Joist hanger tool

Abstract

An improved joist hanger tool suitably adapted to be placed over a standard joist hanger which is in turn placed over the end of a joist, to shape the joist hanger to its proper installation configuration and to hold the joist hanger securely to the joist so that the installer has both hands free to support the joist and/or to fasten the joist hanger to a header; said joist hanger tool being a substantially “U”-shaped, monolithic clip fashioned out of a flexible, resilient, and substantially rigid material, having a wider bottom, an intermediate narrowest point, and a flared open end.

1 . An improved joist hanger tool suitably adapted for use with a standard joist hanger and a joist, said joist having a thickness and an end, said joist hanger tool being a substantially “U”-shaped, monolithic clip fashioned out of a flexible, resilient, and substantially rigid material, said joist hanger tool comprising
 a bottom portion, a first side extending from the bottom portion, and a second side extending from the bottom portion opposite the first side, with the first side terminating at a first end and the second side terminating at a second end,   whereby the joist hanger tool is dimensioned to snugly fit over the joist hanger after the joist hanger is placed over the end of the joist, with the first and second sides of the joist hanger tool adapted to be placed over and against the joist hanger with the joist hanger positioned between the first side and the second side of the joist hanger tool.   
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein each of the bottom portion and the first and second sides of the joist hanger tool has a substantially round, substantially uniform cross-section, with the cross-sections of the bottom portion and the two sides all having substantially equal diameters. 
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the joist hanger tool is constructed out of steel. 
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool is squared. 
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool is rounded. 
   
   
       6 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool is comprised of a plurality of segments, with each segment being substantially straight, with pairs of adjacent segments oriented at obtuse angles to each other. 
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the first side is substantially the same length as the second side. 
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein
 the first and second sides of the joist hanger tool angle towards each other as they extend away from the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool,   wherein the joist hanger tool has an inside width at the bottom portion which is slightly wider than the thickness of the joist, and an inside width between the first and second ends which is slightly narrower than the thickness of the joist.   
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein
 the first and second sides of the joist hanger tool angle towards each other as they extend away from the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool towards a narrowest intermediate point, then extend substantially parallel to each other as they further extend towards their respective ends, forming an open end to the joist hanger tool,   wherein the joist hanger tool has an inside width at the bottom portion which is slightly wider than the thickness of the joist, an inside width at the narrowest intermediate point which is slightly narrower than the thickness of the joist, and an inside width at the open end which is slightly narrower than the thickness of the joist.   
   
   
       10 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein
 the first and second sides of the joist hanger tool angle towards each other as they extend away from the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool towards a narrowest intermediate point, then angle away from each other as they further extend towards their respective ends, forming a flared open end to the joist hanger tool,   wherein the joist hanger tool has an inside width at the bottom portion which is slightly wider than the thickness of the joist, an inside width at the narrowest intermediate point which is slightly narrower than the thickness of the joist, and an inside width between the first end and the second end which is slightly wider than the thickness of the joist.   
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein each of the bottom portion and the first and second sides of the joist hanger tool has a substantially round, substantially uniform cross-section, with the cross-sections of the bottom portion and the two sides all having substantially equal diameters. 
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the joist hanger tool is constructed out of steel. 
   
   
       13 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool is squared. 
   
   
       14 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool is rounded. 
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool is comprised of a plurality of segments, with each segment being substantially straight, with pairs of adjacent segments oriented at obtuse angles to each other. 
   
   
       16 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the first side is substantially the same length as the second side. 
   
   
       17 . An improved joist hanger tool suitably adapted for use with a standard joist hanger and a joist, said joist having a thickness and an end, said joist hanger tool being a substantially “U”-shaped, monolithic clip fashioned out of a flexible, resilient, and substantially rigid material, said joist hanger tool comprising
 a bottom portion, a first side extending from the bottom portion, and a second side extending from the bottom portion opposite the first side, with the first side terminating at a first end and the second side terminating at a second end,   with each of the bottom portion and the first and second sides of the joist hanger tool having a substantially round, substantially uniform cross-section, with the cross-sections of the bottom portion and the two sides all having substantially equal diameters,   with the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool comprised of a plurality of segments, with each segment being substantially straight, with pairs of adjacent segments oriented at obtuse angles to each other to approximate a curved bottom portion, with the first side of the joist hanger tool being substantially the same length as the second side, and   with the first and second sides of the joist hanger tool angling towards each other as they extend away from the bottom portion of the joist hanger tool towards a narrowest intermediate point, then angling away from each other as they further extend towards their respective ends, forming a flared open end to the joist hanger tool,   wherein the joist hanger tool has an inside width at the bottom portion which is slightly wider than the thickness of the joist, an inside width at the narrowest intermediate point which is slightly narrower than the thickness of the joist, and an inside width between the first end and the second end which is slightly wider than the thickness of the joist,   whereby the joist hanger tool is dimensioned to snugly fit over the joist hanger after the joist hanger is placed over the end of the joist, with the first and second sides of the joist hanger tool adapted to be placed over and against the joist hanger with the joist hanger positioned between the first side and the second side of the joist hanger tool.   
   
   
       18 . The tool of  claim 17  wherein the joist hanger tool is constructed out of steel.