Metal truss system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a truss system comprising first and second chords and a number of joists in bolted connection to form a load bearing structure. The first and second chords extend longitudinally in parallel alignment to form the beams upon which a load will be spread across. The first and second diagonal members of a joist are aligned at approximately 45 degree angles to the first and second chord, and perpendicularly to each other, to maximize the load bearing capabilities of the truss system. By utilizing a utility support grid to couple a first truss to a second truss, the present invention can support a load spread over a greater area.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters of Patent is as follows:  
     
         1 . A truss system, comprising: 
 a first rigid chord;    a second rigid chord substantially parallel to the first chord, the first chord and second chord being separated by a chord separation distance; and    a plurality of joists rigidly coupling the first chord to the second chord at a chord separation distance, each of the joists having a first diagonal member and a second diagonal member constructed and arranged such that 
 (a) the first diagonal member angularly subtends about 90 degrees with the second diagonal member in a first bolted connection with the second truss, and  
 (b) the first diagonal member of at least one joist angularly subtends about 90 degrees with the second diagonal member of an adjacent joist in a second bolted connection with the first truss.  
   
     
     
         2 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein the joists comprise n joists constructed and arranged to (a) partition the first chord into n upper chord members, each of the upper chord members defined between a pair of second bolted connections, and (b) partition the second chord into (n-1) lower chord members, each of the lower chord members defined between a pair of first bolted connections.  
     
     
         3 . A truss system of  claim 2 , wherein the joists are constructed and arranged such that a substantially perpendicular line to the first and second chords is formed between a centroid of each of the upper chord members and at least one first bolted connection.  
     
     
         4 . A truss system of  claim 2 , wherein the joists are constructed and arranged such that a substantially perpendicular line to the first and second chords is formed between a centroid of each of the lower chord members and at least one second bolted connection.  
     
     
         5 . A truss system of  claim 2 , wherein the first chord is longer than the second chord by approximately one upper chord member.  
     
     
         6 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein the first bolted connection comprises a first joint bracket, and further comprising (a) at least one bolt between the first diagonal member and the first joint bracket, (b) at least one bolt between the second diagonal member and the first joint bracket, and (c) at least one bolt between the first joint bracket and the second chord.  
     
     
         7 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein the second bolted connection comprises a second joint bracket, and further comprising (a) at least one bolt between the first diagonal member and the second joint bracket, (b) at least one bolt between the second diagonal member and the second joint bracket, and (c) at least one bolt between the second joint bracket and the first chord.  
     
     
         8 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein the first chord comprises one or more welded connections.  
     
     
         9 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein the second chord comprises one or more welded connections.  
     
     
         10 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first chord or second chords comprise material constructed and arranged with a girth of approximately 1⅝″ wide by 3¼″.  
     
     
         11 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first chord or second chords comprise material constructed and arranged with a U-shaped girth of approximately 1⅝″ wide by 4⅞″.  
     
     
         12 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second chords are constructed and arranged with material and girth size in accord with loading estimates for the truss system.  
     
     
         13 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second diagonal members comprise material constructed and arranged with a tube-shaped girth of approximately 1¾″.  
     
     
         14 . A truss system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second diagonal members comprise material constructed and arranged with U-shaped girth of approximately 1⅝″ by 1¾″.  
     
     
         15 . A truss system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second bolted connections comprise one or more U-shaped fittings.  
     
     
         16 . A truss system of  claim 15 , wherein the U-shaped fittings are constructed and arranged with a size of approximately 4″ by 20″ by 1¾″.  
     
     
         17 . A truss system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the U-shaped fittings are separated by approximately four feet along the second chord.  
     
     
         18 . A truss system of  claim 1 , further comprises one or more utility support grids formed of metal framing rigidly coupled to the second chord.  
     
     
         19 . A truss system of  claim 18 , wherein the first bolted connection couples to the second chord at a first side of the second chord, and wherein the metal framing is constructed and arranged to couple to a second side of the second chord, and substantially adjacent to at least two of the second bolted connections.  
     
     
         20 . A truss system of  claim 18 , wherein the second bolted connections are spaced at approximately four feet from one another, wherein the utility support grids comprises a four foot grid.  
     
     
         21 . A truss system of  claim 18 , wherein the second bolted connections are spaced at approximately five feet from one another, wherein the utility support grids comprise a five foot grid.  
     
     
         22 . A truss system of  claim 18 , wherein the metal framing comprises a U-shaped channel with a girth of approximately 1⅝″ by 3¼″.  
     
     
         23 . A truss system of  claim 18 , wherein the metal framing comprises a U-shaped channel with a girth of approximately 1⅝″ by 4⅞″.  
     
     
         24 . A truss system of  claim 18 , wherein the metal framing comprises 12 gauge steel.  
     
     
         25 . A truss system of  claim 1  or  18 , wherein each of the chords and metal framing are constructed and arranged to meet a 40psf design load.