METAL STUD WALL TRACK

Abstract

A metal track used in a stud wall includes a first panel with a ninety degree bend forming a flange thereon, and a second panel with a ninety degree bend forming a flange thereon. The flanges of the first panel and the second panel are positioned on a common plane. An elongated coupling element couples the first panel to the second panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship. The elongated coupling element of the metal track is bent periodically at an angle, so as to alternately contact the first panel and the second panel at regular intervals. An attachment element is provided for attaching the metal track to a surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to stud wall frame construction.

More particularly, the present invention relates to metal stud wall construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of frame building construction and supply, metal stud walls are often employed for interior partitions and the like. Metal stud walls provide strength as well as ease of construction since they are pre-sized and easily screwed together. A detriment of metal stud structures is the expense of the materials used in the studs. Metals can be expensive and the more metal involved the greater the weight of the structure built. By reducing the amount of metal involved, the cost and weight of a structure can be reduced.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention, provided is a metal track for a stud wall. The metal track includes a first panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange. The metal track also includes a second panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange. An elongated coupling element couples the first panel to the second panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship with the outer surfaces of each directed outwardly away from each other and the inner surface of each directed toward each other. The flanges of the first panel and the second panel are on a common plane. An attachment element is provided for attaching the metal track to a surface.

Also provided is a stud wall. The stud wall includes a lower metal track secured horizontally to a floor member, an upper metal track secured horizontally to a ceiling member, and a plurality of studs carried between the lower metal track and the upper metal track. The upper metal track and the lower metal track each include a first panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange. Also included is a second panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange. An elongated coupling element couples the first panel to the second panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship with the outer surfaces of each directed outwardly away from each other and the inner surface of each directed toward each other, the flanges of the first panel and the second panel on a common plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a metal stud wall frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a metal track according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side end view of a metal track according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a metal stud positioned in a track according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed to FIG. 1 which illustrates a metal stud wall frame generally designated 10. Metal stud wall frame 10 includes a lower metal track 12 secured horizontally to a floor member 14, an upper metal track 16 secured horizontally to an upper floor or ceiling member 18, and a plurality of vertical metal studs 20 received by lower metal track 12 and upper metal track 16 and extending therebetween. Drywall, sheetrock or other types of paneling can then be used to cover one, or both sides of metal stud wall frame 10 to form a partition wall. Metal stud wall frame 10 can also be used as an exterior wall and the like.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a metal track generally designated 30 is illustrated. Metal track 30 includes a panel 32 having an outer surface 34, an inner surface 35 and opposed edges 36 and 38. Edge 38 is turned inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming flange 39 having an outer surface 34a and an inner surface 35a. It will be understood that while panel 32 is bent to include flange 39, panel 32 can be fabricated from two separate pieces joined by a weld, an adhesive, fasteners and the like, at a juncture in place of the bend. Metal track 30 further includes a panel 42 having an outer surface 44, an inner surface 45 and opposed edges 46 and 48. Edge 48 is turned inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend to form flange 49 having an outer surface 44a and an inner surface 45a. Panel 42 can also be formed of two separate pieces as described with reference to panel 32. Generally, panel 32 and panel 42 can be formed of any convenient metal material, such as a relatively heavy gauge sheet metal (e.g. 16 gauge to 25 gauge) with the specific metal selected for any specific application. For example in applications requiring substantial support the sheet metal selected might be sheet steel while in applications requiring less support but where weight might be a consideration sheet aluminum might be used.

Panel 32 and panel 42 are positioned in parallel spaced apart relationship with outer surfaces 34 and 44 directed outwardly away from each other and inner surface 35 and 45 directed toward each other. It will be understood that portion of inner surfaces 35a and 45a associated with the flange 39 and 449 will be located on substantially the same plane. An elongated coupling element 50 extends between panel 32 and panel 42 and is bent periodically at some predetermined angle, generally between 30° and 90°, so as to alternately contact inner surface 35a of panel 32 and inner surface 45a of panel 42 at regular intervals (e.g. six inches). Generally, coupling element 50 is a single continuous length of some relatively heavy gauge wire (e.g. 0.100″ to 0.200″ thick) that is bent to provide desired contact points 52 with inner surface 35a of panel 32 and inner surface 45a of panel 42. In this preferred embodiment coupling element 50 is affixed to inner surface 35a of panel 32 and inner surface 45a of panel 42 at contact points 52 by some convenient method such as spot welding or the like. It will be understood that while coupling element 50 lies on inner surface 35a of panel 32 and inner surface 45a of panel 42 on a common plane, it can be affixed to either inner surfaces 35a of panel 32 and inner surface 45a of panel 42, inner surface 35 of panel 32 and inner surface 45 of panel 42, or both.

