CHORD ASSEMBLY FOR TRUSS STRUCTURES

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/715,771, filed Nov. 4, 2024, and entitled “CHORD ASSEMBLY FOR TRUSS STRUCTURES,” and United States provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/854,715, filed Jul. 31, 2025, and entitled “CHORD ASSEMBLY FOR TRUSS STRUCTURES,” the contents of each of which are incorporated in full by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of truss structures. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a chord assembly suitable for use in a truss structure.

BACKGROUND

Buildings, roofs, decks, and the like often include or are associated with truss structures providing foundation or support for such structure or various building materials and other structures. Such truss structures typically include at least partially or fully horizontal chords at a top and bottom with web members connected between. Many current chords are integral components, which increases manufacturing and logistical costs, especially in the context of cold-rolled steel.

As such, a need exists in the art for a truss chord and truss structures that overcome the above limitations.

This background is provided as an illustrative contextual environment only. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the systems and methods of the present disclosure may be implemented in other contextual environments as well.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a chord assemblies for truss structures and truss structures that overcome the limitations of the known art.

Generally, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a chord assembly and associated truss structures allowing for the stiffness and structural support of an integral chord while reducing the cost of manufacture and distribution of the same. Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosed chord assembly and truss structures allow for simple assembly via the interface of depressions, protrusions, cap structures, and/or flanges defined by the components of the chord assembly. In several embodiments, a depression of a first chord section may receive a protrusion of a second chord section allowing legs of the first chord section and second chord section to be coupled together to form the chord assembly. Thus, assembly of the chord section together may be made easier via interface of the depression and protrusion of the first chord section and the second chord section, respectively.

In some embodiments, the interface of the depression and protrusion of chord sections may make further attachment or fixing means unnecessary and/or optional. Such configurations may allow for a neutral axis of the chord assembly to be defined at or approximately at an interface of the legs of first and second chord sections. Transition portions between the respective caps and legs of chord sections may be utilized to position the interface between the legs of the first and second chord sections at the neutral axis of the chord assembly. In some embodiments, each transition portion may include one or more curvatures coupled between the cap portion and the leg of the respective chord assembly. In other embodiments, each transition portion may include a straight or approximately straight portion coupled between the cap portion and the leg of the respective chord assembly. Embodiments with straight transition portions may reduce the cost of manufacture of the chord sections, and thus the chord assembly, relative to transition portions including the curvature(s).

Configurations with the neutral axis of the chord assembly defined at the interface of the legs may reduce or eliminate stress, strains, bending moments, twisting strains or stresses, and the like at such interface. The resulting chord assembly may thus provide the structural stability, stiffness, and/or the like of an integral chord and the cost savings of a chord assembly. Furthermore, the location of the interface along such neutral axis may allow for fastening the respective legs of the chord sections to be optional or unnecessary, as mentioned above, and/or allow for a reduced thickness of the chord sections while maintaining the strength of the assembly.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects and advantages, in one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a chord assembly for a truss structure including a first chord section and a second chord section. The first chord section includes a first elongate member defining a first shape in cross section of a longitudinal axis of the first elongate member. The first shape includes a first cap portion including two opposing sides and a connector extending therebetween. The first shape further includes a first leg extending away from the first cap portion and defining a depression of the first chord section. The second chord section includes a second elongate member defining a second shape in cross section of a longitudinal axis of the second elongate member. The second shape includes a second cap portion including two opposing sides and a connector extending therebetween. The second shape further includes a second leg extending away from the cap portion and defining a protrusion of the second chord section.

In at least one embodiment, the depression defined by the first chord section may be configured to receive the protrusion defined by the second chord section such that the first leg and second leg may be coupled together to assemble the chord assembly. In an additional or alternative embodiment, a neutral axis of the chord assembly may be defined approximately at an interface of the first leg and the second leg once the first chord section and second chord section are coupled together. In some such embodiments or different embodiments, each of the first chord section and the second chord section may include a cold-formed steel material.

Additionally or alternatively, the first shape of the first longitudinal member may further include a first transition portion coupled between one of the opposing sides of the first cap portion and the first leg. In some such embodiments or different embodiments, the first transition portion may define two curved portions each connected to one of the opposing sides of the first cap portion or the first leg as respective distal ends. The two curved portions may be connecting to each other in the middle of the first transition portion. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the first transition portion may define a straight segment extending from one of the opposing sides of the first cap portion to the first leg. In further or alternative embodiments, the first shape of the first longitudinal member may further include a first flange coupled to the first leg and extending away from the other of the opposing sides of the first cap portion not coupled to the first transition portion. In some such embodiments, a distal end of the first flange may extend upward such that the first leg and first flange define a U shape in cross section. In additional or alternative embodiments, the depression of the first chord section may be further defined by the first transition portion and the first flange.

