Internally braced framing

Abstract

Side flaps (98, 100) border openings (118) in the webs of sheet metal studs (84). End flaps (114, 116) may border the same openings. Brace members (78) extend through the openings and are connected to the studs (84) by screws that extend through the flaps and screw into the brace member (78). The brace members (78) may extend perpendicular or diagonally to the studs (84). The brace members (32, 34) may be of sectional construction with each section having a first end and a second end and with the first end being smaller than the second end and being adapted to slip into the second end of the next section of the brace member. The brace member may be a channel member (186) having a narrow closed portion (64, 66, 68) and a wider open portion (70, 72). The openings in the web have a matching shape so that the brace member is snuggly received within the openings.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to framing walls comprising horizontal and vertical sheet metal framing members. More particularly, it relates to framing in which a bracing member extends horizontally or diagonally through openings in the webs of the vertical frame members, and to connections at the intersections of the bracing member and vertical framing members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,850, granted Jul. 28, 1998, to William L. Elderson, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,618, granted Feb. 8, 2000 to William L. Elderson show prior art framing that includes a bracing member extending horizontally through openings in the webs of sheet metal studs. These patents include a good description of sheet metal wall systems and they disclose notching the bracing members so that portions of the webs of the studs can be received in the notches. The notches provide a way of uniformly spacing the studs and connect the studs to the bracing member and maintain the spacing of the studs.

FIGS. 1-5 herein show some other prior art systems in which horizontal channel members are received in openings cut in the webs of the studs. Add-on connector members are used to connect the bracing member to the studs.

Some stud walls need to be better braced than other stud walls, e.g. walls that are subjected to high wind loads. A known way of bracing these walls is to attach crossing diagonal strips of sheet metal straps to the flanges of the studs on one or both sides of the wall. Wall board is then installed over the strapping. The presence of the strapping distorts the wall board enough that it is no longer planar and this can be seen. An object of the present invention is to provide a bracing system for a stud wall comprising diagonal brace members that are positioned inside of the wall so that exterior straps and the distortion to the wall board that they cause are eliminated.

There is a need for an improved way of connecting a bracing member to the webs of the studs. There is also a need for a framing wall that includes diagonal brace members that pass through the webs of the studs inside of the flanges that are on the sides of the studs. The principal object of the present invention is to provide these improvements.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes providing a sheet metal stud that has a web having opposite edges and a general plane and a pair of parallel flanges projecting from the opposite edges substantial perpendicular to the general plane of the web, so as to give the stud a channel cross-section. At one or more locations there is in the web a longitudinal cut and transverse cuts at the two ends of the longitudinal cut. These cuts form side flaps that are adapted to be bent out from the web along hinge lines into positions generally parallel with each other and perpendicular to the plane of the web. When the flaps are bent out from the web a hole is formed in the web laterally between the side flaps.

In preferred form, the longitudinal cut in the web is spaced inwardly from the flanges of the stud. The transverse cuts extend parallel to each other at the opposite ends of the longitudinal cut. The transverse cuts have opposite ends spaced laterally outwardly from the longitudinal cut. One side of the side flaps is not cut and is adapted to be a hinge when the flaps are bent out from the web. According to one embodiment of the invention, the side flaps each include at least one preformed fastener opening.

In an embodiment of the invention there are second and third longitudinal cuts in the web endwise of the opening. These longitudinal cuts are spaced laterally inwardly from the hinge lines for the side flaps and with the opening form an end flap endwise of the opening. The end flap is adapted to bend out from the web along a hinge line that is perpendicular to the hinge lines of the side flaps. This end flap may include at least one preformed fastener opening.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises fourth and fifth longitudinal cuts at the opposite end of the opening formed by the side flaps. These longitudinal cuts and the opening form a second end flap at the opposite end of the opening that is adapted to be bent along hinge line that is perpendicular to the hinge lines of the side flaps and parallel to the hinge line of the first end flap. The second end flap may also include at least one preformed the fastener opening.

