GB2479595A

GB2479595A - Hanger assembly with I-joist

Info

Publication number: GB2479595A
Application number: GB1006402A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Scott Mcandrew
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2010-04-16
Filing date: 2010-04-16
Publication date: 2011-10-19
Also published as: GB201006402D0

Abstract

The hanger assembly comprises a timber I-joist and a hanger attached thereto. The hanger is formed from a sheet and has a base wall 22 dimensioned to match the I-joist and suitable for positioning against the bottom flange of the I-joist and a pair of side walls 20 that extend perpendicularly from the base wall. The top of the side walls include upper flanges 24 which extend at an angle from the side walls and are mountable, and may be attachable, onto the top flange of the I-joist. The side walls may comprise strengthening ribs 26. The base wall, side walls and upper flanges may be formed integrally with each other. Also claimed is a hanger in which the flanges extending from the side walls are mountable on a surface from which the hanger assembly depends.

Description

HANGER ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a hanger assembly for I-joists used in the building and construction industry. In particular, the invention provides a hanger assembly for attachment to a timber I-joist in order to facilitate top hanging of the I-joist from a top flange therof.

It is common practice in the building and construction industry to provide timber I-joists having top and bottom flanges with a web therebetween.

Typically the web is formed of oriented strand board (OSB) or the like.

Such I-joists are commonly used in floor joists and roof rafters and are typically mounted on a hanger or otherwise built into a wall in order to provide sufficient support for the I-joist in situ.

Typically I-joists must be supported on the bottom flange either on a wallplate or in a hanger. With metal web joists, it is possible to top hang the joists, that is to say, extend the top flange of the metal web joist through and bear same onto a wall. This is possible due to the positioning of the V-webs between the chords on metal web joists. Previously, it has not been possible to top hang a timber I-joist due to the small sectional area of the top flange and, due to the top and bottom flanges only being joined by the OSB web, the I-Joist would be susceptible to failure under load if top hung. In particular, under a bending load on a timber I-joist, the OSB web will have a tendency to split from the timber top chord/flange as the web and the top chord/flange are held together only by a glued joint.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hanger for a timber I-joist which obviates or mitigates at least some of the

disadvantages of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hanger for a timber I-joist which facilitates top hanging of the timber I-joist from a top flange.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hanger assembly comprising a timber I-joist, and a hanger attached thereto; the hanger comprising a sheet-like material having a base wall dimensioned to match the depth of the timber I-joist, and a pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from the base wall, and an upper flange extending at an angle from at least one of said side walls at an upper end thereof and configured to be mountable upon a surface of the top flange of the timber I-joist.

Preferably each side wall of the hanger is formed integrally with the base wall from which they are upstanding.

Preferably the hanger comprises at least two upper flanges each upper flange extending at an angle from one of said side walls at an upper end thereof and configured to be mountable upon a surface of the top flange of the timber I-joist. In this way, each side wall of the hanger comprises an upper flange extending at an angle from one of said side walls at an upper end thereof and configured to be mountable upon a surface of the top flange of the timber I-joist.

Preferably the, or each, upper flange of the hanger extends substantially at right angles to the side wall from which it depends. More specifically, an upper flange extends at right angles to and co-planar with a side wall from which it depends.

Preferably the, or each, upper flange of the hanger is formed integrally with the side wall from which it extends.

Preferably a side wall and an upper flange of the hanger form an inverted L-shaped planar surface.

Preferably, the side walls of the hanger are parallel with one another.

Preferably, the upper flanges of the hanger are parallel with one another.

In embodiments of the invention the, or each, side wall may further comprise at least one strengthening rib. More specifically, the, or each, side wall may further comprise at least one strengthening rib parallel to a longitudinal axis of the side wall and perpendicular to the base wall of the hanger.

In preferred embodiments, the, or each, side wall comprises two strengthening ribs perpendicular to the base wall.

In embodiments of the hanger assembly, the upper flange of the hanger is attachable to the top flange of the I-joist. More specifically the, or each, upper flange of the hanger further comprises at least one nail punch hole.

In this way, the upper flange is attachable to the top flange of the I-joist by wayofa nail orscrewfixing.

The base wall of the hanger is positioned against one side of the I-joist lower flange. More specifically, the base wall of the hanger may be positioned against the lower surface of the I-joist lower flange. In this way, the hanger wraps around the I-joist. More particularly, the hanger wraps around the I-joist and is connected to the top flange thereof, holding the top flange and the web of the I-joist together under tension loads when the I-joist is top hung, i.e. suspended from its top flange.

Preferably the hanger also extends over the bearing area of the I-joist thereby increasing the shear capacity of the top flange in the region of the hanger.

Thus, the hanger ties the top and bottom flanges of the I-Joist together to prevent tearing of the timber particularly when the I-joist is to be hung from the top flange thereof.

