US 10,865,564 B1Granted

Roof truss spacer

AssigneeFederal Molding Corp.

InventorKevin S. Fuller

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Abstract

An interlocking elongate stackable spacer member for spacing structural framing members. The spacer is elongate having a lengthwise main portion and an offset portion, the offset portion defining a recess on a first side of the elongate body and a corresponding protrusion on a second side of the elongate body. The length of the protrusion corresponding to a desired spacing between adjacent trusses. The spacer can include a first end portion with a first connector and a second end portion having a cooperative second connector. The spacer is configured to interlock with another like spacer by inserting a first projection end portion of the first connector, into an aperture of the second connector, of the other of the spacer and the another spacer, such that the first projection end portion and the aperture of the second connector resist separation of the spacer and the another spacer along the lengthwise axis.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An interlocking sheet metal spacer for structural framing members, the spacer comprising:

an elongate body extending between a first end portion and a second end portion along a lengthwise axis;
the elongate body having a main portion and an offset portion, the main portion having a substantially planar shape and the offset portion being offset from the planar shape of the main portion such that the offset portion defines, with respect to the main portion, a recess on a first side of the elongate body and a corresponding protrusion on a second side of the elongate body;
the first end portion including a first connector, the first connector including a projection extending in a first direction along the lengthwise axis and away from the elongate body and having a first projection end portion offset from a remainder of the projection and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the planar shape of the main portion;
the second end portion including a second connector, the second connector including an aperture sized to receive the first projection end portion;
wherein the spacer is configured to interlock with another spacer by inserting the first projection end portion of the first connector, of one of the spacer and the another spacer, through the aperture of the second connector, of the other of the spacer and the another spacer, such that the first projection end portion and the aperture of the second connector resist separation of the spacer and the another spacer when the spacer and the another spacer are linearly aligned along the lengthwise axis, wherein the second connector includes a pair of arms extending in a second direction along the lengthwise axis and away from the elongate body, the pair of arms being spaced apart from one another to define an axially extending space therebetween having a width that is substantially the same or larger than a width of the projection of the first connector.

2 more elements

A method of positioning a plurality of framing members using a first and a second spacer member, the first and the second spacer member each comprising an elongate body extending between a first end portion and a second end portion along a lengthwise axis, the elongate body having a main portion and an offset portion, the main portion having a substantially planar shape and the offset portion being offset from the planar shape of the main portion such that the offset portion defines, with respect to the main portion, a recess on a first side of the elongate body and a corresponding protrusion on a second side of the elongate body, the first end portion including a first connector, the first connector including a projection extending in a first direction along the lengthwise axis and away from the elongate body and having a first projection end portion offset from a remainder of the projection and extending in a direction perpendicular to the planar shape of the main portion, the second end portion including a second connector, the second connector including an aperture sized to receive the first projection end portion, the second connector additionally including a pair of arms extending in a second direction along the lengthwise axis and away from the elongate body, the pair of arms being spaced apart from one another to define an axially extending space therebetween having a width that is substantially the same or larger than a width of the projection of the first connector, the method comprising

positioning the first spacer member between a first pair of chords that make up a portion of two adjacent framing members of the plurality of framing members, the pair of chords including a first pair of side surfaces and a second pair of opposing side surfaces, the first pair of side surfaces and the second pair of opposing side surfaces defining a pair of opposing corners in the two adjacent framing members, the first spacer member positioned such that the first and second connectors of the first and second end portions are placed on the first pair of side surfaces, with the second side of the first spacer member placed directly against the first pair of side surfaces, such that the protrusion of the first spacer member is positioned directly between the second pair of opposing side surfaces;
fastening each of the first and second connector portions of the first spacer member to each of the first pair of chords;
interlocking the second spacer member to the first spacer member by inserting the first projection end portion of the second spacer member through the aperture of the second connector of the first spacer member, and positioning the second spacer member such that the main body of the second spacer member lies substantially parallel with the first spacer member and such that the second spacer member is positioned between a second pair of chords of two adjacent framing members of the plurality of framing members, the second pair of chords including a first pair of side surfaces and a second pair of opposing side surfaces, the first pair of side surfaces and the second pair of opposing side surfaces defining a pair of opposing corners in the two adjacent framing members of the second pair of chords, where, as a result of positioning the second spacer member, the first and second connectors of the first and second end portion are placed on the first pair of side surfaces with the second side of the second spacer placed directly against the first pair of side surfaces such that the protrusion of the second spacer member is positioned directly between the second pair of opposing side surfaces;
and
fastening each of the first and second connector portions of the second spacer member to each of the second pair of chords.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/285,100Filed 25 Feb 2019 · us provisional application
Priority: 23 Feb 2018
Granted: 15 Dec 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

E04C 3/04
Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces: of metal
E04C 3/07
With substantially solid, i.e. unapertured, web: at least partly of bent or otherwise deformed strip- or sheet-like material
E04C 3/17
Of wood, e.g. with reinforcements, with tensioning members: with non-parallel upper and lower edges, e.g. roof trusses
E04C 2003/026
Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces: braces

Family

Application62/634,698Us provisional application · filed 23 Feb 2018
US 10,865,564 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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