GB1598106A - Herringbone struts - Google Patents

Description

(54) HERRINGBONE STRUTS (71) We, CATNIC COMPONENTS LIM- ITED, a British Company, of Pontygwindy Estate, Caerphilly, Glamorganshire CF8 2WJ. do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to herringbone struts and to structures incorporating them.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a herringbone strut having an elongate body of non-planar transverse cross-section throughout its length with integral end flanges which are directed in opposite directions away from the longitudinal axis of the body, and in which the flanges each form with the longitudinal axis of the body an angle of greater than 90 , the arrangement of the body and flanges 1 being such that in use' when the herring bone strut is secured between adjacent joists, one flange is higher than the other and each flange is substantially vertical and secured to a vertical sideface of its respective joist which faces the vertical side face of the joist to which the other flange is secured.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a floor in which there are two herringbone struts between the joists, the herringbone struts being mounted so as to form a generally 'X'-configuration as considered in the longitudinal direction of the joists.

Herringbone struts embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example. in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows in an end elevation the general arrangement of a floor; and Figure 2 shows, to a larger scale, a herringbone strut arrangement between two joists.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a floor I comprising a series of generally parallel wooden spaced apart floor joists 2 comprising essentially baulks of timber. The joists 2 are supported by walls (not shown) of a building (also not shown). Flooring such as floor boards 3 are supported on top of the joists 2 while a ceiling construction such as ceiling boards 4 are secured as by pinning to the undersurfaces of the joists 2. A cavity is formed between the floor and ceiling 4, both of which are supported by the joists 2. The joists 2 are relatively long and can move, for example they can twist because of loads imposed from above, or due to settling of the building in which they are installed. If the joists 2 move as by twisting for example, the flooring 2 and ceiling 4 can be disrupted and can in extreme cases, be destroyed. The ceiling 4 may fall down, for example.In order to prevent or hinder this occurrance from arising, two adjacent joists 2 are connected by a metal bracing member or herringbone strut 5 which has a configuration such that a flange 6 at one end is higher on the one joist than is the opposite end flange 7 joined to the other joist. In the embodiment shown there are two herringbone struts 5 and 5a (Figure 2) secured to the joists 2a and 2b at a position about halfway along the joists 2a and 2b. The struts 5 and 5a are identical, the strut 5a being rotated through 180 with respect to strut so that the 'X'-configuration shown is achieved. The struts 5 and 5a do not touch.

Each strut 5 and 5a is formed from one piece of metal and has a body 8 of substantially 'M' shape in cross-section with the two integral end flanges 6 and 7, the free ends of the flanges 6 and 7, pointing in opposite directions. Thus the flange 6 of the strut 5 points upwardly (as viewed) and the flange 7 downwardly (again as viewed). The limbs of the 'M' shape point downwardly, as viewed, in both struts when they are in position.

There is an angle of greater than 90 between the flanges 6 and 7 and the body 8, to accommodate the inclined fixing of the struts 5 and 5a.

The struts 5 and 5a are secured to the joists 2a and 2b by fixing means such as pins or nails 9 which are inserted at an angle through the flanges 6 and 7 into the joists. The flanges 6 and 7 may have holes to receive the pins or nails 9. Alternatively the flanges 6 and 7 may be sufficiently thin for the pin or nail to be hammered through the flanges into the joists.

The struts 5 and 5a brace the joists 2 and hold them together in the required position so that they do not move as by twisting in torsion.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A herringbone strut having an elongate body of non-planar transverse crosssection throughout its length with integral end flanges which are directed in opposite directions away from the longitudinal axis of the body, and in which the flanges each form with the longitudinal axis of the body an angle of greater than 90", the arrangement of the body and flanges being such that in use when the herringbone strut is secured between adjacent joists, one flange is higher than the other and each flange is substantially vertical and secured to a vertical sideface of its respective joist which faces the vertical sideface of the joist to which the other flange is secured.

2. A herringbone strut according to Claim I, in which the elongate body is of substantially 'M' configuration in cross-section.

3. A herringbone strut, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

4. A floor, comprising two spaced apart joists and a herringbone strut according to Claim 1, joined to each joist and having a configuration such that one end flange of the herringbone strut is higher than the other.

5. A floor according to Claim 4, in which there are two herringbone struts between the joists, the struts being mounted so as to form a generally 'x'-configuration as considered in the longitudinal direction of the joists.

6. A floor according to Claim 5, in which nails or pins secure the member struts to the joists.

7. A floor, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The struts 5 and 5a brace the joists 2 and hold them together in the required position so that they do not move as by twisting in torsion. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A herringbone strut having an elongate body of non-planar transverse crosssection throughout its length with integral end flanges which are directed in opposite directions away from the longitudinal axis of the body, and in which the flanges each form with the longitudinal axis of the body an angle of greater than 90", the arrangement of the body and flanges being such that in use when the herringbone strut is secured between adjacent joists, one flange is higher than the other and each flange is substantially vertical and secured to a vertical sideface of its respective joist which faces the vertical sideface of the joist to which the other flange is secured.

2. A herringbone strut according to Claim I, in which the elongate body is of substantially 'M' configuration in cross-section.

3. A herringbone strut, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

4. A floor, comprising two spaced apart joists and a herringbone strut according to Claim 1, joined to each joist and having a configuration such that one end flange of the herringbone strut is higher than the other.

5. A floor according to Claim 4, in which there are two herringbone struts between the joists, the struts being mounted so as to form a generally 'x'-configuration as considered in the longitudinal direction of the joists.

6. A floor according to Claim 5, in which nails or pins secure the member struts to the joists.

7. A floor, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.