Preferably, the hanger is formed from a single sheet of material. More specifically, the hanger is formed from a single sheet of metal. In this way, the sheet material may be pressed to form the hanger with no joints or welds present to offer areas of potential weakness in the hanger.

Preferably the long edges and the short edges of the side walls and also of the upper flanges of the hanger form a polygon of four sides. The side wall(s) may be rectangular or square. The upper flange(s) may be rectangular or square.

Preferably at least one long edge of the side wall(s) is parallel with a first edge of the I-joist wherein the first edge is parallel with a vertical axis through the joist.

Preferably the top flange of the I-joist extends beyond the edge of the bottom flange and/or the web. In this way, the top flange of the I-joist may be recessed into a wall or onto a surface from which the I-joist is to be suspended whilst ensuring the web and/or the bottom flange abut the surface onto which or from which the I-joist is to be suspended.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a hanger for attachment to a timber I-joist; the hanger comprising a sheet-like material having a base wall dimensioned to match the depth of a timber I-joist, and a pair of integral side walls extending perpendicularly from the base wall, and an upper flange extending at an angle from at least one of said side walls at an upper end thereof and configured to be mountable upon a surface from which the hanger assembly depends.

Preferably the hanger is according to the first aspect.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a front plan view of a timber I-joist including a hanger in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a front perspective view of a hanger as may be incorporated in the invention; Figure 3 shows a front plan view of a hanger in accordance with an embodiment second aspect of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a rear plan view of the hanger of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an end plan view of the hanger of Figures 3 and 4; Figure 6 shows a top plan view of the hanger of Figures 3, 4 and 5; Figure 7 shows a schematic view of a hanger assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention; Figure 8 shows a schematic view of a timber I-Joist suitable for use with a hanger in accordance with an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention; Figure 9 shows a schematic view of a hanger assembly according to the invention in a timber floor zone of a building; and Figure 10 shows a schematic view of an application of a plurality of hanger assemblies according to the invention.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Further, although the invention will be described in terms of specific embodiments, it will be understood that various elements of the specific embodiments of the invention will be applicable to all embodiments disclosed herein.

In the drawings, similar features are denoted by the same reference signs throughout.

Reference is initially made to Figure 1 of the drawings which illustrates a hanger, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, located upon a timber I-joist 12, the hanger 10 and timber I-joist 12 together forming a hanger assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

I-joist 12 is a timber I-joist formed of a solid timber top flange 14 and a solid timber bottom flange 16 spaced apart from one another and having a web 18 extending therebetween. The web 18 is formed of oriented strand board and is connected to the top flange 14 and the bottom flange 18 via a glued joint (not shown). Hanger 10 is formed from a sheet of galvanised steel having a side wall 20 upstanding from and perpendicular to base wall 22 of the hanger 10. Hanger 10 further comprises an upper flange 24 at right angles to the side wall 20 and integrally formed therewith.

Strengthening ribs 26 are located on side wall 20 parallel to the longitudinal edges of the side wall 20.

As best seen in Figure 2, hanger 10 further comprises a second side wall and a second upper flange 32, each parallel to the side wall 20 and upper flange 24 respectively. The second side wall 30 is upstanding from and perpendicular to base wall 22 and, in the hanger assembly, is located at the rear side of the I-joist 12.

Strengthening ribs 34 are located on the second side wall 30 parallel to the longitudinal edges of the side wall 30.

The side wall 20 and upper flange 24 of hanger 10 of the first depicted embodiment of Figure 1 form an inverted L-shape.

The hanger 10 shown in Figure 1 is provided with one or more fixture apertures 60 distributed throughout its surface area facilitating the passage of nails, screws or other fasteners for fastening of the hanger 10 to the surface of the I-joist 12.

Top flange 14 of I-joist 12 has a projection 14a extending beyond the edge of I-joist web 18 and bottom flange 16. Projection 14a is, in use, located on I-joist bearing surface 28. In this way, the I-joist 12 is top hung, i.e. hung from its top flange 14 at projection 14a. Upper flange 24 of hanger is attached to projection 1 4a of the top flange 14 of the I-joist 12. The side walls 20, 30 and base wall 22 of the hanger 20 wrap around the I-joist web 18 and bottom flange 16, with base wall 22 lying against the lower surface of bottom flange 16. In this way, the bearing capacity of the I-joist projection 14a is increased allowing the I-joist to be top hung.

The hanger assembly of the invention eliminates the need for expensive rim board and reduces vertical movement due to shrinkage within a floor zone of a construction.

It is preferred that the I-joist bearing surface 28 has a minimum dimension of 45mm in contact with projection 1 4a of the I-joist top flange 14.

In the example illustrated in Figures 3 to 6, the base wall 22 is 45mm in length. It will be readily understood upon reading the present disclosure that the base wall length may be adjusted to match the depth of any timber I-joist. Exemplary I-joist depths (dimension W in Figure 2) are 45, 46, 50, and 80mm.

