Patent Application
20070234671
The present invention relates generally to wall, floor, and roof assemblies, and more particularly, to spacing, bracing, and backing members used in conjunction with the erection and construction of stud wall, floor joist, and roof truss frame-assemblies.
The framing associated with building walls, floors, and roofs has historically been assembled from wood members, including wood studs and beams. In more recent years, however, and at least in the United States, the use of metal studs together with confronting channeled track members has gained wide acceptance, especially in new commercial buildings such as office buildings and hospitals. Generally speaking, metal studs and track members are stronger, more resistant to fire, and economical than their wooden counterparts.
Metal studs are typically formed of galvanized sheet-metal bent to encompass a cross sectional area having nominal dimensions of two inches by four inches. To conform to modern architectural plans and building code requirements, metal studs are formed of sheet-metal bent into a generally U-shaped cross-section in which a relatively broad central base is flanked by a pair of narrower sides that are bent at right angles relative to the base. The central base typically has a uniform nominal width of either four inches or 3⅝ inches and is commonly referred to as the web. The sides of the U-shaped stud typically extend outwardly from the base a nominal distance of two inches and are commonly referred to as flanges. In order to enhance the structural rigidity of the flanges, the ends of flanges are typically bent over into a plane parallel to and spaced apart from the plane of the web. The turned over edges of the flanges define marginal lips that are typically ¼ to ½ inch in width.
During the framing of building walls, floors, and roofs, it is common practice to position wall studs, floor joists, and roof trusses at regularly spaced apart intervals relative to one another. For example, it is common practice to vertically position wall studs at 16 inch from center intervals. Likewise, it is common practice to horizontally position floor joist and roof trusses at 16 inch from center intervals as well. In addition, and after the studs, joists and trusses have been properly positioned, there is often a need for the studs, joists and trusses to be transversely braced together, thereby providing enhanced structural rigidity to the frame-assembly. For example, studs over eight feet in length are generally transversely braced together to ensure adequate lateral stability of the wall structure. Exemplary devices that assist with the proper spacing and bracing of at least metal studs include those devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,867,449 to Ecket et al. (discloses a metal fire block, bridging, and bracing element), U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,973 to Liang (discloses a notched stud spacer and mounting system), U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,618 to Elderson (discloses a notched stud spacer), U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,028 to Hughes (discloses a metallic bridging member), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,569 to Rosenberg (discloses a notched stud spacer and bracing member together with a wall framing system).
In other situations, a backing member is required between adjacent parallel studs, wherein the backing member provides sufficient structural rigidity to allow for the installation and support of wall-mounted fixtures such as, for example, hand rails and grab bars. Backing members are often shaped from plywood so as to fit between adjacent studs. The number and placement of backing plywood pieces is determined by how much of the framework needs backing. In addition to plywood pieces, other exemplary backing devices include those devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,362 to Rodgers (discloses an expandable and retractable metal backing member), U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,556 to Jenkins (discloses an expandable and retractable metal blocking and backing member), U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,857 to Herren et al. (discloses a cross-connecting bridging or backing member formed from a metal channel member), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,318 to Herren (discloses a bracing, blocking, and backing member formed from a metal member and configured to fit within the spaced apart region between adjacent studs).
Although significant advances have been made over the years with respect to the development of backing, spacing and bracing elements and systems used in conjunction with the erection and construction of stud wall, floor joist, and roof truss frame-assemblies, there is still a need in the art for new and improved framing elements that can be used as a backing, spacing, and cross-connecting bracing member in a wall, floor, or roof frame-assembly of a building. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides for further related advantages.
In a first embodiment, the present invention is directed a framing element adapted for use as a backing, spacing, or cross-connecting bracing member in a wall, floor, or roof frame-assembly of a building. In this embodiment, the framing element comprises an elongated flat sheet-metal strip having an inner surface and an outer surface. The sheet-metal strip also includes at least a first inwardly protruding lengthwise corrugated groove, wherein the first corrugated groove is segmented by a plurality of uniform and equally spaced apart first apertures thereby defining a plurality of uniform and equally spaced apart first corrugated groove segments. Each of the plurality of first apertures is sized and configured to receive a flange of a sheet-metal stud, and each of the plurality of groove segments is sized to span between adjacent studs.
In another embodiment, the elongated sheet-metal framing element includes a second lengthwise and inwardly protruding groove. The second lengthwise groove is positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to the first lengthwise corrugated groove. Similar to the first corrugated groove, the second corrugated groove includes (i) a plurality of laterally spaced second apertures sized and positioned to receive the flange of the sheet-metal stud, the second apertures thereby being adjacent to the first apertures, and (ii) a plurality of inwardly protruding second corrugated groove segments sized and positioned to span between the adjacent studs, the second corrugated groove segments thereby being adjacent to the first corrugated groove portions.
In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a frame-assembly of a building that comprises: a plurality of uniform and laterally space apart studs, wherein each of the plurality of studs has an outer flange or side surface coplanar with the outer flange or side surfaces of the other studs; and an elongated flat sheet-metal strip having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the elongated strip is positioned flush across the plurality of studs such that the inner surface of the strip abuts to the outer flange or side surfaces of the plurality of studs, and wherein the sheet-metal strip includes at least a first inwardly protruding lengthwise corrugated groove, wherein the first corrugated groove is segmented by a plurality of uniform and equally spaced apart first apertures thereby defining a plurality of uniform and equally spaced apart first corrugated groove segments, and wherein the plurality of studs are received into the plurality of first apertures.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become more evident upon reference to the following detailed description and attached drawings. It is to be understood, however, that various changes, alterations, and substitutions may be made to the specific embodiments disclosed herein without departing from their essential spirit and scope. In addition, it is to be further understood that the drawings are intended to be illustrative and symbolic representations of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention and as such they are not necessarily drawn to scale. Finally, it is expressly provided that all of the various references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
The drawings are intended to be illustrative and symbolic representations of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention and as such they are not necessarily drawn to scale. In addition, and for purposes of clarity, like reference numerals have been used to designate like features throughout the several views of the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements, and more particularly to
Because the first corrugated groove 18 is preferably made by conventional form bending techniques applied to a piece of sheet-metal, the first corrugated groove 18 further defines(as best shown in
In another embodiment and with reference to
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While the present invention has been described in the context of the embodiments illustrated and described herein, the invention may be embodied in other specific ways or in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing descriptions, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
