Abstract: A corner stud (50) has intersecting first and second walls (52, 54) that back up corner edge portions of wallboard panels (40, 42) that meet at the inside corner. The walls (52, 54) are braced by walls (64, 70) and flanges (76, 78). Wall (52) and wall (70) may be parallel to each other and to flange (76). Wall (54) and wall (64) may be parallel to each other and flange (78). The stud (50, 52, 200, 202) may have a web bent about a longitudinal axis to form web parts separated by an inside angle (a). The angle a may be an obtuse angle below one hundred eighty degrees (180°) to about two hundred seventy degrees (270°).

Abstract: A corner stud (50) has intersecting first and second walls (52, 54) that back up corner edge portions of wallboard panels (40, 42) that meet at the inside corner. The walls (52, 54) are braced by walls (64, 70) and flanges (76, 78). Wall (52) and wall (70) may be parallel to each other and to flange (76). Wall (54) and wall (64) may be parallel to each other and flange (78). The stud (50, 52, 200, 202) may have a web bent about a longitudinal axis to form web parts separated by an inside angle (a). The angle a may be an obtuse angle below one hundred eighty degrees (180°) to about two hundred seventy degrees (270°).

Abstract: A sheet-metal header beam is constructed from a single sheet of sheet metal (10). It is folded to form an upper channel (58) having a bottom wall (12) and inner sidewalls (14, 16). The upper boundaries of the sidewalls (14, 16) form corners (24, 28) with top walls (30, 32) which in turn form corners (26, 28) with outside walls (38, 40). Lower portions of the outside walls (30, 40) and regions (50, 52) form sidewalls of a lower channel (60). Regions (50, 52) are bent at corners (42, 44) to form flanges (46, 48) which form a top for the lower channel (60).

Abstract: A slotted upper track (10) has double-thick sidewalls (34, 36 and 40, 42) through which the slots (54, 50 and 52, 56) extend. The sidewalls (34, 36 and 40, 42) and an interconnecting web (38) form a central channel in which upper end portions of the studs (12) are received. The upper track or header (10) includes secondary channels outwardly of the central channel that are formed by the flanges of the central channel (34, 36 and 40, 42) and auxiliary flanges (30, 46) and auxiliary webs (32, 44). The header or upper track (10) is of a one-piece construction, making it relatively economically to construct. Upper end portions of wallboard panels (WP) are positioned outwardly of the sidewalls (34, 36 and 40, 42) of the central channel. Trim panels (TP) of wallboard are connected to the auxiliary flanges (30, 46) and are positioned laterally outwardly of the upper end portions of the main wallboard panels (WP).

Abstract: Corner studs (10, 10?) have webs that are folded into two parts (16, 18) separated by an angle of between about 150° and 270°. These studs are used at corners formed where two framing walls meet. The first wall has upper and lower channel members with continuous flanges. The second wall has upper and lower channel members with squared ends that abut continuous flanges of upper and lower channels of the first framing wall. Studs (10, 10?) are provided which webs that include flange-receiving slots (12, 28) that extend from the ends of the studs (10, 10?) longitudinally inwardly along a bend line (14) between the two web parts (16, 18). The flanges (36, 52) are received within these slots (12, 28) so that a first portion of the studs (10, 10?) can be installed into the channel space of the first channel member and the remaining portion of the studs (10, 10?) can be installed into the channel space of the channel members of the second wall.

Abstract: A floor/ceiling 10 has downwardly extending ribs (14) separated by downwardly opening channels (16). The floor/ceiling member (10) sits down on a horizontal header (32) that is on top of a building wall that extends perpendicular to the ribs (14) and the channels (16). A preformed wall panel (24) has a lower strip portion (26) that is connected to a side flange (36) on the header (32). Preformed wall panel (24) has upwardly directed peaks (28) and upwardly opening valleys (30). The peaks (28) are sized and shaped to snuggly fit within the ceiling channels (16). The valleys (30) are sized and shaped to snuggly receive the ribs (14) when the peaks (28) are in the channels (16). A continuous lower strip portion of the preformed wall panel (24) is connected to the flange (36) of the header (32), below the ribs (14). The peaks (28) extend into and block or close off the channel openings formed in and by the channel (16) above the web (38).

Abstract: One or more diagonal brace beam sections (26) extend between a pair of connectors (32). One of the connectors is placed inside of a first stud (14) that opens towards a closed side of the next stud (14) the second connector member (32) abuts against the web of the second stud (14). The connectors (32) are connected to the studs (14) by screw fasteners or some other suitable form of fasteners. The several diagonal brace beam sections (26) form an internal brace beam for the wall that extends from an upper corner at one end of the wall downwardly to a lower corner at the opposite end of the wall.

