Patent Publication Number: US-8528292-B2

Title: Support framing system for use with bar joists and beams

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the US national phase of international application no. PCT/US2010/02120, filed Jan. 15, 2010, which is entitiled to the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional Application No. 61/144,950, filed Jan. 15, 2009, as to all subject matter disclosed therein. The entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/144,950 is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates to a clamp for use with metal bar joists and beams in order to secure cross members to roof joists. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In building construction, and in steel-framed building construction in particular, metal bar joists and wide flange beam joists are used as roof framing, typically under corrugated roof decking. The metal bar joists or beams are also used to hang such items as lighting fixtures, sprinkler header assemblies, product conveyors, skylights, HVAC equipment, drywall for ceilings, and the like. For large equipment components, such as some air conditioning units, it is necessary to cut through sections of the corrugated roof decking to form an opening sized to receive the large equipment. Openings are also formed by cutting through sections of roof decking for other purposes, such as to create roof access openings. 
     In order to reinforce the weakened roof decking above the joist structure once such openings are formed, the typical practice is to weld angle clips to bar joists at panel points to support welded angle framing steel. Panel points are locations just above the apex of a structural bar element that depends downwardly, at an angle, from the upper pair of angle irons of metal bar joists. These zigzagging diagonal bar elements form a truss support structure. 
     Equipment may be set on a roof deck having greater weight than the decking can support, but within the capacity of the roof joist structure. There is a need to reliably transfer such loads from the decking to the bar joists or beams. 
     The conventional practice of welding clips to support welded angle framing steel has several drawbacks. For instance, the welding may cause unintended structural damage to the remaining length of the joists through undercutting; the welding may have to be performed from awkward angles, with limited space constraints, making the welding difficult or dangerous; and the welding must be performed by skilled certified welders. 
     Another common way to install pieces of framing angle between joists is to cut out a section from each end of a 90°-shaped piece of metal, so that one flat surface remains on each end. This flat surface then rests on top of each parallel running joist, with the cut surface extending downward, to be used for mounting equipment. However, such a support angle would need to be installed before the decking. There can also be other problems associated with this arrangement. For example, any time material is removed from a structural component, such as a framing angle, it will then become weakened and will be less capable of supporting loads. Also, stress will tend to be concentrated along the line where the edge of the top flange of the joist meets the non-cut side of the framing angle. As a direct result of this non-uniform, poorly-distributed load, the top flange of the joist can end up bending, and this can lead to roof failure. 
     As demonstrated in the following sections, a support system is disclosed that can be secured in place at strategic locations along joists, under the corrugated roof decking, as a more reliable solution to reinforcing roofing structure in the vicinity of openings formed in roof decking. The solution is also useful to transfer loads to bar joists or beams in roofing structures where no openings are formed. For example, the support system of the present disclosure may be employed where structural reinforcement is necessary in order to support loads above or below particular locations in the roof, such as for heavy air conditioning condenser units, lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, article conveyors, or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A support system that is securable between pairs of metal bar joists or beams is disclosed. The support system includes one or more end brackets that are secured to the top of a first bar joist or wide flange beam at one end, and the same number of end brackets that are secured to the top of a second bar joist or beam at an opposite end. While the embodiments disclosed herein are predominantly described below as being applied to bar joists, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the present support system may alternately be applied to wide flange beams in a similar manner. Each of the end brackets secured to the top of the first bar joist is aligned with a respective one of the end brackets secured to the second bar joist. The support system further includes at least one elongate bar, preferably comprising tube steel, spanning the distance separating the first and second bar joists. Each of the elongate bars is secured to one of the end brackets secured to the first bar joist at a first end, and to the respective, aligned end bracket secured to the second bar joist at a second end. 
