Thermally broken truss

Abstract

A thermally broken truss ( 10 ) for a cage of a structural building panel, comprising: first and second elongate outer support members ( 12, 14 ); first and second elongate intermediate support members ( 16, 18 ) interposed between the first and second outer support members ( 12, 14 ); at least one first connecting member ( 20 ) interconnecting the first outer support member ( 12 ) and the first intermediate support member ( 16 ); at least one second connecting member ( 22 ) interconnecting the second outer support member ( 14 ) and the second intermediate support member ( 18 ); and a thermally insulative fastener ( 24 ) which fastens the first and second intermediate support members ( 16, 18 ) together in spaced apart relationship, thereby providing a thermal break between the first and second outer support members ( 12, 4 ). A thermally broken structural building panel ( 40 ) is also provided.

1 . A thermally broken truss for a cage of a structural building panel, comprising:
 first and second elongate outer support members;   first and second elongate intermediate support members interposed between the first and second outer support members;   at least one first connecting member interconnecting the first outer support member and the first intermediate support member;   at least one second connecting member interconnecting the second outer support member and the second intermediate support member; and   a thermally insulative fastener which fastens the first and second intermediate support members together in spaced apart relationship,   thereby providing a thermal break between the first and second elongate outer support members.   
     
     
         2 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulative fastener is a sheath in which the first and second intermediate support members are received. 
     
     
         3 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one reinforcement element which buttresses the thermally insulative fastener and is held in a spaced apart relationship from the first and second intermediate support members by the thermally insulative fastener. 
     
     
         4 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the reinforcement element is: a strap; a collar; or is or includes metal. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the reinforcement element encircles at least part of the thermally insulative fastener. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulative fastener is provided in a gap between the first and second intermediate support members, and wherein the thermally insulative fastener is connected to at least one of the first or second intermediate support members using adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first outer support member and first intermediate support members are in coplanar or substantially coplanar alignment, and/or the second outer support member and second intermediate support members are in coplanar or substantially coplanar alignment. 
     
     
         15 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting member zig zags along the longitudinal axis of the thermally broken truss, and/or the second connecting member zig zags along the longitudinal axis of the thermally broken truss. 
     
     
         16 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting member is unitarily formed and/or wherein the second connecting member is unitarily formed. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting member forms a plurality of triangles with the first outer support member and first intermediate support member, and/or the second connecting member forms a plurality of triangles with the second outer support member and second intermediate support member. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting member is welded to the first outer support member and first intermediate support member, and/or the second connecting member is welded to the second outer support member and second intermediate support member. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a lateral cross-section of one or more of the first and second outer support members and/or first and second intermediate support members is or is substantially circular. 
     
     
         26 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a dimension of any two or more of the first and second outer support members and/or first and second intermediate support members is different. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first and second outer support members and/or first and second intermediate support members are or are substantially flat plates. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first outer support member and the first intermediate support member are offset from the second outer support member and the second intermediate support member. 
     
     
         31 . A thermally broken truss as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least part of any or more of the first and second outer support members are sheathed in an insulative material of the or substantially the same form as the thermally insulative fastener. 
     
     
         32 . A thermally broken structural building panel comprising:
 at least one insulation member;   at least two thermally broken trusses as claimed in  claim 1 ; and   at least one strapping member,   wherein the thermally broken trusses are arranged in substantially parallel planes and the insulation member is disposed intermediate the thermally broken trusses, the strapping member interconnecting the at least two thermally broken trusses and extending substantially perpendicularly to the at least two thermally broken trusses for retaining the insulation member therebetween.   
     
     
         33 . A thermally broken structural building panel as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein a plurality of insulation members, thermally broken trusses and strapping members are provided, wherein at least two of the said insulation members are joined together using adhesive. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A thermally broken structural building panel as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the insulation member is or includes any one of polystyrene, polyurethane or polyamide. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A thermally broken truss for a cage of a structural building panel, comprising:
 at least two modular units, each modular unit including:
 elongate first and second support members defining longitudinal edge portions of the modular unit, the first and second support members being adjacent to and in spaced parallel or substantially parallel relationship with one another; and 
 at least one connecting member which extends between the longitudinal edge portions and which interconnects the first and second members, 
 each modular unit being coplanar or substantially coplanar and arranged in a spaced parallel or substantially parallel relationship with one another, the spaced relationship between the modular units defining a gap; 
   a thermally insulative fastener disposed in at least part of the gap intermediate a pair of parallel modular units interconnecting the at least two modular units; and
 a reinforcement element reinforcing the interconnection between the or each pair of parallel modular units and the thermally insulative fastener interconnecting the at least two modular units, 
   whereby the gap and the thermally insulative fastener together substantially provide a thermal break between coplanar modular units.