Abstract: Corner studs (10, 10?) have webs that are folded into two parts (16, 18) separated by an angle of between about 150° and 270°. These studs are used at corners formed where two framing walls meet. The first wall has upper and lower channel members with continuous flanges. The second wall has upper and lower channel members with squared ends that abut continuous flanges of upper and lower channels of the first framing wall. Studs (10, 10?) are provided which webs that include flange-receiving slots (12, 28) that extend from the ends of the studs (10, 10?) longitudinally inwardly along a bend line (14) between the two web parts (16, 18). The flanges (36, 52) are received within these slots (12, 28) so that a first portion of the studs (10, 10?) can be installed into the channel space of the first channel member and the remaining portion of the studs (10, 10?) can be installed into the channel space of the channel members of the second wall.

Abstract: One or more diagonal brace beam sections (26) extend between a pair of connectors (32). One of the connectors is placed inside of a first stud (14) that opens towards a closed side of the next stud (14) the second connector member (32) abuts against the web of the second stud (14). The connectors (32) are connected to the studs (14) by screw fasteners or some other suitable form of fasteners. The several diagonal brace beam sections (26) form an internal brace beam for the wall that extends from an upper corner at one end of the wall downwardly to a lower corner at the opposite end of the wall.

Abstract: The mounting member (10) includes a convex-concave section (24, 24A, 24B) between two edge strips (16, 20). Edge strip (16) is connected to framing by a screw (18) and edge strip (20) is secured to wallboard (14) by a screw (22). An inward push on the wallboard (14) causes the convex-concave section (24, 24A, 24B) to compress, allowing the wallboard paneling (12) to move towards the framing (12). When the force on the wallboard (14) is removed, the concave-convex section (24, 24A, 24B) functions as a spring and moves the wallboard (14) outwardly from the framing (12) to a static position (FIGS. 2, 4 and 6).

Abstract: A slotted upper track (10) has double-thick sidewalls (34, 36 and 40, 42) through which the slots (54, 50 and 52, 56) extend. The sidewalls (34, 36 and 40, 42) and an interconnecting web (38) form a central channel in which upper end portions of the studs (12) are received. The upper track or header (10) includes secondary channels outwardly of the central channel that are formed by the flanges of the central channel (34, 36 and 40, 42) and auxiliary flanges (30, 46) and auxiliary webs (32, 44). The header or upper track (10) is of a one-piece construction, making it relatively economically to construct. Upper end portions of wallboard panels (WP) are positioned outwardly of the sidewalls (34, 36 and 40, 42) of the central channel. Trim panels (TP) of wallboard are connected to the auxiliary flanges (30, 46) and are positioned laterally outwardly of the upper end portions of the main wallboard panels (WP).

Abstract: A sheet-metal header beam is constructed from a single sheet of sheet metal (10). It is folded to form an upper channel (58) having a bottom wall (12) and inner sidewalls (14, 16). The upper boundaries of the sidewalls (14, 16) form corners (24, 28) with top walls (30, 32) which in turn form corners (26, 28) with outside walls (38, 40). Lower portions of the outside walls (30, 40) and regions (50, 52) form sidewalls of a lower channel (60). Regions (50, 52) are bent at corners (42, 44) to form flanges (46, 48) which form a top for the lower channel (60).

Abstract: A punch (42) is used to form a circular opening (46) in the web (28) of a framing member (26). A first tool (50) is provided having a head (56) with a first end and a circular cross section that increases in diameter as it extends from the first end axially inwardly of the tool (50). The first end of this head (56) is inserted into the circular opening (46) and the tool (50) is rotated and is moved axially into the opening (46), for stretching the metal surrounding the opening (46) and forming a flare (60) that surrounds the opening (46). A second tool (62) is provided having a head (68) with a first end and a circular cross section that increases in diameter from the first end axially inwardly of the tool (62). The first end of this tool is inserted into the flare (60) from the second side of the web (28).

Abstract: A screw driver (40) having a bi-tapered driver tip fits into a bi-tapered screw driver tip receiving socket in a screw (42). The outer taper on the driver tip and the outer taper in the driver tip receiving socket in the screw are complementary to each other and each have a taper angle of substantially about 40°-50°, with substantially about 45° being the preferred angle. The inner portions of the driver tip and the driver tip receiving socket are also complementary portions. They have a taper angle of substantially about 25°-35° with substantially about 30° being the preferred taper angle. The screw driver tip and the tip receiving socket have four grooves spaced substantially 90° apart and four ridges space substantially 90° apart. The ridges on the screw driver tip enter into the grooves in the screw driver receiving socket in the screw and the ridges in the socket in the screw are received with the grooves formed in the screw driver tip.

