Draft block system

[0002] (Not Applicable)

[0003] (Not Applicable)

[0004] The present invention relates generally to a joist system, and more particularly to an improved draft block joist system with a removable insulation member that is specifically sized and configured to prevent an airflow circulation therethrough.

[0005] The use of joists to support the weight or loads of structures (e.g., buildings, bridges, residential houses, etc.) is well known. Joists are widely applied in residential and commercial construction industry as well as other industries. More specifically, joists may be defined as any of the lumber or metal beams ranged parallel from wall to wall in a given structure to support a floor or ceiling. For instance, a floor joist generally comprises a piece of lumber used horizontally as support for the floor. Thereafter, a floor sheathing (e.g., plywood) may be nailed on top of the floor joist as a base for the finished floor.

[0006] Although joists may be produced from a variety of materials (e.g., steel, concrete, wood, etc.) in order to conform to the structural design, environment, and cost concerns, wooden joists are now primarily used in the residential and commercial construction industry. In addition, increasing costs of lumber have inspired the need for increased efficiency in the design and use of wooden joists. In one response to such problem, wooden joists formed having an “I” shaped configuration (“I-beams”) are now being widely utilized. Such I-beam joists are typically manufactured from a pair of parallel wooden flanges that are secured along their lengths by positioning a reinforcement web member therebetween. The flanges and webs are typically manufactured at off site construction facilities and are subsequently transported and installed upon the construction site.

[0007] Although such prior art I-beams have proven superior to conventional lumber joists, an air gap, or air gaps, are created when the I-beams are installed together upon the construction site. Such air gaps allow an air draft, or airflow, to circulate through the joist structure, which detrimentally effects heat loss through the floor or ceiling structure of the building. Therefore, the formation of the air gaps poses negative effects upon the effectiveness of the I-beams.

[0008] In order to address the problems posed by the air gaps, caulking has typically been utilized by many users in an attempt to fill in such air gaps of the I-beams. Simply put, the air gaps are blocked by caulking the entrance and exit openings thereof in an attempt to prevent the airflow circulation therethrough. However, such caulking methods are inefficient as to the cost and time and are subject to labor skill in properly filling the entire air gap void.

[0009] Thus, there exist a need in the residential and commercial construction industry for a draft block joist system for preventing the airflow circulation from flowing through the air gaps formed thereby. In particular, there is a need for a draft block joist system that prevents such airflow circulation in an efficient manner as to the cost and time so as to be user-friendly in its application.

[0010] The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above referenced deficiencies associated with the use of joist systems of the prior art. In particular, the draft block joist system of the present invention provides differently sized removable pre-formed insulation members that are specifically and correspondingly sized and configured for insertion into such air gaps. More particularly, the insulation members are each preferably fabricated from a fiberglass material to facilitate frictional engagement with the I-beams to immediately and permanently fill the respective air gaps when inserted therein. In this respect, not only does the present invention significantly mitigate the problems posed by the prior art joist systems, but also minimizes labor time and cost in eliminating air gaps, and thus air drafts within the structure.

[0011] These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a draft block joist system comprising first and second elongated I-beams constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, further illustrating a connection of a third elongated I-beam with respect to the second elongated I-beam;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the draft block joist system shown in FIG. 1 illustrating air gaps formed thereby, further illustrating complimentary insulation members that are removably insertable into the air gaps;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a draft block joist system when first and second elongated I-beams are positioned in generally parallel and spaced apart relation to form a dilated air gap via upper and lower elongated wooden pieces, further illustrating a complimentary dilated insulation member that is removably insertable into the dilated air gap; and

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the draft block joist system shown in FIG. 3 when the dilated insulation member is engaged in the dilated air gap.

[0016] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 perspectively illustrates a draft block joist system (“system”) 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As indicated above, the system 10 is adapted to prevent an airflow circulation therethrough so as to significantly mitigate the deficiencies of the prior art joist systems.

[0017] Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the system 10 comprises a first elongated I-beam 20 and a second elongated I-beam 30 that are each preferably fabricated from a wooden material. The first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30 each has a continuous upper flange section 40 and a continuous lower flange section 50. Moreover, each of the upper and lower flange sections 40, 50 defines a flange length 60. For practicality reasons, it is preferred that the flange sections 40, 50 of the first elongated I-beam 20 have substantially identical flange lengths 60, whereas the flange sections 40, 50 of the second elongated I-beam are also the same.

[0018] Moreover, each of the upper and lower flange sections 40, 50 comprises a panel member 70 disposed therebetween. More specifically, the upper and lower flange sections 40, 50 each has an inner surface 80 and an outer surface 82. Each of the inner surfaces 80 defines a centrally extending contact surface 84 along the flange length 60 thereof for engaging the respective panel members 70 thereto. Each of the panel members 70 is preferably glued to the respective contact surfaces 84.

