This application relates to track assemblies for supporting wall studs.
Metal wall studs are commonly used in the construction trade for framing walls and other structures. The studs are installed at spaced intervals to provide a framework for installation of drywall panels and the like.
Various track systems are known in the prior art for supporting wall studs at the desired location. Such systems typically comprise an upper track secured to the ceiling and a lower track secured to the floor in alignment with the upper track. Each wall stud is positioned between the upper and lower tracks and secured in place. In the case of “slip track” systems, the wall studs may be cut to a length less than the overall vertical distance between the upper and lower tracks. This permits some movement of the upper track relative to the lower track after installation of the wall studs. Slip track systems can thus accommodate deflection in the ceiling position relative to the wall and floor, for example due to changes in applied loads or temperature fluctuations. In some prior art systems an outer track and a movable inner track are provided to achieve the slip track functionality.
In conventional wall construction systems each stud is secured to the upper and lower tracks with fasteners, such as metal screws. This typically requires installers to use a ladder and a screw gun to secure the upper end of each stud to the upper track and building frame. The lower end of each stud is secured to the lower track in a similar manner. In some cases inexperienced tradesmen may install the studs at incorrect track locations, resulting in inconsistent spacing between the studs or off-vertical positioning. In such cases it is time-consuming and labour-intensive to remove the fasteners from the tracks and reinstall the wall studs in the correct orientation.
Some fastener-less stud alignment systems are known in the prior art where wall studs are held in place with clips or tabs formed in the tracks rather than by separate fasteners. Such systems avoid the need for screw guns or other tools for driving fasteners. However, in some cases the track clips are not designed to receive standard wall studs and custom studs must be used. In other cases studs cannot be easily extracted from the clips after installation, particularly in the case of heavier gauge studs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,691, Becker et al., exemplifies the prior art in this field. Becker describes a track arrangement for supporting wall studs where the studs are held in place in the tracks with opposed clips. Each clip consists of a portion of track sidewall bent inwardly to form a cam surface and a stud ridge receiver. The studs may or may not be bottomed-out in the tracks depending on whether or not the wall is load bearing.
One drawback of the Becker track arrangement is that, once installed, the wall studs cannot be easily decoupled from the tracks. Rather, significant force would be required to extract the stud side flanges from the track clips. Also, the Becker arrangement requires that each stud be inserted within the upper and lower tracks in the same orientation, i.e. with stud side flanges projecting in one direction only.
The need has therefore arisen for a more versatile slip track assembly which permits simple removal and reinstallation of wall studs without the use of separate fasteners.
In drawings which describe embodiments of the invention, but which should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope thereof,
Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than restrictive, sense.
This application relates to a track assembly 10 for supporting wall studs 12. With reference to
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Slots 30 are preferably formed in each sidewall 20 at regular, spaced-apart longitudinal intervals. For example, the spacing between slots 30 may be within the range of approximately 8-24 inches. At respective ends of each track 14, 16 half slots 30(a) and 30(b) may be formed. Half slots 30(a) and 30(b) form a full slot 30 when end portions of two tracks 14, 16 are longitudinally aligned.
In one embodiment of the invention, each tab 32 may be generally trapezoidal in shape, tapering inwardly from fixed end 34 to free end 36 (
In use, upper track 14 is secured to a ceiling framework of a structure and lower track 16 is secured to the floor of the structure (
Standard studs 12 are cut to the desired length to extend between tracks 14, 16.
Preferably studs 12 are cut to a length which is slightly less than the installed distance between bases 18 of aligned upper and lower tracks 14, 16. For example, studs 12 may be cut to a length which is approximately Vs of an inch shorter than the distance between bases 18 of upper and lower tracks 14, 16. As shown in
Since the length of stud 12 is slightly less than the distance between bases 18 of upper and lower tracks 14, 16, some relative movement of track assembly 10 and studs 12 is permitted. Such a “slip track” system permits the upper track 14 to shift vertically relative to studs 12 and lower track 16 if the ceiling height of the structure shifts or deflects. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, changes in the relative spacing between the ceiling and floor of a structure causing deflection of track 14 may result from loads applied to the structure and/or temperature fluctuations causing expansion or contraction of structural components.
One significant advantage of the applicant's track assembly 10 is that stud 12 may be securely coupled to assembly 10 without the use of special tools or fasteners. That is, one (upper) end 24 of each stud 12 may be coupled to upper track 14 as described above (
Another advantage of assembly 10 is that stud 12 may be connected to assembly 10 in any desired orientation (i.e. with sidewalls 28 of stud 12 extending either toward or away from an end wall of the structure). For example,
A further advantage of assembly 10 is that one or more selected studs 12 may be easily removed from assembly 10 without the use of ladders or other special tools or equipment by reversing the installation procedure illustrated in
An elongated female bar 48 and an elongated male punch bar 50 are positioned on opposite sides of each slot 46. In the illustrated embodiment, female bars 48 are located on the inner portion of each die 44 and male bars 50 are located on the outer portion of each die 44. Transverse spacers 52 (not shown) may extend at longitudinal intervals between respective female bars 48 to maintain track alignment. Press bars 54, actuated by hydraulic cylinders 56, bear against the outer surface of each male punch bar 50.
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As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the position of dies 44 on table 42 may be adjustable to accommodate tracks 14, 16 of different sizes and gauges. Further, the number and spacing of punches 60 and cavities 62 is also readily adjustable to form track slots 30 of the desired shape, size and spacing.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alternations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CA2010/000145 | 2/2/2010 | WO | 00 | 7/12/2011 |