U.S. patent application number 11/181537 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-18 for wall framing assembly and method of securing a stud to a header or footer.
Invention is credited to Christopher Paul Sitkiewicz.
Application Number | 20070011971 11/181537 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37660373 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070011971 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sitkiewicz; Christopher
Paul |
January 18, 2007 |
Wall framing assembly and method of securing a stud to a header or
footer
Abstract
A wall frame assembly including a stud and track member, the
stud having an elongated body and two depending sidewalls with
inward indented channels. The track having a track body and two
opposed depending flanges, the depending flange having a projection
that is configured to mate with the indented channel in a
complementary nesting arrangement to secure the stud frame member
to the track frame member.
Inventors: |
Sitkiewicz; Christopher Paul;
(Des Plaines, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WALLENSTEIN & WAGNER, LTD.
311 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
53RD FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
37660373 |
Appl. No.: |
11/181537 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/481.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C 2003/0473 20130101;
E04B 2/767 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/481.1 |
International
Class: |
E04C 2/34 20060101
E04C002/34 |
Claims
1. A wall construction assembly comprising: a stud having an
elongated body and opposed sidewalls connected by the body, wherein
at least one sidewall of said stud includes a channel recess; an
elongated track having a body portion and at least one depending
wall extending from the body, said depending wall having a
projection dimensioned to be received into said receiver in
substantial matting arrangement to secure the stud to said
track.
2. The wall construction assembly of claim 1, wherein said track
has two opposed depending walls and said projection extends
inwardly toward the second of said opposed depending walls.
3. The wall construction assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel
recess of the sidewall comprises an inward indented recess
extending toward the other of said opposed sidewalls.
4. The wall construction assembly of claim 1, including opposed
channel recesses, each said channel recess being positioned on an
aligned segment of said opposed sidewalls of the stud.
5. The wall construction assembly of claim 4, wherein each of said
two channel recesses is dimensioned to receive a pair of similarly
aligned projections of the track, each said projection being
positioned along opposed depending walls of the track for mating
alignment between the stud and the tack.
6. The wall construction assembly of claim 1, wherein the inward
recess channel and the projection are generally V-shaped.
7. The wall construction assembly of claim 1, wherein the stud has
a length along its elongated body, and the recess channel of the
stud extends substantially along the entire length.
8. The wall construction assembly of claim 5, wherein each said
channel recess of the stud extend along a substantial extent of the
elongated stud body, and said paired projections of said track are
spaced in pre-determined locations along the extent of the
elongated track.
9. A wall construction assembly comprising: a stud having an
elongated body and opposed sidewalls connected by the body, wherein
each said sidewall of said stud includes a channel recess; at least
one elongated track having a body portion and a pair of generally
opposed depending walls extending from the body to define an
interior space of the track, said depending walls each having a
projection extending toward the other of said depending walls, each
said projection dimensioned to be received into one of said channel
recess in substantial mating arrangement when an end of the stud is
received into said interior space of the track, said mating
arrangement having frictional engagement of opposed surfaces of the
projections and channels to secure the stud to said track without
the need for fasteners.
10. The wall construction assembly of claim 9, wherein the
projections of the track are formed as indented portions of each
depending wall, the pair of indented portions being in substantial
alignment with the other.
11. The wall construction assembly of claim 10, wherein at least
one of said indented portions provides space for the head of a
screw that may be driven into the assembly to fasten the stud to
the track.
12. The wall construction assembly of claim 9, wherein the wall
stud and track are formed of a semi-rigid or rigid material.
13. The wall construction assembly of claim 12, wherein the
material is sheet metal.
14. The wall construction assembly of claim 13, wherein at least
one said channel recess is a generally V-shaped groove formed in
the sidewall of the stud, and at least one said projection is a
generally V-shaped bend of metal formed in the depending wall of
the track.
15. The wall construction assembly of claim 14, wherein said
sidewall of the stud has an width extending between the stud body
and a free end of the sidewall, and a middle segment of the
sidewall extends along the longitudinal length of the sidewall,
said at least one channel recess is positioned along said middle
segment.
16. A wall frame assembly comprising: a wall stud having a length
formed of a planar elongated body and depending opposed first and
second elongated sidewalls, the cooperative structure of the body
and depending sidewalls forming a stud geometry with a outer
surface, at least two elongated channels along the length of the
stud as a recess formed in the outer surface of the stud, each of
said channels being aligned along a center line of a respective
opposed sidewall; at least one elongated track frame member having
a track length formed of an elongated track body and generally
opposed first and second flanges depending from the track body,
said body and flanges cooperatively forming an interior space for
receiving an end segment of the stud length, each said flange
having at least one projection configured for mating alignment with
a respective channel of the stud when the end segment of the stud
is inserted into the interior space of the track.
