Scissors truss connector plates

Abstract

A scissors truss comprises elongated structural wooden members establishing pairs of top chords and bottom chords connected at opposite ends thereof to establish a top apex joint, a bottom apex joint and heel joints at opposite ends of the truss. At least one vertical wooden member extends between the top and bottom joints to provide structural reinforcement. While the heel joints may be formed with conventional rectangular connector plates with struck teeth embedded into side faces of the chord members, the nail plate establishing the top apex joint is formed with upper inclined edges approximating the pitch of the top chords without projecting upwardly above an upper edge surface of the top chords. Similarly, the bottom nail plate establishing the bottom apex joint is formed with lower inclined edges approximating the pitch of the bottom chords without projecting downwardly below a lower edge surface of the bottom chords. An associated pair of top and bottom nail plates are preferably formed from a single rectangular nail plate with cut lines establishing the upper and lower inclined edges advantageously formed at a novel angle permitting usage of the top and bottom plates in a wide variety of types and dimensions of scissors trusses conforming to state and local code requirements. A method of manufacturing the top and bottom nail plates is also disclosed.