Wall Attachment System Comprised Of A Wood Fastener And Method Involving Suspension

Abstract

A wood fastener according to principles of the invention comprises a wood unit having at least one upper and one lower groove. The grooves are offset. The grooves have sufficient depth and width to allow a nail or similar fastener to extend therethrough and also allow passage of a reciprocating saw blade. The side ends are trimmed to mesh with furring strips. The fastener includes one or more starter holes to facilitate use by guiding placement and insertion of screws or nails. In use, the fastener attaches a movable wall to bracing provided in finished walls and ceilings of a room. To facilitate removal of the fastener for rearrangement of the wall, nails or screws extending through the grooved sections of the fastener may be cut using a reciprocating saw. A method for using the fastener is also provided.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to fasteners for a movable wall, and more particularly, to wood fasteners that facilitate detaching an interior nonbearing wall and reattaching the same wall in a new position, thus avoiding both demolishing of existing walls and building of new ones during a remodeling project.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Home remodeling projects generally involve demolishing walls and building other walls. This work has several drawbacks: it requires several weeks or months to complete; it requires substantial cost; it requires skills many homeowners typically don't have including mitering trim, squarely framing walls and smoothly finishing gypsum; it involves substantial dust from sawing, sanding and demolition; it produces substantial debris which regulations may prevent from being conveniently thrown away in household garbage; it leads to incidental marring of gypsum and trim, soiling of carpets, denting of doors, breaking of protruding lighting, cracking of driveway concrete, and scratching of vehicles. In addition, the projects may have to be unexpectedly stopped or altered because of hidden wiring, ductwork, plumbing or other improvements which are not noticed until gypsum has been removed.

[0003] Further, an increasing number of homeowners desire to be "green" during home remodeling projects by eliminating some or all of the demolition waste, component packaging, and component manufacturing energy.

[0004] Further, home builders warrant the homes they build to induce buyers to purchase the homes and so that lenders will provide financing to the homeowners. It is therefore advantageous to use materials whose performance characteristics home builders are already familiar with. The most common materials used in building interior nonbearing walls are wood studs, gypsum, nails and screws.

[0005] Systems of movable walls exist in offices, warehouses, factories, and stadiums where frequent room reconfigurability is desirable and where the cost of a movable wall system can be justified by comparing it favorably to the expense of repeated demolition and rebuilding along with the loss of use during the remodeling. It is difficult to justify these systems in a home environment where room reconfiguration happens much less frequently and where it is desirable for the movable walls to be nearly indistinguishable from gypsum-covered wood stud framed walls. All of these systems have drawbacks related to use in a home environment, including one or more of the following: they use materials other than wood studs, gypsum, nails, screws, and wood or composite trim; they make use of exposed tracks or channels or runners or rails to guide their movement or to hold them in place; they have exposed brackets, supports, edging or seams. Systems of movable walls in prior art have disclosed components which include: [0006] a. Specially-constructed panels or partitions or walls which are connected with special fasteners. However, these have the disadvantage of not being finishable so as to be indistinguishable from other gypsum walls in the home. At minimum, seams between panels are apparent, and when those seams are filled with joint compound, their ability to be detached without demolition is defeated. [0007] b. Ceiling or floor tracks which guide and hold panels. The exposed tracks are undesirable in a home environment and the substantial metal in the track and connecting components significantly increases the energy required to build the wall system because of operations involved in mining, smelting, manufacturing and transporting metal. [0008] c. Hinges, brackets, edging, floor supports and ceiling supports can be used to facilitate the attachment and construction of walls. However, these have the disadvantage of having exposed parts which are not easily finishable at home and which may corrode or become marred over time.

[0009] Gripping systems can be used to hold walls in place without tracks as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,638,376, 4,103,463, and 4,205,498. However, the cost of manufacturing a gripping system adds considerable cost to a wall structure.

[0010] Prefabricated wall systems exist to quickly attach nonbearing walls to bearing walls as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,698. However these systems do not provide for detachment without substantial demolition of the gypsum wall covering on the load-bearing walls.

[0011] Pressurized or compression wall systems are used in apartment buildings where a tenant wants to divide the unit to accommodate roommates. Because the landlord typically refuses to allow modification of an apartment, a pressurized system is used since it can later be removed without damaging finished surfaces when the apartment lease ends. Walls can be prefabricated offsite and carried into an apartment, which reduces installation time and reduces noise and activities which disturb neighboring apartments. Because elevators, hallways and room configurations limit the size of a wall that can be moved into an apartment, wall panels are built in small sections and positioned together to form larger walls. The seams between sections are covered with trim, or can be finished with joint compound. The sections can be framed from wood or steel studs and covered with gypsum. The sections are held in place by a variety of methods, all of which continually press the sections into the ceiling, floor and other walls. This pressure allows walls to remain in place without screws or nails. Unfortunately, the pressurized wall system has several drawbacks. The walls are built for a single location within a home, so they cannot be repositioned in multiple preplanned locations. When walls are not needed, there is no way to store them until needed again, so they are typically demolished or removed from the home so that doors, windows and can be trim are saved for future use. While the pressure system does keep the walls in place, they generally do not have the same strength as walls attached to the floor, ceiling and other walls with nails or screws, so shelving cannot be attached and lightweight doors may be required. Patent application 20080209827 teaches an example of this method.

[0012] Office partitioning systems exist to construct purely temporary "cubicles" and furniture-like workstations exist, both of which are not useful in relation to attaching and detaching walls in a home environment not only because of their temporary nature and but also because they are not made of stud and gypsum. A variation of the temporary wall structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,634 in which a wall is described as temporary and is covered in paper or fabric, and unfortunately is also not useful as a semi-permanent wall in a home environment.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,601 discloses a modular wall made of channels and slots, which unfortunately cannot be finished to be indistinguishable from a gypsum and wood stud wall.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,101 discloses a fastener which attaches a wall to a floor and simultaneously bears its weight, but unfortunately it is not additionally useful in its single form at ceilings and adjoining walls.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 2,864,732 discloses bracing elements for securing building components, but unfortunately the bracing elements are exposed and visible outside the walls.

[0016] Prior art also concerns itself with clips used to secure gypsum to underlying studs and to protect the edges of gypsum, but because they do not facilitate the attachment or detachment of a wall without the demolition of the joint compound between gypsum sheets, they are not useful in relation to attaching and detaching walls in a home environment.