     In one embodiment, each of the end brackets includes a channel member that extends over the bar joist to which the end bracket is secured, and a saddle attached to the channel member, the saddle having a top plate and two sidewalls extending downwardly from the top plate. In another embodiment, as an alternative to a channel member, each of the end brackets includes a tube member that extends over the bar joist or wide flange beam to which the end bracket is secured. In this alternate embodiment, a saddle attaches to the tube member, the saddle having a top plate and two side walls extending downwardly from the top plate. By way of example only, the saddle may be attached to the channel member or tube member by rivets, spot welds or plug welds. Apart from the substitution of a tube member for a channel member, the remaining details of these alternate end brackets, and their manner of application in the support system of the present disclosure, are the same as the end brackets of the first embodiment, and for the sake of brevity, such details are not repeated herein. The sidewalls of the saddle straddle the sides of the elongate bar formed of tube steel, and extend below the sides of the elongate bar. The sidewalls of the saddle are provided with opposing fastener-receiving apertures spaced vertically below the bottom of the channel member a distance greater than the height of the sides of the elongate bar. The fastener-receiving apertures on at least one of the sidewalls are preferably square to accommodate a complementary underside of a head of a carriage bolt, thereby preventing rotation of the carriage bolt relative to the saddle. 
     The support system may further include one or more cross members secured to the elongate bars. Each of the cross members includes a pair of generally T-shaped bracket assemblies, each of which is referred to herein as “T-bracket assembly,” one at either end thereof. Each T-bracket assembly includes a first T-bracket saddle portion (forming the upper cross-portion of the “T” shape) that extends over and straddles one of the elongate bars in a similar fashion to the saddle of the end brackets. Opposing fastener-receiving apertures are provided on sidewalls of the first T-bracket saddle portion, with the fastener-receiving apertures spaced vertically below a top plate of the first T-bracket saddle portion a distance greater than the height of the sides of the elongate bar. 
     Each T-bracket assembly further includes a second T-bracket saddle portion (forming the trunk portion of the “T” shape), extending perpendicularly from a central region of one of the sidewalls of the first T-bracket saddle portion. The second T-bracket saddle portion has a top wall which may include a cut out section to accommodate a rib of a roof deck, and a pair of downwardly-depending sidewalls having opposing fastener-receiving apertures provided therein. At least one of the sidewalls of the second T-bracket saddle portion of the T-bracket assembly may be provided with a retaining tang that may be bent inwardly, toward the opposing sidewall, to aid in the installation of a cross bar, which may be formed of tube steel, into the second T-bracket saddle portion. 
     Opposing fastener-receiving apertures are provided on sidewalls of the second T-bracket saddle portion, with the fastener-receiving apertures spaced vertically below the top wall of the second T-bracket saddle portion a distance greater than the height of the sides of the cross bar. As in the case of the saddle of the end bracket, at least one of each opposing pair of fastener-receiving apertures of the first and second T-bracket saddle portion is preferably square to accommodate a complementary underside of a head of a carriage bolt, thereby preventing rotation of the carriage bolt relative to the respective sidewall. 
     A cross member is thus defined by the cross bar and the T-bracket assemblies to which the cross bar is secured at either end. With a pair of such cross members secured between the elongate bars, and the elongate bars secured via the end brackets to the bar joists, the support system is able to accommodate and transmit loads. Installation of the support system of the present disclosure requires no welding of its various components to the bar joists. The support structure will now be described in more detail in the following description of the drawings and the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of the support system of the present disclosure, installed between a pair of bar joists; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the support system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an end bracket of the support system of  FIG. 1 , secured to the top of a bar joist; 
         FIG. 4  is another perspective view of an end bracket of the support system of  FIG. 1  secured to the top of a bar joist; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an end bracket of the support system of  FIG. 1 , with a bar joist and elongate bar illustrated in phantom lines; 
         FIG. 6  is another exploded perspective view of an end bracket of the support system of  FIG. 1 , with a bar joist and elongate bar illustrated in phantom lines; 
