Modular truss

Abstract

A number of generally tri-lateral truss components or modules are interconnected with truss fasteners to construct a modular truss. Each tri-lateral member has three elongated chords, which may include first and second side chords and a base chord. Each chord has two opposing ends. A first end of the first chord is connected with a second end of the second chord, while a first end of the second chord is connected with a second end of the third chord, and a first end of the third chord is connected with a second end of the first chord. The three chords thereby define a generally tri-lateral member. A parallel chord truss may be built up of tri-lateral truss components by arranging a series of truss components in alternating upright and upside down orientations with adjacent side chords abutting one another. That is, a first truss component may be oriented in a first, upright position, while adjacent truss components are placed in an inverted, second, or upside down orientation. A built up truss is constructed by continuing this sequence of adding truss components. Alternatively, a triangular truss may be built up of the tri-lateral truss modules by orienting the truss components generally uniformly and stacking them upon one another in a pyramid.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A modular truss system comprising: 
 a number of sticks, each stick having a length, the length extending between a stick first end and an opposing stick second end;    a first grouping of three sticks, a first stick of the first grouping of three sticks having a first predetermined length, a second stick of the first grouping of three sticks also having the first predetermined length, a third stick of the first grouping of three sticks having a second predetermined length, the first stick second end being connected with the second stick first end, the second stick second end being connected with the third stick first end, and the third stick second end being connected with the first stick first end, whereby the first stick, the second stick and the third stick are combined and configure a first three sided polygon;    a second grouping of three sticks, a first stick of the second grouping of three sticks also having the first predetermined length, a second stick of the second grouping of three sticks also having the first predetermined length, a third stick of the second grouping of three sticks also having the second predetermined length, the first stick second end being connected with the second stick first end, the second stick second end being connected with the third stick first end, and the third stick second end being connected with the first stick first end, whereby the first stick, the second stick and the third stick are combined and configure a second three sided polygon; and    at least one fastener, the fastener interconnecting the first and the second three sided polygons, whereby the first and the second three sided polygons define at least a portion of a structural truss.    
     
     
         2 . The modular truss system defined in    claim 1    wherein each stick has a width, the width extending between a stick first side and an opposing stick second side, the width also extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the length, wherein each stick has a depth, the depth extending between a stick top and an opposing stick bottom, the depth also extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the length and perpendicular to the width, and wherein each of the width and the depth are negligible in comparison to the length, the width and the depth existing only as required by a predetermined section modulus, the section modulus being defined according to a preselected structural loading of each stick.  
     
     
         3 . A modular truss system comprising: 
 a number of truss components, each truss component being a generally planar tri-lateral member that has first and second side chords and a base chord, each of the three chords having two opposing ends, a second end of the first side chord being connected with a first end of the second side chord, a second end of the second side chord being connected with a first end of the base chord, a second end of the base chord being connected with a first end of the first side chord; and    a number of fasteners at least one of the fasteners interconnecting a first and a second of the number of truss components, whereby the first and the second truss components define at least a portion of a structural truss    
     
     
         4 . The modular truss system defined in    claim 3    wherein a plurality of the truss components are interconnected with fasteners and form a structural truss, and wherein each truss component is oriented substantially the same with the connection between the first side chord and the second side chord extending in a given direction relative to the base chord.  
     
     
         5 . The modular truss system defined in    claim 4    wherein the base chords are generally parallel with one another.  
     
     
         6 . The modular truss system defined in    claim 3    wherein a plurality of the truss components are interconnected with fasteners and form a structural truss; wherein a first set of the truss components are arranged with the base chords aligned generally collinearly and the connection between the first side chord and the second side chord of each truss component extends in a first direction, the first direction being generally perpendicular to the base chords; and wherein a second set of the truss components are arranged with the base chords aligned generally collinearly and the connection between the first side chord and the second side chord of each truss component extends in a second direction, the second direction being generally opposite to the first direction.  
     
     
         7 . The modular truss system defined in    claim 6    wherein each of the first and the second sets of the truss components defines a series of peaks and valleys, and wherein the first and second sets of the truss components are alternatingly interposed between each other with the peaks of one set of the truss components nesting in the valleys of the other set of the truss components.  
     
     
         8 . The modular truss system defined in    claim 7    wherein the base chords of the first set of the truss components and the base chords of the second set of the truss components are generally parallel with one another.  
     
     
         9 . The modular truss system defined in    claim 6    wherein the base chords of the first set of the truss components and the base chords of the second set of the truss components are generally parallel with one another.  
     
     
         10 . A structural truss comprising a number of structural truss modules and a plurality of fasteners, the fasteners interconnecting the number of structural truss modules, each structural truss module having first, second, and third chords, each of the three chords having first and second opposing ends, the first chord second end being connected with the second chord first end, the second chord second end being connected with the third chord first end, the third chord second end being connected with the first chord first end.  
     
     
         11 . The structural truss defined in    claim 10    wherein each truss module is oriented substantially the same, with the connection between the first chord and the second chord extending in a given direction relative to the third chord.  
     
     
         12 . The structural truss defined in    claim 11    wherein the third chords are generally parallel with one another.  
     
     
         13 . The structural truss defined in    claim 10    wherein a first set of the truss modules are arranged with the base chords aligned generally collinearly and the connection between the first side chord and the second side chord of each truss module extends in a first direction, the first direction being generally perpendicular the base chords; 
 wherein a second set of the truss modules are arranged with the base chords aligned generally collinearly and the connection between the first side chord and the second side chord of each truss module extends in a second direction, the second direction being generally opposite to the first direction.  
 
     
     
         14 . The structural truss defined in    claim 13    wherein each of the first and second sets of the truss modules defines a series of peaks and valleys, and wherein the first and second sets of the truss modules are alternatingly interposed between each other with the peaks of one set of the truss modules nesting in the valleys of the other set of the truss modules.  
     
     
         15 . The structural truss defined in    claim 14    wherein the base chords of the first set of the truss modules and the base chords of the second set of the truss modules are generally parallel with one another.  
     
     
         16 . The structural truss defined in    claim 13    wherein the base chords of the first set of the truss modules and the base chords of the second set of the truss modules are generally parallel with one another.