Abstract:
A truss and connector assembly for use in housing structures is shown. The connector provides a direct and integral mounting of the truss to the wall studs to provide increased mounting strength for the roof assembly to the side walls of a structure. A connector according to the invention can be integrally preassembled to a truss at one location and connected to remaining portions of the truss at a separate location.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/319,658, filed on Oct. 29, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a connector for a truss assembly for the framework of a building and, more particularly, to a preassembled truss having a connector for securing internal chords of a truss to one another. In one particular aspect, the invention is particularly beneficial for preassembled roof trusses which are manufactured at a facility and shipped to a home builder&#39;s facility for installation on a roof truss and/or to a worksite for installation, such as in a modular housing structure. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The structural framework of a conventional structure typically comprises a plurality of wall studs spaced from one another, a horizontal top plate extending along the top edge of each of the wall studs and a plurality of roof trusses mounted to the top plate or studs. Internal chords making up a roof trusses must be securely mounted to one another to ensure a solid, rigid structure when the truss is finally mounted on a supporting structure. 
   Prior art connector straps have some shortcomings when applied in the area of preassembled (often referred to as “manufactured” or “modular”) homes. Modular home builders have difficulty designing a satisfactory uplift connection between a knee wall and a kingpost or a bottom chord of a roof truss for a modular home. The roof is typically raised into a final position at the construction site and the installers must then make the final connection between the knee wall and the kingpost/bottom chord. The current industry “standard” for making these connections is for builders to “shoot” nails from pneumatic nail guns at an angle (often referred to as a “toe nail”) to the knee wall into at least a runner rail and a kingpost. They also may use a wood sidemember placed along side the folding knee wall and kingpost secured with pneumatically driven nails or staples. 
   Currently, the manufacturers use a variety of methods to achieve this connection, including toe-nailing the knee wall to the kingpost or applying a side member attached with nails to both the knee wall and kingpost. These methods have very little quality control and result in field connections with widely varying levels of quality and structural strength. Building inspectors often become concerned about the lack of consistency in the design and application of these field connections on modular trusses. Building inspectors in several states (e.g., Michigan and New York) have expressed serious reservations about allowing manufacturers to continue making the connection with only toe nails or wood side-members. Many building inspectors have deemed these connection methods unsatisfactory. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   In various aspects, the invention relates to a truss and a connector for use in conventional building and/or housing structures. The strap provides a direct and integral mounting to internal chords making up the truss to provide increased mounting strength for the truss. A connector according to the invention can be integrally preassembled to a truss at one location and rigidly erected into a final position atop a supporting structure at an installation location. 
   A strong, “clean” pre-engineered connection can be built integral with the truss at the time of truss manufacture. This saves home building setup crews from making job-specific connections between roof truss components which may include cutting numerous wood blocks and driving numerous mechanical fasteners (nails and staples) to attempt to provide a finished field connection. Rather, the connector described herein is a pre-engineered connection that can readily be evaluated by structural engineers and building inspectors for performance. The integral connection saves setup crews time when making final connections. Due to the pre-engineered nature of the connector, building inspectors more readily accept the fastening method, thereby resulting in fewer call-backs and design rejections by building inspectors. 
   Because the connector is installed integral to the truss at the time of truss manufacture, the connector can be shipped with a preassembled truss and allows a home setup crew to quickly and efficiently fasten sub-components of a roof truss (such as a swing-down knee-wall connection to a king post, and also to attach a swing-down knee wall in a Cape Cod-style design. By providing this integral connection, manufacturers are able to set up their houses more expeditiously with a much higher-quality connection between the knee wall and king post and/or the knee wall and the bottom chord of a roof truss. 
   In one aspect, the invention relates to a connector strap for a truss made up of a matrix of interconnected chords comprising: a web having a first end and a second end; a first sidestep portion extending laterally from the first end of the web; a second sidestep portion extending laterally from the second end of the web; wherein the first sidestep portion and the second sidestep portion cooperate to form a recess whereby the connector strap can be used to interconnect a first and a second chord member of the truss while being passed around a third chord member of the truss that is disposed in the recess. 
   In another aspect, the invention relates to a prefabricated roof truss that is positionable in a first collapsed position and a second erected position comprising: a matrix of interconnected chord members forming a truss in the second erected position; a first chord member of the truss having a connector strap mounted thereto, the connector strap having a first end interconnected to the first chord member and a second end extending therefrom, the first and second ends having an offset portion therebetween that defines a recess therebetween; a second chord member that is positionable adjacent to the first chord member, wherein the second end of the connector is adapted to be interconnected to the second chord member when the truss is positioned in the second, erected position; a third chord member positionable adjacent to and generally orthogonally to the first and second chord members and generally intersecting the first and second chord members, wherein the third chord member is at least partially received in the recess of the connector when the first and second ends thereof are mounted to the respective first and second chords. 
