Truss joist with clamp-connected web members

Claim 2

A truss joist comprising a. upper and lower wooden chords having a staggered pattern of vertical, longitudinally arranged slots, b. each slot having end walls tapering inwardly toward the center of the chord from the chord top and bottom surfaces, thereby providing inwardly projecting end walls of predetermined reverse taper, c. a plurality of clamp connectors disposed one in each slot, d. each clamp connector comprising outer and inner hollow cases arranged back to back and having end walls engaging the opposite sides of the inwardly projecting end walls of the slots, e. a plurality of web members arranged horizontally between the chords with the ends of adjacent web members extending into inner case of each connector, f. web member securing means securing the web members in the cases, and g. case-securing means securing the cases of each pair to each other, thereby contemporaneously exerting clamping pressure against the reversely tapered end walls of each ach slot.

Claim 3

A truss joist comprising a. upper and lower wooden chords having a staggered pattern of vertical, longitudinally arranged slots, b. each slot having inwardly projecting, tapered end walls, c. a plurality of clamp connectors disposed one in each slot, d. each clamp connector comprising outer and inner hollow cases arranged back to back, e. eaCh case comprising a pair of sidewalls, a pair of inwardly tapered end walls, and an open bottom, f. the inwardly tapered end walls of the cases bearing against the end walls of the slot and having a predetermined reverse taper substantially matching the taper of the slot end walls, g. a plurality of web members arranged diagonally between the chords with the ends of adjacent web members extending into the inner case of each connector, h. web member securing means securing the web members in the cases and i. case-securing means securing the cases of each pair to each other, thereby contemporaneously exerting clamping pressure on the end walls of the slot.

Claim 4

A truss joist comprising a. upper and lower wooden chords having a staggered pattern of vertical, longitudinally arranged slots, b. each slot having inwardly projecting, tapered end walls, c. a plurality of clamp connectors disposed one in each slot, d. each clamp connector comprising outer and inner hollow cases arranged back to back, e. eaCh case comprising a pair of sidewalls, a pair of inwardly tapered end walls, and an open bottom, f. the inwardly tapered end walls of the cases bearing against the end walls of the slot and having a predetermined reverse taper substantially matching the taper of the slot end walls, g. a plurality of web members arranged diagonally between the chords with the ends of adjacent web members extending into the inner case of each connector, h. web member securing means securing the web members in the cases and i. case-securing means securing the cases of each pair to each other, thereby contemporaneously exerting clamping pressure on the end walls of the slot.

Claim 5

The truss joist of claim 2 wherein the web member ends are overlapped and the web member securing means comprise pin means extending through the clamp connector means and the web member ends.

Claim 6

The truss joist of claim 2 wherein the web member ends are overlapped and the web member securing means comprise pin means seated in registering recesses in the meeting surfaces of each clamp connector pair and extending through the overlapped web member ends.

Claim 7

The truss joist of claim 2 wherein the inner case is provided with outwardly extending feet engaging inner surface of the chord.

Claim 8

The truss joist of claim 2 wherein the web member securing means comprises screw means interconnecting the case components of each connector.

Claim 9

The truss joist of claim 2 wherein the end walls of the cases project outwardly beyond the planes of the sidewalls thereof fore providing increased end wall bearing areas.

Claim 10

For use in a truss joist comprising upper and lower wooden chords interconnected by a lacing of web members the ends of which register with longitudinal slots in the chords and each of which slots has inwardly projecting reversely tapered end walls, a clamp connector for connecting the web members to the chords and comprising a. an outer and an inner hollow case adapted to be arranged back to back within one of the chord slots, b. each case comprising a pair of sidewalls and a pair of inwardly tapered end walls adapted to abut the tapered end walls of the chord slot, c. web member securing means engaging and extending transversely of at least one of the outer and inner cases and adapted to engage the end of a web member, and d. case-securing means releasably interconnecting the outer and inner cases.

Claim 11

For use in a truss joist comprising upper and lower wooden chords interconnected by a lacing of web members the ends of which register with longitudinal slots in the chords and each of which slots has inwardly projecting reversely tapered end walls, a clamp connector for connecting the web members to the chords and comprising a. an outer and an inner hollow case adapted to be arranged back to back within one of the chord slots, b. each case comprising a pair of sidewalls and a pair of inwardly tapered end walls adapted to abut the tapered end walls of the chord slot, c. web member securing means engaging and extending transversely of at least one of the outer and inner cases and adapted to engage the end of a web member, and d. case-securing means releasably interconnecting the outer and inner cases.

Claim 12

The clamp connector of claim 8 wherein the web member securing means comprises pin means seated in registering recesses in the meeting surfaces of the outer and inner cases.

Claim 13

The clamp connector of claim 8 wherein the inner case is provided with outwardly extending feet for engaging the inner surface of a chord.

Claim 14

The clamp connector of claim 8 wherein the end walls of the cases project outwardly beyond the planes of the sidewalls thereof for providing increased end wall bearing areas.

Claim 15

The clamp connector of claim 8 wherein the case securing means comprises screw means interconnnecting the outer and inner cases.