Patent ID: 12227946

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure include wall roof frame trusses where the walls of the frame are trusses, such that the exterior or outer part of the wall creates an overhang.

As shown inFIG.1, in one embodiment, a wall roof truss building system (“WRTBS”)100includes a first wall101, and a second wall102, and a roof element103. The roof element103includes several roof chords112,113,114,115,116, and117. The first wall101includes an inner chord104, an outer chord105, and a template plate106. The inner chord104and outer chord105are configured to attach to the template plate106. The inner chord104and outer chord105of the first wall101are also configured to attach to the roof element103. The inner chord104and the outer chord105of the first wall101are non-parallel. The angle of the outer chord105creates an overhang at the intersection between the outer chord105and the roof chord117. The second wall102includes an inner chord107, and outer chord108, and a template plate109. The inner chord107and outer chord108are configured to attach to the template plate109. The inner chord107and outer chord108of the second wall102are also configured to attach to the roof element103. The inner chord107and the outer chord108of the second wall102are non-parallel. The angle of the outer chord108creates an overhang at the intersection between the outer chord108and the roof chord116. The inner chord104of the first wall101, and the inner chord107of the second wall102can be substantially parallel. The distance110between the upper portions of the inner104and outer chord105of the first wall is greater than the distance111between the lower portions of the inner104and outer chord105.

According to some embodiments, the elements101-117of the WRTBS100can be made of wood, metal, composite, polymers, or any combination thereof. The WRTBS elements101-117can be connected using plates made of metal, composite wraps, composite fittings, glue, or adhesive, or other connection mechanisms.

In some embodiments, as illustrated inFIG.2, the WRTBS100includes a photovoltaic panel203lying flat on the roof chord117of the roof element103, where angle204of the roof chord117allows for an efficient incident angle with respect to sunlight exposure250. According to some embodiments, the outer chord105is arranged at an angle206optimized to reduce solar radiative heat transfer. Specifically, the outer chord105forms an acute angle206with respect to a ground surface outside of the dwelling, which can reduce direct sunlight exposure to first wall101. Angle206is formed between a horizontal surface (e.g., such as a flat underlying surface, or a ground surface) and outer chord105. According to some embodiments, the connection207between the roof chord116and the outer chord108facilitates flow of precipitation251off the roof element103at a trajectory that protects the siding and foundation of the WRTBS100.

In some embodiments, as illustrated inFIG.3, the first and/or second template plate106,109includes a base element306, and a groove302which may be formed in the base element306, to accommodate the inner chord104,107and the outer chord105,108. In some embodiments the inner chord104,107and the outer chord105,108are attached to the template plate106,109via a metal plate or bracket305. Groove302may be formed (e.g. by milling, carving, sawing, chiseling, or the like) directly into the base element306. Alternatively, groove302may be formed by or part of the bracket305, or formed by a combination of bracket305and base element306. Some embodiments include two brackets305on opposing sides of the chords104,107and105,108. Base element306in some embodiments is a footer, or an anchor, or otherwise coupled to or embedded within the ground, a foundation, or some other foundational or base element to which the WRTBS100is attached and/or stabilized. According to some embodiments, the chords104and05are rigidly or fixedly coupled to the base element306, for example via brackets305.

In some embodiments, as illustrated in theFIG.4AandFIG.4B, the connection401between an inner chord107and the roof chord116includes a hinge404. The hinge includes a first hinge part405attached to the roof chord116and a second hinge part407attached to the inner chord107. The first hinge part405is rotatable with respect to the second hinge part407. This allows the second wall102to fold inward along409with respect to the roof element103when the outer chord108is disconnected from the roof chord116at connection point207. The dotted line inFIG.4Ashows a folded position450of the outer wall102, which facilitates ease of transportation of the WRTBS100. The hinge404may be made of metal or a composite.

