Light steel trusses and truss systems

Abstract

A truss chord for use in a light steel truss includes a flange portion, a pair of web portions and at least one wing. The flange portion has an end and an end portion. The end portion has a double thickness. The pair of web portions extend substantially orthogonally from the flange portion and are spaced inwardly from the ends of the flange portion. The at least one wing extends outwardly substantially orthogonally from at least one of the pair of web portions. There is provided an alternate embodiment wherein the wing having a plurality of spaced apart holes formed therein. There is also provided a truss web. As well there is a truss which uses the truss chords and truss webs and a truss system which uses a plurality of trusses. In addition there is a mass customization system for the trusses.

What is claimed as the invention is: 
     
         1 . A truss system comprising:
 at least two trusses each having a bottom chord, a top chord and a plurality of truss webs, the plurality of truss webs extend between and are attached to the bottom chord and the top chord, the bottom chord having a generally U-shaped cross-section formed by a flange portion, a pair of spaced apart web portions extending substantially orthogonally from the flange portion, the pair of web portions extending substantially parallel to each other along the lengths of the web portions;   at least one cross member extending between adjacent trusses; and   at least a pair of connectors each pair attached to opposed ends of the cross member and each connector having a first connection portion for connecting to the bottom chord web and having a length generally the same as the length of the web portion and a second connection portion for connecting to the cross member.   
     
     
         2 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the connector is generally U-shaped and further including a third connection portion for connecting to the cross member whereby the U-shape is formed with the first connection portion and the second connection portion and third connection portion extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the connector is generally U-shaped and further includes a pair of first and second connectors joined by and end piece. 
     
     
         4 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the connector is a first connector including the first connection portion and the second connection portion and further including second connector and the second connector is attached to the second connection portion of the first connector such that the cross member is operably attached to the second connection portion. 
     
     
         5 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the second connector is a generally U-shaped member. 
     
     
         6 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the second connector includes an end portion and a pair of side portions extending generally orthogonally therefrom and the side portions are connected to the first connector. 
     
     
         7 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the second connector further includes a pair of ribs between the end portion and the pair of side portions. 
     
     
         8 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the second connector further includes a pair of lips extending inwardly from the side portions at the distal ends thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the first connector is generally U-shaped and further including a third connection portion for connecting to the cross member whereby the U-shape is formed with the first connection portion and the second connection portion and third connection portion extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         10 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the first connector is generally U-shaped and further includes a pair of first and second connectors joined by and end piece. 
     
     
         11 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the second connector is generally Y-shaped including a pair of spaced apart connecting members for connecting to the cross member a pair of end pieced connected to a base having a slot formed therein and wherein the second connection portion of the first connector fits inside the slot and is attached to the base. 
     
     
         12 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the second connector is generally U-shaped slip on connection including an end portion and a pair of side portions connected to a base having a slot formed therein and wherein the second connection portion of the first connector fits inside the slot and is attached to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 1  is a generally L-shaped uplift connector. 
     
     
         14 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the truss is a gable truss. 
     
     
         15 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the truss is a hip truss. 
     
     
         16 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the truss is a mono truss. 
     
     
         17 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the truss is a double Howe truss. 
     
     
         18 . The truss system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the truss is a mono-hip truss.