Method of connecting floor joist to bearer in floor frame

Abstract

A floor frame comprised of floor joists and bearers formed from rolled strip steel, the floor joist including an end portion, said end portion being substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the floor joist and butting a bearer which lies substantially orthogonally to the floor joist, the floor joist and bearer being fixed together with fixing elements which pass through the end portion and bearer.

1 . A method of connecting a floor joist to a bearer in a floor frame, where each of the floor joist and bearer is formed from rolled strip steel, the method comprising: 
 forming an end portion on the floor joist, said end portion being substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the floor joist;    butting the end portion of the floor joist with the bearer which lies substantially orthogonally to the floor joist;    fixing the floor joist and bearer together with fixing elements which pass through the end portion and bearer.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the floor joist and bearer is substantially C-shaped in cross-section, and wherein the end of the floor joist is crimped in order to facilitate reception of the end of the floor joist within the bearer.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the bearer includes a web, flanges and flange returns, and wherein the flange returns are removed in order to receive the end of the floor joist.  
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the end portion is formed from a folded over section of the web of the floor joist.  
   
   
       5 . A floor frame comprised of floor joists and bearers formed from rolled strip steel, the floor joist including an end portion, said end portion being substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the floor joist and butting a bearer which lies substantially orthogonally to the floor joist, the floor joist and bearer being fixed together with fixing elements which pass through the end portion and bearer.  
   
   
       6 . A floor frame as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each of the floor joist and bearer is substantially C-shaped in cross-section, and wherein the end of the floor joist is crimped in order to facilitate reception of the end of the floor joist within the bearer.  
   
   
       7 . A floor frame as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the bearer includes a web, flanges and flange returns, and wherein the flange returns are removed in order to receive the end of the floor joist.  
   
   
       8 . A floor frame as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the end portion is formed from a folded over section of the web of the floor joist.