Abstract:
A truss assembly includes angled cross members and straight cross members which extend between two parallel truss members. Brackets are provided along the two parallel truss members for attachment to the ends of the angled and straight truss members. Slots are provided either in the brackets or in the angled truss members to permit pivotal movement of the angled truss members to accommodate varying dimensions of the truss assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/305,683 filed Jul. 16, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a truss construction. 
     In the construction of trusses various angle trusses extend between two parallel truss members, and are attached to the parallel truss members. Usually brackets are provided for attaching the angled truss members to the parallel truss members. Matching bolt holes in the ends of the angled truss members and in the brackets, are used to bolt the truss members to the brackets and thus create the truss assembly. 
     The problem encountered with presently known truss assemblies is the requirement that different brackets be used for truss assemblies that have different longitudinal dimensions or different dimensions between the two parallel truss members. So it is necessary to manufacture different brackets for each different dimension of truss assembly. 
     Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved truss construction. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved truss construction which requires only one set of brackets which can be universally used for truss assemblies having different dimensions. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved truss assembly which permits the angle of the trusses to be pivoted to accommodate varying dimensions. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved truss assembly which is economical to manufacturer, durable in use, and efficient in operation. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects can be achieved with a truss assembly having first and second elongated parallel truss members. A plurality of brackets are fixed to the first and second truss members in spaced apart relation to one another. Each of the brackets includes first, second and third pairs of bracket holes therein, each of the pairs of bracket holes comprising an end bracket hole and a second bracket hole. A plurality of first angled truss members, second angled truss members and straight truss members each have opposite ends. The opposite ends of each of these truss members being provided with an end truss hole and a second truss hole. Each of the first angled truss members, the second angled truss members and the straight truss members extending between the first and second elongated parallel truss members. A first end bolt extends through the truss end hole of one of the first angled trusses and through the bracket end hole of the first pair of bracket holes. A second bolt extends through the truss second hold of the first angled truss member and through the bracket second hole of the first pair of bracket holes. 
     A third bolt extends through the truss end hole of one of the second angled trusses and through the bracket end hole of the second pair of bracket holes. A fourth bolt extends through the second truss hole of the second angled truss and through the second bracket hole of the second pair of bracket holes. A fifth bolt extends through the end truss hole of one of the straight truss members and through the end bracket hole of the third pair of bracket holes. A sixth bolt extends through the second truss hole of the one straight truss member and through the second bracket hole of the third pair of bracket holes. One of the second truss hole of the first angled truss and the second bracket hole of the first pair of bracket holes is an elongated curved slot. One of the second truss hole of the second angled truss and the second bracket hole of the second pair of bracket holes is an elongated curved slot. 
     It is possible to form the slot either in the bracket or in the angled truss member with the same result. Nuts are threaded upon the six bolts for tightening them to attach the first and second angled truss members and the straight truss member to the one bracket. 
     This permits the first and second angled truss members to be pivoted to accommodate varying dimensions of length of the truss assembly and/or various widths between the two parallel truss members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a square truss construction. 
     FIG. 1A is a pictorial view of a portion of the square truss construction shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken along  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the truss plates of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the straight member attached to the truss plate of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of a splice between two vertical members of the truss assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 1A show the truss assembly  10 . Truss assembly  10  comprises four vertical members  12  arranged in a square configuration. The four members  12  each comprise an assembly made from various spliced configurations to be described in more detail hereafter. A plurality of splice joints  14  (shown in pictorial view in FIG. 6) are provided approximately every 20 feet (see FIGS.  1  and  6 ). Between each pair of splice joints  14  is an intermediate joint  16 . A first angle member  18  and a second angle member  20  are formed into an X and have their opposite ends connected to the spliced joints  14  or the intermediate joints  16 . In FIG. 1A only the front two sides are shown with cross truss members for the purpose of clarity, but all four sides include the angle members  18 ,  20 , and the straight members  22  as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an intermediate joint  16 . It comprises the vertical member  12  to which is welded a middle bracket  24 . Middle bracket  24  is shown in FIG. 4 to be rectangular in configuration and to include a pair of straight truss member holes  26 , a first angle hole  28 , a first angle curved slot  30 , a second angle end hole  32  and a second angle curved slot  34 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 2 the first angle  18  includes a pair of spaced apart end holes  36 . One of the end holes  36  is registered with the end hole  28  of bracket member  24 . The other end hole  36  is registered above the arcuate slot  30  in the middle bracket  24 . Use of the angular slot  30  permits angle member  18  to be pivoted to accommodate varying lengths of truss assemblies. Thus the sections of the assembly can be formed 20 feet apart, or other dimensions apart and the angle of the angle member  18  can be adjusted accordingly. 
     Similarly, the second angle member  20  includes a pair of end angle holes  38  which are registered over hole  32  and slot  34  and secured in the same manner. 
     The straight truss member  22  is preferably of a tubular construction and is welded to a straight truss plate  40  along a weld joint  39  in the manner shown in FIG.  5 . Plate  40  includes a pair of bolt holes  42  which are registered with the straight member holes  26  in the bracket  24 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the use of splice brackets  44 ,  46  which are mounted at the splice joint  24 . A pair of splice plates  48 ,  50  are mounted in facing relation to one another and are bolted together to create the splice joint. The bolts are not shown in the drawings in order to show the registered holes and slots of plates  24 ,  44 ,  46  and truss members  18 ,  20 ,  22  more clearly. The brackets  44 ,  46  are each provided with an end hole  52  and a curved slot  54  which are registered with the end holds  36 ,  38  of angles  18 ,  20   
     FIG. 6 shows the manner in which the splice joint  14  is assembled. Bolts  56  extending through bolt holes  58  are used to secure the splice plates  48 ,  50  together. 
     The advantage of the present invention is that the use of the arcuate slots  30  in the intermediate plate  24  and the arcuate slots  54  in the two end brackets  44 ,  46  permit a universal assembly for assembling truss assemblies of different dimensions. The plates  24 ,  44  and  46  can be welded to the vertical corner members  12 , and various sized truss assemblies can be constructed merely by rotating the angle members  18 ,  20  to accommodate the varying dimensions. The arcuate slots permit this variation in angle of the angle members  18 ,  20 . Using these slotted adapter plates  24 ,  44 ,  46  requires only one set of plates for trusses of various dimensions. In prior truss assemblies without the slots  30 ,  34  and  54 , different plates were required for each truss having a different longitudinal dimension. 
     In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.