Truss-mounted attic storage system

Abstract

A truss-mounted attic storage system that is formed by the assembly and mounting of a set of brackets and bars to an adjacent pair of trusses to form a horizontal shelf or rack that is secured in place. The shelf or rack can then have a crate, box or tote containing items to be stored set on and held by the shelf or rack.

Claims

1. A truss-mounted attic storage system configured to be used in a residential attic, comprising: a) at least two web-mountable brackets, each having a concave U-shaped or rectangular portion configured to be attached to one edge and opposed sides of a corresponding tension web portion of a corresponding attic truss, each concave U-shaped or rectangular portion comprising a front face and two opposed sides perpendicular to the front face, a U-shaped concave saddle attached to a lower face of each bracket respectively, with a horizontal lower portion of the U-shaped concave saddle being substantially perpendicular to said U-shaped or rectangular portion of each bracket respectively and a vertical portion of the U-shaped concave saddle being spaced apart from and parallel with said front face of each concave U-shaped or rectangular portion respectively, wherein each bracket comprises a plurality of holes in each side thereof to facilitate attachment of said at least two brackets to said corresponding tension web portions of said corresponding attic trusses respectively, and at least one hole in each front face of each bracket respectively to further facilitate attachment to said corresponding tension web portions, and a hole in each U-shaped concave saddle configured to receive a fastener to enable a cross bar to be secured within said U-shaped saddles; b) at least one cross bar having a length, a width, a rectangular cross-section, and two series of holes therein, configured to be secured within said saddles of the at least two brackets, and c) at least two load support bars each having a U-shaped cross-section and a notch cut into a lower side thereof, wherein each notch is configured to receive a substantial portion of the width of said at least one cross bar therein to interlock the at least two load support bars securely with said at least one cross bar to support items for storage.

2. The truss mounted attic storage system of claim 1, wherein said corresponding tension web portions are two adjacent tension web portions of said corresponding attic trusses.

3. The truss mounted attic storage system of claim 1, wherein said at least one cross bar is designed and adapted to be attached to more than two corresponding adjacent tension web portions of said corresponding attic trusses.

4. The truss mounted attic storage system of claim 1, wherein the at least two load support bars are sufficient to withstand a predicted or expected load on said truss-mounted attic storage system when fastened to the at least one cross bar between two corresponding adjacent tension web portions of said corresponding trusses.

5. The truss mounted attic storage system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of holes in each side of each bracket permit attachment of each bracket to the corresponding tension web portion with each corresponding tension web portion being at a corresponding acute angle from a vertical plane, using mechanical fasteners.

6. The truss mounted attic storage system of claim 5, wherein each corresponding acute angle is in the range of from about 0 degrees to about 45 degrees from the vertical plane.

7. The truss mounted attic storage system of claim 1, wherein for each bracket: the hole of said U-shaped concave saddle is in the vertical portion of said U-shaped concave saddle and is substantially aligned with one of the at least one hole in the front face of said bracket to facilitate insertion of a fastener and secure installation of said at least one cross bar.

8. The truss mounted attic storage system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least two web-mountable brackets, at least one cross bar, and at least two load support bars is formed of metal.

9. The truss mounted attic storage system of claim 1 wherein said at least one cross bar has at least a second set of two holes therein, positioned to align with holes in the at least two load support bars to securely attach the at least two support bars to the at least one cross bar with mechanical fasteners.

10. The truss mounted attic storage system of claim 1, further comprising mechanical fasteners to securely attach the truss mounted storage system to the tension web portions of the corresponding trusses, securely attach the at least two brackets to the at least one cross bar, and securely attach the at least two load support bars to the at least one cross bar to provide a secure load-bearing installation.

11. The truss-mounted attic storage system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two web-mountable brackets are attached to the one edge and the opposed sides of the corresponding tension web portion of the corresponding attic truss, at least one cross bar is secured into said saddles of said at least two brackets and the at least two load support bars are installed and interlocked with said at least one cross bar and to form a horizontal load-bearing installation.

12. A method of installing the truss-mounted attic storage system of claim 1, comprising the steps of: (a) securely attaching the at least two web-mountable brackets to at least two corresponding tension web portions of the corresponding attic trusses using mechanical fasteners; (b) inserting and securing by using fasteners to clamp the at least one cross bars into said saddles of said at least two web-mounted brackets; and c) installing the at least two load support bars on the at least one cross bar in an interlocking manner and securing said at least two load support bars in place on the at least one cross bar with mechanical fasteners to form a horizontal load-bearing installation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood and aspects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description, the appended claims and drawings. The same numerals are used to designate like components in each of these figures. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is an oblique view of the components assembled to form the described truss mounted attic storage system.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view showing the parts that form a typical (prior art) wooden roof truss.

(4) FIG. 3 is an oblique view of the described web-mountable bracket.

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B are top and end views of the described cross bar.