In an additional or alternative embodiment, the second shape of the second elongate member may further include a second transition portion coupled between one of the opposing sides of the second cap portion and the second leg. In some such embodiments or different embodiments, the second transition portion may define two curved portions each connected to one of the opposing sides of the second cap portion or the second leg as respective distal ends. The two curved portions may connect to each other in the middle of the second transition portion. Additionally or alternatively, the second transition portion may define a straight segment extending from one of the opposing sides of the second cap portion to the second leg. In a further or alternative embodiment, the second shape of the second elongate member may further include a second flange coupled to the second leg and extending toward the other of the opposing sides not coupled to the second transition portion. Additionally or alternatively, a distal end of the second flange may extend upward such that the second leg and second flange define a U shape in cross section. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the protrusion of the second chord section may be further defined by the second transition portion and the second flange.

In at least some embodiments, the first leg of the first shape may be positioned between the opposing sides of the first cap portion such that the depression is defined with respect to one of the opposing sides of the first cap portion. Additionally or alternatively, the second leg of the second shape may be positioned outside of the opposing sides of the second cap portion such that the protrusion is defined with respect to one of the opposing sides of the second cap portion.

In an additional or alternative aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a truss structure including an upper chord assembly, a lower chord assembly, and a plurality of web members extending between the upper chord assembly and the lower chord assembly. Each of the upper chord assembly and lower chord assembly includes a first chord section and a second chord section. The first chord section includes a first elongate member defining a first shape in cross section of a longitudinal axis of the first elongate member. The first shape includes a first cap portion including two opposing sides and a connector extending therebetween. The first shape further includes a first leg extending away from the first cap portion and defining a depression of the first chord section. The second chord section includes a second elongate member defining a second shape in cross section of a longitudinal axis of the second elongate member. The second shape includes a second cap portion including two opposing sides and a connector extending therebetween. The second shape further includes a second leg extending away from the cap portion and defining a protrusion of the second chord section. The truss structure is configured such that coupling upper ends of the web members to the first leg and second leg of the upper chord assembly and coupling lower ends of the web members to the first leg and second leg of the lower chord assembly results in structural stability of the truss structure.

In at least one embodiment, coupling the upper ends of the web members to the first leg and second leg of the upper chord assembly may include coupling the first leg and the second leg of the upper chord assembly together to assemble the upper chord assembly. Additionally or alternatively, coupling the lower ends of the web members to the first leg and second leg of the lower chord assembly may include coupling the first leg and the second leg of the lower chord assembly together to assemble the lower chord assembly. In additional or alternative embodiments, the upper chord assembly and the lower chord assembly may be configured to mirror each other with respect to a plane positioned at a midpoint between the upper chord assembly and the lower chord assembly. Additionally or alternatively and for each the upper chord assembly and the lower chord assembly, the depression defined for the first chord section may be configured to receive the protrusion defined by the second chord section such that the first leg and second leg may be coupled together to assemble the respective upper or lower chord assembly having a neutral axis defined approximately at an interface of the first leg and the second leg. Additionally or alternatively, each of the first chord section and the second chord section of each of the upper chord assembly and the lower chord assembly and the web members may include a cold-formed steel material.

In an additional or alternative aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method of assembling a truss structure including an upper chord assembly, a lower chord assembly, and a plurality of web members. Each of the upper chord assembly and lower chord assembly includes a first chord section and a second chord section. The first chord section includes a first elongate member defining a first shape in cross section of a longitudinal axis of the first elongate member. The first shape includes a first cap portion including two opposing sides and a connector extending therebetween. The first shape further includes a first leg extending away from the first cap portion and defining a depression of the first chord section. The second chord section includes a second elongate member defining a second shape in cross section of a longitudinal axis of the second elongate member. The second shape includes a second cap portion including two opposing sides and a connector extending therebetween. The second shape further includes a second leg extending away from the cap portion and defining a protrusion of the second chord section. The method includes coupling one or more upper ends of one or more web members of the web members to the first leg and second leg of the upper chord assembly to assemble the upper chord assembly. The method further includes coupling one or more lower ends of one or more web members of the web members to the first leg and second leg of the lower chord assembly to assemble the lower chord assembly. The method further includes coupling the remaining upper ends of the web members to the first leg and second leg of the upper chord assembly. The method also includes coupling the remaining lower ends of the web members to the first leg and second leg of the lower chord assembly.

