Screw guard for metal studs

Abstract

A stud guard for metal wall studs protects wiring and plumbing passing through the stud from being pierced by a sheet rock screw or nail during sheet rock installation or from a screw, nail or other type of hazard after sheet rock installation. The stud guard is a generally flat plate member that has a length and a smaller width and that is made from at least 18 gauge stainless steel. The back surface of the stud guard has an adhesive layer thereon for fixed attachment of the plate member to the stud.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a screw guard that is attached to a metal stud in order to prevent damage to wiring or plumbing running through the stud during the application of a sheet rock or other type of screw.

[0003] 2. Background of the Prior Art

[0004] Sheet rock is installed within a building by driving sheet rock screws or nails through the sheet rock into the studs to which the sheet rock is attached. This standard method assures a solid attachment between the sheet rock and the studs of the wall. One of the problems with this sheet rock attachment method is the possibility that the sheet rock screws or nails can pierce or otherwise penetrate wiring (including electrical wiring, telephone wiring, and cable) as well as plumbing that runs through the studs. As the wiring systems and plumbing systems are not checked for appropriate functionality until long after the installation of the sheet rock as well as the application of drywall or plaster and possibility paint, a piercing of the particular system can prove to be a costly mistake to fix.

[0005] In order to guard against wiring and plumbing compromise, various devices have been proposed that prevent such systems from being pierced or otherwise penetrated by sheet rock screws or nails. However, the prior art devices are either unduly complex in design or construction or are relatively difficult in design and are time-consuming to install, making the use of such devices less desirable relative to the gamble taken by many of avoiding the piercing of wiring or plumbing. Still other devices, while relatively simple, do not offer sufficient protect for stud embedded wiring or plumbing from modern air powered screw guns and nail guns, which guns, by the sheer force with which they drive the screw or nail into the sheet rock and the stud, tend to defeat the protection offered by such prior art devices.

[0006] Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a screw guard that attaches to a stud and protects wiring and plumbing that runs through the stud from damage that may be caused by sheet rock screws and nails as well as other types of screws and nails and other protrusions that pass through the sheet rock and embed within a stud. Such a device must be of relatively simple design and construction and must be relatively easy to install. Such a device must afford protection to the wiring and plumbing even from screws and nails that are driven by modern high-powered air guns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The screw guard for metal studs of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The screw guard provides a device that is easily installable onto a stud, specifically but not limited to a metal stud, and provides protection to wiring and plumbing running through the stud from being pierced or otherwise penetrated by a sheet rock screw or nail or other type of screw or nail or other penetrating device. The screw guard is of relatively simple design and construction and provides protection against screws and nails that are driven into the sheet rock by modern high-powered air guns.

[0008] The screw guard for metal studs of the present invention is comprised of a generally flat stainless steel plate member that has a front surface and a back surface. An adhesive layer is attached to the back surface of the plate member, the adhesive layer being of any appropriate adhesive compound that has a relatively high peel strength and removability time. The plate member is positioned onto the stud with the back surface facing the stud and the plate member is affixed to the stud such that the adhesive layer fixedly attaches the plate member to the stud and holds the plate member thereto. The plate member is made from at least 18 gauge stainless steel. An opening passes between the front surface and the back surface for receiving a screw through the opening and into the stud for additional securement of the plate member to the stud. The stud may, but need not be, be a metal stud. The plate member has a length and a width such that the length is greater than the width and the width is about 1.5 inches and the length is dimensioned so as to cover the appropriate fixtures passing through the stud (wiring, in or not within a conduit, plumbing, or both).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the screw guard for metal studs of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the screw guard for metal studs of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an environmental view of the screw guard for metal studs installed on a stud.

[0012] Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the stud guard for metal studs, generally denoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised of a generally flat stainless steel plate member 12 that has a generally rectangular shape and that that has a front surface 14 and a back surface 16. An adhesive layer 18 is attached to the back surface 16 of the plate member 12. If desired, a protective layer (not illustrated) can be placed onto the adhesive layer 18 in covering fashion in order to protect the adhesive layer 18 from exposure with the protective layer being removed just prior to installation of the screw guard 10 onto the stud 20.

[0014] The plate member 12 is positioned onto the stud 20 with the back surface 16 facing the stud 20, and the plate member 12 is affixed to the stud 20 such that the adhesive layer 18 fixedly attaches the plate member 12 to the stud 20. The plate member 12 is made from at least 18 gauge stainless steel which is the minimum gauge of stainless steel which will withstand and resist penetration from a screw or nail that is driven by a high-powered mechanism such as an air gun.

[0015] An opening 22 passes between the front surface 14 and the back surface 16 for receiving a screw 24 through the opening 22 and into the stud 20 for further securement of the stud guard 10 to the stud 20. The stud 20 may be a metal stud. The plate member 12 has a length Y and a width X such that the length Y is greater than the width X and the width X is about 1.5 inches for fitting onto a standard stud 20 and the length Y can be any desired length and can be attached to protect a single wiring conduit W or a single plumbing line P passing through a stud or can be dimensioned so as to provide protection for multiple wiring lines W and plumbing lines P passing through the stud 20.

[0016] In order to use the stud guard for metal 10 of the present invention, the stud guard 10 is positioned such that the plate member's back surface 16, faces the stud 20. If a protective layer is used, it is removed and the plate member 12 is attached to the stud 20 such that the adhesive layer 18 adheres to the stud 20. If the plate member 12 has openings thereon, screws 24 are passed through the opening 22 and are driven through the stud 20 for enhancing the attachment of the plate member 12 to the stud 20. Any type of screws, nails or other intrusion devices, that pass through the sheet rock S and attempt to penetrate the stud 20, will be defeated from such task by the plate member 12, thereby protecting the wiring W or plumbing P passing through the stud 20.

[0017] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A stud guard in combination with a wall stud comprising:

a flat stainless steel plate member having a front surface and a back surface;

an adhesive layer attached to the back surface of the plate member; and

wherein the back surface of the plate member is affixed to the stud such that the adhesive fixedly attaches the plate member to the stud.

2. The stud guard as in claim 1 wherein the plate member is made from at least 18 gauge stainless steel.

3. The stud guard as in claim 1 further comprising:

an opening passing between the front surface and the back surface; and

a screw passing through the opening and into the stud.

4. The stud guard as in claim 1 wherein the stud is a metal stud.

5. The stud guard as in claim 1 wherein the plate member has a length and a width such that the length is greater than the width.

6. The stud guard as in claim 5 wherein the width is about 1.5 inches.

7. A stud guard in combination with a wall stud consisting essentially of:

a flat stainless steel plate member having a front surface and a back surface;

an adhesive layer attached to the back surface of the plate member; and

wherein the back surface of the plate member is affixed to the stud such that the adhesive fixedly attaches the plate member to the stud.

8. The stud guard as in claim 7 wherein the plate member is made from at least 18 gauge stainless steel.

9. The stud guard as in claim 7 further consisting of:

an opening passing between the front surface and the back surface; and

a screw passing through the opening and into the stud.

10. The stud guard as in claim 7 wherein the stud is a metal stud.

11. The stud guard as in claim 7 wherein the plate member has a length and a width such that the length is greater than the width.

12. The stud guard as in claim 11 wherein the width is about 1.5 inches.