Truss Bracket

Abstract

A dual use or a single use bracket adapted to be mounted on the truss includes an inverted U-shaped portion to mount on the truss, an outward extending portion to connect to the inverted U-shaped portion to mount a shelf. The inverted U-shaped portion is adapted to mount to a floor member, and the duel use bracket includes a flap to mount to the floor member. The outward extending portion includes an aperture for a bolt, and the outward extending portion includes a nut. The inverted U-shaped portion includes a first flap on a front side and a second flap on the back side of the inverted U-shaped portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to shelving and, more particularly, to a bracket or fixed width shelf support structures mounted to roof trusses.

BACKGROUND ART

A roof truss is typically employed in the construction of roofs for single, multi-family homes, storage facility or business. The truss includes a plurality of bottom chords such as which are joined end-to-end with nail connector plates. The bottom chords extend continuously to define a floor joist secured, in a conventional manner, to beams distributed at prescribed intervals as required by governmental (e.g., county) code.

The upper extent of the truss is defined by oppositely inclined rafters joined at their upper ends with a nail connector plate to define an apex of the roof truss. The lower ends of the rafters are respectively connected to opposite ends of the joist with nail connector plates to define left and right heels, respectively.

A plurality of substantially identical roof trusses is then mounted to the beam at regularly spaced intervals. Continuous lateral support between the roof trusses is provided in a known manner by means of plywood sheathing secured to the upper surfaces of the top chord members.

The resulting attic space defined between the joists and the rafters is typically accessed through an attic door with a foldable stairway mounted within the joist system in a known manner or for an unfinished garage access may only be available through the joist system. The homeowner and sometimes the builder will loosely place or secure sheets of plywood or other lumber material on the top surfaces of the bottom chords so that the attic space may be used for storage. This tends to be an inefficient usage of the attic storage space since the only conventionally available “shelf” storage surface is the attic floor defined by and between the joists. Often, items to be stored are strewn about the attic floor in a haphazard manner or more typically piled on top of each other immediately adjacent the attic door, making finding or relocating of stored objects very difficult if not impossible.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,626 to Roberts discloses a hanging shelf system that is secured to the joists by drilling a hole through the bottom surface of the joist. However, by drilling a ¾ inch hole for hanging rods into the truss that could be only 1½ inches thick, the truss is significantly weakened.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,790 to Fetzer discloses a preassembled shelf unit that includes a pair of self support members connected to each other with wooden connectors.

SUMMARY

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to more effectively utilize unfinished space within constructed buildings for storage purposes.

Another object is to increase the storage space within unfinished floor space by allowing for easy installation of flooring mountable to portions of adjacent roof trusses.

Still a further object is to provide for a bracket for a vertically spaced fixed width shelving support units thereby being easily positionable and mountable onto opposing surfaces of portions of adjacent roof trusses.

A dual use or a single use bracket adapted to be mounted on the truss includes an inverted U-shaped portion to mount on the truss, an outward extending portion to connect to the inverted U-shaped portion to mount a shelf.

The inverted U-shaped portion is adapted to mount to a floor member, and the duel use bracket includes a flap to mount to the floor member.

The outward extending portion includes an aperture for a bolt, and the outward extending portion includes an affixed nut.

The inverted U-shaped portion includes a first flap on a front side and a second flap on the back side of the inverted U-shaped portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a bracket of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the front of the bracket of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of the side of the bracket of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of the back of the bracket of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the bracket 100 which includes an inverted U shaped portion 102 and an outward extending portion 104. The inverted U-shaped portion 102 and the outward extending portion 104 may be made from stamped rigid material, may be welded or attach by any suitable means. The inverted U-shaped portion 102 includes a top section 106 and a pair of side sections 108 which extend from the top section 106. The outward extending portion 104 extends from the bottom edge of one of the side sections 108 substantially perpendicular to the side section 108. Each side section 108 includes one or more flaps 110 (FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of flaps 110) which is outwardly extending at an acute angle from the side section 108. The flap 110 has been separated from the side section 108 at the top edge 112 and the side edges 114 but remains affixed to the side section 108 at the bottom of the flap. The flap 110 works in cooperation with a second flap 111 on a second bracket on a substantially parallel and opposing truss to support a flooring member 120 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The outward extending portion 104 includes an aperture 126 which may be centered to cooperate with a bolt 122 which is connected to a shelving system (not shown). Consequently, the bracket 100 of the present invention is a dual use bracket or a single use bracket. One single use can be used to support the shelving system. Another single use could be to support the flooring member separately. The present invention as a duel use bracket could be used to support the shelving system and the flooring member together. FIG. 3 additional illustrates a pair of trusses 128 which are substantially parallel for mounting the bracket 100 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the front side of the bracket 100 of the present invention showing the bolt 122 to the shelving system (not shown) and a nut 124 which may be affixed to the outward extending portion 104 or may be not directly connected to the outward extending portion 104.

FIG. 4 illustrates a back side of the bracket 100 showing a pair of opposing flaps 110 to the flaps 110 on the front side of the bracket 100.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1. A dual use bracket adapted to be mounted on the truss, comprising:

an inverted U-shaped portion to mount on the truss;

an outward extending portion to connect to the inverted U-shaped portion to mount a shelf;

wherein said the inverted U-shaped portion is adapted to mount to a floor member.

2. A dual use bracket adapted to be mounted on the truss as in claim 1, wherein the duel use bracket includes a flap to mount the floor member.

3. A dual use bracket adapted to be mounted on the truss as in claim 1, wherein the outward extending portion includes an aperture for a bolt.

4. A dual use bracket adapted to be mounted on the truss as in claim 3, wherein the outward extending portion includes an affixed nut.

5. A dual use bracket adapted to be mounted on the truss as in claim 1, wherein said inverted U-shaped portion includes a first flap on a front side and a second flap on the back side of the inverted U-shaped portion.