Joist Hanger with Resilient Arcuate Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional joist hangers require specific widths to match the joist dimensions, leading to instability and increased construction costs due to the need for fixings like nails and screws, and they cannot accommodate variations in joist widths effectively.
Innovation Solution
A joist hanger design featuring resilient arcuate protruding portions that provide a restoring force to securely hold joists without the need for fixings, allowing for adjustable width accommodation by deforming inwardly to engage with the joist, thus eliminating the requirement for precise width matching and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional joist hangers are constructed with fixed width to match specific joist dimensions, then the joist can be securely held, but the hanger cannot accommodate variations in joist width and requires additional fixings
Solution Approach 1:
The joist hanger incorporates resilient protruding portions that can dynamically adjust their position inwardly to accommodate different joist widths. The resilient nature allows the hanger to adapt its internal dimensions without requiring multiple fixed-width designs, enabling a single hanger type to serve multiple joist size requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger design utilizes changes in the physical state of the protruding portions (from undeformed to deformed inwardly) to accommodate parameter variations in joist width. By allowing the protruding portions to deform elastically, the hanger can adjust its effective width to match different joist dimensions without changing the hanger's overall structure.
2Reliability
If joist hangers use fixing apertures and fixings like nails and screws to secure joists, then the joist can be held firmly, but construction time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient protruding portions automatically engage with the joist through elastic deformation when the joist is inserted. The restoring force generated by the resilient material provides self-securing action without requiring external fixings such as nails or screws, thereby eliminating additional construction steps and time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for separate fixing elements (nails, screws, fixing apertures) by incorporating the securing function directly into the resilient protruding portions of the hanger itself. The hanger structure performs both the supporting and securing functions through its resilient design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If joist hangers are made wider than the joist to ensure fit, then the joist can be accommodated, but the joist moves around in the bracket causing instability and squeaking
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient protruding portions dynamically adjust to the exact width of the inserted joist through elastic deformation. This dynamic adjustment ensures a precise fit without excessive clearance, preventing joist movement and instability while accommodating various joist widths within the designed range.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple sizes of joist hangers are constructed for different joist widths, then each joist size can be precisely matched, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient protruding portions enable a single hanger design to perform multiple functions by accommodating different joist widths through elastic deformation. This universal design eliminates the need to manufacture multiple hanger sizes for different joist widths, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining precise width matching capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resilient design enhances the grip strength on joists, reduces construction time and costs by eliminating the need for fixings, and allows the joist hanger to accommodate a range of widths, providing stability and quiet operation by preventing joist movement.
Implementation Method 1
the protruding portion is a resilient protruding portion comprising a resilient arcuate portion extending from said first end to said second end
Implementation Method 2
The restoring force provided by the resilient protruding portion urges the joist against the opposing side portion, due to the resilient protruding portion being displaced from its steady state position when the joist is inserted into the support bracket
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a joist hanger comprising: a support bracket, having a base portion and two substantially parallel side portions upstanding from opposing edges of said base portion; and a resilient protruding portion, the resilient protruding portion having a first end connected to one of the side portions and protruding from said one of the side portions towards the opposing side portion above said base portion.