Abstract: A corner stud (50) has intersecting first and second walls (52, 54) that back up corner edge portions of wallboard panels (40, 42) that meet at the inside corner. The walls (52, 54) are braced by walls (64, 70) and flanges (76, 78). Wall (52) and wall (70) may be parallel to each other and to flange (76). Wall (54) and wall (64) may be parallel to each other and flange (78). The stud (50, 52, 200, 202) may have a web bent about a longitudinal axis to form web parts separated by an inside angle (a). The angle a may be an obtuse angle below one hundred eighty degrees (180°) to about two hundred seventy degrees (270°).

Abstract: A floor/ceiling 10 has downwardly extending ribs (14) separated by downwardly opening channels (16). The floor/ceiling member (10) sits down on a horizontal header (32) that is on top of a building wall that extends perpendicular to the ribs (14) and the channels (16). A preformed wall panel (24) has a lower strip portion (26) that is connected to a side flange (36) on the header (32). Preformed wall panel (24) has upwardly directed peaks (28) and upwardly opening valleys (30). The peaks (28) are sized and shaped to snuggly fit within the ceiling channels (16). The valleys (30) are sized and shaped to snuggly receive the ribs (14) when the peaks (28) are in the channels (16). A continuous lower strip portion of the preformed wall panel (24) is connected to the flange (36) of the header (32), below the ribs (14). The peaks (28) extend into and block or close off the channel openings formed in and by the channel (16) above the web (38).

Abstract: A downwardly opening upper channel member (10) is positioned above an upwardly opening lower channel member (12). A lower end portion of the stud (14) is received in the lower channel member (12). An insert (54) is received in the upper channel member (10) at the location of each stud (14). Each insert (54) cooperates with the flanges (20, 22) of the upper channel member (10) to form a plurality of vertical sockets (102), one for each of the studs (14). Upper end portions of the studs (14) extend into the sockets (102). In a wall construction, wall board sheeting (WS) is connected to the stud (14) and the lower channel member (12) but not to the upper channel member (10) or the insert (54). As a result, relative vertical movement is permitted between the upper channel member (10) and the rest of the wall which include the studs (14), the lower channel member (12) and the wall board sheeting (WS).

Abstract: A bracing beam extends at a diagonal between an end portion of a track and a stud, or between two studs. A series of the brace beam sections extend along a diagonal line to diagonally brace a framing wall. Each bracing beam section has a web and a pair of flanges connected to the web. The ends of the beam are cut so as to form end members which are end portions of the web of the bracing beam. The web ends are fastened by screws to two framing members between which the bracing beam extends. Some of the web end portions of the brace beams are connected to the outside of the web of the stud and others are connected to the inside of the web of the stud.

Abstract: A plurality of studs (14) are spaced apart relative to each other. Upper end portions (32) of the studs fit into an upper channel space (22) and lower end portions (34) fit into a lower channel space (30). The lower channel space (30) is defined in part by a pair of spaced apart sidewalls (24, 26). Screw fasteners (52) extend through the sidewalls (24, 26) and connect them to the lower end portion (34) of the stud (14). The studs (14) have upper ends that are spaced from a web (20) forming the upper boundary of the upper channel space (22). Vertical elongated slots (48, 50) are provided in the sidewalls (38, 40) of the studs (14). Screw fasteners extend through the sidewalls (16, 18) of the upper channel member (10) and then extend into and through the slots (48, 50). The heads of the screw fasteners (52) bear against the sidewalls (16, 18) when the screw fasteners (52) are tightened.

Abstract: The upper end portion of a sheet-metal stud (14) fits upwardly into a channel space (22) formed within an upper channel member (10). The lower end of the stud (14) fits within a lower channel space (30) formed in a lower channel member (12). The upper end portion of the stud (14) includes a longitudinal slot (48) on each of its sides. Screw fasteners (52) extend through the side walls (16, 18) of the upper channel member (10) and then extend into and through the slots (48). These screws (52) include a head (54) a threaded shank portion (60) and a non-threaded shank portion (62) between the head (54) and the threaded shank portion (60). The non-threaded shank portion (62) is narrower than the slot (48) and is sized to slide relatively up and down in the slot (48). The non-threaded portion (62) of the shank (58) has an axio length d measured between the inside surface of the head (54) and a confronting surface of an end thread (64).