   Various embodiments of the invention are also contemplated. For example, the web can be elongated or planar. The web can include a hinge portion between the first end and the second end thereof, wherein the first sidestep portion can thereby be pivoted with respect to the second sidestep portion. The web can include at least one mounting portion thereon. 
   The mounting portion can comprise an aperture. The mounting portion can comprise an integral connector. The mounting portion can comprise a drivable connector. The mounting portion can comprise a nail plate. 
   The first sidestep portion can include at least one mounting portion thereon. The second sidestep portion can include at least one mounting portion thereon. The web can be deformable between a first linear position and a second final mounting position, whereby the web can be de-formed when mounted between a pair of chord members in the truss. The first sidestep portion can have an integral mounting portion thereon and the second sidestep portion can have a field mounting thereon. The integral mounting portion of the first sidestep portion can be integrally mounted to a first chord member of the truss at the time of manufacture of the truss, and the second sidestep portion can be extended from the first truss member in a position adapted to receive a second chord member of the truss. The second truss member can be mounted to the second sidestep portion of the connector when the truss is erected in the field. 
   A third truss member can be positioned within the recess of the connector to allow the connector to wrap around the third chord member when mounting the first and second chord members together with the connector. The first and second sidestep portions can extend from the respective first and second ends of the connector in substantially the same lateral direction. The first and second sidestep portions can extend angularly from the respective first and second ends of the connector in substantially the same direction. The first and second sidestep portions can extend from the respective first and second ends of the connector in substantially the opposite lateral direction. The first and second sidestep portions can extend angularly from the respective first and second ends of the connector in substantially the opposite direction. At least one of the first and second sidestep portions can extend generally parallel to the web, and can be interconnected to the web in an offset manner by a laterally-extending connecting web. The laterally-extending connecting web can be oriented angularly with respect to the web. 
   The web can include a hinge portion between the first end and the second end thereof, wherein the first sidestep portion can thereby be pivoted with respect to the second sidestep portion. The web can be deformable between a first linear position and a second final mounting position, whereby the web can be deformed when mounted between a pair of chord members in the truss. The first sidestep portion can have an integral mounting portion thereon and the second sidestep portion can have a field mounting thereon. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tie-down strap according to the invention, wherein a front elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 1 , wherein a rear elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the first embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a single monohinge truss having the tie-down strap of  FIGS. 1–4  mounted thereto, wherein the truss is shown in a collapsed state. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked VI in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged front elevational view of the area marked VII in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the truss of  FIG. 5  configured into an erect position. 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked IX in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged front elevational view of the area marked X in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of a pair of juxtaposed trusses of  FIG. 8  in the erect position mounted atop a housing frame to form a roof portion thereof. 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked XII in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 13  is an enlarged front elevational view of the area marked XIII in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of a Cape Cod-style roof truss shown atop a housing frame in a disassembled state, wherein bottom chords of the roof truss have tiedown straps of  FIGS. 1–4  mounted thereto. 
       FIG. 15  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked XV in  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 16  is an enlarged front elevational view of the area marked XVI in  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 17  is a front elevational view of the truss of  FIG. 14  configured into an erect position. 
       FIG. 18  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked XVIII in  FIG. 17 . 
       FIG. 19  is an enlarged front elevational view of the area marked XIX in  FIG. 17 . 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tie-down strap according to the invention, wherein a front elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 20 , wherein a rear elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 22  is a front elevational view of the second embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 23  is a side elevational view of the second embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 24  is a front elevational view of a Cape Cod-style roof truss shown atop a housing frame in a disassembled state, wherein bottom chords of the roof truss have tie-down straps of  FIGS. 20–23  mounted thereto. 
       FIG. 25  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked XXV in  FIG. 24 . 
       FIG. 26  is an enlarged front elevational view of the area marked XXVI in  FIG. 24 . 
       FIG. 27  is a front elevational view of the truss of  FIG. 24  configured into an erect position. 
       FIG. 28  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked XXVIII in  FIG. 27 . 
       FIG. 29  is an enlarged front elevational view of the area marked XXIX in  FIG. 27 . 
       FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a tie-down strap according to the invention, wherein a front elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 31  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 30 , wherein a rear elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 32  is a front elevational view of the third embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 30 . 
       FIG. 33  is a side elevational view of the third embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 30 . 
       FIG. 34  is a front elevational view of a roof truss for mounting atop a housing frame in an erect position, wherein internal chords of the roof truss have a tie-down strap of  FIGS. 30–33  mounted thereto. 