17. The wall frame assembly of claim 16, wherein at least one pair
of opposed projections is positioned on said opposed first and
second flanges.
18. The wall frame assembly of claim 17, wherein multiple pairs of
projections are positioned along the length of the track frame
member at predetermined locations along the length.
19. The wall frame assembly of claim 18, wherein the pairs of
projections are located every 4 inches along a length of the
track.
20. The wall frame assembly of claim 18, wherein a first of said
pair of projections is located 16 inches from and end of the stud,
and a second of said pair of projections is located 16 inches from
said first pair of projections.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to wall construction assemblies, and
more particularly, to vertical wall stud and horizontal track
assemblies and associated drywall for forming a wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Building construction generally includes the construction of
a variety of interior walls having varying horizontal and vertical
lengths. The walls generally include framing comprising an assembly
of vertical wall studs secured to horizontal members serving as
headers and footers, with a drywall finish secured to the framing.
More recent construction techniques have incorporated steel studs
and horizontal members, in place of wood framing. In the case of
steel framing, the studs are typically inserted into an inner space
of the horizontal members, and are secured in place with screws.
Such conventional construction structure, and the requisite method
of assembling same, have numerous drawbacks or shortcomings.
[0004] Proper wall stud spacing with conventional systems requires
constant measuring to properly fit the studs in place along the
horizontal members, and such measurements must be duplicated along
the top and bottom of the stud (i.e., along the header and footer)
to assure that the stud is directly vertical and square to the
horizontal members. The extent of measurements necessary with
conventional systems adds to overall construction time and
difficulty.
[0005] An additional drawback of convention systems is the tendency
of wall studs to move during assembly, and the difficulty of
holding the stud in place in relation to the length of the
horizontal members, while a screw is driven to join the stud to the
horizontal member. This requirement with conventional framing, and
resulting conventional method of assembly, creates difficulty and
additional time. The worker installing the framing is required to
hold the frame members parts in place, while holding a drill and
driving the screw. If the frame members had shifted when the worker
fits the drill with a screw and drives the screw, then additional
time is needed during the assembly process to remove the screw,
adjust the stud along the length of the horizontal member, and
again drive a screw into place.
[0006] In the case of metal framing, this requirement of securing
frame members with screw, while maintaining proper placement of the
stud along the header and footer thereby results in additional time
and expense, either because of repeated measurements and marking
for the proper stud placement, the need to clamp or hold the stud
in position, and the difficulty for the worker to assure the proper
positioning of the stud while preparing to drill and then drilling
the screw in place.
[0007] Some structural changes have been proposed to the typical
steel stud arrangement, apparently in an effort to assist with the
placement and/or securing of the stud to the horizontal members of
the wall. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,364, provides a wall
construction wherein the retaining member, appearing as a header or
a footer, has serrated edges which, when manipulated by an
installation tool, may be bent inward to support the stud in
position along the retaining member due to an inwardly bent piece
residing on each side of the stud. However, this arrangement does
not reduce the amount of measuring required, and likely adds
further complexity to the wall construction due to the need of a
special installation tool and an additional step of bending the
serrated portions. In this manner, it appears no more simple or
resistant to error than the typical method of simply screwing the
stud to the support members.
[0008] In another example of a proposed structural change to
typical frame member structure and assembly, U.S. Pat. No.
5,127,760 discloses a vertical slotted header that has slots along
the length of the header to secure the stud into place, yet still
permit vertical movement of the stud relative the header when the
stud in secured in place along the header length. This type of
assembly, said to permit movement of the stud when subject to
environmental forces, provides numerous elongated slots along the
header length, so the studs may be secured at the desired locations
along the header length. This structure, however, does not
alleviate the problems of typical construction structure or methods
of assembly. Indeed, the worker is still required to make the
numerous measurements, and hold the stud in position while driving
a screw to secure the stud to the header.
