Truss connector structure

A truss connector utilizing a first relatively flexible plate which has a first side and an opposite second side. A plurality of teeth extend from the second side of the first relatively flexible plate and are capable of penetrating the truss, which may be composed of softer material such as wood and the like. The second relatively rigid plate is fixed to the flexible plate such that the first side of the rigid plate contacts the second side of the flexible plate to form a unit. Apertures pass through the connected first and second plates to accept fasteners which bear on the relatively rigid plate and are capable of passing through the truss. Pairs of connectors may be employed in a truss assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a novel truss connector structure. 
Plates have often been used to reinforce or connect wooden structural 
members together in side-by-side or abutting configurations. For example, 
metallic plates have been employed to span the joint between two wooden 
members and have been nailed or bolted to the wooden members to keep them 
together. 
In addition, plates having teeth have also been used to span the joint 
between wooden members which are intended to be connected together. These 
latter arrangements, although they provide connection between the wooden 
members, is usually relatively weak and unable to withstand shear stress 
applied to wooden structures such as trusses. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,304,106, 3,347,126, and 3,667,337 describe grip plates for 
wooden truss members that employ plates having teeth of various 
configurations. Such structures are of limited value under the load 
applied to truss structures in buildings. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,501,181 describes a decorative structural wooden joint in 
which a toothed plate is covered by a decorative plate and tacked into 
place to cover a joint between two wooden members for aesthetic purposes 
only. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,170 shows a toothed plate which is used in combination 
with an underlying grommet plate of essentially the same gage as the 
toothed plate. The grommet plate possesses openings to receive the teeth 
from the top plate and to prevent movement between the toothed plate and 
the grommet plate. Thus, the teeth are aided in their gripping of the 
wooden members. 
A truss connector structure which employs a toothed plate and yet is far 
stronger than any toothed plate or toothed plate combination heretofore 
proposed for use in reinforcing truss structures, would be a notable 
advance in the building industries. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful truss connector 
is herein provided. 
The connector of the present invention utilizes a first relatively flexible 
plate having a first side and an opposite second side. A plurality of 
teeth extend from the second side of the flexible plate and are capable of 
penetrating the truss which is typically formed of wood. It should be 
noted, that the truss may also be formed of composite material, plastic 
material and the like. In any case, the teeth of the first plate are 
capable of penetrating whatever material is employed for the truss 
structures. A second relatively rigid plate is also included in the 
present invention and possesses a first side and an opposite second side. 
Connection means is employed for fixing the first side of the relatively 
flexible plate to the first side of the relatively rigid plate. The rigid 
plate may be formed of material having a larger gage than the flexible 
plate having the penetrating teeth. In certain instances, connection means 
may take the form of a weld or a series of spot welds between the plates. 
In other cases, the connection means may also take the form of a fastener, 
such as a nut and bolt, which is capable of passing through both plates as 
well as the truss member itself. 
In this regard, the first and second plates form a connector unit which 
exhibits great strength in the connection of truss members in a typical 
truss structure. Moreover, apertures are employed which pass through the 
connector unit and through the truss member. In many cases, a pair of 
connector units are employed on either side of the joint of the truss unit 
such that the apertures through the connector units and the truss members 
are aligned to hold a pair of connector units in compression on either 
side of the truss members. A fastener is normally employed to accomplish 
this task and is capable of passing through the apertures formed in the 
connector units and the truss member. Such fastener may take the form of a 
nut and bolt or other suitable connectors. Of course, a plurality of such 
connectors may be used with a pair of connector units on a truss 
structure. It has been found that connector of the present invention is 
far superior in resisting shear stress than prior art devices. 
It may be apparent that a novel and useful truss connector has been 
described hereinabove. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a truss 
connector which is capable of connecting joints in a truss structure and 
maintaining those joints in an integral fashion upon the application of 
stress forces. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a truss connector 
which is relatively simple to manufacture and install in a truss joint. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a truss connector 
which utilizes the superior penetration ability of a thin piece of 
material without destroying the integrity of a wooden structure and the 
strength of a relatively rigid member forming a portion of a truss 
connector unit. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a truss connector 
which may be employed in truss systems that are formed in parts and 
assembled on the site. 
The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns 
particular characteristics and features thereof which will become apparent 
as the specification continues.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the 
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which 
should be taken in conjunction with the hereinbefore described drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
For a better understanding of the invention references made to the 
hereinabove described drawings which should be taken in conjunction with 
the following detailed description. 
The invention as a whole is depicted in the drawings by reference character 
10. Truss connector 10 includes as one of its elements a first relatively 
flexible plate 12. Plate 12 includes a first side 14 and a second side 16. 
A plurality of teeth 18 extend from second side 16 of plate 12. Plurality 
of teeth 18 may be of any configuration which is known to be capable of 
penetrating material such as wood which is a typical construction material 
for a truss. 
Second relatively rigid plate 20 is also employed in the present invention. 
Plate 20 may be formed of any suitable material such as steel, aluminum, 
and the like. In any case, second relatively rigid plate is normally of a 
thicker gage and of a stiffer construction than first flexible plate 12. 
The second plate 20 has a first side 22 and an opposite second side 24. 
Turning to FIG. 2, it may be observed that connection means 26 is shown for 
fixing first plate 12 to second plate 20. Such connection means 26 may 
take the form of a plurality of spot welds 28 fixing first side 14 of the 
first plate 12 to first side 14 of rigid plate 20. Thus, connection means 
26 is employed to form a connector unit 30 which may be used as a truss 
connector by overlapping joints within a truss structure. In addition, 
apertures, such as apertures 32 and 34, may be found in the connector unit 
30. Apertures 32 and 34 accept bolts 36 and 38, which may be used with 
threaded nuts (not shown) to hold connector unit 30 to a truss structure, 
which will be described hereinafter. Without the use of spot welds, 
connection means 26 may simply take the form of fasteners such as bolts 36 
and 38. This aspect of the present invention will be more fully described 
in regard to FIGS. 3 and 4 which illustrate a truss unit which is to be 
assembled at the site of use. 
FIG. 3 illustrates the plurality of teeth 18 which may be punched through 
flexible plate 12 leaving a slot and a pair of teeth at either end of the 
slot. Thus, the connector unit 30 described in FIGS. 1-3 is a unitary 
member formed by the use of spot welds 28, and is employed to form a truss 
which is normally not disassembled before use. 
Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, it may be observed that connector unit 10A 
are used with truss members 40 and 42 are depicted. Members 40 and 42 form 
a corner of a truss structure and are connected by toothed plates 44 and 
46 which are overlain by a rigid plate 48. A similar set of toothed plates 
50 and 52 are found on the other side of truss members 40 and 42 from the 
position of plates 44 and 46. An overlying rigid plate 54 is employed in a 
similar manner with respect to rigid plate 48. A plurality of bolts 56 
pass through a plurality of apertures 58 which extend through members 40 
and 42 as well as plates 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54. Cooperative nuts 60 
thread to bolts 56 and hold the above-identified plates and members 40 and 
42 in compression. Thus, connection means 26 takes the form of a plurality 
of bolts 56, instead of a spot weld system depicted in FIGS. 1-3. The 
latter embodiment 10A of the present invention is especially useful in 
trusses that are to be assembled at the site for use. 
The following example is presented to illustrate the invention but is not 
deemed to limit it in any manner. 
EXAMPLE I 
Two connector plates as depicted in FIGS. 1-3 of the present application, 
were formed into 3 inch by 6 inch connector units. The connector units 
were pressed onto 4 inch by 4 inch wood studs on opposite sides of the 
studs without bolts. Another identical set of plates was used with an 
identical 4 by 4 stud connection, except that two, 31/4 inch diameter, 5 
inch long bolts were placed through the plates and the studs with 
cooperative nuts that were not tightened. A Tinius Olson Supper "L" U.T.M. 
400,000 pound capacity low testing device was employed. Three items in 
each set was used in the following tests. 
In set one, using the connector unit of FIGS. 1-3 without bolts, a failure 
occurred at 29,000 pounds, twice, and at 33,500 pounds, once in three 
tests. 
Utilizing set two, where bolts were loosely passed through the connector 
unit of FIGS. 1-3, failure was induced at the plates at 32,000 pounds in 
one test. Another test induced a failure at one of the two plate welds at 
35,000 pounds. However, the bolts in this test held as the load climbed to 
40,500 pounds. Finally, failure was induced in the wood at 34,600 pounds 
in the third test. In the latter test, the bolts held as the load climbed 
to 36,000 pounds. 
While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set 
forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete 
disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the 
art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing 
from the spirit and principles of the invention.