GB2473699A

GB2473699A - Joist hanger

Info

Publication number: GB2473699A
Application number: GB1014110A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Benoy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-24
Filing date: 2010-08-24
Publication date: 2011-03-23
Also published as: GB201014110D0

Abstract

The joist hanger comprises a wall mounting portion 4 and a joist supporting structure 2 connected to the wall mounting means, the joist supporting structure comprising a lower supporting surface and a pair of opposed side walls that together form an open topped channel for receiving a joist J, with the opposed side walls having aligned holes through which a service conduit or cable may be inserted. The holes are preferably elongate in a vertical direction and oval in shape, with the holes being laterally spaced from the wall mounting portion by at least 30 millimetres. Further holes 12 may be provided in the side walls for receiving fastening elements to secure a joist in the hanger. Also claimed is a building structure comprising the joist hanger and a method of installing a service conduit or a cable.

Description

A JOIST HANGER

This invention relates to a joist hanger and more particularly to a joist hanger that permits the installation of service conduits and cables through a joist without substantially weakening the joist.

Background of the Invention

Various methods of attaching floor or ceiling beams or joists to walls are known and, in recent years, it has become common to use joist hangers for this purpose.

Joist hangers comprise a wall mounting plate and a joist supporting structure. The wall mounting plate can be provided with holes through which wall bolts or screws may be inserted to secure the plate to a wall but, more typically, the wall mounting plate is provided with a hook or bent flange that is secured to the wall by virtue of being sandwiched between two courses of bricks or blocks in the wall. For extra security, the bent flange or hook may have a down-turned end that hooks behind the brick or block. The joist supporting structure usually takes the form of a shoe having a bottom plate upon which the joist rests and a pair of side walls or gussets that extend part way up (but not usually all the way up) the joist to prevent it from slipping off the bottom plate. Numerous designs ofjoist hangers have been developed and they have proved to be a very effective and secure means of securing beams or joist to a wall.

One of the problems facing installers of pipes (e.g. water piper and drain pipes) and cables in buildings such as houses is how to conceal the conduits and cables. It is usual to run pipes and cables below floors or above ceilings or through walls so that they cannot be seen and, in order to do this, it has been common practice to cut holes or notches in joists to accommodate pipes and cables. If the joist is very deep, and the hole to cut is relatively small, this does not present problems. However, for larger diameter pipes such as water pipes and particularly waste pipes, boring holes in the floor joists can considerably weaken the joist and hence the floor that it supports. Consequently, building regulations will not usually permit larger diameter holes to be bored through joists. For the installer of bathrooms, this represents a particular problem since a bathroom may require hot and cold water feeds to a bath, shower, bidet, toilet and washbasin and waste pipes from each, all of which for aesthetic reasons are preferably concealed.

UK patent application GB 2433522 addresses the above problems by providing a joist hanger in which the joist supporting shoe is spaced away from the wall to allow pipes to pass between the shoe and the wall. However, the arrangement described in GB 2433522 suffers from a number of disadvantages. Firstly, although it is stated that the opening between the shoe and the wall is sufficiently large to accommodate copper pipes (e.g. of 25 mm diameter) and electrical cables, the joist hangers illustrated in GB 2433522 do not appear to be capable of accommodating larger diameter pipes such as 50 mm diameter waste pipes. Secondly, the joist hangers of GB 2433522 are constructed so that the pipes passing through the opening between the shoe and the wall will of necessity be very close to the wall.

Consequently, because the inner surfaces of load-bearing walls are often roughly finished and uneven with lumps of mortar left protruding from joints, it seems very likely that trying to thread a length of pipe along a wall through a row ofjoist hangers of the type disclosed in GB 2433522 would provide difficult in that the pipe would snag against protruding lumps of mortar and the edges of uneven brickwork and/or would need to be bent around such obstacles. A further apparent disadvantage of the joist hangers disclosed in GB 2433522 is their relative complexity and the number of fabrication steps that would be required in their manufacture.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a joist hanger that allows larger diameter holes to be created in joists without weakening the floor or ceiling structure of which the joist forms a part. This object is achieved by providing the joist with reinforcement at the point where the hole is created. Thus the invention provides a joist hanger having a joist supporting structure which surrounds an end of the joist on three sides. The joist supporting structure has a pair of opposed large diameter holes (e.g. 50 mm diameter), one on each side. A hole of the required size (e.g. 50 mm diameter) is bored through the joist and the hole in the joist is aligned with the holes in the joist supporting structure so that a pipe can be inserted therethrough. In this way, the load on the joist is spread away from the point at which the hole is created.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a joist hanger comprising wall mounting means and a joist supporting structure connected to the wall mounting means; wherein the joist supporting structure comprises a lower supporting surface and a pair of opposed side walls which together with the lower supporting surface form an open topped channel for receiving an end of a joist; the opposed side walls having aligned holes through which a service conduit or cable may be inserted.

