Truss seat and anchor strap assembly

A seat and anchor assembly for mounting and securing a wood joist or roof truss to a tie beam of a building including a central web portion and an upwardly extending wall portion disposed along a longitudinal edge thereof wherein a lower portion of the roof truss or joist fits within what may be considered a seat defined by the web and the upstanding wall portion. An elongated anchor strap is adjustably attached to the wall portion and is adapted to be secured by nails or like connectors to the top portion of the roof truss and further wherein the anchor strap includes a lower length disposed and adapted to be embedded in wet concrete initially defining the tie beam of the building on which the seat and truss rests.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Truss seats and anchor assemblies are well known in the art for anchoring trusses to concrete walls. Many such truss seats have a web upon which the truss sits that serves as a barrier to keep the wood of the truss or joist out of contact with the upper surface of the concrete protecting it from moisture.

Anchors often come in the form of elongated straps that may work in conjunction with the seat or alone. In use, a lower end of the anchor strap is embedded in the concrete of the tie beam when wet and an upper end is bent over the roof truss or wood joist so that headed nails can be passed through the anchor strap on opposite sides of the roof truss or wood joist.

One feature of securing the anchor straps to the truss seats or channels is that it maintains the assembly conveniently together until installed. In such an instance the straps can be secured to the channel by means of a rivet.

In a hurricane, it has been found that there is often a failure of the connection of the roof truss to the concrete wall, primarily due to the generally upwardly directed forces causing the roof to fly upwardly away from the tie beam or wall.

Some anchor and seat assemblies use two anchor straps riveted or otherwise adjustably connected in spaced longitudinal relation to one another with respect to the central web of the seat. Some anchor and seat assemblies are made with a channel-shaped seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention improves on the prior art moisture barrier truss seats be improving the interface with the underlying concrete. This is accomplished by forming an improved embedment leg that has a pair of angularly-related portions that increase the surface area embedded in the concrete and provide flat faces to resist movement in four directions.

This invention is of a truss seat and anchor assembly comprising a channel length with a central web portion and upstanding spaced and substantially parallel side walls to cradle a truss and wherein two anchor straps are provided which are adjustably connected to the wall portion in longitudinally spaced relation to one another. One anchor strap is connected to one of the wall portions of the channel length and the other anchor strap is spaced longitudinally from the first anchor strap and is connected to the other of the wall portions.

The assembly can easily be transported to a job site for use in anchoring the trusses in spanning relation to walls each having an upper peripheral tie beam. At a job site, since there are often numerous workmen at a given time, if there are not enough anchor straps or alternatively, not enough channel lengths, the job is shut down and a run must be made to secure an additional supply of channel lengths or anchor straps. This invention is of an assembly wherein the two anchor straps are pre-attached to the channel by rivets or other adjustable means at spaced predetermined positions along the length of the web portion of the channel. Such attachments are provided so that delays and job shut downs are avoided as set forth above. Also, such attachments of the anchor straps to the wall portion provide predetermined spacing of the anchor straps to assure additional resistance to upward forces without fear of fracture of the wood material of the truss when nails are applied thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improved truss seat and anchor strap assembly1. In its simplest form, the improved truss seat and anchor strap assembly comprises an angle length2, a first elongate anchor strap11, and a first connection means16.

The angle length2has a first end3and a second end4, and an underlayment portion5. The underlayment portion5has a first longitudinally extending edge6with a first wall portion7secured to it. The first wall portion7has an outer surface8facing away from the underlayment portion5. The first wall portion7extends longitudinally along the first edge6and extends upwardly from the underlayment portion5to define a truss support9therebetween. The truss support9is adapted to receive a truss10on the underlayment portion5and beside the first wall portion7.

The first elongate anchor strap11has an upper length13for fastening to the truss10and a lower length15adapted to be embedded in concrete. The first connection means16for connecting the first anchor strap11to the angle length2extends outwardly from the anchor strap11in generally perpendicular relation to the first wall portion7and extends through the first wall portion7. The first anchor strap11is attached to the first wall portion7of the angle length2. The upper length13of the first anchor strap11extends above the angle length2and the lower length15of the first anchor strap11extends below the angle length2, when the first anchor strap11is in an operative position.

The angle length2has a first aperture18in the underlayment portion5and the first wall portion7. The first aperture18traverses the first longitudinally extending edge6and has an edge19with an upper portion20in the first wall portion7. The angle length2has a first embedment leg21that is adapted to be embedded in concrete and has a first extended portion22and a second extended portion23. The first embedment leg20is formed from at least portion of the angle length2material removed to create the first aperture18. The first extended portion22has an outer face24that extends from the outer surface8of the first wall portion7. The first extended portion22projects from, is integrally joined to, and is at least partially co-planar with the first wall portion7. The second extended portion23is angularly related, and integrally joined, to the first extended portion22along a first angular juncture25. The second extended portion23has an outer edge26at least partially opposite the first angular juncture25. The outer edge26and the first angular juncture25converges toward the upper portion20of the edge19of the first aperture18in the first wall portion7. The outer edge26of the second extended portion23twists to join the upper portion20of the edge19of the first aperture18in the first wall portion7, forming a continuous edge.