         FIG. 6   a  is an exploded perspective view of an end bracket of the support system of present disclosure, with a wide flange beam illustrated in phantom lines; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a T-bracket assembly of the support system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is another perspective view of the T-bracket assembly of the support system of  FIG. 1 , with an elongate bar and a cross bar illustrated in phantom lines; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the T-bracket assembly of  FIG. 8 , taken along lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of the first T-bracket saddle portion of the T-bracket assembly of  FIG. 8 , illustrating a sidewall of the first T-bracket saddle portion to which the second T-bracket saddle portion is attached; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of the second T-bracket saddle portion of the T-bracket assembly of  FIG. 8 , illustrating a sidewall of the second T-bracket assembly that extends perpendicularly to the sidewall of the first T-bracket saddle portion of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the second T-bracket saddle portion of the T-bracket assembly of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a tube member for use in an alternate end bracket of the support system of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the tube member of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b  are perspective views of an end bracket provided with the tube member of  FIG. 13 , wherein the saddle and the tube member of the end clamp are welded to one another; 
         FIGS. 15   c  and  15   d  are perspective views of an end bracket provided with the tube member of  FIG. 13 , wherein the saddle and the tube member of the end clamp are riveted to one another; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15   a;    
         FIGS. 17   a  and  17   b  are perspective views of an end bracket provided with a channel member, wherein the saddle and the channel member of the end clamp are welded to one another; 
         FIGS. 17   c  and  17   d  are perspective views of an end bracket provided with a channel member, wherein the saddle and the channel member of the end clamp are riveted to one another; 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17   a;    
         FIG. 19  is a plan view of yet another alternate embodiment of the support system of the present disclosure, adapted for use with joist girders; 
         FIG. 20  is an exploded perspective view of the support system embodiment of  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of an end bracket of the support system illustrated in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view of the end bracket of  FIG. 21 , taken along lines  22 - 22  of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a plan view of a pass through bracket of the present disclosure for securing a pair of structural framing bars to a bar joist; and 
         FIG. 24  is a plan view of a bracket that may be used as part of the pass through bracket illustrated in  FIG. 23 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The support system  10  of the present disclosure is useful for supporting loads at locations between wide flange beams or bar joists  12 ,  12 ′ while transferring forces and loads to the bar joists  12 ,  12 ′. As is known in the art, a bar joist is a structural member typically used to support a roof structure, commonly a corrugated roof. As best shown in  FIG. 2 , a bar joist  12 ,  12 ′ includes an upper pair of angle irons  14 ,  16  spaced apart from one another by the thickness of an intermediate truss arrangement of bar elements  18 , and a lower pair of angle irons  20 ,  22 , also spaced apart from one another by the thickness of the intermediate truss arrangement of bar elements  18 . Each of the upper angle irons  14 ,  16  is oriented with its horizontal flange  24  oriented at the top of the bar joist  12 ,  12 ′, and with its vertical flange  26  extending downwardly from an edge closest to the opposing upper angle iron  16 ,  14 . Each of the lower angle irons  20 ,  22  is oriented with its horizontal flange  24  oriented at the bottom of the bar joist  12 ,  12 ′, and with its vertical flange  26  extending upwardly from an edge closest to the opposing lower angle iron  22 ,  20 . 
     The support system  10  includes four end brackets  28 . Each of the end brackets  28  is securable to the upper pair of angle irons  14 ,  16  of one of the bar joists  12 ,  12 ′. As an alternative to a bar joist, the end brackets  28  may be secured to the upper horizontal flange  25  of a wide flange beam  27 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   a . A heel clip  30  (as best illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) and a fastener, such as a bolt  32 , together with a nut and/or a washer, are used to secure each end bracket  28  to the horizontal flange  24  of one of the upper angle irons  14 ,  16 , or to the upper horizontal flange  25  of the wide flange beam  27 . In each instance of the present disclosure in which a fastener, such as a bolt or a carriage bolt, is disclosed, it is understood that the securement at the given location may include a bolt and/or nut, even if not specifically described. The support system  10  of the present disclosure preferably employs grade  5  carriage bolts. However, lower grade carriage bolts may be satisfactory for the bolts  32  of the end brackets  28 . The heel clip  30  has a bottom plate  34  with an aperture  36  therethrough, and an end wall  38  having an upwardly-open slot  40  therein. The heel clip  30  may have another end wall or lip  42  opposite the end wall  38 . 
