U.S. patent application number 09/900563 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-20 for stud for construction of seismic and fire resistant shaft walls.
Invention is credited to Herren, Thomas Ross.
Application Number | 20010052205 09/900563 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23732775 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010052205 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Herren, Thomas Ross |
December 20, 2001 |
Stud for construction of seismic and fire resistant shaft walls
Abstract
A stud for construction of fire resistant and seismic resistant
shaft walls (10), including but not limited to elevator shafts and
stairwells. The claimed metal stud is used for constructing shaft
wall assemblies which can withstand vertical, and horizontal
movements due to seismic forces, wind sway, and inter-story drift
resulting from gravity and the rotation of the earth. This stud
comprises: an anterior flange (11); posterior flange (14) which is
longer than the anterior flange (11) possessing a plurality of
parallel horizontal fastening slots (17) along the length of the
posterior flange (14); and a vertical web (18) connecting the
anterior flange (11) and posterior flange (14) in parallel forming
a generally J-shaped channel. The longer posterior flange with
fastener slots permits the construction if the shaft wall assembly
solely from within the shaft cavity.
Inventors: |
Herren, Thomas Ross;
(Anaheim, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
METAL LITE INC
1160 NORTH BLUE GUM AVENUE
ANAHEIM
CA
92806
|
Family ID: |
23732775 |
Appl. No.: |
09/900563 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09900563 |
Jul 6, 2001 |
|
|
|
09436527 |
Nov 9, 1999 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/93.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C 3/07 20130101; E04F
17/005 20130101; E04B 2/7457 20130101; E04C 2003/0421 20130101;
E04C 2003/0434 20130101; E04B 2/7411 20130101; E04C 2003/0473
20130101; E04F 13/0803 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/93.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 009/22 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A stud for construction of seismic and fire resistant shaft
walls comprising: a vertical web; an anterior flange no less than
4.12 centimeters wide extending transversely from said vertical web
possessing a distal portion, an exterior side and an interior side;
a posterior flange no less than 6.35 centimeters wide possessing a
distal portion, an exterior side and interior side extending
transversely from said vertical web substantially parallel to said
anterior flange; said posterior flange extends further from said
vertical web than said anterior flange thereby defining a
substantially "J-shape" cross-section; a plurality of horizontal
slots spaced vertically apart and substantially parallel to one
another incorporated along the vertical length of said posterior
flange to slideably attach wallboard material thereto.
2. The stud as defined in claim 1 wherein said slots in said
posterior flange are 3.81 centimeters long and 0.635 centimeters
wide and spaced apart 2.54 centimeters center to center.
3. The stud as defined in claim 1 wherein an anterior stiffening
lip depends perpendicularly from the distal portion of said
anterior flange toward the posterior flange; and a posterior
stiffening lip depending perpendicularly from the distal portion of
said posterior flange toward the anterior flange.
4. The as defined in claim 3 wherein said anterior stiffening lip
is bent acutely and parallel to said anterior flange, and said
posterior stiffening lip is bent acutely and parallel to said
anterior posterior flange.
5. A stud for construction of seismic and fire resistant shaft
walls comprising: a vertical web; an anterior flange no less than
4.12 centimeters wide extending transversely from said vertical web
possessing a distal portion, an exterior side, and an interior
side; a posterior flange no less than 6.35 centimeters wide
possessing a distal portion, an exterior side and interior side
extending transversely from said vertical web substantially
parallel to said anterior flange; said posterior flange extends
further from said vertical web than said anterior flange thereby
defining a substantially "J-shape" cross-section; an anterior
stiffening lip depending perpendicular from the distal portion of
said anterior flange toward the posterior flange; a posterior
stiffening lip depending perpendicular from the distal portion of
said posterior flange toward the anterior flange; a plurality of
horizontal slots spaced vertically apart and substantially parallel
to one another incorporated along the vertical length of said
posterior flange to slidably attach wallboard material thereto.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/436,527
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to metal framing construction,
and more particularly to a stud for the construction of
fire-resistant and seismic resistant shaft walls, i.e., elevator
shafts and stairwells, from completely within the shaft cavity.