[0017] The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems and solving one or more of the needs as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, a wood fastener is provided. The wood fastener comprises a wood unit having at least one upper and one lower groove. The grooves are offset. The grooves have sufficient depth and width to allow passage of a reciprocating saw blade. The side ends are trimmed to mesh with furring strips. The fastener includes one or more starter holes to facilitate use by guiding placement and insertion of screws or nails. In use, the fastener attaches a movable wall to a building structure. To facilitate removal of the fastener for rearrangement of the wall, nails or screws extending through the grooved sections of the fastener may be cut using a reciprocating saw.

[0019] In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the wood fastener to enable a conventional interior nonbearing wall to be detached and reattached without substantial demolition or construction.

[0020] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to facilitate a home builder's ability to warrant new home construction by avoiding introduction of new materials which would otherwise require a lengthy and costly scientific material analysis, and by a consequence of this object, using only materials in a wood fastener and in the movable nonbearing walls which are already found in a conventionally built interior nonbearing wall, namely wood stud material, nails, screws, trim, gypsum and conventional gypsum finishing materials.

[0021] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to allow tradesmen to build movable nonbearing walls during new home construction from wood studs and gypsum in a fashion similar to conventional methods, so that minimal new skills are required.

[0022] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to minimize the extra costs required to construct a house with specific movable nonbearing walls which may later be moved.

[0023] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to enable a majority of homeowners to detach and reattach walls when they are skilled in basic sawing, drilling, nail and screw driving, and the fishing and basic connecting of wiring to receptacles, lights and switches, where the homeowner is allowed by regulation to do so.

[0024] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to eliminate the need to lay new carpeting, new finished wood flooring, or other finished flooring material during a remodeling project because the flooring installed during new construction suffers so little damage during the remodeling project that it requires only minor repair.

[0025] If is a further object of a wall attachment system to facilitate the moving of movable nonbearing walls in one or two days so that homeowners can remain resident in their homes and can avoid removing furnishing and possessions into storage.

[0026] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to require so little change in wall construction that homeowners perceive little to no difference between detachable nonbearing walls constructed using this invention and the same walls constructed in the conventional undetachable fashion from wood studs and gypsum.

[0027] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to avoid the common practice of hauling away construction debris in a garbage dumpster by reducing the debris so much that it will be contained in one or several garbage bags.

[0028] It is a further object of the fastener to minimize incidental damage to gypsum, flooring, and trim by eliminating or minimizing the amount of demolished material that needs to be carried out of the house and the amount of new material that needs to be carried into the house.

[0029] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to minimize or eliminate extra energy resources required to manufacture and transport the fastener invention.

[0030] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to utilize a wood fastener to be useful in a single form at the ceiling, floor, and adjoining stationary walls, which requires, at minimum, that a wood fastener has the ability not only to attach a movable nonbearing wall to the floor, but also to bear the weight of the movable nonbearing wall.

[0031] It is a further object of a wood fastening system to make use of a reusable wood fastener in two successive applications: first, when a nonbearing wall is constructed and attached, and again, when it is has been detached and reattached a second time.

[0032] It is a further object of a wall attachment system for a homeowner to complete all wall reconfiguration remodeling tasks that regulations allow them to perform without licensed tradesmen in a manner which does not require access to attic space.

[0033] It is a further object of a wall attachment system to provide a means to store movable nonbearing walls inside the house when not required in a particular room configuration so that during a later remodeling project they can again be used when required.

[0034] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a wood fastening system making use of a wood fastener with a unique shape. A wood fastener is a block of wood having a specialized shape. Grooves make it possible to detach a wood fastener by inserting a pry bar and prying, or by inserting a saw blade and cutting the nails or screws. outed corners provide notches to attach furring strips for gypsum. Predrilled holes ensure nails or screws are driven at proper locations. An accompanying method makes use of a plurality of wood fasteners to attach a nonbearing wall to other walls, ceilings and floors. The method provides for attaching a nonbearing wall in a temporarily suspended state so that finished flooring material can be installed in a continuous fashion underneath it.

[0035] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The foregoing and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

[0037] FIG. 1A shows a front view of a first embodiment of a wood fastener in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0038] FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the opposite side of a first embodiment of a wood fastener in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0039] FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a wood fastener in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0040] FIG. 1D shows a section (B-B) [FIG. 1C] view of the opposite side of a first embodiment of a wood fastener in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0041] FIG. 1E shows a section (A-A) [FIG. 1B] view of a first embodiment of a wood fastener in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0042] FIG. 1F shows a perspective section (A-A) view of the opposite side of a first embodiment of a wood fastener in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0043] FIG. 1G shows a section (C-C) [FIG. 1B] view of a portion of a wood fastener in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0044] FIG. 1H shows a perspective section (C-C) [FIG. 1B] view of a portion of a wood fastener in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a series of wood fasteners in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0046] FIG. 3A shows a side view of a wood fastener connecting a movable nonbearing wall to a perpendicular stationary wall in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0047] FIG. 3B shows a side view of a wood fastener connecting a movable nonbearing to the bottom plate of another wall sandwiched next to the movable wall, by which fastening method a movable wall is stored when not required in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0048] FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a detachable wall attached perpendicular to two parallel stationary walls and also to a floor and ceiling by use a plurality of wood fasteners in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0049] FIG. 4B shows how ladder bracing is inserted into adjoining stationary walls and ceiling where wood fasteners can be attached to support a movable wall in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0050] FIG. 5A shows a top view of two closets made of detachable walls joined by a plurality of wood fasteners into a configuration of closets. in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0051] FIG. 5B shows a top view of a set of walls joined by a plurality of wood fasteners into a second configuration of closets. in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0052] FIG. 6A. shows a side view of a wood fastener attached using a "toenailed" screw to a ceiling and how a wood fastener is used temporarily as a jig to correctly position and the screw in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0053] FIG. 6B shows a side view of a wood fastener attached using a "toenailed" screw to a floor and how a wood fastener is used temporarily as a jig correctly position and the screw in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0054] FIG. 6C shows a top view of a wood fastener attached using a "toenailed" screw to an adjoining wall and how a wood fastener is used temporarily as a jig correctly position and the screw in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0055] FIG. 6D shows a side view of a wood fastener attaching two end-to-end coplanar walls in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0056] FIG. 7 shows how notches in a wood fastener allow furring strips to connect wood fasteners so gypsum can be further attached to the furring strips instead of the fasteners in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0057] FIG. 8 shows how the second embodiment of a wood fastener can be used without furring strips, thus avoiding labor during new construction in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0058] FIG. 9 shows how the second embodiment can be cut to avoid crown trim and base trim and an electrical receptacle which feeds electrical cable into the movable wall in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0059] FIG. 10 shows a suspended movable wall with flooring installed beneath the wall in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0060] FIG. 11 is a perspective view that conceptually illustrates cutting of a nail that secures a wall to a fastener according to principles of the invention.

