Take-up bracket for flooring adjustment

Claim 1

An adjustment bracket adapted for operative connection to a supporting joist or rafter and an overlying supported section in order to move the supported section towards or away from the joist or rafter as desired, said bracket comprising: an elongated, integral metallic body of generally L-shaped cross section and presenting a longitudinal axis, said body including an elongated section-engaging leg and an elongated support-engaging leg, said section-engaging leg including structure defining a plurality of elongated first slots therein each being of substantially constant width throughout essentially the entire length thereof, said first slots each having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of said first slots being substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said bracket, said support-engaging leg also including structure defining a plurality of elongated second slots therein each being of substantially constant width throughout substantially the entire length thereof, said second slots each having a longitudinal axis, said second slot axes being substantially parallel with each other and oriented at an angle of from about 10 to 30 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of said bracket, said first and second slots being configured and arranged for receiving therethrough screws or other fasteners affixed to said joist or rafter and said section, and for permitting selective axial shifting of the bracket in either axial direction whereby to alternately draw the section closer to, or move the section away from, said joist or rafter; and structure defining at least one fastener-receiving set hole through each of said legs and separate from said slots for securing said bracket in operative disposition in engagement with said section and support after said shifting of said bracket.