       FIG. 35  is an enlarged elevational view of the area marked XXXV in  FIG. 34 . 
       FIG. 36  is an enlarged front perspective view of the area marked XXXVI in  FIG. 34 . 
       FIG. 37  is a front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of a tie-down strap according to the invention. 
       FIG. 38  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a tie-down strap according to the invention, wherein a front elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 39  is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 38 , wherein a rear elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 40  is a front elevational view of the fifth embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 38 . 
       FIG. 41  is a side elevational view of the fifth embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 38 . 
       FIG. 42  is a front elevational view of a roof truss for mounting atop a housing frame in an erect position, wherein internal chords of the roof truss have a tie-down strap of  FIGS. 38–41  mounted thereto. 
       FIG. 43  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked XLIII in  FIG. 42 . 
       FIG. 44  is an enlarged front elevational view of the area marked XLIV in  FIG. 42 . 
       FIG. 45  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a tie-down strap according to the invention, wherein a front elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 46  is a perspective view of the sixth embodiment of the tie-down strap of  FIG. 45 , wherein a rear elevational side of the tie-down strap is shown in detail. 
       FIG. 47  is a front elevational view of a single monohinge truss having the tie-down strap of  FIGS. 45–46  mounted thereto, wherein the truss is shown in an erected state. 
       FIG. 48  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked XLVIII in  FIG. 47 . 
       FIG. 49  is a front elevational view of a pair of juxtaposed trusses of  FIG. 47  in the erect position mounted atop a housing frame to form a roof portion thereof. 
       FIG. 50  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked XL in  FIG. 49 . 
       FIG. 51  is a front elevational view of a Cape Cod-style roof truss in an erected state, wherein kneewall chords of the roof truss have tie-down straps of  FIGS. 45–46  mounted thereto. 
       FIG. 52  is an enlarged perspective view of the area marked XLII in  FIG. 51 . 
       FIG. 53  is an enlarged front elevational view of the area marked XLIII in  FIG. 51 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings and to  FIGS. 1–4  in particular, a connector  10 , commonly referred to as a “tie-down strap,” is shown for the function of interconnecting various chords of a roof truss. While it has been found that making the connector  10  out of a 20-gauge galvanized steel is preferable, any suitable material having sufficient strength and flexibility for performing the required interconnection can be employed without departing from the scope of this invention. 
   The connector  10  comprises a first engagement portion  12  and a second engagement portion  14  interconnected by a web  16 . Although the web  16  is shown as an elongated member extending at a generally orthogonal position with respect to the first and second engagement portions  12  and  14 , any suitable member which interconnects the first and second engagement portions  12  and  14 , holds the first and second engagement portions at a particular distance with respect to one another and can be bent at a selected angle is suitable for the web  16  and can be substituted for the web  16  shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of this invention. The web  16  can include additional optional features such as a ribs, slots, separated openings and the like to facilitate the bendable nature of the connector  10 . Of course, it can be seen that bending the web  16  is an optional embodiment, and the web  16  can be simply provided as a rigid member as well. 
   The first engagement portion  12  is shown by example in  FIGS. 1–4  and generally comprises a member suitable for integral interconnection to a wood member, such as a roof truss chord, such as those typical manufacturing steps performed during the preconstruction of a manufactured housing roof truss. In the example embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1–4 , the first engagement portion  12  generally comprises a plate  20  having several rearwardly-extending fasteners  22  adapted to the press-fit into a wood member, such as a roof truss chord, during a manufactured truss forming operation. In the example embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1–4 , the fasteners  22  comprise a nail plate configuration, typically formed by a stamping operation which rearwardly deforms several pointed tangs which can be integrally formed with a wood member during a stamping operation. 
   The second engagement portion  14  is shown by example in  FIGS. 1–4  and generally comprises a member suitable for subsequent interconnection to a wood member, such as a roof truss chord. In the example embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1–4 , the second engagement portion  14  generally comprises a plate  24  having several apertures  26  suitable for receipt of a conventional fastener to attach the plate  24  to a wood member, such as a roof truss chord, during non-site assembly of manufactured housing. Typical fasteners used in these assembly operations include nails, screws, and the like. 
   The plate  24  can also include a pre-punched temporary fastening tab  28  which is preferably stamped from the plate  14  in a rearwardly direction and includes a pointed tip  30 . The tab  28  is designed to be temporarily interconnected with a wood member during manufacturing and/or on-site manufactured housing assembly operations. Such temporary interconnection is typically performed by placing the plate  24  with the fastening tab  28  pointed toward the wood member to which the plate  24  is to be temporarily interconnected and hammering (or otherwise pressing) the plate  24  to drive the temporary fastening tab  28  into the wood member. The purpose of fastening the plate  24  into the wood member is to secure it during transportation of the completed, collapsed roof truss to a home builder&#39;s plant or installation site. 