The wall mounting means may comprise a wall mounting plate to which the joist supporting structure is connected.

The wall mounting plate may be a unitary structure or may comprise a pair of wall plates, one attached to each of the side walls of the joist supporting structure.

The lower supporting surface may take the form of a plate (hereafter referred to for convenience as the bottom plate) to which the opposed side walls are connected.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention provides a joist hanger comprising a wall mounting plate, and a joist supporting structure of channel section connected to the wall mounting plate, the channel section of the joist supporting structure being configured to receive an end of a joist and comprising a bottom plate and a pair of opposed side walls and being open at the upper end thereof, the opposed side walls having aligned holes through which a service conduit or cable may be inserted.

Each of the pair of aligned holes is preferably laterally spaced from the wall mounting plate (or wall mounting means) by at least 30 mm. Thus, the hole in the joist will be spaced away from the wall making it easier to thread pipes through the holes. More typically, each of the pair of aligned holes is laterally spaced from the wall mounting plate (or wall mounting means) by at least 40 mm.

The joist supporting structure is typically of open topped rectangular section. For example, it can have an internal height of between 100 and 200mm and an internal width of between 30 and 100 mm. It can be configured to receive a single joist or more than one joist (for example two joists). In one particular embodiment, the joist supporting structure has an internal height of 180 mm and an internal width of 52 mm (7 inches x 2 inches). In another embodiment, the joist supporting structure has an internal height of 153 mm and an internal width of 77 mm (6 inches by 3 inches). In a further embodiment, intended to receive two joists, the joist supporting structure has an internal height of 180 mm and an internal width of 105 mm or an internal height of 153 mm and an internal width of 154 mm The holes in the opposed side walls of the joist supporting structure are of a size that enables a water pipe, drain pipe or electrical conduit to be passed therethrough and therefore are at least 20 mm wide and at least 20 mm high. Typically, the holes are at least 40 mm wide and at least 40 mm high, and more typically the holes can be from 40 mmto 120mm high and from 40mm to 120 mm wide. For example the holes can be (i) from 40 mm to 60 mm high and from 40 mm to 60 mm wide; or (ii) from 40mm to 65 mm high and from 40 mm to 65 mm wide; or (iii) from 40 to 75 mm high and from 40 to 75 mm wide; or (iv) from 40 mm to 80 mm high and from 40 mm to 80 mm wide; or (v) from 40 to 120 mm high and from 40 to 120 mm wide (vi) or from 40 to 120 mm high and 40 to 75 mm wide; or (vi) from 50 to mm high and from 50 to 75 mm wide.

The holes can be circular but more preferably they are slotted, typically in a substantially vertical direction. For example, the slotted holes can be oval in shape.

By providing the holes with a slotted shape, pipes such as waste pipes from baths, showers and sinks can be installed through the holes at an incline thereby providing the fall required for proper drainage.

The slotted holes may, for example, have a height to width ratio in the range 1.1 to 4:1.

The joist supporting structure may be closed at the end nearest to the wall (by virtue of the wall mounting plate) and therefore the joist does not come directly into contact with the wall.

Alternatively, in another general embodiment, the joist supporting structure may be open at the end nearest the wall.

The wall mounting plate (or wall mounting means) is typically provided with an anchoring member, the anchoring member extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom for anchoring in a wall. The anchoring member may have a down-turned end forming a hook for hooking over the top of a brick or building block. Thus the joist hanger can be secured by virtue of being tied into the wall as it is being constructed.

Alternatively, or additionally, the wall mounting plate can be provided with one or more holes for receiving screws, nails or other fastening elements to secure the plate to the wall.

