Patent ID: 7562500

Claim:
A wall-and-floor assembly comprising: (a) a wall constructed upon a support surface and comprising: a.1 an elongate light-gauge metal base track comprising a continuous web member having an inner face and an outer face, a continuous first flange, and a continuous second flange, wherein said first and second flanges are parallel and extend substantially perpendicularly from the inner face of the web member, and wherein the first flange has a plurality of cutouts, each shaped to receive a structural joist, said base track being positioned upon and anchored to the support surface, with its first and second flanges projecting vertically upward; a.2 a plurality of joist-support elements, each positioned upon the inner face of the base track's web member adjacent a corresponding joist cutout; and a.3 a wall panel comprising a plurality of spaced, light-gauge metal studs, the lower ends of said studs being supported by the base track; (b) a plurality of primary floor joists each having: b.1 a first end disposed within one of the joist cutouts in the base track's first flange, and supported on a corresponding joist-support element; and b.2 a second end supported on a first auxiliary support structure, such that the top surfaces of the primary joists lie in a common horizontal plane; (c) metal decking overlying and fastened to the primary joists; and (d) concrete topping placed over the metal decking and extending into the space between the first and second flanges of the base track, with the upper surface of the concrete topping being at a selected floor elevation.