   In assembly, the connector  10  can be formed in a number of ways without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the first and second engagement portions  12  and  14  and the web  16  can be stamped or other-wise formed from a single piece of material and roll-formed, stamped or otherwise manipulated into the shapes shown in  FIGS. 1–4 . In addition, as another example, the first and second engagement portions  12  and  14  and the web  16  can be formed as separate members and interconnected in a conventional manner, such as by welding to form the shape shown in  FIGS. 1–4 . Other manufacturing techniques and processes can be employed to form the connector  10  without departing from the scope of this invention. 
   In use, the connector  10  is preferably integrally formed to a wood member. This integral formation of the connector  10  with a wood member is performed by hammering, pressing or otherwise inserting the fasteners  22  on the first engagement portion  12  into a wood member. Preferably, this manufacturing operation is performed at a manufacturing facility for forming manufactured housing components, although this step can be formed anywhere without departing from the scope of this invention. 
     FIGS. 5–19  show examples of the connector  10  in use. More particularly, these figures show examples of the use of the connector  10  in the manufacture and assembly of a roof truss. The commercial advantages of the connector  10  as described herein become particularly evident when use of the connector  10  is illustrated in connection with a collapsible roof truss which is erectable into an erected state from a collapsed state through the use of hinge joint interconnecting various chords of the roof truss. It will be understood that the particular configurations of roof trusses shown herein should not be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention, but rather indicative of the broad range of use of the connector  10 . 
   The examples of the trusses shown herein are shown generally by reference  100  and include several common sub-components of trusses known in the art, such as: one or more top chords  102 , a bottom chord  104 , a vertical web chord  106 , a diagonal web chord  108  a kingpost  110  (substituted with a collar tie  110  in some truss configurations), a knee wall  112 , a ridge beam  114 , a runner rail  116 , and a peak chord  118 . In addition, the roof trusses  100  shown herein also employ various connection components including, but not limited to: a conventional nail plate  120 , a double-ganged hinged nail plate  122 , and the like. It will be understood that, although different configurations of roof trusses  100  are shown herein, common sub-components of different configurations of the roof trusses  100  are identified with common reference numerals. 
   Also, some of the embodiments of the trusses  100  shown herein are shown atop a conventional stud wall  130 . As shown by example, the conventional stud wall  130  shown in the drawings generally comprises a flooring member such as a floor joist  132  supporting vertically-extending walls  134 . 
     FIGS. 5–7  and  8 – 10  show one embodiment of a roof truss  100  which generally forms one-half (i.e., a right triangular portion) of a roof for a housing structure into the movable between a collapsed and an erected structure, respectively. 
     FIGS. 5–7  show a roof truss  100  in a mono truss formation which is in a collapsed state. The roof truss  100  shown in  FIGS. 5–7  comprises an upper top chord and a lower top chord  102  interconnected at opposed ends by a first hinge plate  122 . An outer end of the lower top chord  102  is interconnected by a fixed nail plate to an end of a bottom chord  104 . An opposite end of the bottom chord  104  is fixed to a vertically-extending kingpost  110  and an end of a diagonal chord  108  by another nail plate  120 . An opposite end of the diagonal chord  108  is interconnected to a vertical web chord  106  and to an upper end of the lower top chord  102  by another nail plate  120 . A bottom end of the vertical web chord  106  is interconnected to the bottom chord  104  by a nail plate  120 . At its upper end, the upper top chord  102  is interconnected to a knee wall  112  by a second hinge nail plate  122 . A ridge beam  114  is typically mounted adjacent the kingpost  110  on the roof truss  100 . 
   The connector  10  is interconnected to the upper end of the kingpost  110  by pressing the fasteners  22  on the plate  20  of the first engagement portion  12  into an upper surface of the kingpost  110 . As also can be seen from  FIGS. 5–7 , the web  16  of the connector  10  is then at a predetermined angle, preferably in a manufacturing operation when the roof truss  100  was formed into its collapsed state. It is in this state, as shown in  FIG. 5 , that the roof truss  100  would be shipped from a truss manufacturing facility to a home-building facility or an on-site installation location for mounting atop a stud wall  130 . If the roof truss  100  is shipped to a home builder&#39;s plant, the roof truss can be finished into a modular housing unit and shipped in a collapsed state to a final home-building site where the home is set on a foundation and the folded roof truss  100  is raised into place. 