The joist hangers of the invention are preferably formed from steel and more preferably a corrosion resistant steel such as galvanised steel.

Preferably the joist hangers are formed integrally from a single piece of metal (e.g. a steel such as stainless steel or galvanised steel).

In one embodiment, the joist hanger is formed integrally from a single planar blank which is bent into shape to form the wall mounting means and the lower supporting surface and pair of opposed side walls of the joist supporting structure.

The length of the joist supporting structure is selected so as to provide the required degree of reinforcement in the region of the hole in the joist. The term "length" as used in the context of the joist supporting structure refers to the length in a direction away from the wall and indicates the depth to which the joist can be inserted into the joist supporting structure. Usually the holes in the opposed side walls of the joist supporting structure are centred at approximately the mid point along the joist supporting structure. Tn general, it is preferred that the joist supporting structure has a length which is at least two and a half times the width of the holes, and more preferably has a length which is at least here three times the width of the holes.

The joist supporting structure preferably has a length of at least 150 mm, and typically has a length in the range from 150 mm to 300 mm, for example about 200 mm.

The joist hangers of the invention can be made in a number of ways. For example, they can be fabricated by welding a length of channel section steel to a length of steel strip so that the steel strip closes one end of the channel section and then bending a protruding section of the steel strip to form a wall anchoring hook.

Alternatively, the joist hanger can be made by cutting a one piece blank, bending the blank into the required shape and then welding abutting edges together as appropriate.

In a further alternative, the joist hanger can be made by cutting a one piece blank and bending the blank into the required shape without welding. The fabrication of joist hangers by cutting and bending a flat blank is an established method of making known commercially available joist hangers.

In addition to providing a joist hanger per Se, the invention also provides a building substructure comprising a wall having anchored thereto a joist hanger of the invention as defined herein and a joist supported therein. According to this aspect of the invention, the joist may have a hole bored therein, the hole being aligned with the pair of holes in the joist supporting structure.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a building substructure as defined herein wherein a service conduit or cable passes through the hole in the joist and the holes in the joist supporting structure.

The invention provides in a further aspect a method of installing a service conduit or cable in the building substructure as defined herein, which method comprises boring a hole through the joist, either before or after installing the joist in the joist hanger, so that the hole in the joist is aligned with the pair of holes in the joist supporting structure, and inserting the service conduit or cable through the aligned holes in the joist and joist supporting structure. Preferably the hole in the joist is located at least 40 nun inwardly from the end of the joist that is supported in the joist hanger.

Further aspects and embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the particular embodiments described below and illustrated in the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side view of a joist hanger according to one embodiment of the invention supporting an end of a joist.

Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation of the joist hanger of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along line I-I of the joist hanger of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view front view showing a pair ofjoist hanger supporting the ends of the joists and a service conduit passing through holes in the joists and joist hangers.

Figure 5 is a view from the front of a joist hanger according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a blank for bending and welding to give the joist hanger of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side view of a joist hanger according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is a view from direction D of the joist hanger of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view from above of the joist hanger of Figures 7 and 8.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be illustrated in greater detail by reference to the specific embodiments described in the following non-limiting examples.

A joist hanger according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 3. The joist hanger comprises a joist supporting portion 2 and a wall mounting plate 4. The wail mounting plate 4 is formed from galvanised steel plate and consists of a base plate 4a which is bent towards its upper end to form a hook structure 4b which, in use, can be hooked over a brick or wall block (not shown) during the construction of a wall. The horizontal section 4c of the hook structure 4b is sandwiched between two courses of bricks or wall blocks and is held firmly in place by mortar. The down-turned end 4d of the hook structure 4b prevents the joist hanger from being pulled out of the joint between the two courses of bricks or wall blocks. In order to provide further security, the base plate 4a is provided with holes 6 through which screws, wall bolts, masonry nails or other fasteners can be inserted into the wall.

Extending from the base plate 4a is a length (about 200 mm) of channel section steel 8 which, together with the base plate 4a, forms a closed ended channel section structure into which an end of a wooden joist J can be inserted. The channel section structure surrounds the end of the joist on three sides and serves to support the joist.

On either side of the channel section structure are holes 10 which can be circular but preferably have an elongate (e.g. slotted) shape and in this embodiment are oval in shape. The width of the holes can be, for example 60 mm whilst the height of the holes can be 70 mm. In this embodiment, the centres of the holes are approximately 75 mm from the base plate 4a.

