Adjustable Joist Hanger

Abstract

An easily-stackable joist support structure is provided having prefabricated tabs embedded within the main plane of the support structure to allow the tabs to be bent during construction. The tabs typically have both slot screw holes and fixed screw holes. Once the tabs are bent (typically to a 90 degree angle), a screw partially engaged through the slot and the joist can hold the joist in place while the joist is adjusted before the screw is fully engaged. Then screws can be engaged through the fixed screw holes to fully hold the joist in place. The support structure can be Z-shaped so that one ledge lays on top of the ceiling track before the support structure is attached to the track, and the other ledge is used to support the joist before the joist is attached to the support structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A joist support structure, comprising:
 a support body;   a first tab disposed on a side of the support body that couples the support body to a joist, the first tab comprising (a) a first adjustment slot and (b) a first plurality of holes; and   wherein the first tab has (1) a first flat configuration wherein the first tab is coplanar with the side of the support body and (2) a first bent configuration wherein the first tab is bent to a first angle greater than zero relative to the side of the support body.   
     
     
         2 . The joist support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support body has a Z-shaped cross-section providing an upper flange configured to abut and a top surface of a track and a lower flange configured to abut and a bottom surface of the joist. 
     
     
         3 . The joist support structure of  claim 2 , wherein upper flange is further configured to couple to the top surface of the track and the lower flange is further configured to couple to the bottom surface of the joist. 
     
     
         4 . The joist support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support body has a C-shaped cross-section providing an upper flange configured to abut a top surface of the joist and a lower flange configured to abut a bottom surface of the joist. 
     
     
         5 . The joist support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first tab is formed with the support body by at least one of machining or casting. 
     
     
         6 . The joist support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first tab in the first bent configuration is oriented at substantially a 90 degree angle to the side of the support body. 
     
     
         7 . The joist support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of perforated holes along a folding line of the first tab to facilitate bending of the first tab to the first bent configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The joist support structure of  claim 1 , comprising a second tab configured to attach to the side of the support body. 
     
     
         9 . The joist support structure of  claim 8 , wherein the second tab has (1) a second flat configuration wherein the second tab is coplanar with the side of the support body and (2) a second bent configuration wherein the second tab is bent to a second angle greater than zero relative to the side of the support body. 
     
     
         10 . The joist support structure of  claim 9 , wherein the first tab is configured to bend in a first direction to fasten to the joist and the second tab is configured to bend in a second direction to fasten to the joist, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction. 
     
     
         11 . The joist support structure of  claim 8 , wherein the second tab couples the support body to the joist via (a) a second adjustment slot and (b) a second plurality of holes. 
     
     
         12 . The joist support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a slot screw to couple the joist support structure via the first adjustment slot and a set of screws configured to further couple the joist support structure to the joist via the first plurality of holes. 
     
     
         13 . The joist support structure of  claim 12 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the slot screw is larger than a cross-sectional area of any of the set of screws. 
     
     
         14 . A method of fastening a joist to a joist support structure, where the joist support structure has a first tab having an adjustment slot and a plurality of holes, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing the joist support structure in a desired location relative to the joist;   bending the first tab such that a portion of the first tab is at a first angle greater than zero relative to the side of the joist support structure on which the first tab is disposed;   positioning the joist such that a side of the joist is substantially parallel to the first tab and an end of the joist is near the first tab;   loosely fastening the joist to the first tab using a fastener that passes through the adjustment slot of the first tab and into the side of the joist;   upon loosely fastening the joist to the first tab, repositioning the joist relative to the joist support structure; and   upon repositioning the joist, firmly fastening the joist to the first tab using a plurality of fasteners and the plurality of holes on the first tab.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener comprises a screw. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise screws. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first tab is substantially perpendicular to the joist after the step of bending. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 bending a second tab having a second adjustment slot and a second plurality of holes, where the second tab is also disposed on the joist support structure, such that a portion of the second tab is at a second angle greater than zero relative to the side of the joist support structure on which the second tab is disposed;   positioning the joist such that a side of the joist is substantially parallel to the second tab and the end of the joist is near the second tab;   loosely fastening the joist to the second tab using a second fastener that passes through the second adjustment slot of the first tab and into the side of the joist;   upon loosely fastening the joist to the second tab, repositioning the joist relative to the joist support; and   upon repositioning the joist, firmly fastening the joist to the first tab using a second plurality of fasteners and the plurality of holes on the second tab.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of bending the first tab is performed using a bending tool provided with the joist support structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of bending the first tab is performed by bending the first tab along a first row of perforation holes along a side of the first tab.