Web stiffener

Abstract

A one piece web stiffener that may be easily and quickly installed between the upper and lower flanges of a joist without having to slide the web stiffener in from and end of the joist is disclosed. One embodiment of the web stiffener includes a web and a pair of protruding flanges. Opposing upper and lower corners are provided at angles to enable the web stiffener to be inserted between returns formed on the upper and lower flanges of the joist and then rotated to fit relatively tightly between the upper and lower flanges of the joist. In other embodiments, one corner is radiused and an opposing corner is angled. Other embodiments include radiuses on two diagonal corners or radiused ends to enable the web stiffeners to be inserted between the upper and lower flanges of a joist and then rotated into a final web stiffening position wherein it can be attached to the joist web.

1 . A web stiffener, comprising: 
 a web having a top edge and a bottom edge and first and second lateral sides extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;    a first flange protruding outward from said first lateral side of said web and extending between said top edge and said bottom edge wherein a first portion of said top edge intersecting said first flange extends at a first substantially acute angle relative to a remaining portion of said top edge; and    a second flange protruding from said second lateral side of said web extending between said top edge and said bottom edge wherein a second portion of said bottom edge intersecting said second flange extending at a second substantially acute angle relative to a remaining portion of said bottom edge.    
   
   
       2 . The web stiffener of  claim 1  wherein said first acute angle is substantially 20 degrees and wherein said second acute angle is substantially 20 degrees.  
   
   
       3 . The web stiffener of  claim 1  wherein said first flange protrudes outward from said first lateral side of said web portion at a first flange angle and wherein said second flange protrudes from said second lateral side of said web at a second flange angle.  
   
   
       4 . The web stiffener of  claim 3  wherein said first and second flange angles are each substantially 90 degrees.  
   
   
       5 . The web stiffener of  claim 1  further comprising at least one fastener hole through said web.  
   
   
       6 . A floor structure, comprising: 
 a support wall;    a rim joist attached to said support wall;    at least one joist attached to said rim joist, each said joist having a joist web and an upper joist flange and a lower joist flange protruding therefrom;    at least one web stiffener oriented adjacent to said joist web of a corresponding one of said joists, said web stiffener comprising: 
 a web having a top edge and a bottom edge and first and second lateral sides extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;  
 a first flange protruding outward from said first lateral side of said web and extending between said top edge and said bottom edge wherein a first portion of said top edge intersecting said first flange extends at a first substantially acute angle relative to a remaining portion of said top edge; and  
 a second flange protruding from said second lateral side of said web portion and extending between said top edge and said bottom edge wherein a second portion of said bottom edge intersecting said second flange extending at a second substantially acute angle relative to a remaining portion of said bottom edge.  
   
   
   
       7 . The floor structure of  claim 6  wherein said web of said web stiffener is attached to said joist web.  
   
   
       8 . The floor structure of  claim 7  wherein said web of said web stiffener is attached to said joist web by at least one screw.  
   
   
       9 . The floor structure of  claim 6  wherein said web stiffener is oriented between said upper and lower joist flanges of said corresponding one of said joists.  
   
   
       10 . The floor structure of  claim 6  wherein said support wall comprises: 
 an upper track;    a lower track; and    a plurality of studs extending between said upper and lower tracks and attached thereto.    
   
   
       11 . The floor structure of  claim 10  wherein at least one said web stiffener is substantially axially aligned with a corresponding one of said studs.  
   
   
       12 . A floor structure, comprising: 
 a support wall;    a first joist having a first joist end supported on said support wall, said first joist having a first joist web and upper and lower first joist flanges protruding therefrom;    a second joist having a second joist end supported on said support wall adjacent to said first joist end, said second joist having a second joist web and upper and lower second joist flanges;    at least one web stiffener oriented adjacent to one of said first and second joist webs and being attached thereto, said web stiffener comprising: 
 a web having a top edge and a bottom edge and first and second lateral sides extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;  
 a first flange protruding outward from said first lateral side of said web and extending between said top edge and said bottom edge wherein a first portion of said top edge intersecting said first flange extends at a first substantially acute angle relative to a remaining portion of said top edge; and  
 a second flange protruding from said second lateral side of said web and extending between said top edge and said bottom edge wherein a second portion of said bottom edge intersecting said second flange extending at a second substantially acute angle relative to a remaining portion of said bottom edge.  
   
   
   
       13 . The floor structure of  claim 12  wherein said web stiffener is received between the upper and lower flanges of one of said first and second joists.  
   
   
       14 . The floor structure of  claim 12  wherein said web stiffener is received between said upper and lower first joist flanges and is attached to said first joist web.  
   
   
       15 . The floor structure of  claim 12  wherein said support wall comprises: 
 an upper track;    a lower track; and    a plurality of studs extending between said upper and lower tracks and attached thereto.    
   
   
       16 . The floor structure of  claim 15  wherein at least one said web stiffener is substantially axially aligned with a corresponding one of said studs.  
   
