Press-formable light-gauge truss framing element

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Area of Invention

The present invention relates to a framing element particularly adapted for use in light load applications such as residential and commercial structures.

2. Prior Art

In the recent years, there has been a development in the technology of press-joint connection of metal parts by cold forming. In such technology, a punch of, for example, a type sold by Eckold AG pushes respective surfaces of light gauge steel (or other metal) against each other and then, using high impact hydraulic or pneumatic means, creates a cold-formed joint, that is, a securement between such surfaces of the light gauge steel members.

Tools for affecting such press-joining of light gauge steel in order to accomplish framing and other applications may be accomplished through the use of mobile hand-held or hand-guided tools usable during in-house and on-site construction. The present invention is therefore directed to a truss framing element particularly adapted to take advantage of such contemporary techniques of the press-joining of light gauge steel elements to each other.

The prior art includes a light-gauge truss framing beam having a generally T-shaped cross-section shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,674. The prior art also includes the lightweight metal truss and frame system shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,480 to Bass. The present invention may be viewed as an improvement of my said U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,674 into new and useful cross-sectional geometries not contemplated by the invention of said portion, and which can be entirely formed by technologies of press-shaping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to a light-gauge truss framing element which comprises a longitudinal constructional beam having a uniform generally T-shaped cross-section, in which a generally vertical portion of said cross-section defines a web of said beam and a transverse horizontal upper portion thereof defines symmetric opposing portions of a hollow solid rectangle. An upper-most outer surface of said upper portion includes longitudinal channels thereon. Said beam comprises a material having a thickness in a range of about 10 to about 22 gauge and having a yield strength in a range of about 36 to about 55 kips per square inch and, prior to press shaping, a width of about one foot.

It is an object of the invention to provide a longitudinal constructional beam having particular application in light gauge steel framing, utilizing press-joining technology.

It is another object to provide a light gauge truss framing element that may be formed of a single sheet of metal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a light gauge constructional beam including a reinforced web portion thereof.

The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention, and Claims appended herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a truss of a type that may be formed with framing elements of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an interior framing element of the truss taken along Line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper framing elements of the truss, taken along Line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the internal support elements of the truss, taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic view, taken along Line 5-5 of FIG. 2, however showing a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 at region 7 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shown in FIG. 1 is a light-gauge truss 16 assembled using the press-joining technique and geometries set forth below. There is, more particularly, shown a base framing element 20, such as that taught in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,674, and a diagonal framing element or beam 22. Between said elements are U-shaped connecting elements or beams 24. This may be seen in the cross-section view of FIG. 2. All of the points of connection between said framing elements, that is, points 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 are effected through the above-referenced press-joining technique for light gauge steel (often referred to as clinching).

With reference to the transverse cross-sectional view taken along Line 3-3 of FIG. 1, an inventive truss framing element 100 (see FIG. 3) may be seen to define a uniform generally T-shaped cross-section, in which a vertical portion of said cross-section defines a web 102 of said element and a transverse horizontal upper portion 104 thereof defines symmetric opposing left and right portions 106 and 108 of a hollow solid rectangle, an upper-most outer surface 110 of which including longitudinal channels 112 thereon. It is noted that the entire beam 100 may be cold-rolled or machine-pressed from a single longitudinal sheet of light-gauge steel or equivalent material having a length of 11 inches and thickness between about 10 and about 22 gauge. Tab 114 is crimped against web 102 and holds the element 100 together,

Shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 1 of framing element 200. As may be noted, this element includes a web 202, a triangular top portion 204, left and right portions 206 and 208, as well as an outer upper moist surface 210 which includes grooves or channels 212, and a securing tab 214 at the bottom of the element. The walls of elements 206, 208 and 210 define an equilateral triangle. As such, angle A comprises an angle of about 60°. As with element 100, element 200 may also be readily cold rolled or machined formed out of a light gauge sheet steel.

In FIG. 5 a further embodiment 300 of the inventive truss framing element. The transverse cross-sectional view thereof corresponds to the view taken along Line 5-5 of FIG. 1. As in the case of prior embodiments, framing element 300 includes a web 302, an upper geometric portion 304, an upper outer surface 310 having grooves or channels 312 and a lower substantially triangular portion 308. Therein, rectangular portion 304 transitions into lower rectangular portion 308 at points 306 and 322. Arms 309 and 315 of triangular portion 308 are angularly displaced by an angle B of about 120°.

FIG. 5, which reflects the preferred embodiment of the invention, may be constructed in dimensions of approximately two inches as the width of upper surface 310, 0.5 inch in height of the vertical dimensions of both rectangular and triangular portions 304 and 308 respectively. Diagonal arm 309 of the triangular portion may have a dimension of about one inch, while the vertical length of web 302 may be approximately three inches, thus producing an overall vertical dimension of element 300 of approximately 4 inches. Tab 314 preferably has a dimension of about ⅜ inch. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the entire unfolded length of the light gauge steel sheet, or equivalent material, of which element 300 is made will have a length of slightly under one foot prior to its folding along cold-roll or machine-press points 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 306 and 328.

In FIG. 6, is shown a further embodiment 400 of the present invention. This embodiment includes all elements, namely, web 402, rectangular upper portion 404 which merges into triangular lower portion 408 at point 406, and outer surface 410 having grooves or channels 412 therein. The embodiment of FIG. 6 thus differs from the embodiment of FIG. 5 only in its total included angle C of about 90° compared to total included angle B, of element 300 of FIG. 5, of about 120°.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of region 7 of FIG. 1 showing the bottom or footprint of beams 26 and 28 relative to flanges 38 and shaped beam 20 of the type taught in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,674 (FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7 thereof).

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith.