U.S. patent number 3,925,939 [Application Number 05/446,742] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-16 for support structure for shelving.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Angeles Metal Trim Co.. Invention is credited to Peter Costruba.
United States Patent |
3,925,939 |
Costruba |
December 16, 1975 |
Support structure for shelving
Abstract
A pair of upstanding channeled studs are positioned vertically
between an overlying horizontal cap and a horizontal floor track
positioned beneath and parallel to the cap. The studs have main
webs spaced apart to receive a pair of elongated upstanding
substantially T-shaped interlock members which are secured in
opposed substantially parallel relationship between the webs of the
studs. Each interlock member has reversely folded portions to
provide shallow spaced channels for adjustably receiving a vertical
slotted bar and the inner ends of shelf brackets and clips. Each
interlock member has a vertical inward passage behind the spaced
channels for the reception of the inner ends of shelf brackets. An
elongated slotted bar having a vertical row of slots is disposed in
the vertical channels. Elongated stabilizing flanges extend
outwardly from each slotted bar along each side of the row of slots
to stabilize shelf brackets when positioned in the slots. T-shaped
clips are inserted into slots near the upper and lower ends of the
slotted bar and are secured to the interlock member so that the
slotted bar is adjustably anchored in the interlock member. The
inner ends of the shelf brackets are inserted between the
stabilizing flanges through the slots, and into the vertical
passages in the respective interlock members. T-shaped concealing
members are inserted vertically between the stabilizing flanges and
between adjacent shelf brackets in order to conceal from view the
recess that exists between the stabilizing flanges and the junction
between the stabilizing flanges and adjacent sheets of
wallboard.
Inventors: |
Costruba; Peter (Pico Rivera,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Angeles Metal Trim Co. (Los
Angeles, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
27356591 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/446,742 |
Filed: |
February 28, 1974 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
292093 |
Sep 25, 1972 |
3848364 |
|
|
|
48 |
Jan 2, 1970 |
3714748 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/36.6;
248/243 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F
5/08 (20130101); E04B 2/78 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47F
5/08 (20060101); E04B 2/76 (20060101); E04B
2/78 (20060101); A47F 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/36,720,729,730,464,710,731 ;248/243 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Purser; Ernest R.
Assistant Examiner: Raduazo; Henry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lawlor; Reed C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a division of application Ser. No. 292,093 filed Sept. 25,
1972 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,364, which is a division of
application Ser. No. 48 filed Jan. 2, 1970 and now U.S. Pat. No.
3,714,748.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A device adapted to be attached to a pair of elongated C-shaped
studs having their main webs spaced from one another for adjustably
receiving a support bar between said webs, comprising:
an elongated upstanding interlock member adapted to be positioned
generally in alignment with the studs between their spaced main
webs and having flanges for attaching said member to each of said
studs, said interlock member defining a shallow vertical channel
extending longitudinally of said interlock member adapted to be
located in the space between said webs to adjustably receive a
support bar therein, said interlock member further defining an
inward elongated vertical passage behind said vertical channel;
said flanges being oriented in directions transverse to the
direction of elongation of said vertical passage and having
portions which extend beyond said vertical channel for receiving
fasteners adapted to fasten said interlock members to said studs at
positions exterior of said vertical channel;
said passage having a U-shaped closed end extending longitudinally
of said interlock member, said closed end forming one extremity of
said interlock member;
an elongated support bar positioned in said vertical channel having
a slot communicating with said inward vertical passage; and
anchoring means adapted to anchor said support bar in said vertical
channel.
