US3462895A - Symmetrical shelter truss - Google Patents

Description

A\18 26, 1969 l R. s. woRMsER 3,452,895

SYMMETRICAL SHELTER TRUSS med oct. e. 196e $16.3 54 y mmm ROBERT S.WORMSER .AQMMJQW ATTORNEYS 3,462,895 SYMMETRICAL SHELTER TRUSS Robert S. Wormser, Hillsdale, Mich., assigner to Game- Time, Inc., Litchfield, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 584,697 Int. Cl. E04b 1/32; E04c 3/38 US. (152-93 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A truss used in the construction of shelters or the like wherein columns and roof supporting elements are required. The truss of the invention consists of two sections interconnected at an obtuse angle suitable as the angle between roof structure and a supporting column. The sections of the truss are similar in construction, being mirror images, and include end surfaces and end plates which are generally parallel to the longitudinal length of the other section, and fastener holes are dened in the sections symmetrically related to the apex defined by the sections wherein either of the Sections may be selectively employed as a column or roof supporting portion, and the end plate-s permit trusses to be interconnected.

Trusses are commonly employed to support the roof structure of buildings and with present day architectural techniques, it often occurs that the trusses are exposed to view and, in fact, are often utilized for their appearance and esthetic value. Supporting trusses, as used in building construction, are usually formed of wood or metal. Metal trusses would normally have either a box-type cross section wherein the truss appearance was identical from either side of the tru-ss, or the truss would have a nited States Patent U or C cross section wherein a different appearance exists,

depending on the side from which the truss is viewed.

It is a basic object of the invention to provide a supporting truss formed of metal sections of a channel or C configuration which are of such form that a single truss construction may be used in either right hand or left hand applications and, yet, produce the desired appearance characteristics.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structural building truss of metal wherein a single truss construction is of such versatility that several modes of installation are available to the erector.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a metallic structural support truss which is of an economical construction and highly versatile in application wherein the truss consists of interconnected tapered sections of equal length, conliguration, and fabrication wherein either section may constitute the supporting column, depending on the particular installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic structural truss which is provided with preformed fastener-receiving holes in the interconnected sections constituting the truss, whereby no welding at the location of use is necessary, yet adjacent trusses may be rmly interconnected to provide a rigid structure.

These and other objects of the invention arising from the relationships and details of an embodiment thereof will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of one embodiment of shelter which may be formed employing the truss of the invention,

FIG. 2 is an elevational, side view of a truss in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a truss in accord with the invention from the outside,

3,462,895 Patented Aug'. 26, 1969 e.. ICC

FIG. 4 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of a truss section as taken along section IV-IV of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is an end view of a truss in accord with the invention as taken along section V-V of FIG. 2, and

FIGS. 6 through 8 are schematic views illustrating a number of variations of shelters which may be formed with the truss in accord with the invention.

The configuration and features of a truss formed in accord with the invention are best appreciated from FIGS. 2 through 5. The truss 10 will, normally, be constructed of metal and has a general shape which will be appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3. The truss consists of a pair of elongated sections 12 and 12', each having an inner end portion 14 and 14 and an outer end portion 16 and 16', respectively. The sections 12 and 12' may be formed of 10 gauge sheet metal, for instance, and may be formed on a brake, whereby the sections are of a C-shaped, cross-sectional conguration, as will be apparent from FIG. 4. The cross-sectional conguration of the sections includes leg portions 18 depending from a planer base portion 20. If desired, the ends 22 of the leg portions may be deflected inwardly toward each other, as will be apparent.

The sections 12 and 12' are formed to a tapered contiguration, having the maximum width at the end of the inner end portion 14, and the minimum width occurs at the outer end portion 16. The inner ends of the sections are defined by an edge 24 which is angularly related to the longitudinal axis of the sections so that when the ends of similar sections are abutted together and welded, the desired angle between the interconnected sections is produced. When interconnecting the two sections 12 and 12', which constitute a truss 10, the inner leg portions 18a of each section will intersect at 26, and the outer leg portions 18b will intersect at 28. The junction of the end edges 24 of the sections is welded and may be ground on the front side wherein only the base portion 20 is apparent, as with the trusses nearest the viewer as shown in FIG. l. To strengthen the interconnection between the sections 12 and 12', a plate 30 may be superimposed over the line of interconnection and welded to the section end portions to reinforce the interconnection, as shown in FIG. 2.

The angle of the end edges 24 is such that the truss sections are disposed approximately relative to each other, whereby a form, such as will be apparent from FIG. 2, is accomplished.

The outer end portions 16 and 16' of the sections are formed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the associated sections so that when the vertically disposed section is so related that the plane of the leg portion 18b is vertical, the end 32 of the inclined section will, likewise, be vertical. Thus, a proper relationship between the ends 32 and end plates of interconnected `trusses will be provided as described later.