The present invention includes providing wall framing comprising a plurality of spaced apart sheet metal studs of the type described. Openings in the webs of the studs are aligned and each opening includes side flaps bordering the opening. An elongated bracing member extends generally crosswise of the studs, through the aligned openings in the webs of the studs. Fasteners connect the side flaps to the bracing member. The expression “extending generally crosswise of the studs” includes both a bracing member that is perpendicular to the studs and a bracing member that extends at a diagonal to the studs. The bracing member may be a channel member, or a tubular member, or take some other form.

In an embodiment of the invention an end flap is formed endwise of one end of the opening and this end flap is connected to the elongated bracing member. In a preferred embodiment, each web opening has a wide portion and a narrow portion endwise of the wide portion. The elongated bracing member has a wide portion that fits into the wide portion of the web opening and a narrow portion that fits into the narrow portion of the web opening. The narrow portion of the elongated bracing member includes a web and side portions and the wide portion of the elongated bracing member includes flanges. The side flaps are contiguous the flanges and the end flap is contiguous the web. Fasteners connect the side flaps to the flanges and the end flap to the web.

In another embodiment, the opening has a wide portion and a narrow portion and the bracing member has a wide portion and a narrow portion. The narrow portion of the bracing member includes a web. Transverse slots are cut through the narrow portion of the bracing member and the distance between the slots is equal to the desired spacing distance of the webs of the studs. The bracing members are inserted into the openings in the webs of the studs and the slots are aligned with the webs of the studs adjacent the opening. Then, the bracing member is moved relative to the studs to cause the web portions of the studs to enter into the slots. Then, the bracing member is connected to the studs. This may be done by the use of add-on connectors one or more side flaps that border the openings in the webs of the studs.

The present invention includes providing a sectional bracing member in which the adjacent ends of adjoining sections are connected together after the sections have been positioned in aligned openings in the webs of the studs. By way of example, the sections may have a channel cross-section or a tubular cross-section. A first end of each section may be of reduced dimension that is adapted to slip into the second end of the next section.

The invention also includes providing wall framing comprising a plurality of laterally spaced apart sheet metal studs and either one or two diagonal bracing members that extend through the openings in the webs of the studs. When two diagonal bracing members are employed, they are arranged to intersect each other at the center of the stud wall. At the meeting point there is a connector that receives and is connected to end portions of the bracing member sections that meet at the connector.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description of the best mode set forth below, from the drawings, from the claims and from the principles that are embodied the specific structures that are illustrated and described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing, and:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a laterally braced stud wall, showing portions of two spaced apart studs and a portion of a bracing member that extends through openings in the webs of the studs, and showing an angle iron connector connecting the bracing member to one of the studs and a second angle iron member spaced from its position of connection to the bracing member and the second stud;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view looking towards an opening in the web of a stud for receiving a bracing member and showing a bracing member in sections spaced from the position that it will occupy in the opening;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2, but showing the bracing member positioned in a lower portion of the bracing member opening;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, but showing a wider bracing member within a central part of the opening in the web of the stud;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4, but showing the bracing member snuggly received in its region of the opening in the web of the studs;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a sheet metal stud, taken from above and looking toward an upper end, the outside of the web and the outside of the surface of a flange, such view showing a pair of flaps formed from bent out portions of the web, extending parallel to each other and perpendicular to the web;

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6 showing a segment of a channel shaped bracing member within the opening in the web, with its flanges extending upwardly and screws being used to connect the bent out flaps to the bracing member;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the bracing member;

FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 8 but showing an additional modification;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a bracing member with the cross-section shown by FIG. 8 positioned within an opening in the web of the stud;

FIG. 11 is a view like FIG. 10 but showing the bracing member having the cross-section shown by FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an elevation view looking towards the inside of the web of a stud, showing longitudinal and transverse cuts in the web, forming two side flaps and two end flaps, wherein each flap has three cut sides and one side that remains attached to the web and provides a hinge for the flap, such view showing all four flaps in a flat condition and further showing fastener openings in the flaps;

