GB2376700A

GB2376700A - Hanger device for use with I - beams, e.g. of wood

Info

Publication number: GB2376700A
Application number: GB0212257A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luke John Richard Whale; Douglas Wilson Cullen
Original assignee: Cullen Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Cullen Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 2001-05-29
Filing date: 2002-05-28
Publication date: 2002-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-28
Also published as: WO2002097205A1; US20040129845A1; CA2434975A1; GB0112928D0; GB0212257D0; GB2376700B

Abstract

A hanger device for orthogonal joining of I - beams has a first bracket having first and second side members 20, 24, with an intermediate member 26 therebetween capable of supporting a flange of a first I - beam, and a second bracket having first and second side members 32,34, and an intermediate member 36 therebetween adapted in use to overlie the upper flange of a second I - beam. The hanger may be made from a single piece of steel, and apertures 40, 60 are provided for the receipt of fixings and are staggered, e.g. as shown, to minimise the risk of splitting the wooden flanges of the I - beams.

Description

L I Hanger device The present invention relates to a hanger device used to

connect two members such as I-beams and having a 5 particular application in the construction industry.

It is well known within the construction industry that wooden I-beams are used as a replacement for traditional solid timber beams, and their usage is made all the more 10 popular due to their dimensional stability (no shrinkage, cupping or distortion) and superior load-carrying capacity (spanning capability). The wooden I-beam typically consists of upper and lower flange members made of either solid or laminated wood, and a central wood 15 based web member (typically plywood or oriented strand board) glued centrally between these upper and lower flanges into pre-cut grooves. Examples of I-beams are shown in Fig. 1. Typically, such beams are around 25 cm from flange to flange, the flanges being around 4cm to 20 6cm wide.

The wooden I-beam is an extremely efficient structural shape but the gap that exists between the central web member and the upper and lower flanges makes it difficult 25 to connect components to them at 90 degrees.

Unfortunately, the need to connect components at 90 degrees is commonplace in domestic house construction, where for example, floor or roof members need to be trimmed around stair or chimney openings as shown in 30 Fig.2. Indeed, almost every example of domestic house construction will require beam connections at 90 degrees to each other.

To form a 90 degree connection to an I-beam requires the 35 gap between the web and both flanges to be packed or filled with a solid material, wood for example, such that

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i: a flush surface is created of sufficient area to receive an incoming beam or other structural member. These wood-

based packing pieces, provided to facilitate such a 90-

degree connection, are called "backer-blocks".

Where a number of beams need to be connected to a cross-

member, known as a ''header", at 90 degrees, e.g. where floor beams are trimmed around a stair opening, then multiple backer blocks or a continuous backer block will 10 be required. Metal hangers are then used to connect the incoming beam(s) to the supporting header beam at 90 degrees. These can either be face-fixed directly to the backer block material or top-fixed to the upper flange of the I-beam where less nails are required in the backer 15 block.

Top-fix hangers are generally used for light/medium duty applications as they have limited load-transferring ability but are relatively quick and easy to install.

20 Face-fix hangers are typically used for higher load applications, but are generally more time consuming and expensive to fit.

In the case of conventional face-fix connections, 25 multiple nails are provided through the face of the hanger into the backer block. The backer block then transfers the loads imparted by the hanger (from the incoming beam) into the central web of the I-beam and thereby into the flanges of the I-beam header.

In the case of the top-fix connection, the hanger has a top flange, which sits on the upper edge of the header upper flange, in addition to side flanges. In this case nails are passed through the top and side flanges of the 35 hanger into the upper flange of the header, as well as additional nails being provided through the side flanges

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into the backer block. As a significant amount of the load from the hanger is being imposed eccentrically onto one side of the header upper flange, the backer block this time helps to prevent the upper flange from rotating 5 as well as transmitting load from the face of the backer block into the central web.

However, backer blocks are rather difficult, time-

consuming and costly to install in practice. Typical 10 fixing specifications require backer blocks to be

provided on both sides of an I-beam web, with 6 long nails being installed from each side with their protruding points folded (clenched) over. Experience has shown that this is one of the most common sources of on 15 site errors when constructing I-beam floors, due to either incorrect types or numbers of nails being used to fix backer blocks in position.