The side walls (20, 30) may have any suitable height dimension (dimension H in Figure 2). Exemplary dimension, H, is 217mm. When H is 217mm the height dimension of I-joist 12 is preferably 220mm. Other suitable I-joist height dimensions include, but are not limited to, 195, 235, 245 and 300mm. Height dimension H of side walls (20, 30) will be adjusted appropriately to suit the height dimension of the I-joist to which the hanger 10 is to be attached.

The side walls (20, 30) may be 45mm as shown in Figure 4. Upper flange 24 is 90mm in width in the embodiment depicted in Figure 4.

Figure 7 shows a timber I-joist 12 with a hanger 10 according to the invention attached thereto, one at each end. The I-joist is suspended via its top flange projections on load bearing surfaces 28. Line B shows the affect of a bending load on the I-joist 12 when same is top hung as shown.

The hangers 10, prevent the I-joist tearing under the bending load as would occur in the absence of hangers 10. The tearing of an I-joist without hangers 10 under bending moments is depicted in Figure 8, wherein top flange 14 is separated from web 18.

The hanger 10 in accordance with the present invention may be formed of a sheet of metallic material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, galvanised steel or the like.

In use, a hanger in accordance with the invention and as depicted in any one of Figures 1 to 6 is attached to two substantially planar surfaces of a timber I-joist 12. Fixing means, though fixture apertures 60, attach the hanger (10) to the I-joist such that the base wall (22) abuts the lower surface of bottom flange 16 of I-joist 12. Side walls 20, 30 wrap around the I-joist 12 at an end thereof and upper flange 24 of hanger 10 abuts the surface of projection 14a of the top flange 14 of I-joist 12. The lower surface of projection 14a is mounted on I-joist bearing surface 28.

Figure 9 depicts a hanger assembly according to the invention in a timber floor zone of a building. The hanger assembly comprises a hanger 10 and an I-joist 12. The I-joist top flange 14 is recessed into the timber frame and is hung onto I-joist bearing surface 28 from I-joist top flange projection 1 4a.

The timber frame of Figure 9 comprises timber frame panels 52 and 54. In the depicted embodiment, the I-joist loading bearing surface 28 is a timber head binder. A timber runner 56 is positioned between timber frame panels 52, 54 on I-joist loading bearing surface 28 and adjacent the I-joist top flange projection 14a. completing the timber floor zone depicted is floor board 58 which is located on the top surface of the I-joist top flange 14.

In providing a hanger assembly in which a timber I-joist is able to be top hung in this way, the thermal bridging through the timber floor zone is reduced.

Figure 10 shows an exemplary application of a plurality of hanger assemblies according to the invention. A timber frame construction, generally depicted by the reference numeral 70, is formed of a number of I-joists 12 each and all top hung from an I-joist load bearing surface 28.

Each I-joist 12 is reinforced at the suspended end thereof by a hanger 10 according to the invention. A timber runner 56 abuts the end of the I-joist and also load bearing surface 28. Timber supports 54 and panels 72 make up the vertical frame.

In typical embodiments, the timber frame panel 54 and the timber head binder providing I-joist load bearing surface 28 will each be 140mm in the depth dimension. The runner 56 will typically have a depth dimension of 45mm.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the forgoing without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hanger assembly comprising a timber I-joist, and a hanger attached thereto; the hanger comprising a sheet-like material having a base wall dimensioned to match the depth of the timber I-joist, and a pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from the base wall, and an upper flange extending at an angle from at least one of said side walls at an upper end thereof and configured to be mountable upon a surface of the top flange of the timber I-joist.
2. A hanger assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each side wall of the hanger is formed integrally with the base wall from which it is upstanding.
3. A hanger assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the hanger comprises at least two upper flanges each upper flange extending at an angle from one of said side walls at an upper end thereof and configured to be mountable upon a surface of the top flange of the timber I-joist.
4. A hanger assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the, or each, upper flange of the hanger is formed integrally with the side wall from which it extends.
5. A hanger assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the, or each, side wall further comprises at least one strengthening rib.
6. A hanger assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the, or each, upper flange of the hanger is attachable to the top flange of the I-joist.
7. A hanger assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base wall of the hanger is positioned against one side of the I-joist lower flange.
8. A hanger assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger is formed from a single sheet of material.
9. A hanger assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the long edges and the short edges of the side walls and also of the upper flanges of the hanger form a polygon of four sides.
10. A hanger assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top flange of the I-joist extends beyond the edge of the bottom flange and/or the web.
11. A hanger for attachment to a timber I-joist; the hanger comprising a sheet-like material having a base wall dimensioned to match the depth of a timber I-joist, and a pair of integral side walls extending perpendicularly from the base wall, and an upper flange extending at an angle from at least one of said side walls at an upper end thereof and configured to be mountable upon a surface from which the hanger assembly depends.