     In a first embodiment, the end bracket  28  includes a saddle  44  and a channel member  46 . The channel member  46  may be riveted, spot welded, or plug welded to an interior of the saddle  44 , such as at locations R (rivet) or W (weld) indicated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  6   a , and  17   a - 17   d . The channel member  46  includes a bottom wall  48 , and two upwardly-extending sidewalls  50 ,  52 . An aperture, preferably in the form of an elongate slot  54 , is provided in the bottom wall  48 . The saddle  44  includes a top plate  56  and two sidewalls  58 ,  60  extending downwardly from the top plate. When the end bracket  28  is secured to a bar joist  12  or  12 ′, the sidewalls  58 ,  60  project inwardly from the bar joist  12 ,  12 ′, i.e. closer the other bar joist  12 ′ or  12 , and the channel member  46  extends outwardly of the bar joist  12 ,  12 ′. The saddle  44  and channel member  46  cooperate with one another to act as a tube member. In an end bracket  128  of an alternate embodiment, instead of the channel member  46 , a tube member  146  formed from a length of tube steel may be provided in the saddle  44 , as shown in  FIGS. 13-16 . The tube member  146  may have a segment of its upper wall  147  removed and have an aperture, preferably in the form of an elongate slot  154 , formed in the bottom wall  148  thereof to receive a fastener. The tube member  146  includes side walls  150 ,  152 . The tube member  146  may include elongate opposing, inwardly-directed flanges  155 ,  156  at the upper edges of the side walls  150 ,  152 , formed by removing less than the total width of the upper wall  147  when removing the segment of the upper wall  147 . The tube member  146  may be riveted, spot welded, or plug welded to an interior of the saddle  44 , such as at locations R (rivet) or W (weld) indicated in  FIGS. 15   a - 15   d , in the same manner as the channel member  46  of the end bracket  28 . 
     The sidewalls  58 ,  60  of the saddle  44  straddle the sides of an elongate bar  62 , which may be formed of tube steel. The sidewalls  58 ,  60  of the saddle  44  extend below the sidewalls  64  of the elongate bar  62 . Opposing fastener-receiving apertures  66 ,  68  are provided in the sidewalls  58 ,  60  of the saddle  44 . The opposing fastener-receiving apertures  66 ,  68  are spaced vertically below the bottom wall  48  of the channel member  46  a distance greater than the height of the sidewalls  64  of the elongate bar  62 . The fastener-receiving apertures  66  on at least one of the sidewalls  58 ,  60  of the saddle  44  are preferably square to accommodate a complementary square underside  70  of a head of a carriage bolt  72 , thereby preventing rotation of the carriage bolt  72  relative to the saddle  44 . 
     The elongate bar  62  is secured to the saddle  44  of each of two of the end brackets  28 , one at either end of the elongate bar  62 , and one of the end brackets  28  is secured to each of the bar joists  12 ,  12 ′, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A second elongate bar  62 ′ is secured to the saddle  44  of each of two additional end brackets  28 , one at either end of the second elongate bar  62 ′, with one of the additional end brackets  28  secured to each of the bar joists  12 ,  12 ′. The end brackets  28  are spaced from one another along each of the bar joists  12 ,  12 ′ to provide desired spacing of the second elongate bar  62 ′ from the first elongate bar  62 . 
     In order to secure a pair of cross bars  74 , which may also be formed of tube steel, between the first elongate bar  62  and second elongate bar  62 ′, two T-bracket assemblies  76  are secured to each of the elongate bars  62 ,  62 ′. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 7-12 , each T-bracket assembly  76  includes a first T-bracket saddle portion  78  (forming the upper cross-portion of the “T” shape) that extends over and straddles one of the elongate bars  62 ,  62 ′ in a similar fashion to the saddle  44  of the end brackets  28 . Opposing fastener-receiving apertures  80 ,  82  are provided on sidewalls  84 ,  85  of the first T-bracket saddle portion  78 . The fastener-receiving apertures  80 ,  82  are spaced vertically below a top plate  86  of the first T-bracket saddle portion a distance greater than the height of the sidewalls  64  of the elongate bar  62 ,  62 ′. The fastener-receiving apertures  80  on at least one of the sidewalls  84  of the first T-bracket saddle portion  78  are preferably square to accommodate a complementary square underside  70  of a head of a carriage bolt  72 , thereby preventing rotation of the carriage bolt  72  relative to the first T-bracket saddle portion  78 . 
     Each T-bracket assembly  76  further includes a second T-bracket saddle portion  90  (forming the trunk portion of the “T” shape), extending perpendicularly from a central region of one of the sidewalls  84  of the first T-bracket saddle portion  78 . The second T-bracket saddle portion  90  has a top wall  92 . The top wall  92  may include a cut out section  94  to accommodate a rib of a roof deck (not shown). The cut out section  94  allows for roof weight to be placed directly onto the cross bar  74 . It also keeps the cross bar  74  flush with the normal elevation of the roof instead of forcing the rooftop up the thickness of the top wall  92 . The second T-bracket saddle portion  90  also includes a pair of sidewalls  96 ,  98  depending downwardly from the top wall  92 . The sidewalls  96 ,  98  have opposing fastener-receiving apertures  100 ,  102  provided therein. 