FIG. 13 is a pictorial view taken from above and looking towards the outer side of the web and showing the four flaps bent out from the web into positions that are perpendicular to the general plane of the web;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a stud having two side flaps and two end flaps, such view showing the two side flaps in an open position and the lower end flap in an open position and showing a fragment of a bracing member extending through the opening;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a section of the bracing member shown by FIG. 9, provided with transverse slots in its lower portion adapted to receive portions of the webs which border the openings in the webs;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken substantially at the plane of a web, showing the upper portion of the bracing member within the opening in the web of the stud and including a broken line showing of the lower portion of a bracing member that is located on the opposite side of the web;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken through the bracing member of FIG. 16 at the location of one of the slots in the lower portion of the bracing member;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a bracing member in the form of an upwardly opening channel, such view being taken from below and looking upwardly towards the outside of the foreground flange, the inside of the background flange and the bottom of the web, such views showing slots in the flanges of the bracing member adapted for connecting the bracing member to the web of the stud in the region of the bracing member opening in the web of the stud;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken through the bracing member in the region of a pair of slots in the flanges of the member;

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 5, but showing the bracing member of FIGS. 6 and 7 positioned in the opening and moved downwardly to place side portions of the web of the stud in the slots in the bracing member;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view through a bracing member that is a channel member having a narrow lower portion and a wide upper portion;

FIG. 11 is a view like FIGS. 3, 5 and 8, showing the bracing member of FIG. 10 in the bracing member opening of the web of the stud;

FIG. 12 is a view like FIG. 3, but showing a modified construction of the opening in the web of the stud, such opening including inwardly directed side portions which extend over the bracing member and lock it in position vertically;

FIG. 13 is a view like FIG. 12, but showing a wider bracing member positioned in the opening in the web of the stud, below a second pair of inwardly projected side portions of the opening which overhang the bracing member and prevent it from moving upwardly in opening;

FIG. 14 is a view like FIG. 13, but showing two brace members in the opening in the web of the stud, each of which is restrained against vertical movement in the opening;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a portion of a stud, such view being taken from above and looking down towards the outer side of a foreground flange, the inner side of a background flange and the outer side of the web, and showing longitudinal and transverse cuts in the web, defining flaps that can be bent out from the general plane of the web into positions perpendicular to the general plane of the web;

FIG. 16 is a view like FIG. 15, but showing the flaps bent out, showing a bracing member in the opening in the web of the stud, and showing the bent out flaps connected to the bracing member by screw fasteners;

FIG. 17 is a view like FIG. 16, but showing the web of the stud cut to form two flaps on opposite sides of a rectangular opening in the stud, and showing a bracing member in the opening in the stud, connected to the flaps by screw fastener;

FIG. 18 is a view like FIG. 17, but showing the bracing member extending diagonally;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a portion of a bracing member in the region of a fastener flap formed in the web of the bracing member;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the bracing member of FIG. 19 positioned within an opening in the web of a stud and the fastener flap pushed out from the web of the bracing member and connected to the web of the stud by a screw fastener;

FIG. 21 is a pictorial view of a section of wall framing, showing three vertical studs and a horizontal bracing member extending diagonally to the studs through openings in the webs of the studs;

FIG. 22 is fragmentary view of portions of two sections of the bracing member, showing the construction of the opposite ends of the bracing members, and in particular showing that one end has a reduced dimension so that it is telescopically receivable in the second end of the adjacent section of the bracing member;

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of a framing structure comprising a horizontal header, a horizontal footer and a plurality of vertical studs extending between the header and the footer, such view showing crossing bracing members extending through openings in the webs of the studs and at the center of the framing being connected to a common connector;

FIG. 24 is a pictorial view of the common connector shown by FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a view showing a portion of a sectional bracing member composed of tubular sections that are connected together by splice members that extend into adjoining ends of adjacent sections;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 23 showing a section of the bracing member between two studs and about to be inserted into aligned openings in the studs; and

FIG. 27 is a view like FIG. 26 showing the section of the bracing member installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate prior art assemblies. FIG. 1 shows two laterally spaced apart studs 10, each including a web 12 and a pair of flanges 14. The webs 12 have side edges to which the flanges 14 are joined. Flanges 14 include lips 16. The web 12 and the lips 16 are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the flanges 14. This type of structure is referred to as a “lipped channel”.

