Architectural Pavements in Elevated Exterior Deck Applications

Abstract

A deck assembly uses plurality of joists preferably formed from metal located side by side and each having a web portion and a deck portion integrally formed with the web portion. The deck portion extends laterally from the web portion and the joists are spaced from one another such that the deck portions from a continuous deck surface with the joists being connected to one another.

1 ) A deck assembly comprising a plurality of joists located side by side and each having a web portion and a deck portion integrally formed with the web portion, said deck portion extending laterally from the web portion and said joists being spaced from one another such that the deck portions from a continuous deck surface with said joists being connected to one another. 
     
     
         2 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said deck portions overlap and are fastened to one another. 
     
     
         3 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said joists are connected by inter-engaging formations. 
     
     
         4 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 3  wherein said formations are formed at laterally spaced location on said deck portion. 
     
     
         5 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 1  wherein mechanical fasteners interconnect said joist. 
     
     
         6 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 1  wherein bridge members extend between adjacent ones of said web portions and are spaced from said deck portion. 
     
     
         7 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said bridge members include flanges for connection of said bridge members to said webs. 
     
     
         8 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said bridge members extend along the entire length of said joist. 
     
     
         9 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said bridge member is discontinuous. 
     
     
         10 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said formations project above said deck portions. 
     
     
         11 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 1  wherein registers are provided to align adjacent ones of said joists. 
     
     
         12 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 11  wherein said registers are provided on said web portions. 
     
     
         13 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a web extends from opposite edges of said deck portion and said joists are connected by fasteners extending through abutting ones of said webs. 
     
     
         14 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 13  wherein each of said webs terminates in a flange directed inwardly toward the other web of said joist. 
     
     
         15 ) A deck assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a flange extends from a distal edge of said deck portion parallel to said web and said flange is connected to a web of an adjacent joist. 
     
     
         16 ) A deck assembly according to  claims 13  wherein a register is provided between abutting faces of adjacent joists. 
     
     
         17 ) A joist for use in a deck assembly according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 ) A joist for use in a deck assembly, said joist having a web portion integrally formed with a deck portion that projects laterally to one side of said deck portion and has a distal edge for connection to an adjacent joist, whereby said deck portion maintains said web portions of adjacent joists in spaced relationship and provides a continuous deck surface between said web portions. 
     
     
         19 ) A joist according to  claim 18  wherein said deck portion has a formation formed adjacent a distal edge to engage in a complementary formation to an adjacent joist. 
     
     
         20 ) A joist according to  claim 19  wherein said formation is a V-shaped recess. 
     
     
         21 ) A joint according to  claim 19  wherein said formation projects above said deck portion. 
     
     
         22 ) A joist according to  claim 18  wherein said deck portion terminates in a flange depending from said deck portion. 
     
     
         23 ) A joist for assembly with like joists to provide a deck assembly, said joist having a web portion and a deck portion extending orthogonally from the web portion and defining a generally planar surface, said deck portion having a 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, an offset at a distal edge of the deck portion to provide a tail, said offsets being relatively dimensioned such that when a tail of one joist is supported on the shelf section of an adjacent joist, the deck portions lie in a common plane. 
     
     
         24 ) A joist assembly according to  claim 23  wherein ribs are formed in at least one of the web portion and deck portion and extend laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the joist. 
     
     
         25 ) A joist assembly according to  claim 24  wherein ribs are formed in each of said web portion and deck portion. 
     
     
         26 ) A joist assembly according to  claim 24  wherein said ribs are recessed from said generally planar surface. 
     
     
         27 ) A joist assembly according to  claim 24  wherein said ribs are part circular in cross section. 
     
     
         28 ) A joist according to  claim 23  wherein said shelf section is wider than the tail to facilitate adjustment of one joist relative to another. 
     
     
         29 ) A joist according to  claim 23  wherein a flange is formed at the free edge of the web portion and extends orthogonal to the web portion. 
     
     
         30 ) A joist according to  claim 29  wherein said flange extends in a direction opposite to said deck portion. 
     
     
         31 ) A joist according to  claim 30  wherein said flange extends in the same direction as said deck portion. 
     
     
         32 ) A joist according to  claim 29  wherein said flange terminates in a return extending generally perpendicular to the flange to impart stiffness thereto. 
     
     
         33 ) A deck assembly having a plurality of joists extending side by side and connected to one another, each of said joists having a web portion and a deck portion extending orthogonally from the web portion and defining a generally planar surface, said deck portion having a 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, an offset at a distal edge of the deck portion to provide a tail, said joists being connected to one another by placing a tail of one joist over a shelf section of another, said offsets being relatively dimensioned such that when a tail of one joist is supported on the shelf section of an adjacent joist, the deck portions lie in a common plane. 
     
     
         34 ) A joist assembly according to  claim 33  wherein ribs are formed in at least one of the web portion and deck portion and extend laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the joist. 
     
     
         35 ) A joist assembly according to  claim 34  wherein ribs are formed in each of said web portion and deck portion. 
     
     
         36 ) A joist assembly according to  claim 34  wherein said ribs are recessed from said generally planar surface. 
     
     
         37 ) A joist assembly according to  claim 36  wherein said ribs are part circular in cross section. 
     
     
         38 ) A joist according to  claim 33  wherein said shelf section is wider than the tail to facilitate adjustment of one joist relative to another. 
     
     
         39 ) A joist according to  claim 33  wherein a flange is formed at the free edge of the web portion and extends orthogonal to the web portion. 
     
     
         40 ) A joist according to  claim 33  wherein said flange extends in a direction opposite to said deck portion. 
     
     
         41 ) A joist according to  claim 40  wherein said flange extends in the same direction as said deck portion. 
     
     
         42 ) A joist according to  claim 39  wherein said flange terminates in a return extending generally perpendicular to the flange to impart stiffness thereto. 
     
     
         43 ) A stair assembly having a plurality of joists connected edge to edge in stepped array, each of said joists having a web portion and a deck portion extending orthogonally from the web portion and defining a generally planar surface, said deck portion having a 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 an offset at a distal edge of the deck portion to provide a tail, a web portion of one of said joists being connected to a tail of one another of said joists to connect said joists in a stepped array. 
     
     
         44 ) A stair assembly according to  claim 43  wherein a flange is formed on said tail to project above said tail and said web portion is connected to said flange. 
     
     
         45 ) A stair assembly according to  claim 44  wherein ribs are formed in at least one of said web portions and said deck portions to increase stiffness thereof.