U.S. patent number 3,924,056 [Application Number 05/424,353] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-02 for slotted masonry wall structure and metal stud therefor.
Invention is credited to James T. LoCicero.
United States Patent |
3,924,056 |
LoCicero |
December 2, 1975 |
Slotted masonry wall structure and metal stud therefor
Abstract
A masonry building block of hollow construction and having at
least one surface defining a continuous reversely beveled slot to
receive the oppositely diverging resilient flanges of a snap-in
metal stud. The vertical studs interfit with upper and lower
perimeter channels to form a rigid structure. The studs may be
employed to route electrical cable and the like. The studs may be
rigidified within the block slots by means of spreader screws.
Inventors: |
LoCicero; James T. (Madison
Heights, MI) |
Family
ID: |
23682313 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/424,353 |
Filed: |
December 13, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
174/497;
52/220.2; 52/371; 52/370; 174/498 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
2/46 (20130101); H02G 3/286 (20130101); E04B
2/58 (20130101); E04B 2002/0252 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
2/42 (20060101); E04B 2/58 (20060101); E04B
2/46 (20060101); E04B 2/02 (20060101); H02G
003/28 (); E04B 002/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/220,287,585,586,608,221,370,371,372,375 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Abbott; Frank L.
Assistant Examiner: Randolph; William
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Young; Thomas N.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. Building apparatus comprising: a building block adapted to be
assembled with similar blocks to form a substantially continuous
structure, said block being constructed of substantially rigid
material and having bearing surfaces and exterior surfaces, at
least one of the exterior surfaces having formed therein a slot
extending between the bearing surfaces; a relatively thin-wall,
open channel stud adapted to be snapped into the slot, said stud
being of a substantially three-sided configuration to define an
exposed box portion and contiguous oppositely flared non-parallel
manually deformable resilient flanges which are urged toward one
another for installation of the stud into the slot and which are
dimensioned to fit resiliently and snugly against the walls of the
slot when inserted therein, the box portion and flanges being of
such depth as to cause the exposed portion to be spaced from the
interior surface of the slot in the block when the stud is fully
inserted therein such that the exposed portion of the stud may
receive elongated fastener devices therein after installation; and
means for spreading the sides of the studs contiguous with the
flanges to rigidify the stud within the block.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the slot is
characterized by oppositely inwardly diverging sidewalls.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the slot is formed
substantially centrally in the block, the block further having
partial slots formed in the ends thereof to define additional slots
parallel with the central slot when two or more of the blocks are
placed end-to-end to construct a wall.
4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the partial slots extend
fully and continuously between the bearing surfaces.
5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for spreading
is a screw projecting through and in threaded engagement with one
of said sides.
6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including apertures formed
within the stud.
7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a perimeter channel
adapted to be interfit with the stud at right angles thereto and
extending along said block.
8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the block is constructed
of a masonry material.
9. A building structure comprising: a wall, a plurality of
parallel, continuous slots formed in the wall at spaced intervals;
a plurality of open channel studs having relatively resilient,
oppositely diverging manually resiliently deformable, non-parallel
flanges disposed in the slot to serve as anchors for panels to be
secured to said wall, said stud having an exposed surface which is
contiguous with the flanges and which is substantially parallel to
the wall when the stud is disposed in the slot, the exposed portion
being spaced from the interior of the slot after installation so as
to receive elongated fastener devices therein; and spreader means
in the studs and secured to one flange and extending into contact
with the other flange and being adjustable to spread the flanges to
rigidify the studs in the slots.
10. A structure as defined in claim 9 including electrical outlet
means carried by a stud, and electrical conductor means routed
through said stud for said outlet means.
11. A structure as defined in claim 10 including a base channel
extending along the base of the wall and notched to receive and
interfit with said studs.
12. A structure as defined in claim 9 wherein the wall is formed of
stacked masonry blocks.
13. A building structure comprising: a masonry block wall including
plural courses of masonry blocks resting on the bearing surfaces of
one another to form a continuous vertical wall surface; each of
said blocks having formed in a surface thereof a shallow slot
having oppositely inwardly diverging walls terminating in an
interior surface and extending fully between said bearing surfaces,
the blocks of said courses being arranged with the slots of
adjacent blocks in alignment to form a continuous slot over
substantially the entire vertical extent of said wall; and a
thin-wall, metal stud of substantially greater length than the
height of a block in said wall, said stud forming a three-sided
open channel of which two sides terminate in web flanges, the
terminal portions of which are fixed outwardly, said channel being
resiliently flexible as to be manually flexed together to permit
said flanges to be snapped into the slot for installation thereof,
and dimensioned to fit snugly within said slot to spring out and
lie against the diverging walls thereof between the wall surface
and the rear surface of the slot; said stud being dimensioned to
protrude outwardly from said wall surface when in place in said
slot to receive and support finish panelling material in spaced
relation to said masonry wall.