The webs 12 include openings 18 which preferably have a central wide portion that is between edges 20, 22 and a pair of narrow end portions between edges 24, 26 and 28, 30. The end portions of the opening 18 are sized to snuggly receive between the edges 28, 30 a first channel member 32. As shown by FIG. 3, channel member 32 fits down into a chosen one of the end portions of the opening 18. As shown by FIGS. 4 and 5, a wider channel 34 is snuggly fittable between the edges 20, 22 of the wider central portion of the opening 18. The channel members 32, 34 serve to brace the studs 10. In the illustrated embodiment, they are shown to extend horizontally through the aligned openings 18 in the studs 10. FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art way of connecting the members 32, 34 to the studs 10. It involves the use of connectors 36 in the form of short lengths of angle iron. The vertical leg 38 of the angle iron connector 36 is screwed to the web 12 of its stud 10. The web of the channel 32 (or 34) is screwed to the horizontal leg 40 of the connector 36. In use, the connectors 36 are first connected to the webs 12 of the studs 10. Then, care is taken to see that the webs 12 of the studs 10 are properly spaced apart. Then, the channel members 32, 34 are screwed to the connectors 36.

FIG. 2 shows that when a small channel 32 is used as a bracing member, it is easily fitted into and through the wide central portion of the opening 18 (FIG. 2). Then, the member 32 is moved downwardly or upwardly into one of the narrower end portions of the opening 18 (FIG. 3). As shown by FIG. 4, the wider bracing member 34 must be inserted into the openings at an angle. When it is in place within the openings 18 and a plurality of studs 10, the channel 14 is rotated into the position shown by FIG. 5.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a feature of the invention. Specifically they show stud 42 that includes an opening 44 bounded by a pair of side flaps 46, 48. Side flaps 46, 48 are made in the following manner. A longitudinal cut equal to the length dimension of the flaps is made at or near the lateral center of the web 48. Then transverse cuts are made at the opposite ends of the longitudinal cut. This creates two flaps, each having three cut sides and one uncut side. The uncut sides remain joined to the web 48 and serve as hinges for the flaps 46, 48. In use, the flaps 46, 48 are swung out from the general plane of the web 42 into positions where they are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the web 48. In this embodiment, the opening 44 is defined laterally between the side flaps 46, 48. FIG. 6 shows an elongated bracing member 34 extending through the opening 44 of one of the studs 42. When the bracing member 34 is in place, fasteners in the form of sheet metal screws 50 are used to connect the side flaps 46, 48 to the bracing member 34.

The studs 42 are lipped channels such as or described above in connection with FIGS. 1-5. The side flaps 46, 48 may include predrilled openings 52. Or, the openings may be formed at the time the screws 50 are installed. The screws 50 may be self-tapping screws so that they will form openings as they are rotated. A screw 50 would drill its way into and through an opening through first the flap and then through the adjacent flange 54, 56 of the channel member 34. The construction and use of self-tapping screws is well known and does not need to be described any further.

