Joist end cap

Abstract

A joist end cap overcoming the shortcomings of prior joist end caps is disclosed. A joist end cap having five walls, namely a top wall, bottom wall, pair of side walls and end wall, define a cavity for receipt of an end of a piece of lumber. The bottom wall is slanted to allow moisture to exit from the cavity. The top and bottom wall may be interchangeable, such that the top and bottom wall are both slanted and users may use the end cap in either orientation. Elongated ribs and projections along inner surfaces of the walls provide for air flow and run off of any undesired moisture. A unique connector guide and circular ring configuration ensure that connectors (e.g., nails, screws or rivets) used to connect the joist end cap to the lumber do not damage the joist end cap and/or create ingresses for moisture to enter the cavity.

1 . A joist end cap comprising:
 five walls, consisting of a top wall, bottom wall, two side walls and an end wall, defining a cavity for receipt of an end portion of lumber; and   wherein the top and bottom wall are interchangeable and both slanted to permit moisture to flow out of the cavity.   
   
   
       2 . The joist end cap of  claim 1  further comprising a pattern of projections on an inner surface of the end wall. 
   
   
       3 . The joist end cap of  claim 2  further comprising one or more raised connector guides and one or more corresponding raised circular rings on the inner surface of the end wall wherein said connector guides and corresponding circular rings have generally the same height as the projections. 
   
   
       4 . The joist end cap of  claim 3  further comprising one or more apertures and corresponding countersinks on an outer surface of the end wall wherein said one or more apertures and corresponding countersinks are aligned with the one or more connector guides. 
   
   
       5 . The joist send cap of  claim 3  further comprising one or more notches in the circular rings. 
   
   
       6 . The joist end cap of  claim 1  further comprising one or more elongated ribs running along inner surfaces of the top wall, bottom wall and side walls. 
   
   
       7 . The joist end cap of  claim 6  wherein the one or more elongated ribs running along the top and bottom walls have sloping heights along their lengths to compensate for the slant associated with the top and bottom walls. 
   
   
       8 . The joist end cap of  claim 1  wherein the joist end cap is fabricated of a transparent or translucent material. 
   
   
       9 . The joist end cap of  claim 1  wherein the joist end cap is fabricated of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or Polypropylene (PP). 
   
   
       10 . The joist end cap of  claim 1  further comprising a pattern of projections on outer surfaces of both side walls. 
   
   
       11 . A joist end cap comprising:
 five walls, consisting of a top wall, bottom wall, two side walls and an end wall, defining a cavity for receipt of an end portion of lumber; and   wherein the bottom wall is slanted to permit moisture to flow out of the cavity.   
   
   
       12 . The joist end cap of  claim 11  further comprising a pattern of projections and one or more connector guides and corresponding circular rings on an inner surface of the end wall wherein the projections, connector guides and circular rings have the same approximate height. 
   
   
       13 . The joist end cap of  claim 12  further comprising one or more apertures and corresponding countersinks on an outer surface of the end wall wherein said pair of apertures and corresponding countersinks are aligned with the one or more connector guides. 
   
   
       14 . The joist send cap of  claim 12  further comprising one or more notches in the circular rings. 
   
   
       15 . The joist end cap of  claim 11  further comprising one or more elongated ribs running along inner surfaces of the top wall, bottom wall and side walls. 
   
   
       16 . The joist end cap of  claim 15  wherein the one or more elongated ribs running along the bottom wall has sloping heights along its length to compensate for the slant associated with the top and bottom walls. 
   
   
       17 . The joist end cap of  claim 11  wherein the joist end cap is fabricated of a transparent or translucent material. 
   
   
       18 . The joist end cap of  claim 11  wherein the joist end cap is fabricated of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or Polypropylene (PP). 
   
   
       19 . The joist end cap of  claim 11  further comprising a pattern of projections on outer surfaces of both side walls. 
   
   
       20 . A joist end cap comprising:
 five walls, consisting of a top wall, bottom wall, two side walls and an end wall, defining a cavity for receipt of an end portion of lumber wherein the top and bottom wall are interchangeable and both slanted to permit moisture to flow out of the cavity; and   one or more elongated ribs running along inner surfaces of the top and bottom wall, said elongated ribs sloping upward in height in an opposite direction to slant in the bottom and top wall such that an upper edge of each elongated rib maintains a consistent level.   
   
   
       21 . The joist end cap of  claim 20  further comprising a pattern of projections on an inner surface of the end wall. 
   
   
       22 . The joist end cap of  claim 21  further comprising a pair of connector guides and corresponding circular rings on the inner surface of the end wall wherein said connector guides and corresponding circular rings have the generally same height as the projections. 
   
   
       23 . The joist end cap of  claim 22  further comprising a pair of apertures and corresponding countersinks on an outer surface of the end wall wherein said pair of apertures and corresponding countersinks are aligned with the pair of connector guides. 
   
   
       24 . The joist send cap of  claim 22  further comprising one or more notches in the circular rings. 
   
   
       25 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The joist end cap of  claim 20  further comprising a pattern of projections on outer surfaces of both side walls.