IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,394,680

Granted Patent B2

US 9,394,680 · App. 14/106,714 · Granted Jul 19, 2016

Drywall joist hanger

Inventors: Gregory D. Bundy (Columbus, OH); Dustin P. Muhn (San Francisco, CA); Thomas G. Evans (Dublin, CA); Daniel M. Gray (McKinney, TX)

Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company

E04B1/2612 E04B1/26 E04B1/94 E04B5/12

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,394,680
App. No.: 14/106,714
Granted: Jul 19, 2016
Kind: B2

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USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A connection utilizing a joist hanger to hang a generally horizontal joist or beam from a wood structural support member such as a top plate or header in cooperation with a first plurality of fasteners such as screws and one or more generally vertical drywall panels.

Claims (98)

1. A connection ( 1 ) utilizing a joist hanger ( 2 ) to hang a generally horizontal joist ( 3 ) from a wood structural support member ( 4 ) in cooperation with a first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) and one or more generally vertical drywall panels ( 6 ), the connection ( 1 ) comprising:

a. the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) shielding the wood structural support member ( 4 ), each having a front face ( 7 ), a back face ( 8 ) opposite the front face ( 7 ), the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) being drywall panels such that they have negligible dowel bearing strength compared to the wood structural support member ( 4 );

b. the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ), each of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) having a shank ( 13 );

c. the wood structural support member ( 4 ) having a generally vertical front face ( 16 ) and the wood structural support member ( 4 ) having significant dowel bearing strength compared to the drywall panels ( 6 ), the wood structural support member ( 4 ) supporting the shanks ( 13 ) of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 );

d. the joist ( 3 ); and

e the joist hanger ( 2 ) supporting the joist ( 3 ), the joist hanger ( 2 ) comprising:

i. a first back plate member ( 9 ) with a first back face ( 10 ) in parallel registration with the front face ( 7 ) of a first panel ( 6 ) of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 );

ii. a second back plate member ( 9 ) with a second back face ( 10 ) in parallel registration with the front face ( 7 ) of the first panel ( 6 ) of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 );

iii. a first side member ( 11 ) connected to the first back plate member ( 9 ); and

iv. a second side member ( 11 ) connected to the second back plate member ( 9 ), wherein:

(a) at least one of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) passes through the first back plate member ( 9 ) and the one or more panels ( 6 ) and into the wood structural support member ( 4 );

(b) at least one of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) passes through the second back plate member ( 9 ) and the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) and into the wood structural support member ( 4 );

(d) the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) are between the joist hanger ( 2 ) and the wood structural support member ( 4 ) and the back face ( 8 ) of one panel ( 6 ) of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) interfaces with the front face ( 16 ) of the wood structural support member ( 4 ).

2. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the joist hanger has a seat member ( 12 ) interconnecting the first and second side members ( 11 ); wherein:

i. the joist ( 3 ) rests on the seat member ( 12 ) between the first and second side members ( 11 ).

3. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. no part of the joist hanger ( 2 ) contacts the front face ( 16 ) of the wood structural support member ( 4 ).

4. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 3 wherein:

a. each of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) has a top edge face ( 14 );

b. the joist hanger ( 2 ) has a first top flange ( 15 ) connected to the first back plate member ( 9 ) and a second top flange ( 15 ) connected to the second back plate member ( 9 ); wherein:

i. the first and second top flanges ( 15 ) extend over the top edge faces ( 14 ) of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) and are the only parts of the joist hanger that contact the wood structural support member ( 4 ).

5. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 4 wherein:

a. the first and second top flanges ( 15 ) are fastened to the wood structural support member ( 4 ).

6. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 5 wherein:

a. the wood structural support member ( 4 ) has a top face ( 17 ); and

b. the first and second top flanges ( 15 ) are fastened to the top face ( 17 ) of the wood structural support member ( 4 ).

7. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 6 wherein:

a. the first and second top flanges ( 15 ) are fastened to the wood structural support member ( 4 ) with a second plurality of fasteners ( 5 ).

8. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) that attach the joist hanger ( 2 ) to the wood structural support member ( 4 ) are all within the upper one-third of the first and second back plate members ( 9 ).

9. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 8 wherein:

a. the wood structural support member ( 4 ) is a top plate ( 4 ) having one or more parts ( 50 ), and the top plate has a height less than one-third the height of the joist hanger ( 2 ).

10. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 9 wherein:

a. the parts ( 50 ) of the top plate ( 4 ) are two pieces of 2×4 dimensional lumber ( 50 ).

11. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. each of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) has a top edge face ( 14 );

b. the wood structural support member ( 4 ) has a top face ( 17 ); and

c. the top edge face ( 14 ) of each of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) is located at the level of the top face ( 17 ) of the wood structural support member ( 4 ) or above the top face ( 17 ) of the wood structural support member ( 4 ).

12. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the first and second back plate members ( 9 ) have first and second top edges ( 24 ), respectively; and

b. the first and second back faces ( 10 ) of the first and second back plate members ( 9 ) interface with the front face ( 7 ) of the first panel ( 6 ) of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) below the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) that pass through the first and second back faces ( 10 ) and the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) and into the wood structural support member ( 4 ), wherein:

i. the interface between first and second back faces ( 10 ) of the first and second back plate members ( 9 ) and the front face ( 7 ) of the first panel ( 6 ) of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) extends at least three times as far from the first and second top edges ( 24 ) of the first and second back plates ( 24 ) as the location of any of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) in the first and second back plate members ( 9 ).

13. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. no more than two of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) fastens each of the first and second back faces ( 10 ) of the first and second back plate members ( 9 ) to the wood structural support member ( 4 ) through the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ).

14. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. each of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) is a screw ( 5 ) that has a tip ( 18 ) embedded in the wood structural support member ( 4 ).

15. A connection ( 1 ) utilizing a joist hanger ( 2 ) to attach a joist ( 3 ) to a wood structural support member ( 4 ) in cooperation with a first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) and one or more drywall panels ( 6 ), the connection comprising:

a. the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ), each having a front face ( 7 ) and a back face ( 8 ) the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) being drywall panels such that they have negligible dowel bearing strength compared to the wood structural support member ( 4 );

b. the first plurality of fasteners, each of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) having a shank ( 13 ); and

c. the wood structural support member ( 4 ), the structural support member ( 4 ) having significant dowel bearing strength compared to the drywall panels ( 6 ), the wood structural support member ( 4 ) supporting the shanks ( 13 ) of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 );

d. the joist ( 3 );

e the joist hanger ( 2 ), the joist hanger ( 2 ) comprising:

i. a first back plate member ( 9 ) with a first plurality of fastener openings ( 26 ) that are all located in the upper third of the back plate member ( 9 );

ii. a second back plate member ( 9 ) with a second plurality of fastener openings ( 26 ) that are all located in the upper third of the back plate member ( 9 );

iii. a first side member ( 11 ) connected to the first back plate member ( 9 ), the first side member ( 11 ) having a first top edge ( 33 ) below the first top edge ( 24 ) of the first back plate member ( 9 ); and

iv. a second side member ( 11 ) connected to the second back plate member ( 9 ), the second side member ( 11 ) having a second top edge ( 33 ) below the second top edge ( 24 ) of the second back plate member ( 9 ), wherein:

(a) at least one of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) passes through the first back plate member ( 9 ) and one or more panels ( 6 ) and into the wood structural support member ( 4 );

(b) no more than one of the plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) passes through the first back plate member ( 9 ) above the first side member ( 11 );

(c) at least one of the second plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) passes through the second back plate member ( 9 ) and the one or more panels ( 6 ) and into the wood structural support member ( 4 );

(d) no more than one of the plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) passes through the second back plate member ( 9 ) above the first side member ( 11 ); and

(e) the joist ( 3 ) is supported by the joist hanger ( 2 ).

16. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 15 wherein:

a. the joist hanger has a seat member ( 12 ) interconnecting the first and second side members ( 11 ); wherein:

i. the joist ( 3 ) rests on the seat member ( 12 ) between the first and second side members ( 11 ).

17. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 15 wherein:

a. the first and second back plate members ( 9 ) have first and second top edges ( 24 ), respectively; and

i. the interface between first and second back face ( 10 ) of the first and second back plate member ( 9 ) and the front face ( 7 ) of the first panel ( 6 ) of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ) extends at least three times as far from the first and second top edges ( 24 ) of the first and second back plates ( 24 ) as any of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ).

18. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 15 wherein:

19. A connection ( 1 ) utilizing a joist hanger ( 2 ) to attach a first generally horizontal joist ( 3 ) to a first horizontal wood structural support member ( 4 ) in cooperation with a first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) and one or more generally vertical drywall panels ( 6 ), the connection ( 1 ) comprising:

a. the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ), each having a front face ( 7 ), a back face ( 8 ) opposite the front face ( 7 ), the drywall panels ( 6 ) being drywall panels such that they have negligible dowel bearing strength compared to the first wood structural support member ( 4 );

b. the first plurality of fasteners, each of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) having a shank ( 13 );

c. the first wood structural support member ( 4 ) having significant dowel bearing strength compared to the drywall panels ( 6 ), the first wood structural support member ( 4 ) supporting the shanks ( 13 ) of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 );

d. the joist ( 3 ); and

e the joist hanger ( 2 ), the joist hanger ( 2 ) comprising:

i. a first back plate member ( 9 ) with a first back face ( 10 ) in parallel registration with the front face ( 7 ) of a first panel ( 6 ) of the one or more panels ( 6 );

ii. a second back plate member ( 9 ) with a second back face ( 10 ) in parallel registration with the front face ( 7 ) of the first panel ( 6 ) of the one or more panels ( 6 );

iii. a first side member ( 11 ) connected to the first back plate member ( 9 ); and

iv. a second side member ( 11 ) connected to the second back plate member ( 9 ), wherein:

(a) at least one of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) passes through the first back plate member ( 9 ) and the one or more panels ( 6 ) and into the first wood structural support member ( 4 );

(b) at least one of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) passes through the second back plate member ( 9 ) and the one or more panels ( 6 ) and into the first wood structural support member ( 4 );

(d) the one or more panels ( 6 ) are between the joist hanger ( 2 ) and the first wood structural support member ( 4 ).

20. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 19 wherein:

a. the first back plate member ( 9 ) has a first top edge ( 24 ), a first bottom edge ( 25 ), a first generally vertical inner edge ( 20 ), a first outer edge ( 21 ) substantially parallel to the first generally vertical inner edge ( 20 ) near the first top edge ( 24 ) and converging toward the generally vertical inner edge ( 20 near the bottom edge ( 25 ), a first back face ( 10 ) in parallel registration with the front face ( 7 ) of a first panel ( 6 ) of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ), and a first plurality of fastener openings ( 26 ) between the parallel portions of the first generally vertical inner edge ( 20 ) and the first outer edge ( 21 ); and

b. the second back plate member ( 9 ) has a second top edge ( 24 ), a second bottom edge ( 25 ), a second generally vertical inner edge ( 20 ), a second outer edge ( 21 ) generally parallel to the second generally vertical inner edge ( 20 ) near the second top edge ( 24 ) and converging toward the generally vertical inner edge ( 20 ) near the bottom edge ( 25 ), a second back face ( 10 ) in parallel registration with the front face ( 7 ) of a first panel ( 6 ) of the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ), and a second plurality of fastener openings ( 26 ) between the parallel portions of the second generally vertical inner edge ( 20 ) and the second outer edge ( 21 ).

21. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 19 wherein:

a. the joist hanger has a seat member ( 12 ) interconnecting the first and second side members ( 11 ); wherein:

i. the joist ( 3 ) rests on the seat member ( 12 ) between the first and second side members ( 11 ).

22. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 19 wherein:

a. the first and second back plate member ( 9 ) have first and second top edges ( 24 ), respectively; and

23. The connection ( 1 ) of claim 19 wherein:

a. no more than two of the first plurality of fasteners ( 5 ) fastens each of the first and second back faces ( 10 ) of the first and second back plate members ( 9 ) to the first wood structural support member ( 4 ) through the one or more drywall panels ( 6 ).

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2014

From: MUHN, DUSTIN P.; BUNDY, GREGORY D.; EVANS, THOMAS G.; GRAY, DANIEL M.

To: SIMPSON STRONG-TIE COMPANY, INC.

Reel/Frame 032742/0062 →

Continuity (1)

Related Publication 20150167291A1 · Jun 18, 2015