FIG. 8 shows a stepped channel 58 having a narrow portion 60 and a wide portion 62. The narrow portion 60 includes a web 64 and two side portions 66, 68 which are perpendicular to the web 64. The wide portions 62 has a pair of parallel side portions 70, 72 which are connected to side portions 66, 68 by transition regions 74, 76. FIG. 9 shows. a modified form of stepped channel 78. It is like the channel shown by FIG. 8 except that it also includes a pair of lips 80, 82. The lips 80, 82 are in co-planar parallelism. They are also parallel with the web 64 and are perpendicular to the side portions 66, 68, 70, 72. FIG. 10 shows a bracing member in the form of a channel 58 inside of an end portion of an opening 18 in web 12 of a stud 10. FIG. 11 is a similar view of a bracing member in the form of channel member 78 placed within the opening 18. In these embodiments, the bracing members 58, 78 may be connected to the studs 10 by use of separate connectors, such as shown by FIG. 1.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a stud 84 in the form of a lipped channel. Stud 84 is like stud 10 except for the construction of opening in the web of a channel. In this embodiment, the web is designated 86, the flanges are designated 88, 90 and the lips are designated 92, 94. As earlier described, the flanges 88, 90 are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the web 86 and the lips 92, 94. The lips 92, 94 are in co-planar parallelism and they are parallel with the web 86 and are perpendicular to the flanges 88, 90. Referring to FIG. 12, a longitudinal cut 96 is made at the lateral center of the web 86. A pair of transverse cuts 88, 90 are made at the ends of the longitudinal cuts 96. If one were to stop cutting at this point, there would be formed the flaps 46, 48 shown by FIGS. 6 and 7. These are side flaps and they are connected by hinge lines 92, 94. Hinge lines 92, 94 are imaginary lines that are parallel to the cut line 96. At these locations, the flaps 98, 100 remain connected to the rest of the web 86. In preparation for use, the flaps 98, 100 are bent out from the plane of the web around the hinge line 92, 94, into the positions shown by FIG. 13. In this embodiment, second and third longitudinal cuts 102, 104 are formed endwise from the flaps 98, 100 at one end of the opening form by the flaps 98, 100. Fourth and fifth longitudinal cuts 106, 108 are formed at the opposite ends of the flaps 98, 100. The metal between cuts 102, 104 remains connected to the web 86 along a hinge line 110. The metal between the cuts 106, 108 remains connected to the web 86 along hinge line 112. This forms end flaps 114, 116 that are bendable about hinge lines 110, 112 into the positions shown by FIG. 13. When all four flaps 98, 100, 114, 116 are bent out from the web 86, an opening 118 is formed that is like opening 18 shown in FIGS. 1-5 except that this embodiment the two sides and the two ends of the opening are bordered by the flaps 98, 100, 114, 116.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the two side flaps 98, 100 and one end flap 116 being pushed out from the web 86. The second end flap 114 may be left in an unbent position within the plane of the web 86. FIG. 15 shows a lipped channel bracing member of a type shown by FIG. 9 positioned within the lower part of the opening. Flap 98 is attached to side portion 72 of members 78 by a screw 80. Flap 100 is connected to side portion 70 of members 78 by a second screw 80. End flap 116 is connected to the web 64 by a third screw 80. This provides a very firm connection between the two members 78, 86.

FIGS. 16 and 17 relate to another embodiment of invention. In this embodiment, the stud 120 has a generally rectangular opening 122 cut into its web 124. The bracing member 126 is a lipped channel construction and throughout most of its cross-section is like FIG. 9. However, in this embodiment, the narrow portion has a plurality of slots 128 cut into, through its web 130 and side portions 132, 134. This is shown in FIG. 18. The slots 128 are spaced apart longitudinally of the bracing member 128 by a distance equal to the desired center-to-center spacing of the stud webs 124. For example, this distance may be sixteen inches, or twenty-four inches, or some other dimension. The opening 122 is large enough to receive the cross-section of the member 126. Member 126 is inserted through aligned openings 122 in a wall of the studs 120. Then, the web 124 of each stud 120 is aligned with a slot 128 and the member 126 is moved downwardly so that the web portion 130 (FIG. 17) will enter into the slot 128. When the bracing member 126 is installed, the positioning of the web portion 130 in the slots 128 holds the studs 120 properly spaced apart. It may be desirable to provide the opening 122 with side flaps so that they can be used to further connect the stud 120 to the member 126. Screw fasteners would extend through the side flaps and screw into the wider side portions of member 126. This is easy to understand and so it is not illustrated.