[0004] 2. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The present invention discloses a stud for construction of
seismic and fire resistant shaft walls, including but not limited
to elevator shafts and stair wells, comprising a vertical web with
incongruent anterior and posterior flanges depending therefrom, and
multiplicity of horizontal slots incorporated in the posterior
flange.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0006] This invention is an improvement over the prior art based
upon the ease manufacturing the claimed stud and the ease of
constructing a shaft wall assembly strictly from inside the shaft
cavity, using the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,385.
Construction of seismic resistant and fire resistant shaft wall
assemblies using the stud claimed herein and the method disclosed
by U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,385 reduces construction costs based upon
the ease of assembly and avoiding construction from both inside and
outside the shaft cavity. Conventional sheet metal wall studs are
formed of sheet metal bent into a generally "U-shaped"
cross-section in which a relatively broad central stud web is
flanked by a pair narrower stud sides of equal length that are bent
at right angles to the stud web. The stud web typically has a
uniform nominal width of either 4 or 31/2 inches, and the sides of
the u-shaped stud typically extend a nominal distance of two inches
from the stud web. The equal sized flanges require the user to work
on both sides of the stud to attach opposing wall board to side of
the stud. The opposite flange possessing the same length as the
near flange obstructs the users ability to attach the opposite wall
board. Consequently, screw drivers or screw guns cannot be inserted
into the channel formed between the equal size flanges depending
from the stud web to attach the wallboard located on the side
opposite from the user without the user being positioned on the
same side as the wallboard to complete the installation.
[0007] Likewise, the slotted channel claimed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,127,203, issued to Robert Paquette suffers from the same
limitation as a conventional sheet metal stud. To construct the
wall assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,203, the user must
work on both sides of the slotted channel to install the studs and
wallboard. Again, like the conventional sheet metal wall stud, a
screw driver, screw gun or nail gun cannot be inserted into the
channel formed between the equal size flanges depending from the
web of the slotted track to attach the wallboard located on the
side opposite from the user. Consequently, the user must be
positioned on the same side as the wall board to be installed to
complete the installation of the wallboard.
[0008] The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,878 is not
cost effective to produce because the stud requires bending at
least six separate locations as well as additional raw material to
create the claimed stud. In comparison, the stud claimed herein
requires four folds to form the "j"-shaped stud. Thus, less
material is required to form the present invention. U.S. Pat. No.
5,724,784 invented by Robert J. Menchetti, issued on Mar. 10, 1998,
discloses a shaft wall supported by a horizontal stud. The
Menchetti invention fails to provide a means by which a
fire-resistant and seismic resistant shaft wall structure can be
constructed. The Menchetti invention claims a means for
constructing a static shaft wall which would not survive seismic
forces without compromising the integrity of the completed wall
structure. Moreover, the Menchetti invention does not claim to
create a fire-resistant shaft wall which would satisfy the
requirements of existing building codes.
[0009] The present invention is an improvement over U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,866,899, 4,364,212 and 3,940,899 which require pop-up tabs
extending from the center web of the stud to secure the wall board.
The requirement of the pop-up tab requires additional labor and
cost to manufacture the pop-up tabs by forming the pop-ups by hand
or using a specially designed die. In comparison the present
invention secures the wallboard directly to the flanges of the stud
without the incorporation of pop-up tabs to secure the wall board.
Furthermore, the incorporation of the pop-up tabs in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,866,899, 4,364,212 and 3,940,899 compromises the strength of the
stud.
[0010] In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,866,899, 4,364,212 and
3,940,899 do not provide a means or method for the construction of
shaft wall with the ability to withstand seismic and wind sway
movement.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,508 issued to Goodman is limited to the
construction of a moveable wall panel with rigid frame. The
invention does not disclose a means or method to construct a
partition using a "j"-shaped stud that would withstand seismic
forces. The invention claimed by Goodman has no ability to deflect
after construction based upon its intended purpose to be a rigid
pole which mates with another rigid pole. The "G-shaped" structure
disclosed in the Goodman Patent (element 51) does not provide for
movement of the attached wallboard, nor does it permit the user to
attach opposing wallboard elements from one side. The G-shaped
structure disclosed in Goodman performs as nothing more than a
conventional stud requiring the attachment of opposing wallboard
from each side of the structure based upon the dimensions disclosed
therein.