[0009] Other similar approaches have been proposed for altering the
structure or method for assembly of the wall framing, usually
requiring more complexity and/or additional material for providing
such structural changes, or increasing the complexity and
difficulty of the assembly process. The present invention is
provided to solve the problems discussed above and other
deficiencies of the prior structures and methods of assembly. Thus,
the present invention provides advantages and aspects not found in
prior wall construction assemblies. A full discussion of the
features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the
following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention a wall
construction assembly includes a wall stud having a stud body and
two depending opposed sidewalls connected by the body. At least one
of the sidewalls includes a recess formed as an inwardly indented
channel. The assembly also includes an elongated track frame member
having a track body and two opposed depending flanges. At least one
flange includes a projection that is configured to be received into
the inward indented channel of the stud sidewall in a mating
arrangement to secure the stud in position on the track frame
member without the need for fasteners.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention a wall frame
assembly includes a wall stud having first and second sidewalls and
a connecting elongated body wall. Each of the first and second
sidewalls include a continuous channel that runs the length of the
stud. The assembly also includes a track frame member that has
first and second opposed flanges depending from a track body wall,
in which the flanges and the body wall cooperate to provide an
inner space of the track. The first and second flanges each have a
projection extending inward toward the inner space of the track,
the projections being dimensioned to be received into the channel
of the stud when the end segment of the stud is inserted into the
inner space of the track such that the stud and track are secured
together by the fictional mating arrangement of the projection and
channel.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention a wall frame
assembly includes a wall stud having parallel first and second
sidewalls joined together by a planar stud body to form a generally
U-shaped exterior surface shape of the stud. A channel is formed in
the middle of each of the sidewalls, as a generally V-shape groove
indented from the outer surface shape of the stud, and toward the
opposed sidewall. The assembly also includes a track frame member
having opposed first and second flanges depending from a connecting
body wall. Each flange has a projection of complementary shape and
alignment to the stud channels, such that the stud and track are
secured together when the projection is inserted into the recess.
The track has a series of paired projections along the length of
the track, each spaced at least every 16 inches, and preferably
approximately every four inches.
[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with
the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] To understand the present invention, it will now be
described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled vertical wall
stud and horizontal track assembly according to one embodiment of
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of aligned components of the
vertical wall stud and horizontal track assembly of FIG. 1;
and,
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cut-away top view of a wall construction
assembly along line 3 of FIG. 1 after the addition of an outer
panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the
embodiments illustrated.
[0019] Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3
alternative views of sections of framing 12 for a wall construction
assembly 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the framing generally includes an
elongated vertical stud member 14 and a footer and/or header member
providing at least one elongated horizontal track 16. The framing
12 may be constructed from wood or similar materials, or, as is
shown in the Figures of the preferred embodiment, may be
constructed of metal, such as the common steel stud material in use
today. In the case of the metal framing, both the stud member 14
and the track member 16 are preferably formed with a generally
U-shaped channel construction. As shown in FIG. multiple vertical
studs 14 are intermittently spaced along the track 16 length
according to typical construction practice and the requirements for
the wall dimensions of a particular application. As with typical
construction, the vertical studs 14 may be placed into position
along the track 16, and secured in place such as with a screw
driven through a portion of the stud 14 and an adjacent portion of
the header or footer. The structure of the present invention
provides mating structure on the stud 14 and the track 16 to join
the stud 14 and track 16 in pre-assembled position prior to
securing together with a screw, thereby providing a means of
staging the assembly of the stud to the header and/or footer to
permit a worker assembling the wall to drive the screw or similar
means of attachment without the need to hold the stud 14 in
position along the track 16.
[0020] It is also contemplated that, in some situations, the stud
14 and track 16 may be securely fitted together according to the
present invention, and the need for screws can be eliminated, and
the frame may be screwed together when drywall is attached. The
present invention provides a wall frame assembly 12, and related
method for constructing a finished wall, in which the frame members
14, 16 may be assembled together by mating arrangement, which
results in locking frictional engagement of the frame members 14,
16 without the need for fasteners prior to attaching sheet-stock
(such as drywall) to the frame assembly 12. Further, the present
invention provides the structure for locking arrangement of the
frame members, such that the screw used to secure the sheet-stock
covering (drywall) to the frame 12 may be aligned for
simultaneously securing the stud 14 to the track 16. This aspect of
the present invention is useful to potentially eliminating the need
for the worker constructing the wall to carry a drill and
continually drive screws into the frame 12 as it is assembled.
