BRACE FOR ROOF TRUSS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/743,305 filed on January 9, 2025, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The present invention generally relates to the field of residential construction. More specifically, the invention relates to a brace capable of holding in place at a predetermined distance two adjacent roof trusses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003]Construction of a roof for a building, such as a house, requires placing trusses atop the exterior walls of the building parallel to each other and at a predetermined distance from each other and then covering this structure with panels and then roofing material. Such placement of the trusses requires carpenters to precisely place a first truss on the exterior walls, brace it, place a second truss parallel to the first one, measure the distance so that the second truss is placed at the predetermined distance from the first one, and brace this second truss to the first one so that they hold themselves in place. Absent this bracing, the trusses would simply fall on their side. This bracing is typically achieved by fixing at least two pieces of lumber to the trusses.

[0004]Improvements have been made to this method where braces are used to precisely position the trusses with respect to each other and to hold them in place during construction. However, some solutions require removing the braces prior to installing the panels atop the trusses while other remain in place underneath the panels, but create an uneven supporting surface, which can transpire and be observed on the finished roof.

[0005]There is therefore a need for an improved brace for roof trusses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]It is an object of the present invention to provide a brace for holding roof trusses during construction of a building that overcomes or mitigates one or more disadvantages of known braces, or at least provides a useful alternative.

[0007]The invention provides the advantages of positioning roof trusses at a predetermined distance from each other within requiring measuring. Moreover, the brace of the instant invention may remain in place on the trusses underneath the panels making the roof surface.

[0008]In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a brace for holding parallel to each other two adjacent roof trusses resting on walls of a building. The brace comprises an elongated body having a thickness. The body has a first end and a second end. The first end has a first tab extending substantially perpendicular to the body while the second end has a second tab extending substantially perpendicular to the body. The distance between the first tab and the second tab is at most equal to a predetermined distance between center planes of the two adjacent trusses.

[0009]Optionally, the first end may comprise a flat portion having the thickness for extending over a first one of the two adjacent trusses. The first tab is a flange extending at an extremity of the flat portion distal the second end. The flange has a slot for receiving the second tab of an identical adjacent brace so that when the second tab of the adjacent brace engages the slot of the brace, the elongated bodies and the flat portions of the brace and of the identical adjacent brace are coplanar.

[0010]The first end flat portion may comprise a hole for receiving a nail.

[0011]The first end may comprise a wall attachment tab at an extremity of the flat portion that is transversal to the elongated body. The wall attachment tab extends perpendicular to the elongated body.

[0012]The wall attachment tab may be in a plane that is perpendicular to both the mid portion and the flange. The flange is attachable to a bottom chord of a first one of the two adjacent trusses. The second tab is attachable to an adjacent slot of an adjacent brace installed on a second one of the adjacent trusses. The wall attachment tab is operable to be fixed to a wall of the building on which the two adjacent trusses rest.

[0013]Optionally, the first tab may be symmetrical to the second tab, both tabs being operable to each engage a different slot in a different shoe placed on a respective top chord of each one of the two adjacent trusses.

[0014]The distance between both tabs may be less than the predetermined distance between center planes of the two adjacent trusses.

[0015]In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising the brace with symmetrical first and second tabs, as well as two shoes. Each one of the two shoes has a mid portion and two parallel flanges extending perpendicularly from the mid portion so as to be configured as a U. Each one of the two parallel flanges has a slot for receiving a different one of the first and the second tabs. Each one of the two shoes is configured to be affixed to a top chord of a different one of the two adjacent trusses so that the mid portion of each one of the two shoes is flat against the top chord of the respective truss, while the parallel flanges of each shoe extend on sides of the respective top chord of the respective truss. The elongated body of the brace is substantially coplanar with the mid portion of each one of the two shoes.

[0016]Optionally, the kit may further comprise the two trusses where each one of the two trusses having a respective one of the two shoes preassembled thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029]These and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

[0030]FIG. 1 is perspective view of a roof structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a brace used in the roof structure of FIG. 1;

[0032]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shoe used in the roof structure of FIG. 1;

[0033]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the brace of FIG. 2 and the shoe of FIG. 3 prior to being attached together;

[0034]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the brace of FIG. 2 and the shoe of FIG. 3 after being attached together;

[0035]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the roof structure of FIG. 1 once multiple braces of FIG. 2 and multiple shoes of FIG. 3 are installed;

[0036]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a string of braces of FIG. 2 and shoes of FIG. 3 attached together;

[0037]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a variant of the brace in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two braces of FIG. 8 attached together;

[0039]FIG. 10 is a perspective view from the top of two braces of FIG. 8 attached together with a shoe of FIG. 3;

[0040]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a variant of the brace of FIG. 8 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041]FIG. 1 is referred to. The present invention relates to a brace 10 for holding in place at a predetermined distance d two adjacent roof trusses 12 resting on walls of a building.

