stiffener flange projects generally perpendicular from one face of said main body portion along an arcuate first edge having an outer radius. A second stiffener flange projects generally perpendicular from the opposite face of the main body portion along a arcuate second edge having inner radius. The main body portion preferably is generally sector-shaped but alternatively it may be circular. The overall arrangement is such that the pitch break connector plate will accommodate top chords of different sizes; and is capable of maintaining the top chords at any one of a range of roof pitches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a roof truss, and more particularly to a truss 
pitch break connector plate for an apex joint of a roof truss. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The prior art is replete with examples of pitch break connectors for roof 
trusses in a variety of forms. Roof trusses comprise one or more top 
chords, a bottom chord and one or more brace or web members. The upper 
ends of the top chords are secured together by connectors of various 
arrangements, to form apex joints. The bottom chord has opposite ends 
connected to the lower ends of the top chords by heel joints. The brace or 
web members extend between and are secured to the top chords and to the 
bottom chord. 
H-shaped connectors have been used at the apex joint and at the heel joints 
of wooden chord members, see U.S. Pat. No. 2,840,014 (E. A. Wadsworth et 
al.) Truss pitch break connectors that are adjustable and bolted in place, 
such that the upper chords are pivotally connected and arranged to be 
disposed over a selected range of pitch angles is known, see U.S. Pat. No. 
3,785,108 (E. W. Satchell). A truss pitch break connector that pivotally 
connects the upper chords to form a folding truss is disclosed in U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,538,393 (T. L. Mitchell). Truss pitch break brackets that are 
bolted in place also are known, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,012 (J. Aldag et 
al) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,104 (P. G. Pomento). A scissors truss 
comprising structural wooden members including pairs of top and bottom 
chords connected by top apex joint and bottom apex joint and heel joints 
is known, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,641 (T. J. Manenti). A roof bracket is 
known for attaching wooden rafters to wooden hip beams and wooden ridge 
beams. The bracket includes two sets of pitch lines for two different size 
rafters. The pitch lines are used to orient the rafter at different 
pitches. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,941 (C. W. Tracy). 
The main drawback of the above described connectors is that they are 
expensive to manufacture and to install. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In its broadest aspects, the present invention provides a truss pitch break 
connector plate comprising main body portion having an arcuate first edge, 
an arcuate second edge, and opposite side edges. A first stiffener flange 
extends along the arcuate first edge and a second stiffener flange extends 
along the arcuate second edge. 
Further in accordance with the present invention, the truss pitch break 
connector plate comprises a generally sector-shaped main body portion 
presenting opposite faces, an arcuate first edge having an outer radius, 
and an arcuate second edge having inner radius. A first stiffener flange 
projects from one of the opposite faces along the outer radius, and a 
second stiffener flange projects from one of the opposite faces along the 
inner radius. The first and second stiffening flanges are generally 
perpendicular to the opposite faces of the main body portion, the first 
stiffening flange projecting from one face while the second stiffening 
flange projects from the other face in a direction opposite to that of the 
first stiffening flange. 
Still further in accordance with the present invention, an apex joint 
between at least one top chord and one or more brace members of a roof 
truss is provided that incorporates connector means fixedly securing the 
top chord to the brace member to form the apex joint. The present 
invention provides an improvement in the connector means comprising a 
plate having a sector-shaped main body portion overlying the top chord and 
underlying the brace member. The main body portion includes an arcuate 
first edge having an outer radius, and a second arcuate edge having an 
inner radius. A first stiffener flange is provided that extends along said 
outer radius and projects outwardly therefrom; a second stiffener flange 
is provided that extends along said inner radius and projects outwardly 
therefrom; and fastening means securing the main body portion to the 
adjacent upper ends. 
Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide low 
cost, simple and useable connections for use in the apex joint or joints 
of a roof truss. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a truss pitch break 
connector plate that will accommodate top chord members of different 
sizes. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide a truss pitch break 
connector plate that is capable of maintaining the top chord members 
positioned at roof pitches in the range of from zero angular degrees to 45 
angular degrees with respect to the horizontal. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide a truss pitch break 
connector plate that is capable of maintaining the top chord members 
positioned such that the angle subtended between a pair of top chords is 
the range of about 90 annular degrees to about 152 angular degrees.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a roof truss 20 including two top 
chords 22, 24, a bottom chord 26, a central brace or web member 28 and 
additional web members 30. The top chords 22, 24 present adjacent ends 32, 
34 secured together by means of the present pitch break connector plate 38 
to form an apex joint 36. The top chords 22, 24 have lower or remote ends 
40, 42 secured to the opposite ends 44, 46 of the bottom chord 26. The 
central web member 28 has opposite ends, one secured to the pitch break 
connector plate 38 and one secured to the bottom chord 26. The web members 
30 have opposite ends secured to the respective top chord 22, 24 and to 
the bottom chord 26. The web members 28, 30 rigidify the truss assembly 
20. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the profile of a channel-shaped chord member 48 used as 
the top and bottom chord 22, 24, and 26, and as the central and additional 
web members 28, 30. 