[0021] The wall stud 14 and track 16 are each preferably
constructed from metal sheet stock that has been formed by
traditional methods of manufacture, such as forming by bending the
metal, and stamping blanks from the metal as desired. Other
materials may be used to form a stud and track structure according
to the present invention, which may include various natural or
synthetic materials well know in the art. When constructed in
assembled arrangement, the stud 14 is aligned transverse relative
the track 16, and is preferably aligned generally perpendicular the
track 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the stud member 14 includes an
elongated stud body 18 that is generally flat and extends along a
major extent of the stud member 14. A pair of opposed sidewalls 20,
22 depend from the stud body 18, and the width 19 of the stud body
18 being defined along the cross-sectional extent of the body 18
between the first sidewall 20 and a second sidewall 22. In the
preferred embodiment, the width 19 of the stud member 14 is
proportional to the typical stud width used in construction, and
thus is approximately 3.6 inches. Further, in the preferred
embodiment, the length of the stud member 14, measured from one
longitudinal end of the wall stud 14 to the other, is in the range
of typical metal studs presently marketed. However, the structure
of the present invention provides a stud member 14 that may be cut
to a variable length along its longitudinal extent, with the mating
cooperative structure between the stud 14 and the track 16 being
available regardless of the stud longitudinal length resulting from
a worker cutting the stud 14 to a given desired length.
[0022] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the sidewalls 20, 22 extend
perpendicular from the stud body 18. Each sidewall 20, 22 has a
sidewall width 21 and a longitudinal length 23. In the preferred
form of the invention, the length of the sidewalls 20, 22 is
generally equal to the length of the stud body 18, thus maintaining
the generally U-shaped construction of the stud member 14 through
out the longitudinal extent of the stud 14. Each sidewall 20, 22
has a free end 24 spaced from the stud body 18, and a depending
flange 26 at the free end 24 which serves as a structural component
to provide rigidity of the elongated stud member 14. The depending
flange 26 extends transverse the sidewall 20, 22, and preferably
extend generally parallel the average planar alignment of the stud
body 18. Thus, the U-shape of the stud 14 is formed from the
combination of the body 18 and sidewalls 20, 22, and the flange 26
protruding from the free end 24 of each sidewall 20, 22 thereby
extend inward within the U-shape.
[0023] In this embodiment, as shown in the Figures, each sidewall
20, 22 is formed by bending the metal along the length of the body
18, and the flange 26 is formed by bending the respective sidewall
20, 22 at the free end 24. In the preferred embodiment, the bend at
the corner 28 between the body 18 and each respective sidewall 20,
22 is generally at 90 degrees, and the flange preferably extends
from the sidewall 20, 22 at generally 90 degrees. Alternative
structure for the flange is also contemplated, such as a fold of
the metal to place the flange 26 in a position folded back against
or generally parallel the respective sidewall 20, 22. In another
embodiment, the flange 26 may be formed as a curl of metal at the
free end 24 of the sidewall 20, 22 of the stud member 14. The width
21 of each of the sidewalls 20, 22 is defined by the distance
between the corner 28 (joining the sidewall 20, 22 to the stud
body) 18 to the free end 24. In the preferred embodiment, the end
wall width 21 is in the range of 1 to 3 inches, and preferably
approximately 1.25 inches.
[0024] A recess 30 is formed in at least one of the sidewalls 20,
22, and is preferably formed in both of the sidewalls 20, 22. The
recess 30 is formed as an inwardly indented bend of metal of the
sidewall 20, 22, protruding inwardly, into the interior of the
U-shape of the stud 14, and toward the other sidewall, thus the
recess 30 is a receiver channel. The recess 30 preferably extends
the entire longitudinal length 23 of the stud member 14, as an
elongated channel as shown in FIGS. 1-3.
[0025] In the preferred embodiment, the recess 30 is a generally
V-shaped channel formed from a bend of the metal in the sidewall
20, 22 providing an elongated channel formed of two segments 36, 38
that mate at an apex 40 and form an angle of approximately
60.degree.. The two segments 36, 38 are preferably of equal
dimensions, and both extend inwardly into the U-shaped horizontal
member 16 at each sidewall 20, 22. It is preferable for the recess
30 on each sidewall 20, 22 be located in the same place along each
sidewall width 21, such that the recesses 30 of the two side walls
20, 22 are aligned together and approach each other within the
U-shaped construction of the horizontal member 16.