FIG. 19 shows a section of a lipped stud 138 comprising a web 140, flanges 142, 144 connected to the web, and lips 146, 148 connected to the flanges 142, 144. In this embodiment, a shorter longitudinal cut 150 is provided in the web 140 about half way between the two flanges 142, 144. Transverse cuts 152, 154 are provided at the opposite ends of the longitudinal cut 150. Side hinge lines 154 exist between the ends of the two transverse cuts 152. Longitudinal cuts 158, 160 extend outwardly from the ends of cut 152. In similar fashion, longitudinal lines 162, 164 extend downwardly (as pictured) from the ends of line 153. A hinge line 166 extends between the upper ends of cuts 158, 160. A hinge line 168 extends between the lower ends of cut lines 162, 164. This forms two side flaps 170, 172 and two end flaps 174, 176. In FIG. 20, these flaps 170, 172, 174, 176 are shown bent out from the plane of the web 140. This provides an opening 178 in the region of the web vacated by the flaps. Opening 178 is adapted to receive a tubular bracing member or some other bracing member having side portions to which some or all of the flaps 170, 172, 174, 176 can be connected.

FIG. 21 shows portions of three studs 42 (FIGS. 6 and 7). In this view, a bracing member 34 is shown extending diagonally through aligned openings in the studs 42. Screws 50 connect the flaps 46, 48 to the bracing member 34. FIG. 21 shows a plurality of web openings formed in each stud 42. The location of the openings is chosen so that the desired inclination angle of the bracing member 34 is achieved.

In some walls, it may be necessary or desirable to use a sectional bracing member in order to facilitate the installation of the bracing member in a stud wall. Each section has a first end 180 and a second end 184. FIG. 22 shows a first end 180 of a first section 182 and a second end 184 of a second section 186. As can be seen from FIG. 22, end 180 has a reduced cross-sectional dimension. It is sized and shaped to fit inside of the end 182 of the next section. Screw receiving openings 188 are formed in end portion 184. End portion 180 of section 182 is inserted inside of end portion 184 of section 186 and the sections are pushed together. Then, screws (not shown) are inserted through the openings 188 and are used to secure section 186 to section 184.

FIG. 23 shows a framing wall comprising an upper track or header 190, a lower track or footer 192, and a plurality of studs 42 interconnected between the tracks 190, 192. In this embodiment, the studs 42 are provided with the flap system shown by FIGS. 7 and 21. In FIG. 23, the diagonal bracing members 188, 190 appear to cross each other. Actually, they meet at a common connector 194. Diagonal member 182 may be two sections that meet at connector 192 and diagonal member 190 may be too two sections that meet at connector 194. When sections of this length are used, it will be necessary to install the framing wall on the floor and then tilt it up into a vertical position.

FIG. 24 shows the common connector 194 having intersecting portions 196, 198, each of which is a tubular socket. Inner end portions of the sections of the bracing members 188, 190 plug into the sockets 200, 202, 204, 206. Screws (not shown) are inserted through openings 206, 208 for connecting the socket members to the end portions of the sections of the bracing members 188, 190.

FIG. 25 shows a different way of constructing a bracing member. It may comprise a plurality of tubular sections 210 and a splice member 212. The splice member 112 is also tubular in shape and it fits into confronting end portions of two sections 210. Then screws 214 are used to connect the members 210, 212 together. The system shown by FIG. 25 may be used with a connector such as shown by FIG. 24. In that case, one end of the spliced member 212 will be inserted into one of the sockets of the connector 194. The other end will be inserted into one of the bracing member sections 210.

FIG. 26 shows a section 182 of a bracing member in a diagonal position between two studs 84 with a first end 180 of the section 182 about to be inserted into a web opening in the stud 90 on the left. The section 182 is longer than the space between the webs of the two studs is wide, by several inches. The stud opening is sized such that the leading end 180 of the section 182 can be moved into the opening by an amount sufficient to allow the opposite end 184 of the section to be swung upwardly into a position of alignment with the web opening in the other stud 84. When this alignment is achieved, the section 182 is moved to connect it to the end 180 of the next section 182. The section 182 is long enough so that when it is in both web openings a first end portion projects beyond the first stud and a second end portion projects in the opposite direction beyond the second stud. In the embodiment shown by FIG. 22, the interconnected end portions 180, 184 may come together within a web opening. During the assembly of the sectional brace member, the sections are moved axially as necessary to couple them together and properly position each assembled brace member relative to the several studs through which it extends.

The illustrated embodiments are only examples of the present invention and, therefore, are non-limitive. It is to be understood that many changes in the particular structure, materials and features of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is my intention that my patent rights not be limited by the particular embodiments illustrated and described herein, but rather determine by the following claims, interpreted according to accepted doctrines of claim interpretation, including use of the doctrine of equivalents and reversal of parts.

Claims

1. A sheet metal stud, comprising:

a web having opposite edges and a general plane;

a pair of parallel flanges projecting substantially perpendicular to the general plane, from the opposite edges of the web, so as to give the stud a channel cross-section; and

a longitudinal cut in said web having opposite ends and transverse cuts in said web at the ends of the longitudinal cut, said cuts forming side flaps that are adapted to be bent out from the web along hinge lines into positions that are generally parallel with each other and the flanges and are perpendicular to the general plane of the web, and provide an opening in the web laterally between said side flaps.

2. The stud of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal cut in the web is spaced inwardly from the flanges, and the transverse cuts extend parallel to each other at the opposite ends of the longitudinal cut and have ends spaced laterally outwardly from the longitudinal cut, and wherein the side flaps have uncut sides and are adapted to be hinges when the flaps are bent out from the web.

3. The stud of claim 1, wherein the side flaps each include at least one preformed fastener opening.

4. The stud of claim 2, wherein the side flaps each include at least one preformed fastener opening.

5. The stud of claim 1, further comprising second and third longitudinal cuts in said web endwise of the opening and spaced laterally inwardly from the hinge lines of the side flaps, and defining an end flap endwise of the opening formed by the side flaps, said end flap being adapted to be bent out from the web along a hinge line that is perpendicular to the hinge lines of the side flaps.

6. The stud of claim 5, wherein the end flap includes at least one preformed fastener opening.

7. The stud of claim 5, comprising fourth and fifth longitudinal cuts at the opposite end of the opening formed by the side flaps forming a second end flap adapted to be bent along a hinge line that is perpendicular to the hinge lines of the side flaps and parallel to the hinge line of the first end flap.

8. The stud of claim 7, wherein the bent out second end flap includes at least one preformed fastener opening.

9. Wall framing, comprising:

a plurality of spaced apart sheet metal studs, each including a web having opposite edges and a general plane, and a pair of parallel flanges projecting substantially perpendicular to the general plane, from the opposite edges of the web, so as to give each stud a channel cross-section;

said studs including aligned web openings in their webs and side flaps bordering the openings which are bent out portions of the webs;

an elongated bracing member extending generally crosswise of the studs, through the aligned openings in the webs of said studs; and

fasteners connecting the side flaps to the bracing member.

10. The wall framing of claim 9, wherein said bracing member has side portions and an interconnecting portion, and said web flaps are contiguous the side portions of the bracing member.

11. The wall framing of claim 9, wherein the bracing member extends substantially perpendicular to the studs.

12. The wall framing of claim 9, wherein the bracing member extends at a diagonal to the studs.

13. The wall framing of claim 9, wherein the bracing member is a channel member.

14. The wall framing of claim 13, wherein the bracing member has side walls contiguous the side flaps and said fasteners connect the side flaps to the side walls of the bracing member.

