Building structure with purlin to beam connection

Abstract

A metal frame for a building structure includes a structural beam, such as a truss, and a tubular purlin or trellis attached to the beam. The tubular purlin includes a configured end matably engaging a side of the beam and an attachment tab extending longitudinally from the configured end. The configured end and the attachment tab both are integrally formed from material of the tubular purlin. The structural attachment tab supports the configured end on the structural beam and structurally attaches the tubular purlin to the structural beam. In one form, the tubular purlin includes a wall section that covers an open end of the tubular beam. In another form, the configured end defines an angled recess setting the particular orientation of the beam relative to the purlin. In yet another form, interlock hooks are provided on the attachment tab.

1 . A metal frame for a building structure comprising: 
 a structural beam; and    a tubular purlin with a configured end shaped to mateably engage a side of the beam and an attachment tab extending longitudinally from the configured end, the configured end and the attachment tab both being integrally formed from material of the tubular purlin, the structural attachment tab supporting the configured end on the structural beam and structurally attaching the tubular purlin to the structural beam.    
   
   
       2 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment tab is formed from a portion of a top wall of the tubular purlin.  
   
   
       3 . The metal frame defined in  claim 2 , including mechanical fasteners attaching the attachment tab to the structural beam.  
   
   
       4 . The metal frame defined in  claim 3 , wherein the tubular purlin defines a longitudinal direction and wherein the attachment tab is bent to define an acute angle to the longitudinal direction.  
   
   
       5 . The metal frame defined in  claim 4 , wherein the configured end includes end surfaces shaped to fit closely to the side of the beam.  
   
   
       6 . The metal frame defined in  claim 5 , wherein the beam includes an open end, and wherein the configured end includes a first side wall that covers the open end of the beam.  
   
   
       7 . The metal frame defined in  claim 6 , wherein the configured end includes a second side wall opposite the first side wall, the second side wall being cut short so that a portion of the end surfaces on the second side wall form a notch for receiving the beam.  
   
   
       8 . The metal frame defined in  claim 7 , wherein the structural beam is oriented at a first angle to horizontal to form a roof pitch, and wherein the purlin is oriented at a second angle to the beam when viewed from above to form part of a geometrically-shaped roof edge, the first and second angles each being less than 90 degrees, the configured end and attachment tab being oriented and configured to nestingly inter-engage.  
   
   
       9 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , including mechanical fasteners attaching the attachment tab to the structural beam.  
   
   
       10 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular purlin defines a longitudinal direction and wherein the attachment tab is bent to define an acute angle to the longitudinal direction.  
   
   
       11 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , wherein the configured end includes end surfaces shaped to fit closely against the side of the beam.  
   
   
       12 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , wherein the beam includes an open end, and wherein the configured end includes a first side wall that at least partially covers the open end of the beam.  
   
   
       13 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , wherein the configured end includes first and second side walls, the second side wall being cut short so that a portion of the end surfaces on the second side wall form a notch for receiving the beam.  
   
   
       14 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , wherein the structural beam is oriented at a first angle to horizontal to form a roof pitch, and wherein the purlin is oriented at a second angle to the beam when viewed from above to form part of a geometrically-shaped roof edge, the first and second angles each being less than 90 degrees, the configured end and the attachment tab being oriented and configured to nestingly inter-engage an outer end of the beam.  
   
   
       15 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , including a second purlin with a second configured end and second attachment tab, the first-mentioned and second configured ends engaging opposing sides of the beam in a same location, with the first-mentioned and second attachment tabs both engaging a top of the beam in adjacent aligned coplanar positions.  
   
   
       16 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , including at least two screws securing the attachment tab to the beam.  
   
   
       17 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , wherein the purlin includes a second end having a second configured end that is a mirror image of the first-mentioned configured end.  
   
   
       18 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , wherein the beam and the purlin each have flat-sided top and bottom walls.  
   
   
       19 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , wherein the configured end includes end surfaces that are cut at angle that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, so that when the configured end receives the beam, the beam is oriented at an angle less than 90 degrees when the beam and purlin are viewed from above.  
   
   
       20 . The metal frame defined in  claim 1 , including interlock tabs extending from the attachment tab and that engage a pair of spaced notches in a top wall of the structural beam.  
   
   
       21 . A purlin comprising: 
 a structural tube adapted to form a structural portion of a building, the structural tube having top, bottom, and opposing side walls, at least the top wall extending longitudinally to define an attachment tab; the bottom wall and at least one side wall having end surfaces defining a concavely shaped recess adapted to fit closely against a beam with the attachment tab engaging a top of the beam; the attachment tab including at least two apertures for receiving attachment bolts and having sufficient strength to both support the structural tube on the beam and also sufficient strength to retain the structural tube to the beam for stabilizing the beam.    
   
   
       22 . The purlin defined in  claim 21 , wherein the top, bottom and opposing side walls are each planar.  
   
   
       23 . The purlin defined in  claim 22 , wherein the concavely-shaped recess defines a cavity shaped adapted to nestingly engage a beam with a length direction of the beam being at an angle different than 90° to a length direction of the purlin.  
   
   
       24 . The purlin defined in  claim 22 , wherein the concavely-shaped recess has a cross section with adjacent flat sides adapted to nestingly engage a beam having adjacent perpendicular flat side walls, the flat sides of the recess defining an acute angle to a length direction defined by the purlin.  
   
   
       25 . A metal frame for a building structure comprising: 
 a structural beam having a pair of spaced notches, each notch being located at least partially in a top wall of the beam; and    a tubular purlin having a configured end including a pair of interlock tabs that hookingly engage the pair of spaced notches with the configured end resting on the structural beam, the configured end and interlock tabs both being integrally formed from material of the tubular purlin, the structural attachment tab supporting the configured end on the structural beam with the interlock tabs structurally attaching the tubular purlin to the structural beam.    
   
   
       26 . A purlin comprising: 
 a structural tube adapted to form a structural portion of a building, the structural tube having top, bottom, and opposing side walls, at least the top wall extending longitudinally from an end of the structural tube to define an attachment tab with a pair of downwardly extending interlock tabs; the bottom wall and at least one side wall having co-planar end surfaces adapted to fit closely against a building beam with the attachment tab engaging a top of the beam and the interlock tabs engaging mating notches in the beam.    
   
   
       27 . A method comprising steps of: 
 providing a structural tube having top, bottom, and opposing side walls;    cutting the bottom wall and at least one of the side walls to define a configured end with a concave recess shaped to closely engage a side of a beam, the step of cutting further including cutting the walls to leave an integrally-formed structural attachment tab that extends longitudinally over the concave recess; and    positioning a beam in the recess with the attachment tab engaging a top of the beam and further attaching the attachment tab to the beam as a purlin to form a building structure.    
   
   
       28 . The method defined in  claim 27 , wherein the step of cutting includes laser cutting the bottom wall and the at least one side wall.