Adjustable truss construction

Abstract

A truss construction especially adapted for use in reinforcing and/or restoring sagging flooring of a building to a substantially horizontal position comprises a plurality of individual truss units arranged in a row and coupled to one another in such manner as to enable adjacent units to rock relative to one another in opposite directions and bow upwardly the truss formed by the assembled truss units. The individual truss units from which the assembled truss is formed are separable from one another and the components from which such units are formed are separable to enable such units to avoid interference with utility materials such as wiring and plumbing components during placement of the truss units in operative condition.

1 . A truss construction comprising a plurality of individual truss units arranged in a row, each of said truss units having an upper, elongate member having opposite ends, a pair of limbs underlying said upper member, and a common connector; means coupling corresponding ends of said limbs to opposite ends of said support member; means coupling opposite ends of said limbs to said common connector, said limbs converging in a direction toward said common connector; adjustable means connecting the elongate member of each of said support members to the elongate member of an adjacent truss unit; and adjustable force transmitting means connecting the common connector of each of said truss units to the common connector of an adjacent truss unit.  
   
   
       2 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the opposite ends of said limbs are joined to one another and to the associated common connector.  
   
   
       3 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein said common connector comprises a hollow housing.  
   
   
       4 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein said common connector comprises an elongate member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the elongate member which overlies said common connector.  
   
   
       5 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the means coupling corresponding ends of said limbs to opposite ends of said elongate member provides vertical and horizontal support for said elongate member.  
   
   
       6 . The construction according to  claim 5  wherein the means coupling said corresponding ends of said elongate member comprises an L-shaped bar having integral horizontal and vertical flanges.  
   
   
       7 . The construction according to  claim 6  wherein said coupling means enables the vertical flanges of adjacent elongate members to be moved toward and away from one another.  
   
   
       8 . The construction according to  claim 1  wherein the adjustable force transmitting means connecting the common connectors of adjacent support members enables the common connectors of adjacent support members to be moved toward and away from one another, thereby enabling the adjacent support members to rock relative to one another.  
   
   
       9 . The construction according to  claim 1  including support means at opposite ends of said row for providing vertical support for those truss units at said opposite ends of said row.  
   
   
       10 . A truss construction comprising a row of individual truss units each of which has an upper, substantially horizontal bearing member, a pair of limbs joined at corresponding ends to opposite ends of said bearing member and converging downwardly from said bearing member, a common connector member secured to said limbs at those ends thereof opposite said corresponding ends; adjustable force transmitting means securing confronting ends of adjacent common connector members; and vertical support means at opposite ends of said row of truss units for supporting in an elevated position a truss formed by said row of truss units.  
   
   
       11 . The construction according to  claim 10  wherein said common connector member comprises a hollow body having at each opposite end a wall provided with an opening therein through which said force transmitting means extends.  
   
   
       12 . The construction according to  claim 11  wherein said force transmitting means is operable to move adjacent common connector members toward and away from one another and thereby rock adjacent truss units relative to one another.  
   
   
       13 . The construction according to  claim 12  wherein said force transmitting means includes a tie rod adjoining adjacent common connector members to one another.  
   
   
       14 . The construction according to  claim 13  wherein each said tie rod extends through the opening in said wall of said hollow body and threadedly accommodates a rotatable nut by means of which adjacent common connector members may be adjusted toward and away from one another.