Building panel assembly for attaching fluted decks to underlying support structures

Abstract

A building panel assembly has a first end support, a second end support, and an intermediate support positioned in spaced parallel relationship to each other, a deck positioned on the supports and having a plurality of low flutes extending across the deck in transverse relationship to the end supports, a plurality of fasteners affixed in the low flutes for securing the deck to the first end supports and a plurality of fasteners affixed in the low flutes of the deck so as to secure the deck to intermediate support. The fasteners used to attach the deck to the intermediate support are of a fewer number than the fasteners used to attach the deck to the end supports.

1 . A building panel assembly comprising:
 a first end support;   a second end support in generally spaced parallel relationship to said first end support;   an intermediate support positioned between said first and second end supports and in spaced parallel relationship thereto;   a deck positioned on said first and second end supports and said intermediate support, said deck having a plurality of low flutes extending in parallel relationship to each other and extending across said deck in transverse relationship to said first and second end supports;   a plurality of first fasteners affixed in said plurality of low flutes of said deck, said plurality of first fasteners securing said deck to said first end support;   a plurality of second fasteners affixed in said plurality of low flutes of said deck, said plurality of second fasteners securing said deck to said second end support; and   a plurality of third fasteners affixed in said plurality of low flutes of said deck, said plurality of third fasteners securing said deck to said intermediate support, said plurality of third fasteners being of a number of fasteners less than a number of said plurality of first fasteners.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said plurality of first fasteners affixed in each and every one of said plurality of low flutes of said deck, said plurality of second fasteners affixed in each and every one of said plurality of low flutes of said deck. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said plurality of third fasteners being only in every other low flute of said plurality of low flutes in said deck. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said deck having seven low flutes formed therein, said plurality of third fasteners being four fasteners. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said deck having a first side lap extending transverse to said first and second end supports along one edge of said deck, said deck having a second side lap extending transverse to said first and second end supports along an opposite edge of said deck. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , said deck having a one of said plurality of low flutes adjacent said first side lap and another of said plurality of low flutes adjacent said second side lap, each of the low flutes adjacent the side laps having one of said plurality of third fasteners affixed thereto. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , said deck having a low flute of said plurality of low flutes on a side of the low flute adjacent said first side lap which has no fastener of said plurality of third fasteners therein, said deck having a low flute of said plurality of low flutes on a side of the low flute adjacent said second side lap which has no fastener of said plurality of third fasteners therein. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , said deck having a plurality of high flutes positioned respectively between adjacent low flutes of said plurality of low flutes, said plurality of high flutes having no fasteners therein. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , each of said plurality of first fasteners and said plurality of second fasteners and said plurality of third fasteners being a pin. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , each of said plurality of first fasteners and said plurality of second fasteners and said plurality of third fasteners being an arc spot weld. 
   
   
       11 . A building panel assembly comprising:
 a first end support;   a second end support in generally spaced parallel relationship to said first end support;   an intermediate support positioned between said first and second end supports and in spaced parallel relationship thereto;   a first deck positioned on said first and second end supports and on said intermediate support, said first deck having a plurality of low flutes extending in parallel relationship to each other and extending across said first deck in transverse relationship to said first and second end supports;   a second deck positioned on said first and second end supports and on said intermediate support, said second deck having a plurality of low flutes extending in parallel relationship to each other and extending across said second deck in transverse relationship to said first and second end supports, said second deck in edge-to-edge relationship to said first deck;   a plurality of first fasteners affixed in the low flutes of said first and second decks, said plurality of first fasteners securing said first and second decks to said first end support;   a plurality of second fasteners affixed in the low flutes of said first and second decks, said plurality of second fasteners securing said first and second decks to said second end support; and   a plurality of third fasteners affixed in the low flutes of said first and second decks, said plurality of third fasteners securing said first and second decks to said intermediate support, said plurality of third fasteners being of a number of fasteners less than a number of said plurality of first fasteners.   
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , said first deck having a first side lap extending transverse to said first and second end supports along one edge of said first deck, said first deck having a second side lap extending transverse to said first and second end supports along an opposite edge of said deck, said second deck having first side lap extending transverse to said first and second end supports along one edge of said second deck, said second deck having a second side lap extending transverse to said first and second end supports along an opposite edge of said second deck. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , said first side lap of said first deck affixed to said first side lap of said second deck by a plurality of penetrating clinch connections. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 12 , said first side lap of said first deck affixed to said first side lap of said second deck by welding. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 11 , said plurality of first fasteners affixed in each and every one of said plurality of low flutes of said first and second decks, said plurality of second fasteners affixed in each and every one of said plurality of low flutes of said first and second decks. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 11 , said plurality of third fasteners being only in every other low flute of said plurality of low flutes of said first and second decks. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 11 , said first deck having seven low flutes formed therein, said plurality of third fasteners having a four fasteners affixed to said plurality of low flutes of said first deck. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 12 , said first deck having one of said plurality of low flutes adjacent said first side lap thereof and another of said plurality of low flutes adjacent said second side lap thereof, each of the low flutes adjacent the side laps of said first deck having one of said plurality of third fasteners affixed thereto. 
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 11 , each of said plurality of first fasteners and said plurality of second fasteners and said plurality of third fasteners being a pin. 
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 11 , each of said plurality of first fasteners and said plurality of second fasteners and said plurality of third fasteners being an arc spot weld.