[0061] FIG. 12 shows how trim and casing on stationary walls will not interfere when a movable wall is moved from one position to another in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0062] FIG. 13 shows a movable wall's trim which has been routed to complement the profile of a stationary wall's trim so that the movable wall can be positioned anywhere along the stationary wall in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0063] FIG. 14 shows the side view of a large space, highlighting that a wall can be moved only to other positions where the ceiling height is the same in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0064] FIG. 15A shows a top-view example of where to position electrical components to be useful in an example three-room configuration in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0065] FIG. 15B shows how the same electrical components in FIG. 16A is useful without moving in an example two-room configuration in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0066] FIG. 16A shows atop-view example of where to position HVAC ducts and return air ducts in an example three-room configuration in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0067] FIG. 16B shows how the same HVAC ducts and return air ducts in FIG. 17A are useful without moving in an example two-room configuration in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0068] FIG. 17A shows how fire and safety systems are laid out in an example three-room configuration in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0069] FIG. 17B shows how the same fire and safety components in FIG. 18A are useful without moving or adding in an example two-room configuration in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0070] FIG. 18A is a top view of a movable wall and a stationary wall showing how an electrical cable connects the movable wall to the stationary wall in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0071] FIG. 18B shows an alternate way electrical receptacles in a movable wall are wired together and can be easily connected to house wiring by fishing a "pigtail" wire from the movable wall into a ceiling electrical receptacle directly above the movable wall in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0072] FIG. 18C looks up at the ceiling above a movable wall showing how a "pigtail" wire from a movable wall travels through an electrical receptacle directly above a movable wall and then through conduit to a second electrical receptacle in a ceiling in which wires can be spliced and remain accessible in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0073] FIG. 19 shows how gypsum only extends to the outer edge of a movable wall frame and the gaps to the adjoining wall and floor are covered by trim in accordance with principles of the invention; and

[0074] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the types of walls, wall structures, shapes, relative sizes, ornamental aspects or proportions shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. In general, a wood fastener according to principles of the invention comprises a wood unit having at least one upper and one lower groove. The grooves are offset. The grooves have sufficient depth and width to allow passage of a reciprocating saw blade. The side ends are trimmed to mesh with furring strips. The fastener includes one or more starter holes to facilitate use by guiding placement and insertion of screws or nails.

[0076] A wood fastener, shown in FIGS. 1A-1F, is made of wood stud stock without significant defects such as cracking, warping or knots which would impair its performance. The overall height, b, is about 1.5 inches. The overall length, d, is about 8 inches, with the length, e, of the medial section being about 6 inches. The overall width, f, is about 3.5 inches. The width, g, of each side is about 2 inches. The length, i, of each side is about 1 inch. The depth of each groove 105, 106, 107 is about 0.25 inches. The width, a, of each groove 105, 106, 107 is about 2 inches. This width is preferably at least twice the width of a typical saw blade plus the diameter of the shank of a nail (or screw), allowing a saw blade to enter the space defined by the groove and cut a nail (or screw) extending through such space, no matter where the nail passes through that space. Materials other than wood stock, including non-wood materials, may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Additionally, the dimensions may vary from the exemplary dimensions described herein.

[0077] The wood fastener 100 generally comprises a rectangular parallelepiped solid wood object bounded by six square faces, facets or sides, with three meeting at each vertex. Various grooves, cutouts, slots and holes are formed in the object by cutting, drilling, routing and/or other woodworking operations.

[0078] Conspicuously, at least one groove 107 is formed on a first side of the fastener 100. At least one groove 105, 106 is formed on the opposite side of the fastener 100, not in alignment with the groove 107 on the first side. In the exemplary embodiment, three grooves 105-107 are shown, with one groove 107 approximately centered, and the other two grooves 105, 106, offset from groove 107.

[0079] Another conspicuous feature of the exemplary fastener is a plurality of cutouts (aka "notches") at corners of the fastener. The cutouts 35, 40, 45 and 50 are configured to facilitate abutting and partially overlapping furring strips. In construction, furring strips are long thin strips of wood or metal used to make backing surfaces to support the finished surfaces in a room. Furring strips typically measure nominally 1''.times.2''. In a preferred embodiment, the cutouts are about either 1''.times.1'' or 1''.times.3/4'' and extend the entire height of the fastener 100. The cutouts are formed at the sides of the fastener by cutting material from four corners of the wood stud stock from which the fastener is formed.

[0080] Formation of the cutouts produces tab-like projections 10, 15, at each side end of the fastener. The tabs 10, 15 are centered and include a centerline or slit for alignment. The tabs provide a structure that can abut furring strips in certain installations.

[0081] A plurality of wood fasteners 101 is used to attach a nonbearing wall 138 to other walls 134 and 135, ceilings 136 and floors 16 as shown in FIG. 4A. Wood fasteners are positioned at intervals where the nonbearing wall adjoins other walls, ceilings or floors. When all wood fasteners have been attached using nails or screws both to the nonbearing wall and to the other adjoining walls, ceiling, and floor the nonbearing wall is securely in place. It has been discovered that using a plurality of wood fasteners in this arrangement allows walls to be attached, detached, and reused with little to no damage to the movable walls or to the adjoining walls, ceiling and floor.

