Patent ID: 7363752

Claim:
A combination comprising: a utility pole having a generally vertical longitudinal axis; and a truss attached to the utility pole for reinforcing the utility pole, wherein the truss comprises: an elongated body having a pair of opposite ends connected by a pair of longitudinal edges, wherein the longitudinal edges extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the utility pole; the body having an open cross-sectional configuration characterized by a pair of side flanges each extending from a respective one of the longitudinal edges in a direction diverging from the other side flange, and an intermediate section connecting the pair of side flanges, wherein the intermediate section of the cross-sectional configuration includes: a pair of bridge portions associated one with each of the pair of side flanges, each bridge portion extending in a direction forming an obtuse angle with the direction of the associated flange; and a pair of apex portions associated one with each of the pair of bridge portions, each apex portion extending in a direction forming an obtuse angle with the direction of the associated bridge portion, wherein the pair of apex portions converge toward one another and fastener holes are provided through each of the pair of apex portions.