Drywall Spacing Joist Hanger

Abstract

A joist hanger having a seat member for receiving a joist has one or more back members with inclined portions that extend at an angle away from the uppermost portions of the one or more back members such that the seat member can hold the joist a distance away from the uppermost portions of the one or more back members.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a joist hanger.

BACKGROUND

Joist hangers are used in building construction to secure and hang the ends of joists or other members to walls, headers and/or other support members. Typically, the joist hanger includes a u-shaped portion that receives the joist. The bottom surface of the joist rests on the seat of the hanger, and the side walls of the hanger are dimensioned to closely receive the side faces of the joist, providing it with lateral support.

Where appropriate, the joist may be connected to the hanger by means of nails or other fasteners driven through the side walls of the hanger into the side faces of the joist. These fasteners position the joist with respect to the hanger, preventing movement of the joist along the long axis of the joist. These fasteners also resist uplift forces on the joist, preventing the joist from lifting out of the seat of the hanger. These fasteners may simply be driven horizontally into the joist, in which case they are preferably short fasteners that will not pass all the way through the joist. Alternatively, longer fasteners may be used that are driven at a non-orthogonal angle into the joist, and longer fasteners can also be driven at an acute angle such that they are driven into the header as well. This last practices has been commonly called double-shear nailing.

Often, in order to connect the joist hanger to the header, back flanges are attached to the side walls. Generally, these flanges extend laterally from the side walls. These flanges can extend inwardly or outwardly from the side walls, depending on design considerations. These back flanges can be attached to top flanges that extend horizontally from the back flanges and over the top surface of a structural member to which the hanger will be attached.

Openings may be provided in the back flanges to receive fasteners. These fasteners are generally nails in light-frame wood construction. Screws and bolts are also used in wood construction, depending on the size of the members to be joined and other considerations. In light-gauge steel construction, sheet metal screws, bolts, welds and rivets are commonly used.

In perhaps the simplest of hangers, the back flanges extend outwardly from the side flanges, providing an easily-accessed fastening face. Fasteners are then driven though the back flanges into the front face of the support wall or supporting structural member. In other instances, design considerations dictate which particular attachment method is used for attaching the joist and the hanger to the support wall.

As discussed above, top flanges may be attached to the back flanges to aid in attaching the hanger to the support wall. Hangers with top flanges are generally referred to as top-flange hangers. Hangers without top flanges are generally referred to as face-mount hangers. If the top flanges wrap over the top of the header and down the back of the header, the hanger can be called a wrap-around hanger. Again, various design considerations dictate what features are present in a hanger, and various building considerations dictate which hanger, or type of hanger, is used in a particular situation. Generally, if a top flange hanger is used and the header is made of wood, pre-formed holes are provided in the top flanges to receive suitable fasteners for connecting the top flange to the header. Such fastener openings may not be present in light-gauge steel construction because the hanger is typically fastened to the support wall with self-drilling sheet metal screws or by welding.

As mentioned above, it is often desirable to fasten the joist to the hanger to resist uplift forces acting on the joist. Such forces are often caused by lateral loading on the building due to high winds or seismic activity. Also, one end of a joist must be downwardly restrained if that joist is cantilevered (e.g., to support an overhanging deck). As mentioned above, openings may be provided in the side walls of the hanger so that the joist can be held down with fasteners driven through the openings and into the joist.

Drywall panels are used in fire barriers, but it can be difficult to shield supporting structural members like top plates and headers at the connection between the supporting wall and a supported joist, because drywall panels are susceptible to cracking and crushing and have little bearing strength with regard to fasteners received in the drywall. The present invention allows drywall paneling to be easily applied to the front faces of the supporting structural members, providing some shielding from fire and heat, and provides a joist hanger connection that still allows the drywall paneling to serve as a fire barrier. Importantly, the present invention does not require additional components. The drywall can simply be notched or cut away where portions of the hanger may interfere with the installation of the drywall.

The present invention uses sufficiently strong material for the side walls back flanges, top flanges and other portions of the hanger such that they can hold the hanger away from the header and against the one or more drywall panels disposed between the joist and the support member without sagging. The hanger bears the load of the joist without crushing the drywall either during installation or use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a joist hanger that can carry a joist to be attached to a supporting structural member with fire-resisting, drywall panels interposed between the end of the joist, or portions of the joist, and the front face of the supporting structural member such that the drywall panels can help shield the supporting structural member from damage from fire, while providing a strong connection between the joist and the supporting structural member. The joist hanger has a seat member for receiving a joist has one or more back members with inclined portions that extend at an angle away from the uppermost portions of the one or more back members such that the seat member can hold the joist a distance away from the uppermost portions of the one or more back members.