[0082] Before a wood fastener is attached to a nonbearing wall, it is attached to the adjoining wall, ceiling, or floor by use of a nail or a screw. As shown in FIG. 6A, when a wood fastener 101 is used at the ceiling, the nail or screw 133 travels through a wood fastener 101 and then through the ceiling's gypsum 125 and finally into the underlying wood joist 128. As shown in FIG. 6B, when a wood fastener 101 is used at the floor, a nail or screw 133 travels through a wood fastener 101 and then through the adjoining flooring 127. As shown in FIG. 6C, when a wood fastener 101 is used at an adjoining perpendicular wall, a nail or screw 133 travels through a wood fastener 101 and then through the adjoining wall's gypsum 126 and finally into "ladder" bracing 182. The perpendicular wall shown in FIG. 6C can be either a stationary conventionally framed wall or a movable nonbearing wall. 6D, when a wood fastener 101 is used at the floor where two coplanar walls meet, a nail or screw 133 travels through a wood fastener 101 and then through the adjoining flooring 127. Two nails or screws are toenailed following path 132 into the two bottom plates 156 of the two walls and then into the wood fastener 101. FIG. 1A shows a predrilled hole 108 which facilitates the correct positioning of said nail or screw 133 in FIG. 6A. FIG. 1A also shows a second predrilled hole 109 which is provided so a wood fastener can be used a second time in a later application. Predrilled holes 108 and 109 shown in FIG. 1A are arranged 1.75 inches from the edge of a wood fastener and one inch apart and penetrate a wood fastener to a depth of 1.25 inches. These holes guide nails or screws through the fastener. To reduce the probability that the fasteners will be incorrectly used, the holes 108 and 109 do not fully penetrate the fastener until a nail or screw is driven through them into an adjoining wall, ceiling or floor. These two predrilled holes 108 and 109 are at a slight three degree angle from perpendicular but remaining in the plane created by joining the 115 marks. It has been discovered that this slight angle will reduce the chance that the fastener will spin after it has been attached to an adjoining wall, but before it is attached to the stationary wall. The angle is so slight that a user will not generally notice it and be tempted to correct it to be perfectly perpendicular.

[0083] A wood fastener is attached to a non-bearing wall by driving a nail or screw at an angle 132 (commonly called "toenailing") as shown in FIG. 6A through a nonbearing wall's gypsum 144 and then into its top plate 130 and then into a wood fastener 101 which is in turn attached through ceiling gypsum 125 to a joist 128. In most cases, a screw is preferred because it can be unscrewed when a wood fastener is later detached. However, a nail is an option in all cases, and is preferred when a wood fastener is used at the floor where a screw would more severely damage finished wood flooring or would spool up carpeting material as it twists into the subfloor.

[0084] Without sacrificing it, a second wood fastener 131 can be used as a temporary jig while attaching a wood fastener 101 as shown in FIG. 3A. A predrilled hole 132 in the jig facilitates the positioning of the toenailed nail or screw that attaches a wood fastener 101 to the nonbearing wall stud 130. This predrilled hole 110 begins on one side of a wood fastener as shown in FIG. 1A, travels into a wood fastener at an angle 106 shown in FIG. 6A and until it almost penetrates the other side. To use the jig, insert a 6 inch drill bit into the predrilled hole 110 and drill through the other side of the fastener and continue drilling into the wall's gypsum 130, top plate 130 and fastener 101. The predrilled hole 132 does not initially penetrate the wood fastener to reduce the probability that a user will not incorrectly position the jig.

[0085] As shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, groove 105 is routed to a depth of 3/16 inch and a width of two inches. This groove enables a saw blade to be inserted on either side of a nail or screw 132 to cut a wood fastener away from an end stud 157 in a detachable wall. After all of these nails or screws have been cut on all wood fasteners surrounding a nonbearing detachable wall, the wall is unsecured from its adjoining walls, ceiling, and floor. Groove 106 is identical to groove 105 and is used to cut a nail or screw when a wood fastener is used a second time and in cases where two coplanar nonbearing walls are both attached to the wood fastener.

[0086] As shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, groove 107 is routed to a depth of 1/4 inch and a width of two inches. When a screw has been used to attach a wood fastener to the wall, ceiling, or floor that adjoins the nonbearing wall it can be removed by unscrewing it. However, when a screw's head has stripped, or when a nail has been used instead, a wood fastener can be unattached by inserting a pry bar into groove 107 and applying leverage. Alternatively, the groove can be used to insert a saw blade to cut the nail or screw if attempts to pry and unscrew fail.

[0087] As best illustrated in FIG. 11, the slots allow a cutting tool (e.g., reciprocating saw blade 530) to access and sever a nail 535 (or screw) that secures a wall structure (e.g., sheetrock or gypsum 510) to another supporting structure. In this embodiment, the supporting structure is a wall comprised of studs 500 with sheetrock or gypsum 505 attached thereto. The fastener 100 is attached to the supporting structure by nails 515, 520. Upon cutting the nail 535 that secures the wallboard 510 to the fastener 100, the wallboard 510 may be removed and moved. It is the access space provided by the groove 107 that enables access by a reciprocating metal-cutting saw blade for cutting. In a preferred implementation only one nail or screw extends through the space defined by the groove. However, if more than one nail or screw is used, they should be arranged so that sufficient space is available to accommodate the reciprocating saw blade.

[0088] By running a router along the edge 113 of a wood fastener as shown in FIG. 1A a portion of a wood fastener has been removed to act as a guide for the non-bearing wall as it is being moved into position with a wood fastener. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 1B, a second guide 114 has been routed into the other edge of a wood fastener so a wall can be moved into position on a wood fastener from either direction.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 7, 1 inch by 3/4 inch notches 159 are cut away from a wood fastener so that furring strips 1 60 can be attached from one wood fastener to another. Gypsum 143 and 144 can then be attached to these furring strips instead of directly to wood fasteners 1, so that nails or screws used to attach gypsum do not have to be removed from wood fasteners before they are reused later in a second application. The notches are also shown in FIG. 1A where edge 215 is 1 inch and edge 216 is 3/4 inch.

[0090] A nonbearing wall can be stored flush against another wall in a sandwiched fashion when it is not in use. When this occurs, it is desirable not to damage the finished flooring or finished ceiling, and instead, to attach the movable nonbearing wall to the adjoining wall's sole plate and top plate. A wood fastener provides for this, as shown in FIG. 3B, by driving a lag screw along a path 162 from a wood fastener 101 and then into an adjoining wall's sole plate 161 or top plate. As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1G and 1H, a predrilled hole 112 is positioned in the wood fastener parallel to edge 104. As shown in FIG. 24C, the hole is comprised of a section countersunk to a depth of 3/4 inch 112B and second section 112A which penetrates the wood fastener to a depth of 3 inches. The diameter of the countersunk section is wide enough to insert a ratchet to turn a screw with a hexagonal head. To reduce the probability that the wood fastener will be incorrectly used, the hole 112 does not fully penetrate the fastener until a screw is driven through it to fasten one wall to another.