2. A device adapted to be attached to a pair of elongated
substantially parallel C-shaped studs having their main webs
disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to one another
for adjustably receiving a slotted bar and for holding shelf
brackets in the region between the spaced webs of the studs, said
device comprising:
an elongated interlock member adapted to be positioned generally in
alignment with the studs in the region between their spaced main
webs, the cross-section of said elongated member being
substantially T-shaped comprising a U-shaped double-legged stem and
a pair of opposed outstanding flanges formed integrally with the
edges of the legs of said stem;
said double-legged stem terminating at the closed end of the "U,"
said closed end forming the portion of the interlock member spaced
farthest from said flanges;
said pair of flanges having reversely folded portions providing
shallow spaced vertical channels extending longitudinally of said
interlock member and opposing each other to adjustably receive a
vertical slotted bar therebetween, the reversely folded portions
being opposed and providing between them a vertical entryway into
said channels;
said pair of flanges having outwardly extending portions adapted to
receive fasteners for fastening said interlock member to the studs
at positions exterior of said vertical channels;
vertical inward portions of said T-shaped interlock member
providing between said legs an inward vertical passage behind the
entryway for reception of inner ends of shelf brackets;
an elongated slotted bar vertically disposed in said vertical
channels between said reversely folded flange portions and
adjustable therein, said slotted bar having a row of slots
therethrough communicating with said inward vertical passage and
with said vertical entryway for reception and positioning of inner
ends of shelf brackets;
anchoring means adapted to extend through said slotted bar and
adapted to be secured to the outwardly extending portions of the
flanges of said interlock member for adjustably holding said
slotted bar in a vertical position relative to said vertical
channels;
an elongated stabilizing flange extending outwardly along from said
slotted bar at each side of said row of slots, said flanges being
spaced to admit shelf brackets to said slots and to stabilize said
brackets; and
T-shaped elongated concealing means insertable vertically between
said stabilizing flanges for concealing from view said
entryway.
3. A device for adjustably receiving a slotted bar as defined in
claim 2 wherein said anchoring means comprises:
a first T-shaped clip adapted to be secured to the upper end of
said slotted bar, said clip having a head portion and a stem
portion, the head portion having flanges secured to said outwardly
extending portions of said interlock flanges, and said stem portion
projecting through an adjacent slot in the upper end of said
slotted bar; and
a second clip which is in part T-shaped, said second clip being
adapted to engage the lower end of said slotted bar, the head of
the T having flanges secured to said outwardly extending portions
of said interlock flanges below the lower end of said slotted bar,
the stem of the T being insertable into said vertical passage and
including a key portion movable along said passage with the key
portion being spaced vertically from the T head and engaging in
anchoring relation within an adjacent slot near the lower end of
said slotted bar thereby anchoring said slotted bar to said
interlock member.
4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein at least one end of said
slotted bar and the adjacent ends of said stabilizing flanges
terminate in positions substantially flush with one another.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to structures for interior walls of
buildings and the like, and more especially to metal structures
particularly adapted for use as part of partition walls in
buildings, such as large merchandising establishments where
merchandise is desirably displayed on shelves carried by supporting
brackets and the interior walls.
The particular object of the invention is to provide an efficient,
durable, and comparatively inexpensive upstanding wall stud
construction which may carry wall material, such as wallboard and
the like, and support brackets to support shelving in properly
adjusted position. A further object is to provide a separately
saleable interlock member for use with various types of wall
construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a wall structure to which sheets of wall
material may be anchored. In this invention, a pair of elongated
upstanding channeled stud members, having their main webs spaced
apart, are disposed in opposed substantially parallel relationship.
An elongated upstanding interlock member, having therein shallow
elongated vertical channels extending longitudinally of the
interlock member and adapted to receive a support bar therein and
having an elongated vertical passage behind said vertical channels,
is rigidly secured between the stud main webs. An elongated support
bar, having a slot communicating with the inward vertical passage,
is positioned in the vertical channels. Anchoring means secure the
support bar in the vertical channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The presently preferred form of the invention is disclosed in the
accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partly sectional perspective view showing one
embodiment of this invention in assembled form;
FIG. 2 is a partly sectional elevational view taken along the line
2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1
showing two embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a partly sectional enlarged perspective view of one
embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded partly sectional perspective view of one
embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a partly sectional enlarged perspective view of another
embodiment of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT
With reference to the construction shown in FIG. 1, a dual element
cap 10 is illustrated in operative position at the top of a drywall
partition which employs studs 12 above which the cap 10 is disposed
and in line with which the inner element thereof is placed. The
lower ends of the studs 12 are mounted on the floor track 14. The
lower ends of the wallboards 15 are positioned in contact with the
floor track 14.
