# US 2017/0284082 A1 · Truss assembly & method of constructing a truss structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284082 A1 - Document ID: US20170284082A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/088,720 - Filed: 2016-04-01 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Christie Lites Enterprises Canada Inc. - Applicants: Christie Lites Enterprises Canada Inc. - Inventors: Huntly Gordon CHRISTIE; Percy ADLER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284082A1 ## CPC - E04B 1/48: Dowels, i.e. members adapted to penetrate the surfaces of two parts and to take the shear stresses - E04C 3/08: with apertured web, e.g. with a web consisting of bar-like components; Honeycomb girders (E04C3/10, E04C3/11 take precedence) - E04C 2003/0495: {the truss elements being located in several non-parallel surfaces} - F21V 21/00: Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices (F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00); Hand grips - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Pins are stored on a truss body and are used to secure connections between separate truss bodies when creating a truss structure, which itself may act as a support for displays, lighting systems, and/or sound systems. Each of the pins is tethered to a pin holder so as not to be lost or damaged. The pin holder retains the pins on the truss body and thereby reduces the likelihood of collisions that occur between the tethered pins and truss members while the truss assembly is in transit. This in turn increases the likelihood that the structural integrity of the pins, the truss members and the tether is maintained during transit. The pin holder and tether allow the correct number of pins to be shipped to the venue where the truss structure is to be constructed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A truss assembly, comprising: a truss body having a pair of ends, each end comprising at least two connection openings adapted to correspond to connection openings of a second truss body; at least two pins, each insertable into the connection openings of the truss body and the second truss body, whereby the connection openings of the truss body and the connection openings of the second truss body align and the pins may be inserted through the aligned openings; and a holder provided with the truss body for securably holding the at least two pins, such that when the pins are secured to the holder, the pins are prevented from movement relative to the truss body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The truss assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two of pins has a tether connected to and extending from each pin for attaching each pin to the holder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The truss assembly of claim 2 wherein the tether from each pin is wound in a spring loaded retractable reel connected to the holder that allows each tether to retract. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The truss assembly of claim 2 wherein the holder comprises at least one guiding member mounted to the holder and extending outwardly from a side of the holder, wherein the tether from each pin is attached to the at least one guiding member, whereby the tethers extend along the length of the guiding member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The truss assembly of claim 4 wherein the at least one guiding member is hollow and the tether from each pin is attached within the hollow of the at least one guiding member and extends along the length of the guiding member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The truss assembly of claim 2 wherein the assembly further includes a clip for each of the at least two pins to further secure each pin in each connection opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The truss assembly of claim 6 wherein the clips are slidably attached to the tether from each pin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The truss assembly of claim 7 wherein the clips are R pins. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The truss assembly of claim 1 wherein the holder is integral with the truss body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The truss assembly of claim 1 wherein the truss body further comprises at least two spaced apart parallel elongated members connected by at least two cross members attached to the elongated members and wherein the holder is mounted to the at least one of the cross members. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The truss assembly of claim 10 wherein the holder further comprises a U-shaped arm for mounting to at least one of the at least two cross members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The truss assembly of claim 11 wherein the assembly further includes a clip for each of the at least two pins to further secure each pin in each connection opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The truss assembly of claim 2 wherein the holder is integral with the truss body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The truss assembly of claim 2 wherein the truss body further comprises at least two spaced apart parallel elongated members connected by at least two cross members attached to the elongated members and wherein the holder is mounted to the at least one of the cross members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The truss assembly of claim 14 wherein the holder further comprises a U-shaped arm for mounting to at least one of the at least two cross members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The truss assembly of claim 15 wherein the assembly further includes a clip for each of the at least two pins to further secure each pin in each connection opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The truss assembly of claim 1 wherein the pins are ferromagnetic and the holder is magnetized to allow the pins to adhere to it due to the magnetic force. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The truss assembly of claim 2 wherein the pins are ferromagnetic and the holder is magnetized to allow the pins to adhere to it due to the magnetic force. ### Claim 19 A truss assembly, comprising: a truss body comprising a plurality of spaced apart parallel elongated members connected by a plurality of cross members attaching to the elongated members, the ends of each of the elongated members comprising connection openings, the ends sized to slidably receive corresponding ends of a second truss body thereby allowing the connection openings to align; a plurality of pins, each insertable into the aligned connection openings of the elongated members of the truss body and the second truss body to secure a connection between the truss bodies; a holder comprising a plurality of spaces into which the plurality of pins can be securably placed for storage and a guiding member extending outwardly from the body; a U-shaped arm that fastens to the body of the holder and defines a space capable of allowing at least one cross member to pass there through; a tether extending from each of the pins and attached to the guiding member such that the tethers extend along the length of the guiding member; whereby when the pins are secured to the holder, the pins are prevented from movement relative to the truss body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The truss assembly of claim 19 wherein the assembly further includes a clip for each of the at least two pins to further secure each pin in each connection opening. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The truss assembly of claim 19 wherein the guiding member is hollow and the tether from each pin is attached within the hollow of the guiding member and extends along the length of the guiding member. ### Claim 22 A method of constructing a truss structure comprising at least two truss assemblies, each truss assembly comprising at least two connection openings at each end of the truss assembly a holder for holding pins, each pin being tethered to the holder by a tether, wherein the pins are securably stored to the holder such that the pins are restricted from movement relative to the truss body, the method comprising: aligning the connection openings of one of the at least two truss assemblies to the connection openings of another of the at least two truss assemblies; and, removing the pins from the holder, and inserting the pins into the aligned connection openings. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein the truss structure further comprises an R pin for each tether, the method further comprising the step of: clipping the R pin to an end of each pin after each pin is placed in the aligned connection openings to secure the pin in the aligned connection openings. ### Claim 24 A pin holder capable of attaching to a truss body, comprising: a body and at least two pins, the body comprising at least two spaces into which the at least two pins can be placed for storage; a mounting member for mounting the pin holder to the truss body; and a tether extending from each of the at least two pins for keeping the pins attached to the truss body whereby when the pins are placed into the spaces in the holder, the pins are restricted from movement relative to truss body. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The pin holder of claim 24, further comprising: a hollow guiding member mounted to the body, the ends of the guiding member extending outwardly from the body, wherein the tethers attach to the guiding member within the hollow and extend along the length of the guiding member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The pin holder of claim 24 wherein the mounting member for mounting the body of the pin holder to the truss body comprises a U-shaped arm capable of being fastened to the body of the pin holder, wherein the U-shaped arm and the body of the pin holder define a gap for allowing at least one member of a truss body to pass there through. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The pin holder of claim 24 wherein clips are slidably attached to the tether for each pin in order to further secure each pin in each connection opening.