The present invention provides a joist hanger that can be fastened to a structural member with drywall panels that have little or no dowel bearing strength being interposed between the end of the joist and the surface of the structural member. The drywall panels cover enough of the end of the joist and enough of the surface of the structural member such that the drywall panels provide some protection to the structural members from the effects of fire.

The present invention provides a connector that when it is installed, at least a portion of the joist hanger is held away from the supporting structural member to which it is attached. The present invention provides a joist hanger that has back flanges that have inclined portions that extend at an angle away from the connection point where they attach to the top flanges. The inclined back flanges allow the portion of the hanger that receives the joist to be disposed away from the front face of the structural supporting member such that one or more drywall panels may be interposed between the end of the joist, or portions of the end of the joist, and the front face of the supporting structural member. The present invention allows drywall panels to be placed over or in front of a supporting structural member and behind portions of the hanger and portions of the end of the joist thereby providing some shielding from the deleterious effects of fire and heat, with substantial portions of the top edges of the drywall panels near the hanger and the end of the joist reaching at least as high as the top surface of the structural support member.

The present invention provides a joist hanger with one or more stand-off members for holding portions of the hanger away from the front surface of the support member.

In one form of the joist hanger, the one or more stand-off members are attached to the back members of the joist hanger, and in particular the inclined portions of the back members.

The present invention provides a joist hanger that can be fastened to a structural support member with substantially non-load-bearing drywall panels being interposed between portions of the end of the joist and the structural support member.

The present invention provides a hanger with a stand-off member that substantially spans the distance between the end face of the joist and the front surface of the structural support member.

The present invention provides a hanger with side walls having back edges, and in the preferred form the back edges of the side walls are disposed away from the front surface of the structural support member.

The present invention provides a hanger with stops provided on the side walls for resisting movement by the end of the joist past the stops. Preferably the stops are attached to the back edges of the side walls.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper right perspective view of a first embodiment of a hanger formed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the hanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the hanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the hanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the hanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the hanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the hanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connection made with the hanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the connection made with the hanger of FIG. 1. The drywall panels have been removed to better show the connection of the hanger to the structural support member.

FIG. 10 is an upper right perspective view of a second embodiment of a hanger formed according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a back view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a left side view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a right side view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 17 is an upper right perspective view of a third embodiment of a hanger formed according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a front view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 19 is a back view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 20 is a left side view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 21 is a right side view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the hanger of FIG. 10.

FIG. 24 is a back view of a hanger similar to the hanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 25 is a back view of the hanger of FIG. 24, receiving a supported member.

FIG. 26 is an upper right perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a hanger formed according to the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a front view of the hanger of FIG. 26

FIG. 28 is a back view of the hanger of FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is a left side view of the hanger of FIG. 26.

FIG. 30 is a right side view of the hanger of FIG. 26.

FIG. 31 is a top view of the hanger of FIG. 26

FIG. 32 is a bottom view of the hanger of FIG. 26.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 9, the invention is a joist hanger 2 for hanging a joist 3 from a structural support member 4 in cooperation with one or more fasteners 5, whereby portions of one or more substantially vertical drywall panels 6 may be interposed between portions of the joist 3 and the structural support member 4.

Preferably, the one or more drywall panels 6 shield the structural support member 4, and each of the one or more fire-resistant panels 6 has a front face 7, a back face 8 opposite the front face 7, and negligible dowel bearing strength. In order to show the vertically disposed studs and top plate 4 that makes up the wall the panels 6 are not shown as covering these members completely; however, preferably the panels 6 cover all of the structural members that make up the wall to a substantial degree to help protect them from fire.

Preferably, the structural support member 4 has a substantially vertical front face 16 and significant dowel bearing strength. The joist hanger 2 preferably supports the joist 3. The joist 3 has an end face 13 spaced away from the front face 16 of the structural support member 4.

Preferably, the joist hanger 2 has one or more back members 9. In the Figs. the joist hanger 2 is shown with multiple back members 9. The joist hanger 2 has a first side wall or side member 11, and a second side wall or side member 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, preferably, the joist hanger has a seat member 12 interconnecting the first and second side members 11, and the joist 3 can rest on the seat member 12 between the first and second side members 11.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first back member 9 preferably has a first back face 10 with portions that are in parallel disposition with the front face 16 of the structural support member 4. Preferably, the second back member 9, if present, also has a second back face 10 with portions that are in parallel disposition with the front face 16 of the structural support member 4. The first side member 11 preferably is connected to the first back member 9. As shown in FIG. 1, the second side member 11 is connected to the second back member 9 present in the embodiment shown.