Still referring to FIG. 2, metal track 30 can be fastened to floor member 14 or ceiling member 18 by fasteners such as screws passing through apertures 54 formed in flanges 39 and 49. Alternatively, a bracket 56 having ends with apertures 58 therethrough, can be positioned over coupling element 50 with fasteners such as screws passing through apertures 58 into floor member 14 or ceiling member 18

Turning now to FIG. 4, track 30 is illustrated with stud 20 carried thereby. Stud 20 is received between panel 32 and panel 42, generally abutting inner surfaces 35 and 45 respectively. Stud 20 rests upon flanges 39 and 49, and upon coupling element 50. Metal track 30 is fabricated with dimensions matching standard requirements of common tracks. In a preferred example, upstanding portion of panels 32 and 42 are preferably 1¼ inches while flanges 39 and 49 are preferably ¾ inches. The distance between inner surfaces 35 and 45 is preferably 3⅝ inches and the distance between outer surfaces 34 and 44 is preferably 3 11/16 inches.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:

Claims

1. A metal track for a stud wall comprising: a first panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange;a second panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange;an elongated coupling element coupling the first panel to the second panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship with the outer surfaces of each directed outwardly away from each other and the inner surface of each directed toward each other, the flanges of the first panel and the second panel being on a common plane; andan attachment element for attaching the metal track to a surface.

2. A metal track for a stud wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elongated coupling element is bent periodically at an angle, so as to alternately contact the inner surface the first panel and the second panel at regular intervals.

3. A metal track for a stud wall as claimed in claim 2 wherein the elongated coupling element is affixed to the inner surface of the first panel and the inner surface of the second panel at contact points.

4. A metal track for a stud wall as claimed in claim 3 wherein the elongated coupling element is affixed by spot welding.

5. A metal track for a stud wall as claimed in claim 2 wherein the elongated coupling element is bent periodically at an angle generally between 30° and 90°.

6. A metal track for a stud wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment element for attaching the metal track to a surface includes fasteners passing through apertures formed in the flanges of the first panel and the second panel for receipt into the surface.

7. A metal track for a stud wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment element for attaching the metal track to a surface includes at least one bracket having ends with apertures therethrough, positioned over the elongated coupling element with fasteners passing through the apertures for receipt into the surface.

8. A stud wall comprising: a lower metal track secured horizontally to a floor member, the lower metal track includes: a first panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange;a second panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange; anda elongated coupling element coupling the first panel to the second panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship with the outer surfaces of each directed outwardly away from each other and the inner surface of each directed toward each other, the flanges of the first panel and the second panel on a common plane;an upper metal track secured horizontally to an upper floor\ceiling member, the upper metal track includes: a first panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange;a second panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and opposed edges, one of the opposed edges being angled inwardly at a substantially ninety degree bend forming a flange; andan elongated coupling element coupling the first panel to the second panel in a parallel spaced apart relationship with the outer surfaces of each directed outwardly away from each other and the inner surface of each directed toward each other, the flanges of the first panel and the second panel on a common plane; anda plurality of vertical studs received by the lower metal track and the upper metal track and extending therebetween.

9. A stud wall as claimed in claim 8 wherein the elongated coupling element of the upper metal track and the lower metal track is bent periodically at an angle, so as to alternately contact the inner surface the first panel and the second panel of each at regular intervals.

10. A stud wall as claimed in claim 9 wherein the elongated coupling element of the upper metal track and the lower metal track is affixed to the inner surface of the first panel and the inner surface of the second panel at contact points.

11. A stud wall as claimed in claim 10 wherein each elongated coupling element is affixed by spot welding.

12. A stud wall as claimed in claim 9 wherein each elongated coupling element is bent periodically at an angle generally between 30° and 90°.

13. A stud wall as claimed in claim 8 wherein the lower metal track is secured horizontally to the floor member and the upper metal track is secured horizontally to the upper floor\ceiling member by fasteners passing through apertures formed in the flanges of the first panel and the second panel of each of the lower metal track and the upper metal track and engaging the floor member and the ceiling member, respectively.

14. A stud wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower metal track is secured horizontally to the floor member and the upper metal track is secured horizontally to the upper floor\ceiling member each by at least one bracket having ends with apertures therethrough, positioned over the elongated coupling element of each with fasteners passing through the apertures and engaging the floor member and the ceiling member, respectively.