In use, a joist is inserted into the joist hanger so that the end face E of the joist contacts or is in close proximity with the base plate 4a. A drill bit can then be inserted through the holes 10 and a hole of the required diameter drilled in the joist J. Once the hole has been drilled through the joist, a pipe or cable can be inserted through the holes in the joist and the side walls of the channel section structure as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, the joist can be inserted into the channel section structure, the position of the hole marked, and the then removed so that the hole can be drilled.

In addition to the holes 10, the sides of the channel section structure can also be provided with holes 12 through which nails or screws can be inserted to secure the joist in the joist hanger.

II will be appreciated from the drawings and the foregoing description that although a large hole has been drilled through the joist, the effect of the channel section joist supporting structure is to spread the load on the joist away from the hole. The hole therefore does not reduce the load bearing ability and cause weakening of the structure constructed above the joist.

An advantage of the slotted hole shape is that it allows holes to be drilled at different heights in neighbouring joists thereby enabling a pipe run to be provided with an angle of inclination required for effective draining, as shown in Figure 4.

In addition to being used for to reinforce a joist at a point where a hole is to be bored through the joist, the joist hanger shown in Figure 1 can also function as a joist extender where the joist has been cut too short.

A joist hanger according to another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the joist hanger comprises a joist supporting structure 102 and a wall mounting plate 104. The wall mounting plate is generally T-shaped and has a rearwardly extending horizontal section (not shown) for embedding in a wall.

As with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the joist supporting structure 102 is of channel section. The joist hanger of Figure 5 is fabricated from a single piece of steel plate by bending and welding the steel sheet blank shown in Figure 6.

The blank is bent along lines b, c and d so that edges 120a and 122a abut against edges 124a and 124b respectively. The abutting edges and panels are then welded together to form the channel section joist supporting structure, with panel 126 forming the bottom plate of the joist supporting structure and panels 120 and 122 forming the side walls. The upper T-shaped panel 130 is bent along line e to form a horizontal flange that can be buried in a wall. Pre-cut openings 132 and 134 in side walls 120 and 122 provide the required holes in the joist supporting structure. In addition to the openings 132 and 134, further holes may also be provided to allow nails and screws to be inserted to secure the joist firmly in place inside the joist supporting structure.

The joist supporting structure of the joist hangers of the invention enables large diameter holes to be drilled through joists without weakening the structure and without reducing the load bearing ability of the joist.

A joist hanger according to another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

The joist hanger of Figures 7, 8 and 9 has a joist supporting structure comprising a lower wall 102 (which constitutes a lower supporting surface) and a pair of opposed side walls 104 which together with the lower supporting wall 102 form an open topped channel for receiving an end of a joist.

On either side of the channel section structure are holes 110 which in this embodiment have an oval shape. The width of the holes can be, for example 60 mm whilst the height of the holes can be 70 mm. In this embodiment, the centres of the holes are approximately 75 mm from the flanges 106.

Smaller holes 112 are also provided through which screws or nails may be inserted.

Extending laterally from the innermost ends (i.e. the ends which in use are closest to the wall) of each side wall 104 are flanges 106. Flanges 106 are integrally connected to hook structures 108 which comprise a substantially horizontal section 108a and a downturned end 108b. The flanges 106 and the hook structures 108 together form the wall mounting means.

In use, the horizontal section 1 08a of the hook structure 108 is sandwiched between two courses of bricks or wall blocks and is held firmly in place by mortar. The down-turned end 108b of the hook structure 108 prevents the joist hanger from being pulled out of the joint between the two courses of bricks or wall blocks.

A joist can be inserted into the joist hanger and a hole cut in the joist to accommodate pipes as described above in relation to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.

The joist hanger of Figures 7, 8 and 9 is fabricated from a single piece blank by a series of cutting and bending steps which are analogous to those used in the manufacture of standard commercial joist hangers. One or more small holes or cut outs (e.g. cut out 114) may be created in the blank to assist the bending process.

A benefit of the joist hanger of Figures 7, 8 and 9 is that no welding steps are required, which simplifies manufacture and reduces costs.

