Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Spacer-positioner; e.g. – rebar chair
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-18
2002-07-16
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Spacer-positioner; e.g., rebar chair
C052S639000, C052S696000, C052S712000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06418695
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to devices for installing and supporting building components and, more particularly, to a spacer and support apparatus for supporting roof and floor trusses.
2. Description of the Invention Background
A truss is a rigid framework of wooden or metal beams designed to support a structure, such as a roof. Trusses may also be employed to span between opposing support walls to create a floor supporting structure within a building. A truss system for supporting a floor may comprise a collection of trusses that are arranged adjacent to each other and span the distance between two or more support walls. Local building codes and structural design requirements generally govern the amount of spacing permitted between each truss. When anchored to the support walls, the tops of the trusses are substantially co-planar with each other to enable floor or roof decking materials to be attached thereto.
Roof trusses may be provided in a variety of different shapes and sizes depending upon the building design. Although some roof truss systems provide a plurality of planar, horizontally disposed, support surfaces for buildings with flat roof systems, many buildings have roofs that have planar portions that are not horizontally disposed. For example, many residential buildings have peaked roofs wherein the roof surface comprises a pair of angled planes that intersect to form the roof crown or peak. Flat sheathing material is attached to the trusses to form a planar roof surface and roofing material is then affixed to the sheathing. Trusses may be fabricated on site from appropriate material such as wood, metal, etc. However, it is common practice for trusses to be fabricated off-site by an entity that specializes in the fabrication of such building components. The prefabricated trusses are then shipped to the building site and anchored in place to the support structures. Such support structures may comprise concrete block walls, stud walls, etc.
A truss typically includes a bottom member commonly referred to as the “bottom chord”. The bottom chord is the member that is supported on and anchored to the top of the support walls. Trusses typically also include two or more top chords that are attached to the bottom chord. In a typical “peak roof” truss, two top chord members are each attached to one end of the bottom chord and angle upward at a desired pitch. The other ends of each top chord are connected together to form the roof peak. A portion of each top chord may extend beyond the bottom chord to form a desired amount of overhangs that extend beyond the support walls. Similarly, in other truss arrangements, the bottom chord may extend beyond the support walls in a cantilevered fashion. A variety of braces or web members extend between the top chords and the bottom chord to provide the roof with a desired load capacity.
Trusses are commonly installed by standing the bottom chords of the trusses on edge on the support structures (walls) such that they span between the parallel walls. The ends of the bottom chords are then anchored to the support walls by screws, nails, or other appropriate anchors. A plurality of trusses are arranged in a side-to side configuration along the tops of the support walls. In some truss arrangements, the truss has a greater height dimension than a width dimension. Thus, prior to attaching the sheathing materials, a truss that is supported only at its bottom by its attachment to supporting walls can be prone to topple over on its side. Such toppling over of even one truss can result in all of the trusses falling over similar to a row of dominos which can cause injury to construction personnel and damage the trusses and other building components.
A variety of bracing devices have been constructed for supporting trusses during installation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,875,719 to Menge, U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,771 to Weller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,956 to Placio et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,829 to Baumaker, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,345 to Sobjack, Sr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,200 to Krug and U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,837 to Holizlander all disclose devices which purport to solve such problems. However, many of such devices require that the bracing element be fastened to the respective truss member by a separate fastener before any lateral supporting of the truss is achieved. Still others, while providing a modicum of lateral support to the trusses prior to affixing the brace devices to the trusses with mechanical fasteners (screws, nails, etc.), are difficult to manufacture. Other such devices fail to provide adequate support between adjacent truss members and are not suited for attachment to a variety of different truss materials. Still some other devices employ teeth that must be hammered into the truss and, if not installed properly, can lead to splintering and truss damage. Furthermore, such toothed devices will not work with steel trusses and other building components fabricated from steel. Yet other devices, while effective for supporting trusses during their installation, must be removed before roofing sheathing or floor decking can be installed.
Thus, there is a need for a spacer bar for trusses and the like that is relatively easy to manufacture and install.
There is a further need for a spacer bar that will rigidly support trusses in position during installation of additional fasteners.
Yet another need exists for a spacer bar with the above-mentioned characteristics that does not have to be removed prior to installing roof or floor decking materials.
Still another need exists for a spacer bar that can be used to support a variety of different structural components regardless of the type of material from which they are constructed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one form of the present invention, there is provided a spacer bar that comprises an elongated planar brace member that has a planar upper surface, a planar lower surface, a first end and a second end. A first tab that has a first flared lower portion perpendicularly protrudes from the planar lower surface of the elongated planar brace member. A second tab perpendicularly protrudes from the lower surface of the elongated planar brace member and is spaced from the first tab a first predetermined distance. A third tab perpendicularly protrudes from the lower surface of the elongated planar brace member and is spaced from the second tab a second predetermined distance. A fourth tab perpendicularly protrudes from the lower surface of the elongated planar brace member and is spaced from the third tab a third predetermined distance. At least one of the third and fourth tabs has a flared lower portion. In one embodiment, a first lateral side member protrudes perpendicularly downward from a first lateral portion of the brace member and extends between the second tab and the third tab. Also in this embodiment, a second lateral side member protrudes perpendicularly downward from a second lateral side portion of said planar brace member and extends between the second tab and the third tab. A third lateral side member protrudes perpendicularly downward from a third lateral side portion and extends from the first end to the first tab. A fourth lateral side member protrudes perpendicularly downward from a fifth lateral side portion and extends from the first end to the first tab. A fifth lateral side member protrudes perpendicularly downward from a fifth lateral side portion and extends from the second end to the fourth tab. A sixth lateral side member protrudes perpendicularly downward from a sixth lateral side portion and extends from the second end to the fourth tab.
The subject invention may also include fifth and sixth tabs that perpendicularly protrude from the lower surface of the planar brace member. In one embodiment, the second tab is spaced from the first tab such that the distance therebetween is equal to or slightly greater than th
Daudet Larry R.
Ponko Edmund L.
Ralph Gregory S.
Aegis Metal Framing LLC
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
Slack Naoko
Stephan Beth A.
LandOfFree
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