A number of hangers are disclosed in the prior art. It

20 has been found that these hangers do not address the specific problems associated with I-beams discussed above and if used to connect I-beams in the manner discussed above would require backer blocks to be used to assist in load transfer and to provide a 90 degree intersection 25 between I-beams. Hangers of this type are more suitable for use with solid timber beams. Much of the prior art

is concerned with general purpose hangers suitable for use as masonary hangers. Such hangers are not designed to be used to support I-beams and are not designed to 30 transfer the load experienced by I-beams.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to address the problems outlined above as well as being able to connect two I-beams without the need for a backer 35 block whilst maintaining the structural properties of a beam connection.

À 1 ^ ' ' ? It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pre-formed unitary hanger device to any given size for use with an I-beam connection which does not 5 require on-site forming to secure both Ibeams.

It is independently an object of the invention to improve upon existing hanger devices in terms of the number and arrangement of fixing apertures used for the device and 10 the associated reduction in cost, construction time and waste materials which occurs as a result of the use of this device.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there 15 is provided a hanger device for connecting together I-

beams having first and second flanges connected by a web, the hanger comprising a first bracket having first and second side members and an intermediate member connected between the side members, the intermediate member being 20 capable of supporting a second flange of a first I-Beam, at least one second bracket having first and second side members and an intermediate member connected between the side members, the first and second side members being provided with fixing apertures arranged thereon to 25 facilitate connection of the first and/or second side members to the first and/or second flanges of a second I-

beam, wherein the first or second side member of the first bracket is connected to the second bracket at the first 30 side member thereof and at a pre-determined angle with respect to the first side member of the second bracket.

Preferably, at least one of the first and second side members of the first bracket are provided with fixing 35 apertures arranged to facilitate connection of said first

e ..... and/or second side member to the first and/or second flange of a first I-beam.

Preferably, the fixing apertures arranged on the first 5 and second side members of the first bracket are positioned to provide a connection to the first and/or second flange substantially in the centre of the flange, the fixing apertures located on the first side member being offset with respect to the fixing apertures on the 10 second side member.

Preferably, the intermediate member is provided with a fixing aperture located substantially in the centre thereof. Preferably, the fixing apertures of the second bracket is provided with a pair of diagonally arranged fixing apertures located on the first side member being offset with respect to a pair of diagonally arranged fixing 20 apertures on the second side member, for connection to the first flange of a second I-beam at substantially in the centre of the flange Preferably, the fixing apertures are arranged on the 25 first and second side members for connection to the second flange of a second I-beam, substantially in the centre of the flange, with three triangularly arranged fixing apertures located on the first side member being offset with respect to a pair of diagonally arranged 30 fixing apertures on the second side member.

Optionally, the second bracket is substantially inverted j-shaped when in use.

35 Optionally, the second bracket is substantially inverted U-shaped when in use.

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Preferably, the device is formed from a single piece of material. 5 Preferably! the hanger is constructed from metal.

Preferably, the predetermined angle is substantially 90 .

Preferably, the first bracket is contiguous with the 10 second bracket.

Preferably, the first bracket is integrally formed with said second bracket.

15 Preferably, at least a part of said second bracket is pre-formed to suit the thickness of an I-beam.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of connecting I 20 beams each having first and second flanges connected by a web, the method comprising the steps of: providing a hanger having first and second brackets arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to one another; 25 supporting the second flange of the first I-beam on an intermediate member connected between first and second side members of a first bracket and; connecting the first and second side members of a second bracket to the first and/or second flanges of a second I 30 beam, through fixing apparatus arranged thereon.