   Now with reference to  FIGS. 8–10 , the roof truss  100  as shown in  FIG. 8  is positioned into the erected position by swinging the upper top chord  102  about the first hinge plate  122  and swinging the knee wall  112  about the second hinge plate  122  until they are into position as shown in  FIG. 8 . When the knee wall  112  is so positioned, its lower end is received adjacent to the plate  24  on the second engagement portion  14  of the connector  10  which had been previously mounted to the kingpost  110 . The second engagement portion  14  can thereby be more fixedly mounted to the lower end of the knee wall  112  by passing fasteners through the apertures  26  and the plate  24  of the second engagement portion  14 . The temporary fastening tab  28  can be temporarily pressed into the wood making up the knee wall  112  to assist an installer in positioning the second engagement portion  14  of the connector  10  with respect to the lower end of the knee wall  112 . The temporary fastening tab  28  can also be used during the truss manufacturing process to temporarily secure the first engagement portion  12  to the kingpost  110 . The strap web  16  is preferably folded over the top of the kingpost  110  and the first engagement portion  12  would be secured to the opposite side of the knee wall  110  whereby the connector  10  is secured during truss handling and transportation to the home manufacturing facility and/or final installation site. 
     FIGS. 11–13  illustrate the collapsible roof truss  100  of  FIGS. 5–10  used in conjunction with a pair of peak chords  118  to form an entire generally isosceles triangular roof truss assembly with a pair of opposed roof trusses  100  set a top a stud wall  130  having a floor joist  132  and upstanding walls  134  around its perimeter. As can be seen best in  FIG. 11 , a pair of the connectors  10  are used atop each kingpost  110  to form the junction between the kingpost  110 , the knee wall  112  and optional runner rail  116 . 
     FIGS. 14–16  and  17 – 19  illustrate a Cape Cod-style roof truss  100  movable between a collapsed and an erected state, respectively. The construction of the Cape Cod-style roof truss is very similar to the embodiment described in the previous  FIGS. 5–14  except for some minor differences in construction, such as the knee walls  112  are mounted in a vertical orientation and a collar tie  110 ′ as shown best in  FIG. 17  which interconnects the upper end of each of the upper top chords  102  in a horizontal configuration. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 14 and 17 , the first engagement portion  12  of the connector  10  is mounted to an upper surface of the kingpost  110  and, in this roof truss style, the web  16  of the connector  10  is in a straight (i.e., vertical) configuration. As seen best in  FIGS. 17–19 , the collapsed state of the roof truss  100  in  FIGS. 14–16  can be moved from the collapsed state to the erected state by swinging the upper top chord  102  upwardly about the first hinge plate  122  and between the knee wall  112  downwardly into alignment with the second engagement portion  14  of the connector  10 . The collar tie  110 ′ interconnects the upper end of the upper top chords  102  and provides support for the peak chords  118  forming the crown of the roof truss  100 . The mounting of the connector  10  to the kingpost  110  and to the knee wall  112  to form the knee wall-kingpost junction is as previously described. 
   A second embodiment of the connector  10  is shown by example in  FIGS. 20–23 . It will be understood that like elements between the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1–4  and the second embodiment of  FIGS. 20–23  are referred to with identical reference numerals. The only difference between the first and second embodiment of  FIGS. 1–4  and  20 – 23 , respectively, is that the first and second engagement portions  12  and  14  are configured in an S-shaped configuration whereby the web  16  is generally aligned along a medial vertical axis of the connector  10  and the first engagement portion  12  extends orthogonally from this vertical axis in a first lateral direction and the second engagement portion  12  extends orthogonally from this vertical axis in a second lateral direction. Preferably, the first and second engagement portion  12  and  14  are plainly aligned with one another on the web  16 . This configuration of the connector  10  is useful in areas where an offset alignment of various chord members of a roof truss  100  must be employed due to state limitations, profile requirements and the like. The S-shaped configuration also allows a runner rail  116  to pass unobstructed adjacent to the top portion of the first engagement portion  12  having no fasteners  22  pre-punched into the plate  20 . This configuration is shown by example in  FIG. 28 . 
   An example of a roof truss  100  employing the second embodiment of the connector  10  shown in  FIGS. 20–23  is shown in a collapsed state and  FIGS. 24–26  and in an erected state in  FIGS. 27–29 . The construction of this roof truss  100  shown in  FIGS. 24–29  is very similar to that shown in  FIGS. 14–19  except that the kingpost  110  has been eliminated in favor of a direct connection by the connector  10  to the bottom chord  104  in each case. As can best be seen in  FIGS. 24–26 , the first engagement portion  12  of the connector  10  is connected directly to a vertical surface of the bottom chord  104  in a manner consistent with that described previously with respect to the mounting of the first engagement portion  12  to an upper portion of the kingpost  110 . 