Embodiments of the invention can include one or more or any combination of the above features and configurations.

Additional features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description of illustrative embodiments that follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present various embodiments of the invention and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the companying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front-perspective schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a truss structure, in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 illustrates a back-perspective schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a truss structure, in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top-perspective schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a truss structure, in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side-perspective schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a truss structure, in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter.

FIG. 5A illustrates a side schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a chord assembly for a truss structure having curved transition portions and straight flanges, in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter.

FIG. 5B illustrates a side schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a chord assembly for a truss structure having curved transition portions and U-shaped flanges, in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a chord assembly for a truss structure, in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter.

FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary embodiments of method elements, one or more of which may be implemented in a method of assembling a chord assembly or truss structure, in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter.

It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that aspects of illustrated embodiments may be used in any desired combinations, without limitation. Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. It is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use, and practice the invention. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.

The terms “coupled,” “fixed,” “attached to,” “communicatively coupled to,” “operatively coupled to,” and the like refer to both direct coupling, fixing, attaching, communicatively coupling, and operatively coupling as well as indirect coupling, fixing, attaching, communicatively coupling, and operatively coupling through one or more intermediate components or features, unless otherwise specified herein. “Communicatively coupled to” and “operatively coupled to” can refer to physically and/or electrically related components.

As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, is applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about”, “approximately”, and “substantially”, are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components and/or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 1, 2, 4, 10, 15, or 20 percent margin.

Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations are combined and interchanged, such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other.

Generally, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a chord assembly and associated truss structures allowing for the stiffness and structural support of an integral chord while reducing the cost of manufacture and distribution of the same. Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosed chord assembly and truss structures allow for simple assembly via the interface of depressions, protrusions, cap structures, and/or flanges defined by the components of the chord assembly. In several embodiments, a depression of a first chord section may receive a protrusion of a second chord section allowing legs of the first chord section and second chord section to be coupled together to form the chord assembly. Thus, assembly of the chord section together may be made easier via interface of the depression and protrusion of the first chord section and the second chord section, respectively.

In some embodiments, the interface of the depression and protrusion of chord sections may make further attachment or fixing means unnecessary and/or optional. Such configurations may allow for a neutral axis of the chord assembly to be defined at or approximately at an interface of the legs of first and second chord sections. Transition portions between the respective caps and legs of chord sections may be utilized to position the interface between the legs of the first and second chord sections at the neutral axis of the chord assembly. In some embodiments, each transition portion may include one or more curvatures coupled between the cap portion and the leg of the respective chord assembly. In other embodiments, each transition portion may include a straight or approximately straight portion coupled between the cap portion and the leg of the respective chord assembly. Embodiments with straight transition portions may reduce the cost of manufacture of the chord sections, and thus the chord assembly, relative to transition portions including the curvature(s).

Configurations with the neutral axis of the chord assembly defined at the interface of the legs may reduce or eliminate stress, strains, bending moments, twisting strains or stresses, and the like at such interface. The resulting chord assembly may thus provide the structural stability, stiffness, and/or the like of an integral chord and the cost savings of a chord assembly. Furthermore, the location of the interface along such neutral axis may allow for fastening the respective legs of the chord sections to be optional or unnecessary, as mentioned above, and/or allow for a reduced thickness of the chord sections while maintaining the strength of the assembly.

