US2623246A - Bridging for floor joists - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1952 T. G. PESTAK BRIDGING FOR FLOOR JOISTS Filed April 6,. 1950 Patented Dec. 39, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT 9 F F l C E 1. Claim.

This invention relates to a new and improved adjustable bridging for floor-joists. The bridging is adapted to be easily and quickly installed between the joists and held in position therein without nailing.

By bridging is meant a system of bracing for floor-joists by means of single pieces of boards set at right angles to the joists and fitting in between them, or by means of small struts. The effect of the bracin is of decided advantage in sustaining any concentrated load upon the floor, but it does not materially strengthen a floor to resist a uniformly distributed load.

After the joists are set and leveled they are usually bridged by cutting in between the joists a line of diagonal braces of 1 by 3 inch or 2 by 3 inch pieces for 5 to 8 foot of span. The pieces are cut on a miter to the exact length and fastened by nails to the joists. This type of bridging results in such confusion and annoyance to the builder when keen and careful mechanics are lacking. The bridging stiffens the floor and prevents vibration as well as helping to spread a concentrated load on one joist to the adjoining joist.

From the foregoing it is evident that the braces must be cut to fit the spacing between the joist, which requires a great amount of time, besides the labor of installing the same individually.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of said invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing a floor section with my improved bridging installed between the joists,

Figure 2 is a view of one of the bridging members lookin in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Figure 1.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

in when the bolts are turned in installing and securing the bridging in place between the joists. The bridging members are also provided with a boss I4, 14 to accommodate the head [5 of the bolts I3.

The members constituting the bridging are provided with apertures [6 to receive the bolts l3, l3, and are slightly larger in diameter than the shank of the bolt to permit adjustment of the bridging members thereon.

The adjustability of the length of the bridging is accomplished as follows: to shorten the bridging the members are spread apart at their ends,

and to lengthen it the ends are forced together.

Referring to Figure 1, two joists are shown at l and 2, these joists supporting a conventional floor 3 nailed thereon.

The bridging comprises two pivoted channel shaped pressed steel members A and 5, the pivot is shown at B in Figure 1.

The middle portion of each of the bridging members is reduced in width as shown in Figure 2 as at I, so that when the members are assembled the faces 8 and 9 lie in a common vertical plane.

The upper end faces of the bridging members are provided with a plurality of spaced prongs l0 projecting outwardly therefrom, as shown in Figure 1 and in Figure 2. It will be noted that the prongs are provided on only one end of each bridging member, that is at their upper ends.

The members constituting the bridgin are each provided with a seat i I for the reception of th nuts l2, l2, that screw-threadedly engage the shank of the bolts l3, E3. The seat for the nut is so dimensioned that the nut cannot turn there- It will be noted that when the bridging is properly positioned between the joists and, the bolts tightened, the prongs on the upper ends of the bridging are forced into the joist and held in place thereby while the lower ends are free and may be adjusted to meet the various exigencies of use.

It is believed that the operation of the device as a whole will be clear, in view of the foregoing description which has been given in connection with that of the construction of the same.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred arrangement, it will be readily under stood that changes and modifications therein may be found desirable or essential in meeting the various exigencies of use, and I desire to be under stood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found desirable or essential, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claim when broadly construed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A joist bridging adapted to be placed between two joists comprising a pair of similar members, each of said members having a beveled end and a pronged end with an apertured seat adjacent one of said ends and an apertured boss adjacent the other of said ends, said members being pivoted together at their centers with each seat verticall aligned with a boss, a nut received in each of said seats, and headed bolts with screw threaded shanks received in the aligned apertures, the heads of the bolts abutting said bosses and the shanks thereof threadedly engaging in said nuts,

whereby when said bolts are tightened in the nuts a movement of translation is imparted to the bridging to force said members into rigid engagement with the joists.

THOMAS G. PESTAK.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1892 Number

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