Equivalents It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the specific embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the principles underlying the invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A joist hanger comprising wall mounting means and a joist supporting structure connected to the wall mounting means; wherein the joist supporting structure comprises a lower supporting surface and a pair of opposed side walls which together with the lower supporting surface form an open topped channel for receiving an end of a joist; the opposed side walls having aligned holes through which a service conduit or cable may be inserted.
2. A joist hanger according to claim 1 wherein the wall mounting means comprises a wail mounting plate to which the joist supporting structure is connected.
3. A joist hanger comprising a wall mounting plate, and a joist supporting structure of channel section connected to the wall mounting plate, the channel section of the joist supporting structure being configured to receive an end of a joist and comprising a bottom plate and a pair of opposed side walls and being open at the upper end thereof, the opposed side walls having aligned holes through which a service conduit or cable may be inserted.
4. A joist hanger according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein each of the pair of aligned holes is laterally spaced from the wall mounting plate by at least 30 mm.
5. A joist hanger according to claim 4 wherein each of the pair of aligned holes is laterally spaced from the wall mounting plate by at least 40 mm.
6. A joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the joist supporting structure is of open topped rectangular section.
7. A joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holes in the opposed side walls of the joist supporting structure are at least mm wide and at least 40 mm high.
8. A joist hanger according to claim 7 wherein the holes are from 40 mm to mm high and from 40 mm to 120 mm wide.
9. A joist hanger according to claim 8 wherein the holes are (i) from 40 mm to mm high and from 40 mm to 60 mm wide; or (ii) from 40mm to 65 mm high and from 40 mm to 65 mm wide; or (iii) from 40 to 75 mm high and from 40 to 75 mm wide; or (iv) from 40 mm to 80 mm high and from 40 mm to 80 mm wide; or (v) from 40 to 120 mm high and from 40 to 120 mm wide (vi) or from 40 to 120 mm high and 40 to 75 mm wide; or (vi) from to 120 mm high and from 50 to 75 mm wide.
10. A joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holes are slotted.
11. A joist hanger according to claim 10 wherein the holes are slotted in a substantially vertical direction.
12. A joist hanger according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the slotted holes are oval in shape.
13. Ajoist hanger according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the holes have a height to width ratio in the range 1.1 to 4:1.
14. A joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the wall mounting means or wall mounting plate comprises an anchoring member, the anchoring member extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom for anchoring in a wall.
15. A joist hanger according to claim 14 wherein the anchoring member forms a hook for hooking over the top of a brick or building block.
16. A joist hanger according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the wall-mounting plate is provided with one or more holes for receiving screws, nails or other fastening elements.
17. A joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, in addition to the said aligned holes in the opposed side walls, the opposed side walls have one or more further holes for receiving screws, nails or other fastening elements for securing the joist hanger to the joist.
18. A joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims which is formed from a corrosion resistant steel.
19. A joist hanger according to claim 18 which is formed from a galvanised steel.
20. A joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the joist supporting structure has a length which is at least two and a half times the width of the holes.
21. A joist hanger according to claim 20 wherein the joist supporting structure has a length which is at least three times the width of the holes.
22. A joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the joist supporting structure has a length of at least 150 rmn.
23. A joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the joist supporting structure has a length in the range from 150 mmto 300 mm.
24. A joist hanger substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings Figures 1 to 9.
25. A building substructure comprising a wall having anchored thereto a joist hanger according to any one of the preceding claims and a joist supported therein.
26. A building substructure according to claim 25 wherein the joist has a hole bored therein, the hole being aligned with the pair of holes in the joist supporting structure.
27. A building substructure according to claim 26 wherein a service conduit or cable passes through the hole in the joist and the holes in the joist supporting structure.
28. A method of installing a service conduit or cable in the building substructure of claim 26 which method comprises boring a hole through the joist, either before or after installing the joist in the joist hanger, so that the hole in the joist is aligned with the pair of holes in the joist supporting structure, and inserting the service conduit or cable through the aligned holes in the joist and joist supporting structure.
29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the hole in the joist is located at least 40 mm inwardly from the end of the joist that is supported in the joist hanger.
30. A method according to claim 28 wherein the hole in the joist is located at a distance of 40 mm to 80 mm inwardly from the end of the joist that is supported in the joist hanger.