     The fastener-receiving apertures  100 ,  102  are spaced vertically below the top wall  92  of the second T-bracket saddle portion  90  a distance greater than the height of the sidewalls  88  of the cross bar  74 . As in the case of the saddle  44  of the end bracket  28  and the first T-bracket saddle portion  78 , at least one of each opposing pair of fastener-receiving apertures  100 ,  102  of the second T-bracket saddle portion  90  is preferably square to accommodate a complementary underside  70  of a head of a carriage bolt  72 , thereby preventing rotation of the carriage bolt  72  relative to the respective sidewall  96 . 
     A retaining tang  104  (see  FIG. 8 ) is preferably provided in at least one of the sidewalls of the second T-bracket saddle portion  90  of the T-bracket assembly  76 . The retaining tang  104  may be deployed, i.e. bent inwardly, toward the opposing sidewall, thereby helping to secure the cross bar  74  during installation, and not to support any significant loads, until fasteners, such as carriage bolts  72 , are inserted into the opposing fastener-receiving apertures  100 ,  102  and secured in place, such as with hex nuts and washers. The tang may be bent more inwardly or less inwardly by the user as desired. 
     In order to attach the second T-bracket saddle portion  90  to the first T-bracket saddle portion  78 , bolts can be inserted through the common fastener-receiving apertures  80 ,  82 . Additionally, the second T-bracket saddle portion  90  may be riveted, spot welded, or plug welded to the first T-bracket saddle portion  78 , such as at locations W indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 7 . 
     One of the sidewalls  96  of the second T-bracket saddle portion  90  is also preferably provided with a pry slot  106  to aid in cross bar  74  installation. The pry slot  106  is particularly useful, for example, in installations under uneven roof decking, as the pry slot  106  can be used to facilitate insertion of the cross bars  74  into the second T-bracket saddle portion  90 . 
     The combination of a pair of T-bracket assemblies  76  and a cross bar  74  secured therebetween defines a cross member  112  of the support system  10  of the present disclosure. Once the support system  10  is fully assembled between a pair of bar joists  12 ,  12 ′, the cross members  112  can support loads therebetween, with the support system  10  effectively transmitting forces to the horizontal flanges  24  of the bar joists  12 ,  12 ′. 
     When it is desired to support a pair of cross bars  74  aligned with one another across a structural framing bar  62 , a cross support bracket, which shares similarities with the T-bracket assembly  76 , may be provided. A cross support bracket is generally shaped like a plus-sign, “+”, and may be constructed by taking the T-bracket assembly  76 , and modifying it to include a third T-bracket saddle portion, similar to the second T-bracket saddle portion, but extending perpendicularly from a central region of the opposite sidewall  84  of the first T-bracket saddle portion  90 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 19-22 , an end bracket  228  of a support system of the present disclosure specifically adapted for use on joist girders positioned under a roof deck is illustrated. Joist girders are typically spaced 2½″ (6.35 cm) from the bottom of roof deck flutes. The end bracket  228 , which is a girder bracket adapted for securement to such joist girders, includes a saddle  244  and a channel member  246 . The saddle  244  and channel member  246  may be welded or riveted to one another, such as at location R in  FIG. 19 . Unlike in the end bracket  28  of the first embodiment, the channel member  246  preferably does not run the entire length of the saddle  244 . Rather, the channel member  246  terminates at or near a first end of the sidewalls  258 ,  260  of the saddle  244 , as can be appreciated with reference to the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 22 . The channel member  246  extends over the top flanges  224  of a joist girder  212 . Because the channel member  246  does not run the entire length of the saddle  244 , the saddle  244  is also able to accommodate a crossbar member  262 , preferably of tube steel. The tube steel crossbar  262  can extend to an opposing t-bracket (not shown), that may attach to an elongate bar  62 ,  62 ′. In this manner, crossbars  262 , preferably comprised of discrete lengths of tube steel, can be secured to a joist girder  212  to form a support system for the roof deck  261  or to hang apparatus from just below the roof deck  261 . 