Referring now generally to FIGS. 1-6, embodiments of a truss structure are illustrated schematically in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter. As shown, a suitable truss structure 10 generally includes two chord assemblies 12 (e.g., an upper chord assembly 12A and a lower chord assembly 12B), as described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 5-6 below. In various embodiments, the upper chord assembly 12A and the lower chord assembly 12B may be vertically displaced in the final truss structure 10. As further shown, the truss structure 10 includes a plurality of web members 14 extending between the upper chord assembly 12A and the lower chord assembly 12B. The truss structure 10 may generally be configured such that coupling opposing ends of the web members 14 to the respective chord assemblies 12A, 12B provides structural stability to the truss structure 10, allowing the truss structure 10 to be utilized to support various loads, e.g., loads of a building, a structure, walls thereof, a deck, a patio, or the like. In some embodiments, the upper chord assembly 12A may be utilized as truss of a roof, and/or the lower chord assembly 12B may be utilized as a lower truss for a floor. In various embodiments, the resulting truss structure 10 may be utilized for attaching decking or the like to another structure.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 1-4, the upper chord assembly 12A and the lower chord assembly 12B may be configured to mirror each other with respect to a plane at a midpoint between the chord assemblies 12A, 12B. Such plane may generally extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chord assemblies 12A, 12B, and, in at least some embodiments, may be perpendicular to a vertical axis or an axis extending between respective first ends of the chord assemblies 12A, 12B.

Referring now also to FIGS. 5-6, side schematic views of exemplary embodiments of a chord assembly 12 are illustrated in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter. In the orientation of FIGS. 5-6, the chord assembly 12 may be utilized as the upper chord assembly 12A. However, rotation of the chord assembly 12 180 degrees around the vertical direction and 180 degrees around the longitudinal axis may result in the lower chord assembly 12B, e.g., such that the upper chord assembly 12A and the lower chord assembly 12B mirror each other with respect to the plane at the midpoint between the chord assemblies 12A, 12B.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, various embodiments of the chord assembly 12 disclosed herein include a first chord section 16 and a second chord section 18. First chord section 16 may include or be formed from a first elongate member 17, and the second chord section 18 may include or be formed from a second elongate member 19. The first chord section 16, the first elongate member 17, the second chord section 18, and/or the second elongate member 19 may be formed from cold-rolled steel, e.g., one or more of 20-gauge steel, 16-gauge steel, 14-gauge steel, etc.

As shown, the first elongate member 17 may define a first shape in cross section (e.g., a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first elongate member 17 and/or parallel to the vertical direction). As shown, the first shape generally includes a first cap portion 20 including two opposing sides and a connector extending therebetween. For instance and as depicted, the first cap portion 20 of the first shape may define a U shape, e.g., an upside-down U shape for embodiments configured as the upper chord assembly 12A. The first shape may also include a first leg 22 extending away from the first cap portion 20 and defining, at least in part, a depression of the first chord section 16. In several embodiments and as shown, the first leg 22 may be positioned between the opposing sides of the first cap portion 20 (e.g., between projection lines extending vertically from the opposing ends of the U-shaped first cap portion 20 and/or the opposing sides thereof). Thus and as shown, the depression defined by the first chord section 16 may be defined with respect to one of the opposing sides of the first cap portion 20, e.g., the opposing side coupled to the first leg 22, such as via a first transition portion 28.

Additionally or alternatively, the first shape of the first elongate member 17 may include the first transition portion 28 coupled between one of the opposing sides of the first cap portion 20 and the first leg 22. For example and as shown in FIG. 5, the first transition 28 may define one or more curvatures to transition the first leg 22 to one of the sides of the first cap portion 20. Additional or alternatively and as shown in FIG. 6, the first transition 28 may define a straight or approximately straight segment, member, portion or the like extending between the first leg 22 and one of the sides of the first cap portion 20 (e.g., the middle side proximate the second cap portion 24, when assembled). In some embodiment, the first transition 28 configured as a straight member may generally define an angle with respect to the horizontal and/or the top plane of the cap portion, such as between 30 and 60 degrees, such as between 35 and 55 degrees, such as between 40 and 50 degrees, such as between 42.5 degrees and 47.5 degrees, such as approximately 45 degrees, such as 45 degrees. Referring again generally to the embodiments of FIGS. 5-6 and in some embodiments, the first transition portion 28 may also define, at least in part, the depression of the first chord section 16.

Additionally or alternatively, the first shape of the first elongate member 17 may include a first flange 32 coupled to the first leg 22 (e.g., an end of the first leg 22 opposite the end coupled to the first transition portion 28). The first flange 32 may generally extend away from the other of the opposing sides of the first cap portion 20 not coupled to the first transition portion 28. For example and as shown in FIG. 5A, the first flange 32 may define a straight or substantially straight member extending from the first leg 22 at an angle relative to the vertical and/or side plane of the first leg 22, such as between 80 and 100 degrees, such as between 85 and 95 degrees, such as approximately perpendicular, such as perpendicular. In some embodiments and as shown particularly in FIGS. 5B and 6, a distal end of the first flange 32 may extend upward with respect to a proximate end of the first flange 32. For example, the bottom of the first leg 22 and the first flange 32 may generally define a “U” shape in cross section.

