Adjustable support systems and methods

Abstract

An adjustable roof support system is disclosed for supporting a roof or a floor in a building having at least one truss. The system includes a plurality of interlocking segments, each having at least one fastener slot and a cross-section comprising a main rail with a top extension and a bottom extension that define an interior channel and an external periphery. The interlocking segments include at least one female length and one male length, wherein the exterior periphery of the male length fits within the interior channel of the female length. The system also includes at least one fastener configured to pass through the fastener slots of the male and female segments to secure them together, and an attachment point coupled to at least one end of the assembled segments to secure them to the truss. The assembled length is slidably adjustable, and the system can be assembled on a structure having a first truss and a second truss. The system may also include a cross connector configured to secure one interlocking length to another at an angle.

1 . An adjustable roof support system for supporting a roof or a floor in a building having at least one truss, the support system comprising:
 a plurality of interlocking elements each interlocking element having at least one fastener slot and a cross-section comprising a main rail having a top extension and a bottom extension that define an interior channel and an external periphery, wherein the top extension is longer than the bottom extension, further wherein the plurality of interlocking elements comprises at least one female segment and at least one male segment and the exterior periphery of the at least one male segment fits within the interior channel of the at least one female segment and the fastener slot of the at least one female segment aligns with fastener slot of the at least one male segment when the male segment is situated within the female segment and the interlocking element has a first end and a second end and an assembled length;   at least one fastener configured to pass through the fastener slots of the male segment and the female segment when the male segment is situated within the female segment to secure the male segment from sliding relative to the female segment; and   an attachment point coupled to at least one of the first end and the second end wherein the at least one attachment point is configured to secure the first end or the second end to the at least one truss.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable support system of  claim 1 , wherein the assembled length is slidably adjustable. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable support system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener slot is on the main rail. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable support system of  claim 1 , wherein the first rail is smaller than the second rail allow the first rail to slide within the second rail. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable support system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment point comprises a horizontal member coupled to a vertical member that is coupled to the first end and/or the second end. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable support system of  claim 5 , wherein the vertical member is coupled to an angle member having at least one truss fastener coupled to it wherein the fastener is tightened against the at least one truss, 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable support system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cross connector configured to secure one interlocking segment to another interlocking segment at an angle. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable support system of  claim 7  wherein the angle is a perpendicular angle. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable support system of  claim 1 , wherein the top extension and the bottom extension have a vertical extension substantially extending away from the top extension and the bottom extension. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable support system of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are at least one of a bolt and/or nut. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable support system of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking segments are composed of 6 gauge, 10 gauge, 12 gauge, or 3/16ths inch steel or aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . A method of assembling an adjustable support system on a structure having a first truss and a second truss, the method comprising the acts of;
 providing an adjustable support system having a plurality of interlocking elements each interlocking element having at least one fastener slot and a cross-section comprising a main rail having a top extension and a bottom extension that define an interior channel and an external periphery, wherein the top extension is longer than the bottom extension, further wherein the plurality of interlocking elements comprises at least one female segment and at least one male segment and the exterior periphery of the at least one male segment fits within the interior channel of the at least one female segment and the fastener slot of the at least one female segment aligns with fastener slot of the at least one male segment when the male segment is situated within the female segment and the interlocking element has a first end and a second end and an assembled length, at least one fastener configured to pass through the fastener slots of the male segment and the female segment to secure the male segment from sliding relative to the female segment, and an attachment point coupled to at least one of the first end and the second end wherein the at least one attachment point is configured to secure the first end or the second end to the at least one truss;   assembling a first rail by assembling a male segment with a female segment and slidably adjusting the assembled length of the first rail to extend between the first truss and the second truss;   assembling a second rail by assembling at least one male segment with at least one female segment and slidably adjusting the assembled length of the second rail to extend between the first truss and the second truss   arranging the first rail a desired distance from the second rail;   coupling the first end of the first and second rails with the first truss and the second end of the first and second rails with the second truss;   providing at least one cross rail comprising at least one of the plurality of interlocking elements, a first cross connector and a second cross connector that when assembled span the desired distance; and   securing the first cross connector to the first rail and the second cross connector to the second rail.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first rail and the second rail is comprised of a single male segment and a single female segment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the acts of:
 selecting a segment length for the male segment and the female segment from a plurality of segment lengths to allow the first rail and the second rail to stretch between the first truss and the second truss with a single male segment and a single female segment. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of rail lengths comprises segments having a length of 15 inches, 20 inches, 25 inches, 30 inches, 35 inches, 40 inches, 45 inches, 50 inches, 55 inches, 60 inches, 65 inches, 70 inches, 75 inches, 80 inches, 85 inches, 90 inches, 95 inches, 100 inches, 105 inches, 110 inches, 115 inches, or 120 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the combined length of one of the at least one of the plurality of interlocking segments, the first cross connector and the second cross connector is the desired distance. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the desired distance is between 21 and 27 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising securing at least one fastener in at least one of the fastener slots. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the at least one cross rail is one cross rail for every 25 inches of the distance between the first truss and the second truss. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the interlocking segments are composed of 6 gauge, 10 gauge, 12 gauge, or 3/16ths inch steel or aluminum selected based on required loading. 
     
     
         21 . A support system for supporting a roof or a floor in a building comprising:
 a plurality of interlocking elements each interlocking element comprising
 a first interlocking element end and a second interlocking element end; 
   a female segment having a female segment exterior surface, a female segment interior surface, and at least one female segment fastener slot, and
 a male segment having a male segment exterior surface and at least one male segment fastener slot, 
 wherein the female segment fastener slot aligns with the at least one male segment fastener slot when a portion of the male exterior surface of the male segment engages the female segment interior surface of the female segment; 
   at least one fastener operable to pass through the female segment fastener slot and the male segment fastener slot to secure the male segment in a position relative to the female segment; and   at least one of an attachment point couplable to at least one of the first interlocking element end and the second interlocking element end wherein the attachment point is operable to secure the first interlocking element end or the second interlocking element end to a truss, and at least one cross-connector couplable to the interlocking element wherein the cross-connector is operable to secure a first interlocking element to a second interlocking element at an angle.