US6244010B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap-in lateral truss brace
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-05-21
•
Granted: 2001-06-12
•
Expires: 2019-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A cross-bracing kit for laterally spacing and bracing open web structural supports comprises at least two clips wherein each clip includes an attachment portion for attaching to the truss member and has a first finger and a second finger extending from the attachment portion in a cantilevered fashion. The fingers define a channel therebetween and each finger includes a nib at a free end of the finger. The nibs face each other and define an opening between the ends of the nib that is narrower than the channel defined by the fingers. The kit further includes at least one cross-brace which has a channel-like cross section that includes a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms. The cross-brace further includes at least two notches in a bottom of the brace wherein a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent supports separates the notches.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott E. Sluiter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:50
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04C; E04C3/00; E04C3/02; E04B; E04B7/00; E04B7/02; E04B7/022; E04C2003/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A cross-bracing kit for laterally spacing and bracing open web structural supports, said kit comprising: at least two clips, each of said clips includes an attachment portion for attaching to a truss member and a first finger and a second finger extending in parallel cantilevered fashion from said attachment portion and defining a channel therebetween, each of said fingers including a nib at a free end of said finger, said nibs facing each other and defining an opening therebetween narrower than said channel; and at least one cross-brace having a channel-like cross section including a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms and further including at least two notches in a bottom of said brace, said notches separated one from the other a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent truss members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A cross-bracing kit for laterally spacing and bracing open web structural supports, said kit comprising: at least two clips, each of said clips includes an attachment portion for attaching to a truss member and a first finger and a second finger extending in parallel cantilevered fashion from said attachment portion and defining a channel therebetween, each of said fingers including a nib at a free end of said finger, said nibs facing each other and defining an opening therebetween narrower than said channel; and at least one cross-brace having a channel-like cross section including a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms and further including at least two notches in a bottom of said brace, said notches separated one from the other a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent truss members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 1 , wherein a width of said cross-brace is greater than a distance separating said nibs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 2 , wherein a bottom of each of said nibs defines a shoulder for capturing a top edge of one of said first and said second legs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 3 , wherein a length of said first leg from said notch to a top edge of said first leg is substantially equal to a length of said first finger from a bottom of said channel to said shoulder of said first nib, and a length of said second leg from said notch to a top edge of said second leg is substantially equal to a length of said second finger from a bottom of said channel to said shoulder of said second nib.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 4 , wherein said first finger is longer than said second finger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 5 , wherein said nib on said first finger includes a depending portion, said depending portion in combination with a portion of said first finger defines a slot therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 3 , wherein said bottom of each of said nibs defines a first shoulder and a second shoulder, said first shoulder laterally and vertically offset from said second shoulder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 1 , wherein said clip further includes a tab at a bottom of said channel defined by said fingers and extends at a right angle from said attachment portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 1 , wherein said cross section of said crossbrace is a U-shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 1 , wherein said cross section of said crossbrace is a V-shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said notches has a top defined by a tab portion projecting inwardly from at least one of said legs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 11 wherein said top is defined by a tab portion projecting inwardly from each of said legs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 12 wherein said tab portions overlap and are fastened one to the other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cross-bracing kit according to claim 13 wherein said tab portions are fastened with rivets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
172 words
A cross-braced open web structural support system comprising: at least two open web structural supports separated one from the other; at least one clip attached to each support, each of said clips includes an attachment portion abutting a first surface of said support and further includes a first finger and a second finger extending in parallel cantilevered fashion from said attachment portion and defining a channel therebetween, each said finger including a nib at a free end of said finger, said nibs facing each other and defining an opening therebetween narrower than said channel; and at least one cross-brace extending between said at least two supports, said brace having a channel-like cross section including a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms and further including at least two notches in a bottom of said brace, each said notch engaging one of said clips and a portion of one of said supports, said notches separated one from the other a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent supports.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
172 words
A cross-braced open web structural support system comprising: at least two open web structural supports separated one from the other; at least one clip attached to each support, each of said clips includes an attachment portion abutting a first surface of said support and further includes a first finger and a second finger extending in parallel cantilevered fashion from said attachment portion and defining a channel therebetween, each said finger including a nib at a free end of said finger, said nibs facing each other and defining an opening therebetween narrower than said channel; and at least one cross-brace extending between said at least two supports, said brace having a channel-like cross section including a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms and further including at least two notches in a bottom of said brace, each said notch engaging one of said clips and a portion of one of said supports, said notches separated one from the other a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent supports.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 15 , wherein a width of said cross-brace is greater than a distance separating said nibs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 15 , wherein a bottom of each said nib defines a shoulder and further wherein said shoulder captures a top edge of one of said first or said second legs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
