Patent ID: 9725904
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: E04B,E04C,E04F

Claim:
1. A metal joist for assembly with like joists to provide a deck assembly, said joist being formed from a continuous sheet and having a web portion and a deck portion extending orthogonally from the web portion and defining a generally planar surface, said deck portion having an exposed planar shelf section formed by an offset at the intersection of the web portion and deck portion to lie below the general planar surface of the deck portion and parallel thereto, said shelf section having an exposed support surface connected to said deck portion by an uninterrupted wall disposed at an angle to said deck portion, an offset at a distal edge of the deck portion to provide a planar tail, said tail extending parallel to and displaced from said general planar surface of the deck portion, said tail having an exposed abutment surface narrower than said exposed support surface and an oppositely directed fastening surface, said offsets being relatively dimensioned such that when said abutment surface of a tail of one joist is supported on the support surface of a shelf section of an adjacent joist, the deck portions lie in a common plane with said fastening surface of said tail being below said common plane and unencumbered by a shelf section to receive a fastener whereby said abutment surface of said tail is slidable on said exposed support surface of said shelf section to permit lateral adjustment between said shelf section and said tail in a plane parallel to said general planar surface of the deck portion whilst maintaining said abutment face in contact with said support surface over the entire extent of said abutment surface.