As shown in FIG. 8, the joist 3 is supported by the joist hanger 2. Preferably, portions of the one or more panels 6 are disposed between the joist 3 and the structural support member 4 and the back face 8 of one panel 6 of the one or more panels 6 interfaces with the front face 16 of the structural support member 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the joist hanger 2 has one or more top flanges 15 connected to the one or more back members 9. The one or more top flanges 15 preferably contact the top face 17 of the structural support member 4 when the connector 2 is installed. Although, the top face 17 of the structural support member does not need to be the top of the wall, and additional panels 6 could be disposed above the panels 6 shown. Preferably, the one or more top flanges 15 are fastened to the structural support member 4 to install the connector 2. The structural support member 4 preferably has a top face 17, the first and second top flanges 15 are fastened to the top face 17 of the structural support member 4. Preferably, the first and second top flanges 15 are fastened to the structural support member 5 with one or more fasteners 5. As shown these fasteners 5 can be nails.

As shown in FIG. 1, one or more stand-off members 18 can be attached to the hanger 2. The stand-off members 18 help hold portions of the hanger 2 and thereby the end or end surface 13 of the joist away from the front surface 16 of the support member 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the one or more back members 9 preferably have planar portions, with front faces 19 opposite the back faces 10. In the preferred form of the invention each of the first and second back members 9 has first and second inner edges 20 that have generally straight portions, and first and second outer edges 21 opposite the first and second inner edges 20. In the preferred form of the invention, the generally straight portions of the first and second inner edges 20 are disposed generally vertically, and the side members 11 are attached to the generally straight portions of the first and second inner edges 20. The one or more back members 9 preferably have one or more top edges 24 that are oriented upwardly and first and second bottom edges 25 that are oriented downwardly. Although the back members 9 are shown as splayed outwardly in opposite directions they could both be bent inwardly to face each other between the first and second side members 11, or they could both be bent in the same direction, either left or right, with one between the first and second side members 11, or the back members 9 could be combined into a single back member 9.

The joist hanger 2 of the present invention is preferably formed from sheet steel. When the hanger 2 is used to connect a wood joist 3 to a wood support member 4 with fasteners 5 such as nails or screws, the hanger 2 is preferably made with fastener openings 26 to make it easier to connect fasteners 5 to the hanger 2 and to indicate to the installer where fasteners 5 should be used.

The first and second side members 11 are preferably planar members, with first and second inner faces 27 that face the joist 3, and first and second outer faces 28 opposite the first and second inner faces 27.

The first and second side members 11 preferably have first and second back edges 29, and the first and second side members 11 form an angular joint 47, where they meet the first and second back members 9 at the inner edges 20 of the first and second back members 9. The embodiment of the hanger 2 shown in the drawings shows an orthogonal angular joint 47; however, other angles are used if the joist 3 is to extend from the support member 4 at a non-orthogonal angle.

The first and second side members 11 preferably have first and second front edges 30 opposite the first and second back edges 29. The first and second front edges 30 can be generally straight, or they could have curved or jutting portions to provide more support for the joist 3 or more room to space fasteners 5 for securing the joist 3 to the hanger 2.

The first and second back edges 29 of the first and second side members 11 preferably have lower portions 31 and upper portions 32 with the back members 9 reaching down as far as the upper portions 32 of the first and second back edges 29, and the back members 9 being attached to the side members 11 along the upper portions 32 of the first and second back edges 29 of the side members 11. In the preferred form of the invention, the bottom edges 25 of the back members 9 are disposed a substantial distance above the seat member 12. In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the bottom edges 25 of the back members 9 are disposed above the seat member 12 approximately at least half the length of the back edge 39 of the seat member 12. In the installed condition, preferably both the lower potions 31 and the upper portions 32 of the first and second back edges 29 are disposed in front of the front face or surface 7 of the outermost drywall panel 6 which is the front surface 7 of the drywall panel 6 closest to the end 13 of the joist 3.

The first and second side members 11 preferably have first and second top edges 33. The first and second side members 11 also preferably have first and second bottom edges 34 opposite the first and second top edges 33. The first and second side members 11 preferably are formed with fastener openings 26.

As shown in FIG. 1, the back members 9 are preferably formed with inclined portions 35 that preferably create space between the first and second side members 11 and the front face 16 of the support member 4 where the drywall panels 6 can be inserted behind portions of the end 13 of the joist 3 and the first and second side members 11 without having to notch or disturb these portions of the drywall panels 6. In the preferred form of the invention, the inclined portions 35 of the back members 9 start at the top edges 24 of the back members 9 where the back members 9 meet with the top flanges 15 and extend outwardly therefrom away from the font face 16 of the support member 4 a sufficient distance to insert one or more panels 6 between the end surface 13 of the joist 3 and the front face 16 of the support member 4. At the bottom of the inclined portions 35, bottom bends 57 are provided where the back members 9 are bent to preferably extend vertically and in parallel relation with the front face 16 of the support member 4. The lower vertical portions 46 of the one or more back members 9 are connected to the upper inclined portions 35 at the bottom bends 57 in the inclined upper portions 35 with the lower vertical portions 46 being disposed with respect to the upper inclined portions 35 at a non-orthogonal angle.

The one or more panels 6 preferably are drywall panels 6. Drywall, otherwise known as plasterboard, wallboard, or gypsum board is typically a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper. It is used as part of interior walls and ceilings. In the United States and Canada, drywall panels are manufactured in 48-inch wide panels in varying lengths. Common panel thicknesses are ½-inch and ⅝-inch. In the present invention, two layers of ⅝-inch drywall is preferred. Drywall is naturally fire resistant and can be used to cover and protect the structural members of a building. However, gypsum is friable and has little or no dowel bearing strength. Other panels of differeing materials and qualities may be used.

As shown in FIG. 8, preferably, the back surface 8 of the rearmost drywall panel 6 contacts or is in close proximity to the front face 16 of the structural support member 4. Preferably, the joist hanger 2 is not embedded into the members that make up the structural support member 4, although it is attached to the structural support 4 member with fasteners 5, and while not shown, the wall can have members above what is shown in the Figs., including additional panels 6.

The seat member 12 preferably has an upper face 36 that interfaces with the joist 3. The seat member 12 also preferably has a lower face 37 opposite the upper face 36, first and second linear side edges 38, a back edge 39 that can be orthogonal to the first and second side edges 38 in certain embodiments, and a front edge 40 opposed to the back edge 39. The seat member 12 preferably forms angular joints 48 with the first and second side members 11 where the first and second side edges 38 meet the first and second bottom edges 34 of the first and second side members 11.

The one or more top flanges 15 preferably are planar, with upper faces 41 and bottom faces 42 opposite the upper faces 41. Preferably, the bottom faces 42 contact the top face 17 of the structural support member 4. The one or more top flanges 15 preferably have front edges 44 and opposed back edges 45. The back edges 45 can be formed with notches 63 or with tabs 64. The top flanges 15 preferably form an angular joint 49 with the back members 9 where the front edges 44 of the top flanges 15 meet the one or more top edges 24 of the one or more back members 9. The first and second top flanges 15 can be formed with fastener openings 26. The tabs 64 can have fastener openings 26 for placing the fasteners 5 farther from the support member front face 16 while the notches 63 between the tabs 64 conserve material of the one or more top flanges 15.

As shown in FIG. 9, typically, the structural support member 4 is a top plate 4 which can consist of one or more parts 50. The parts 50 of the top plate 4 can be two pieces of nominal 2″×4″ or 2″×6″ dimensional lumber 50. The structural support member 4 can include the studs 52 that support the structural support member 4 and make up the wall. Only a few studs 52 are shown in the drawings, but typically studs 52 will be spaced uniformly along and underneath the top plate with more studs 52 being used where more bearing strength is needed.

Preferably, each of the one or more panels 6 has a top edge face 14 and the structural support member 4 has a top face 17. In the preferred embodiment, only one or more notches 51 are made in the one or more drywall panels 6 between the end 13 of the joist 3 and the structural support member 4 such that most of the top edge face 14 of each of the one or more panels 6 preferably is located at the level of the top face 17 of the structural support member or above the top face 17 of the structural support member 4, thereby helping to shield and protect the structural support member 4. Similarly, the drywall panels 6 are disposed between most of the end 13 of the joist 3 and the wall of which the structural support member 4 is a part.

The first back member 9 preferably has a first top edge 24, a first bottom edge 25, a first substantially vertical inner edge 20, a first outer edge 21 opposed to the first inner edge 20, and a first back face 10 of which a portion is adapted to be in parallel registration with the front face 7 of the outermost structural panel 6. Preferably, the second back member 9 also has a second top edge 24, a second bottom edge 25, a second inner edge 20, a second outer edge 21 opposed to the second substantially vertical inner edge 20, and a second back face 10 a portion of which is in parallel registration with the front face 7 of the outermost drywall panel 6.

