METAL HANGER FOR USE IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

Abstract: A metal hanger for use in the building industry typically to support roof trusses and floor joists, comprising a conventional L-shaped part (10) for cooperation with a masonry wall, integrally connected with a U-shaped part (12) for cooperation with a roof truss or joist, wherein the two parts are further integrally connected by stiffening elements (24, 24a), whereby to avoid the normal requirement for additional masonry on top of the hanger.

Description: Metal Hanger for Use in the Building Industry Field of Invention This invention relates to a metal hanger for use in the building industry, in particular for connecting horizontally extending members such as roof trusses or joists to vertically extending, supporting masonry. Background to the invention Roof truss hangers and joist hangers are widely used in the building industry, but the hangers currently in use are of a construction such that working loads to which the supported roof trusses or joists may be subjected, are only safely achievable when there is a restraining body of masonry on top of the hanger. If this requirement cannot be met, as may be the case for example at the junction of a roof ridge and a supporting wall, relatively complex solutions, such as double trusses coupled by tie beams, have to be employed to enable safe load bearing. It is also common practice in the building industry to utilise floor joists at the first floor level to support decking for contractors to stand on to continue building the walls. Clearly where the joists have to be supported by hangers, it is impossible for the masonry to be in place above the hangers if the joists are to be used for supporting decking to enable the upper levels of masonry to be constructed. A primary aim of the present invention is to provide a solution to these problems. Summary of the invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a metal hanger for connecting horizontally extending structural members to vertically extending, supporting masonry, comprising a member having an inverted, generally L-shaped part for in engagement with the supporting masonry with a first limb extending over the top of a course of brickwork or blockwork and a second limb extending down the internal face of the masonry, and integrally connected with the aforesaid second limb an inverted, generally U-shaped part for locating the end of a horizontally extending structural member, wherein stiffening means are incorporated substantially to prevent bending of the L-shaped part at the connection between the first and second limbs and the arrangement is such that in use the hanger is able to support the load of the horizontally extending structural member without requiring a body of masonry above it According to another aspect of the invention a hanger as aforesaid includes a lip on the outboard edge of the first limb which in use hooks over the supporting masonry wall and ensures that the second limb lies flat against the internal face of the wall A hanger according to the invention does not prevent further masonry being built up on top if required but does enable the hanger to be used without the additional masonry in place In a preferred embodiment of the invention the U-shaped part is formed from spaced apart side cheeks and a base on which, in use, the end of the horizontally extending structural member will rest and the base extends on either side of the spaced apart cheeks to form, in use, two horizontal wings which are attached to or extend integrally from the lower edge of the second limb of the hanger, to provide lateral strengthening thereof A hanger embodying the invention can be adapted to support two horizontally extending side-by-side structural members, by providing three equally spaced apart cheeks, the middle one of which separates the two side-by-side members, and the two ends of which are sandwiched between the middle cheek and the two outer cheeks of the hanger Holes may be formed in the cheeks to enable nails or screws or bolts to be used to secure the horizontally extending members to the hanger A method of building a masonry wall from building blocks using a hanger constructed in accordance with the invention, to support a horizontally extending structural member, may comprise the following steps; 1) building the walls up to a predetermined height 2) after the mortar has set, locating on the upper course of blocks a metal hanger as aforesaid, 3) laying further courses of blocks above that on which the hanger is supported if required, and 4) removing material from the surface of one or more blocks making up the course on which the hanger is supported or from the underside of one or more blocks in the next course which is to overlie the hanger, to accommodate hanger reinforcements protruding therefrom. Examples of metal hanger in accordance with the invention are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Fig 1 shows one embodiment of hanger in perspective, when in use, Fig 2 shows a modification, Fig 3 shows a further modification, Fig 4 shows a still further modification. Fig 5 shows a hanger embodying the invention adapted to support a double beam or double joist, Fig 6 shows in more detail how a hanger such as shown in Fig 1 or Fig 5 is built in to blockwork, and Fig 7 is a perspective view showing a typical application for a hanger of the invention. The hanger illustrated in Fig 1 has an inverted, generally L-shaped part 10 integrally connected with an inverted, generally U-shaped part 12. Both parts are made of sheet metal, typically sheet steeel. In use the part 10 locates over the top of a vertically extending masonry wall 14, with limb 16 lying against the top face and limb 18 against the internal vertical face. The part 12 is integrally connected with the front face of the limb 18, as by welding. This part 12 serves to locate