Patent Publication Number: US-10760263-B2

Title: Rotatable connector for trusses

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/554,346, filed Sep. 5, 2017, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to trusses, and particularly to trusses having connectors for forming a string of trusses. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to trusses having rotatable connectors for attaching trusses together in a string with the trusses positioned at various angles to one another. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Lights and other equipment used for events, such as concerts, plays, or other gatherings, may be held on trusses. The trusses may be transported to an event location and secured together to form scaffolding for positioning the equipment relative to a stage, for example. The size and weight of the equipment attached to these trusses presents design challenges to their positioning and operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     A truss in accordance with the present disclosure includes a frame and a rotatable connector coupled to the frame. The frame includes a plurality of chords spaced apart and parallel to one another and a plurality of cross members extending between the chords to couple the chords together. The rotatable connector can attach with a connector of another truss to hold the trusses together in a string. At least a portion of the rotatable connector can rotate relative to the frame and allow trusses to be connected together at a variety of angles relative to one another. 
     In illustrative embodiments, the rotatable connector includes a sleeve, a rod, and a connector end. The sleeve engages with the truss in a fixed orientation. The rod extends at least partially through the sleeve and engages with the connector end. The rod engages with the sleeve to block removal of the connector end from the sleeve. The rod and the connector end can rotate together relative to the sleeve. 
     Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a truss in accordance with the present disclosure showing that the truss includes having a frame and a plurality of rotatable connectors attached to the frame for rotation relative to the frame; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the truss of  FIG. 1  showing the rotatable connector in a first position and suggesting that a connector end of the rotatable connector is configured to rotate relative to the frame about an axis (A) to a second position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , without removal of the rotatable connector from the frame; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the rotatable connector moved to the second position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view the truss of  FIG. 1  showing a second truss positioned to engage with the first truss to form a string of trusses and suggesting that the rotatable connectors can be rotated to allow attachment of the second truss to the first truss at multiple different angles; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded assembly view of the rotatable connector of  FIG. 2  showing that the rotatable connector includes a sleeve received in the frame and fixed thereto, a connector end, and a rod extending through the sleeve to engage with the connector end to hold the connector end on the sleeve and suggesting that the connector end and rod rotate together relative to the sleeve and chord; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the rotatable connector of  FIG. 5  showing the rotatable connector assembled together prior to insertion into the chord of the frame; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded assembly view of the rotatable connector of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A truss  100  in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1 . Truss  100  includes a frame  102  and a plurality of rotatable connectors  10  attached thereto. Frame  102  includes a plurality of chords  104  and cross members  106 . Chords  104  are spaced apart and parallel to one another. Cross members  106  extend between chords  104  to couple chords  104  together. Frame  102  can be formed in various dimensions with varying numbers of chords  104  and cross members  106  and is not limited to the specific configuration shown in shown in  FIG. 1 . Rotatable connectors  10  are at least partially received in chords  104  and configured to rotate relative to frame  102  as suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     One rotatable connector  10  is shown in a first position relative to frame  102  in  FIG. 2 . A connector end  12  of rotatable connector  10  is movable to at least a second position, shown in  FIG. 3 , without removal of rotatable connector  10  from frame  102 . In some embodiments, connector end  12  is configured to rotate 360 degrees relative to frame  102 . 
     Rotatable connector  10  allows truss  100  to attach with another truss  192  to form a string of trusses as suggested in  FIG. 4 . Truss  192  is generally aligned with truss  100  and rotatable connectors  10  are at a similar rotational position to allow rotatable connectors  10  to engage with one another. Alternatively or in addition to truss  192 , a truss  194  (shown in phantom) can attach with truss  100  at a first angle relative to truss  100 . Rotatable connectors  10  of truss  100  are in the first position to attach with rotatable connectors  10  of truss  194 . Alternatively or in addition to trusses  192 ,  194 , a truss  196  (shown in phantom) can attach with truss  100  at a second angle relative to truss  100 . Rotatable connectors  10  of truss  100  can be rotated to the second position to attach with rotatable connectors  10  of truss  196 . Rotatable connectors  10  allow technicians to assemble a string of trusses together at various angles by simply positioning rotatable connectors  10  at a desired angle without having to detach and reattach rotatable connectors  10 . 
     In one illustrative embodiment, rotatable connectors  10  in accordance with the present disclosure each include a connector end  12 , a sleeve  14 , and a rod  16  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Sleeve  14  is at least partially received in an interior space  106  of chord  104  and fixed thereto. Rod  16  extends at least partially through sleeve  14  along axis A to engage with connector end  12  to hold connector end  12  on sleeve  14 . Connector end  12  and rod  16  rotate together relative to sleeve  14  and chord  104 . Rod  16  allows rotation of connector end  12  while blocking removal of connector end  12  from sleeve  14  and chord  104 . 