The cap 10, the studs 12, and the floor track 14 may all be of
various configurations and made of various materials as will become
apparent, but the best embodiment of these elements now known is
shown and described herein. Also, the invention will be described
herein primarily in connection with drywall construction, but it
will be apparent that various other types of partition wall
materials may be employed in this invention.
Cap 10, studs 12, and floor track 14 are preferably constructed of
metal, such as sheet steel and the like. Cap 10 includes two
elements of which one element 16 is an overlying cap member and the
other is an inner dependent cap member 18 positioned to span the
upper ends of the various metal studs 12 used along the wall.
More particularly, the upper cap element 16 is in the form of an
elongated downwardly facing channel member which includes elongated
main wall or web 20 and relatively narrow flanges 22 depending
downwardly from the side edges of the web 20 and extending
lengthwise thereof. The inner dependent cap element 18 includes a
longitudinally extending web 25 disposed in parallel relation with
the web 20 and integrally or rigidly secured thereto. Depending
from the edge portion of the web 25 are longitudinally directed
flanges 28 extending appreciably below flanges 22 of the cap
element 16. The flanges 28 snugly engage the outer sides of the
metal studs 12 when in operative position. The upper edges of the
flanges 28 are integrally joined by ledges 32 to sloping connector
walls 30 which extend inwardly as they extend upward. The sloping
connector walls are integrally joined to the edges of the web 25.
Such a cap structure is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,397,495.
The studs 12 employed in this wall structure are typically in the
form of C-shaped channels formed of 26 gauge steel, or about 0.022
inch in thickness, and having approximately a 1-by-4 inch overall
cross-section. Metal studs 12 include a vertically extending wall
or main web 35, laterally directed vertical flanges 36 integral
with the edges of the web 35 and constituting the sides of the
studs, and turned-in stiffening flanges 38 which are relatively
narrow.
In the assembled partition wall, pairs of the studs 12 are employed
periodically along the partition wall between the floor track 14
and the cap 10. The web 35 of each stud 12 is arranged back-to-back
in opposed spaced relationship with respect to the corresponding
web 35 of the other stud 12 of the pair. Interlock members 50,
presently to be more fully described, are secured betweeen the
spaced webs 35 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) to form a complete stud and
interlock assembly. Such stud assemblies may be produced in the
shop or in the manufacturing plant in any appropriate length and
then moved onto the job for final wall assembly. Slotted bars 70
and clips 80 and 110 may also be temporarily installed on the
interlock members 50 at this time and later properly adjusted and
rigidly secured. The lower ends of the studs 12 are rested on the
bottom wall 42 of the floor track 14. At the sides of the bottom
wall 42, upstanding flanges 44 are integrally provided and extend
longitudinally of the length of the bottom wall 42 being generally
coextensive with the longitudinal extension of the dual cap 10 in a
horizontal direction.
The flanges 36 of the studs 12 are disposed outwardly in opposed
relationship and bear against the inner surfaces of the flanges 44
of the floor track 14 and the inner surfaces of the flanges 28 of
the cap 10. The stud flanges 36 are secured to the floor track
flanges 44 and the cap flanges 28 by nailing or the like.
The bottom wall 42 is secured to the floor F by nails or the like.
In addition, it is usual to provide further stability to the
partition structure by securing either the studs 12 at opposite
ends of the partition wall assembly to structural members or by
securing the cap 10 to the ceiling or both. This may be done by
nailing, welding, or the like.