The joist hanger 2 is preferably formed as a single piece of sheet metal that is bent into its final shape.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the stand-off member 18 can be formed as one or more jutting flanges 22 bent from the back members 9. Preferably the jutting flanges 22 are bent from the upper inclined portions 35 of the back members 9. As shown, a jutting flange 22 is bent from each back member 9 to form a pair of jutting flanges 22. The jutting flanges 22 are generally planar members bent from inner edges 20 of the back members 11, but the jutting flanges 22 need not be generally planar. The jutting flanges 22 each have a front edge 53 and a back edge 54. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, because the jutting flanges 22 are bent from the upper inclined portions 35 of the back members 9, the front edge 53 is disposed at an angle to the back edge 54 which is disposed vertically and parallel with the font face 16 of the support member 4. As is also shown, preferably each jutting flange 22 at a distal end 55 from the back member 9 is formed with a facing flange 56 that preferably interfaces with the front surface 16 of the support member 4. The facing flange 56 is connected to the back edge 54 of the jutting flange 22. The facing flange 56 can be formed with fastener openings 26.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, preferably the jutting flanges 22 are bent at an orthogonal or complimentary angle to the respective back members 11 from which they depend as the side members 11.

Stops 60 can be provided on the one or more side members 11 of the hanger 2. As shown, the stops 60 are a bent member attached to the side members 11 of the hanger 2 at the back edges 29 of the side members 11. The stops 60 are generally planar members that interface with the end 13 of the joist 3. The stops can be provided with openings 61 to receive fasteners to further secure the hanger 2 to the joist 3.

Claims

1. A joist hanger comprising: a. one or more back members, the one or more back members having back faces and opposed front faces, the one or more back members having top edges and opposed bottom edges, with upper inclined portions extending from the top edges and lower vertical portions connected to the upper inclined portions at bottom bends in the inclined upper portions, and the lower vertical portions are disposed with respect to the upper inclined portions at non-orthogonal angles, the lower vertical portions terminating in the bottom edges;b. a first side member connected to one of the one or more back members, the first side member having a top edge and an opposed bottom edge;c. a second side member connected to one of the one or more back members, the second side member having a top edge and an opposed bottom edge,d. a seat member connected to the first and second side members at the bottom edges of the first and second side members; wherein each of the first and second side members is formed with a back edge, and the back edges of the first and second side members have upper portions and lower portions with the one or more back members reaching down as far as the upper portions of the first and second back edges, and the one or more back members being attached to the side members along the upper portions of the back edges of the side members, and the bottom edges of the back members are disposed a substantial distance above the seat member.

2. The joist hanger of claim 1, wherein: a. the seat member is formed with a back edge and an opposed front edge with the back edge and front edges of the seat member running between the first and second side members, and the back edge of the seat member has a selected length, andb. the bottom edges of the one or back members are disposed above the seat member approximate half the length of the back edge of the seat member.

3. The joist hanger of claim 1, wherein: the upper inclined portions of the one or more back members are generally planar members and the lower vertical portions of the one or more back members are generally planar members and the upper inclined portions and the lower vertical portions lie in different planes.

4. The joist hanger of claim 1, wherein: one or more stops are provided on the one or more side members that extend from the back edges of the side members.

5. The joist hanger of claim 4, wherein: the stops are generally planar members bent from the back edges of the side members.

6. The joist hanger of claim 1, wherein: one or more stand-off members are provided on the one or more back members.

7. The joist hanger of claim 6, wherein: a. the stand-off member is formed with a facing flange that lies parallel with the lower vertical portions of the back members; andb. fastener openings are provided in the facing flanges.

8. The joist hanger of claim 1, wherein: a. the one or more back members are formed with inner edges; andb. the one or more stand-off members extend from the inner edges of the back members and are connected to the upper inclined portions of the back members.

9. The joist hanger of claim 1, wherein: a. the joist hanger has one or more top flanges connected to the one or more back members; andb. the first and second back edges of the side members are spaced away from the connection between the one or more back members and the top flanges.

10. The joist hanger of claim 1, wherein: a. the hanger is formed with first and second back members, and the first and second back members have first and second inner edges and first and second outer edges opposite the first and second inner edges, andb. the side members are attached to of the first and second inner edges of the first and second back members.