Joist support

Abstract

A structural member for supporting joists to be attached to the member. The structural member may be in the form of a rim track member, may be cold-formed light gauge steel, and includes a web. The rim track member includes longitudinally spaced, vertical slots through the web. Elongated mounting members, such as clips, are inserted through the slots and are attached to the rim track member and a corresponding joist such that the joist is mounted to the rim track member. One arm of the clip is fastened to the back side of the rim track member, and the other arm of the clip is fastened to the joist. A floor support system may include rim track members supported by walls, joists spanning between the rim track members, and elongated mounting members. The slots in the rim track members may be spaced in conformance with standard construction industry practice.

1 . A structural member for supporting joists, comprising:
 a web having a central longitudinal axis and a substantially planar profile; and   a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web,   
     wherein the edges of the web that define the slots extend no more than ½ inch from the planar profile of the web. 
   
   
       2 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the edges of the web that define the slots are substantially flush with the planar profile of the web. 
   
   
       3 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the slots are adapted to receive elongated mounting members for attaching the ends of joists to the web. 
   
   
       4 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots are longitudinally spaced at approximately consistent intervals. 
   
   
       5 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the slots is less than or equal to about ½-inch. 
   
   
       6 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the slots is less than or equal to about ¼-inch. 
   
   
       7 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the slots is no more than about ¼ inch greater than the thickness of the mounting members. 
   
   
       8 . The structural member of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper leg and a bottom leg integrally formed with the web and extending in the same direction substantially perpendicular from the web. 
   
   
       9 . A structural member, comprising:
 a web having a central longitudinal axis; and   a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web,   
     wherein the web is substantially free of joist attachment tabs. 
   
   
       10 . The structural member of  claim 9 , wherein the web is substantially free of tabs. 
   
   
       11 . The structural member of  claim 9 , wherein the slots are adapted to receive the elongated mounting members for attaching the ends of joists to the web. 
   
   
       12 . The structural member of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of slots are longitudinally spaced at approximately consistent intervals. 
   
   
       13 . The structural member of  claim 9 , wherein the width of the slots is equal to or less than about ½-inch. 
   
   
       14 . The structural member of  claim 9 , wherein the width of the slots is equal to or less than about ¼-inch. 
   
   
       15 . The structural member of  claim 9 , wherein the width of the slots is no more than about ¼ inch greater than the thickness of the mounting members. 
   
   
       16 . The structural member of  claim 9 , further comprising an upper leg and a bottom leg integrally formed with the web and extending in the same direction substantially perpendicular from the web. 
   
   
       17 . A floor support system comprising:
 a plurality of joists;   a rim track member including a web having a central longitudinal axis and including longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web; and   elongated mounting members for mounting the joists to the rim track member, each mounting member including a first arm and a second arm separated by an interior angle, wherein each arm has an interior face and an exterior face, the first arm extends through a corresponding slot and is fastened to an end of a joist, the second arm is fastened to the rim track member web, and the second arm interior face abuts the rim track member web.   
   
   
       18 . The floor support system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of slots are longitudinally spaced at approximately consistent intervals. 
   
   
       19 . The floor support system of  claim 17 , wherein the rim track member is includes an upper leg and a bottom leg integrally formed with the web and extending in the same direction substantially perpendicular from the web. 
   
   
       20 . The floor support system of  claim 17 , wherein the web is substantially free of tabs. 
   
   
       21 . The floor support system of  claim 17 , wherein the web is substantially free of joist attachment tabs. 
   
   
       22 . The floor support system of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting member is an angle. 
   
   
       23 . The floor support system of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting member is an angle with an interior angle of approximately 90 degrees. 
   
   
       24 . The floor support system of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting member is T-shaped and further comprises a third arm at a 180 degree angle relative to the second arm. 
   
   
       25 . A floor support system comprising:
 a plurality of joists;   a rim track member including a web having a central longitudinal axis and including longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web; and   means for mounting the joists to the rim track member, wherein each means for mounting extends through a corresponding slot and is fastened to an end of a joist.   
   
