Metal building truss

Claim 1

A unitary metal building truss of lightweight metal adapted to span an area defined by vertical walls having outer edges, said truss including bottom chord member resting upon said vertical walls and having ends extending to at least the outer edges of said vertical walls, a pair of top chord members each having an outer end and an inner end, each of said top chord members extending from at least the ends of said bottom chord member and secured thereto angled upward and inward toward each other and each inner end abutting the other and secured to each other forming a crown wherein the bottom and top chord members form a triangle, and a plurality of diagonal members extend between the bottom and top chord members and are secured thereto, wherein a plurality of said trusses are used to cover said area defined by said vertical walls the improvement including: said bottom chord member being of lightweight material and having a generally U shaped cross section formed by a web and two legs extending from said web and said web forms a base with said legs projecting upwardly forming a channel; said top chord members each being of lightweight metal and in cross section possessing a hat shaped configuration and of an interior dimension greater than the exterior width dimension of said bottom chord member to overlie and encompass a portion of the legs of the end of said bottom chord; fastening means to directly secure the ends of said bottom chord to portions of said top chords and the abutting ends of said top chords; diagonal members each being of lightweight metal having ends, and one end of said diagonal member adapting to interfit within the legs of said bottom chord member and extend upwardly at an angle to a vertical plane and the other end interfitted within the legs of one of said top chord members; and fastening means to secure the ends of said diagonal members to said bottom chord member and one of said top chord members.