Truss and joist brace

Abstract

A brace system is provided for bracing at least two frame members of a multi-frame member containing frame system of a building. The brace system includes an elongated brace having a length sufficient to extend between at least two frame members. The brace includes a generally vertically extending frame engaging leg having at least three cut-out portions therein, the cut-out portions being disposed at predetermined intervals for receiving frame members. First and second wing members extend generally perpendicular to the frame engaging leg and are positioned for resting on an upper surface of a frame member. A deck engaging leg extends in a plane generally perpendicular to the wing members, and includes a deck engaging surface positioned for serving as a rest for decking members.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A brace system for bracing at least three frame members of a multi-frame member containing frame system of a building, the brace system comprising 
 an elongated brace having a length sufficient to extend between at least three frame members, the brace including 
 (1) a generally vertically extending frame engaging leg having at least three cut-out portions therein, the cut-out portions being disposed at predetermined intervals for receiving frame members,  
 (2) first and second wing members extending generally perpendicular to the frame engaging leg, the wing members being positioned for resting on an upper surface of a frame member, and  
 (3) a deck engaging leg extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the wing members, the deck engaging leg including a deck engaging surface configured and positioned for serving as a rest for decking members;  
   
     
     
         2 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein the deck engaging leg includes a first series of protrusions extending outwardly from the deck engaging surface to maintain a first decking member in a spaced relation from the deck engaging surface.  
     
     
         3 . The brace of  claim 2  where deck engaging leg includes a second deck engaging surface, and a second series of protrusions extending outwardly from the second deck engaging surface in a direction generally opposite to the direction in which the first series of protrusions extend, the second series of protrusions being positioned to maintain a second decking member in a spaced relation from the second deck engaging surface.  
     
     
         4 . The brace of  claim 3  wherein the first and second series of protrusions comprise a first and second series of hemispherical shaped protrusions.  
     
     
         5 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second wing member includes at least an aperture through which a fastening member can pass for fixedly coupling the brace to a frame member.  
     
     
         6 . The brace of  claim 1  further comprising at least one break-away tab member formed in the frame engaging leg, the tab member being removable from the frame engaging leg to form one of the cut out portions.  
     
     
         7 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein the at least one break away tab is perforatedly connected to the frame engaging leg to permit the break away tab to be removed by a user's finger, without need for additional tools.  
     
     
         8 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein the deck engaging leg includes 
 a first series of break away tabs and a second series of break away tabs,  
 the first series of break away tabs being spaced by a first predetermined distance, the first set of break away tabs configured to be removable to form a first series of said cut-out portions for receiving frame members spaced according to a first spacing regime, and  
 the second series of break away tabs being spaced by a second predetermined distance, the second set of break away tabs being configured to be removable to form a second series of said cut out portions for receiving frame members spaced according to a second spacing regime.  
 
     
     
         9 . The brace of  claim 8  wherein the first series of break away tabs are spaced about 16 inches apart and the second series of break away tabs are spaced frame members of the about 24 inches apart, wherein at least one of the break away tabs forms a cut out portion that also receives some of the second series of brake away tabs.  
     
     
         10 . The brace of  claim 8  wherein the first series of break away tabs comprises a series of multi-part break away tabs, including a first part configured to be broken away to snugly receive a frame member having a first width, and a second part configured to be broken away to snugly receive a frame member having a second width.  
     
     
         11 . The brace of  claim 10  wherein the frame member having the second width is wider than the frame member having the first width, wherein the first part and second part of the multi-part break away tab is removed to snugly receive the frame member having the second width.  
     
     
         12 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein at least two of the frame engaging leg, wing members and deck engaging leg are comprised of two layers of metal for importing enhanced structural rigidity to the brace.  
     
     
         13 . The brace of  claim 12  wherein the at least two members comprises the frame engaging leg and the deck engaging leg.  
     
     
         14 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein the brace is formed from a single sheet of metal formed to include a pair of single layer wing members, a double layer frame engaging member and a double layer deck engaging leg.  
     
     
         15 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein the frame system is selected from the group consisting of a floor frame system, a wall frame system and a roof frame system.  
     
     
         16 . A brace system for bracing at least three frame members of a multi-frame member containing frame system of a building, the brace system comprising 
 an elongated brace having a length sufficient to extend between at least three frame members, the brace including 
 (1) a generally vertically extending frame engaging leg having at least three cut-out portions therein, the cut-out portions being disposed at predetermined intervals for receiving frame members,  
 (2) first and second wing members extending generally perpendicular to the frame engaging leg, the wing members being positioned for resting on an upper surface of a frame member,  
   wherein, the frame engaging leg includes at least one break away tab member formed in the frame engaging leg to form one of the cut out portions.    
     
     
         17 . The brace of  claim 16  wherein the at least one break away tab is perforatedly connected to the frame engaging leg to permit the break away tab to be removed by a user's finger, without need for additional tools.  
     
     
         18 . The brace of  claim 16  wherein the deck engaging leg includes 
 a first series of break away tabs and a second series of break away tabs,  
 the first series of break away tabs being spaced by a first predetermined distance, the first set of break away tabs configured to be removable to form a first series of said cut-out portions for receiving frame members spaced according to a first spacing regime, and  
 the second series of break away tabs being spaced by a second predetermined distance, the second set of break away tabs being configured to be removable to form a second series of said cut out portions for receiving frame members spaced according to a second spacing regime.  
 
     
     
         19 . The brace of  claim 18  wherein the first series of break away tabs are spaced about 16 inches apart and the second series of break away tabs are spaced about 24 inches apart, wherein at least one of the first series of break away tabs also comprises at least one of the second series of brake away tabs.  
     
     
         20 . The brace of  claim 18  wherein the first series of break away tabs comprises a series of multi-part break away tabs, including a first part configured to be broken away to snugly receive a frame member having a first width, and a second part configured to be broken away to snugly receive a frame member having a second width.  
     
     
         21 . The brace of  claim 20  wherein the frame member having the second width is wider than the frame member having the first width, wherein the first part and second part of the multi-part break away tab are removed to snugly receive the frame member having the second width.  
     
     
         22 . The brace of  claim 20  wherein the first series of break away tabs further comprises a third part configured to be broken away to snugly receive a frame member having a third width.  
     
     
         23 . The brace of  claim 16  wherein the deck engaging leg includes a first series of break away tabs comprising a series of break away tabs including a first part being configured to snugly receive a frame member having a first width, a second part comprising a pair of break away tab parts being disposed laterally outwardly of the first part and being configured to snugly receive a frame member having a second width greater than first width.  
     
     
         24 . The brace of  claim 16  wherein the multi-part break away tabs include a third part comprising a pair of break away tab parts disposed laterally outwardly of the second part, and being configured to snugly receive a frame member having a third width greater than the second width.  
     
     
         25 . The brace of  claim 24  wherein 
 the removal of the first part allows the cut out portion to receive a frame member having a width of about 1{fraction (13/16)} inches or less,  
 the removal of the second part allows the cut out portion to receive a frame member having a width of about 2{fraction (9/16)} inches or less, and  
 the removal of the third part allows the cut out portion to receive a frame member having a width of about 3{fraction (9/16)} inches or less;  
 
     
     
         26 . The brace of  claim 16  wherein the break away tab includes a hinge portion for permitting the break away tab to pivot about the hinge portion, to permit the tab to be positioned in a parallel plane with a surface of a frame member;  
     
     
         27 . The brace of  claim 26  wherein the break away tab having a hinge portion includes an aperture for receiving an elongated fastener for permitting the tab to be fixedly attached to the frame member.