[0012] Objects and Advantages
[0013] The stud for construction of seismic and fire resistant
shaft wall assemblies claimed herein permits construction of the
shaft wall assembly strictly from within the shaft cavity as a
result of the incongruence of the length of the anterior and
posterior flanges which transversely depend from the vertical web
of the stud thereby forming a generally J-shape cross-section. The
incorporation of an elongated posterior flange in relation to the
anterior flange allows the user to attach the interior shaft
wallboard to the exterior side of the posterior flange from the
anterior of the claimed stud. The incongruence between the
posterior flange and anterior flange permits the user to insert a
screw driver or screw gun into the channel formed between the
flanges to securely attach the interior wall of the shaft wall
assembly. If the posterior flange and anterior flange are
substantially the same length, the user cannot secure the posterior
flange to the wallboard which forms the exterior wall of the shaft
cavity from the anterior side of the stud because the anterior
flange obstructs the insertion of a nail gun or screw driver
between the flanges to attach the interior wall board to the
posterior flange. Consequently, if the anterior flange and
posterior flange are substantially the same length, as found in the
prior art, the interior shaft wallboard must be installed from both
inside and outside the shaft cavity thereby requiring additional
time and labor.
[0014] The incorporation of slots in the posterior flange through
which the interior wall board is attached permits the wallboard to
deflect horizontally as a result of physical forces such as
earthquakes and wind sway. The ability of the wallboard to deflect
horizontally during physical forces serves to protect the physical
integrity of the wallboard against cracking. The existence of
cracks in the wall compromises the wall assembly's ability to
resist the passage of fire, smoke and hot gases from the shaft
cavity into the remainder of the building in the event of a fire.
It is accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a stud for
construction of a shaft wall assemblies which meets required safety
standards for fire, wind loading and seismic forces set forth in
current building codes, such as the Uniform Building Code.
[0015] It is an additional object to provide a stud for the
construction of a cavity shaft wall which is relatively
inexpensive, lightweight, and relatively easy to install. In
comparison to the prior art, the claimed stud only requires four
folds and less raw material for its construction which results in a
cheaper selling price to consumer.
[0016] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
be more readily apparent when considered in relation to the
preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth in the
specification and shown in the drawings
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Referring now to the drawings which illustrate the invention
as follows:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shaft wall stud.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stud in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
structural details of the shaft wall formed using the claimed
stud.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shaft wall stud with
strengthening lips.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a a cross-sectional view of the stud in FIG.
4.
[0023]
1 Reference Numbers In Drawings 10 seismic slotted stud 11 anterior
flange 12 exterior side of anterior flange 13 interior side of
anterior flange 14 posterior flange 15 exterior side of posterior
flange 16 interior side of posterior flange 17 fastening slots 18
vertical web 19 anterior stiffening lip 20 posterior stiffening lip
21 interior shaft cavity wallboard 22 exterior shaft cavity
wallboard 51 self-tapping screw 52 self-tapping screw
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] The claimed invention 10 consists of a unitary piece of
metal formed to create a vertical web 18 with an anterior flange 11
and posterior flange 12 oriented parallel to each other and
perpendicularly extending from the vertical web. As used in this
patent, anterior refers to the interior shaft cavity wall 21 of the
shaft wall assembly, i.e., the wall structure within the shaft
cavity. In contrast, posterior refers to the exterior shaft cavity
wall 22 which forms the outer wall of the shaft wall assembly,
i.e., the wall structure within the building. Further, the term
interior side when used in relation to the faces of the flanges 11,
14 depending from the vertical web 18 refers to the side of the
flange which faces into the cavity formed between the two flanges
11, 14. By contrast exterior side when used in relation to faces of
the flanges 11, 14 appended to the vertical web 18 refers to the
side of the flange outside facing outward.
