Building structure having an improved truss assembly

A pair of opposed parallel upright walls formed of upstanding studs support a pair of longitudinally standing parallel, horizontal opposed double plates, respectively. These double plates respectively support the outer end portions of a pair of converging upwardly and inwardly extending roof rafters, the ends of which abutt each other at the central portion of the building. A pair of truss struts criss-cross beneath the peak of the roof rafters, the outer ends of the truss struts resting on the plates and the inner ends of the truss struts being secured to intermediate portions of the opposite roof rafters. Bolts secure the end portions of the truss struts in place. A king post extends vertically upwardly from the junction or intersection of the truss struts and is connected to the junction of the roof rafters. Queen posts disposed on opposite sides and parallel to the king posts extend from the end portions of the truss struts downwardly to intersect approximately the mid portion of the opposite truss struts. A plurality of the truss assemblies are disposed in spaced adjacent parallel relationship and parallel longitudinally extending runners recessed into the truss struts join adjacent truss struts together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a truss assembly and is more particularly 
concerned with a building structure which has improved truss assemblies 
for supporting the roof thereof. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In the past, truss assemblies have been developed which support the roof of 
buildings. Such truss assemblies are normally disposed in spaced, parallel 
relationship along a building in order to support the roof of the 
building. Such conventional truss assemblies usually include a pair of 
upwardly converging roof rafters joined at their upper ends, a truss strut 
which extends across from one end portion of one roof rafter to the other 
and reinforcing struts. Thus, essentially these prior art truss assemblies 
are triangular in shape. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,886,857 to K. H. Brosenius for WOODEN BEAM CONSTRUCTION 
shows a truss assembly formed of a pair of webs which include flanges on 
one web which diverge from each other, the lower flanges appearing to 
criss-cross the lower flange of an adjacent web. The webs are built up 
from a plurality of juxtaposed wooden members which are nailed together. 
The structure depicted in this patent is not particularly strong and 
probably readily shift in high winds. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,869 issued to Arthur F. Partridge for BUILDING TRUSS 
discloses a quite complex truss formed of a pair of triangular members 
which the upper ends of which are overlapped and joined together. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,556 issued to Roger L. Tuomi for LIGHTWEIGHT 
TRUSS-FRAMED HOUSE discloses a truss with reinforcing intermediate webbed 
members which join the top and bottom roof cords. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,290 discloses still another form of truss in which 
there are various reinforcing elements between the rafters and the joist. 
The applicant's truss assembly is simpler to manufacture, is more durable 
in structure and will withstand extreme wind forces. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly described, the present invention includes a building, such as a 
boat house which has a pair of opposed, parallel walls formed by 
upstanding studs which carry a pair of parallel, longitudinally extending 
horizontally disposed top struts or plates which carry the end portions of 
a plurality of equally spaced truss assemblies. 
Each truss assembly includes a pair of upwardly converging, transversely 
aligned, roof rafters, the upper ends of each pair of rafters being joined 
together and the lower ends being carried by the top plates. Below the 
roof rafters, respectively, are the truss struts which criss-cross 
vertically below the peak of the roof so that the end portions of these 
truss struts join intermediate portions of the roof rafters. An upstanding 
king post extends from the junction of the truss struts upwardly to the 
junction of the roof rafters while a pair of queen posts are arranged, 
spaced on opposite sides and parallel to the king post, these queen posts 
extending vertically from intermediate portions of the truss struts 
upwardly to the junction of the roof rafter and the truss strut. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a truss 
assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and 
efficient in operation. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a truss assembly 
which will withstand extremely high winds. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a truss assembly 
which is particularly suitable for use in connection with boat houses. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a truss assembly 
which will provide a maximum amount of overhead clearance, while at the 
same time providing a strong supporting structure for a roof. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a building structure 
with improved truss assemblies wherein the roof thereof supported by truss 
assemblies which will permit maximum headroom within the building while, 
at the same time, providing strong support for the roof and which does not 
place appreciable stresses on the fastening members which join the 
respective elements together. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a building structure 
which has a plurality of truss assemblies wherein the truss assemblies do 
not exert any appreciable outward force on the sidewalls of the building 
assembly. 
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become 
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings wherein in like characters of reference designate 
corresponding parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of 
illustrating the present invention, numeral 10 denotes a footing or 
foundation which, in the present embodiment, includes a plurality of 
longitudinally spaced, parallel upstanding pilings 11 which are securely 
anchored at the bottom of a body of water 9 and extend above the upper 
surface 8 of water 9. The pilings 11 have their upper end portions 
disposed in a common horizontal plane, the pilings 11 being arranged in 
transversely spaced, longitudinal parallel rows, so as to support a pair 
of spaced, parallel horizontally extending base plates or beams 12. 
