Metal space truss

Claim 1

A metal space truss of the kind comprising two at least generally horizontally extending and vertically spaced lattices, an upper one and a lower one, both of which are composed of two intersecting groups of parallel bars which in the respective lattices are joined to each other in a plurality of nodes, and a plurality of struts, each of which forms an oblique angle with the planes of the two lattices and connects a related node in said upper lattice to another related node in said lower lattice, wherein: (A) said intersecting bars of said upper lattice consist of T-bars having downwardly directed webs with opposite generally vertically oriented side faces, (a) said T-bars being joined together where intersecting to form first nodes in each of which said generally vertically oriented web side faces of said T-bars converge in a manner to define between them at least one first inner corner which is unobstructed in a downward direction; (B) said intersecting bars of said lower lattice have such cross sectional configurations that each of them presents opposite generally vertically oriented lateral face portions, (b) said bars of said lower lattice being joined together where intersecting to form second nodes in each of which said generally vertically oriented lateral face portions of said lower lattice bars converge in a manner to define between them at least one second inner corner which is unobstructed in an upward direction; and wherein (C) each of said struts has an upper end portion entering obliquely from below a first inner corner of a related first node in said upper lattice and presenting oblique surface portions adapted for making surface contact with one vertically oriented web side face on each of the two T-bars intersecting in said related first node, (c) said upper strut end portion being secured by at least one bolt connection directly to each of the two webs of said two intersecting T-bars so as to also form all by itself between said T-bars a node-stabilizing connector; and (D) each of said struts has a lower end portion entering obliquely from above a second inner corner of a related second node in said lower lattice and presenting oblique surface portions adapted for making surface contact with one vertically oriented lateral face portion on each of the two lower lattice bars intersecting in said related second node, (d) said lower strut end portion being secured by at least one bolt connection directly to each of said two intersecting lower lattice bars so as to also form all by itself between said lower lattice bars a node-stabilizing connector.