one end of a horizontally extending structural member 20, such as a joist or the bottom member of a roof truss. Commonly, the other end of the horizontal structural member will be similarly supported. Thus far described, the hanger corresponds to the construction of a conventional roof truss or joist hanger, which for safe working practice requires a body of masonry to be built on top of it. For overcoming this problem, the hanger in accordance with the invention also includes two stiffening elements 24, 24A of strip-like form, welded in position to interconnect the top edge of the part 12 with the top face of the limb 16 of the part 10, and a dependent lip 22 along the back of the limb 16 of the part 10 The lip 22 in use hooks over the back of the supporting masonry wall 14 to ensure that the limb 18 of the part 10 lies flat against the internal face of the wall, thus to some extent relieving the bending moment between the limbs 16 and 18, while the elements 14, 14A serve positively to prevent bending between the limbs 16 and 18. In the latter connection, it is important that the planes of the strip-like stiffening elements 24, 24A are coplanar with the sides of the U-shaped part 12 and normal to the plane of the limb 16 of the part 10. The above described hanger in accordance with the invention will safely support all normal roof trusses and floor joists without requiring the restraint of additional masonry on top of it. This avoids the need for complex solutions where no space for additional masonry is available. However, if it is desired for other reasons to continue the masonry wall 14 above the hanger, the elements 24, 24A are readily accommodated, if necessary, at joints between building blocks or courses of building blocks. In practice the hanger will be manufactured in a range of sizes suited to differing masonry wall thicknesses and differing dimensions of horizontal members to be supported and the loads to be taken by these horizontal members, which will typically be roof trusses and/or floor joists. For example, the span of the U-shaped part 12, marked as 75mm in width, will in practice be suited to the thickness dimensions of the roof truss or joist to be supported, whilst the length of the limb 16 will match the thickness of the masonry wall 14. In all instances, it is ensured that the resistance to bending of the hanger afforded by the stiffening means is sufficient to resist the forces imposed by the loads supported by the hanger. Fig 2 shows a modification of the metal hanger of Fig 1 in which the part 10 has the same width as the part 12, and the lip 22 along the back of the limb 16 is omitted, the building operator being relied upon to fit the hanger closely against the internal face of the wall 14. In contrast, Fig 3 shows a further modification in which the greater width of the part 10, as compared to the width of the part 12, is utilised to enable L-shaped stiffening strips 26, 26A to be employed, extending around the corner of the part 10 between the limbs 16 and 18 in planes parallel to the sides of the U-shaped part 12, as illustrated but not essentially the outside edges of the part 10. This modification also serves to make it clear that, although in connection with the embodiment of Fig 1 the stiffening elements are stated to be welded in position, it is alternatively possible for the stiffening elements to be integrally formed with one of the parts 10, 12, part 10 in the case of the Fig 3 embodiment. Moreover, only one, or more than two such L-shaped stiffening strips may be provided, if desired. Finally, Fig 4 shows a still further embodiment, in which the stiffening elements 24, 24A or 16, 26A are replaced by a stiffening bulge 28 or analogous deformity integrally formed, as by pressing, into the part 10 at the connection between the limbs 16 and 18 of this part. The deformity stiffens the part 10 by creating a discontinuity in the bending line between the limbs 16 and 18, sufficient to provide the bending resistance necessary to resist the forces imposed by loads supported by the hanger. In Fig 5 three spaced apart plates 30, 32 and 34 are shown welded to a base plate 36 which comprises an outwardly bent flange of a backplate 38 to which the upright edges of the plates 30, 32 and 34 are also welded. The backplate 38 is bent over to form an integral upper flange 40, the outboard end of which is bent down to define a lip 42 for hooking over the bricks or blocks such as 44 of a masonry wall from which the hanger is to support a pair of horizontally extending members 46, 48 such as the two beams of a double beam or the ends of a pair of adjacent roof trusses. In each of Figs 1 , 3 and 4, wings 13 and 15 are shown as aligned extensions of the base of the U-shaped section 12, on either side thereof. The wings 13, 15 are most conveniently formed integrally with the limb 18 of the part 10, and the U-shaped part 12 is formed by welding two plates 17, 19 to the front face of the limb 18. The reinforcing parts 24, 24a of Fig 1 may be integrally formed with the plates 13, 15. In Fig 6 a hanger similar to that of Fig 1 and denoted in Fig 6 as item 50, is shown supporting a first joist 52 from block walling in which the upper limb 54 of the hanger rests on and extends across a block 56. The outboard end of the limb 54 is downturned at 58 to form a lip and the distance between the vertically extending limb 60 and the lip 58 is such as to accommodate the thickness of the building block 56. The block or blocks forming the next course of blocks 62 are cut away as at 64 to accommodate the upstanding reinforcing ribs, one of which is denoted by 66. Flooring timbers 68 are shown laid on the joist 52 and the underside of these timbers may need to be cut away also to accommodate the upstand 66. A ceiling sheet 69 is shown attached to the underside of the joist 52 Three nail or screw holes are shown at 70, 72 and 74 to allow the joist 50 to be secured to the side cheeks of the hanger, one side cheek of which is denoted by 76 in Fig 6. Similar fixing holes may be provided in the side cheeks of the any of the hangers shown in the drawings. Fig 7 shows how a hanger such as 50 can be used to advantage in a situation where minimal masonry is permitted above the horizontal limb 54 due to the design of the building and in particular in this case the roof. In Fig 7 one such hanger is denoted by 78 and is shown supporting one end of a horizontal member 80 of a roof truss generally designated 82, at a position where only a small triangular block section (typically constructed by cutting a conventional rectilinear block in manner known per se), can be accommodated above the hanger

