Joist Assemblies and Assembly Kits

A joist assembly kit comprising:

• a) a first joist comprising:
• a first elongated plastic casing that is substantially in the form of a rectangular prism;
• a tenon that is disposed adjacent an end portion of said first elongated plastic casing;
• and
• a first metal reinforcing member that:
• (1) extends longitudinally within an interior of said first elongated plastic casing;
• and (2) extends longitudinally within an interior of said tenon, wherein:
• a particular portion of said first metal reinforcing member extends out of said interior of said tenon adjacent a particular end surface of said tenon;
• and
• b) a second joist comprising:
• a second elongated plastic casing that is substantially in the form of a rectangular prism;
• and
• a second metal reinforcing member that extends longitudinally within an interior of said second elongated plastic casing, wherein:
• said second elongated plastic casing defines at least one mortise;
• said tenon of said first joist is adapted and dimensioned so that when said tenon is inserted into said second joist's mortise, said first joist's tenon matingly engages said second joist about a perimeter of said mortise;
• and
• said first and second joists are adapted and dimensioned so that a particular portion of said first metal reinforcing member engages a particular portion of said second metal reinforcing member when said tenon is inserted into said second joist's mortise.

A joist assembly comprising:

• a) a first joist comprising:
• a first elongated casing that is substantially in the form of a rectangular prism;
• a tenon that is disposed adjacent an end portion of said first elongated casing;
• and
• a first reinforcing member that:
• (1) extends longitudinally within an interior of said first elongated casing;
• and (2) extends longitudinally within an interior of said tenon, wherein:
• a particular portion of said first reinforcing member extends out of said interior of said tenon and folds over a particular end surface of said tenon;
• and
• c) a second joist comprising:
• a second elongated casing that is substantially in the form of a rectangular prism;
• and
• a second reinforcing member that extends longitudinally within an interior of said second elongated casing, wherein:
• said second elongated casing defines at least one mortise;
• said second reinforcing member defines a particular exterior, surface of said second joist immediately adjacent said mortise;
• said particular surface of said second joist at least partially defines said mortise;
• and
• said tenon of said first joist is disposed within said second joist's mortise, and said first joist's tenon matingly engages said second joist about a perimeter of said mortise.