[0019] More particularly, the contact surfaces 84 are preferably elongated grooves that extend on the central areas of the inner surfaces 80 along the respective flange length 60. The elongated grooves should be sized and configured to correspond to respective edges of the panel members 70 so as to position the panel members 70 between the upper and lower flange sections 40, 50. In addition, the upper and lower flange sections 40, 50 of the first elongated I-beam 20 are respectively attached, preferably glued, to the upper and lower flange sections 40, 50 of the second elongated I-beam 30 along their respective flange lengths 60.

[0020] When the first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30 are preferably glued to each other, an air gap 90 is formed (as shown in FIG. 1). In particular, the air gap 90 is formed between the panel members 70 of the first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30. The air gap 90 is formed due to the nature of the shape and configuration of the respective upper and lower flange sections 40, 50. More particularly, each flange width 62 of the upper and lower flange sections 40, 50 of the respective I-beams 20, 30 are generally greater than the width of the respective panel members 70. Thus, when the first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30 are connected to each other along their respective flange lengths 60, the air gaps 90 are formed between the respective panel members 70 thereof.

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the system 10 may further comprise a third elongated I-beam 35. The. third elongated I-beam 35 is substantially identical to the first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30 so there is no need to reiterate the features thereof. However, the third elongated I-beam 35 may define different flange length 60 and flange width 62 than the first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30 in order to increase or decrease surface area support. As such, structural descriptions of the first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30 are incorporated to describe the third elongated I-beam 35.

[0022] The third elongated I-beam 35 is connectable to the first or second elongated I-beam 20 or 30. As an exemplary illustration only, a connection between the second and third elongated I-beams 30, 35 will be described. However, such illustration should serve to depict the connection between the first and third elongated I-beams 20, 35 as well. The upper and lower flange sections 40, 50 of the third elongated I-beam 35 are connected, preferably glued, to the upper and lower flange sections 40, 50 of the second elongated I-beam 30 in a way that the respective flange lengths 60 thereof form a generally perpendicular relation with each other. Simultaneously, the flange width 62 of the third elongated I-beam 35 forms a generally parallel relation with the flange length 60 of the second elongated I-beam 30. The upper and lower flange sections 40, 50 are usually longer in lengthwise than that of the panel members 70 such that their respective end portions extend beyond the panel members 70. By such connection, another air gap 92 is formed between the panel members 70 of the second and third elongated I-beams 30, 35.

[0023] Moreover, the system 10 of the present invention further comprises an insulation member 100 (best shown in FIG. 2). Such insulation member 100 is preferably fabricated from a fiberglass material. More specifically, the insulation member 100 is formed from layers of fiberglass material. Because of the resilient characteristic of the fiberglass material, the insulation member 100 may be generally sized and configured to fit the air gap 90 so as to be complimentary thereto. Moreover, another insulation member 102, similar to the insulation member 100, is provided to be complimentary to the another air gap 92.

[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the system 10 of the present invention may alternatively take a different configuration. Particularly, the first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30 are positioned in generally parallel and spaced apart relation in a manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When such positioning occurs, upper and lower elongated wooden pieces 42, 52 are respectively placed and engaged on the outer surfaces 82 of the upper and lower flange sections 40, 50. By doing so, the first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30 are disposed between the respective inner end portions of the upper and lower elongated wooden pieces 42, 52 thereby forming a dilated air gap 94.

[0025] The dilated air gap 94 laterally extends between the first and second elongated I-beams 20, 30, namely, the respective panel members 70 thereof. Simultaneously, the dilated air gap 94 longitudinally extends between the upper and lower elongated wooden pieces 42, 52, namely, the inner surfaces thereof. Complimentary to the dilated air gap 94 is a dilated insulation member 104 having two opposing sides 106, and which is further preferably fabricated from a fiberglass material. Formed on the respective ones of the two opposing sides 106 are two radially extending appendages 108. The radially extending appendages 108 are also preferably fabricated from the fiberglass material, and are movable in relation to the opposing sides 106.

[0026] As will be recognized, the insulation member 100 and the another insulation member 102 are respectively configured for removable engagement to the air gap 90 and the another air gap 92 for preventing the airflow circulation therethrough. Because the insulation member 100 and the another insulation member 102 are preferably fabricated from the fiberglass material and thus resilient in nature, they may be generally sized to fit the respective air gaps 90, 92. As such, the insulation member 100 and the another insulation member 102 may contract so as to reflex back to their expanded shape when respectively inserted into the air gap 90 and the another air gap 92. By doing so, the insulation members 100, 102 immediately engage the respective air gaps 90, 92 via frictional force to block the air gaps 90, 92. Therefore, the airflow is prevented from circulating through the I-beam structure, namely, its air gaps 90, 92.

[0027] In the similar fashion, the dilated insulation member 104 is also complimentary to its corresponding air gap, namely, the dilated air gap 94 for removable engagement thereto. As the dilated insulation member 104 resiliently contracts for insertion into the dilated air gap 94 to thereby expand/reflex back to its original shape for frictional engagement thereto, the dilated air gap 94 is blocked. Moreover, the radially extending appendages 108 are movable against the panel members 70 to apply different degrees of frictional force when the dilated insulation member 104 is engaged to the dilated air gap 94.

[0028] Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.