Length-adjustable truss

Abstract

A length-adjustable truss includes an upper truss chord comprising a plurality of upper finger grooves; a lower truss chord comprising a plurality of lower finger grooves; and a first end panel defining an upper end, a lower end, an inner end, and an outer end; wherein: the first end panel comprises a plurality of upper fingers formed at the upper end and a plurality of lower fingers formed at the lower end; each of the upper fingers engage a corresponding one of the upper finger grooves and each of the lower fingers engage a corresponding one of the lower finger grooves; and the first end panel is trimmable at the outer end thereof.

1 . A length-adjustable truss comprising:
 an upper chord;   a lower chord; and   an end panel fixedly attached between the upper chord and the lower chord, said end panel configured to be trimmable to selectively modify an overall length of the length-adjustable truss.   
     
     
         2 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 1  where the upper chord defines a plurality of upper finger grooves, the lower chord defines a plurality of lower finger grooves, and the trimmable end panel defines an upper end having a plurality of upper panel fingers formed thereon and configured to mate in inserted relation with the upper finger grooves, a lower end having a plurality of lower panel fingers formed thereon and configured to mate in inserted relation with the lower finger grooves, an inner end, and an outer end, said outer end configured to be trimmable to selectively modify the overall length of the length-adjustable truss. 
     
     
         3 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 1 , where the end panel is a first end panel and further comprising a second end panel disposed opposite the first end panel, at least one of the first end panel and the second end panel configured to be trimmable to selectively modify the overall length of the length-adjustable truss. 
     
     
         4 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 1 , where the upper chord and the lower chord are formed from structural grade wood. 
     
     
         5 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 1 , where the end panel is formed from structural grade wood. 
     
     
         6 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 1 , where the end panel is comprised of a plurality of panel segments, each panel segment coupled to the upper chord and lower chord. 
     
     
         7 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 6 , where each panel segment is further coupled to each next adjacent panel segment along its panel segment length. 
     
     
         8 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 7 , where each panel segment is coupled to each next adjacent panel segment with adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 7 , where each panel segment is coupled to each next adjacent panel segment with at least one mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 1 , where each of the upper chord and lower chord are selectively trimmed in alignment with the end panel. 
     
     
         11 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 3 , where the first end panel and the second end panel are trimmed symmetrically. 
     
     
         12 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 3 , where the first end panel and the second end panel are trimmed asymmetrically. 
     
     
         13 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 3 , where the first end panel, the second end panel, the upper chord, and the lower chord define a substantially open area therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 13 , where a web arrangement is assembled within the substantially open area. 
     
     
         15 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 14 , where the web arrangement is made from wood. 
     
     
         16 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 14 , where the web arrangement is made from metal. 
     
     
         17 . The length-adjustable truss of  claim 2 , where each of the upper and lower finger grooves terminate at a tapered inward groove.