Expandable Hanger for Beam

Abstract

An adapter for a bracket for attaching a first building member to a second building member has a first side member spaced laterally from a second side member, and a leveling member. The leveling member has a top panel, a first side unit and a second side unit that are movable relative to the first side member and second side member. A longitudinal position of the top panel is reciprocable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position via movement between the first and second side members and first and second side units, respectively. The first side member is attachable to a first panel of the hanger independent from the first side unit and the second side member is attachable to a second panel of the hanger independent from the second side unit. The adapter can be attached to a bracket to form a hanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adapter for a bracket for attaching a first building member to a second building member, comprising:
 a first side member spaced laterally from a second side member;   a leveling member comprising a top panel, a first side unit on a first side of the top panel being movably engaged with the first side member, and a second side unit on a second side of the top panel being movably engaged with the second side member, wherein   a longitudinal position of the top panel is reciprocable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position via movement between the first side member and first side unit and between the second side member and second side unit, and   the first side member is attachable to a first panel of the hanger independent from the first side unit and the second side member is attachable to a second panel of the hanger independent from the second side unit.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first side member and second side member is an elongated segment defining a track. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first side unit and second side unit is a post, the first side unit is slidingly received in the track of first side member, and the second side unit is slidingly received in the track of the second side member. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the leveling member further comprises a rear flange integral to the top panel and extending rearwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the leveling member comprises a first module including a first portion of the top panel and the first side unit and a second module including a second portion of the top panel and the second side unit. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first side member and the second side member includes at least one hole for receipt of a fastener to attach the respective side members to the bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is made from metal. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is made from plastic. 
     
     
         9 . A method of attaching an elongate building member to a building support member, comprising:
 providing an adapter with a top panel at least one adjustment unit that is rigidly engaged with the top panel and slidably engaged with an adjustment member;   providing a bracket with a lower web and at least one upper panel, the lower web configured to receive and support a portion of the elongate building member;   attaching the adapter to the bracket via engagement between the adjustment member and the upper panel with the top panel spaced from the lower web;   placing the elongate beam between the lower web and the top panel;   adjusting a position of the top panel relative to the bottom web via sliding the adjustment unit relative to the adjustment member;   attaching the elongate beam to the building support member via driving fasteners through the bracket and a portion of the beam and into the building support member.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate beam is a joist and the building support member is a ledger. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of adjusting the position of the top panel relative to the bottom web traps the beam between the top panel and bottom web. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of adjusting the position of the top panel relative to the bottom web adjusts a vertical positioning of the beam on the building support member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the adapter further comprises a rear flange integral to the top panel, comprising a step of:
 placing the rear flange on a top surface of the building support member prior to the step of attaching the elongate beam.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of placing the rear flange on the top surface of the building support member is performed prior to the step of adjusting the position of the top panel relative to the bottom web. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the adapter is made from metal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bracket is made from plastic. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the adapter and the bracket are attached to each other via a fastener engaged with the adjustment member and the upper panel. 
     
     
         18 . An adapter for a bracket for attaching a first building member to a second building member, the bracket including a first side laterally spaced from a second side with a support web extending therebetween, comprising:
 a first slider laterally spaced from a second slider;   a first leg received by the first slider and a second leg received by the second slider, the first leg being longitudinally slidable relative to the first slider and the second leg being longitudinally slidable relative to the second slider; and   a top panel rigidly connected between the first leg and second leg, wherein   the first slider is rigidly attachable to the first side of the bracket independent of the first leg, and the second slider is rigidly attachable to the second side of the bracket independent of the second leg with the top panel spaced from the support web and defining a channel therebetween, and   when the first slider is attached to the first side and the second slider is attached to the second side, the distance between the top panel and support web is alterable via sliding movement between the first leg and first slider and second leg and second slider to change a height of the channel.   
     
     
         19 . The adapter of  claims 18 , wherein
 the first slider defines a first track and the second slider defines a second track, and   the first leg is slidingly received within the first track and the second let is slidingly received in the second track.   
     
     
         20 . The adapter of  claim 18 , further comprising a flange extending integrally and rearwardly from the upper panel.