Description
INTRODUCTION
This invention relates to building structures and more particularly
to the combination of a slotted building block and an open channel
stud having resilient flanges adapted to be snapped into the slot
to form a base for the installation of additional elements, such as
paneling, wall board, and so forth.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The conventional techniques for finishing the surfaces of a masonry
block wall involve nailing wood furring strips to the wall or,
alternatively, constructing a parallel wall out of two-by-four
studs. The latter technique is required wherever the finish surface
must be true and plumb and the masonry block wall does not meet
these criteria.
It is apparent that the conventional techniques are time consuming
and expensive and, at the same time, fail to result in a wall or
partition structure which is readily furnished with such
accessories as elelctrical wiring for outlets and so forth.
One alternative prior art method of securing panels to masonry
blocks is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,567,085 to include the formation
of T-shaped slots in the blocks to receive wood studs as nail
anchors. In this system, the finish panel rests directly on the
block and no provision is made to allow the stud to enter the slot
other than by sliding it in from an end thereof. Moreover, no
provision is made to firmly anchor the stud in the slot other than
by providing a tight fit.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a substitute for the aforementioned
wood furring strips and parallel wall structures, such alternatives
being economical and simple in construction and at the same time
resulting in a wall or partition structure which is readily
provided with electrical wiring, plumbing, and other accessory
installations.
In general, the present invention involves the construction of a
block wall, typically masonry, wherein each block has formed
therein one or more slots which are adapted to receive relatively
resilient flanges of an open channel stud. Accordingly, walls,
partitions, or like structures can be fabricated using the slotted
blocks, the slots being aligned with one another to form
substantially or fully continuous slots after which the studs may
be fully or partly disposed in the slots simply by flexing the
resilient flanges and snapping them into place. The result is a
block wall, partition, or like structure having spaced, parallel
studs of a material, such as extruded aluminum, thin wall steel,
plastic, or the like, to readily receive fasteners for interior and
exterior surface panels, electrical wiring, plumbing and other
accessory items.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention
hereinafter described in greater detail, the slots formed in the
blocks are characterized by outwardly and oppositely diverging
channel walls and the studs are formed of a relatively resilient,
thin wall material, such as aluminum, so as to exhibit oppositely
outwardly diverging flanges or fingers which may be snapped into
the block channels. Spreader means are provided for rigidifying the
studs once in place within the block channel. The channels may be
of such configuration as to define a projecting box portion which
projects outwardly from the surface of the blocks thereby to
provide space for installation and other enclosed articles, such as
conduit and pipes. The studs are normally vertically disposed and a
base channel also of an open-channel configuration may be provided
to interfit with the studs for rigidification and receipt of
electrical conduit, baseboards, and other structural elements.
The invention will be best understood upon reference to the
following specification which describes an illustrative embodiment
of the invention in detail. This specification is to be taken with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a masonry building block having
full and partial channels formed therein;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially constructed wall or
partition having at leasat one stud in place;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the stud and a portion of the
block and base channel in the assembly of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a stud being flexed and snapped
into place within a block channel; and,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a detail in the stud construction
of the assembly of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates a building block 10 used to fabricate walls,
partitions, and like structures. Block 10 is typically made of a
masonry material, such as concrete, but may be constructed of
various other materials, such as ceramic, dense polymeric foam, and
so forth. Block 10 is of a hollow structure and exhibits
conventional bearing or stacking surfaces 12 and 14 and opposite
parallel exterior surfaces 16 and 18. End surfaces 20 and 22 are
also provided whereby a plurality of the blocks 10 may be laid up
in end-to-end relation to form a tier or course. It is to be
understood that the term "exterior" as used herein refers to the
outside surfaces of block 10 when incorporated into a wall,
partition, or like structure and does not necessarily designate the
interior or exterior of a building or enclosure of which the
particular block forms a part.
Surface 16 has formed centrally therein a shallow, reversely
beveled slot 24 characterized by oppositely diverging walls 26 and
28 and extending fully and continuously between the bearing
surfaces 12 and 14. Partial slots are formed adjacent the ends 20
and 22 of block 10 and are characterized by reversely beveled wall
30 adjacent end 22 and reversely beveled wall 32 adjacent end 20.
The partial slots operate in conjunction with similar partial slots
in adjacently disposed blocks 10 to form full slots such that a
fully constructed tier or course of blocks 10 exhibits a plurality
of uniformly spaced, parallel slots having reversely beveled
interior side walls.