[0091] A wood fastener is manufactured using the common woodworking techniques of sawing, routing, drilling and sanding, all of which could be accomplished in small batches on the home site or in larger batches in a milling factory. When very large fastener quantities are desired, a CNC machine may be programmed to automatically complete routing and drilling.

[0092] A wood fastener has two marks 115 as shown in FIG. 1A to facilitate its quick placement on the wall, ceiling, or floor adjoining the nonbearing wall where a line has been drawn marking studs or bracing behind the gypsum to which the fastener attaches.

[0093] FIGS. 5A and 5B show how walls which are attached with a plurality of wood fasteners can be detached and reattached in different configurations. FIG. 5A shows two rooms 150 and 151 separated by closets 152 and 153. The closets are made of seven walls 141 (2), 139 (4) and 140 (1) which are attached to each other with a plurality of wood fasteners. Doors 142 and 153 are also shown. FIG. 5B shows how the seven walls have been reattached using a plurality of wood fasteners to create a walk-in closet 154 for room 150 and that room 151 is now without a closet.

[0094] Ceilings are framed at the same height wherever interior walls can attach. They are finished without ornamental design, so as to be easily repaired. FIG. 13 shows that a movable nonbearing wall positioned at 166 dining new construction can be moved to a position 167 during a remodeling project because the ceiling 136 is the same height but cannot be moved to position 160 because the ceiling height increases or to position 169 because the floor 137 steps down.

[0095] In the first embodiment described so far, separate wood fasteneres are used and are connected by flurring strips as shown in FIG. 7. However, a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, is an eight foot long 2.times.4 inch wood stud. Where all cuts, routings and drilled holes heretofore described are repeated at 24 inch intervals along the stud. In this embodiment, four wood fasteners 101 are embedded into the stud with 16 inches of stud material 123 between them, rather than being separate individual wood blocks. Using this embodiment enables the entire fastening system to be quickly positioned on the walls and floors adjoining the nonbearing wall by simply cutting the stud to the proper length or positioning multiple studs end to end. The second embodiment does not requite flaring strips since gypsum can be attached directly to the stud material between the wood fasteners as shown in FIG. 8. To cater for eight foot ceilings, the second embodiment is extended on the ends with 3.5 inches of stud material 209 on one end and 12.5 inches of stud material 155 on the opposite end.

[0096] FIG. 9 shows how the second embodiment can be cut to avoid obstacles. In this example, the second embodiment is used between a moving wall and an adjoining wall. Stud material 155a has been cut to allow room for crown trim 149 at the ceiling. The bottom wood fastener 101 has been cut from the second embodiment and placed individually between an electrical receptacle 154 and base trim 146. Stud material 209 shown in FIG. 8 is discarded.

[0097] The second embodiment of the wood fastener can be manufactured to any length, repeating the pattern of embedded wood fasteners and stud material at whatever intervals the home builder desires.

[0098] In walls that are taller or longer than the length of the second embodiment of a fastener, the remainder of the wall can be attached by using a plurality of the second embodiment of a fastener, or by using both the first and second embodiments of a fastener to achieve the required length.

[0099] In the second embodiment, embedded wood fasteners can be cut on-site from the stud to create the individual wood fasteners identical to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

[0100] A third embodiment is an embodiment made of a block of engineered wood product, which otherwise has the same shape as and is used in exactly the same fashion as the first or second embodiment.

[0101] A fourth embodiment is an embodiment made of engineered wood product, which otherwise has the same shape as and is used in exactly the same fashion as the first or second embodiment.

[0102] A fifth embodiment is an embodiment made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which otherwise has the same shape as and is used in exactly the same fashion as the first or second embodiment.

[0103] A sixth embodiment is an embodiment made of molded plastic, which otherwise has the same shape as and is used in exactly the same fashion as the first or second embodiment.

[0104] It can be appreciated that prior to the disclosure of a wood fastener, walls could not be detached, moved and reattached without demolishing and rebuilding them. An accompanying method is hereafter disclosed which teaches features to be included in new construction to enable later room reconfiguration, steps to follow during new construction, and steps to follow during remodeling projects.

[0105] When constructing a new building, incorporate the following features that allow a homeowner to reconfigure it in a future remodeling project.

[0106] An interior space is formed from stationary walls and has at least two locations where nonbearing interior walls could be moved to and attached to form rooms, closets or stub walls as desired. The example shown in FIG. 15 shows a large space which is divided into two rooms 170 and 171, but which can be reconfigured during a later remodeling project into three rooms by detaching two walls 172 and 173 built next two each other and attaching them in new positions 172a and 173a.

[0107] One or more interior nonbearing walls are attached to adjoining walls, ceilings, and floors by a plurality of wood fasteners. These walls are constructed so as to have no plumbing, ductwork, gas lines or wiring that adjoin other walls, ceiling, or floor, other than as specific in the method described in the present invention. They are constructed using conventional techniques, except that their widths have been reduced to accommodate wood fasteners and their heights have been reduced to accommodate wood fasteners and finished flooring material.

[0108] When a space is divided during a remodeling project to add a room, as is the case in the example illustrated in FIG. 15, a door is required for the additional room. Conventional construction during a remodeling project would require demolition of gypsum beyond the desired doorway to install structural studs and a header. To avoid this demolition, a doorway 218 is pre-framed during initial construction with a sole plate and center stud to attach gypsum, all of which can be knocked out when the doorway is required during remodeling. During initial construction, tradesmen avoid running wiring, plumbing or other improvement through the pre-framed doorway so that no changes to the wiring or plumbing are required during remodeling.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 14, crown trim 188, base trim 189, chair rail trim 191, and window casement and sill 190 and other wall and ceiling features are installed so that they protrude no more than 1.5 inches (the width of fasteners). This allows a wall, after being detached from one position during a remodeling project, to be moved past all wall and ceiling features to its new position. Because the movable wall is moved off of the fasteners at the floor, a three inch clearance exists above the top plate 130, which allows crown trim 188 to be left in place on side walls 134 and 135.

[0110] Ceilings, stationary walls and floors are framed so as not to warp over their expanses by more than one half inch every 10 feet so that a wall built during initial construction will fit in a new location during a remodeling project.

