Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Curvilinear or peaked truss
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-06-12
Kent, Christopher T. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Curvilinear or peaked truss
C052S639000, C052S654100, C052S664000, C052S665000, C052S669000, C052S696000, C052S697000, C052S703000, C052S741100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244010
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Open web structural supports in general, and in particular, structural trusses are used for the fabrication of buildings in the construction industry. Open web supports are used to form a variety of building structural segments, while the primary application of structural trusses is to define a desired roofline and to support the roof by the building walls and interior structure. Trusses are typically fashioned from a series of joined vertical, horizontal, and angled members. Historically, trusses have been fabricated from wooden members joined by flat metal plates having a plurality of spiked projections therefrom for driving the plates into the wooden members and retaining the members in a joined relationship.
In recent years, metal trusses and metal open web structural supports have gained favor in the construction industry. Metal supports are typically comprised of metal U-channels and square tubular members with the members being joined by mechanical fasteners.
When added to a building structure, metal supports are primarily in a parallel spaced apart relationship. The triangular construction of the supports make them particularly strong with respect to forces applied within the plane of the support. However, because the supports are primarily planar in nature, they are vulnerable to buckling when lateral forces are applied to the supports. Consequently, to further rigidify the building structure created by the supports, lateral or cross-bracing between supports must be added. The cross-braces extend between a plurality of supports wherein the brace is fastened to the support using mechanical fasteners. The attachment points of the cross-brace to the supports are typically determined by individually measuring the proper spacing between supports to insure proper alignment. Such a process is time consuming and adds to the construction time and effort during the erection of the building.
There is a need for a cross-bracing system which is easy to install, provides accurate placement of the supports, and provides sturdy cross-bracing of the supports to prevent buckling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is a cross-bracing kit for laterally spacing and bracing open web structural supports. The cross-bracing kit comprises at least two clips. Each clip includes an attachment portion for attaching to a support 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 the notches are separated one from the other by a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent supports.
Another aspect of the invention is a cross-braced open web structural support system comprising at least two supports separated one from the other, and at least one clip attached to each support. Each of the clips includes an attachment portion abutting a first surface of the support and has a first finger and a second finger extending in parallel cantilevered fashion from the attachment portion. The fingers define a channel therebetween, with each finger including a nib at a free end of the finger such that the nibs are facing each other and define an opening therebetween which is narrower than the channel defined by the fingers. There is at least one cross-brace extending between the two trusses. The brace has 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 the brace. Each notch engages one of the clips and a portion of one of the supports, and further wherein the notches are separated one from the other by a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent supports.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method of cross-bracing supports comprising the steps of first 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 and second finger extending in parallel cantilevered fashion from the attachment portion defining a channel therebetween. Each finger includes a nib at a free end of the finger with the nibs facing each other and defining an opening between the nibs, which is narrower than the channel. The supports are arranged in a desired placement wherein at least adjacent clips are laterally aligned when the supports are in their desired placement. A cross-brace is placed to extend 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 including at least two notches in a bottom of the brace. The notches are separated one from the other a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent supports with each notch aligned with one of the trusses. The cross-brace is engaged in the clip channel such that each notch engages a portion of the respective support, and the nibs of each clip engage respective legs of the cross-brace.
These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.
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Kent Christopher T.
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
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