WO2017095798A1

WO2017095798A1 - Joist hanger

Info

Publication number: WO2017095798A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/063972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scott Mcandrew; David Geet Wing LO
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Priority date: 2015-12-02
Filing date: 2016-11-29
Publication date: 2017-06-08
Also published as: EP3384098B1; GB2544990B; GB201521251D0; GB2544990A; EP3384098A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a joist hanger comprising: a support bracket, having a base portion and two substantially parallel side portions upstanding from opposing edges of said base portion; and a resilient protruding portion, the resilient protruding portion having a first end connected to one of the side portions and protruding from said one of the side portions towards the opposing side portion above said base portion.

Description

Joist Hanger

Priority Claim

This international patent application claims priority to and the benefit of United Kingdom Patent Application No. 1521251.7, which was filed on December 2, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to joist hangers used to connect two members at least one of which is a joist, such as a truss or an I-joist or the like, and in particular though not exclusively to joist hangers that can provide for variations in the dimensions of the connected members.

Background of the Invention

Timber joists, such as I-joists, timber beams and trusses, for example, are used in floors, roof framing, wall framing and whole structural portal frames and roof trusses. For the most part, to fix the joists in position, joist hangers are used. When referred to hereinafter, the term "joist" may be taken to include, though not exclusively, I-joists, trusses, timber beams and the like.

The joist hangers conventionally comprise a support bracket having a base portion and two parallel side portions upstanding from opposing edges of the base portion. In use, the joist is inserted into and fixed in the support bracket. These conventional joist hangers suffer from certain disadvantages.

Typical joist hangers must be constructed such that the distance between the opposing side portions corresponds, within a small threshold, to the width of the joist it receives. This means for each size of joist, a correspondingly width of joist hanger must be constructed. If the wrong width of joist hanger is provided and the joist hanger is of greater width than the joist received into the support bracket of the hanger, the joist will tend to move around in the bracket as force is applied thereto. In arrangements wherein the joist hanger and joist form part of a floor, the floor will have a tendency to squeak as the joist moves in the hanger.

Furthermore, in order to secure the joists within existing support brackets, fixing apertures in the side portions and fixings such as nails and screws are required. This increases costs, and increases the time required to construct a joist construction.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the disadvantages of existing joist hangers.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a joist hanger comprising: a support bracket, having a base portion and two substantially parallel side portions upstanding from opposing edges of said base portion; and a resilient protruding portion, the resilient protruding portion having a first end connected to one of the side portions and protruding from said one of the side portions towards the opposing side portion above said base portion.

In this way, a joist can be securely held within the joist hanger between the resilient protruding portion, having a first end connected to one of the side portions, and the opposing side portion. The restoring force provided by the resilient protruding portion urges the joist against the opposing side portion, due to the resilient protruding portion being displaced from its steady state position when the joist is inserted into the support bracket. This means fixing apertures in the side portions and fixings are not necessarily required to securely hold the joist in position.

Preferably, the joist hanger comprises a pair of resilient protruding portions, each resilient protruding portion of the pair being located on an opposite side portion to the other resilient protruding portion of the pair. More specifically, each resilient protruding portion of the pair having a first end connected to the side portion from which it extends and protruding from said its side portion towards the opposing side portion above said base portion. Yet more specifically, each resilient protruding portion of the pair protrudes from said its side portion towards the opposing resilient protruding portion of the pair of protruding portions above said base portion.

This further increases the strength of the restoring force, strengthening the grip of the support bracket on the joist. Preferably, each resilient protruding portion of the pair of resihent protruding portions is positioned directly opposite the other resilient protruding portion of the pair.

This further increases the strength of the restoring force, strengthening the grip of the support bracket on the joist.

Preferably the pair of resihent protruding portions is positioned adjacent the fold line between the base and the side portion of the support bracket.

In certain arrangements, the joist hanger comprises a second pair of resilient protruding portions in which each resihent protruding portion is positioned adjacent the uppermost edge of the side portion of the support bracket from which it protrudes. Each resihent protruding portion of the second pair of resilient

protruding portions having a first end connected to the side portion from which it extends and protruding from said its side portion towards the opposing side portion above said base portion. Yet more specifically, each resilient protruding portion of the second pair protrudes from said its side portion towards the opposing resihent protruding portion of the second pair of protruding portions above said base portion.

