Joist Hangers and the like

Abstract

A joist hanger is described which comprises one or more open-topped joist receiving sockets, each socket being defined by two side cheeks and a bridge section which joins the lower ends of the two side cheeks, the joist hanger further comprising one or more flanges by which the hanger can be secured to an abutting face and/or upper edge of a wall or beam, characterised in that the two side cheeks diverge from the bridge section to the open top of the joist receiving socket, so that the width of the socket is greater at the top than the bottom, such that a joist will fit snugly in the socket between the two side cheeks in the region of the bridge section but the upper portion of the socket is wider to facilitate entry thereinto of the joist.

1 . A joist hanger comprising one or more open-topped joist receiving sockets, each socket being defined by two side cheeks and a bridge section which joins the lower ends of the two side cheeks, the joist hanger further comprising one or more flanges by which the hanger can be secured to an abutting face and/or upper edge of a wall or beam, characterised in that the two side cheeks diverge from the bridge section to the open top of the joist receiving socket, so that the width of the socket is greater at the top than the bottom, such that a joist will fit snugly in the socket between the two side cheeks in the region of the bridge section but the upper portion of the socket is wider to facilitate entry thereinto of the joist.  
   
   
       2 . A joist hanger as claimed in  claim 1  which includes top flanges, which in use overlie the top of a wall or beam and which extend orthogonally from the plane of the flanges which will in use abut and be secured to the face of the wall or beam, but parallel to the bridging section at the lower ends of the two side cheeks, so that in use the top flanges will lie flat on the upper surface of the wall or beam.  
   
   
       3 . A combination of joist and a joist hanger as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cross section of at least the end of the joist is trapezoidal so as to form a wedge, the diverging faces of which diverge with an included angle similar to, but not greater than, that by which side cheeks of the hanger socket diverge.  
   
   
       4 . A combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the trapezoidal cross section extends over the length of the joist.  
   
   
       5 . A combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein a gap-filling means is provided for locating between the opposite faces of the end of the joist and the side cheeks of the socket, to fill gaps and provide support for the upper; region of the joist within the socket.  
   
   
       6 . A combination as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the gap-filling means comprise triangular cross section fillets.  
   
   
       7 . A combination as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the fillets are secured to the opposite faces of the end of the joist.  
   
   
       8 . A combination as claimed in  claim 6  in which the fillets are of wood, metal, rubber or plastics material.  
   
   
       9 . A combination as claimed in  claim 6  in which two fillets are nailed, stapled, screwed or stuck to the joist faces.  
   
   
       10 . A combination as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the gap-filling means comprises a wedge shaped member having a central slot into which the end of the joist can be fined.  
   
   
       11 . A combination as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the member is secured to the joist as by nailing, stapling or screwing, an adhesive, or by virtue of an interference fit between the slot and the joist.  
   
   
       12 . A combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the joist has an I-beam cross section and the trapezoidal end cross section is achieved by fillets secured to opposite faces of the central web of the I-beam, or by a slotted wedge adapted by the slot to receive, and be secured to, the end of the central web of the joist.  
   
   
       13 . A combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the joint has an I-beam cross section and the trapezoidal shape is formed by a metal structure comprising at least one part adapted to be fitted to the upper and lower rails of the I-beam so as to extend therebetween, outer faces of the metal structure being spaced from the central web by a greater distance in the region of the upper rail than in the region of the lower rail, so as to from the trapezoidal shape.  
   
   
       14 . A combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the included angle between inclined faces of the wedge is substantially the same as, but not greater than, that between the diverging cheeks of the joist hanger to which the joist is to be fitted.  
   
   
       15 . A floor panel constructed from a decking sheet secured to a plurality of parallel spaced apart joists when fitted in building with at least some of the joist ends received in joist hangers as claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       16 . A floor panel as claimed in  claim 15  in combination with a second floor panel and a beam carrying joist hangers on opposite faces thereof, wherein in use the joist hangers receive and support the ends of joists of the two panels on either side thereof.  
   
   
       17 . A method of fitting a floor panel to a hollow beam in a building during construction wherein the floor panel comprises a decking sheet secured to a plurality of parallel spaced apart joists, comprising the steps of: 
 a) securing to the wall or beam joist hangers having diverging side cheeks as claimed in  claim 1 ,    b) using lifting gear to lift the floor panel above the wall or beam and lowering it so that the joist ends register with the wider open ends of the joist receiving sockets formed by the diverging side cheeks and bridging sections of the hangers, so that with further lowering the joist ends enter the sockets and are guided by the converging cheeks thereof into a final aligned position,    c) detaching the lifting gear from the floor panel, and    d) securing the hanger cheeks to the ends of the joists.