[0111] All electrical receptacles on both sides of a movable wall are wired together as shown in FIG. 19A. A cable 177 from all electrical receptacles 212 in a movable wall 138 is connected to a single receptacle 165 near a stationary wall. In this single receptacle 165, an electrical cable 177 from all other outlets 212 in the movable wall is connected to a cable 176 that travels through a conduit 174 in the movable wall, and then through a void between wood fasteners 192 and then into a stationary wall 134, and then into an electrical receptacle 164a on a stationary wall, and then continues into a second conduit 214 and finally into another receptacle 163 on a stationary wall where the cable is connected to house wiring.

[0112] As an alternative to connecting a movable nonbearing wall's receptacles to a cable extending from receptacle in a stationary wall, the movable wall's receptacles may be connected to a receptacle in the ceiling as shown in FIG. 19B. A cable 187 extending from the movable wall through its top plate 130 is fished through a receptacle 184 in the ceiling directly above it. Because regulations generally prevent cables from being spliced together when not accessible, the cable is further fished, as shown in FIG. 19C, from the first receptacle 184 into a short piece of conduit 181 and into a second nearby ceiling receptacle 186 where it is connected to house wiring 185. The first ceiling receptacle 184 is concealed when the movable wall is in position, and is covered with a plate when the movable wall is in another position. The second ceiling receptacle 186 is always accessible and is covered with a plate regardless of the movable wall's position.

[0113] Electrical outlets are wired so that their positions and intervals are sufficient for all anticipated room configurations. As shown in FIG. 16A, outlets in three rooms are installed in positions where they will be useful without moving when a remodeling project reconfigures the space to two rooms as shown in FIG. 16B. Receptacles 164 are located on stationary walls in positions where cable can be fished to movable walls and are used as outlets when movable walls are not in position at them. Electrical receptacles 213 in the movable walls in FIG. 16A are disconnected when not required as shown in FIG. 16B.

[0114] Sufficient windows are installed to satisfy regulations for any planned configuration, but which do not interfere with predetermined wall locations. An example in FIG. 16A shows four windows installed so that window 205 is in one room, window 206 and 207 are in a second room, and window 208 is in a third room. However, after a remodeling project which reconfigures the three rooms into two rooms, the four windows are still useful without moving them. This is shown in FIG. 16B where the first new room has two windows 205 and 206 and the second new room has two windows 207 and 208. The placement of the windows doesn't interfere with the movable wall positions in either configuration.

[0115] Base and optional crown trim is installed as shown in FIG. 10 which is conventionally mitered in corners, but has square, unmitered joins about one foot from the movable wall corners and predetermined future wall positions, so that small pieces can be removed when walls are moved and which can be reused without additional mitering when the wall is reattached.

[0116] Two alternatives are provided to avoid mitering trim in corners where movable walls meet stationary walls. First, as shown in FIG. 11, plinths can be used. This alternative has the added advantage of providing a square edge where optional vertical trim can end. Second as shown in FIG. 12, base and optional crown trim which runs along stationary walls can run without interruption from one side of a movable wall to the other. At time of new construction, the movable wall's trim is routed to exactly complement the stationary walls trim profile. This allows the movable wall's trim to be removed when the wall is detached and then refastened to the movable wall after it has been reattached in its new position.

[0117] Finished flooring material is installed so that it extends under the movable wall to reduce flooring repair after the wall is moved.

[0118] Gypsum is installed and finished as if the movable wall were not in place so that when the movable wall is repositioned, the gypsum on the ceiling and stationary walls are already in place and finished, only requiring minimal repair.

[0119] Gypsum on the movable nonbearing wall is hung so that it extends only so far as its top plate, sole plate, and end studs and which is then covered at the edges with crown trim, base trim and vertical trim. FIG. 4 shows how the movable wall's gypsum 143 extends to the edge of the movable wall's sole plate 156 and end stud 145. Base trim 145 hides the gap between the movable wall's gypsum and the floor 137. Vertical trim 147 hides the gap between the movable wall's gypsum and the adjoining stationary wall 134. Alternatively, gypsum on the movable wall can join with the adjoining walls and then be finished in the usual way, thus avoiding vertical trim 147. This alternative will require more repair during a remodeling project.

[0120] An electrical receptacle 217 as shown in FIG. 16B is positioned near a doorway with a cable extending to another receptacle containing an electrical outlet. When a remodeling project adds a room as has been done in the example where two rooms in FIG. 16B have been reconfigured into three room in FIG. 16A, a switch is installed in the receptacle 217. Alternatively, the electrical receptacle can be connected to a ceiling electrical box for a hanging ceiling lighting fixture.

[0121] No recessed ceiling lighting fixtures are installed, unless the home has a programmable electrical switching system.

[0122] HVAC return ducts are installed for each room in each possible room configuration. For example, return ducts are installed so both configurations shown in FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B can take advantage of the return ducts 211 without adding or moving the ducts. In the case where a return duct is not needed in a specific configuration, as shown in FIG. 17A, the return duct 211A is installed with a damper which can be closed by removing the duct grill and reaching inside.

[0123] HVAC vents are installed in a configuration appropriate in each possible room configuration without adding or moving the vents. For example, the small rooms in a configuration shown in FIG. 17A are served by one or two ducts 210 each, whereas the two larger rooms shown in FIG. 16B are served by three ducts each.

[0124] In the case where smoke detectors are connected systematically, they are installed so their positions are appropriate for any possible room configuration. A cover plate is used when a receptacle for a smoke detector location is not in use. For example, FIG. 18B shows a two room configuration where two smoke detectors 221 and an unused receptacle with cover plate 222 are wired together. When a remodeling project reconfigures the space to three rooms as shown in FIG. 18A, the cover plate is removed on the receptacle and a third smoke detector is added, without requiring rewiring the system or moving already-installed smoke detectors.

[0125] In the case where fire irrigation is installed, the location and number of irrigation heads should be sufficient for any room configuration without moving or adding heads. FIG. 18A shows a space configured with three rooms, and FIG. 18B shows the same space configured after a remodeling project with two rooms. Fire irrigation heads 220 and 220a are positioned in a way in which they are useful without modification in either room configuration. 220a is an example of a fire irrigation head which is installed at new construction in a three-room configuration even though it is not required until a remodeling project reconfigures the space into a two room configuration where the room size has increased so much that the diameter of the fire irrigation heads 220 will not fully extend to protect the larger rooms.