[0025] Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1
and 2, a seismic slotted shaft wall stud is illustrated and
generally designated by numeral 10. The seismic slotted stud
depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises an elongated lightweight metal
stud, formed from sheet metal steel, preferably 20 gauge galvanized
steel, and formed as a one piece unit, comprising a central
vertical web 18, an anterior flange 11 possessing an interior side
13 and exterior side 12, and an posterior flange 14 possessing an
interior side 16 and exterior side 15. The posterior flange 14
incorporates a plurality of slots 13 to connect the interior
wallboard 21 of the shaft wall assembly in a manner that permits
horizontal deflection as a result of physical forces such as
earthquakes, wind sway and inter-story drift. The posterior flange
14 is substantially longer than the anterior flange 11 however the
flanges remain generally parallel to each other. The anterior
flange 11 and posterior flange 14 depend generally perpendicular
from the vertical web 18. The preferred angle from which the
anterior flange 11 and posterior flange 14 depend from the vertical
web 18 may vary between 85 degrees and 95 degrees.
[0026] The anterior flange 11 can be no less than 4.12 centimeters
(15/8 inches) wide. The Uniform Building Code Section 2511.3 and
Testing Criteria ASTM-C-843 and 844 require that screws used to
attach wallboards to studs must be at least 0.95 centimeters (3/8
inch) from the edge of the wallboard to avoid cracking the
wallboard when inserting an attachment screw. Consequently, if the
edges of two wallboards abut on the anterior flange the minimum
width of the anterior flange is 4.12 centimeters (15/8 inches) to
accommodate the attachment of the adjoining wallboards to the
anterior flange using screws positioned at least 1.91 centimeters
from the edge of each adjoining wallboard.
[0027] The posterior flange 14 can be no less than 5.72 centimeters
(21/4 inches) wide. This minimum width is required to accommodate
the inclusion of the fastening slots possessing the dimensions
listed below. However, the width of the posterior flange 14 must
always be greater than the width of anterior flange 11 to permit
attachment of the exterior shaft cavity wallboard 22 to the
exterior side of the posterior flange 15 from within the shaft
cavity. If the anterior flange 11 is substantially equal to or
wider than the posterior flange 14, the anterior flange 11 will
obstruct the user's ability to attach the exterior shaft cavity
wallboard 22 to exterior side of the posterior flange 15 thereby
defeating the novelty of this invention, i.e., the construction of
a fire and seismic resistant shaft wall from solely within the
shaft cavity.
[0028] The fastener slots 17 incorporated in the posterior flange
14 permit the joining of two wallboards which abut at the claimed
stud. The abutting wallboards are secured to the claimed stud with
individual screws through the several fastening slots in the
posterior flange. To effectuate this joinder, the fastening slots
17 incorporated on the posterior flange 14 should measure at least
0.64 centimeters (1/4 inch) wide and 3.81 centimeters (11/2 inches)
in length spaced one inch on center along the length of the
posterior flange. The 3.81 centimeters (11/2 inches) length of the
slot permits the attachment of adjoining wallboards at least 0.95
centimeters from the edge of each wallboard to the posterior
flange. Again, the 1.91 centimeter attachment offset from the edge
of the wallboard thereby avoids cracking the wallboard if the screw
attachment penetrates too close to the edge of the wallboard. The
dimension and location of the fastening slots 17 along the
posterior flange 14 may be increased with proper engineering
calculations.
[0029] The width of the vertical web 18 is dictated by the width of
the shaft wall to be formed. For example, the construction of a six
inch shaft wall requires that the claimed invention possess a six
inch (15.24 centimeters) wide vertical web.