An end plate 34 is welded to each section end 32. The end plates 34 are shown in detail in FIG. 5 and include a pair of fastener-receiver holes 36 dened therein.

The outer leg portions 18b of the sections 12 and 12' are provided with a plurality of fastener-receiving holes 38 defined therein, FIG. 3. The holes 38, in each section of a common truss are located in an identical relationship with respect to the apex of the angle defined by the sections 12 and 12'.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the sections of a common truss 10 are identical in configuration, except that one truss is the mirror image of the other. In this manner, when the truss sections are interconnected, as shown in FIG. 2, to define a complete truss, the erector has the option as to which section is to constitute the column portion of the truss and which section will constitute the roof-supporting section.

A typical use of the truss of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, four trusses have been installed and assembled in a manner to provide a shelter solely supported on the four trusses. In erecting the structure of FIG. 1, four holes are dug into the ground, whereby the outer end portion 16 of a truss section may be received within one of the holes and concrete poured therein. As will be apparent from FIG. 1, the trusses are so related that the leg portions 18 of the truss sections face each other, or inwardly with respect to the shelter. Thus, the smooth side of the truss will face outwardly and provide, the most pleasing appearance. The two trusses nearest the observer, as viewed in FIG. 1, are so positioned that the end plates 34 are contiguous, and the end plates may be interconnected by means of a pair of bolts, not shown, passing through the holes 36. In like manner, the two trusses farthest from the observer are interconnected.

Roof panels are then laid on the inclined truss sections and, by means of fasteners received in the fastener-receiving holes 38, the roof panels may be affixed to the truss sections. If desired, bracing rods 42 may be used to support the overhanging portion of the roof panels.

To construct the shelter of FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that it is only necessary to interconnect the end plates 34 of the trusses, and then bolt the roof panels to the trusses to form the complete structure, once the trusses are properly embedded in the ground.

When installing trusses in accord with the invention, it is desirable to install the truss so that the outer leg portion 18b of the column portion of the truss is vertical. Thus, the end plate 34 of the associated truss will also be vertical for a proper relationship to the truss end plate to be connected thereto by bolts.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the types of shelters which may be constructed when using a truss in accord with the invention. By installing two trusses side-byside so that the outer end portions 18b of the column portions are adjacent, a Y arrangement is produced, as will be apparent in FIG. 6 at the left. When a pair of trusses are disposed in this side-by-side relationship, bolt fasteners interconnect the trusses extending through holes 38 and the tapered configuration of the sections produces a pleasing appearance.

Making the truss sections of identical length and of similar configuration, permits a single truss construction to be installed in a variety of applications and, thus, it is only necessary to construct a single truss to produce any of the buildings shown in the drawings.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A truss member particularly suitable for use with shelters having a roof supported columns comprising, in combination, a pair of elongated sections interconnected at an apex defining an inclined obtuse angle between said sections, said sections being of identical longitudinal length and constituting a mirror image of each other and each of said sections having an outer end and an inner end, said sections being interconnected at their inner ends and defining an obtuse angle suitable as the angle between the roof and supporting columns of a shelter, said sections each being of a channel shaped transverse cross section defined by a planar base portion and leg portions extending from the base portion, said base portions of said interconnected sections being coplanar and parallel with the plane in which the included angle defined by said sections lies, the leg portions of both interconnected sections extending in a common direction from the plane of said base portions, fastener receiving holes defined in said leg portions outwardly disposed relative to the included angle defined by said sections, said holes in both sections being symmetrically related to the apex of said interconnected sections, an end surface defined on said outer end of each of said sections, the end surface of each of said sections, being generally parallel to the longitudinal length of the other section, said truss being selectively installable whereby either section may constitute a column whereupon the other section constitutes a roof support and upon one of said sections longitudinal length being substantially vertical to constitute a column the other section constitutes a roof support and the end surface on the section constituting the roof support is substantially vertical.

2. A truss member as in claim 1 wherein said base portions are of a longitudinally tapered configuration having a maximum dimension at said inner ends of said sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,989,154 6/1961 Colby 52-643 X 2,994,944 8/1961 Prudhon 52-73 X 3,082,221 6/1963 Parsons et al. 52- 720 X 3,113,648 12/1963 Key 52-93 3,157,251 11/1964 Rasch 52-263 X 3,162,278 12/1964 Rasch 52720 X 3,224,151 12/1965 Nystrorn 52-90 3,308,596 3/1967 Cooper et al 52-93 X 3,309,120 3/1967 Wada 52-93 X FOREIGN PATENTS 224,161 2/ 1943 Switzerland.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

@my l UNITED STATES PATENT omar.

CERTIFICATE OF CRRECTION Patent No. a 52 25 Dated August 2Q laa Inventorh) 39mg; S, lggmger It 1e certified thet error eppeere in the above-identified patent end,thet eeid Lettere Petentere hereby corrected ee ehovn below:

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