[0126] Closets are constructed of a sufficient number for any anticipated room configuration. Alternatively, closet walls are attached by use of wood fasteners and are reconfigured as necessary. As an example, FIG. 5A shows two rooms, 150 and 151, each served by a closet. The closets are constructed from a plurality of wall panels 139, 140 and 141 which are attached to each other with wood fasteners. When room 151 is used as an office, a remodeling project converts the two closets to a single closet by moving the wall panels and reattaching them with wood fasteners.

[0127] A movable wall is constructed with a top profile which corresponds to the profile of a ceiling as shown in FIG. 23. In example given so far, flat ceilings are illustrated. FIG. 23 shown an example of a tray ceiling where a ceiling is higher in the center of a room that at the edges of the room. To accommodate profiled ceilings, movable walls are constructed to match the ceilings profile so that at least one fastener can be inserted between the movable wall's top plate and a ceiling at each change in a ceiling's height. As shown in FIG. 23 a first embodiment of a wood fastener is used at short segments of lower ceiling along the edges of a room, and a plurality of wood fasteners is used along the higher ceiling segment. Wood fasteners are not attached at the vertical segments of ceiling where the ceiling height changes.

[0128] Construct bathrooms sufficient in number and size for any anticipated room configuration.

[0129] When constructing a new building, ensure that a homeowner will be able to reconfigure it without demolishing and rebuilding walls by following these steps in order.

[0130] Step 1. Frame the floors, stationary walls, and ceiling, and lay subflooring, if any, using conventional techniques.

[0131] Step 2. Use ladder bracing in walls and ceiling in each position where a movable wall may be attached.

[0132] Step 3. Frame the movable nonbearing wall.

[0133] Step 4. Temporarily set aside the movable nonbearing wall frame.

[0134] Step 5. Wire the electrical system in stationary walls and the movable nonbearing walls. Leave the cable in the movable nonbearing wall unconnected from house wiring. Order the electrical inspection.

[0135] Step 6. Insulate where necessary and order an insulation inspection. The movable nonbearing wall has been temporarily positioned so as not to prevent insulation from being stapled in the corners.

[0136] Step 7. Hang gypsum on the entire ceiling, and the exposed face of the movable nonbearing wall, and the stationary walls, except for those behind the temporary positions of the movable nonbearing walls. The temporary position of the movable wall does not to prevent sheets of gypsum from being attached above it.

[0137] Step 8. Finish all gypsum that has been thus far hung. The movable nonbearing wall will prevent the far edges of the ceiling from being finished until later.

[0138] Step 9. After examining them for defects, attach wood fasteners as shown in FIG. 22 to the ceiling 198 and adjoining stationary walls 199 and 200 where a movable nonbearing wall will be positioned.

[0139] Step 10. Move the movable nonbearing wall 138 into position as shown in FIG. 22 and lift it onto unattached wood blocks. While holding the unattached movable wall 138 in place, insert shims 203 under the movable wall at the floor so that the top plate of the movable wall abuts the wood fasteners on the ceiling 198.

[0140] Step 11. Attach the movable nonbearing wall 138 to the wood fasteners at the ceiling 198 and adjoining stationary walls 199 and 200 as shown in FIG. 22.

[0141] Step 12. Connect the electrical cable in the movable nonbearing wall to house wiring at the receptacle that was installed for this purpose as shown in FIG. 16A.

[0142] Step 13. Attach furring strips wherever needed to attach drywall and trim.

[0143] Step 14. Hang and finish gypsum on the end stationary wall and the opposite sides of the movable nonbearing walls. Finish the edges of the movable nonbearing wall with gypsum if desired.

[0144] Step 15. Remove the temporary blocks 203 shown in FIG. 22 at the floor underneath the movable nonbearing wall 138 (FIG. 10) so that the movable nonbearing wall 138 is suspended above the floor 137.

[0145] Step 16. Finish the floor as desired, ensuring the floor material 202 shown in FIG. 22 runs underneath the movable nonbearing wall 138. If carpeting is used, avoid carpet tack strips at the edges of the movable nonbearing walls so that the carpet can be more easily slipped under the suspended walls.

[0146] Step 17. Slide wood fasteners 204 shown in FIG. 22 into place underneath the movable wall 138. Attach them through the floor material by toenailing. Attach the movable nonbearing wall to the wood fastener by toenailing.

[0147] Step 18. Attach base trim and any other desired trim.

[0148] When remodeling an existing building which has been built using the method disclosed in this invention, follow these steps in order.

[0149] Step 1. Turn off the electrical system and leave it off until the project is complete. Remove window dressing, lighting fixtures and other attached protrusions. Move and protect furnishings. Protect the finished flooring.

[0150] Step 2. Locate the predetermined locations where the nonbearing walls will be moved to and draw a pencil center line on the ceiling, walls and floor. If the floor is carpeted, run a string line instead.

[0151] Step 3. On the movable nonbearing walls where its gypsum is finished to the ceiling or adjoining stationary walls, demolish only so much gypsum as required to fully expose the wood fasteners. Remove furring strips.

[0152] Step 4. On the movable nonbearing walls, carefully pry off any trim and remove furring strips.

[0153] Step 5. If an electrical cable travels into the movable nonbearing wall, disconnect it.

[0154] Step 6. If needed, cut the gypsum away from the doorway which has already been framed. Remove the temporary stud and sole plate.

[0155] Step 7. Using additional people to safely support the wall, cut the movable wall free from the wood fasteners. Move the wall toward the new location.

[0156] Step 8. Remove the wood fasteners from their positions at the old wall location by prying nails as carefully as possible without damaging gypsum or by unscrewing screws or as a last resort by cutting the nails or screws using the groove provide in the wood fastener.

[0157] Step 9. After examining them for defects, attach wood fasteners at the new wall location where pencil or string lines were marked. Position them so that the wood fasteners are centered on the pencil or string line. At the ceiling and walls, attach the wood fasteners through the gypsum to the underlying structural material. At the floor, attach them through carpet or vinyl to the subfloor, or directly to finished floor material.

[0158] Step 10. Move the nonbearing wall to the new predetermined wall position and onto the wood fasteners.