[0030] A second embodiment of this invention is depicted in FIGS. 3
and 4. The addition of stiffening lips 19, 20 anterior flange 11
and posterior flange 14 is recommended to strengthen the rigidity
of the flanges. The stiffening lips are formed on the distal
portion of the posterior flange and the distal portion of the
anterior flange. The preferred width of the anterior flange
stiffening lip 19 is 0.31 centimeters (1/8 of an inch) and the
preferred length of the posterior flange lip 20 is 1.58 centimeters
(5/8 of an inch). The stiffening lips 19, 20 may depend
perpendicularly from the anterior and posterior flanges 11, 14 into
the channel formed between the flanges. It is preferred that the
stiffening lip is bent acutely inward and parallel with the flange
thereby not encroaching upon the useable space between anterior
flange 11 and posterior flange 14 for the insertion of a screw
driver or screw gun to attach the exterior shaft cavity wallboard
22 to the posterior flange 14. If perpendicular stiffening lips are
added to the distal portion of the anterior leg and the posterior
leg to strengthen the claimed stud, a cross section view of the
stud reveals a general "G-shape." However, if the stiffening lips
are bent acutely inward and parallel to the flanges, the stud
retains its general "J-shape." It is preferred that the stiffening
lips are bent acutely inward and parallel to the flanges thereby
avoiding any obstruction to working area created between the
incongruent flanges.
[0031] It is preferred that the claimed shaft wall stud is
manufactured from galvanized steel. The gauge of metal used varies
with the structural strength required for individual construction
project. Acceptable gauges of galvanized metal may range from 16
gauge to 24 gauge. It is preferred that the gauge of galvanized
steel used to form the seismic slotted shaft wall stud comprise 20
gauge galvanized steel.
[0032] FIG. 5 depicts the attachment of wallboards to form the
shaft wall assembly. The complete shaft wall assembly and method of
construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,385 is
incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
[0033] Attachment of the interior wallboards via the fastening
slots 17 in the posterior flange 14 permits the wallboard 30 to
cycle horizontally. The attachment of the shaft wall stud to a
slotted connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,203 as element
34 permits the shaft wall assembly to also deflect vertically.
[0034] Operation of the Invention
[0035] At each level of the shaft wall assembly, e.g., a floor a
multistory building, the exterior shaft cavity wallboard is first
installed vertically into the slotted shaft wall connector
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,385 as element 34.
[0036] Second, the uniquely shaped stud claimed herein is attached
vertically to the connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,385 as
element 34. The claimed stud is oriented with the exterior side of
the posterior flange 16 in contact with the exterior shaft cavity
wallboard 22 and anterior flange 11 oriented to the shaft cavity
and the user.
[0037] Third, the exterior shaft cavity wallboard 22 is slidably
attached to the exterior surface of the posterior flange 15 using
self-tapping screws 51. The self tapping screws used to secure the
exterior shaft wallboard to the exterior surface of the posterior
flange are introduced anteriorly through the fastening slots 17.
Generally, either a screw driver or screw gun is inserted between
the incongruent flanges to attach the wallboard to the posterior
flange.
[0038] Fourth, upon completing the attachment of the exterior shaft
cavity wall board, the interior shaft cavity wallboard 21 is
inserted into the connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,385 as
element 34, and attached to the exterior side of the anterior
flange of the claimed stud 12. To attach the wallboard to anterior
flange, self-tapping screws 52 are engaged to secure the wallboard
to the anterior flange.
[0039] Last, to complete the seismic and fire-resistant shaft wall
assembly claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,385 using the claimed stud,
compressible fire-safing material such as mineral wool is inserted
into all the gaps located at the top of the shaft wall assembly at
the top of the interior shaft wall cavity wallboard and the
connector. The inclusion of compressible fire-safing material
permits the shaft wall assembly to deflect as a result of physical
forces without compromising the integrity of the fire-resistance at
the top of the shaft wall assembly if the voids were left empty or
if cementitious material was used therein. Cementitious material
such as MONOKOTE.RTM. crack as a result of the deflection thereby
allowing fire, hot gases and smoke to travel from the shaft cavity
to the interior of the building.
[0040] Having completed a detailed disclosure of the preferred
embodiments of my invention, so that those skilled in the art may
practice same, I contemplate variations may be made without
departing from the essence of the invention claimed herein.
* * * * *