U.S. patent application number 11/192597 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for diagonally braced sheet metal framing wall.
Invention is credited to Matt F. Surowiecki.
Application Number | 20070022701 11/192597 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37692781 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070022701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Surowiecki; Matt F. |
February 1, 2007 |
Diagonally braced sheet metal framing wall
Abstract
A bracing beam extends at a diagonal between an end portion of a
track and a stud, or between two studs. A series of the brace beam
sections extend along a diagonal line to diagonally brace a framing
wall. Each bracing beam section has a web and a pair of flanges
connected to the web. The ends of the beam are cut so as to form
end members which are end portions of the web of the bracing beam.
The web ends are fastened by screws to two framing members between
which the bracing beam extends. Some of the web end portions of the
brace beams are connected to the outside of the web of the stud and
others are connected to the inside of the web of the stud.
Inventors: |
Surowiecki; Matt F.;
(Seattle, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Delbert J. Barnard
P.O. Box 59988
Seattle
WA
98138-1888
US
|
Family ID: |
37692781 |
Appl. No.: |
11/192597 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/693 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C 2003/026 20130101;
E04B 2/7457 20130101; E04B 2001/2496 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/693 |
International
Class: |
E04C 3/02 20060101
E04C003/02 |
Claims
1. A wall structure, comprising: first and second sheet metal
studs, each in the form of a channel having a closed web side and
an open side; said open side of the first stud facing towards the
closed side of the second stud; a sheet metal brace beam extending
at a diagonal between the first and second studs, said brace beam
being in the form of a channel having a closed side formed by a web
and an open side; said brace beam having web end portions that are
bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the brace beam; and
wherein one web end portion of said brace beam is connected to the
inside of the web of the first stud and the other web end portion
of the brace beam is connected to the outside of the web of the
second stud.
2. The wall structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second
sheet metal studs and the sheet metal brace beam are substantially
equal in width, and the first and second sheet metal studs and the
brace beam have flanges on a first side of the wall structure that
substantially lie in a common plane, and have flanges on the
opposite side of the wall structure that substantially lie in a
common plane.
3. The wall structure of claim 2, wherein the flanges of the brace
beam have ends that are substantially contiguous the brace beam web
end portions and the studs.
4. The wall structure of claim 1, comprising screw fasteners
extending through the brace beam web end portions and the webs of
the first and second studs for connecting the brace beam to the
studs.
5. The wall structure of claim 3, wherein the ends of the flanges
of the brace beam are substantially parallel to the webs of the
first and second sheet metal studs.
6. The wall structure of claim 2, comprising screw fasteners
extending through the brace beam web end portions and the webs of
the first and second studs for connecting the brace beam to the
studs.
7. The wall structure of claim 6, wherein the flanges of the brace
beam have ends that are substantially contiguous the brace beam web
end portions and the studs.
8. A wall structure, comprising: first, second and third sheet
metal studs, each in the form of a channel having a closed web side
and an open side; said open side of the first stud facing towards
the closed side of the second stud; said open side of the second
stud facing towards the closed side of the first stud; a first
sheet metal brace beam extending at a diagonal between the first
and second studs, said brace beam being in the form of a channel
having a closed side formed by a web and an open side; a second
sheet metal brace beam extending at a diagonal between the second
and third studs, said second brace beam being in the form of a
channel having a closed side formed by a web and an open side; said
second sheet metal brace beam being substantially co-linear with
the first sheet metal brace beam; said first brace beam having web
end portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of
the first brace beam; said second brace beam having web end
portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the
second brace beam; wherein one web end portion of the first brace
beam is connected to the inside of the web of the first stud and
the other web end portion of the first brace beam is connected to
the outside of the web of the second stud; and wherein one web end
portion of the second brace beam is connected to the inside of the
web of the second stud and the other web end portion of the second
brace beam is connected to the outside of the web of the third
stud.
9. The wall structure of claim 8, wherein the first, second and
third sheet metal studs and the first and second sheet metal brace
beams are substantially equal in width, and the first, second and
third sheet metal studs and the first and second brace beams have
flanges on a first side of the wall structure that substantially
lie in a common plane, and have flanges on the opposite side of the
wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane.
10. The wall structure of claim 9, wherein the flanges of the brace
beams have ends that are substantially contiguous the end portions
of the webs of the brace beam.
11. The wall structure of claim 8, comprising screw fasteners
extending through the end portions of the webs of the brace beams
and the webs of the studs to which they are connected.
12. The wall structure of claim 8, wherein the first brace beam
slopes upwardly from its connection to the second stud to its
connection with the first stud, and the second brace beam slopes
downwardly from its connection to the second stud to its connection
with the third stud.
13. The wall structure of claim 11, comprising a third brace beam
extending at a diagonal between the first stud and the second stud;
a fourth brace beam extending at a diagonal between the second stud
and the third stud; wherein the third brace beam slopes downwardly
from its connection to the second stud to its connection with the
first stud, and the fourth brace beam slopes upwardly from its
connection to the second stud to its connection with the third
stud; wherein the third and fourth brace beams are each in the form
of a channel having a closed side formed by a web and an open side;
wherein the web portion of the third brace beam has web end
portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the
third brace beam; wherein the web portion of the fourth brace beam
has web end portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the
web of the fourth brace beam; wherein the web end portion of the
third brace beam is connected to the inside of the web of the first
stud, and the opposite web end portion of the third brace beam is
connected to the outside of the web of the first brace beam;
wherein the web end portion of the fourth brace beam is connected
to the inside of the web of the second stud; and wherein the web
end portion of the fourth brace beam is connected to the outside of
the web of the third stud.
14. A wall structure, comprising: a plurality of laterally spaced
apart sheet metal studs; said wall structure having first and
second ends, an upper corner portion at one end and a lower corner
portion at the other end; a plurality of sheet metal brace beam
sections positioned between the studs, and together forming a
diagonal brace extending substantially from the first corner to the
second corner; said sheet metal studs each being in the form of a
channel having a closed web side and an open side; said open side
of each stud facing towards the closed side of an adjacent stud;
said sheet metal brace beam sections comprising channels, each
including a web; said brace beam sections having web end portions
that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the brace
beam section; and wherein said brace beam sections have web end
portions that are connected to the webs of the studs.
15. The wall structure of claim 14, comprising two brace beam
sections between adjacent studs, one above the other, each said
brace beam section having web end portions that are connected to
the webs of the studs.
16. The wall structure of claim 14, wherein the sheet metal studs
and the sheet metal brace beam sections are substantially equal in
width, and the studs and the brace beam sections have flanges on a
first side of the wall structure that substantially lie in a common
plane, and have flanges on the opposite side of the wall structure
that substantially lie in a common plane.
17. A brace beam section, comprising: an elongated body including a
web, a pair of side flanges connected to the web and projecting
perpendicular from the web, and a pair of lips connected to the
side flanges and extending inwardly towards each other, in
co-planar parallelism, and extending parallel to the web and
perpendicular to the flanges; web end portions at the ends of the
brace beam section; diagonal end surfaces on the flanges and the
lips; and said web end portions being bent at an angle to the web
of the brace beam body.
18. The bracing beam section of claim 17, wherein at least one of
the web end portions makes an angle of less than 180.degree. with
the outer surface of the web of the bracing beam section at an
angle greater than 180.degree. with the inner surface of the web of
the bracing beam section.
19. The bracing beam of claim 17, wherein at least one web end
extends at an acute angle to the inside surface of the web of the
body of the bracing beam.
20. The bracing beam section of claim 17, wherein the flanges and
lips at one end of the bracing beam section form a diagonal end
surface that is substantially co-planar with the web end section.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to framing walls comprising
horizontal and vertical sheet metal framing members. More
particularly, it relates to framing walls in which bracing beam
sections are provided between the studs for bracing the wall along
a diagonal line or along crossing diagonal lines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,850, granted Jul. 28, 1998, to William
L. Elderson, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,618, granted Feb. 8, 2000, to
William L. Elderson, show prior art framing that includes a bracing
member extending horizontally through openings in the webs of sheet
metal studs. Some walls need to be braced better than other walls,
e.g. walls that are subjected to high wind loads. A known way of
bracing these walls is to attach crossing diagonal sheet metal
straps to the flanges of the studs on one of both sides of the
wall. Wall board is installed over the strapping. The presence of
the strapping distorts the wall board enough that it is no longer
planar and this can be seen. An object of the present invention is
to provide a bracing system for a framing wall comprising one or
more diagonal braces which are positioned inside of the wall so
that exterior straps and the distortion to the wall board that they
cause are eliminated.
[0003] There is a need for an improved way of bracing a framing
wall without the use of openings in the webs of the studs or straps
on the outsides of the studs. The principal object of the present
invention is to meet this need.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A wall structure of the present invention includes first and
second sheet metal studs, each in the form of a channel having a
closed web side and an open side. The open side of the first stud
faces towards the closed side of the second stud. A sheet metal
bracing beam extends at a diagonal between the first and second
studs. The bracing beam is in the form of a channel having a closed
side formed by a web and an open side. The bracing beam has web end
portions that are bent at an angle from the rest of the web of the
bracing beam. One web end portion of the bracing beam is connected
to the inside of the web of the first stud and the other web end
portion of the bracing beam is connected to the outside of the web
of the second stud.
[0005] The present invention includes providing a wall composed of
a plurality of studs and bracing beam sections extending diagonally
between adjacent studs. The bracing beam sections have web end
portions which are connected to the webs of the frame members
between which it extends.
[0006] In preferred form, the sheet metal studs and the sheet metal
bracing beams are substantially equal in width. The sheet metal
studs and the bracing beams have flanges on a first side of the
wall structure that substantially lie in a common plane, and have
flanges on the opposite of the wall structure that substantially
lie in a common plane. Wall board may be attached to both the studs
and the bracing beams on one or both sides of the wall
structure.
[0007] A first line of bracing beam sections may extend along a
diagonal from an upper corner to an opposite lower corner. Also, a
second line of bracing beams may extend along a second diagonal
extending between the other upper corner and the other lower
corner.
[0008] More than one bracing beam section may be positioned between
adjacent studs. For example, upper and lower bracing beam sections
may be positioned between two studs and be connected at their ends
to the webs of the studs.
[0009] Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will
become apparent from the description of the illustrated
embodiments, set forth below, from the drawings, from the claims
and from the principles that are embodied in the specific
structures that are illustrated and described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0010] Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts
throughout the several views of the drawing, and:
[0011] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a framing wall formed of
upper and lower tracks, vertical studs and diagonal brace beam
sections, with a portion of the view shown in section;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale sectional view of the portion of
FIG. 1 that is shown in circle in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a brace beam, showing web end
portions that in use are bent at an angle to rest of the web of the
brace beam;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 1 but showing crossing diagonal
braces, each formed by brace beam sections;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the structure shown in the
circle shown in FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along
line 6-6 of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along
line 7-7 of FIG. 2;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line
8-8 of FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line
9-9 of FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line
10-10 of FIG. 5;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of a framing wall composed of
tracks, studs and diagonal brace beams, such wall including two
brace beams between each pair of studs;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along line
12-12 of FIG. 11;
[0023] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along line
13-13 of FIG. 11;
[0024] FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along line
14-14 of FIG. 11;
[0025] FIG. 15 is an elevational view of a brace beam;
[0026] FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of an end portion of a brace
beam, showing a web end portion bent inwardly towards and making an
acute angle with web of the beam; and
[0027] FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view showing a web end on a
diagonal brace beam connected to the web of a connector member that
is inside a stud.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a framing wall comprising an upper track or
"header" 10, a lower track or "footer" 12, and a plurality of studs
14. The lower ends of the studs 14 fit down into the footer 12 and
the upper ends of the studs 14 fit up into the header 10. Screws S
are used to secure the header 10 and the footer 12 to the studs 14.
The framing members 10, 12, 14 are made from sheet metal,
preferably steel. The members 10, 12 are channels composed of a web
16 and a pair of flanges 18, 20 that extend perpendicular from the
web 16, giving the members 10, 12 a U-shaped cross section. Studs
14 are in the nature of lipped channels. They are each composed of
a web 22, a pair of flanges 24, 26, and a pair of lips 28, 30. The
flanges 24, 26 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the
web 22. The lips 28, 30 are parallel to the web 22 and are
perpendicular to the flanges 24, 26. Screw fasteners S extend
through the flanges 24, 26 of the header 10 and screw into the
upper ends of the flanges of the studs 14. In similar fashion,
screw fasteners S extend through the flanges 18, 20 of the footer
12 and screw into the lower ends of the flanges 24, 26 of the studs
14. What has been described so far is conventional structure.
[0029] According to the invention, the framing wall shown by FIG. 1
is diagonally reinforced or braced by bracing beams sections 38,
40, 42, 44, 46, 48. A diagonal line of the bracing beams section
32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 starts from adjacent the upper left corner
(as illustrated in FIG. 1) and extends downwardly to the lower
right corner (as illustrated in FIG. 1). Bracing members 32, 34,
36, 38, 40, 42 are preferably constructed from the same lipped
channel material as the studs 12. Referring to FIG. 3, the flanges
44, 46 and webs 48 of the bracing members 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42
are cut at their ends to form web end sections 50, 52 that are used
to connect the bracing beam sections 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 to the
webs of the header 10 (16), the footer 12 (16) and the studs 14
(22). As shown by FIG. 2, the bracing beam 32 has a web end section
50 that is screwed to the web 16 of the header 10, and to wall
structure 54 above the web 16. Bracing beam 32 has another web end
portion 52 that is connected to the second stud in from the left.
Bracing beams sections 34, 36, 38, 40 have web end portions 50 that
are connected to the webs 22 of the stud 14 between which the
sections 34, 36, 38, 40 are located. Brace beam 42 has a web end
section 50 at its upper end that is connected to the web 22 of the
second stud 14 in from the right in FIG. 1. The lower end of
bracing beam section 42 has a web end section 52 that is connected
to the web 16 of the footer 12.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 3, the brace beam section 32, has a web
48, a pair of flanges 44, 46 they are connected to the edges of the
web 48. Flanges 44, 46 are parallel to each other and are
perpendicular to the web 48. Lips 54, 56 are connected to the
flanges 44, 46 and they extend inwardly from the flanges 44, 46
towards each other in co-planar parallelism. Flange 44 and lip 54
form a first side of the lipped channel 32. Flange 46 and lip 56
form the second side of the lipped channel 32. These side portions
44, 54 and 46, 56 are cut at their ends 60, 62 and 64, 66, at a
desired angle to the web 48. The end portions of the web 48 are cut
to form web end sections 50, 52. The web end sections 50, 52 are
cut so that they have a width that is at least slightly smaller
than the width of the space between the flanges 54, 56. This is so
that the web end sections 50, 52 can be bent back towards the web
48 and moved into the space between the flanges 54, 56, if
necessary.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, the web end portion 50 of bracing beam
32 is at an angle larger than 180.degree. to the inside of the web
48 and an angle of less than 180.degree. to the outside of the web
48. The web end section 52 is bent in the same direction so that it
also extends at an angle greater than 180.degree. from the inside
of the web 48 and at an angle less than 180.degree. from the
outside of the web 48. Referring to FIG. 3, ends 60, 62 are cut at
such an angle that when the brace beam 32 is installed, the ends
60, 62 are substantially co-planar with the web end section 50. The
same is true at the opposite end of the brace beam 32. The web end
64, 66 are cut at a similar angle so that when the brace beam 32 is
installed the ends 64, 66 are substantially co-planar with the web
end section 52.
[0032] The upper ends (as pictured in FIG. 1) of the brace beams
34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are trimmed so that they have a web 68 that
extends into the open side of the stud 22 to which it is connected.
The side portions of these brace beams have diagonal ends that
contact the lips 28, 30 on the studs 22. The web end projects
inwardly into the stud 22 through the space between the lips 28, 30
and then bends at 70 and extends along the stud web 22 (FIG. 2).
The lower ends of brace beams 34, 36, 38, 40 are attached to the
stud web 22 in the same manner that web end 52 of brace beam 32 is
connected to the web of its stud 14, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0033] FIGS. 4 and 5 relate to a framing wall that is braced along
crossing diagonal lines. FIG. 4 is like FIG. 1 except that it is
taken from the opposite side of the framing wall. As a result, the
closed or web sides of the studs 14 are on the right whereas in
FIG. 1 they were on the left. The open sides of the webs 14 are on
the left whereas in FIG. 1 they were on the right. One of the
diagonal braces is formed by brace beams 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80.
The other diagonal brace is formed by braced beams 82, 84, 86, 88,
90, 92. The lower end of brace beam 82 and the upper end of brace
beam 92 have web ends 94, 96 that are bent to make an acute angle
with the web of the brace beam 82, 92. FIG. 16 shows the upper end
of brace beam 92. Its web end 96 forms an acute angle X with web
98. Web end 94 of brace beam 82 is bent to form an acute angle with
the outside of its web 100.
[0034] The upper end of brace beam 70 is like the upper end of
brace beam 92. The lower end of brace beam 80 is like the lower end
of brace beam 82. The lower ends of brace beams 70, 72, 76, 78 and
the lower ends of brace beams 84, 86, 90, 92 are formed like the
lower ends of brace beams 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 in FIG. 1. The lower
ends of brace beams 70, 72, 76, 78 and the upper ends of brace
beams 82, 84, 88, 90 are formed like the upper ends of brace beams
32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, the upper end of brace beam 86 is formed
like the end of brace beam 92, shown in FIG. 16. Its web end 102 is
connected to the web 104 of brace beam 74. The lower end of brace
beam 74 is like the upper end of brace beam 34, as shown in FIG. 2.
The lower end of brace beam 88 is also like the upper end of brace
beam 92. It has a web end 106 that is connected to the web 108 of
the stud 14 shown in FIG. 5.
[0036] FIGS. 11, 12 and 14 show the use of a pair of brace beams
32, 32', 34, 34', 36, 36', 38, 38', 40, 40', 42, 42' where single
brace beams 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are situated in the embodiment
of FIG. 1. The additional brace beams 32', 34', 36', 38', 40', 42'
may have their webs directed upwardly. Their ends 53 that are
connected to the stud webs are bent to form an acute angle with the
outside of the brace beam web. The web end that is attached to the
inside of a stud web is cut in the manner shown by FIG. 14.
[0037] In the embodiment shown by FIG. 1, additional brace beams
can be placed along both a diagonal line that is below the diagonal
line on which brace beams 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are situated.
Also, the brace beams may be positioned with their open sides
directed downwardly and their closed or web sides directed
upwardly. Also, connector members 100 may be positioned inside of
the studs 14 for the purpose of providing the wall that closes the
opening between the lips where the end of a brace beam will be
attached. This is shown by FIG. 17. Screws S may extend through the
stud flanges 24, 26 and screw into the connector member flanges. It
is also a part of the invention to weld end portions of the brace
beams to the studs and/or the tracks to provide a stronger
connection.
[0038] In all of the embodiments, the brace beams preferably are
equal in width to the width of the studs 14. Typically, this width
is 31/2 inches. When the brace beam widths are substantially the
same as the stud widths the brace beam flanges and the stud flanges
are substantially co-planar, on both sides of the wall. When the
wallboard WB is attached, it can be connected to the brace beams as
well as to the studs. This results in the wallboard WB providing
additional bracing to the framing wall. This can result in an
extremely strong wall construction.
[0039] The illustrated embodiments are only examples of the present
invention and, therefore, are non-limitive. It is to be understood
that many changes in the particular structure, materials and
features of the disclosed structure may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is my
intention that my patent rights not be limited by the particular
embodiments that are illustrated and described herein, but rather
are to be determined by the following claims, interpreted according
to accepted doctrines of patent claim interpretation, including use
of the doctrine of equivalents.
* * * * *