FIG. 3 illustrates a roof truss 50 including two top chords 52, 54, a 
bottom chord 56, a central brace of web member 58 and lateral brace or web 
members 60. The top chords 52, 54 present adjacent ends 62, 64 secured 
together by means of the present pitch break connector plate 38 to form an 
apex joint 36. The top chords 52, 54 have lower or remote ends 66, 68 each 
secured to a J-shaped stiffener 70 which, in turn, are secured to the 
opposite ends 72, 74 of the bottom chord 56. The central web member 58 has 
opposite ends, one secured to the pitch break connector plate 38 and one 
secured to the bottom chord 56. The lateral web members 60 have opposite 
ends secured to the respective top chord 52, 54 and to the bottom chord 
56. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a profiled chord element 76 used as the top and bottom 
chords 52, 54 and 56 of the roof truss 50. FIG. 5 illustrates a profiled 
web element 78 used as the central and lateral web members 58, 60 of the 
roof truss 50. FIG. 6 illustrates the profile of the J-shaped stiffener 
element 70. The J-shaped stiffener element 70 includes a U-shaped bottom 
portion 82 that is adapted to fit within a U-shaped bottom portion 84 of 
the profiled chord element 76 as illustrated in FIG. 6A. 
Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the pitch break connector plate 38 of this 
invention comprises a main body portion 86 which preferably is 
sector-shaped and has opposite faces 88, 90 as best seen in FIGS. 7, 9. 
The main body portion 86 (FIG. 8) includes an arcuate first edge 92 having 
an outer radius represented by the arrow labeled 94, an arcuate second 
edge 96 having an inner radius represented by the arrow labeled 98, and 
opposite side edges 100, 102. Additionally, a first stiffening flange 104 
extends along the arcuate first edge 92, and a second stiffening flange 
106 extends along the arcuate second edge 96. 
As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the first and second stiffening flanges 
104, 106 each are generally perpendicular to the main body portion 86. In 
the preferred arrangement, the first stiffening flange 104 projects 
outwardly from the face 88 of the main body portion 86 whereas the second 
stiffening flange 106 projects from the opposite face 90 of the main body 
portion 86, that is, in a direction opposite to that of the first 
stiffening flange 104. 
As best shown in FIG. 8, the outer radius 94 of the first edge 92 is larger 
than the inner radius 96. In a commercial embodiment of the connector 
plate 38, the outer radius 94 had a value of 12 inches (30.48 cm) while 
the inner radius 98 had a value of 6 inches (15.24 cm). The sector shape 
of the main body portion 86 is such that the opposite edges 100, 102 
subtend an angle represented by the arc labeled 108 of approximately 90 
angular degrees. 
The main body portion 86 is provided with a band 110 of perforations 112 
(FIGS. 7 and 8) along that portion of the main body portion 86 adjacent to 
the arcuate first edge 92, to facilitate attachment of the connector plate 
38 to the adjacent ends 32, 34 of the top chords 22, 24 by screws 114 as 
shown in FIG. 10. The apertures 112 also serve to guide the screws 114 
during installation thereby minimizing wandering of the screws 114. 
The main body portion 86 also presents an imperforate lower portion 116 to 
which the upper end of the central web member 28 is attached by screws 
114, as shown in FIG. 10. 
FIGS. 11, 13 and 15 illustrate apex joints 118a, 120a and 122a wherein top 
chords 22a, 24a of 3.625 inches (9.21 cm) width, are secured to the 
connector plate 38 and maintained thereby, respectively, at slopes with 
respect to the horizontal of 3 in 12 (14 angular degrees), 8 in 12 (33.7 
angular degrees) and 12 in 12 (45 angular degrees). Similarly, FIGS. 12, 
14 and 16, illustrate apex joints 118b, 120b and 122b where top chords 
22b, 24b that are 6 inches (15.24 cm) width, are secured to the connector 
plate 38 and maintained thereby, respectively, at slopes with respect to 
the horizontal of 3 in 12 (14 angular degrees), 8 in 12 (33.7 angular 
degrees) and 12 in 12 (45 angular degrees). 
The trusses 20 and 50 of FIGS. 1 and 5 are in the form of isosceles 
triangles wherein the top chords 22,24 and 52,54 are inclined at the same 
slope. A roof truss may also take other forms such as shown, for example, 
in FIGS. 17, 19. 
