# US 5,704,185 A · Joint for connecting members of a load bearing truss > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,185 A - Document ID: US5704185A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/444,295 - Filed: 1995-05-18 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1995-05-18 - Inventors: Pat Lindsay - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704185A ## CPC - E04C 3/291: {with apertured web} - E04H 12/10: Truss-like structures - Y10T 403/346: Additional rod held by encompassing means - Y10T 403/347: Polyhedral - Y10T 403/447: Mutually contacting - 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) - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A load bearing truss constructed of composite materials. The truss is made of three or more longitudinal load bearing composite members. Bracing for the truss is a combination of perpendicular and diagonal composite cross-members or all diagonal composite cross-members. The longitudinal and cross-members of the truss are joined together by a sandwich constructed joint which encapsulates the joint area as well as spacers, thereby tying all members together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A load bearing truss comprising truss members which intersect to form monolithic joints, each of said monolithic joints comprising: encapsulation angle members covering said truss members at said monolithic joint; and spacers disposed between said encapsulation angle members, wherein portions of said truss members within said monolithic joint are surrounded by said spacers thereby rigidly securing said truss members to said monolithic joint and wherein said encapsulation angle members are secured to said spacers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The truss of claim 1 wherein said truss members which intersect to form monolithic joints are encapsulated and secured to one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The truss of claim 1 wherein said truss members and said encapsulation angle members are adhesively bonded to said spacers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The truss of claim 1 wherein sections of said truss members within said joint that are not in contact with said encapsulation angle members are bonded to said spacers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The truss of claim 1 wherein said truss members, said spacers and said encapsulation angle members are made from a composite material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The truss of claim 1 wherein said truss members have a cross-sectional shape selected from the following group: square, round, elliptical, oval and triangular. ### Claim 7 A load bearing truss comprising: truss members, said truss members intersecting at encapsulated joints; encapsulation angle members covering said truss members at said encapsulated joints; spacers disposed between said encapsulation angle members, wherein portions of said truss members within said encapsulated joint are surrounded by said spacers thereby rigidly securing said truss members to said joint and wherein said encapsulation angle members are secured to said spacers; and an adhesive substance encapsulating said truss members and spacers, forming a monolith. ### Claim 8 A monolithic joint for a load bearing truss, said load bearing truss comprising truss members intersecting at said monolithic joint, said monolithic joint comprising: encapsulation angle members for covering truss members at said monolithic joint; spacers disposed between said encapsulation angle members, wherein portions of truss members within said monolithic joint are surrounded by said spacers thereby rigidly securing truss members to said monolithic joint and wherein said encapsulation angle members are secured to said spacers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The joint of claim 8 wherein said truss members intersecting at said monolithic joint are encapsulated and secured to one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The joint of claim 8 wherein said truss members and said encapsulation angle members are adhesively bonded to said spacers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The joint of claim 8 wherein sections of said truss members within said joint that are not in contact with said encapsulation angle members are bonded to said spacers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The joint of claim 8 wherein said truss members, said spacers and said encapsulation angle members are made from a composite material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The joint of claim 8 wherein said truss members have a cross-sectional shape selected from the following group: square, round, elliptical, oval and triangular. ### Claim 14 A joint for a load bearing truss, said load bearing truss comprising truss members intersecting at said joint, said joint comprising: an outer encapsulation angle member for covering an outer surface of said joint in at least two planes; an inner encapsulation angle member for covering an inner surface of said joint in at least two planes; spacers disposed between said encapsulation angle members, wherein portions of truss members within said joint are surrounded by said spacers thereby rigidly securing truss members to said joint and wherein said encapsulation angle members are secured to said spacers, thereby forming a sandwich construction having structures in multiple planes. ### Claim 15 A joint for a load bearing truss, said joint comprising: longitudinal members extending in a longitudinal direction and cross members intersecting said longitudinal members to form said joint; center spacers disposed between said cross members of said joint and secured to said cross members, wherein said center spacers extend in a first and second plane parallel to said longitudinal direction, said first and second planes being formed by the intersection of said cross members and said longitudinal members; side spacers disposed between said cross members and said longitudinal members of said joint and adjacent to said center spacers, wherein said side spacers extend in said first and second planes, said side spacers are secured to said cross members and said longitudinal members, and portions of said cross members and said longitudinal members are surrounded by said side spacers and said center spacers thereby rigidly securing said cross members and said longitudinal members in said joint; an outer encapsulation angle member secured to an outer surface of said center and side spacers, wherein said outer encapsulation member extends in planes parallel to said first and second planes; an inner encapsulation angle member secured to an inner surface of said center and side spacers, wherein said inner encapsulation angle member extends parallel to said outer encapsulation angle member, and wherein said side spacers and said center spacers are disposed between said inner and said outer encapsulation angle members, thereby forming a sandwich construction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The joint of claim 15 wherein said longitudinal members and said cross members are fixed to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The joint of claim 15 wherein said joint further comprises: an interior cross member spanning a cross-section of said joint; an interior spacer extending in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, said spacer completely surrounding a portion of said interior cross member; and interior encapsulation plates for encapsulating said interior spacer. ### Claim 18 A joint for a load bearing truss, said joint comprising: longitudinal members extending in a longitudinal direction and cross members intersecting said longitudinal members to form said joint; side spacers disposed between said cross members and said longitudinal members of said joint, wherein said side spacers extend in a first and second plane parallel to said longitudinal direction, said first and second planes being formed by the intersection of said cross members and said longitudinal members; said side spacers are secured to said cross members and said longitudinal members; and portions of said cross members and said longitudinal members are surrounded by said side spacers thereby rigidly securing said cross members and said longitudinal members to said joint; an outer encapsulation angle member secured to an outer surface of said side spacers, wherein said outer encapsulation member extends in planes parallel to said first and second planes; an inner encapsulation angle member secured to an inner surface of said side spacers, wherein said inner encapsulation angle member extends parallel to said outer encapsulation angle member, and wherein said side spacers are disposed between said inner and said outer encapsulation angle members thereby forming a sandwich construction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The joint of claim 18 wherein said longitudinal members and said cross members are fixed to one another. ### Claim 20 The method of manufacturing a truss comprising longitudinal members and cross members, said method comprising the following steps; constructing a fixture corresponding to a desired truss design; placing outer encapsulation angle members on the fixture; attaching the longitudinal members to the outer encapsulation angle members; attaching the cross members to the outer encapsulation angle members and to said longitudinal members; placing spacers adjacent to the outer encapsulation angle members such that the spacers surround portions of the longitudinal members and the cross members; attaching the spacers to the longitudinal members, the cross members and the outer encapsulation angle members; and attaching inner encapsulation angle members to the spacers thereby forming a sandwich construction wherein said spacers are disposed between said inner and said outer encapsulation angle members. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein said attaching steps are performed using an adhesive epoxy. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of fixing said inner and outer encapsulation angle members to said spacers using a fastener selected from the group consisting of rivets and bolts. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein said fixing step is performed after attaching said inner encapsulation angle members to said spacers.