In embodiments comprising a single pair of resihent protruding portions, the protruding portions are preferably positioned to engage with the lowermost section or chord of a joist when same is located in the hanger.

In embodiments comprising two pairs of resilient protruding portions, the protruding portions are preferably positioned to engage with both the uppermost and the lowermost sections or chords of a joist when same is located in the hanger.

In embodiments, the joist hanger comprises one or more further pairs of resilient protruding portions in which each resihent protruding portion has a first end connected to the side portion from which it extends and protrudes from said its side portion towards the opposing side portion above said base portion. Yet more specifically, each resilient protruding portion of the further pair(s) protrudes from said its side portion towards the opposing resilient protruding portion of the further pair(s) of protruding portions above said base portion. The joist hanger can receive a range of widths of joists. The difference in the widths of joists accommodated in the joist hanger corresponds to the difference between the distance between the opposing side portions and the distance between the resilient protruding portion and the opposing side wall in the steady state position of the resilient protruding portion. When there is a pair of protruding portions, the difference in the widths of joist accommodated in the joist hanger corresponds to the difference between the distance between the opposing side portions and the distance between the pair of resilient protruding portions in their steady state position.

By virtue of the adjustable nature of the width of the support bracket of the hanger, the width dimension of the joist to be received and retained in the joist hanger of the invention may vary. More specifically, the, or each, resihent protruding portion(s) may be deformed inwardly of the support bracket to engage with a portion of a joist to be retained. Thus, the width of the support bracket between the resihent protruding portion and an opposing side portion or an opposing further resilient protruding portion, as applicable, is adjustable so as to accommodate various widths of joist in one joist hanger.

Preferably, said resilient protruding portion(s) further comprises a second end, and said resihent protruding portion(s) further comprises a resilient arcuate portion extending from said first end to said second end. More specifically, the resilient arcuate portion curves inwardly of the support bracket towards the opposing side portion.

This increases the strength of the restoring force, strengthening the grip of the support bracket on the joist.

Preferably, said resilient arcuate portion(s) is not connected to said side portion at said second end.

In alternative arrangements, said resilient arcuate portion(s) is connected to said side portion at said second end. This further increases the strength of the restoring force, strengthening the grip of the support bracket on the joist.

In alternative arrangements, said resilient protruding portion(s) comprises a resilient substantially straight member. More specifically, the resilient

substantially straight member is formed as a substantially planar portion and extends inwardly of the support bracket towards the opposing side portion.

Preferably, said resilient substantially straight member(s) extends away from said side portion at an angle of less than 90 degrees to the plane including said side portion.

Preferably, said resilient protruding portion(s) is formed from a punched out portion of the side portion. More specifically, the resilient protruding portion(s) is formed by punching out or stamping out a portion of the material of the side portion from which the resilient protruding portion(s) depends. It is much by preference that a first end of the resilient protruding portion(s) remains attached to the side portion from which it is punched out or stamped out.

This reduces the cost of manufacturing the joist hanger.

Preferably, the joist hanger comprises at least one back flange portion adjoining at least one of said two side portions at a longitudinal edge of respective at least one of said two side portions and adapted to abut a face-fixing surface.

This easily allows the joist hanger to be fixed to a face-fixing structure such as a wall.

Preferably, the joist hanger further comprises at least one top flange portion, adjoining said at least one back flange portion at an edge distal to said base portion and adapted to be moveable between a face-fixing position, wherein said top-flange portion is coplanar said at least one back flange portion, and a top-fixing position, wherein said top flange portion is non-coplanar to said at least one back flange portion, further comprising at least one longitudinally elongated fixing aperture and an articulation axis extending transversely of the hanger between the top flange portion and the back flange portion and being variable in location within the region defined by the length of said longitudinally elongated fixing aperture.

This easily allows the joist hanger to be fixed to a top fixing structure such as a top corner of a wall.

The joist may be an I-Joist.

The joist may be a truss.

The joist may be a beam.

