Joist Bracket

Abstract

A joist bracket is described. Embodiments of the joist bracket can include a combination of joist brackets for recessing a portion of a subfloor in a room a predetermined amount relative to subflooring attached to a top surface of floor joists spanning across the room. The joist bracket can include protrusions for temporarily securing the joist bracket to a floor joist.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A substantially Z-shaped joist bracket comprising:
 an upper flange defined by (i) a plurality of evenly spaced outwardly extending tabs, (ii) a plurality of cutouts each located between the tabs, (iii) one or more boreholes for receiving a fastener therethrough, and (iv) one or more protrusions extending downwardly and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of tabs;   a lower flange;   a vertical planar leg extending (i) upwardly from an intersection along a bottom edge with the bottom flange, and (ii) downwardly from an intersection along a top edge with the upper flange;   a first end defined by the upper flange having a partial cutout; and   a second end defined by the upper flange having a partial tab.   
     
     
         2 . The Z-shaped joist bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a second Z-shaped joist bracket substantially similar to the Z-shaped joist bracket, the second Z-shaped joist bracket having a first end defined by the upper flange having a partial tab; and a second end defined by the upper flange having a partial cutout. 
     
     
         3 . The Z-shaped joist bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the second Z-shaped joist bracket is configured to be placed proximate the Z-shaped joist bracket on a floor joist. 
     
     
         4 . The Z-shaped joist bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a second Z-shaped joist bracket substantially similar to the Z-shaped joist bracket, the second Z-shaped joist bracket being configured to be placed proximate the Z-shaped joist bracket on a floor joist. 
     
     
         5 . The Z-shaped joist bracket of  claim 4 , wherein when the joist bracket and the second joist bracket are installed on opposing sides of a floor joist (i) the tabs of the joist bracket are adapted to nest in cutouts of the second joist bracket, and (ii) tabs of the second joist bracket are adapted to nest in the cutouts of the joist bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The Z-shaped joist bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more protrusions are punched protrusions from the tab. 
     
     
         7 . The Z-shaped joist bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more protrusions are adapted to temporarily couple the Z-shaped joist bracket to a floor joist. 
     
     
         8 . The Z-shaped joist bracket of  claim 1 , wherein: (i) the plurality of evenly spaced outwardly extending tabs each are defined by a substantially trapezoidal shape; and (ii) the plurality of cutouts each located between the tabs are defined by a substantially void trapezoidal shape adapted to nestle with one of the plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         9 . The Z-shaped joist bracket of  claim 1 , wherein when the joist bracket and the second joist bracket are installed on a floor joist opposite one another, an overhang on either side of both brackets is approximately 1/32″. 
     
     
         10 . A joist bracket system comprising:
 a first joist bracket defined by:
 an upper flange defined by (i) a plurality of evenly spaced outwardly extending tabs, (ii) a plurality of cutouts each located between the tabs, (iii) one or more boreholes for receiving a fastener therethrough, and (iv) one or more protrusions extending downwardly and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of tabs; 
 a lower flange; 
 a vertical planar leg extending (i) upwardly from an intersection along a bottom edge with the bottom flange, and (ii) downwardly from an intersection along a top edge with the upper flange; 
 a first end defined by the upper flange having a partial cutout; and 
 a second end defined by the upper flange having a partial tab; 
   a second joist bracket substantially similar to the first joist bracket, the second joist bracket having (i) a first end defined by an upper flange having a partial tab, and (ii) a second end defined by the upper flange having a partial cutout.   
     
     
         11 . The joist bracket system of  claim 10 , the system further including a third joist bracket substantially similar to the first joist bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The joist bracket system of  claim 11 , wherein the tabs of the first joist bracket are adapted to nest in cutouts of the third joist bracket and the tabs of the third joist bracket are adapted to nest in the cutouts of the first joist bracket when the first joist bracket and the third joist bracket are installed on opposing sides of a floor joist. 
     
     
         13 . The joist bracket system of  claim 12 , wherein when the first joist bracket and the third joist bracket are installed on a floor joist opposite one another, an overhang on either side of both brackets is approximately 1/32″. 
     
     
         14 . The joist bracket system of  claim 11 , the system further comprising a fourth joist bracket substantially similar to the second joist bracket. 
     
     
         15 . The joist bracket system of  claim 14 , wherein the tabs of the second joist bracket are adapted to nest in cutouts of the fourth joist bracket and the tabs of the fourth joist bracket are adapted to nest in the cutouts of the second joist bracket when the first joist bracket and the third joist bracket are installed on opposing sides of a floor joist. 
     
     
         16 . The joist bracket system of  claim 15 , wherein when the second joist bracket and the fourth joist bracket are installed on a floor joist opposite one another, an overhang on either side of both brackets is approximately 1/32″. 
     
     
         17 . The joist bracket system of  claim 16 , wherein an overall length of the second joist bracket and the fourth joist bracket mated opposite one another is limited to approximately 1/16″ longer than a length of one of the joist brackets. 
     
     
         18 . The joist bracket system of  claim 10 , wherein the first joist bracket is adapted to be placed proximate the second joist bracket on a floor joist. 
     
     
         19 . The joist bracket system of  claim 18 , wherein a cutout is formed when the first end of the first joist bracket is placed proximate the second end of the second joist bracket. 
     
     
         20 . A combination of brackets for recessing a portion of a subfloor in a room a predetermined amount relative to subflooring attached to a top surface of floor joists spanning across the room, the combination of brackets including:
 a first set of substantially Z-shaped brackets adapted to be installed on opposing sides of a floor joist, each of the at least two substantially Z-shaped brackets defined by:
 an upper flange having (i) a plurality of evenly spaced outwardly extending tabs, (ii) a plurality of cutouts each located between the tabs, (iii) one or more boreholes for receiving a fastener therethrough, and (iv) one or more protrusions extending downwardly and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of tabs; 
 a lower flange; 
 a vertical planar leg extending (i) upwardly from an intersection along a bottom edge with the bottom flange, and (ii) downwardly from an intersection along a top edge with the upper flange; 
 a first end defined by the upper flange having a partial cutout; and 
 a second end defined by the upper flange having a partial tab; 
   a second set of substantially Z-shaped brackets adapted to be installed on opposing sides of a floor joist, each of the second set of substantially Z-shaped brackets defined by:
 an upper flange having (i) a plurality of evenly spaced outwardly extending tabs, (ii) a plurality of cutouts each located between the tabs, (iii) one or more boreholes for receiving a fastener therethrough, and (iv) one or more protrusions extending downwardly and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of tabs; 
 a lower flange; 
 a vertical planar leg extending (i) upwardly from an intersection along a bottom edge with the bottom flange, and (ii) downwardly from an intersection along a top edge with the upper flange; 
 a first end defined by the upper flange having a partial tab; and 
 a second end defined by the upper flange having a partial cutout.