   The roof truss  100  would thereby be shipped to an on-site installation location with the connector  10  extending upwardly therefrom. Turning to  FIGS. 27–29 , the upper top chord  102  is swung about the first hinge plate  122  and the knee wall  112  is positioned into a vertical orientation and alignment with the second engagement portion  14  of the connector  10 . The second engagement portion  14  is thereby mounted to the knee wall  112  as previously described. As can be seen in  FIG. 28 , the second embodiment of the connector  10  is useful in “jogging” around various chords making up the roof truss  110  such as the runner rail  116  around which the connector  10  passes as shown in  FIG. 28 . 
   A third embodiment of the connector  10  is shown by example in  FIGS. 30–33 . It will be understood that like elements between the first and second embodiments of  FIGS. 1–29  and the third embodiment of  FIGS. 30–33  are referred to with identical reference numerals. A difference between the earlier embodiments of  FIGS. 1–29  and the third embodiment of  FIGS. 30–33 , respectively, is that the connector  10  in the earlier embodiments has a generally linear web  16  whereby the web  16  of the third embodiment of  FIGS. 30–33  has a side step configuration. This side step configuration has a web  16  having an elongated body  16   a  interconnected to the first and second engagement portions  12  and  14  by angular webs  16   b  and  16   c , respectively. 
   The first and second engagement portions  12  and  14  are maintained in generally linear alignment with one another as the angular webs  16   b  and  16   c  laterally offset the elongated body  16   a  from this linear alignment, creating a recess  16   d  between the web portions  16   a ,  16   b  and  16   c  and between the first and second engagement portions  12  and  14 . It will be understood that it is not critical to this invention that the first and second engagement portions  12  and  14  be maintained in linear alignment and that different configurations and alignments of the first and second engagement portions are contemplated without departing from the scope of this invention. This configuration of the connector  10  is useful in areas where an internal chord member of a roof truss creates an obstruction to the interconnection of a pair of roof truss chords, in that the side step configuration of the third embodiment of the connector  10  can be used to conveniently traverse an obstructing and/or intervening chord member as described below with respect to  FIGS. 34–36 . 
   An example of a roof truss  100  employing the third embodiment of the connector  10  shown in  FIGS. 30–33  is shown  FIGS. 34–36 . It will be understood that the roof truss  100  of  FIGS. 34–36  can be collapsed and erected in similar manner to the roof trusses shown and described earlier in  FIGS. 1–29 . As can best be seen in  FIGS. 24–26 , the first engagement portion  12  of the third embodiment of the connector  10  is connected directly to a vertical surface adjacent a lower end portion of the knee wall  112  in an integral manner consistent with that described previously with respect to the earlier embodiments. 
   Typically after connection of the connector  10  to the knee wall  112  at a manufacturing facility, the roof truss  100  would thereby be shipped in a collapsed state (due to the pivoting of the hinge plates  122  therein) to an on-site installation location. The upper top chord  102  is then swung about the first hinge plate  122  and the knee wall  112  is positioned into alignment so that the second engagement portion  14  of the connector  10  is aligned with a vertical surface adjacent a top portion of the kingpost  110 . The second engagement portion  14  is thereby mounted to the kingpost  110  by any suitable fastener, such as screws or nails passed through the apertures  26  in the second engagement portion  14  and/or any apertures  26  in any portion of the web  16 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 34–36 , the third embodiment of the connector  10  is useful in “jogging” around various chords making up the roof truss  100  such as the runner rail  116  around which the connector  10  passes as shown in  FIGS. 34–36 . As can be seen in these Figures, the angled web portions  16   b  and  16   c  traverse the web portion  16   a  around the runner rail  116  so that the runner rail  116  simply rests in the recess  16   d.    
     FIG. 37  shows a fourth embodiment of the connector  10 . A difference between the fourth embodiment of  FIG. 37  and the third embodiment shown in  FIGS. 30–36  is that the nail plate on the first engagement portion  12  is replaced with several mounting apertures  26  so that the connector  10  can be field mounted to a pair of internal chords of a roof truss with suitable fasteners. Thus, like components and elements common to the fourth embodiment of  FIG. 37  and the previous embodiments of  FIGS. 1–36  are described with like reference numerals in the drawings. The structure, assembly and use of the fourth embodiment of the connector  10  in  FIG. 37  is otherwise identical to that described with respect to the third embodiment (and the previous) embodiments of  FIGS. 1–36 . 