(6) FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are the side, end and top views of the described load support bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) In general, the following description adopts a terrestrial frame of reference, in which the bottom of a component is considered to be the side nearest the floor or earth when in normal use, and the top being the side opposite and facing upward. The term “face” is used to identify the portion that is in closest proximity to the peak of the roof. The term “back” is used to identify the reverse portion that is oriented towards the exterior wall of the house. The term “and/or” is used in the conventional sense, in which “A and/or B” indicates that A or B, or both, may be present. Where dimensions or angles are given, they are approximate rather than precise, as required to fit a variety of attic installations. Similarly, when one component is “substantially” perpendicular to another, the angle between them can be slightly more or less than 90 degrees.

(8) With reference to FIG. 1, the assembled truss-mounted attic storage system (2) is shown with two web-mounted brackets (4) holding both ends of the cross bar (6) and two load support bars (8) attached to the cross bar (6). For clarity, the holes for the various fasteners used are shown but not the fasteners themselves. This is the simplest embodiment, using two brackets (4), one cross bar (6) and two load support bars (8).

(9) With reference to FIG. 2, a side view of a typical wooden roof truss (40) is shown. The basic form of the truss (40) is created by the triangle formed between the horizontal bottom chord (42) and the two inclined top chords (44). The bottom chord (42) provides the load bearing structure to which the panels used to form the ceiling of the living space below are attached to the bottom edge and safely suspended. The top chords (44) are the load bearing members that have panels attached to their outer edges and in turn have the shingles or other roofing materials attached to them to form the roof of the house. To ensure that the truss (40) is capable of both safely supporting the weights of the ceiling and roofing and to endure potential wind and snow loads from storms, a series of tension webs (46) and compression webs (48) are secured between the bottom chord (42) and each of the top chords (44). This naming convention used is based on “anatomy of a truss” by Fink, which was accessed from URL www.localarchitectsdirect.co.uk, and represents the prior art or typical structural components found in an attic.

(10) With reference to FIG. 3, the web-mountable bracket (4) is shown. The web mountable bracket (4) features a hole (12) in the upper edge of the bracket face (10) that allows for a screw to be inserted and driven into the face of the tension web (not shown) to initially hold the web-mounted bracket (4) in place. If the tension web (not shown) is sloped, then a carriage bolt (not shown) is inserted from the back side of the bracket face (10) through the square hole (14) and then through the hole (20) in the saddle face (18) of the saddle (16). The nut (not shown) would then be loosely attached to the end of the carriage bolt (not shown). If the tension web (not shown) is oriented vertically, then no carriage bolt is inserted. The web-mountable bracket (4) is then pivoted so that the bracket face (10) is vertical. If necessary, the screw (not shown) already driven through the hole (12) in the bracket face (10) can be loosened to allow the web-mounted bracket (4) to pivot. Once vertical, screws (not shown) are driven through the holes (24) located in both bracket sides (22) that overlap the sides of the tension web (not shown) to secure it in the correct alignment. Once both of the web-mounted brackets (4) are secured, the cross bar (not shown) is placed so that the ends rest in the saddle (16) and then the cross bar (not shown here; see FIG. 1) is secured by either tightening the nut (not shown) on the previously inserted carriage bolt (not shown) or by inserting a screw (not shown) through the hole (20) and square hole (14) and driving it into the vertical tension web (not shown). The saddle (16) is substantially perpendicular to the bracket face (10) of the bracket (4).

(11) With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cross bar (6) is shown. The cross bar (6) as depicted is a rectangular metal tube but could instead be U-shaped, with the open edge oriented down, and still perform its function. The top face (26) and bottom face (28) of the cross bar (6) have a series of holes (30) punched or drilled into them so that they align with each other. The minimum length of the cross bar (6) will typically be about 16 or 24 inches in length (the typical spacing between roof trusses) but could be made in any range of lengths as needed. The spacing of the holes (30) will be from about 2 to 6 inches across the top face (26) and bottom face (28) so that the spacing between the pair of load support bars (not shown) can be adjusted to provide a range of spacing options.

(12) With reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, the load support bar (8) is shown. The load support bar (8) is depicted as U-shaped but could instead be a rectangular or square tube shape and still perform its function. Both sides of the load support bar (8), and bottom as well if rectangular or square tube shaped, have a notch (32) cut into them that is sized to fit closely over the cross bar (not shown). The top surface of the load support bar (8) has a round hole (34) drilled or punched and countersunk above the midpoint of the notch (32). The load support bar (8) is attached to the cross bar (not shown) by aligning the notch (32) with the cross bar (not shown) at a location of one of the holes in the cross bar (not shown). Once aligned and seated over the cross bar (not shown) a flat head sheet metal screw is driven through the hole (34) into the hole in the cross bar (not shown) to attach it. If a carriage bolt is used as the fastener, then the hole (34) would be square shaped and not countersunk.

(13) In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding. All equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the preferred embodiment are to be encompassed by this present invention to produce the intended results. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.