Preferably, the step of connecting the first and/or second flange of the first I-beam to the first and/or second side members of the first bracket through fixing 35 apertures arranged thereon.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a pre-formed hanger device for distributing a load between load carrying members, said device provided with means for connecting said members, said means 5 comprising a first bracket and a second bracket adjacent thereto, said first bracket connecting to a first member and said second bracket connecting to a second member, wherein said second bracket is contiguous with at least a front and back surface of said second member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying 15 drawings, in which: Figs la, lb and lo are side views of typical I-beams; Fig.2 is a perspective view of an example of the use of 20 I-beams in building construction.

Figs. 3a to 3h show a number of view of a first embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 3a and 3b are perspective views of the hanger device, Fig. 3c is a plan 25 view, Fig. 3d is a right hand side elevation, Fig. Be is a left hand side elevation and Fig. 3h is a back elevation; Figs. 4a and 4h show a number of views of a second 30 embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 3a and 3b are perspective views of the hanger device, Fig. 3c is a plan view, Fig. 3d is a right hand side elevation, Fig. Be is a front elevation, Fig. 3f is a left hand side elevation and Fig. 3h is a back elevation;

Fig.5 shows a perspective view of the hanger device of Fig.3b with first and second I-beams attached thereto; and FigO6 shows a perspective view of the hanger device of Fig. 4b with first and second I-beams attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

10 Referring to Figs. 3a and 3b of the drawings there is shown the general arrangement of a first embodiment of the hanger device lO provided in accordance with the present invention. It can be clearly seen that the hanger lO comprises two main brackets 20, 30, which are 15 contiguously formed from a unitary sheet of material.

The first bracket 20 has first and second side members 22, 24 and an intermediate member 26 connecting the first and second side members 22, 24. In this example, the first bracket 20 is pre-fabricated to form a generally U 20 shaped bracket in which a first I-beam can be fitted. As can be seen in Fig. 5, the I-beam is supported by intermediate member 26 and can be further secured in the first bracket 20 by a predetermined number of nails or other suitable fixing 25 means through fixing apertures 40 located in the first and second side members 22, 24 and in the intermediate member 26.

The fixing apertures 40a, 40b and 40c have been provided 30 at positions in the first bracket 20, which have been found to provide structurally secure attachment to the I-

beam 80 without causing splitting of the flanges 90, 92 (Fig.5). Unlike existing hanger devices, which have a series of fixing apertures provided over the entire 35 surface of the hanger to allow nails or other fixing means to be driven into the I-beam at just about any

: 9 position felt necessary, the points selected on the first bracket for providing these fixing apertures has been found to have a highly efficient load distribution. In the example of the present shown in Figs 3a and 3b, the 5 fixing aperture 40c is provided substantially in the centre of the intermediate member 26. Additional fixing apertures 40a and 40b are located in the upper portions of side members 22, 24. In addition, the fixing apertures 40a and 40b located in side members 22, 24 are 10 off-set with respect to one another, this reduces the risk that holes in the second flange 92 will cause the second flange 92 to split.

These hangers are designed to distribute loads in such a 15 way as to avoid the need for backer blocks on 90 degree connections to wood I-beams, and thereby to eliminate the associated fixing costs and sources of site error involved. 20 The hanger 10 has an inverted j-shaped second bracket 30, having first and second side members 32 and 34 and an intermediate member 36 as shown which can wrap around the top flange of the I-beam and fit snugly to 3 faces of it.

As with the first bracket 20, fixing apertures 60a and 25 60b are provided into the first side member 32, fixing aperture 60c is provided in the second side member 34.

The fixing apertures are designed to receive nails or other fixing means. The position of the fixing apertures 60a, 60b and 60c has been set to ensure that the bracket 30 30 is connected to the centre of each of the Ibeam flanges. In addition, the apertures 60a and 60b located on the first and second side members 32, 34 are off-set with respect to one another. In this example, the fixing apertures are arranged in a diagonal pattern at the top 35 end 38 of the second bracket 30. A single fixing

c} aperture 60c being arranged at the bottom end 39 of the second flange 30.

