Building truss clamp devices

Claim 1

A clamp device to hold building trusses in place after the trusses have been deposited upon a building foundation by a crane and while they are being nailed to stabilize their position prior to application of building panels thereto which comprises: a pair of substantially identical first U-shaped strip members defined by a longitudinal base portion and a lateral portion at each end thereof, said first members being positioned spaced apart parallel to one another with their said lateral portions at each end being aligned with each other, spaced apart cross-ties fixing said first members in said position, a second U-shaped strip member similar in configuration to said first members, said second member captured between said first members by said cross-ties to move parallel thereto with the lateral portions of said second member projecting from the same side of said device as said lateral portions of said first members, lateral posts extending laterally of each of said first members and said second member from the sides thereof opposite to their lateral portions, said lateral posts of said first members lying in a common plane normal to the longitudinal axes of said first members, said lateral post of said second member being spaced apart from said lateral posts of said first members, a lever arm having a free end and a captured end, said lever arm being pivoted adjacent said captured end on a shaft that extends between said lateral posts of said first members, and a pair of cam elements pivoted at one end to the captured end of said lever arm and at the other end to said lateral post of said second member.