Referring to FIG. 17, a truss 130 is schematically illustrated that 
incorporates two top chords 132, 134, a bottom chord 133, and vertical or 
diagonal brace members 135, 137 respectively. The top chords 132, 134 of 
the truss 130 are inclined at different slopes. For example, the top chord 
132 is inclined at a slope with respect to the horizontal of approximately 
33 angular degrees while the top chord 134 is inclined at a slope with 
respect to the horizontal of approximately 18 angular degrees. The top 
chords 132, 134 are rigidly connected at an apex joint represented by the 
circle labeled 136. As shown in FIG. 18, the apex joint 136 is formed by 
and incorporate the present pitch break connector plate 38. 
Referring to FIG. 19, a truss 162 is schematically illustrated that 
includes three top chords 164, 166, 168, a bottom chord 170, and vertical 
and diagonal brace members 172, 174, respectively. In this instance, the 
top chord 164 is horizontal (zero slope with respect to the horizontal). 
The top chords 166, 168 are each inclined, for example, at a slope with 
respect to the horizontal of approximately 34 angular degrees. The top 
chord 164, 166, 168 are rigidly connected to the vertical and diagonal 
brace members 172, 174 at apex joints represented by the circles labeled 
176. As shown in FIG. 20, each of the apex joints 176 is formed by and 
incorporates the present pitch break connector plate 38. 
FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present peak 
connection plate that is identified by the numeral 38'. Corresponding 
numerals will be employed to identify corresponding parts heretofore 
described. 
The alternative peak connector 38 (FIG. 21) presents a main body portion 
124 having faces 126, 128. In this embodiment, the main body portion 124 
is circular in shape and includes an arcuate first edge 92 having an outer 
radius represented by the arrow labeled 94, and an arcuate second edge 96 
having an inner radius represented by the arrow labeled 98. Additionally, 
a first stiffening flange 104 extends along the arcuate first edge 92, and 
a second stiffening flange 106 extends along the arcuate second edge 96. 
As in the preferred embodiment, the first and second stiffening flanges 
104, 106 each are generally perpendicular to the main body portion 124. 
Also as in the preferred embodiment, the first stiffening flange 104 
projects outwardly from the face 126 whereas the second stiffening flange 
128 projects outwardly from the opposite face 128, that is, in a direction 
opposite to that of the first stiffening flange 104. 
In as much as the main body portion 124 is circular, the outer radius 94 is 
equal to the inner radius 98. The inner and outer radii each may equal 5 
inches (12.7 cm). 
The main body portion 124 is provided with a band 110 of perforations 112 
along that portion of the main body portion 124 adjacent to the arcuate 
first edge 92, to facilitate attachment of the connector plate 38' to the 
adjacent ends of the top chords 22a, 24a and 22b, 24b, as shown in FIG. 
18. Wandering of the screws 114 during installation thereof is minimized 
by the apertures 112. The main body portion also presents an imperforate 
lower portion 116 to which central web members are attached. 
FIG. 22 illustrates an apex joint 36' wherein the pitch break connector 
plate 38' supports a pair of narrow top chords 22a, 24a, shown in full 
lines, at a slope with respect to the horizontal of 3 in 12 or 14 angular 
degrees. For the purpose of illustration, the pitch break connector plate 
38' also supports a pair of wide top chords 22b, 24b, shown in dash dot 
outline, at a slope with respect to the horizontal of 12 in 12 or 45 
angular degrees. 
The present pitch break connector plate 38 and 38' may be formed from steel 
having a thickness in the range of from 0.032 inches (0.081 cm) to 0.124 
inches (0.315 cm) and by means of stamping processes well known in the 
art. The present pitch break connector plate 38 is capable of 
accommodating top chord members of various sizes within the range of 2.5 
inches (6.351 cm) through 6 inches (15.24 cm). The present pitch break 
connector plate 38 is also capable of maintaining each top chord at pitch 
angles or slopes, in the range of from zero angular degrees through 45 
angular degrees relative to the horizontal. Where a truss incorporates two 
top chords, the present pitch break connector plate 38 is capable of 
maintaining the top chord members oriented such that the angle subtended 
between the two top chords is in the range of from about 90 angular 
degrees to about 152 angular degrees. 
Accordingly it should be readily apparent from the foregoing description 
and drawings that the present invention provides a low cost, simple and 
useable truss pitch break connector plate for use in the apex joint of 
roof truss assemblies; a truss pitch break connector plate that will 
accommodate top chords of different sizes; and a truss pitch break 
connector plate that is capable of maintaining the top chords positioned 
at any one of a range of roof pitches. 
It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the present 
invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from 
the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments 
are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not 
restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended 
claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which 
come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are 
therefore intended to be embodied therein.