   
       26 . A floor support system comprising:
 a first wall including a top surface;   a second wall spaced from the first wall and including a top surface;   a first rim track member disposed on the top surface of the first wall and including a web having a central longitudinal axis and including longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web;   a second rim track member disposed on the top surface of the second wall and including a web having a central longitudinal axis and including longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web and substantially aligned with the slots in the first rim track member;   a plurality of joists each having two ends and extending between the substantially aligned slots in the first and second rim track members; and   elongated mounting members for mounting the joists to each rim track member, each mounting member including a first arm and a second arm separated by an interior angle, wherein each arm has an interior face and an exterior face, the first arm extends through a corresponding slot and is fastened to an end of one of the plurality of joists, the second arm is fastened to the rim track member web, and the second arm interior face abuts the rim track member web.   
   
   
       27 . A method of making a joist support member, comprising:
 providing a structural member including a web having a central longitudinal axis and a substantially planar profile; and   forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web, wherein the edges of the web that define the slots extend no more than ½ inch from the planar profile of the web.   
   
   
       28 . The method of making a joist support member of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of longitudinally spaced slots are formed by punching. 
   
   
       29 . The method of making a joist support member of  claim 27 , wherein the edges of the web that define the slots are substantially flush with the planar profile of the web. 
   
   
       30 . A method of assembling a joist support apparatus, comprising:
 providing a joist support member including a web having a central longitudinal axis and a substantially planar profile, and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web;   providing an elongated mounting member including a first arm and a second arm separated by an interior angle, wherein each arm has an interior face and an exterior face;   inserting one arm through a corresponding slot; and   fastening one arm to the joist support member web such that the interior face of the arm being fastened abuts the joist support member web.   
   
   
       31 . The joist support apparatus assembly method of  claim 30 , wherein the arm inserted into the slot is the first arm, and the second arm is fastened to the joist support member web such that the second arm interior face abuts the joist support member web. 
   
   
       32 . The joist support apparatus assembly method of  claim 30 , wherein the arm inserted into the slot is the first arm, and the first arm is fastened to the joist support member web such that the second arm interior face abuts the joist support member web. 
   
   
       33 . The joist support assembly method of  claim 32 , further comprising rotating the elongated mounting member such that the first arm interior face abuts the joist support member web. 
   
   
       34 . A method of assembling a joist support system, comprising:
 providing a joist support member including a web having a central longitudinal axis and a substantially planar profile, and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web;   providing a joist;   providing an elongated mounting member including a first arm and a second arm separated by an interior angle, wherein each arm has an interior face and an exterior face;   inserting one arm through a corresponding slot;   fastening one arm to the joist support member web such that the interior face of the arm being fastened abuts the joist support member web; and   fastening the remaining arm to an end of a joist.   
   
   
       35 . The joist support system assembly method of  claim 34 , wherein the arm inserted into the slot is the first arm, and the second arm is fastened to the joist support member web such that the second arm interior face abuts the joist support member web. 
   
   
       36 . The joist support system assembly method of  claim 34 , wherein the arm inserted into the slot is the first arm, and further comprising rotating the elongated mounting member such that the first arm interior face abuts the joist support member web, wherein the first arm is fastened to the joist support member web. 
   
   
       37 . A method of constructing a floor system, comprising:
 constructing a first wall including a top surface;   constructing a second wall spaced from the first wall and including a top surface;   disposing a first rim track member on the top surface of the first wall, the first rim track member including a web having a central longitudinal axis and including longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web;   disposing a second rim track member on the top surface of the second wall, the second rim track member including a web having a central longitudinal axis and including longitudinally spaced slots through the web substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web;   positioning the first and second rim track members such that corresponding slots are substantially aligned;   providing first and second elongated mounting members, each including a first arm and a second arm separated by an interior angle;   inserting an arm of the first elongated mounting member into a slot in the first rim track member;   fastening an arm of the first elongated mounting member to the first rim track web;   inserting an arm of the second elongated mounting member into a slot in the second rim track member that is substantially aligned with the slot in the first rim track member in which the first elongated mounting member is disposed;   fastening an arm of the second elongated mounting member to the second rim track web;   positioning a joist, having first and second ends, such that the joist extends between the first and second elongated mounting members;   fastening the first end of the joist to an arm of the first elongated mounting member; and   fastening the second end of the joist to an arm of the second elongated mounting member.