   
       17 . A floor structure, comprising: 
 a support wall;    a joist spanning said support wall and being supported thereon, said joist having a joist web and upper and lower joist flanges protruding therefrom;    at least one web stiffener oriented adjacent to said joist web and being attached thereto, said web stiffener comprising: 
 a web having a top edge and a bottom edge and first and second lateral sides extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;  
 a first flange protruding outward from said first lateral side of said web and extending between said top edge and said bottom edge wherein a first portion of said top edge intersecting said first flange extends at a first substantially acute angle relative to a remaining portion of said top edge; and  
 a second flange protruding from said second lateral side of said web portion and extending between said top edge and said bottom edge wherein a second portion of said bottom edge intersecting said second flange extending at a second substantially acute angle relative to a remaining portion of said bottom edge.  
   
   
   
       18 . The floor structure of  claim 17  wherein said web stiffener is substantially axially aligned with said support wall.  
   
   
       19 . The floor structure of  claim 17  wherein said web stiffener is oriented between said upper and lower joist flanges of said corresponding one of said joists.  
   
   
       20 . The floor structure of  claim 17  wherein said support wall comprises: 
 an upper track;    a lower track; and    a plurality of studs extending between said upper and lower tracks and attached thereto.    
   
   
       21 . The floor structure of  claim 20  wherein at least one said web stiffener is substantially axially aligned with a corresponding one of said studs.  
   
   
       22 . A web stiffener, comprising: 
 a web having a top edge and a bottom edge, said top edge having a non-radiused portion and a radiused portion, said radiused portion forming an upper corner portion of said web, said bottom edge having a non-radiused portion and a radiused portion, said radiused portion of said lower edge forming a lower corner portion diagonally opposite from said upper corner portion;    a first flange protruding from a side of said web and extending from said non-radiused portion of said bottom edge to said radiused portion of said top edge; and    a second flange protruding from another side of said web and extending from said non-radiused portion of said top edge to said radiused portion of said bottom edge.    
   
   
       23 . The web stiffener of  claim 22  further comprising at least one fastener hole through said web.  
   
   
       24 . A web stiffener, comprising: 
 a web having a top edge and a bottom edge and a first lateral side edge that extends between said top edge and said bottom edge wherein a portion of said first lateral side edge is substantially perpendicular to said top edge and another portion of said first lateral side is not substantially perpendicular to said top edge, said web further having a second lateral side edge extending between said top and bottom edges such that a portion of said second lateral side edge is substantially perpendicular to said bottom edge and another portion of said second lateral side is not substantially perpendicular to said bottom edge;    a first flange protruding outward from a portion of said first lateral side edge that is substantially perpendicular to said bottom edge of said web; and    a second flange protruding outward from a portion of said second lateral side edge that is substantially perpendicular to said top edge of said web.    
   
   
       25 . The web stiffener of  claim 24  wherein said portion of said first lateral side that is not substantially perpendicular to said top edge extends in a first radius from said first flange to said top edge and wherein said portion of said second lateral side that is not substantially perpendicular to said bottom edge extends in a second radius from said second flange to said bottom edge of said web.  
   
   
       26 . The web stiffener of  claim 24  wherein one of said first lateral side that is not substantially perpendicular to said top edge and said second lateral side that is not substantially perpendicular to said bottom edge is radiused.  
   
   
       27 . A web stiffener, comprising: 
 a web having first and second lateral side edges and a top edge extending in a radius between said first and second lateral sides and a bottom edge extending in a radius between said first and second lateral sides.;    a first flange protruding from said first lateral side; and    a second flange protruding from said second lateral side.    
   
   
       28 . A web stiffener, comprising: 
 a web having a first edge and a second edge and a pair of lateral side edges wherein one said side edge extends between said first edge and said second edge such that a portion of said side edge is substantially perpendicular to said second edge and another portion of said side edge is not substantially perpendicular to said first edge, and wherein another said side edge extends between said first and second edges and a portion of said another side edge is substantially perpendicular to said first edge and another portion of said another side edge is not substantially perpendicular to said second edge;    a first flange protruding outward from a portion of said first lateral side edge that is substantially perpendicular to said second edge of said web; and    a second flange protruding outward from said portion of said second lateral side edge that is substantially perpendicular to said first edge and wherein said another portion of said another side edge extends in a radius from said second flange to said second edge of said web.    
   
   
       29 . A web stiffener, comprising: 
 a web having a first lateral side edge and a second lateral side edge and top and bottom edges extending between said first and second lateral side edges wherein said top edge has a non-radiused top edge portion disposed between a first radiused top edge portion and a second radiused top edge portion and wherein said bottom edge has a non-radiused portion disposed between a first radiused bottom edge portion and a second radiused bottom edge portion;    a first flange protruding from said first lateral side edge; and    a second flange protruding from said second lateral side edge.