When the interlock and stud assembly of this invention is
positioned between the floor track 14 and dual cap 10, the upper
end of a section of wallboard 15 of appropriate length is
introduced into a tapered pocket P (FIG. 1) which is provided
between the flange 22 of the upper element 16 and the flange 28 and
a sloping wall 30 of the inner element 18. As will be noted, the
upper part of the pocket P is much wider than the vertical
passageway provided between the flanges 22 and 28. Thus, the top of
the wallboard 15 may be readily introduced upward into the pocket P
by merely moving the lower end of the wallboard 15 outwardly to
dispose the board at an angle, inserting the top of the wallboard
15 into the pocket P, and then swinging the lower end of the
wallboard 15 into position adjacent to the stud 12 and interlock
member 50 and allowing the lower end of the wallboard to slide
downwardly onto the floor F. With the wallboard in this position,
it is held vertically by the cap element 10 and is maintained in
the horizontal direction between stabilizing flanges 132 and by
screws 88 securing it to the stud flanges 36, as is shown in FIGS.
1 and 3. A wall structure employing such a cap is described and
claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,495.
An important aspect of the wall construction of this invention is
that provision be made in the stud and interlock assembly for the
mounting of shelf brackets or other supports. In the present
construction this is accomplished through the medium of a pair of
upstanding elongated T- or V-shaped interlock members 50 which are
secured between the webs 35 of the pair of studs 12 (FIGS. 3 and
4). An upstanding narrow plate or slotted bar 70 is mounted in
shallow vertical channels 55 formed by the flanges 51 of each
interlock member 50. Each slotted bar 70 is preferably flat and
provided along its vertical median line with vertically disposed
equally spaced slots 72 for reception of the inner ends of brackets
100. The slots 72 are preferably all of the same size. These bars
are conveniently formed from elongated steel stock of about
three-thirty-seconds inch or one-eighth inch in thickness and have
considerable load supporting ability adequate for the purposes here
required.
As is shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, the stem of each T-shaped
interlock member is U-shaped and comprises a pair of substantially
parallel legs 52. Opposed outstanding folded flanges 51, having
reversely folded portions 54 and outwardly extending portions 60,
are formed integrally with the outer vertical edges of the legs 52
of each T-shaped interlock member 50 to form the head of the T.
Each reversely folded portion 54 is reversely bent to provide a
vertical channel 55. With this arrangement, each reversely folded
portion 54 provides an inner vertical wall 56, a vertical
connecting wall 57, and a re-entrant opposing vertical wall 58.
Such a construction is readily reproducible from steel sheeting
having a thickness of about 0.022 inch.
Re-entrant wall 58 leads to a position somewhat short of the
projection of the legs 52 of the interlock member at which position
flange 51 is again reversely bent to form an outer wall or
outwardly extending portion 60. Thus, there is provided between the
outwardly extending portions 60 an elongated vertical entryway 64
sufficiently wide to allow the inner end of a bracket 100 to pass
into a slotted bar 70. As is also seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, the
two opposing vertical U-shaped channels 55 provide a sufficiently
wide slot or runway for the reception of a slotted bar 70. The legs
52 of the interlock member 50 behind the bar 70 are laterally
offset to provide a U-shaped pocket or elongated vertical passage
53 into which the inner portion of the shelf bracket 100 enters to
contact legs 52 after being passed through a corresponding slot 72
in the slotted bar 70. The contact between the legs 52 and the
inner portion of the shelf brackets 100 stabilizes the shelf
brackets 100 against lateral swaying at their outer
shelf-supporting ends.
The closed end of the "U" of the passage 53 constitutes the portion
of the interlock member which is spaced farthest from the flanges
51 in a horizontal plane. The closed end provides an extremity of
the interlock member and not secured to any other member.
The pair of interlock members 50 are secured between the main webs
35 of the studs 12 in opposed spaced relationship by securing means
86, such as screws, rivets, or the like, passing through the
outwardly extending interlock portions 60 and the stud flanges 36.
The interlock members 50 are disposed in parallel relationship with
the entryways 64 facing outwardly for the reception of the inner
end portions of shelf brackets 100 or other supports.
