A system and method for securing a roof truss to a load bearing wall is disclosed. A strap is attached to a roof truss at one end and extended to the top of a load-bearing wall. A buckle is placed over the strap to secure the strap between the buckle and the roof truss, and also the buckle and the load-bearing wall. The end of the strap is extended along the top of buckle toward the roof truss and a top plate secures the strap between the buckle and the top plate. Screws are placed through holes in the top plate and corresponding holes in the buckle to attach the system to the top of the load-bearing wall. The system and method of the invention provides both horizontal (lateral) resistance and uplift resistance, thus resisting horizontal (lateral) forces while at the same time providing uplift resistance.

A system and method for securing a roof truss to a load bearing wall is disclosed. A strap is attached to a roof truss at one end and extended to the top of a load-bearing wall. A buckle is placed over the strap to secure the strap between the buckle and the roof truss, and also the buckle and the load-bearing wall. The end of the strap is extended along the top of buckle toward the roof truss and a top plate secures the strap between the buckle and the top plate. Screws are placed through holes in the top plate and corresponding holes in the buckle to attach the system to the top of the load-bearing wall. The system and method of the invention provides both horizontal (lateral) resistance and uplift resistance, thus resisting horizontal (lateral) forces while at the same time providing uplift resistance.

The present invention provides a building comprising a foundation; a wall supported by the foundation; and trusses supported by the wall. A plurality of hold down assemblies connects at least some of the trusses directly to the foundation. Each hold down assembly comprises an anchor; a tie-rod connected to the anchor; a bearing plate operably associated with an end portion of an associated truss for transferring load to the tie-rod; and a fastener securing the tie-rod to the bearing plate, thereby tying the associated truss directly to the foundation.

A conveyor system for translating objects is disclosed, each object with vertical protrusions extending upward and/or downward from one or more sides of the object. The conveyor system can accommodate structural members such as roof truss members, on which connector plates are affixed and from which the connector plates protrude vertically up, down, or both. The conveyor system may have a slide or some other support for the objects. The slide or other support may be narrow. The slide or other support can be tall, relative to an object. The conveyor system may have an engagement tool driven by an overhead carriage to translate the objects along the slide or other support. The engagement tool may be narrow. The engagement tool can be tall, relative to an object.

A conveyor system for translating objects is disclosed, each object with vertical protrusions extending upward and/or downward from one or more sides of the object. The conveyor system can accommodate structural members such as roof truss members, on which connector plates are affixed and from which the connector plates protrude vertically up, down, or both. The conveyor system may have a slide or some other support for the objects. The slide or other support may be narrow. The slide or other support can be tall, relative to an object. The conveyor system may have an engagement tool driven by an overhead carriage to translate the objects along the slide or other support. The engagement tool may be narrow. The engagement tool can be tall, relative to an object.

A staple includes a length of metal wire shaped to form a crown and two spikes. Each spike depends from a respective end of the crown and includes a shoulder at each end of the crown, a sharpened tip portion and an elbow interposed between each tip portion and shoulder, the elbow comprised of a proximal limb and a distal limb such that the tip portions depend from respective distal limbs. An included angle between each shoulder and the crown is between about 91 and 96, an included angle between each proximal limb and the crown is between about 60 and 85 and an included angle between each distal limb and the crown is between about 95 and 130.

A staple includes a length of metal wire shaped to form a crown and two spikes. Each spike depends from a respective end of the crown and includes a shoulder at each end of the crown, a sharpened tip portion and an elbow interposed between each tip portion and shoulder, the elbow comprised of a proximal limb and a distal limb such that the tip portions depend from respective distal limbs. An included angle between each shoulder and the crown is between about 91 and 96, an included angle between each proximal limb and the crown is between about 60 and 85 and an included angle between each distal limb and the crown is between about 95 and 130.

A method of and system for producing Class-A fire-protected truss structures constructed from: a plurality of lumber pieces dip-coated with clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) liquid to form a plurality of Class-A fire-protected lumber pieces; and a set of heat-resistant chemical-coated metal truss connector plates for connecting together the plurality of Class-A fire-protected lumber pieces to form a Class-A fire-protected truss structure. The improved Class-A fire-protected truss structures can be used in constructing safer roofing and/or flooring systems in wood-framed buildings, having improved fire performance characteristics.

An automated lumber fabrication factory supporting an automated process for continuously fabricating cross-laminated timber (CLT) products that are automatically dip-coated in a reservoir of clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) liquid, so as to produce Class-A fire-protected CLT products in a highly automated matter.

In a lumber factory, an automated laminated veneer lumber (LVL) process supported by a lumber production line employing a cross-cutting and rip-sawing stage, a dip-coating stage, a spray-coating stage, a print-marking stage, and a stacking, packaging and wrapping stage. At the dip-coating stage, cross-cut and rip-sawed LVL product is automatically transported and submerged through a dipping reservoir containing clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) liquid, and then wet-stacked and set aside to dry. Once dried, the dip-coated LVL products are returned to the production line and sprayed coated with a moisture, fire and UV protective coating at the spray-coating stage, and then passed through a drying tunnel for quick drying of the spray-coating to produce Class-A fire-protected LVL products. The Class-A fire-protected LVL products are stacked, packaged and wrapped at the stacking, packaging and wrapping stage into a package of Class-A fire-protected LVL products, ready for shipping.