Collapsible truss structure

Claim 2

A roof truss comprising an upper chord and a lower chord, each constituted by channel members having lipped flanges, and a pair of web members extending therebetween, said web members at their lower ends being pivotably connected together and to an element slidable along said lower chord, one of said web members, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to said upper chord adjacent the inner end thereof, and the other of said web members, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to an element slidable along said upper chord, said slidable elements being plain channel pieces slidable within said lipped channel members, whereby said truss, in collapsed condition, presents a long, thin and narrow package, and is capable of being erected, with said slidable elements adjusting themselves along the respective chords, said slidable elements then being secured in fixed position.

Claim 3

A truss according to claim 1, wherein said upper and lower chords are provided with extensions telescopingly arranged with respect to said chords, and said extensions, at their outer ends are pivotably connected together.

Claim 4

A truss according to claim 2, wherein said chords are constituted by channel members having lipped flanges, and said extensions are plain channel pieces slidable within said lipped channel members.

Claim 5

A roof truss comprising a one-piece lower chord and an upper chord composed of two portions secured together at the middle of the truss, a pair of web members on each side of the middle, each pair of web members at their lower ends being pivotably secured together and to an element slidable along said lower chord, one of the web members of each pair, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to the respective upper chord portion adjacent the middle of the truss, and the other web member of each pair, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to an element slidable along the respective upper chord portion, whereby said truss, in collapsed condition, presents a long, thin and narrow package, and is capable of erection by raisiNg the middle of the upper chord, with said slidable elements adjusting themselves along the respective chords, said slidable elements then being secured in fixed position.

Claim 6

A roof truss comprising a one-piece lower chord and an upper chord composed of two portions secured together at the middle of the truss, a pair of web members on each side of the middle, each pair of web members at their lower ends being pivotably secured together and to an element slidable along said lower chord, one of the web members of each pair, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to the respective upper chord portion adjacent the middle of the truss, and the other web member of each pair, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to an element slidable along the respective upper chord portion, whereby said truss, in collapsed condition, presents a long, thin and narrow package, and is capable of erection by raisiNg the middle of the upper chord, with said slidable elements adjusting themselves along the respective chords, said slidable elements then being secured in fixed position.

Claim 7

A truss according to claim 4, wherein said upper chord portions at their adjacent ends, are mitered to provide a desired, predetermined roof pitch, and are held together by a strap of thin bendable material.

Claim 8

A truss according to claim 5, wherein a connector element is provided to secure said upper chord portions in the position providing said desired roof pitch.

Claim 9

A truss according to claim 4, wherein the inner ends of said upper chord portions are spaced apart, and connected together by a channel shaped insert engaging in and secured to, the proximate ends of said chord portions, said insert having its web slotted, and having its lower flange and the lower portion of the web relieved, whereby during erection of the truss, the portions of the insert web separated by said slot overlap each other, a hole in said web on each side of said slot, said holes being located such that they will coincide when the desired roof pitch is attained, and may be fixed in position by fastening means passing through said aligned holes.

Claim 10

A truss according to claim 4, wherein said chords are constituted by channel members having lipped flanges, and said slidable elements are plain channel pieces slidable within said lipped channel members.

Claim 11

A truss according to claim 4, wherein said upper and lower chords are provided with extensions telescopingly arranged with respect to said chords.

Claim 12

A truss according to claim 9, wherein said extensions are provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower chords, and said extensions, at their outer ends, are pivotably connected together.

Claim 13

A truss according to claim 9, wherein said chords are constituted by channel members having lipped flanges, and said extensions are plain channel pieces slidable within said lipped channel members.

Claim 14

A half roof truss comprising an upper chord and a lower chord, each constituted by channel members having lipped flanges, and a pair of web members extending therebetween, said web members at their lower ends being pivotably connected together and to an element slidable along said lower chord, one of said web members, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to said upper chord adjacent the inner end thereof, and the other of said web members, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to an element slidable along said upper chord, said slidable elements being plain channel pieces slidable within said lipped channel members, and stop means for said first named slidable element at the inner end of said lower chord, whereby said half truss, in collapsed condition, presents a long, thin and narrow package, and is capable of being erected, with said slidable elements adjusting themselves along their respective chords, said slidable elements being then secured in fixed position.

Claim 15

A half roof truss comprising an upper chord and a lower chord, each constituted by channel members having lipped flanges, and a pair of web members extending therebetween, said web members at their lower ends being pivotably connected together and to an element slidable along said lower chord, one of said web members, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to said upper chord adjacent the inner end thereof, and the other of said web members, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to an element slidable along said upper chord, said slidable elements being plain channel pieces slidable within said lipped channel members, and stop means for said first named slidable element at the inner end of said lower chord, whereby said half truss, in collapsed condition, presents a long, thin and narrow package, and is capable of being erected, with said slidable elements adjusting themselves along their respective chords, said slidable elements being then secured in fixed position.

Claim 16

A roof truss according to claim 4, wherein said upper chord is a one-piece member, said chords being constituted by lipped channel members, said upper chord having its web, its lower flange and lip, and its upper lip relieved, and its upper flange having a line of weakness transversely of the length of said chord, whereby said upper chord may be bent along said line of weakness to provide a ridge, and a connector element to secure the relieved parts together in an angular relation.

Claim 17

A truss according to claim 12, wherein said upper and lower chords are provided with extensions telescopingly arranged with respect to said chords, and said extensions, at their outer ends are pivotably connected together.

Claim 18

A truss according to claim 14, wherein said chords are constituted by channel members having lipped flanges, and said extensions are plain channel pieces slidable within said lipped channel members.

Claim 19

A truss according to claim 12, wherein each of said chords is composed of a major piece and a minor extension piece in telescoping relation, the combined length of each major piece and minor extension, when extended, constituting the length of said upper and lower chords respectively, the upper chord having its extension piece at its inner end, and the lower chord having its extension piece at its outer end, the outer end of the major piece of said upper chord being pivotably secured to the outer end of the extension piece of the said lower chord, a pair of web members extending between said chords, said web members, at their lower ends, being pivotably connected together and to an element slidable along the major piece of said lower chord, one of said web members, at its upper end, being pivotably connected to the end of the extension piece of the said upper chord, and the other of said web members at its upper end being pivotably connected to an element slidable along the major piece of said upper chord, and stop means at the inner end of the major piece of said lower chord, whereby said truss in fully collapsed condition presents a long, thin and narrow package and is capable of being erected with said first named slidable element resting against said stop means, and said extension pieces fully extended, said second named slidable element adjusting itself along said upper chord, and said truss also being capable of being partially collapsed, there being an intermediate stop member in the major portion of said lower chord whereby said truss may be partially collapsed and the telescoping extensions withdrawn to present a relatively low and relatively narrow package for shipment.

Claim 20

A truss according to claim 16, wherein the major pieces of said chords are constituted by channel members having lipped flanges, and said slidable elements and extension pieces are plain channel pieces slidable within said lipped channel members.