     The sidewalls  258 ,  260  of the saddle  244  may be provided with opposing fastener-receiving apertures  266 ,  268 . The opposing fastener-receiving apertures  266 ,  268  are spaced vertically below a top plate  256  of the saddle member  244  a distance greater than the height of the sidewalls  264  of the crossbar  262 . The fastener-receiving apertures  266  on at least one of the sidewalls  258 ,  260  of the saddle  244  are preferably square to accommodate a complementary square underside  270  of a head of a carriage bolt  272 , thereby preventing rotation of the carriage bolt  72  relative to the saddle  44 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , yet another bracket assembly of the present disclosure is illustrated, in the form of a pass through end clamp or bracket  328  for attachment of rectangular tubes or structural framing bars  62 ,  62 ′ on both sides of a bar joist. While this particular bracket  328  shares some similarities with the aforementioned end bracket  28 , the pass through bracket  328  does not require use of a separate heel clip. Rather, the pass through bracket  328  includes a first portion that slides over a bar joist  12 , and a second portion that secures the pass through bracket  328  across the bar joist  12 . A plurality of fasteners, preferably in the form of self-locking bolts, may be employed under the second portion of the pass through bracket  328 , which is disposed below the horizontal flanges of the bar joist  12 , to secure the pass through bracket  328  to the bar joist  12 . The self-locking bolts prevent lateral movement of the pass through bracket  328  relative to the bar joist  12 . 
     The pass through bracket  328  includes a rectangular tube member  347  that spans two aligned saddle members  344   a ,  344   b . The rectangular tube member  347  includes a bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, and a top wall. The saddle members  344   a ,  344   b  each include a top wall  356 , and sidewalls  358 ,  360 . Each of the sidewalls  358 ,  360  of the saddle members includes a first portion  358 ′,  360 ′ having a vertical height coextensive with a vertical height of the sidewalls of the rectangular tube member  347 , the rectangular tube member being secured to the interior of the saddle along the first portion of the sidewall of the saddle. Each of the sidewalls  358 ,  360  further includes a second portion  358 ″,  360 ″ extending vertically below the bottom wall of the rectangular tube member  347 . 
     The second portions  358 ″,  360 ″ of the sidewalls  358 ,  360  include projections  375  extending in a direction parallel to the first portions  358 ′,  360 ′. The projections  375  may be triangular or generally triangular in shape, and are spaced from the bottom of the first portions  358 ′,  360 ′ of the sidewalls  358 ,  360 . The projections  375  cooperate to support a plate  377  secured to the upper horizontal surface of the projections  375 , defining a lower jaw  379 , spaced from the first portions  358 ′,  360 ′ and bottom wall of the rectangular tube member  347  by a distance that accommodates the top surface or flange of a bar joist  12 . The lower jaws of the respective saddle members are open in a direction toward one another. The plate  377  includes a hole therein to receive a fastener, preferably in the form of self-locking bolt  395 , used to secure the respective saddle member  344   a ,  344   b  to the bar joist  12 . 
     Opposing fastener-receiving apertures  366 ,  368  are provided in the sidewalls  358 ,  360  of the saddle members  344   a ,  344   b . The opposing fastener-receiving apertures  366 ,  368  are spaced vertically below the bottom wall of the rectangular tube member  347  a distance greater than the height of the sidewalls  64  of an elongate structural framing bar  62 ,  62 ′, so that each of the saddle members  344   a ,  344   b  accommodates a respective elongate structural framing bar  62 ,  62 ′. The fastener-receiving apertures  366  on at least one of the sidewalls  358 ,  360  of the saddle members  344   a ,  344   b  are preferably square to accommodate a complementary square underside of a head of a carriage bolt, thereby preventing rotation of the carriage bolt relative to the pass through bracket  328 . A perforated band  391  may be secured by fasteners, such as nuts and bolts, through additional apertures in the sidewalls  358 ,  360  of the saddle members  344   a ,  344   b , beneath the bar joist  12 , to provide additional securement of the pass through bracket  328  to the bar joist  12 . 
     It will be appreciated that the end brackets, T-brackets, cross support brackets, girder brackets, and pass through brackets of the present disclosure are modular, in that they may be employed in a wide variety of different combinations to provide customized framing support solutions. 
     While the support system has been described with respect to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations may be made thereto that are still within the scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims.