Floor and ceiling receiving tracks for seating metal and wood studs and the like and which in particular include spaced-apart punch holes along first and second sides thereof
A receiving track for use with a plurality of vertically extending and spaced-apart wall studs. An elongated body exhibits a substantially “U” shape in profile, having a bottom extending face and first and second interconnecting and upwardly extending sides. A plurality of apertures is defined in the extending sides, in aligning fashion and between first and second extending ends of the body. Pairs of upwardly extending tabs are defined in the bottom extending face, each of the pairs of tabs being arranged in spaced-apart and opposing fashion and such that a center point between the pair of tabs is in alignment with a selected pair of side extending apertures. Selected ends of the plurality of extending studs are seated upon the bottom extending face, between the pairs of upwardly extending tabs, and in substantially center aligning fashion between the selected pairs of apertures and prior to receiving fasteners inserting through the apertures for securing the upwardly studs to the body.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to stud receiving tracks and panels for use in building construction. More specifically, the present invention discloses a track receiving and seating system for use with a vertically engageable wall stud, and which in particular provides the ability to arrange the studs in a predetermined spaced-apart fashion for constructing both interior and exterior support walls.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is well documented with various types of structural support and attachment systems. A first example of this is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,694, issued to Daudet, and which teaches a floor system and method of construction for assembling a joist support. Of note, the system includes a joist rim that has at least one attachment tab integrally formed therein and to facilitate attachment of a joist to the joist rim. Reinforcing tabs are provided adjacent to the attachment tabs for providing desired structural integrity to the attachment tab connection.
The Daudet system also includes a C-shaped joist that has a plurality of oval-shaped openings therein to enable components such as ducts, wires, piping, etc., to pass through. The joists are further provided with mounting holes that are adapted to accommodate wire retainer members for supporting insulation between respective joists. The system may also include preformed blocking members that are sized to extend between adjacent joists and be attached thereto to provide lateral support to the joists.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,194, issued to Colosanto, teaches a structural system for supporting a building and which includes a plurality of prefabricated lightweight steel framed bearing wall panels supporting hollow core concrete slabs which are joined with grout. The invention includes improved devices for attaching exterior finishing to exterior bearing walls without requiring a studded non-bearing exterior wall. In relevant part, the exterior finish mounting device includes a deck stud channel which is mounted to a reinforcing bar by a channel clip and secured in grout by a gusset plate with a hole in it. The exterior finish is attached to the stud channel by screws which are also secured in the grout. Flat metal straps welded to the tops of double studs eliminate the previously used threaded members with angled bearings, nuts and washers. The studs are ground at their ends to fit more perfectly within tracks and avoid the need for bearing plates. An open slide clip replaces the former splice member to allow for more latitude in positioning reinforcing bars and providing a better surface area for grout.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,808, issued to Thorsell, teaches a fastener including a combination of a gang nail plate and a clip. The plate is driven into a gypsum board panel to attach itself thereto. The clip connects with the plate and extends beyond its side edge. A screw or nail is driven through an aperture in the protruding end of the clip and in order to secure the panel to a supporting stud. The gang nail plate includes tangs protruding from the inner face thereof and a slot-forming transverse member protruding from the outer face. The clip is a flat, rectangular, spring steel plate formed with an upwardly inclined inner end, a flat outer end, and a downwardly inclined central portion. The clip's inner end is wedged into the slot to tightly connect the panel, plate and clip.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,302, issued to Caretto, teaches a method of constructing a housing development in which the necessity for taking repetitious measurements and re-measurements through the various stages of construction is minimized. A construction surface in the form of the floor of a school or building in a shopping center associated with the housing development is initially established. Full scale dimensionally-stable, flexible templates are used at each building site location to mark the foundation footings and plumbing trenches required for the houses to be built.
In relevant part, and referencing
A receiving track for use with a plurality of vertically extending and spaced-apart wall studs includes upper and lower extending elongated bodies arranged in parallel opposing and spaced-apart fashion. The plurality of wall studs (such as including three-sided metal studs or rectangular wood studs) are arranged such that they extend between the bodies.
Each of upper and lower extending and elongated bodies exhibits a substantially “U” shape in profile, with a bottom extending face and first and second interconnecting and upwardly extending sides. A plurality of apertures are defined in each of the extending sides, in aligning fashion and between first and second extending ends of each of the bodies. Each of the pairs of apertures exhibit a specified diameter, a centerline location of each side extending aperture being spaced apart, in a preferred variant, a distance of four inches.
Pairs of extending tabs are defined from cutout portions taken from the bottom extending face of each elongated body. Each of the pairs of tabs are arranged in spaced-apart and opposing fashion and such that a center point between the pair of tabs is in alignment with a selected pair of side extending apertures. In a preferred embodiment, the pairs of tabs correspond to sixteen inch on-center spacings along the upper and lower extending bodies.
Each of the bodies further includes, in a preferred embodiment, a lip edge extending from at least one end of the bottom extending face. The extending lip edge engages a succeeding body placed in end-to-end extending fashion and may include one or more apertures for engaging an overlapping lip edge of a succeeding track and for receiving fasteners for securing the tracks together as well as to a floor or ceiling location.
A further variant teaches the application of an indicia, such as numbering, between first and second ends of the elongated body. In particular, a ten foot running length of elongated channel will include one foot numerical indications (ranging 1-10 feet), on one side thereof, whereas an opposite side will possess the same indicia in reverse order. In assembly, selected ends of the plurality of extending studs are seated upon the bottom extending face, between the pairs of upwardly extending tabs, and in substantially center aligning fashion between the selected pairs of apertures. At this point, fasteners are inserted through the apertures for securing the studs to the upper and lower extending bodies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSReference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
Referring now to
Each of the upper and lower seating tracks 12 and 14 defines an elongate extending and substantially “U” shaped body arranged in parallel opposing and spaced apart fashion. The plurality of wall studs, 16, 18, 20, et seq., are illustrated as three-sided metal studs (see as for example studs 16 and 18 illustrated in the sectional cutaway illustrations of
Each of upper and lower extending and elongated bodies, as further illustrated in the sectional perspective of
A plurality of apertures are defined in each of the extending sides, in aligning fashion, and between first and second extending ends of each of the bodies. For example, pairs of aligning apertures are illustrated by corresponding pairs of inwardly curved and cross-sectionally aligning walls 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38, these being defined along each of the extending sides 24 and 26, respectively, and extending along the channel body 14 in
Each of the pairs of apertures exhibits a specified diameter, a centerline location of each side extending aperture being spaced apart, in a preferred variant, a distance of four inches. The selection of four inches is considered important to a preferred embodiment, in that it equates to multiples of 8″, 12″, 16″, 24″, et seq. and which corresponds to the placement of vertically extending wall studs in such as 18″ on-center and 24″ on-center intervals and which are generally accepted to be industry standards for assembling interior and exterior construction walls. It is further understood that other on-center spacing intervals of the rows of aligning apertures are possible, such as including 6″ on-center spacings and the like.
Pairs of extending tabs are defined from cutout portions taken from the bottom extending face of each elongated body. In particular, and referencing again the sectional perspective of
In one preferred embodiment, and as is again illustrated in
Corresponding to each pair of apertures, is an associated pair of spaced-apart tabs, i.e., tabs 64 for apertures 52, tabs 66 for apertures 54, tabs 68 for apertures 56, tabs 70 for aperture 58, tabs 72 for aperture 60 and tab 74 (second tab not illustrated) for apertures 62. While it is not necessary to provide pairs of offsetting tabs for each and every pair of spaced-apart apertures, the same may be desirable in certain variants and such as where it is desirable to strongly reinforce the wall construction.
The tabs are further formed, in the variants illustrated, from cutout portions taken from the bottom extending face of the elongated body and as are also illustrated in the axial cutaway illustration of
As is illustrated in
As best shown in
As is further illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
In this fashion, abutting pairs of vertical edges 120 and 122 of planar bodes 14 and 14′ are arranged such that aperture pairs 124 and 126 are spaced at such as ⅜″ distances on center from the edge boundaries of the abutting bodies (again defined by vertical edges 120 and 122). Succeeding pairs of apertures, e.g. at 128 for body 14 and at 130 for body 14′, are spaced at 4″ on center from the edge boundaries (and not preceding apertures 124 and 126) and in order to maintain a correct 4″ on center relationship with each succeeding pair of apertures.
Also, nails or other fasteners, see at 132, may be employed to secure together the extending and abutting ends of the lip edges, and such as prior to engagement of a vertical stud, and such as is also shown at 77 in
Referring to
In a particular variant, the elongated track is produced according to a length of ten feet and includes numerical foot marking indicia ranging from 1-9 along first extending side 136. As illustrated, a reciprocal and reverse numbering scheme extends along the second side 138 as shown. The numerical indications for 0′ and 10′ are not shown in
Referring further to
It is also contemplated that other numbering or coding indicia schemes can be employed, such including color coding and the like and which employs a repetitive illustration of four or more colors. It is also contemplated that other lengths of receiving track, such as for example eight foot, twelve foot, etc., can be incorporated, each with a unique numbering or coding indicia scheme for determining placement of wall studs (not shown) and operating independently or in tandem with the aligned pairs of apertures and/or the opposing tabs.
Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. In particular it is envisioned that the receiving tracks can be used in variants including either both top and bottom extending lengths or, alternately, would also cover applications in which it is applied to only one of upper or lower ends of the wall construction.
Claims
1. A receiving track for use with a plurality of vertically extending and spaced-apart wall studs, comprising:
- an elongated body exhibiting a substantially “U” shape in profile and having a bottom extending face and first and second interconnecting and upwardly extending sides;
- a plurality of apertures defined in said extending sides, in aligning fashion and between first and second extending ends of said body;
- pairs of upwardly extending tabs defined in said bottom extending face, each of said pairs of tabs being arranged in spaced-apart and opposing fashion and such that a center point between said pair of tabs is in alignment with a selected pair of side extending apertures; and
- selected ends of the plurality of extending studs seating upon said bottom extending face, between said pairs of upwardly extending tabs, and in substantially center aligning fashion between said selected pairs of apertures prior to receiving fasteners inserting through said apertures for securing the studs to the body.
2. The receiving track as described in claim 1, further comprising a pair of first and second elongated bodies arranged in parallel opposing and spaced-apart fashion, the plurality of wall studs extending between said bodies.
3. The receiving track as described in claim 2, each of said bodies further comprising a lip edge extending from at least one end of said bottom extending face, said extending lip edge engaging a succeeding body placed in end-to-end extending fashion.
4. The receiving track as described in claim 3, further comprising each of said end-to-end extending bodies exhibiting an extending and overlapping lip edge, at least one of said lip edges exhibiting apertures formed therethrough for receiving fasteners.
5. The receiving track as described in claim 1, each of said bodies further comprising an incision extending axially inwardly from at least one end of said bottom extending face, an abutting and end extending face of a succeeding body seating within said incision to overlap first and second bodies in end-to-end extending fashion.
6. The receiving track as described in claim 1, said body further comprising a lip edge extending from at least one end of said bottom extending face, said extending lip edge engaging a bottom face of an angled bracket portion.
7. The receiving track as described in claim 1, said tabs each further comprising angled punch-out portions formed from said bottom face.
8. The receiving track as described in claim 7, said pairs of tabs corresponding with each individual pair of aligning apertures.
9. The receiving track as described in claim 1, each of said pairs of apertures exhibiting a specified diameter, a centerline location of each side extending aperture being spaced apart a distance of four inches.
10. The receiving track as described in claim 1, said elongated body exhibiting a specified shape and size for receiving a three-sided steel wall stud.
11. The receiving track as described in claim 1, said elongated body exhibiting a specified shape and size for receiving a rectangular cross-sectional shaped wood stud.
12. The receiving track as described in claim 1, a center point between a selected pair of opposing tabs being spaced apart a distance of sixteen inches from a center point established between a succeeding pair of tabs.
13. The receiving track as described in claim 1, further comprising an indicia scheme extending along said first and second sides of said elongated body.
14. The receiving track as described in claim 1, further comprising an indicia scheme extending along opposite extending edges of said bottom face.
15. The receiving track as described in claim 14, said indicia scheme further comprising an incrementing numerical representation extending along a first selected side, a reciprocal and decrementing numerical representation extending along a second side.
16. A receiving track for use with a plurality of vertically extending and spaced-apart wall studs, comprising:
- an elongated body exhibiting a substantially “U” shape in profile and having a bottom extending face and first and second interconnecting and upwardly extending sides;
- a plurality of apertures defined in said extending sides, in aligning fashion and between first and second extending ends of said body, each of said pairs of apertures exhibiting a specified diameter, a centerline location of each side extending aperture being spaced apart a distance of four inches;
- pairs of upwardly extending tabs defined in said bottom extending face, each of said pairs of tabs being arranged in spaced-apart and opposing fashion and such that a center point between said pair of tabs is in alignment with a selected pair of side extending apertures;
- each of said bodies further comprising a lip edge extending from at least one end of said bottom extending face, said extending lip edge engaging a succeeding body placed in end-to-end extending fashion; and
- selected ends of the plurality of extending studs seating upon said bottom extending face, between said pairs of upwardly extending tabs, and in substantially center aligning fashion between said selected pairs of apertures prior to receiving fasteners inserting through said apertures for securing the studs to the body.
17. A receiving track for use with a plurality of vertically extending and spaced-apart wall studs, comprising:
- upper and lower extending elongated bodies arranged in parallel opposing and spaced apart fashion, the plurality of wall studs extending between said bodies, each of said bodies exhibiting a substantially “U” shape in profile and having a bottom extending face and first and second interconnecting and upwardly extending sides;
- a plurality of apertures defined in said extending sides, in aligning fashion and between first and second extending ends of each of said bodies, each of said pairs of apertures exhibiting a specified diameter, a centerline location of each side extending aperture being spaced apart a distance of four inches;
- pairs of extending tabs defined in said bottom extending face, each of said pairs of tabs being arranged in spaced apart and opposing fashion and such that a center point between said pair of tabs is in alignment with a selected pair of side extending apertures;
- each of said bodies further comprising a lip edge extending from at least one end of said bottom extending face, said extending lip edge engaging a succeeding body placed in end-to-end extending fashion;
- an indicia scheme extending along at least one of said first and second sides and said bottom face of said body in reverse and reciprocal fashion;
- selected ends of the plurality of extending studs seating upon said bottom extending face, according to selected indicia scheme rotations, between said pairs of upwardly extending tabs, and in substantially center aligning fashion between said selected pairs of apertures prior to receiving fasteners inserting through said apertures for securing the studs to said upper and lower extending bodies.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 4, 2003
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2005
Inventor: William Paul (Waterford Township, MI)
Application Number: 10/728,271