[0042]In an embodiment of the present invention, the brace 10 has an elongated body 14. This is best shown in FIG. 2, concurrently referred to. Both ends of the body 14 are provided with a tab 16, which extend substantially perpendicular to the body 14. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the distance between both tabs 16 is less than the predetermined distance d, and at most equal to it. This predetermined distance d corresponds to the distance between center planes of two adjacent trusses 12. For residential construction, this distance d is predetermined by building codes and can typically range from 12 inches to 24 inches. According to the present description, this distance may have any value and is only limited during applications to those values defined by buildings codes.

[0043]Since the brace 10 is placed atop a top chord 18 of trusses 12 and is intended to remain in place, it is advantageous to have a thin construction of the brace. Hence, the brace 10 is typically made of a sheet metal, preferably thin sheet metal of a large gauge such as gauge 14 standard steel sheets up to gauge 38 (2 mm to 0,15 mm), preferably between 0,5 mm and 0,25 mm (gauges 25 to 32). To provide added rigidity to the elongated body 14, ribs 20 may be formed in the sheet metal.

[0044]This embodiment of the present invention is typically used in combination with at least two shoes 22, each one of which straddle and is attached to a respective one of two adjacent trusses 12. As depicted in FIG. 1, the shoes 22 are affixed to the top chord 18 of each truss, at the same distance from the lower edge 23 of the top chord. Such a shoe 22 is depicted in more detail in FIG. 3, now concurrently referred to. The shoe 22 is made of the same material thickness as the brace 10.

[0045]The shoe 22 has a mid portion 24 and two parallel flanges 26 which extend perpendicularly from the mid portion 24, making it configured as the letter “U”. Each flange 26 is provided with a slot 28 adapted to receive one tab 16 of the brace 10. The detail of the connection of the brace 22 to the shoe 22 is provided in FIGS. 4 and 5, now concurrently referred to. The mid portion 24 is designed to be placed flat against the top chord 18 of the truss 12, while the parallel flanges extend on sides of the top chord 18. The shoe 22 can be fixed to the truss using nails or screws. Alternatively, the flanges 26 can be provided with small sharp protrusions so as to be crimped on the wood of the truss 12.

[0046]The slot 28 of the shoe 22 as well as the tab 16 of the brace 10 are designed and placed so that the external surface of the brace 10, e.g. the brace external surface 30 of the elongated body 14 is coplanar with the shoe external surface 32 of the shoe mid portion 24 once assembled. This is better shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, now concurrently referred to. Advantageously, this coplanarity between these components provides a continuous support to the roof panels which are placed over the trusses 12 and the braces 10. With respect to an external surface of the top chord 18, both the brace external surface 30 and the shoe external surface 32 are only raised by the thickness of the material used for the brace 10 and the shoe 22.

[0047]A kit may be provided that includes one brace 10 with one or two shoes 22. In a specific example, the trusses 12 may be provided with the shoes already mounted on them at their intended position, which would be at multiple of 48 inches from the lower edge 23 so as to receive and properly support on all its sides a panel (such as plywood) of 4 feet×8 feet. Hence, trusses 12 so equipped with shoes 22 may be part of the kit.

[0053]FIG. 8, now concurrently referred to, depicts a variant of the present invention. In this variant, one end of the brace 33 is modified to incorporate the functionality of the shoe 22. Hence, in this variant, one end of the brace 33 is designed with a flat portion 34, somewhat equivalent to the mid portion 24 of the shoe 22, as well as with flanges 36. The flat portion 34 is coplanar with a median portion 38 of the body 40. The flange 36 most distal from the tab 42 is provided with a slot 44 to accommodate the tab 42 of an adjacently placed identical brace 33. FIG. 9 details the assembly of the tab 42 at one end of one brace 33 inserted in the slot 44 of an identical adjacent brace 33. FIG. 10 shows this assembly from the top side. In FIG. 10, it may be observed that a shoe 22 is placed at an ending extremity of the string of braces 33, interlocked with the tab 42 of the last brace 33.

[0054]In another embodiment of the present invention, a variation of the brace 33 is provided. This is depicted in FIG. 11, now referred to. This brace 50 is very similar to the brace 33, except that it is provided with a wall attachment tab 52 at the end having the flanges 54 and a flat portion 56 that is transversal to the elongated body 58. The wall attachment tab 52 extends perpendicular or transversal to the elongated body 58. In order to be attachable to the wall 60 of the building, the wall attachment tab 52 is in a plane that is perpendicular to both the flat portion 56 and the flange 54. The flange 54 is designed to be attachable to a bottom chord 62 of the truss 12 which rests on the wall 60. The tab 64 is attachable to the slot 66 of an identical adjacent brace 50 installed on a second adjacent truss 12. So affixed, the brace 50 ends up being intermediate the truss 12 and the wall 60.

[0062]The present invention has been described with regard to preferred embodiments. The description as much as the drawings were intended to help the understanding of the invention, rather than to limit its scope. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein, and such modifications are intended to be covered by the present description. The invention is defined by the claims that follow.