Figs. 3c to 3h provide details of the positioning of 4mm 5 fixing apertures on the hanqer 10. In this example, fixing aperture 40c is provided in the centre of the intermediate member 26, 23mm from the first side member 22. Fig. 3d shows fixing aperture 40a positioned 20mm from the top edge and side edge of the first side member 10 22 and the position of fixing aperture 40b on the second side member positioned lOmm from the top edge and side edge of the second side member 24. The position of these fixing apertures 40a and 40b is also shown in Fig. 3f.

15 Fig. Be is a front elevation showing diagonally arranged fixing apertures 60a, the lower apertures 60a being positioned 30.5mm below the intermediate member 36 and 9mm from the outer edge of the side member 30, the upper aperture being positioned 14mm below the intermediate 20 member 36 and 25.2mm from the outer edge of the side member 30. The position of fixing aperture 60b in side member 34 is shown relative to that of fixing aperture 60a. This fixing aperture is positioned 25mm from the outer sides of side member 34 and 23.3mm from the 25 intermediate member thereof. The back elevation Fig. 3h also shows the fixing apertures 60a, 60b and 60c from the opposite side to that shown in Fig. Be. Fixing aperture 60c is 21mm from the outer edge 52 of the side member 32 and 2Omm from the bottom edge 54 thereof.

In general, the position of the fixing apertures has been selected to minimise the number of nails required as the use of nails or other similar fixing means weakens the flanges.

- e This arrangement enables a substantial amount of load to be transferred to both the front and back faces of the I beam top flange 192, and the resultant even distribution of load thereby serves to delay the onset of top flange 5 rotation without the need for a backer-block to serve the same purpose. The hanger device of the present invention is therefore capable of transmitting equal or higher loads onto supporting beams than can be transmitted by conventional top-fix I-beam hangers, without the need for 10 backer blocks to be provided to delay the onset of top flange header beam rotation. The associated savings in site labour time by removing the need to fix backer blocks are considerable. In addition the hanger 10 has equal or less nail fixings than a conventional top-fix I 15 beam hanger, and is therefore just as easy and quick to install. Figs. 4a and 4b show a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, similar reference numerals have been 20 used to describe previously described features. This hanger 100 uses a similar load distribution principle as the hanger 10 of the first embodiment, but the second bracket 130 is extended to be substantially an inverted U-shape. This allows connection to both flanges 194, 196 25 of a second I-beam (as can be seen in Fig.6).

The bracket 130 wraps around the top flange of the second I-beam and extends downwardly to be fixed to the lower flange of the I-beam. By nailing the hanger to both the 30 front and reverse side of the lower flange 194 of the I beam, the load is transferred substantially uniformly (concentrically) into the centre of the top flange 196 of the I-beam and thereby directly into its central vertical plane. The majority of the load is supported at the 35 bottom end 139 of the second bracket. Consequently, a greater number of fixing apertures 60 are provided on the

/ (- - - first and second sides of the bracket 132, 134 at this point. In this embodiment, three triangularly arranged fixing apertures 60 are located on the first side member 134 and are offset with respect to a pair of diagonally 5 arranged fixing apertures 60 on the second side member 132. The tendency for top flange rotation is thereby almost removed, and this phenomenon is instead transferred to a 10 much lesser degree to the bottom flange. The rotation of the bottom flange 194 in turn is counter-acted by nailing on opposing sides of the lower flange to restrain this tendency. The resulting connection is capable of transferring loads equal or exceeding those of 15 conventional face-fix I- beam hangers, but without the need for backer-blocks to transfer the loads from the outer face into the central web of the header. In addition, as with the previous embodiment, the hanger of Fig. 4 has less nail fixings than a conventional face fix 20 I-beam hanger and is therefore quicker and easier to install. Figs. 4c to 4f provide details of the positioning of 4mm fixing apertures on the hanger 100.

In this example, the fixing aperture 40c is provided in the centre of the intermediate member 126, 19.5mm from the front thereof. Fig. 4d shows fixing aperture 40a positioned lOmm from the top and the side edges of side 30 member 122. Fixing aperture 40b being 20mm from the top and side edges of side member 124. The position of fixing aperture 40b is shown to illustrate the relative position of these fixing apertures.