In some embodiments and as shown, the first flange 32 may also define, at least in part, the depression of the first chord section 16. Generally, the depression of the first chord section 16 may receive a protrusion of the second chord section 18, described below, to improve the initial placement of the chord assembly 12 components until the same may be secured together. In some embodiments, the interface of the depression of the first chord section 16 and the protrusion of the second chord section 18 may make securing such portions together optional. For the embodiment of FIG. 6, the interface of the U-shaped flanges 32, 34 may significantly ease the initial placement of the chord assembly 12 components and provide increased strength of the chord assembly 12.

As shown, the second elongate member 19 may define a second shape in cross section (e.g., a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second elongate member 19 and/or parallel to the vertical direction). As shown, the second shape generally includes a second cap portion 24 including two opposing sides and a connector extending therebetween. For instance and as depicted, the second cap portion 24 of the second shape may define a U shape, e.g., an upside-down U shape for embodiments configured as the upper chord assembly 12A. The second shape may also include a second leg 26 extending away from the second cap portion 24 and defining, at least in part, a protrusion of the second chord section 18. In several embodiments and as shown, the second leg 26 may be positioned outside the opposing sides of the second cap portion 24 (e.g., outside of projection lines extending vertically from the opposing ends of the U-shaped second cap portion 24 and/or the opposing sides thereof). Thus and as shown, the protrusion defined by the second chord section 18 may be defined with respect to one of the opposing sides of the second cap portion 24, e.g., the opposing side coupled to the second leg 26, such as via a second transition portion 30.

Additionally or alternatively, the second shape of the second elongate member 19 may include the second transition portion 30 coupled between one of the opposing sides of the second cap portion 24 and the second leg 26. For example, the second transition portion 30 may define one or more curvatures to transition the second leg 26 to one of the sides of the second cap portion 24. In embodiments with the curved transition portion 30 (e.g., FIG. 5), such transition portion may generally be configured similar to the embodiment of the curved transition portion 28 described above (e.g., define the same relative angle, radii,) and/or may be configured complement the shape, curvature, and/or position of the curved transition portion 28 for a tight fit of the resulting chord assembly 12. In embodiments with the straight transition portion 30 (e.g., FIG. 6), such transition portion may generally be configured similar to the embodiment of the straight transition portion 28 described above (e.g., define the same relative angle) and/or may be configured complement the shape, angle, and/or position of the straight transition portion 28 for a tight fit of the resulting chord assembly 12.

In some embodiments and as shown, the second transition portion 30 may also define, at least in part, the protrusion of the second chord section 18. Additionally or alternatively, the second shape of the second elongate member 19 may include a second flange 34 coupled to the second leg 26 (e.g., an end of the second leg 26 opposite the end coupled to the second transition portion 30). The second flange 34 may generally extend toward the other of the opposing sides of the second cap portion 24 not coupled to the second transition portion 30. In some embodiments, e.g., FIG. 5A, the second flange 34 may define a straight segment or include a straight member configured similar to the straight first flange 32 described above (e.g., define the same relative angle). In additional or alternative embodiments, a distal end of the second flange 34 may extend upward with respect to a proximate end of the second flange 34 and/or define or partially define a “U” shape similar to the embodiment of the U-shaped first flange 32 described above. As shown in the examples of FIGS. 5B and 6, the U-shaped second flange 34 may be sized to be received within the U-shaped first flange 32. For example and in embodiments where both the flanges 32, 34 define complementary U shapes, the interface of such flanges may help to assembly the first chord section 16 with the second chord section 18 and/or improve the strength of the resulting chord assembly 12. In some embodiments and as shown, the second flange 34 may also define, at least in part, the protrusion of the second chord section 18.