[0159] Step 11. Tamp shims between the movable walls and wood fasteners where needed for a tight fit, but don't rely on them to hold the wall in place.

[0160] Step 12. Attach the movable nonbearing wall to the wood fasteners through the movable wall's gypsum using the predrilled jig in a spare wood fastener.

[0161] Step 13. Attach the movable nonbearing wall's electrical cable.

[0162] Step 14. If an additional room has been created during the remodeling project, provide lighting by installing and connecting a switch to the wall electrical receptacle and cable already installed and further connect them to an outlet or ceiling lighting fixture to which the pre-installed cable extends. In addition, open the damper for the return air vent, install a smoke detector in the prewired receptacle, and install a new door and casement in the preframed doorway.

[0163] Step 15. If a room has been eliminated during the remodeling project, disconnect its lighting by removing it's switch and covering the electrical boxes with plates. In addition, close the damper for the return air duct, remove the smoke detector and cover its electrical receptacle with a plate. Finally, remove the door, install a sole plate and center stud in the doorway, and hang and finish gypsum on both sides.

[0164] Step 16. Tack furring strips as needed to adjoining stationary walls and ceiling to attach gypsum or trim.

[0165] Step 17. Attach base trim, optional crown trim and vertical trim at the edges of the movable nonbearing wall. Alternatively, attach gypsum at the ceiling and walls and finish it with joint compound. If an additional room has been created, use plinths in the corners to avoid mitering.

[0166] Step 18. Repair flooring if necessary.

[0167] Step 19. Reattach lighting and reinstall window dressing.

[0168] Step 20. Test the electrical, HVAC, fire and safety and other affected systems.

[0169] While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the components and steps of the invention, including variations in order, form, content, function and manner of operation, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art. In particular, the dimensions of the fastener have been described for use with 2.times.4'' stud material. However, dimensions can be adjusted to complement 2.times.3'' or 2.times.6'' studs, or other stud, wall covering, and floor covering dimensions. The above description and drawings are illustrative of modifications that can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is to be limited only by the following claims. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A fastener used for attaching a wall to a structure, said fastener comprising: a body comprised of a construction material, said body having a top and a bottom; a top groove formed in the top of the body, said top groove having a first depth and a first width; a bottom groove formed in the bottom of the body, said bottom groove having a second depth and a second width; the top groove and the bottom groove being unaligned and not overlapping; and the first width and the second width each being sufficient to accommodate a nail and a reciprocating saw blade.

2. A method of providing a room with a movable nonbearing wall, said room having a room height and a room width, a ceiling, a floor and at least a pair of opposed walls, and said movable wall comprising a wood framework and gypsum wallboard, said method comprising steps of: constructing the room with bracing, said bracing comprising support structures at the ceiling and at each of the pair of opposed walls, where the movable nonbearing wall may be attached, finishing the ceiling and walls before the movable nonbearing wall is attached, said step of finishing concealing the bracing; providing a plurality of removable fasteners, said removable fasteners each having a fastener height and width; providing a movable nonbearing wall having a wall height and a wall width less than the room height and room width, the difference between the wall height and room height being about twice the height of each removable fastener, the difference between the wall width and the room width being about twice the height of each removable fastener, attaching the plurality of removable fasteners to the removable wall and to the bracing, said fasteners being disposed between the movable wall and the bracing at least at the ceiling and the pair of opposed walls.

3. A method of providing a room with a movable nonbearing wall according to claim 2, wherein the room has been constructed with bracing in at least two locations where the moveable wall may be attached, and said room is further constructed with an electrical system, HVAC system, window, door frame and fire safety device configured to maintain utility of said electrical system, HVAC system, window, door frame and fire safety device regardless of the location at which the movable nonbearing wall is attached to the bracing.

4. A method of providing a room with a movable nonbearing wall according to claim 2, wherein the moveable wall is temporarily suspended above the floor by attaching the moveable wall to bracing along the opposed walls and ceiling, allowing flooring to be installed beneath the moveable wall.

5. A method of providing a room with a movable nonbearing wall according to claim 2, further comprising an connecting electrical receptacle at bracing at one of the pair of opposed walls, a conduit from said connecting electrical receptacle to an adjacent source electrical receptacle to which electric power is supplied, a conduit extending in said moveable wall from a receiving electrical receptacle to an edge of the wall adjacent to the connecting electrical receptacle, said conduits allowing electric cable to electrically couple the source electrical receptacle to the receiving electrical receptacle via the connecting electrical receptacle.

6. A wood fastener as described in the detailed description above.

7. A wood fastener as depicted in the figures.

8. A method of using a wood fastener to install and remove a wall as described in the detailed description above.

9. A movable wall, removably attached to a support structure via a wood fastener as described in the detailed description above.

10. A suspended wall having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, the bottom edge being elevated above a floor, and at least one of the top edge and the side edges being fastened to a support structure.

11. A movable wall, removably attached to a support structure via a wood fastener as shown in the figures.

12. A wood fastener used for attaching a wall to another wall, ceiling or floor, and which has grooves on opposite sides to enable screws or nails to be cut or pried so that a fastener can be removed.

13. The fastener of claim 1 in which notches are routed into four corners of the fastener where furring strips can be tacked to support edges of drywall affixed to a movable wall.

14. The fastener of claim 1 in which at least one long edge is routed to act as a guide to move a wall into place on a wood fastener.

15. The fastener of claim 1 in which two predrilled voids serve as guides for a nail or screw in a first and second use as the nail or screw passes through drywall and an underlying stud and in which the voids guide the nail or screw at such an angle where both the wood fastener cannot rotate on gypsum finish and where the nails or screws will be completely embedded in wood on the opposite side of gypsum.

16. The fastener of claim 1 in which a wood fastener is painted a bright color on its edges so that they will be noticed when demolition begins.

17. The fastener of claim 1 in which a "center" line is marked on the fastener.

18. The fastener of claim 1 in which the fastener has instructional markings on it to aid in application and removal.

19. The fastener of claim 1 in which a predrilled void is provided so that the fastener can be temporarily used as a jig to position nails or screws that will be toenailed through the movable wall's top or bottom plate or end studs into a fastener.

20. The fastener of claim 1 in which one or more voids is predrilled laterally through the fastener so that it can be used to attach a wall flush against another wall at the wall's bottom plate so that finished flooring isn't damaged or top plate so that the finished ceiling isn't damaged.