Most preferably the joist is a timber joist.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a joist hanger according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the joist hanger of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a joist hanger according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a joist hanger according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a front schematic view of the joist hanger of Fig. 1 supporting an I- joist.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a joist hanger 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The joist hanger 10 comprises a support bracket 12, which itself comprises a base portion 14 and two parallel side portions 16. Each parallel side portion 16 extends upwards from opposing edges of the base portion 14. The support bracket 12 may be formed from a single blank of metal by folding the side portions 16 upwards from fold lines corresponding to the opposing edges of the base portion 14. Alternatively, the support bracket 12 may be formed by welding the side portions 16 at the opposing edges of the base portion 14.

The joist hanger 10 also includes a resilient protruding portion 22. The resilient protruding portion 22 has a first end 24 that is connected to one of the side portions 16, and protrudes, above the base portion 14, from the one of the side portions 16 towards the other opposite side portion. The first end 24 of resilient protruding portion 22 may be formed integrally with side portion 16.

The resilient protruding portion 22 depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 further comprises a second end 26, and a resilient arcuate portion 30. The arcuate portion 30 extends from the first end 24 connected to the side portion 16 towards the second end 26. In the embodiment of the invention depicted in Figs. l and 2, the arcuate portion 30 is connected to the side portion 16 at the second end 26.

The resilient protruding portion 22 may be formed by inwardly punching a portion of the outer surface of one of the side portions 16 towards the other opposing side portion. In a preferred embodiment during the punching process a resilient protruding portion aperture 28 is formed. The resilient protruding portion aperture 28 may receive a fastener (not shown) such as a nail, screw or the like.

As depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, the joist hanger 10 comprises a pair of resilient protruding portions 22. Each resilient protruding portion 22 of the pair is located on an opposite side portion 16 to the other resilient protruding portion 22 of the pair. The resilient protruding portions 22 are ideally located directly opposite each other on opposing side portions 16. For the avoidance of any doubt, the effect of the present invention may also be achieved by using an odd number of resilient protruding portions 22, such as with one resilient protruding portion 22 on one of the side portions 16 and with two resilient protruding portions 22 on the opposite side portion 16. Alternatively, as previously mentioned, only one protruding portion 22 may be employed to achieve the effect of the present invention. In the depicted arrangement, the resilient protruding portion(s) 22 is/are positioned to engage with the outer surface of a chord of an I-joist when the latter is located in the hanger. It should be understood that in alternative arrangements, alternative joists, such as a truss or beam may be positioned within and retained in the joist hanger.

As depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, the joist hanger 10 includes back flange portions 18. Each back flange portion 18 is attached at a longitudinal edge 19 of the side portions 16, and extends at an angle of substantially 90 degrees to the plane including the side portion 16. Each back flange portion 18 is formed to attach onto a face fixing structure at 90 degrees to the plane including the side portion such as a wall or support beam. In the embodiment depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, the joist hanger 10 includes two back flange portions 18 each adjoined to a respective longitudinal edge 19 of one of the side portions 16. However, for the avoidance of any doubt, the joist hanger 10 may include only one back flange portion 18. In the embodiment depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, the back flange portions 18 include fixing apertures 32 adapted to receive fixtures such as screws or nails for fixing the back flange portion to a face fixing structure.

The joist hanger 10 is formed of pre-galvanised steel, although other metals may be used to construct it such as steel plate, or ferrous metal alloys. The thickness of the metal used is between 0.7mm and 4mm thick, depending on the weight of the joist being hung, but preferably 2mm thick.

In Figs. l and 2, the end distal from the base portion 14, the back flange portion 18 includes a top flange portion 23. The top flange portion 23 further comprises at least one elongated fixing aperture 25. The top flange portion 23 is formed such that it can move between a face fixing position, and a top fixing position. In the face fixing position, the top flange portion 23 is co-planar with the back flange portion 18, and the top flange portion 23 can be fixed to a face fixing structure such as a wall. In the top fixing position, the top flange portion 23 is moved into a position where the top flange portion 23 is non-coplanar with the back flange portion 18, and the top flange portion 23 can be fixed over the top corner of a wall.