Generally, the depression defined by the first chord section 16 may receive the protrusion defined by the second chord section 18, and the first leg 22 and the second leg 26 may be coupled together to assemble the chord assembly 12. For example one or more fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets, and the like), adhesives, welds or the like may be utilized to fix the first and second legs 22, 26 together and optionally with one or more of the cross members 14. However, it should be appreciated that one or more of the cross members 14 may be separately secured to the resulting chord assembly 12, such as to the first leg 22 of the first shape defined by the first longitudinal member 17 of the first chord section 16. In some embodiments, the interface of the depression of the first chord section 16 and the protrusion of the second chord section 18 may make securing such portions together and/or to the web members 18 optional. For example, when first and second chord section 16, 18 of the bottom chord assembly 12B are secured together via one or more fasteners, as described herein, fastening the first and second legs 22, 26 of the upper chord assembly 12A together and/or to the web member 14 may be optional or unnecessary. For example, the interface between the depression and the protrusion of the chord assembly 12 in combination with the interface between the web member(s) 14 and the first cap portion 20 (e.g., one or both of the opposing sides and/or the connector), and/or the interface of the flanges 32, 34 may provide a friction fit to hold such components together, either permanently or until ready to fix together with a web member 14.

Various embodiments of such chord assembly 12 define a neutral axis approximately at an interface of the first leg 22 of the first longitudinal member 17 and the second leg 26 of the second longitudinal member 19. For example, such neutral axis may be defined through, along, and/or between the first leg 22 and/or second leg 26. Generally, the neutral axis is an axis in the cross section of the chord assembly 12 along which there are no longitudinal stress or strains, bending moments, or twisting strains or stresses. Thus, the resulting chord assembly 12 may provide the structural stability, stiffness, and/or the like of an integral chord and the cost savings of a chord assembly (e.g., manufacturing costs, transportation costs, etc.). Furthermore, such location of the neutral axis may make fastening the first and second legs 22, 26 separately together and/or to the web members 14 at the upper chord 12A optional or unnecessary. The location of such neutral axis may also allow for reducing the thickness of the first and second longitudinal members 17, 19 while providing the same strength as an integral chord formed from thicker material.

Referring again generally to FIGS. 1-6, coupling upper ends of the web members 14 to the first leg 22 and/or second leg 26 of the upper chord assembly 12A and coupling lower ends of the web members 14 to the first leg 22 and/or second leg 26 of the lower chord assembly 12B provides structural stability to the resulting truss structure 10. In some embodiments, coupling the upper ends of the web members 14 to the first leg 22 and second leg 26 of the upper chord assembly 12A results in coupling the first leg 22 and the second leg 26 of the upper chord assembly 12A together to assemble the upper chord assembly 12A. For instance and as shown schematically in FIG. 6, one more fasteners 36 (e.g., bolts, screws, rivets, or the like) may be utilized to fasten the web member 14, first leg 22, and second leg 26 together. However, other means such as welding, bonding, or the like may be utilized to additionally or alternatively couple any of such components together. Similarly, coupling the lower ends of the web members 14 to the first leg 22 and second leg 26 of the lower chord assembly 12B may result in coupling the first leg 22 and the second leg 26 of the lower chord assembly 12B together to assemble the lower chord assembly 12B.

The present disclosure is also directed to one or more methods of assembling a chord assembly or truss structure, such as any of the chord assembly 12, upper chord assembly 12A, lower chord assembly 12B, or truss structure 10 described herein or other suitably configured chord assemblies, truss structures, and the like. For example and referring to FIG. 7, exemplary embodiments of one or more method elements are illustrated, one or more of which may be utilized for assembling a truss structure as described herein.

An exemplary embodiment of a method 700 may include coupling at least one upper end of at least one web member of a plurality of web members to a first leg and a second leg of an upper chord assembly to assemble the upper chord assembly (e.g., method element 702). The method 700 may additionally or alternatively include coupling at least one lower end of the at least one web member of the plurality of web members to a first leg and a second leg of a lower chord assembly to assemble the lower chord assembly (e.g., method element 704). Additionally or alternatively, the method 700 may include coupling the remaining upper ends of the plurality of web members to the first leg and second leg of the upper chord assembly (e.g., method element 706). Additionally or alternatively, the method 700 may include coupling the remaining lower ends of the plurality of web members to the first leg and second leg of the lower chord assembly (708). It should be appreciated that, in various embodiments of the method 700 and/or other suitable methods, the upper chord assembly and lower chord assembly are not required to be separately fixed together or the like. The interface between the protrusion and the depression described herein may temporarily retain the respective chord assembly together until a fastener is utilized to fasten the respective first chord section, the respective second chord section, and the end of a web member together.

It is to be recognized that, depending on the example, certain acts or events of any of the techniques described herein can be performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the techniques). Moreover, in certain examples, acts or events may be performed concurrently.

Although the present disclosure is illustrated and described with reference to embodiments and examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following, non-limiting Claims for all purposes.