Upstanding studs 13 are mounted in longitudinally spaced relationship along 
the upper surface of each of the base plates 12, the studs 13 being 
arranged in transversely opposed relationship parallel to each other as 
shown in FIG. 1. The upper ends of the studs 13 support a pair of double 
plates or struts 14 which are formed of an upper beam or strut 15 and a 
lower beam or strut 16. The lower beam 16 extends along and is received on 
and is secured to the upper ends of the studs 13 in one longitudinal row 
while the other lower beam 16 is secured to and received by the upper ends 
of the other longitudinal row of studs 13. The upper beams 15 are mounted 
flat onto the upper surfaces respectively of the lower beams 16 and are 
secured thereto by conventional means. The studs 13 and beams 12, 15 and 
16 are straight rigid, integrally, rectangular, wooden members. 
Outwardly of the studs 13 are the vertical opposed parallel sidewalls 17, 
shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. 
According to the present invention, the roof assembly includes a plurality 
of spaced, parallel, transversely extending, truss assemblies, denoted 
generally by the numeral 20. These truss assemblies are identical to each 
other and, therefore, a detailed description of a single truss assembly 
will suffice. Each truss assembly 20 is formed of straight rigid 
rectangular wooden members having a vertical center line 21 and includes a 
pair of opposed, transversely aligned, inwardly and upwardly inclined, 
converging or upwardly tapered, rigid, straight rectangular, wooden roof 
rafters 22, the function of which is to support the roof panels which are 
shown in broken lines and denoted by the numerals 23. 
The lower outer end portions of each roof rafter 22 protrudes outwardly of 
the sidewall and has its lower portion provided with a right angular notch 
19 which provides a straight, horizontally disposed, recessed, bearing 
surface 24, the outer end of which intersects a vertically disposed outer 
shoulder 25. The bearing surface 24 of each roof rafter 22 rides flat upon 
the upper surface of its associated upper beam 15 while the shoulder 26 
thereof is disposed outwardly adjacent to the outer side portion of the 
upper beam 15. 
The upper or inner ends of the transversely aligned roof rafters 22 are 
levelled or cut at angles so that the upper or inner end 27 of each roof 
rafter 22 is vertically disposed to abutt the vertically disposed end 27 
of the opposite roof rafter 22. 
It will be understood that the roof rafters 22, being rectangular wooden 
members, are joined together to form a peak 28 by means of a nailing plate 
29 disposed flat against the side end portions of the rafters 22 by means 
of fastening means, such as nails 30. The pitch of the roof is from about 
four inches for each foot of roof to about seven inches for each foot of 
roof. 
Generally below but spaced apart by the roof rafters 22 are a pair of 
criss-crossed truss struts 32 which are secured at their outer end 
portions by means of fastening means, such as longitudinally extending 
bolts 33 to the end portions of the roof rafters 22, respectively, 
slightly inwardly of the double plates 14. Thus, the end portion of the 
truss struts 32 which are outwardly of bolts 33 rest upon the upper 
surfaces of the beams 15 of the double plates 14. 
The truss struts 32 extend inwardly and upwardly, diverging from their 
respective roof rafters 22 so as to pass each other vertically below the 
peak 28 approximately one-half the way between the plane of the upper 
surfaces of the beams 15 and the lower end portions of the roof rafters 
22. The truss struts 22 are straight and continue upwardly and outwardly 
beyond the center line 21 to terminate adjacent to an intermediate portion 
of the opposite roof rafter 22. One truss strut 32 is disposed forwardly 
of the transversely aligned roof rafters 22 so that the sides of its outer 
end portion abutts the side surface of each roof rafter 22 while the other 
truss strut 32 is disposed on the inner side of the two roof rafters 22. 
Therefore, at the intersection of the truss struts 32, there is a spacing 
of approximately the thickness of the roof rafters 22 between the adjacent 
inner surfaces of the criss-crossed portions of the truss struts 32. 
Fastening means, such as bolts 34, secure the outer end portions of the 
truss struts 32 to the intermediate portions of the roof rafters 22 at 
positions approximately one-third the distance from peak 28 to the end of 
the rafter 22 while the ends of the truss struts 32 are beveled so as to 
be parallel to the outer surfaces respectively of their truss struts 22, 
as seen in FIG. 1. 
Received between the spaced adjacent surfaces of the truss struts 32 is an 
upstanding king post 35 the lower end portion of which is between and 
secured to the criss-crossed portions of the truss struts 32 by a common 
fastening means, such as bolt 36. The king posts 35 extend upwardly and is 
generally pointed so as to receive and provide support for the lower inner 
end portions of the abutting roof rafters 22. The nail plate 29 extends 
over the upper end portion of the king post and nails 30 pass through this 
plate 29 and into the upper end portions of the king post 35 so as to 
secure the king post 35 in place, as seen in FIG. 1. The king post 35 is, 
thus, disposed vertically along the center line 21 and between the truss 
struts 32. 
Disposed at equal distances on opposite sides of the center line 21 are a 
pair of queen posts 40 the upper end portion of which is beveled and 
abutts against the roof rafters 22, at a position such that a bolt 41 will 
pass through and join the upper end portion of queen post 40 to the upper 
end portion of the truss strut 32. The lower end portion of the queen post 
40 is secured to an intermediate portion of its associated truss strut 32 
by means of a fastening means, such as bolt 42. 
The queen posts 40 are, therefore, rigid, rectangular, wooden upright 
members which are parallel to each other and are spaced approximately 
one-third the distance between the outer sides of the walls 17 and the 
center line 21, the queen posts 40 being parallel to and in a common 
transverse plane with the king posts 35. The king posts 35 and the queen 
posts 40 are thus in a common transverse plane with the roof rafters 22, 
one truss strut 32 being forwardly of that plane and the other truss strut 
32 of the each truss assembly 20 being rearwardly thereof. 
It will be understood that each of the fastening means or bolts 33, 34, 36, 
41 and 42 are through bolts which are received in appropriate holes and 
protrude outwardly beyond the elements which they join so as to receive, 
threadedly thereon, nuts, in the usual way. 
It will be seen that, when the portions of the struts 32 and rafters 22 are 
clamped by the bolts 33 or 34, such overlapped portions frictionally 
engage each other so as to reduce or eliminate the shearing load on such 
bolts. Hence, the abutting surfaces transfer the load from one element to 
the other without causing the entire load or even a major portion thereof 
to be transferred through the bolt. 
It will now be seen that when a force is applied downwardly on the peak 28, 
for example, this force will be transmitted to the roof rafters 22, to the 
king posts 35 and, thence, to the truss struts 32. This force is 
distributed quite evenly so that the forces along the roof rafters 22 tend 
to tension the truss struts 32 while the compressive force in the king 
posts 35 will impart a bending force to these truss struts 32 which will 
be resisted by the tension therein. Furthermore, the loading of the roof 
23 outwardly of the peak 28 will be resisted by the queen posts 40 and 
will also tend to impart a tension to the truss struts which will resist 
the bending which may be imparted by the queen posts 40 to the 
intermediate portions of the truss struts 32. Furthermore, such a loading 
will also be transmitted via the truss struts 32 and via the king posts 32 
to the peak 28. Hence, the load on generally any portion of the roof 23 is 
distributed to all members and will never be totally carried by any one of 
the fastening means such as the bolts or the nails 30. Furthermore, there 
appears to be essentially no outward movement, transversely of the 
building, imparted to the side walls due to such a loading on the roof 23. 
The roof rafters 22 which carry and transmit a major portion of the 
loading, are usually in compression which is immediately transmitted to 
all other elements of each truss when there is any loading on any part of 
the roof 23. The force on the double plates 14 is, however, essentially in 
a vertical direction. 
The roof 23, itself, joins adjacent truss assemblies 20 together while 
spaced, longitudinal, parallel, runners 50, which are received within 
upwardly opening longitudinally aligned notches in the truss struts 32, 
resist longitudinal shifting of the truss assemblies 20. These notches 51 
are outwardly adjacent to and spaced from the queen posts 40. It will be 
understood that it is preferable to form the various elements of the truss 
assembly, such as the roof rafters 22, the truss struts 32, the king posts 
35 and the queen posts 40 of the same cross-sectional dimensions. 
Preferably they should be rectangular boards such as 2.times.6's or 
2.times.8's. 
In a typical boathouse, the studs 13 are 18 feet high, the distance between 
the inner surfaces of the studs 13 is 28 feet 81/2 inches, the roof 
rafters 22 from peak 28 to outer end 12 is 18 feet, the truss struts 32 
are 22 feet, the king post 35 is 3 feet 5 inches, the distance from the 
bolt 36 to the center of the runner 50 is 7 feet and the distance from the 
runner 50 to the inner edge of the beam 15 is 7 feet. Furthermore, the 
distance from the peak 28 to the queen pin 40 is approximately 5 feet 6 
inches and the angle .alpha. suspended between the roof rafter 22 and the 
vertical center line 21 is approximately 68.degree. while the distance 
which the roof rafter 22 protrudes outwardly of the sidewall 17 is 
approximately 2 feet. The runners 50 are 1.times.8 longitudinal members 
which stiffen and join all trusses together. 
As stated above, the truss assembly and the roof 23 which it supports and 
have withstood winds in excess of 145 miles per hour. This was during the 
hurricane Frederick which recently struck Mobile, Ala. 
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be 
made in the embodiment here chosen for the purpose of illustrating the 
present invention and that full result may be had to the doctrine of 
equivalents, without departing from the scope of the present invention as 
defined by the appended claims.