   A fifth embodiment of the connector  10  is shown by example in  FIGS. 38–41 . It will be understood that like elements between the first through fourth embodiments of  FIGS. 1–37  and the fifth embodiment of  FIGS. 38–41  are referred to with identical reference numerals. A difference between the earlier embodiments of  FIGS. 1–37  and the fifth embodiment of  FIGS. 38–41 , respectively, is that the connector  10  in the earlier embodiments has a generally solid web  16  whereby the web  16  of the third embodiment of  FIGS. 38–41  has a hinged portion  16   e  therein. This hinged portion  16   e  pivotally interconnects a pair of segments of the web  16  allowing the first engagement portion  12  to be pivoted with respect to the second engagement portion  14  through the hinged portion  16   e  in the web  16 . Of course, as shown in  FIGS. 38–41 , the web  16  can also optionally have a side step configuration as in the third embodiment whereby the web  16  is offset from a linear axis of the connector  10  by angle webs  16   b  and  16   c.    
   This configuration of the connector  10  is useful in areas where an internal chord member of a roof truss creates an obstruction to the interconnection of a pair of roof truss chords, in that the hinged portion  16   e  of the fifth embodiment of the connector  10  can be used to conveniently pivot one of the engagement portions  12  and/or  14  to traverse an obstructing and/or intervening chord member to bring one of the engagement portions into alignment with another chord of the roof truss for attachment as described below with respect to  FIGS. 42–44 . 
   An example of a roof truss  100  employing the fifth embodiment of the connector  10  shown in  FIGS. 38–41  is shown  FIGS. 42–44 . It will be understood that the roof truss  100  of  FIGS. 42–44  can be collapsed and erected in similar manner to the roof trusses shown and described with respect to the earlier embodiments in  FIGS. 1–37 . As can best be seen in  FIGS. 42–44 , the first engagement portion  12  of the third embodiment of the connector  10  is connected directly to a vertical surface adjacent a lower end portion of the knee wall  112  in an integral manner consistent with that described previously with respect to the earlier embodiments. 
   Typically after connection of the connector  10  to the knee wall  112  at a manufacturing facility, the roof truss  100  would thereby be shipped in a collapsed state (due to the pivoting of the hinge plates  122  therein) to an on-site installation location. The upper top chord  102  is then swung about the first hinge plate  122  and the knee wall  112  is positioned into alignment so that the second engagement portion  14  of the connector  10  is aligned with a vertical surface adjacent a top portion of the kingpost  110 . The second engagement portion  14  is thereby mounted to the kingpost  110  by any suitable fastener, such as screws or nails passed through the apertures  26  in the second engagement portion  14  and/or any apertures  26  in any portion of the web  16 . 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 42–44 , the fifth embodiment of the connector  10  can be manipulated through pivotal movement of the segments making up the web  16  (i.e., through pivoting movement of the hinged portion  16   e ) into alignment with a desired portion of the kingpost  110 . If the connector  10  includes angled portions  16   b  and  16   c  as shown in  FIGS. 42–44 , the web  16  can be jogged around various chords making up the roof truss  100  such as the runner rail  116  around which the connector  10  can be passed. As can be seen in these Figures, the angled web portions  16   b  and  16   c  traverse the web portion  16   a  around the runner rail  116  so that the runner rail  116  simply rests in the recess  16   d . A beneficial feature of the angled web  16  ( 16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c ) creating the gap  16   d  and/or the hinged portion  16   e  eliminates the need to bend the material (e.g., steel) making up the connector  10  in the field to make a proper fit between the internal chords of a roof truss  100 . 
   A sixth embodiment of the connector  10  is shown by example in  FIGS. 45–53  and in greater detail in  FIGS. 45–46 . It will be understood that like elements between the first through fifth embodiments of  FIGS. 1–44  and the sixth embodiment of  FIGS. 45–53  are referred to with identical reference numerals. Of course, as shown in  FIGS. 45–46 , the web  16  can also optionally have a side-step configuration as in previous embodiments whereby the web  16  is offset from a linear axis of the connector  10  by angle webs  16   b  and  16   c.    
   This configuration of the connector  10 , as with previous embodiments thereof, is useful in areas where an internal chord member of a roof truss creates an obstruction to the interconnection of a pair of roof truss chords, in that the hinged portion  16   e  of the fifth embodiment of the connector  10  can be used to conveniently pivot one of the engagement portions  12  and/or  14  to traverse an obstructing and/or intervening chord member to bring one of the engagement portions into alignment with another chord of the roof truss for attachment as described below with respect to  FIGS. 47–53 . 
   Examples of roof trusses  100  employing the sixth embodiment of the connector  10  shown in  FIGS. 45–46  are shown  FIGS. 47–53 . It will be understood that the roof trusses  100  of  FIGS. 47–53  can be collapsed and erected in similar manner to the roof trusses shown and described with respect to the earlier embodiments in  FIGS. 1–44 . As can best be seen in  FIGS. 45–46 , the first engagement portion  12  of the third embodiment of the connector  10  is connected directly to a vertical surface adjacent a lower end portion of the knee wall  112  in an integral manner consistent with that described previously with respect to the earlier embodiments. 