35 These fixing apertures are also shown in Fig. 4f.

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'a ':: :: . . Figs. 4e and 4g show the position of the fixing apertures on the side member 132, 134 of the second bracket 130.

Apertures 60f are arranged in a triangular formation, 16.2mm, 30.2mm and 33.2mm from the outer edges 150 of 5 side members and 25mm, 13mm and 33mm, respectively, from the bottom edges. The diagonally arranged fixing apertures 60g are arranged 13.2mm and 30.7mm from the outer edges 150 of the side members and 9mm and 18mm,respectively, from the bottom edges 152. The 10 position of fixing aperture 60g is shown to illustrate the relative position of fixing apertures 60g and 60f.

While certain modifications and variations have been described above, the invention is not restricted thereto 15 and other modifications and variations can be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

_ ? À . _ .._ .. l, CLAIMS

1. A hanger device for connecting together I-beams having first and second flanges connected by a web, the hanger comprising a first bracket having first and second side members and an intermediate member connected between the side members, the intermediate member being capable of supporting a second flange of a first I-Beam, at least one second bracket having first and second side 10 members and an intermediate member connected between the side members, the first and second side members being provided with fixing apertures arranged thereon to facilitate connection of the first and/or second side members to the first and/or second flanges of a second I 15 beam, wherein the first or second side member of the first bracket is connected to the second bracket at the first side member thereof and at a pre-determined angle with respect to the first side member of the second bracket.

2. A hanger device as claimed in claim l wherein at least one of the first and second side members of the first bracket are provided with fixing apertures arranged to facilitate connection of said first and/or second side 25 member to the first and/or second flange of a first I-

beam.

3. A hanger device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fixing apertures arranged on the first and second side 30 members of the first bracket are positioned to provide a connection to the first and/or second flange substantially in the centre of the flange, the fixing apertures located on the first side member being offset with respect to the fixing apertures on the second side 35 member.

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4. A hanger device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the intermediate member is provided with a fixing aperture located substantially in the centre thereof.

5 5. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fixing apertures of the second bracket is provided with a pair of diagonally arranged fixing apertures located on the first side member being offset with respect to a pair of diagonally arranged fixing apertures 10 on the second side member, for connection to the first flange of a second I-beam at substantially in the centre of the flange.

6. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim wherein 15 the fixing apertures are arranged on the first and second side members for connection to the second flange of a second I-beam, substantially in the centre of the flange, with three triangularly arranged fixing apertures located on the first side member being offset with respect to a 20 pair of diagonally arranged fixing apertures on the second side member.

7. A hanger device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second bracket is substantially inverted j 25 shaped when in use.

8. A hanger device as claimed any one of Claims l to 6

wherein the second bracket is substantially inverted U-

shaped when in use.

9. A hanger device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device is formed from a single piece of material. 35

lO. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hanger is constructed from metal.

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11. A hanger device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the predetermined angle is substantially 90 .

5

12. A hanger device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first bracket is contiguous with the second bracket.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein 10 the first bracket is integrally formed with said second bracket.

14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least a part of said second bracket is pre-formed to 15 suit the thickness of an I-beam.

15. A method of connecting I-beams each having first and second flanges connected by a web, the method comprising the steps of: 20 providing a hanger having first and second brackets arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to one another; supporting the second flange of the first Ibeam on an intermediate member connected between first and second 25 side members of a first bracket; and connecting the first and second side members of a second bracket to the first and/or second flanges of a second I-

beam, through fixing aparatus arranged thereon.

30

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the step of connecting the first and/or second flange of the first I-beam to the first and/or second side members of the first bracket through fixing apertures arranged thereon.

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17. A hanger device as described herein before with reference to figures 3, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

5

18. A method of connecting together I-beams substantially as described herein before with reference to figures 3, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. 10

19. A pre-formed hanger device for distributing a load between load carrying members, said device provided with means for connecting said members, said means comprising a first bracket and a second bracket adjacent thereto, said first bracket connecting to a first member and said 15 second bracket connecting to a second member, wherein said second bracket is contiguous with at least a front and back surface of said second member.