15. The wall framing of claim 9, wherein the web openings have a wide portion and a narrow portion endwise of the wide portion and said side flaps border the wide portion.

16. The wall framing of claim 15, wherein the webs of the studs include an end flap adjacent the narrow portion of the opening, and the bracing member has a narrow portion including a web, and said narrow portion of said bracing member fits within the narrow portion of the opening in the web, and the end flap is connected to the web of the narrow portion of the bracing member.

17. Wall framing, comprising:

a plurality as spaced apart sheet metal studs, each having a web with opposite edges and a general plane, and a pair of parallel flanges projecting substantially perpendicular to the general plane, from the opposite edges of the web, so as to give each stud a lipped channel cross-section;

said studs including aligned openings in said webs;

an elongated bracing member extending through the aligned openings in said studs;

wherein said bracing member has a stepped channel shaped configuration formed by a web and two stepped flanges connected to the web, said stepped flanges having first sidewall portions which are connected to the web, and second sidewall portions which are connected to the first side portions and are spaced apart a distance larger than the spacing of the first sidewall portions, and wherein the openings in the webs of the studs are sized and shaped to substantially conform to the cross-sectional shape and size of the bracing member.

18. The wall framing of claim 17, wherein the web of the bracing member includes flaps formed by cuts on three sides and an uncut fourth side that serves as a hinge, wherein the flaps are adapted to be pushed out from the web of the bracing member, each into contact with a web portion of a related one of the studs, whereby fasteners can be inserted through the flaps and be connected to the webs of the studs, for connecting the bracing member to the webs of the studs.

19. The wall framing of claim 17, wherein the bracing member extends substantially perpendicular to the studs.

20. The wall framing of claim 17, wherein the bracing member extends added diagonal to the studs.

21. The wall framing of claim 17, wherein the web of the bracing member includes flaps formed by cuts on three sides and an uncut fourth side that serves as a hinge, wherein the flaps are adapted to be pushed out from the web of the bracing member, each into contact with a web portion of a related one of the studs, whereby fasteners can be inserted through the flaps and be connected to the web of the studs, for connecting the bracing member to the web so the studs.

22. The wall framing of claim 21, wherein the flaps each include a preformed fastener hole.

23. Wall framing, comprising:

a plurality of laterally spaced apart sheet metal studs, each having a web with opposite edges and a general plane, and a pair of parallel flanges projecting substantially perpendicular to the general claim from the opposite edges of the web, so as to give each stud a lipped channel shaped cross-section;

said studs including aligned openings in said web;

an elongated bracing member extending through the openings in the webs of the studs; and

said elongated bracing member being formed of sections that are connected together at their ends.

24. The wall framing of claim 23, wherein the bracing member has a channel configuration formed by web and flanges connected to the web, said flanges having side wall portions, and wherein the openings in the webs of the studs are sized and shaped to substantially conform to the cross-sectional shape and size of the bracing member.

25. The wall framing of claim 23, wherein a first end of each section of the bracing member has a reduced size that is adapted to slip into the opposite end of the adjoining section of the bracing member.

26. The wall framing of claim 24, wherein a first end of each section of the bracing member has a reduced size that is adapted to slip into the opposite end of the adjoining section of the bracing member; and

said studs being connected to the elongated bracing member in the vicinity of the openings in the webs through which the bracing member extends.

27. The wall framing, comprising:

a header;

a footer;

a plurality of laterally spaced apart sheet metal studs extending between the header and the footer, each having a web with bracing member receiving opening in it, said openings in the webs of the several studs being aligned with each other along a diagonal line;

an elongated bracing member extending through the openings in the webs of the studs, at a diagonal to the studs; and

said elongated bracing member being formed of sections that are connected together at their ends.

28. The wall framing of claim 27, wherein said sections comprised sections having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is sized and shaped to slip into the second end of an adjacent section.