Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of bridging between steel joists including the steps of: securing a plurality of fasteners at predetermined positions along the lengths of a plurality of steel joists at the time the joists are manufactured; subsequently installing the steel joists having the fasteners secured thereto at a building location; forming a plurality of fastener receiving holes in each of a plurality of bridging members; engaging the fastener receiving holes of the bridging members with the fasteners secured to the steel joists; and mechanically securing the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners of the steel joists.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of bridging between steel joists including the steps of: securing a plurality of fasteners at predetermined positions along the lengths of a plurality of steel joists at the time the joists are manufactured; subsequently installing the steel joists having the fasteners secured thereto at a building location; forming a plurality of fastener receiving holes in each of a plurality of bridging members; engaging the fastener receiving holes of the bridging members with the fasteners secured to the steel joists; and mechanically securing the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners of the steel joists.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of forming fastener receiving holes in bridging members is characterized by forming fastener receiving holes at regularly spaced intervals in a plurality of angle irons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 2 further characterized by forming fastener receiving holes in both legs of each of the angle irons, and including the additional step of connecting bracing members between bridging members secured to the steel joists.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of securing fasteners to steel joists is further characterized by securing a plurality of steel dowels to the steel joists, and wherein the step of mechanically securing the bridging members to the fasteners is carried out by engaging retaining rings with the steel dowels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of securing fasteners to the steel joists is carried out by securing threaded fasteners to the steel joists, and wherein the step of securing the bridging members to the fasteners is carried out by threadedly engaging nuts with the threaded fasteners.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the fasteners are secured to the steel joists at unequal intervals longitudinally therealong.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of bridging between steel joists of the type including top and bottom chords and webs extending between the top and bottom chords including the steps of: securing a plurality of fasteners at predetermined positions along the lengths of the top chords and the bottom chords of each of the steel joists at the time the joists are manufactured; subsequently installing the steel joists having the fasteners secured thereto at a building location; forming a plurality of fastener receiving holes at equally spaced intervals in each of a plurality of bridging members; engaging the fastener receiving holes of the bridging members with the fasteners secured to the chords of the steel joists; and mechanically securing the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of bridging between steel joists of the type including top and bottom chords and webs extending between the top and bottom chords including the steps of: securing a plurality of fasteners at predetermined positions along the lengths of the top chords and the bottom chords of each of the steel joists at the time the joists are manufactured; subsequently installing the steel joists having the fasteners secured thereto at a building location; forming a plurality of fastener receiving holes at equally spaced intervals in each of a plurality of bridging members; engaging the fastener receiving holes of the bridging members with the fasteners secured to the chords of the steel joists; and mechanically securing the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of bridging according to claim 7 wherein the fasteners are secured to the chords of the steel joists by welding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of bridging according to claim 8 wherein the step of forming fastener receiving holes in a plurality of bridging members is carried out by forming fastener receiving holes in a plurality of angle irons.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of bridging according to claim 9 wherein the step of securing the bridging members to the fasteners is carried out by means of retaining rings engaged with the fasteners.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of bridging according to claim 9 wherein the step of securing the bridging members with the fasteners is carried out by threadedly engaging nuts with the fasteners.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
In combination with a plurality of steel joists each having top and bottom chords and a web extending therebetween, a bridging system comprising: a plurality of fasteners secured at predetermined positions along the lengths of the top chords and the bottom chords of each of the steel joists at the time the joists are manufactured; a plurality of bridging members each having fastener receiving holes formed therein at equally spaced intervals; selected fastener receiving holes of each bridging member being engaged with one of the fasteners of the steel joists; and means for mechanically retaining the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
In combination with a plurality of steel joists each having top and bottom chords and a web extending therebetween, a bridging system comprising: a plurality of fasteners secured at predetermined positions along the lengths of the top chords and the bottom chords of each of the steel joists at the time the joists are manufactured; a plurality of bridging members each having fastener receiving holes formed therein at equally spaced intervals; selected fastener receiving holes of each bridging member being engaged with one of the fasteners of the steel joists; and means for mechanically retaining the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The bridging system according to claim 12 wherein the fasteners each comprise a steel dowel and wherein the means for mechanically retaining the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners comprise retaining rings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The bridging system according to claim 12 wherein the fasteners each comprise a threaded member, and wherein the means for mechanically retaining the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners comprise nuts threadedly engaged with the fasteners.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bridging system according to claim 12 wherein the bridging members comprise angle irons having fastener receiving holes formed in both legs thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bridging system according to claim 15 further characterized by bracing members connected between the bridging members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bridging system according to claim 12 wherein the fasteners are secured to the steel joists by welding.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
103 words
In combination with a plurality of steel joists, a bridging system comprising: a plurality of fasteners each secured at predetermined positions along the length of each of the steel joists by welding at the time the joists are manufactured; a plurality of bridging members each comprising a length of angle iron having fastener receiving holes formed therein at equally spaced intervals; a selected fastener receiving hole of each of the bridging members being engaged with one of the fasteners secured to one of the steel joists; and means for mechanically retaining the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners of the steel joists.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
103 words
In combination with a plurality of steel joists, a bridging system comprising: a plurality of fasteners each secured at predetermined positions along the length of each of the steel joists by welding at the time the joists are manufactured; a plurality of bridging members each comprising a length of angle iron having fastener receiving holes formed therein at equally spaced intervals; a selected fastener receiving hole of each of the bridging members being engaged with one of the fasteners secured to one of the steel joists; and means for mechanically retaining the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners of the steel joists.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bridging system according to claim 18 wherein the fasteners comprise steel dowels, and wherein the means for mechanically retaining the bridging members in engagement with the fasteners comprise retaining rings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The bridging system according to claim 18 wherein the fasteners comprise threaded members, and wherein the means for mechanically retaining the bridging members with the fasteners comprise nuts threadedly engaged with the fasteners.