The entryway 64 serves two purposes. One purpose is to provide for
the insertion of anchoring clips 80 and 110, as best illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 5, which are employed to anchor the slotted bar 70 in
adjusted position. The other purpose is to permit the installation
of inner ends of shelf supporting brackets 100 as indicated in
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The inner or rearward end of the bracket 100,
which is to be tipped to an angular position for installation, is
insertable in any one of the slots 72 of the slotted bar 70 and may
include both an upper retention tongue 104 to engage behind the
rear wall of the bar 70 above the respective slot 72 and also a
lower retention tongue 102 that engages behind the rear wall of the
bar 70 below the respective slot 72 when a bracket 100 settles into
operative position. In order to accommodate this inner tongue
section of the bracket 100 when installed in its operative
position, the lateral legs 52 of the T-shaped interlock member 50
are desirably spaced in relationship to each other by vertical
passage 53 to snugly receive such inner end portions of the bracket
100 and thereby limit or prevent swinging movement of the outer end
of the respective bracket 100.
An important feature of one embodiment of this invention resides in
the employment of clips as anchoring means for securing the slotted
bar 70 in adjusted relationship to the interlock member 50. The two
clips 80 and 110 and their use are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
Either clip may be employed exclusively in this embodiment of the
invention or both types of clips may be employed together.
Clip 80 is generally T-shaped and includes a stem portion 82, which
is double walled, and a head portion or cross-element 84, which is
also double walled. The function of the stem 82 in each instance is
to pass through entryway 64 and to enter one of the slots 72 in the
slotted bar 70, other than a slot carrying a bracket 100, and to
engage such slot 72 snugly enough to hold the bar 70 in adjusted
position. Also, the stem 82 yieldably fits its slot 72 so that it
snaps into position and is thereby retained within the slot by
friction while the bar 70 is being adjusted. The function of the
crosshead 84 in each instance is to fixedly engage the outwardly
extending flange portion 60 of the interlock member 50. Such fixed
attachment may be effected through the medium of self-threading
screws 86 (FIG. 3) or the like. Screws 86 are introduced through
holes 85 in the head portion of each clip 80, through the outwardly
extending flange portions 60 of the interlock member, and through
the flanges 36 of the studs 12. Thus, the screws 86 serve to
maintain the clips 80, and thus the slotted bar 70, and the
interlock member 50 in position relative to the studs 12. Such a
clip and wall structure is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,407,547.
Also important in this respect is the employment on the slotted bar
70 of a stabilizing angle bar 130, shown in FIG. 5, at each side of
the row of slots 72 of the slotted bar 70. These angle bars 130
include outstanding longitudinally extending flange blades or
plates 132 integrally connected with transversely disposed
elongated attachment plates 134 rigidly attached by means of spot
welds 135 to corresponding outer faces of the slotted bar 70.
Desirably, the edges of the attachment plates 134 are rearwardly
directed around the edge portions of the slotted bar 70, as
indicated at 136 to facilitate both stability and manufacture
which, of course, adds somewhat to the effective width of the
slotted bar 70. A structure employing such a stabilizing angle bar
is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.
703,213.
The important functions of the angle bar stabilizer 130 are to
stabilize shelf brackets 100 against lateral swaying at their outer
shelf supporting ends and to provide good abutment walls for the
adjacent wallboards 15 whereby to protect the vertical edges of
such wallboards. The recess 138 between adjacent stabilizing
flanges 132 is provided in order to allow access of the inner ends
of shelf brackets 100 to slots 72 and to allow the key 126 of the
clip 110 to pass through slots 72.
With respect to use of the slotted bars 10 and their stabilizing
angle flange members 130, it is necessary that these bars with
their stabilizers 130, which are also reinforcements, be adjustable
vertically along the interlock members 50 within the channels 55 in
order that the slots 72 may be vertically adjusted in order to
position shelf brackets 100 and their shelves in exactly level
relationships.
It is possible, if required, to have the ends of each bar 70, or at
least one end thereof, extend somewhat beyond respective ends of
the angle stabilizers 130, and then to employ clips 80 to enter
slots 72 of such bars, which slots are thereby exposed. The clips
80 are then secured to the outwardly extending flange portions 60
of the interlock members 50 as has been previously described.
