Method and apparatus for joining a floor system to a support structure

Abstract

Method and apparatus for connecting a floor system ( 30 ) to a support structure ( 33 ) in a building or other structure. A formed section ( 41 ) is positioned on the top of the structural stud members ( 34 ) of the support structure ( 33 ) and has two vertical sides ( 42, 43 ) which open upwardly. Tie members ( 45 ) maintain the formed section ( 41 ) in its configuration while concrete is being poured into the section ( 41 ). The floor system ( 30 ) is supported upon the formed section ( 41 ) with concrete ( 35 ) added thereto.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A formed section to carry concrete, said section being operable to be located between a floor section and a load carrying structure, said section comprising a concrete carrying portion defined by at least one substantially vertical wall element, said metal section and said concrete carrying portion being operable to transfer said loading of said floor section to said load carrying structure.  
     
     
         2 . Joining apparatus as in    claim 1    wherein said formed section is metal and wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of structural studs.  
     
     
         3 . Joining apparatus as in    claim 2    wherein said wall members of said first formed section are substantially vertical, at least one of said wall members terminating in a horizontally oriented flange.  
     
     
         4 . Joining apparatus as in    claim 3    and further comprising concrete within said formed section.  
     
     
         5 . Joining apparatus as in    claim 4    wherein said floor system comprises a plurality of joists, at least one of said joists being operatively connected to said horizontally oriented flange of said formed section.  
     
     
         6 . Joining apparatus as in    claim 5    wherein said wall members of said formed section are substantially equal in length and further comprising a second flange member on said second wall member, said metal decking of said floor system being operatively connected to said second flange member.  
     
     
         7 . Joining apparatus as in    claim 6    wherein said floor system comprises joist members, said joining apparatus further comprising closure members extending between said joist members, said closure members being operative to constrain said concrete poured into said formed section.  
     
     
         8 . Joining apparatus as in    claim 2    and further including tie members to maintain said formed section in a predetermined configuration.  
     
     
         9 . Method of joining a floor system to a support structure comprising the steps of positioning a formed section adapted to hold concrete on the top of said support structure, maintaining said formed section in a first configuration and pouring concrete into said metal formed section in said first configuration.  
     
     
         10 . Method as in    claim 9    and further comprising positioning a floor system on said formed section and said concrete and operatively connecting said floor system to said metal formed section and said concrete.  
     
     
         11 . Method as in    claim 10    and further comprising adding concrete to said floor system.  
     
     
         12 . Method as in    claim 9    wherein said floor system is positioned on said at least one flange of said formed section, and adding concrete to said floor system, said concrete being added to said floor system during an operation separate from adding said concrete to said metal formed section.  
     
     
         13 . Method as in    claim 9    wherein said floor system is positioned on said at least one flange of said metal formed section, and adding concrete to said floor system, said concrete being added to said floor system during the same operation as adding said concrete to said formed section.  
     
     
         14 . Method as in    claim 9    and further comprising adding reinforcement members to said formed section prior to pouring said concrete into said formed section.  
     
     
         15 . Method as in    claim 11    and further comprising adding reinforcement members to said floor system prior to pouring said concrete into said floor system.  
     
     
         16 . Method as in    claim 10    and further comprising adding closure members to said floor system to constrain said concrete poured into said floor system.  
     
     
         17 . A method of transferring the load of a floor system to a floor support structure comprising positioning a formed section operable to hold concrete in a location associated with said floor support structure and pouring concrete into both said formed section and said floor system while said floor system is operably associated with said formed section.