     Connector end  12  includes a coupler  22  and a base  24  extending from coupler  22  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the illustrative embodiment, coupler  22  is a fork configured to engage with an eye (shown for example in  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) that fits into the fork and connects with the fork by a pin to secure truss  100  to another truss  192 ,  194 ,  196 . The terms fork and eye are used interchangeably herein, and both referred to as a coupler  22 , as rotatable connectors  10  can include a fork or an eye so that rotatable connectors  10  can attach with one another. It is to be understood that coupler  22  is not limited to forks or eyes, and can include other shapes as part of another mechanism for connecting rotatable connectors  10  together without departing from the present disclosure. 
     Sleeve  14  includes a body  32  and holes  34  extending through body  32  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Rod  16  includes a shank  42  and a head  44  coupled to shank  42 . Holes  46  extend through shank  42 . In the illustrative embodiment, a detent mechanism  48  (such as a ball bearing and spring) are received in head  48  and engage with set-point holes  36  of sleeve  14  to maintain a rotational position of rod  16  relative to sleeve  14  at the selection of a technician. Four set-point holes  36  are positioned at 90 degree intervals around sleeve  14  as suggested in  FIG. 5 , but more or less set-point holes  36  can be used and set closer or farther apart from one another. In some embodiments, a pin, fastener, or other positive locking feature is used to set a position of connector end  12  relative to sleeve  14 , chord  104 , or both. 
     A recess  52  is formed into base  24  of connector end  12  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . A minor bore  54  and a major bore  56  are formed into opposing ends of sleeve  14  and connect together to form a contiguous channel through sleeve  14 . In some embodiments, minor bore  54  and major bore  56  each extend half way into sleeve  14 , but each can extend more or less into sleeve  14 . A shoulder  58  is defined at a transition between major bore  56  and minor bore  54  within sleeve  14 . In the illustrative embodiment, minor bore  54  is the same or slightly larger in diameter relative to a diameter of shank  42  of rod  16 , and major bore  56  is the same or slightly larger in diameter relative to a diameter of head  44 . 
     Rod  16  extends at least partially through sleeve  14  along axis A to engage with connector end  12  as suggested in  FIGS. 5-9 . Head  44  of rod  16  is received in major bore  56  of sleeve  14  and engages with shoulder  58  to hold rod  16  from axially passing through sleeve  14 . Shank  42  of rod  16  is received at least partially through minor bore  54  of sleeve  14  and extends out from sleeve  14  to engage with recess  52  of connector end  12 . Pins  26  extend through holes  28  of connector end  12  and holes  46  of rod  16  to attach connector end  12  to rod  16 . In the illustrative embodiments, shank  42  is sized to hold connector end  12  in engagement or close to sleeve  14  when rotatable connector  10  is assembled. In some embodiments, connector end  12  is spaced apart from sleeve  14  when rotatable connector  10  is assembled. In some embodiments, connector end  12  is axially movable relative to sleeve  14  and rod  16  engages with sleeve  14  and connector end  12  to hold connector end  12  on sleeve  14 . In some embodiments, connector end  12  is retained on rod  16  by a pin, clip, fastener, or other device that allows axial and/or rotatable movement of connector end  12  relative to rod  16  while blocking removal of connector end  12  from rod  16  at the selection of a technician. 
     Rotatable connector  10  is at least partially received in interior space  106  of chord  104  as suggested in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Pins  38  extend through holes  108  of chord  104  and holes  34  of sleeve  14  to attach rotatable connector  10  to chord  104 . Sleeve  14  is rotatably fixed relative to chord  104  while connector end  12  and rod  16  can rotate relative to chord  104  about axis A. In some embodiments, sleeve  14  is retained on frame  102  by a pin, clip, fastener, or other device that allows axial and/or rotatable movement of sleeve  14  relative to chord  104  while blocking removal of rotatable connector  10  from chord  104  at the selection of a technician. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, sleeve  14  is completely received in chord  104  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Base  24  of connector end  12  is also received in chord  104 . In some embodiments, sleeve  14  extends partially out of chord  104  when mounted on frame  102 . In some embodiments, base  24  of connector end  12  is spaced apart from or only partially received in chord  104 . 
     Rotatable connectors  10  in accordance with the present disclosure are simple to manufacture and assemble. Rotatable connector  10  can be disassembled such that any of connector end  12 , sleeve  14 , or rod  16  can be replaced without needing to replace the whole rotatable connector  10 . Rotatable connectors  10  can have interchangeable couplers  22  to allow a technician to reconfigure attachment of trusses together. 
     Rotatable connectors  10  in accordance with the present disclosure can be used to attach a variety of different components together, such as trusses, poles, ladders, rigging, equipment, and other components and devices. Rotatable connectors  10  are useful in positioning components together for forming a variety of different structures, such as towers, scaffolding, walkways, and others, in a variety of different configurations, positions, and orientations. 
     While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.