94 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 17 , wherein a length of said first leg from said notch to a top edge of said first leg is substantially equal to a length of said first finger from a bottom of said channel to said shoulder of said first nib, and a length of said second leg from said notch to a top edge of said second leg is substantially equal to a length of said second finger from a bottom of said channel to said shoulder of said second nib.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 18 , wherein said first finger is longer than said second finger.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 19 , wherein said nib on said first finger includes a depending portion, said depending portion in combination with a portion of said first finger defines a slot therebetween, and said first leg is engaged within said slot.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
72 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 17 wherein said bottom of each said nib defines a first shoulder and a second shoulder, said first shoulder laterally and vertically offset from said second shoulder, said first shoulders engaging respective top edges of a first of said at least one elongate cross-braces, and said second shoulders engaging respective top edges of a second of said at least one elongate cross-braces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 15 wherein said clip further includes a tab at a bottom of said channel defined by said fingers and extends at right angles from said attachment portion, said tab abutting a second surface of said support.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 15 wherein said cross-section of said cross-brace is a U-shape.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 15 wherein said cross-section of said cross-brace is a V-shape.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 15 wherein at least one of said notches has a top defined by a tab portion projecting inwardly from at least one of said legs.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 25 wherein said top is defined by a tab portion projecting inwardly from each of said legs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 26 wherein said tab portions overlap and are fastened one to the other.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 27 wherein said tab portions are fastened with a fastener.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
104 words
A cross-braced open web structural support system comprising: at least two open web structural supports separated one from the other; at least one cross-brace extending between said at least two supports, said brace having a channel-like cross section including a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms and further including at least two notches in a bottom of said brace, each said notch having a top defined by a tab portion projecting inwardly from at least one of said legs, each said notch engaging a portion of one of said supports; and a fastener affixing said top to said support.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
104 words
A cross-braced open web structural support system comprising: at least two open web structural supports separated one from the other; at least one cross-brace extending between said at least two supports, said brace having a channel-like cross section including a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms and further including at least two notches in a bottom of said brace, each said notch having a top defined by a tab portion projecting inwardly from at least one of said legs, each said notch engaging a portion of one of said supports; and a fastener affixing said top to said support.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 29 wherein said top is defined by a tab portion projecting inwardly from each of said legs.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 30 wherein said tab portions overlap and said fastener affixes both tab portions to said support portion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cross-braced open web structural support system according to claim 31 wherein said fastener is a rivet.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of cross-bracing open web structural support comprising the steps: attaching at least one clip to each of a plurality of supports, each clip includes an attachment portion abutting a first surface of the support and further includes a first finger and a second finger extending in parallel cantilevered fashion from the attachment portion and defining a channel therebetween, each finger includes a nib at a free end of the finger, the nibs facing each other and defining an opening therebetween narrower than the channel; arranging said supports in a desired placement wherein at least adjacent clips are laterally aligned one with the other when the supports are in their desired placement; placing an elongate cross-brace extending between at least two adjacent supports, wherein the cross-brace has a channel-like cross-section including a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms and further includes at least two notches in a bottom of the brace, the notches separated one from the other a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent trusses, each notch aligned with one of the supports; engaging the cross-brace in the clip channel such that each notch engages a portion of a respective support and the finger nibs of each clip engage respective legs of the cross-brace.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of cross-bracing open web structural support comprising the steps: attaching at least one clip to each of a plurality of supports, each clip includes an attachment portion abutting a first surface of the support and further includes a first finger and a second finger extending in parallel cantilevered fashion from the attachment portion and defining a channel therebetween, each finger includes a nib at a free end of the finger, the nibs facing each other and defining an opening therebetween narrower than the channel; arranging said supports in a desired placement wherein at least adjacent clips are laterally aligned one with the other when the supports are in their desired placement; placing an elongate cross-brace extending between at least two adjacent supports, wherein the cross-brace has a channel-like cross-section including a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms and further includes at least two notches in a bottom of the brace, the notches separated one from the other a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent trusses, each notch aligned with one of the supports; engaging the cross-brace in the clip channel such that each notch engages a portion of a respective support and the finger nibs of each clip engage respective legs of the cross-brace.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
125 words
The method according to claim 33 wherein: the attaching step includes a clip having the first finger longer than the second finger and further having a depending portion from the first nib to define a slot between the first finger and the depending portion; the placing step includes a cross-brace having a first leg longer that the second leg; and wherein the engaging step comprises the steps of: inserting the first leg of the cross-brace in the slot defined by the first finger and the depending portion of the first nib; rotating the cross-brace about its longitudinal axis to insert the portion of each respective support in each notch; and snapping a top edge of the second leg under the nib of the second finger.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-06-11 | 2004-12-11 | 2005-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-11 | 2008-12-11 | 2009-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-11 | 2012-12-11 | 2013-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |