U.S. patent application number 12/938343 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-05 for deflection and drift structural wall assemblies.
Invention is credited to James A. Klein, Alastair Malcolm.
Application Number | 20110099928 12/938343 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43923905 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110099928 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klein; James A. ; et
al. |
May 5, 2011 |
DEFLECTION AND DRIFT STRUCTURAL WALL ASSEMBLIES
Abstract
Metal framing system composed of stud and track profiles having
preformed slots which allow system to accommodate for vertical
deflection and horizontal drift/adjustment. Embodiment of the
system also used to create protection of fire rated joints in rated
wall partitions.
Inventors: |
Klein; James A.; (Bellevue,
WA) ; Malcolm; Alastair; (Redmond, WA) |
Family ID: |
43923905 |
Appl. No.: |
12/938343 |
Filed: |
November 2, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61280227 |
Nov 2, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/232 ; 52/272;
52/588.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 2/7457 20130101;
E04B 2/768 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/232 ; 52/272;
52/588.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/92 20060101
E04B001/92; E04C 3/07 20060101 E04C003/07; E04B 1/94 20060101
E04B001/94; E04B 2/00 20060101 E04B002/00 |
Claims
1. A U-shaped profile having a web surface and two leg surfaces
affixed and extending in a perpendicular fashion with a minimum of
one slot located through a minimum of one of the leg surfaces such
that the lengthwise dimension is parallel the web surface and the
width of the slot is less than the diameter of a fastener head
having it's shank extending through the slot, preventing said
fastener from passing through the slot, while allowing said
fastener to move in either direction parallel to the profile
web.
2. An embodiment of the invention with multiple slots or rows of
slots located in one leg or both legs.
3. An embodiment of claim 1 having a minimum of one additional slot
located in the web in which the lengthwise dimensions is
perpendicular to the web and leg intersection.
4. An embodiment of claim 3 having multiple slots in the web.
5. Said profile of claims 2 and 3 having opposing slots in opposing
legs spaced apart and offset intermittently so that opposing slots
don't line up with one another but a slot is opposed by at least a
portion of the solid surface spacing between two slots on the
opposing leg.
6. An embodiment of claim 1-5 having a material including
intumescent being as thick or thicker or thinner than a fastener
head profile providing sealing of joints from one or a combination
of air, sound, smoke, fire, and thermal transfer between the wall
sheathing and substrates affixed to the at least the outer surface
of a minimum of one leg with an adhesive, positioned between a
minimum of one of the web and leg intersections and said slot(s) in
the leg(s) for both non-rated and fire rated joints or walls
7. Said material or intumescent of claim 6 being similar or thicker
than a fastener and creating an offset surface a distance similar
or thicker than said fastener beyond the leg outer surface.
8. Said material and or intumescent of claim 7 having a polyester
coating on the outer surface
9. Said material and or intumescent of claim 7 or 8 wrapping around
the web and leg intersection onto a portion of an outer web
surface.
10. Said embodiments of claims 1-9 having a minimum of one
additional corrugation in a minimum of one leg surface or having
one leg "hemmed" at the end creating an offset surface distance
from the outer leg surface that is the same or thicket than a
fastener
11. Said embodiment of claim 10 having a minimum of one corrugation
in both leg surfaces or having both legs "hemmed" at the end
creating an offset surface distance from the outer leg surface that
is the same or thicker than a fastener.
12. A C-Shaped profile having a web with flanges extending
perpendicular to the web and return flanges which extend
perpendicular to the flanges and parallel to the web and a minimum
of one slot formed in a flange located proximate and end of a
minimum of one of said flanges with said slot being of a width that
is equal to or narrower than the outer dimensions of a smooth or
threaded fastener shank such that when said fastener shank extends
through said slot at least the lengthwise edges of the flange which
define said slot engage said fastener via contact with the outer
edges of the fastener shank or threaded surfaces of a threaded
shank creating a connection securing said fastener from a "pull
out" while still allowing the fastener to move in a liner direction
defined by the slot when increased pressure is applied to the
fastener.
13. An embodiment of claim 12 with said slot having "flared" edges
directed inward towards the opposing flange such that the inward
protruding longitudinal edges are spaced a distance apart that is
equal to or narrower than the outer dimensions of a smooth or
threaded
14. Said profile of claims 12 and 13 having single or multiple
slots located in a single or multiple flanges near a single or
multiple ends.
15. Said profile of claims 12 and 13 having a minimum of one
corrugation in a minimum of one flange and said slot located within
a portion or exclusively through the corrugation surface.
16. Said profiles of 12 and 13 having an embossed pattern in the
flange or web surface areas.
17. A wall assembly comprised of an embodiment of the U-shaped
profile and an embodiment of the C-shaped profile with a minimum of
one end of a C-shaped profile located between the legs of a minimum
of one of the embodiments of the U-shaped profile, having a
mechanical or friction fit fastener located through a minimum of
one slot of a minimum of one U-shaped profile with the head of the
fastener proximate to the outer surface of the U-shaped profile leg
outer surface and said fastener shank extending into a minimum of
one said slot of a minimum of one C-shaped profile with the
lengthwise edges of said slot in the C-shaped profile in contact
with the outer or threaded surface of the fastener shank creating a
connection with the shank or threaded shank of the fastener, said
connection firmly connecting the fastener not allowing it to "pull
out" from installed position, with C-shaped profile and fastener
able to be move in a lateral (horizontal) direction defined by the
slot in the connected U-Shaped profile, with C-shaped profile able
to move in an up and down (vertical) direction defined by the slot
in the connected C-shaped profile with the fastener held in place
(from vertical movement) by the U-shaped profile.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/280,227 filed on Nov. 2, 2009, which
application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for
all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to structural wall
assemblies and, more particularly, to metal flaming structural wall
assemblies configured to accommodate vertical deflections and
horizontal drifts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Metal framing assemblies are commonly used to construct
commercial and residential buildings in the building construction
industry Such metal framing assemblies are generally constructed
from a plurality of metal framing members including studs, joist,
trusses, and other metal posts and beams formed horn sheet metal
and frequently fabricated to have the same general cross-sectional
dimensions as standard wood members used for similar purposes.
Metal framing members are typically constructed by roll-forming 12
to 24 gauge galvanized sheet steel Although many cross-sectional
shapes are available, the primary shapes used in building
construction are C-shaped studs and U-shaped tracks.
[0004] In the building construction trade, a head-of-wall joint
(also sometimes referred to as a top-of-wall joint) refers to the
linear junction or interface existing between a top section of a
framing/wallboard wall assembly and the ceiling (where the ceiling
may be a next-level floor or corrugated pan roof deck, for
example). In common practice, a wall to ceiling connection of many
newly constructed buildings consists essentially of an inverted
U-shaped elongated steel channel (or track) configured to receive
steel studs between the legs (also sometimes referred to as
sidewalls or flanges) of the shaped channel. A wallboard is
generally attached to at least one side of the studs. The studs and
wallboard are in many instances spaced apart from the ceiling a
short gap distance in order to allow for ceiling deflections caused
by seismic activity or moving overhead loads. Channel and stud
assemblies that allow for ceiling deflections are commonly referred
to as dynamic head-of-wall systems. Exemplary steel stud wall
constructions may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,854,096 and
4,805,364 both to Smolik, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,203 to Paquette
Exemplary dynamic head-of-wall systems having steel stud wall
constructions may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,760 to Brady, and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,705 to Orszulak et al.
[0005] Although some advances have been made with respect to
structural wall assemblies, there is still a need in the art for
new and improved structural wall assemblies that can accommodate
both vertical deflections and horizontal drifts. The present
invention fulfills these needs and provides for further related
advantages
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a structural wall assembly
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
[0007] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a structural wall assembly
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
(embodiment having intumescent strips affixed lengthwise on the top
portion of a generally U-shaped header track)
[0008] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a structural wall assembly
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
(embodiment having intumescent strips affixed lengthwise on the top
portion of a generally U-shaped header track and wherein the header
track also includes an outwardly extending elongated protrusion or
groove).
[0009] FIG. 2A is a side view of a structural wall assembly in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
[0010] FIG. 2A is a side view of a structural wall assembly in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention wherein the
wall assembly is attached to a floor and ceiling.
[0011] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a portion of a structural
wall assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a portion of a structural
wall assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention and showing an upward deflection of the header track
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a
structural wall assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention and showing the relation among the slots,
fasteners, and wallboard
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of a structural wall
assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is an end view of a portion of a structural wall
assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention
[0016] FIGS. 7A-D are various end views of a portion of a
structural wall assembly in accordance with different embodiments
of the present invention
[0017] FIGS. 8-10 are various views of the fastening aspect of the
present invention.
[0018] FIGS. 11A-C illustrates different embodiments of the present
invention
[0019] FIGS. 12-13 illustrates different embodiments of the present
invention.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention provides for structural wall
assemblies configured to accommodate vertical deflections and
horizontal drifts. In an embodiment, the present invention is
directed to a metal framing structural wall assembly that uses a
simple fastener connection through preformed slots on both the
U-shaped track and C-shaped studs. The present invention also
allows an installer to "adjust" stud flaming in a horizontal
direction without having to remove and reinstall fasteners when
wall sheathing joints don't match up to the installed studs
[0021] For example, in current construction methods (accommodating
the "growing or shrinking" of wall sheathing during application due
to inconsistent wall sheathing widths or installed joints) the
labor to unfasten, move and refasten studs is both labor intense
and time consuming. The alternative of "adding" an additional stud
in the cavity to create a backing element for wall sheathing edges
which don't line up with attached framing is also labor intense and
typically requires the "added stud" to be additionally field
modified (cut out) to accommodate existing cavity obstructions such
as pipes and wires installed horizontally within the wall Such
"cut" studs not only don't meet code requirements but are also
costly in both labor and material to install.
[0022] The present invention incorporates preformed slots of
selected sizes and positioned at specific locations such as (1) a
horizontal slot positioned on top and bottom tracks (allowing for
horizontal movement of the stud and fastener) and (2) a vertical
slot positioned on the studs (allowing for vertical deflection)
with a fastener extending though both slots. The present invention
thus provides a simple and cost effective means of reducing labor
and materials.
[0023] The design having the slot located in the stud flange formed
in a manner which provides a connection that holds the fastener in
place during installation and also allows said fastener to be moved
(vertically) with increased pressure on the fastener (without
damaging stud) and having fastener held in "permanent" vertical
plane or position by the track solves accommodating vertical
deflection and permanent positive connection of the stud and track
profiles.
[0024] The embodiments of the invention having an adhered or
affixed intumescent as thick or thicker than a fastener head
profile also provides similar solutions for fire rated walls while
providing sealing of joints from air, sound, smoke, fire, and
thermal transfer between the wall sheathing and substrates as
well.
[0025] Having horizontal slots in the track improves the short
comings of typical slotted track (multiple slots running
vertically) by allowing studs and fasteners positively attached via
a fastener through a slot to be adjusted horizontally during wall
sheathing installation and also accommodate horizontal drift
movement. Slots formed in the stud profiles receiving the shank
portion of the fastener extending through the slot of the track and
formed in a manner which creates a connection between the stud and
fastener supports the fastener from "pull out" while still allowing
and directing vertical deflection of the stud or substrate when
additional pressure is applied from external forces with the
fastener being held in "stationary vertical position" by the
u-shaped track profile.
[0026] In the embodiments including an affixed materials such as
intumescent positioned on the U-shaped track provides an air,
smoke, sound, fire, and thermal seal or barrier for both non-rated
and fire rated joints between wall sheathing and substrates.
* * * * *