[0026] While the recess 30 of each of FIGS. 1-3 is shown as
V-shaped, numerous other recess shapes come to mind and may be
substituted for the preferred embodiment of a V-shaped channel,
without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Regardless of the exact shape of the recess 30 when viewed in cross
section, the recess is positioned in the sidewall 20, 22 to provide
an elongated channel of the stud member 14, which provides mating
arrangement of each channel 30 with a projection 42 of the
horizontal track member 16. In the preferred embodiment of the
V-shaped recess 30, the projection 42 also has a V-shaped
configuration of its inner surface 44 to provide substantial mating
geometry of the projection 42 and the receiver 30. This embodiment
of V-shaped mating geometry provides engaging surfaces of the
recess 30 and projection 42 that facilitate self-alignment of the
stud 14 into position along the track 16, when the stud is inserted
into place. This structure for self alignment is provides by the
mating of the inclined inner surfaces 44 of the projection 42 walls
36, 38 with the inclined outer surfaces 46 of the receiver channel
30.
[0027] The channel recess 30 has a preferred depth as defined by
the amount needed for assuring the stud 14 will be retained in
position along the track member 16 despite slack in the mating of
the stud and track due to distortion. In the preferred form, the
suitable maximum depth of the channel is approximately 0.3 inches.
Alternative depth of recess is possible, which will require
additional metal, and is easily varied by altering the fold of
metal forming the recess 30 when the stud 14 is formed, preferably
prior to forming the bend at the corner 28 between the stud body 18
and the sidewalls 20, 22, and prior to forming the bend of metal at
the free end 24 that leads to a flange 26.
[0028] The channel recess 30 is formed in the middle of each
sidewall 20, 22, along the longitudinal mid-line of the stud 14.
Thus, the apex 40 of the recess angle, which is the juncture of the
two segment walls 36, 38, is located generally at the mid-pint of
the stud sidewall width 30. This is a useful feature of the present
invention for assisting the worker to identify the "On-center"
point of the stud 14. Common construction rules provide for the
spacing of vertical studs to be at a given distance, most often 16
inches apart. This measurement of stud spacing in a wall frame,
such as 16-inches apart, is measured "on-center" as the distance
between the center of one stud 14 to the center of the next stud 14
in the framing. Thus, having the mid-point, or apex, of the recess
easily identified assist the worker in aligning the wall according
to the proper stud spacing, even without regard for mating the
projection 34 within a receiver channel 30.
[0029] The wall stud 14 preferably has the same cross sectional
shape along its entire length such that the channel recess 30
extends the entire length of the sidewalls 20, 22 of the stud 14.
This allows for each stud 14 to be cut to a desired length, with
the projection-mating structure of the receiver 30 being available
regardless of the stud 14 longitudinal length. The mating
projection 42 is preferably formed by bending into position a
portion of each elongated side of the track member 16, thus
providing opposed projections that mate with recesses 30 on each
sidewall 20, 22 of a stud 14.
[0030] In the preferred embodiment, the horizontal track 16 has
void regions 48 along its length that are absent of any
projections. The void regions 48 allow for a stud to be aligned at
a given desired spacing, without the use of mating projection 34
and receiver 30. The projections 34 are spaced along the track 16
at predetermined distances. In a preferred embodiment, the
projections are spaced 16 inches apart, beginning with a first
projection 34 located adjacent an end of the track. This embodiment
provides a structure in which a stud 14 will be located directly a
the end of the track 16, and additional studs 14 may be inserted
into the track 16 at a position every 16-inches along the track
length. In another preferred embodiment, the projections 34 are
spaced 4-inches apart, beginning adjacent one end of the track 16.
This embodiment provides a structure in which a stud 14 will be
located directly a the end of the track 16, and additional studs 14
may be inserted into the track 16 at the desired spaced locations,
such as every 12-inches along the track length. Special markings
may be provided (not shown) to provide identification of the
spacing. For example, the projections may be marked by stamping
into the steel the measurement from an end of the track member 16
(such as "4 inch; 8 inch; 12 inch; 16 inch; etc").
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the track 16 is generally U-shaped.
The track 16 is generally aligned perpendicular to the elongated
axis of the stud 14, and thus is positioned as a header or footer
of the wall framing. The track 16 preferably includes a track body
50, which is a generally flat elongated body wall that has a width
51 extending laterally between a first depending wall 52 and a
second depending wall 54. The width of the track body 50 is
measured as the cross sectional measure between the first depending
wall 52 to the second depending wall 54, which is preferably a
width that is suitable for receiving the stud body width 19, as is
the case with the common metal studs on the market. The length of
the elongated track 16 is variable, as it may be cut at any desired
length when framing the wall. Thus, the track 16 may be made
available at lengths that are typically marketed for headers and
footers in steel stud framing, and cut to size desired.
