Package for shipping, storing, and handling truss plates and method for forming same

A stack of truss plate bundles, each of said truss plate bundles comprising:

• a plurality of truss plates, wherein each truss plate has a generally planar backing member and a plurality of impaling members extending outwardly from one side thereof, said truss plates being arranged in a plurality of cooperating pairs, wherein said backing members of each of said pair are disposed in a parallel overlying relationship, with the impaling members of each truss plate extending toward the backing member of the other truss plate of the pair;
• and
• connecting means cooperating with said plurality of pairs of truss plates for effecting unitization thereof so that the backing member of one of said truss plates of each pair is in contacting parallel relationship with a backing member of another of said plurality of cooperating pairs;
• wherein a plurality of said truss plate bundles is arranged in a plurality of layers, with the bundles of each respective layer contacting the bundles of an adjacent layer, and
• wherein all of said truss plate backing members extend in an upright plane.

A package of truss plates, comprising:

• a stack of truss plate bundles, each of said bundles comprising:
• a plurality of truss plates, wherein each truss plate has a generally planar backing member and a plurality of impaling members extending outwardly from one side thereof, said truss plates being arranged in a plurality of cooperating pairs, wherein said backing members of each of said pair are disposed in a parallel overlying relationship, with the impaling members of each truss plate extending toward the backing member of the other truss plate of the pair;
• and
• connecting means cooperating with said plurality of pairs of truss plates for effecting unitization thereof so that the backing member of one of said truss plates of each pair is in contacting parallel relationship with a backing member of another of said plurality of cooperating pairs;
• wherein a plurality of said truss plate bundles is arranged in a plurality of layers, with the bundles of each respective layer contacting the bundles of an adjacent layer, and
• wherein all of said truss plate backing members extend in an upright plane;
• and
• pallet means underlying said stack for supporting said stack for shipping and storage thereof.

A method of packaging truss plates, comprising the steps of:

• forming a plurality of truss plate bundles, wherein each of said truss plate bundles comprises a plurality of truss plates, wherein each truss plate has a generally planar backing member and a plurality of impaling members extending outwardly from one side thereof, said truss plates being arranged in a plurality of cooperating pairs, wherein said backing members of each of said pair are disposed in a parallel overlying relationship, with the impaling members of each truss plate extending toward the backing member of the other truss plate of the pair;
• and each of said bundles further comprises connecting means cooperating with said plurality of pairs of truss plates for effecting unitization thereof so that the backing member of one of said truss plates of each pair is in contacting parallel relationship with a backing member of another of said plurality of cooperating pairs;
• and
• stacking said plurality of said truss plate bundles in a plurality of layers, with the bundles of each respective layer contacting to the bundles of an adjacent layer, and with all of said truss plate backing members extending in an upright plane.