Claims: Claims A metal hanger for connecting horizontally extending structural members to vertically extending, supporting masonry, comprising a member having an inverted, generally L-shaped part of sheet metal for positioning in engagement with the supporting masonry with a first limb extending over the top of a course of brickwork or blockwork and a second limb extending down the internal face of the masonry, and integrally connected as by welding with the aforesaid second limb an inverted, generally U-shaped part also of sheet metal for locating the end of a horizontally extending structural member, wherein stiffening means are incorporated substantially to prevent bending of the L-shaped part at the connection between its first and second limbs, the arrangement being such that the hanger is in sue able to support the load of the horizontally extending structural member without requiring a body of masonry above it. A hanger according to claim 1 , having a lip along the back edge of the aforesaid first limb of the inverted, generally L-shaped part, for extending down the external face of the masonry. A hanger as claimed in claim 1 in which a lip is provided along the outboard edge of the said first limb which in use hooks over the supporting masonry and ensures that the said second limb lies flat against the internal face of the wall. A hanger according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the transverse width of the inverted, generally L-shaped part is greater than the width of the inverted, generally U-shaped part. A hanger according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stiffening means comprises one or more stiffening elements extending around or across the connecting line between the limbs of the inverted, generally L-shaped part. A hanger according to claim 5, wherein the stiffening elements include at least one L-shaped element extending around the said connecting line. A hanger according to claim 6 when appendant to claim 3, in which the one or more L-shaped stiffening elements extend around the said connecting line laterally to the outside of the inverted, generally U-shaped part. A hanger according to claim 5, wherein the stiffening means comprises one or more stiffening elements extending from the top edges of the inverted, generally U- shaped part to the top face of the aforesaid first limb of the inverted, generally L- shaped part. A hanger according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the one or more stiffening elements take the form of strips lying in one or more planes parallel to the sides of the inverted, generally U-shaped part. A hanger according to claim 9 when appendant to claim 7, wherein the stiffening strips are coplanar with the sides of the inverted, generally U-shaped part. A hanger according to claim 10, wherein the stiffening elements extend along approximately half the front-to-back length of the top edges of the inverted, generally U-shaped part and rearwardly for approximately half the front-to-back depth of the first limb of the inverted, generally L-shaped part. A hanger according to any of claims 5 to 11, wherein the stiffening elements are separately formed from the inverted, generally L-shaped and generally U-shaped parts and are connected to both said parts. A hanger according to any of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein the stiffening means is integrally formed with the inverted, generally L-shaped part or generally U-shaped part. A hanger according to claim 13, wherein the stiffening means is integrally formed with the inverted, generally L-shaped part A hanger according to claim 14, wherein the stiffening means is formed as a deformation interrupting the line connecting the limbs of the inverted, generally L- shaped part. A hanger according to any of claims 1 to 15, in which the U-shaped part is formed from spaced apart side cheeks and a base on which in use the end of the horizontally extending structural member will rest, and the base extends on either side of the spaced apart side cheeks to form two platforms which are attached to or extend integrally from the lower edge of the second limb of the hanger to provide lateral strengthening thereof. A metal hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings. A method of constructing a masonry wall from building blocks so as to provide support for an end of a horizontally extending structural member comprising the steps of; 1) building the wall up to a predetermined height 2) after the mortar has set, locating on the upper course of blocks a metal hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17, 3) if required laying at least one course of blocks above that on which the hanger is supported and 4) removing material from the upper face of one or more of the course of blocks on which the hanger is to rest or from the underside of one or more blocks in the next course of blocks which is or are to overlie the hanger, to accommodate hanger reinforcements therein

Inventors: SMITH ROGER, SMITH, ROGER
Applicants: MARLOW & CO LTD, SMITH ROGER, MARLOW & CO. LTD., SMITH, ROGER
Application year: 2000
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1, E04B7