However, it has been common practice to have one or both ends of
the assembled slotted bars 70 and their stabilizing angle members
130 arranged so that the ends of the bar 70 and the adjacent
respective end of the stabilizers 130 are cut exactly flush with
one another as is shown at the bottom of FIG. 5. This facilitates
manufacture and assembly to the extent that much of the preparatory
work may be done at the factory or, if required to be cut to order
on the job by hand, they can be more conveniently cut flush as by
sawing or by employment of other appropriate metal cutters. Also,
such a construction supports much heavier shear loads on walls so
constructed in addition to facilitating manufacture and assembly in
the plant and facilitating construction and assembly on the
job.
Consequently, in accordance with this improvement, at least one end
of each slotted bar 70 and its angle stabilizers 130 attached
thereto are terminated at positions which are substantially flush
with one another. Assembly of such a slotted bar and stabilizer
arrangement on an upstanding interlock member 50 in channels 55,
where the stabilizer portions 132, 134, and 136 are employed,
requires employment of a special clip 110 that can be attached to a
slotted bar 70 of the described arrangement. Clip 110 allows the
bar 70 to be set in any adjustably predetermined location and then
accurately anchored in such adjusted position by any suitable or
convenient means, such as by self-threading screws, spot welding,
or the like.
The clip 110, which may be employed either by itself or in
conjunction with clip 80, is shown in FIG. 5. This clip is
generally T-shaped in two respects, i.e., in plan view and in
elevation view. Thus, clips of the type 110 appear to be of T-shape
when viewed along a vertical axis and also when viewed along a
certain horizontal axis. The clip 110 includes two interconnected
portions 112 and 114, the portion 112 constituting the head of the
T and the portion 114 being integrally connected by intervening
portion 116 to provide the stem or tongue of the T. This clip 110,
like the clips 80, is formed of metal of substantially the same
quality as the stud members 12, such as gauge cold-rolled steel of
about 0.0478 inch in thickness, or may be even formed of a somewhat
heavier gauge. The head portion of the clip 110 is provided with
two relatively narrow laterally disposed wings 118 which are
arranged at right angles to the stem provided by the parts 114 and
116 and a stem extension 120, such wings 118 being disposed in
substantially the same plane. These wings 118, when positioned in
operative relation, lie in front of major portions of the adjacent
parts of the outstanding flange portions 60 of the interlock
member, and their extreme edge portions will lie beyond the
channels 55 of the interlock member 50. When thus properly
positioned in operative relationship, the wings 118 are rigidly
affixed to the outwardly extending flange portions 60 by means of
selfthreading screws 86 (FIG. 3) which, if desired, may be passed
through two holes 122 in wings 118.
The stem of the clip 110 is in the form of the connected parts 114,
116, and 120, which extend longitudinally behind and beyond the
head portion 112 and the wings 118. As is seen in FIG. 5, the stem
structure 114, 116, and 120 is incut at its middle section, as
indicated at 124, so as to yield at its extremity opposite from the
head 112 a comparative shallow tongue member or key 126.
For convenience of construction and installation, the length of the
key member 126, the length of the incut portion 124, and the
longitudinal dimension of the wings 118 and the portion 120 of the
stem beyond the incut 124 are equal. In addition, the slots 72 in
the bar 70 are also of the same dimension and are spaced from one
another by this same dimension. Thus, the tongue or key 126 will
neatly enter a slot 72 and the incut 124 will neatly accommodate
the portion of the bar 70 between two slots. A wall structure
employing such a clip is described and claimed in U.S. Pat.
application Ser. No. 703,213.
In the usual practice of utilizing the clip 110, the key 126 will
be passed into a slot 72 somewhat closer to the end of the bar 70
than a slot length or the length of the incut 124. Thus, with an
assembled bar 70 partly installed in the end of the interlock
member 50, the key 124 may be introduced into the respective slot
72 above the end of the slotted bar 70 as is indicated in FIG. 5.
