Batten/joist support

Abstract

A support means (100) for engaging a batten, joist or the like (200), includes a circular rotatable plate (110). The plate has depending legs (112) for engaging the support means with a support structure such as a pedestal jack or the like, in a manner which allows the support means to be rotated about a vertical axis passing through the centre (111) of the plate. The support means (100) further includes two opposed upstanding walls (120, 122) defining a gap for receiving the batten, joist or the like. The walls are disposed either side of the axis and extend from a centremost position closest to the axis (111) to a distal end farthest from the axis. The walls are at least partly convex, and the gap between the walls measured in a direction perpendicular to tangents to the walls decreases from the centremost part of the wall to the distal end of the wall, so that for a joist batten or the like having a predetermined width and positioned between the walls (120, 122), rotation of the support means about the axis in one sense causes the walls (120, 122) to tend to abut edges of the joist and in the opposite sense causes the walls (120, 122) to tend to move away from the edges of the joist. The walls define apertures (129) for fastening the walls to the joist with nails, screws or the like.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.