Roof trusses

Claim 2

A truss structure having metallic and wooden members, first and second spaced wooden chord members having side surfaces and first and second contact surfaces respectively, metallic means for supporting said chord members in a spaced relationship comprising, a one-piece zig-zag shaped web member extending between said first and second chord members, said web member having spaced chord engaging portions with alternate chord engaging portions contacting said first contact surface and said other chord engaging portions contacting said second contact surface, the portion of said web member between said contact portions being angularly disposed from said chord engaging portions and extending between said chord members, a plurality of metallic clamp members for attaching said chord engaging portions of said web member to said respective chords, each of said clamp members having a flat metallic sheet having a central portion of two flange portions on opposite sides of said central portion and a plurality of pointed fastening members being struck out and projecting from each of said flange portions said central portion of each clamp member being shaped to fit over said chord engaging portions with said flange portions directed towards said chords so that said pointed fastening members are embedded in the said surfaces of said chords.

Claim 3

A truss as described in claim 1 wherein said chord engaging portions of said web member are formed with a plurality of pointed fastening elements struck out and projecting from each of said chord engaging portions, said fastening elements in said adjacent chord engaging portions being pointed in opposite directions so that all of said fastening elements in one chord engaging portion are pointed in a direction toward and embedded in said first chord member and said fastening elements in adjacent chord engaging portions are pointed in a direction toward and embedded in said second chord member.

Claim 4

A truss structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chord members are paced in a parallel relationship.

Claim 5

A truss structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second contact surfaces are planar surfaces which are parallel to each other.

Claim 6

A truss structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portions of said web member between said contact portions are deformed to increase the stiffness and capacity of said web means to transmit compressional forces.

Claim 7

The truss structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central portion of each of said clamp members is welded to each of said chord engaging portions of said web member.

Claim 8

A truss structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central portion has an upstanding folding means movable to a closed position for maneuvering the width of said central portion to be equal to the width of said contact surfaces on said chord members, and wherein means are provided on said clamp for forcing said folding means to its closed position.

Claim 9

A truss structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said clamp members comprises first and second clamp portions, a planar top flange portion on said clamp portions which contacts the upper surface of said chord engaging portions of said web member, an attachment flange on each of said clamp portions extending at an angle with respect to said top flange portion, said fastening members being formed on said attachment flange members, means on each of said clamp members for joining said clamp portions and urging them in a direction to clamp siad chord members between said first and second clamp portions.

Claim 10

The combination with, first and second spaced wooden chord members having side surfaces and first and second contact surfaces respectively, a metallic web member for supporting said chord membErs in a spaced relationship to form a truss structure, said web member being of a one-piece construction extending between said first and second chord members in a zig-zag shape, said web member having spaced attachment portions contacting said first contact surface and said other attachment portions contacting said second contact surface, the portion of said web member between said contact portions being angularly disposed from said attachment portion and extending between said chord members, a plurality of pointed fastening elements struck out and projecting from each of said attachment portions and embedded in said chord members to attach said web member to said chord members, a plurality of clamp members each having a flat metallic sheet having a central portion and two flange portions on either central portion, a plurality of pointed fastening members struck out and projecting from each of said flange portions, said flange portions extending at an angle with the plane of said central portion, said central portion of each clamp member fitting over said attachment portions with said flange portions directed towards said chords so that said pointed fastening members are embedded in the side surfaces of said chords.

Claim 11

The combination with, first and second spaced wooden chord members having side surfaces and first and second contact surfaces respectively, a metallic web member for supporting said chord membErs in a spaced relationship to form a truss structure, said web member being of a one-piece construction extending between said first and second chord members in a zig-zag shape, said web member having spaced attachment portions contacting said first contact surface and said other attachment portions contacting said second contact surface, the portion of said web member between said contact portions being angularly disposed from said attachment portion and extending between said chord members, a plurality of pointed fastening elements struck out and projecting from each of said attachment portions and embedded in said chord members to attach said web member to said chord members, a plurality of clamp members each having a flat metallic sheet having a central portion and two flange portions on either central portion, a plurality of pointed fastening members struck out and projecting from each of said flange portions, said flange portions extending at an angle with the plane of said central portion, said central portion of each clamp member fitting over said attachment portions with said flange portions directed towards said chords so that said pointed fastening members are embedded in the side surfaces of said chords.

Claim 12

The combination claimed in claim 9, wherein said fastening elements in said adjacent attached portions are pointed in opposite directions so that all of said fastening elements in one attachment portion are pointed in a direction toward said first chord member and said fastening elements in adjacent attachment portions are pointed in a direction toward said second chord member.

Claim 13

The combination claimed in claim 9, wherein said chord members are spaced in parallel relationship.

Claim 14

The combination claimed in claim 9, wherein said first and second contact surfaces are planar surfaces which are parallel to each other.

Claim 15

The combination claimed in claim 9, wherein the portions of said web member between said contact portions are deformed to increase the stiffness and capacity of said web member to transmit compressional forces.

Claim 16

The combination claimed in claim 9, wherein said clamp member comprises first and second clamp portions, a planar top flange portion on said clamp portion which contacts the upper surface of said attachment portion, an attachment flange on each of said clamp portions extending along at an angle less than 180* with respect to said top flange portion, means on said clamp for joining said clamp portions and urging them in a direction to clamp said chord members between said first and second clamp portions.

Claim 17

The combination with, first and second spaced wooden chord members having side surfaces and first and second contact surfaces respectively, a metallic web member of a one-piece construction extending between said first and second chord members in a zig-zag shape and having spaced attachment portions with alternative attachment portions contacting said first contact surface and said other attachment portions contacting said second contact surface and, the portion of said web member between said contact portions being angularly disposed from said attachment portion and extending between said chord members and, a plurality of pointed fastening elements struck out and projecting from each other of said attachment portions and embedded in said chord members to attach said web member to said chord members to supporting said chord members in a spaced relationship, wherein the improvement comprises, clamp means for holding said web member against said chord members so that said combination will be held together, said clamp means including a flat metallic sheet having a central portion and two flange portions on either end of said central portion, a plurality of pointed fastening members struck out and projecting from each of said flange portions, said flange portion extending at an acute angle with the plane of said central poRtion, said central portion of each clamp member fitting members are embedded in the side surfaces of said chords.

Claim 18

The combination with, first and second spaced wooden chord members having side surfaces and first and second contact surfaces respectively, a metallic web member of a one-piece construction extending between said first and second chord members in a zig-zag shape and having spaced attachment portions with alternative attachment portions contacting said first contact surface and said other attachment portions contacting said second contact surface and, the portion of said web member between said contact portions being angularly disposed from said attachment portion and extending between said chord members and, a plurality of pointed fastening elements struck out and projecting from each other of said attachment portions and embedded in said chord members to attach said web member to said chord members to supporting said chord members in a spaced relationship, wherein the improvement comprises, clamp means for holding said web member against said chord members so that said combination will be held together, said clamp means including a flat metallic sheet having a central portion and two flange portions on either end of said central portion, a plurality of pointed fastening members struck out and projecting from each of said flange portions, said flange portion extending at an acute angle with the plane of said central poRtion, said central portion of each clamp member fitting members are embedded in the side surfaces of said chords.

Claim 19

The combination claimed in claim 15, wherein said clamp means comprises first and second clamp portions, a planar top flange portion on said clamp portion which contacts the upper surface of said attachment portion, an attachment flange on each of said clamp portions extending along at an angle less than 180* with respect to said top flange portion, fastening members for attaching said attachment flange members to the sides of said chords, means on said clamp for joining said clamp portions and urging them in a direction to clamp said chord members between said first and second clamp portions.