[0032] As shown throughout FIGS. 1-3, the depending walls 52, 54
are bent at a ninety degree angle from the track body 50, and
extend perpendicularly away from the track body 50. When assembling
the framing assembly, as shown in FIG. 1, the depending walls 52,
54 are located outside the end walls 20, 22 of the elongated stud
14. Each of the depending walls 52, 54 extends from the track body
50 an extent desired for securely holding the stud 14 in position,
and may have an extend of wall height 55 that is typically used for
steel stud framing, and preferably in the range of approximately
1.25 inches.
[0033] Each depending wall 52, 54 has a projection 54, preferably
formed from the steel sheet stock of the depending wall 52, 54,
which provides a structure for mating with the receiver channel of
the stud 14. Alternatively, projections may be mounted within the
track member 16 for mating with the receiver channel 30 in the
center of a stud 14 sidewalls 20, 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the
projections 34 are formed from part of the walls 52, 54 by first
forming at least one lance 56 in the metal of the wall 52, 54, and
then forcing the metal inward into the U-shaped configuration of
the track 16 to thus form the projection 34 by separating the metal
at the lanced area 58. In preferred forms of the invention, a lance
is made at least at the top and bottom of the intended projection,
and a stamping operation is performed to indent the metal between
the two lanced segments. In another embodiment, the projection 34
is formed by lancing the metal of the wall 52, 54 with a
three-sides lance cut, which results in a joining segment 60 at a
bend in the metal to join the projection 34 to the remainder of the
depending wall 52, 54.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the projections 34 are generally
complementary in shape to the channel 30 of the stud 14. As
described above, in the depicted embodiment each projection 34
extends inward to form an inner surface 44 that is generally
V-shaped with an angle of approximately 60.degree. to mate with a
like dimension of the recess channel 30. The preferred maximum
height of the projection 34 is approximately 0.3 inches. Therefore,
the dimensions of the projection 34 are similar and complementary
for mating with the dimensions of the recess 30. Further, the
projection 34 are generally present in pairs, located directly
opposite one another on opposed walls 52, 54 of the track 16. The
pairs of projections 34 thereby provide a guide for insertion of a
stud 14 such that the stud will be arranged flush against the
inside of the track 16, and the stud 14, when inserted, is confined
to a generally perpendicular range of transverse arrangement
relative the track 16.
[0035] When employing the method of assembly of the present
invention, elongated wall studs 14 are provided and arranged along
the upper and/or lower elongated track members 16 that are
provided. A stud member 14 is inserted within a receiving space of
the track 16, such that the receiver channel 30 of the stud
receives a mating projection 34 formed on the inner surface 60 of
the track 16. Additional stud members 14 are inserted into the
track 16 at the desired locations along the track 16, preferably by
inserting mating projections 34 and receiver 30 of the stud 14 and
track 16. The studs 14 are inserted into the track 16
intermittently as desired depending on the required structural
strength of the wall being constructed. Once each wall stud 14 is
fully seated within the track 16, any relative rotational movement
of the wall stud 14 within the track 16 is limited, and preferably
eliminated, by the nesting arrangement of the channel 30 and
projection 34. Therefore, the assembled wall stud 14 is generally
confined to a perpendicular arrangement relative the track 16, and
final alignment and fastening the stud 14 to the track 16 with a
screw is easily achieved. In this manner, the frame 12 may be fully
assembled, by securely connecting the studs 14 to the top and
bottom tracks 16 (such as a header and footer of the frame 12), and
drywall or other such sheet covering may be secured to the frame 12
with the screws used to attach the drywall passing through the
union of the stud 14 and track 16.
[0036] An additional benefit of the method employed with the
present invention is that a screw fastener (not shown) driven to
secure the stud 14 and the track 16 will be driven into a recessed
position relative the outer surfaces of the track 16 and stud 14,
such that there is less likely an interference caused by an exposed
screw head when placing drywall or other wall covering 64 on the
framed wall 12. The indented portion of the frame members 14, 16,
from the formation of the projection 34 and receiver 30, provide an
indent space 62 relative the outer surface of the frame 12,
recessed from the outer surface of the frame 12 where wall covering
64 is placed. Thus, the projection 34 and receiver 30 not only
secure the frame pieces together, and not only provide a structure
conducive for aligning and driving the screw to hold the frame
members together, but it also provides a space 62 for the head of
the screw to be recessed into the steel frame 12.
[0037] While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described, numerous modifications come to mind without
significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the
scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the
accompanying claims.
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