Preferably, the angle length2is a channel length2and the underlayment portion5is a central web portion5. Preferably, the central web portion5has a second longitudinally extending edge6parallel to the first longitudinally extending edge6. Preferably, a second wall portion7with an outer surface8is secured to the second longitudinally extending edge6in generally parallel relation to the first wall portion7to define a truss cradle9therebetween. Preferably, the truss cradle9is adapted to receive a truss10on the central web portion5and between the wall portions7and8.

Preferably, the anchor strap assembly1includes a second elongate anchor strap12with an upper length13for fastening to the truss10and a lower length15adapted to be embedded in concrete.

The anchor strap assembly1preferably includes a second connection means16for connecting the second anchor strap12to the channel length2. The second connection means16extends outwardly in generally perpendicular relation to the second wall portion7from the anchor strap12and extends through the second wall portion7.

Preferably, the second anchor strap12is attached to the second wall portion7of the channel length2. The upper length13of the second anchor strap12preferably extends above the channel length2and the lower length14of the second anchor strap12extends below the channel length2when the second anchor strap12is in an operative position.

The first aperture2preferably extends into the second wall portion7. Preferably, the first aperture2traverses the second longitudinally extending edge6, the edge19of the first aperture2having an upper portion20in the second wall portion7. The angle length2preferably has a second embedment leg21that is adapted to be embedded in concrete and has a first extended portion22and a second extended portion23. Preferably, the second embedment leg21is formed from at least portion of the channel length2material removed to create the first aperture18. The first extended portion22preferably has an outer face24that extends from the outer surface8of the second wall portion7. Preferably, the first extended portion22projects from, is integrally joined to, and is at least partially co-planar with the second wall portion7. The second extended portion23preferably is angularly related, and integrally joined, to the first extended portion22along a first angular juncture25. Preferably, the second extended portion23has an outer edge26at least partially opposite the first angular juncture25. The outer edge26and the first angular juncture25preferably converge toward the upper portion20of the edge19of the first aperture18in the second wall portion7. Preferably, the outer edge26of the second extended portion23twists to join the upper portion20of the edge19of the first aperture18in the second wall portion7, forming a continuous edge.

As shown inFIG. 11, the channel length2is cut from a flat sheet metal blank. Fastener openings30are drilled or punched through the first and second wall portions7, preferably three in each and preferably offset at opposite ends of the first and second wall portions7. When the first and second wall portions7are bent up along the first and longitudinally extending parallel edges6of the channel length2, the first and second embedment legs21are simulataneously bent down, forming the first aperture18. The preferred connection means16are strips or fingers111cut lengthwise from the first and second wall portions7by means of two slits112, each bent out so that an anchor strap11or12can be slipped between the connection means16and the outer surface8of a wall portion7in combination with a dimple107on the anchor strap11or12that interfaces with the longitudinal slot106preferably formed in the connection means16to hold the anchor strap11or12in place before it is fastened to the truss10.

As shown inFIG. 10, the purpose of the truss seat and anchor strap assembly1is to adequately position an secure a roof truss10in an anchored relation to a tie beam99. The tie beam99is preferably formed from concrete, but another form of masonry or, in fact, any other material in which the truss seat and anchor strap assembly can be embedded, is possible. The anchor straps11and12and the embedment legs21are embedded within the tie beam99while the concrete is still wet and penetrable. In the preferred embodiment, the anchor straps11ans12are formed with openings14that receive fasteners110that are driven into the roof truss10.

Preferably, the first and second longitudinally extending edges6are reinforced by one or more gussets27. The central web portion5preferably has a fastener extension108at each of the first end3and the second end4.

Preferably, the lower length15of each of the first and second anchor straps11,12includes a terminal end zone or foot105and the terminal end zone or foot105of each of the first and second anchor straps11,12is bent out of the plane of the upper length13of a respective anchor strap11,12when the first and second anchor straps11,12are in an operative position.

The central web portion5preferably is disposed beneath and in supporting relation to a truss10and in supported engagement on a tie beam99. Preferably, the tie beam99is initially defined by the wet concrete in which the lower length15of each of the first and second anchor straps11,12are embedded.

Each of the first and second wall portions7preferably includes an elongate adjustment slot106formed therein at a juncture of each anchor strap11,12and a respective wall portion7to which it is adjustably attached. Preferably, each of the first and second anchor straps11,12has a dimple107that extends through respective wall portions7and through the elongate adjustment slots106.

Preferably, the channel length2is cold formed from 18 gauge G185 galvanized steel.