   Typically after connection of the connector  10  to the knee wall  112  at a manufacturing facility, the roof truss  100  would thereby be shipped in a collapsed state (due to the pivoting of the hinge plates  122  therein) to an on-site installation location. The upper top chord  102  is then swung about the first hinge plate  122  and the knee wall  112  is positioned into alignment so that the second engagement portion  14  of the connector  10  is aligned with a vertical surface adjacent a top portion of the kingpost  110 . The second engagement portion  14  is thereby mounted to the kingpost  110  by any suitable fastener, such as screws or nails passed through the apertures  26  in the second engagement portion  14  and/or any apertures  26  in any portion of the web  16 . 
   Since the connector  10  includes angled portions  16   b  and  16   c  as shown in  FIGS. 45–46 , the web  16  can be jogged around various chords making up the roof truss  100  such as the runner rail  116  around which the connector  10  can be passed. As can be seen in these Figures, the angled web portions  16   b  and  16   c  traverse the web portion  16   a  around the runner rail  116  so that the runner rail  116  simply rests in the recess  16   d . A beneficial feature of the angled web  16  ( 16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c ) creating the gap  16   d  and/or the hinged portion  16   e  eliminates the need to bend the material (e.g., steel) making up the connector  10  in the field to make a proper fit between the internal chords of a roof truss  100 . 
   An inventive concept embodied in the connector  10  is a pre-fabricated connector that has one side with pre-punched teeth for pressing into a wood member and the opposite side with a bendable field connection that allows field construction crews to make final field connections. One purpose of the connector  10  is to transfer the structural forces (axial tension) that develop in the roof truss chords under uplift load. Preferably, the connector  10  is installed integral with the truss  100  at the time of truss manufacture. 
   The connector  10  blends in-plant fastening (see the first engagement portion  12 ) methods that permit mass production with an opposing portion (see the second engagement portion  14 ) having a field-installed face with pre-drilled apertures  26  to permit final construction by field crews. Field setup crews simply swing parts into place (using the hinge plates  122 ) and apply a preferable number of fasteners into the pre-punched apertures  26 . The invention has commercial advantages in the modular housing industry and truss-manufacturing plants where pre-fabricated structural components are formed from wood and pre-punched steel plates. 
   Thus, there are apparent benefits derived from the connector  10 . The connector  10  is installed integral with the truss at time of manufacture. Integral can mean that the connector  10  can be fastened to the truss  100  at the time of truss manufacture. The connector  10  can be attached to the truss  100  at a the truss builder&#39;s plant, then shipped to a home building plant for placement on the roof of a supporting structure. The truss remains in a collapsed position until reaching the installation site wherein the modular structure is lifted onto a pre-poured foundation or piers. After the home is set, the truss is raised into its final position. An installation team (commonly referred to as a “set crew”) swings the hinged knee walls into place to support the truss and initiate securement of a free end of the knee wall  112  to the kingpost  110  to handle design uplift and compressive loads. Since the connector  110  is preferably built integral with the truss  100 , only one end of the connector  10  needs to be fastened by the installation team. The team preferably installs a specified number of mechanical fasteners into the wood members and a strong, preferably rigid connection is created between the internal chords of the truss  100 . The connector  10  is effective in transmitted internal tensile forces encountered within the roof truss  100 . 
   Another benefit of this type of integral design is that the truss design engineer has an opportunity to specify a pre-fabricated connection that will be built with the truss  100 , and to check that connection for performance against predicted design stresses. By raising the truss  100 , the housing structure has an aesthetically-pleasing slope and architectural features that are preferred by many home-owners. The truss  100  typically must be collapsed during transportation to comply with highway height restrictions. The connector  10  permits the roof truss  100  to be collapsed, and then raised on-site and quickly attached to the connector  10  with conventional fasteners. The connector  10  permits connection of the knee wall  112  to the kingpost  110  (and/or directly to the bottom chord  104 ) either directly or by “jogging” around other intervening chords (e.g., a typical 1½″ runner rail  116 ) that manufacturers typically use to tie their roof truss systems together. 
   As with all depictions of the use of the various embodiments of the connector  10  shown herein, the particular roof truss chords to which the first and second engagement portions  12  and  14  are connected can be reversed in both orientation and position without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, in  FIGS. 14 and 27 , the connector  10  can be rotated, flipped or otherwise repositioned (e.g., vertically and/or horizontally) as required by the particular space, alignment and connection requirements of a particular roof truss and the positioning of the connector  10  in the embodiments and use configurations shown herein is entirely by example and shall not be construed as limiting on the scope of this invention. 
   While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.