Claims
- 1. A ceiling runner for securing a plurality of C-studs in parallel up-right wall-supporting position for supporting walls, ceilings and fire-walls thereabove comprising:
- (a) an elongated channel member which is generally U-shaped in cross-section and has a pair of leg elements with inner ends joined by a transverse web element;
- (b) said web element having a plurality of stud-receiving openings formed therein and spaced equally longitudinally thereof;
- (c) said web element having opening-defining surfaces defining said openings;
- (d) each of said openings having longitudinal dimensions at least as great as the transverse dimensions thereof relative to said channel member and having one end portion of generally rectangular shape extending transversely of said web element;
- (e) a plurality of vertically extending C-studs, each of said C-studs being locked within one of said rectangular end portions in close-fitting surrounded relation;
- (f) said C-studs having portions thereof extending upwardly through said openings of said channel member a substantial distance above said channel member, each of said C-studs having a pair of opposed legs and a web extending therebetween;
- (g) a plurality of stud-retaining tabs, each of said stud-retaining tabs being carried by an opening-defining surface of said web element adjacent one of said C-studs and engaging and retaining said C-stud within said rectangular end portion;
- (h) a plurality of detents, each of said detents being carried by an opening-defining surface of said web element and extending inwardly opposite one of said tabs in cooperative stud-locking relation with said tab and engaging and locking one of said C-studs within one of said rectangular end portions in close-fitting surrounded relation and in vertically extending position; and
- (i) the distance between each of said detents and the tab opposite said detent being less than the transverse dimensions of the web of one of said C-studs.
- 2. A ceiling runner for securing a plurality of C-studs in parallel up-right wall-supporting position to provide a wall frame for supporting walls, ceilings, and fire walls thereabove comprising;
- (a) an elongated horizontally extending channel member which is generally U-shaped in cross-section and has a pair of opposite leg elements with inner ends joined by a transverse web element;
- (b) each of said leg elements having free outer end portions with flanges extending laterally outwardly therefrom;
- (c) said web element having a plurality of stud-receiving openings formed therein and spaced longitudinally thereof;
- (d) said web element having opening-defining surfaces defining said openings;
- (e) each of said openings having one end portion of generally rectangular shape extending transversely of said web element and having a rear wall and being constructed and arranged to receive a C-stud therein in close-fitting and shape-conforming relation;
- (f) a plurality of vertically extending C-studs, each of said C-studs being locked within one of said rectangular end portions in close-fitting surrounded relation to form a wall frame in cooperation with said channel member;
- (g) each of said rectangular end portions being only slightly larger than the general outline of one of said C-studs so as to receive one of said C-studs in close-fitting surrounded relation;
- (h) at least some of said C-studs having portions thereof extending upwardly through said openings of said channel member and above said channel member;
- (i) each of said C-studs having a pair of opposed legs and a web extending therebetween;
- (j) a plurality of stud-retaining tabs, each of said stud-retaining tabs being carried by an opening-defining surface of said web element adjacent one of said C-studs and engaging and retaining said C-stud within said rectangular end portion;
- (k) a plurality of detents, each of said detents being carried by an opening-defining surface of said web element and extending inwardly opposite one of said tabs in cooperative stud-locking relation with said tab and engaging and locking one of said C-studs within one of said rectangular end portions in close-fitting surrounding relation and in vertically extending position;
- (l) the distance between each of said detents and the tab opposite said detent being less than the transverse dimensions of the web of the C-stud engaged and locked thereby within said rectangular end portion; and
- (m) the distance between said rear wall of said rectangular end portion and said detent of each of said openings being only slightly greater than the length of one of said legs of one of said C-studs so that said C-stud will be locked in close-fitting relation with said rectangular end portion.
- 3. The structure defined in claim 2, wherein said C-studs extend upwardly through said channel member a substantial distance above said channel member.
- 4. The structure defined in claim 2, wherein said opening-defining surfaces of each of said openings include a camming surface located adjacent said detent of said opening and outwardly thereof relative to said rectangular end portion, said camming surface being constructed and arranged to cam inwardly a trailing leg of one of said C-studs when said C-stud is inserted within said opening sidewise and then twisted about its longitudinal axis.
- 5. The structure defined in claim 2, wherein said opening-defining surfaces of each of said openings define for each of said rectangular end portions a rear wall which is slightly concave.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/027,067, filed Mar. 17, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,169, which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/848,642, filed Apr. 7, 1986, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2327527 |
Dec 1974 |
DEX |
2089390 |
Jun 1982 |
GBX |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
027067 |
Mar 1987 |
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Parent |
848642 |
Apr 1986 |
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