This will bring the wings 118 into position such that when the
slotted bar 24 and the clip 110 are pushed longitudinally upwards
into the channels 55, the folded portions 114, 116, and 120 of the
stem will be disposed longitudinally in the vertical passageway 53
behind the slotted bar 70 and the wings 118 will lie in front of
the outwardly extending flange portions 60 of the interlock member
50 and below the end of the slotted bar 70. When the exact vertical
position of the slots 72 to accommodate the brackets 100 is
established, the anchor screws 86 are installed to maintain the
parts in fixed relationship. Similarly, the wallboards 15 may be
secured to the stud flanges 36 by longer screws 88, as is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3. The vertical edges of the wallboards are positioned
adjacent to the stabilizing so that their vertical edges are spaced
from the slots 72 in order to allow access of the inner ends of
shelf brackets 100 to the entryway 64 and the slots 72.
A T-shaped decorative strip or concealing member 140, shown best in
FIG. 5, is employed to conceal the stabilizing flanges 132, the
recess 138, and the slots 72 from view. It also conceals the
junction between sheets of wallboard 15 and the stabilizing flanges
132. Concealing member 140 is preferably constructed of a material,
such as stiff plastic or the like, which is flexible compared with
the steel sheeting material comprising the clips 80. The concealing
member 140 includes a stem portion 142 and a head portion 144. The
stem portion 142 is a narrow elongated strip which is adapted to
enter the recess 138 between the stabilizing flanges 132. The stem
142 has gripping elements formed integrally on its two opposed
faces. These elements are in the form of a series of narrow ridges
or ribs 146 which extend vertically and in parallel lines the
length of the stem 142. These ridges 146 have cross sections in the
form of barbs that point toward the head 144 so that at once the
concealing member stem 142 is inserted into the slot 138, the
ridges 146 lock the stem 142 in the recess 138.
The concealing member head 144 includes two elongated curved wings
148 formed integrally with the end of the stem 142. The wings 148
are curved slightly inwards towards the stem 142 and are
sufficiently wide to span the width of the gap 138 and the
thickness of the stabilizing flanges 132 in order to mate snugly
with the wallboards 15 at a point beyond the junction between the
wallboards 15 and the stabilizing flanges 132. After the brackets
100 are placed in position, the concealing members 140 are inserted
betweeen the stabilizing flanges 132 in the remaining portions of
the recess 138 between the shelf brackets 100.
As is shown in FIG. 1, the previously described stud and interlock
member assemblies are employed at spaced positions along a
partition wall or the like in order to form a complete wall.
Partition wall material 15 may be placed on either or both sides of
the studs 12. In addition, intermediate studs or stiffening members
spaced between the studs 12 may be employed to help brace the
entire structure (FIG. 1). It has been found helpful to secure the
wallboard to the flanges of such intermediate studs by means of
screws 190 or the like, in order to secure the partition walls to
these intermediate studs and thus provide a more stable or stiff
overall structure.
DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS
In another embodiment of this invention, one of the interlock
members 50 may be omitted between each pair of studs 12 and the
wallboard 15 placed on only one side of the studs 12. In this
alternative embodiment of the invention, the studs 12 are
positioned at their vertical edges opposite from the remaining
interlock member 50 by screws or the like securing the flanges 36
of the studs 12 to the floor track 14 and cap 10.
In another embodiment of the invention, shown in the upper one-half
of FIG. 3, a structure is provided which is identical to the first
embodiment previously described except for the omission of clips 80
and 110. Instead of clips 80 and 110, screws 200 or the like are
employed to position the slotted bar 70 in adjusted relationship to
the interlock member 50. Such screws 200 are driven through the
outwardly extending flange portions 60 and wall portions 56 and 57
of the interlock member, and simultaneously through the slotted bar
70 and the stabilizer attachment plates 134.
In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 6, a
structure is provided which is similar to those previously
described except that the orientation of the studs 12 is reversed
so that the studs face each other, that is, so that the concave
sides of the studs face each other. With the studs 212 of this
embodiment of the invention positioned facing each other, the
vertical flanges 236 are inserted between the reversely folded and
outwardly extending flange portions of the interlock members. This
arrangement provides a more rigid structure than those previously
described. Additionally, an assembly which is less expensive and
which is more easily constructed than those previously described is
thereby provided.
More particularly, studs 212 are typically in the form of C-shaped
channels, as previouly described, except that the turned-in
stiffening flanges 38 have been eliminated. The metal studs 212
include a vertical extending wall or main web 235, and laterally
directed vertical flanges 236 integral with the edges of the web
235 and constituting the sides of the studs.
In the assembled partition wall, each stud 212 of a pair is
arranged facing the corresponding stud 212 of the pair and the web
235 of each stud 212 is arranged in opposed spaced relationship
with respect to the corresponding web 235 of the other stud 212 of
the pair. The interlock members 50 are secured between the spaced
webs 235 to form a complete stud and interlock assembly by
inserting the vertical flanges 236 of the studs 212 between the
respective opposing vertical walls 58 of the reversely folded
portions 54 and the outwardly extending portions 60 of the
outstanding folded flanges 51.
Since the vertical walls 58 and the corresponding outwardly
extending portions 60 are initially either in contact with each
other or in close proximity to each other, the insertion of the
flange 236 therebetween will cause frictional engagement between
the flange 236 and the respective vertical wall 58 and outwardly
extending portion 60. In such an arrangement, the interlock member
50 will be held or supported on the flanges 236 by frictional
engagement with the opposing vertical wall 58 and outwardly
extending portion 60.
The reversal of the orientation of the studs 212 has the further
advantage of terminating the outer extremity of the flange 236 at
approximately the same position as the termination of the outwardly
extending portion 60. This eliminates the gap between the wallboard
15 and stud flange 236 which occurs in the other embodiments of
this invention previously described (see FIG. 3). The elimination
of this gap reduces the tendency of the section of the wallboard 15
to bow away from the interlock member 50 at the stabilizing flanges
132 due to the compressive force formerly placed upon the wallboard
15 by the screws 88.
It will be clear that the screws 86, shown in the upper portion of
FIG. 3, are not necessary in this embodiment for the purpose of
securing the interlock member 50 to the studs 212. Due to the
coincident termination of the flanges 236 and the outwardly
extending portions 60, the screws 88 now serve the double function
of securing both the wallboard 15 and the interlock member 50 to
the studs 212. However, when clips are employed, as in the lower
portion of FIG. 3, it becomes necessary to employ the screws 86 in
order to secure the clips to the interlock member 50.
This alternative embodiment of the invention also facilitates
construction of the stud and interlock assembly by allowing the
interlock member 50 to be temporarily suspended from the studs 212
by the aforementioned frictional engagement with the flanges 236 of
the studs while the screws 88 are being driven to provide for
securing the flange 236 of the stud 212 to the outwardly extending
portion 60 of the interlock member 50. In the other embodiments of
this invention previously discussed, it is necessary to manually or
otherwise hold the interlock member 50 in place against the studs
12 while the screws 86 are being driven through the outwardly
extending portion 60 and the flanges 36 in order to secure the
interlock members 50 in place on the studs 12.
In this embodiment of the invention, the legs 52 of the stems of
the interlock member 50 are shorter than those previously described
and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A larger gap 300, shown in FIG. 6, is
thus provided between the adjacent ends of the legs 52. This gap is
of sufficient width to allow the passage of a structural member 320
between the adjacent ends of the legs in a direction perpendicular
to the plane of the webs 235 of the studs 212. Such a structural
member 320 is therefore enabled to pass unobstructed through
apertures or knockouts 310 in the stud webs 235 and between the
interlock members 50, as shown in phantom in FIG. 6.
This alternative embodiment of the invention may be used with
either one or two interlock members between each pair of studs 212,
as previously described. Also, this alternative embodiment of the
invention may be used either with or without clips, as previously
described and as shown in FIG. 3.
While certain forms of the invention have been herein disclosed, it
may be seen that other forms may be produced which may constitute
other embodiments of this invention within the scope of the
appended claims.
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