FIG.5illustrates one embodiment in which a hinge404connects roof chord112to roof chord114, enabling the WRTBS100to be folded along direction509. The dotted line inFIG.5shows a folded position of the left side of the WRTBS100. For example, the hinge404can be positioned at a mid-portion of the roof chord112, and an end portion of the roof chord112can detachably couple to the roof chord116. Accordingly, when the end portion of the roof chord112is detached from the roof chord116, the left portion of the WRTBS100can rotate inwards, facilitating ease of transportation. In some embodiments, the WRTBS100includes two hinges404; one at the location shown inFIG.5, and one at the location shown inFIGS.4A,4B. In some embodiments, the WRTBS100includes additional hinges at other connection points to allow for additional folding.

FIG.6illustrates a partial view of a series of WRTBS100arranged in parallel to form the frame of a dwelling unit.FIG.6shows three WRTBS100by way of illustration, however, some embodiments include additional WRTBS100. Each WRTBS100is attached to the first template plate106, as illustrated in detailFIG.3. A perpendicular blocking element80is coupled to the inner chord104of multiple WRTBS100to provide structural support. In some embodiments, the perpendicular blocking element80is coupled to each inner chord104via a friction fitting, without the use of nails, brackets or other hardware. This allows the perpendicular blocking element80to be coupled to the WRTBS100using a mallet, for example, facilitating ease of construction. It is noted that, whileFIG.6illustrates the first wall101, the second wall102may have a similar arrangement as shown inFIG.6.

FIG.8shows an isolated view of the perpendicular blocking element80. The perpendicular blocking element80includes notches85, each of which engages with an inner chord104,107, of a respective WRTBS100via a friction fitting. In some embodiments, the perpendicular blocking element80is made of a composite material. In other embodiments the perpendicular blocking element80is made from other materials such as wood, aluminum, steel or other suitable metal, plastic, concrete, or combinations thereof.FIG.12shows a side view of the perpendicular blocking element80engaging with inner chords104,107.

FIG.7illustrates another partial view of a series of WRTBS100arranged in parallel to form the frame of a house. A diagonal blocking element90is coupled to the inner chord104of one WRTBS100and the outer chord105of an adjacent WRTBS100to provide structural support. In some embodiments, the diagonal blocking element90is coupled to the inner chord104and outer chord105via a friction fitting, without the use of nails, brackets or other hardware. This allows the diagonal blocking element90to be coupled to the WRTBS100using a mallet, for example, facilitating ease of construction. It is noted that, whileFIG.7illustrates the first wall101, the second wall102may have a similar arrangement as shown inFIG.7.

FIG.9shows an isolated view of the diagonal blocking element90. The diagonal blocking element90includes two notches95. One notch95engages with an inner chord104,107, of a WRTBS100, and the other notch95engages with an outer chord105,108of an adjacent WRTBS100. In some embodiments, the diagonal blocking element90is made of a composite material. In other embodiments the diagonal blocking element90is made from other materials such as wood, aluminum, steel or other suitable metal, plastic, concrete, or combinations thereof.FIG.10shows a side view of the diagonal blocking element90engaging with an inner chord104,107and an outer chord105,108.

FIG.11shows a top down view of a perpendicular blocking element80, a diagonal blocking element90, inner chords104,107, and outer chords105,108.

FIG.13illustrates a connector piece702which can be used in addition to or in lieu of the blocking elements80,90. The connector piece702may connect the inner chords104,107of multiple WRTBS100. Although the connector piece702is shown connecting inner chords104,107, it may also be used to connect outer chords105,108. In one embodiment, the connector piece702is attached to the chords104,107via a plate701. In other embodiments, the connector piece702may be attached to the chords104,107using a tie, a strap, or any other suitable attachment mechanism.

Some embodiments, as illustrated inFIG.14, include a box-shaped connector piece901. In some embodiments, the box-shaped connector piece901is attached to the inner chord104,107, and the outer chord105,108using a plate904. While half of the box-shaped connector piece901is shown inFIG.14, the other half of the connector piece904may attach to an adjacent WRTBS100in substantially the same way. In some embodiments the box frame connector piece901can be used as a window frame or a door frame.

In some embodiments, the connector pieces702,901and blocking elements80,90are used to couple roof chords112,113,114,115,116,117of adjacent WRTBS100. Various embodiments may include any combination of the connector pieces702,901and blocking elements80,90described above.