With reference to Fig. 3, there is shown a joist hanger 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The joist hanger 100 is identical to the joist hanger 10 previously described aside from its resilient protruding portions 122, so all of its components have been assigned reference numerals increased by 100. In the second embodiment of the invention, the resilient protruding portion 122 is substantially the same as the resilient protruding portion 22 described, aside from the fact that in the second embodiment the second end 126 of the resilient

protruding portion 122 is not connected to the side portion 116 at the second end. The inventors have found that this arrangement gives the resilient protruding portions 122 the greatest resilience.

With reference to Fig. 4, there is shown a joist hanger 200 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The joist hanger 200 is identical to the joist hanger 10 previously described aside from its resilient protruding portions 222, so all of its components have been assigned reference numerals increased by 200. In the third embodiment of the invention, the resilient protruding portion 222 comprises a resilient straight member which is planar and which extends from the first end 224 connected to the side portion 216 to the second end 226 at an angle of less than 90 degrees to the plane including the side portion.

With reference to Fig. 5, there is shown the joist hanger 10 of Fig.1 in use supporting an I-joist 34. For the purposes of this description, the distance measured in the plane including the back flange portion 18 between opposing side portions 16 will be referred to as the "width".

The I-joist 34 comprises a centre portion 36 and a chord 38 at the end of the I- joist distal to the centre portion. The I-joist 34 is inserted into the support bracket 12 such that the I-joist chord 38 abuts the base portion 14 of the support bracket 12. If the width of the I-joist 34 is wider than that of the width between resilient protruding portions 22, when the I-joist 34 is inserted into the support bracket 12, the resilient protruding portions 22 are displaced from a steady state position. The resilient protruding portions 22 provide a restoring force against the I-joist 34 in the direction the width is measured. The restoring force has the effect of securely holding the I-joist in position inside the support bracket 12. This means that no fixings are required to hold the I-joist in the support bracket 12. A fastener may be located through an aperture (not shown) in the resihent protruding portions 22 into the chord 38.

It should be understood that the above effect can be achieved using only one resilient protruding portion 22 if the width of the I-joist 34 is wider than the distance between the resilient protruding portion 22 and the opposing side portion 16.

It should be understood that the I-joist depicted in the embodiments may be replaced by a truss, a beam or other timber joist.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A joist hanger comprising: a support bracket, having a base portion and two substantially parallel side portions upstanding from opposing edges of said base portion; and a resilient protruding portion, the resilient protruding portion having a first end connected to one of the side portions and protruding from said one of the side portions towards the opposing side portion above said base portion.

2. The joist hanger according to claim 1, comprising a pair of resilient

protruding portions.

3. The joist hanger according to claim 2, wherein each resilient protruding portion of the pair is located on an opposite side portion to the other resilient protruding portion of the pair.

4. The joist hanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said resilient protruding portion(s) further comprises a second end, and said resilient protruding portion(s) further comprises a resilient arcuate portion extending from said first end to said second end.

5. The joist hanger according to claim 4, wherein said resilient arcuate portion is not connected to said side portion at said second end.

6. The joist hanger according to claim 4, wherein said resilient arcuate portion is connected to said side portion at said second end.

7. The joist hanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said resilient protruding portion comprises a resilient substantially straight member.

8. The joist hanger according to claim 7, wherein said resilient substantially straight member extends away from said side portion at an angle of less than 90 degrees to the plane including said side portion.

9. The joist hanger according to any preceding claim, wherein said resilient protruding portion is formed from a punched portion of one of the side portions.

10. The joist hanger according to any preceding claim, wherein each resilient protruding portion further comprises an aperture.

11. The joist hanger according to any preceding claim, wherein the joist hanger comprises at least one back flange portion adjoining at least one of said two side portions at a longitudinal edge of respective at least one of said two side portions and adapted to abut a face-fixing surface.

12. The joist hanger according to claim 11, wherein the joist hanger further comprises at least one top flange portion, adjoining said at least one back flange portion at an edge distal to said base portion and adapted to be moveable between a face-fixing position, wherein said top-flange portion is coplanar said at least one back flange portion, and a top-fixing position, wherein said top flange portion is non-coplanar to said at least one back flange portion, further comprising at least one longitudinally elongated fixing aperture and an articulation axis extending transversely of the hanger between the top flange portion and the back flange portion and being variable in location within the region defined by the length of said longitudinally elongated fixing aperture.