As shown in FIG. 2, the blocks 10 in alternate vertically stacked
tiers or courses are staggered by one-half the width of a block
such that the central slots 24 of one block is aligned with the
slot made up of two partial slots in the two blocks immediately
above and below. The resulting parallel spaced slots in the wall or
structure constructed with the blocks 10 receive elongated metal
studs 34 which are fabricated in an open-channel configuration and
exhibit oppositely diverging and relatively resilient flanges 36
and 38. The flanges 36 and 38 are dimensioned to register with and
fit snugly and closely within the slots 24 such that the flanges,
when fully inserted, bear against the sidewalls 26 and 28 of the
block channels 24. Studs 34 are illustrated as having a projecting
three-sided box portion 40 having sides which are contiguous with
the flanges 36 and 38 such that a rigid portion of each stud 34
projects outwardly from surfaces 16 of block 10 in the wall, shown
in FIG. 2, by approximately two inches. Varying projection
dimensions may be achieved by varying the configuration of the
stud. In many cases, little or no projection will be desired while
in other cases, a projection of more than two inches may be
required.
As shown in FIG. 4, the typical method of stud insulation involves
prebuilding the wall or partition from blocks 10 so as to define
the continuous channels and then "snapping" the studs 34 in place
by deforming or compressing the sidewalls together. This may be
easily done by virtue of the resilient, thin-wall construction of
the studs 34. It may be desirable to insert one flange 38 into the
slot 24 and use the edge of the block 10 as a reaction surface to
compress the other flange of the stud 34 during the insertion
process. Obviously, the studs 34 may also be driven into place by
sliding them in from an end of the wall where this is available.
However, it often occurs that a wall end from which to slide in the
studs is not available and, accordingly, the snap-in technique of
installation will undoubtedly prevail.
FIG. 3 illustrates a spreader screw 42 which is threadedly engaged
with and through one of the sidewalls of the box portion 40 of stud
34 and in abutting engagement with the opposite sidewall. Driving
the screw through the threaded engagement sidewall and against the
opposite sidewall tends to spread the flanges 36 and 38 snugly
against the interior sidewalls 26 and 28 of the channel 24 thereby
to rigidify and firmly anchor the stud 34 within the slot or
channel. Other spreader or rigidification devices may, of course,
be employed.
The stud 34, illustrated in FIG. 2, includes a rectangular aperture
44 in the projecting face of the stud, such aperture being formed
by removal of a knock-out blank 44a, shown still in place in FIG.
5. The aperture 44 is provided with recessed fastener surfaces 45
to receive the mounting ears of an electrical outlet box such that
a duplex or single-outlet type receptacle may be conveniently
mounted on and partially within the stud 34 prior to mounting the
finish paneling material on the stud 34. An electrical cable 46 is
shown disposed within the interior of the stud 34 and projecting
partially from the receptacle aperture 44.
A second aperture 48 is formed in the side surface of the box
portion 40 of the stud 34 approximately 15 inches from the bottom,
as shown in FIG. 2. This permits the electrical cable 46 to emerge
from the stud and to travel across the wall. An open perimeter
channel 50 is disposed adjacent and along the base of the wall
structure and notched at regular intervals to receive the studs 34
in interfitting relation therewith. Channels 50 also rigidify the
mounting foundation for the finish paneling material and facilitate
the installation of base boards as will be apparent to those
skilled in the art.
Assuming a full stud 34 does not conveniently occur at a corner or
wall intersection, support for the finished paneling material in
the corner may be provided by insertion of a narrow, open-channel
corner stud such as shown at 52 into the corner and anchoring such
stud within the lower base member 50. An upper perimeter channel
similar to channel 50 may be provided along the top of the wall to
receive the upper ends of the studs 34 and the studs 52. It is to
be understood that the subject invention contemplates the finishing
of the wall, partition, or structure, shown in FIG. 2, by the
addition of an external paneling material, such as plywood or
gypsum wallboard, by driving suitable fasteners, including barbed
nails and/or screws, through the external paneling material and
into the thin wall metal studs 34 and 52. As will be apparent to
those skilled in the art, it is now a common practice to employ
hollow metal studs in interior partitions and to screw-fasten
finish paneling materials to these studs.
The studs 34 are preferably made of a thin walled metal, such as
aluminum or steel, and the configuration thereof lend itself to
extrusion or sheet stamping and bending. However, the subject
invention is not limited to metal materials, but may be taken to
include various other materials including hard polymeric
materials.
While the slots 24 and flanges 36 and 38 are shown in the
illustrative embodiment as being continuous, it is to be understood
that both the slots and the flanges may be made discontinuous or
intermittent in character to facilitate the snap-in installation.
The snap-in stud may also be applied to poured concrete and other
types of cast, seamless walls by forming the slot during the
casting process. This may be done by means of a disposable pattern
which is burned out or otherwise removed after the wall is formed.
With respect to blocks 10, it is clear that slots may be formed on
both surfaces 16 and 18 in the case of an interior partition or
where an exterior design is desired. Clearly, both facade and
through-wall applications of the invention are contemplated. A
variety of other changes may, of course, be made to the invention
as illustrated and, therefore, the described embodiment is not to
be construed as limiting in sense.
* * * * *