Wall-supporting device

Abstract

A wall-supporting device for use in construction of a building to prevent water located on a floor surface from absorbing into a building material forming a vertical wall surface by separating the building material a distance from the floor. The wall-supporting device is placed along a lower portion of a wall so that a lower surface of the wall-supporting device abuts an upper floor surface. The wall-supporting device secures to a portion of a wall, for example, wall studs, and includes an engagement surface located a distance above the upper floor surface that abuts a lower edge of the material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wall-supporting device used in interior walls of a building, wherein the device separates a material forming a vertical wall surface from an upper floor surface.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Historically, the interior walls of a building were designed such that a lower edge of building material used to form a vertical wall surface, such as wallboard, was located approximately one-half inch above an upper surface of the floor and attached along the length of the wall to support studs, for example, by nails or screws. Recently, as a result of temporal and fiscal concerns, builders have been placing the lower edge of the building material or wallboard directly onto the upper surface of the floor during construction. Therefore, when water enters the building, whether by flooding, a broken pipe, or an open sprinkler head, for example, the water running along the floor contacts the wallboard. Because wallboard is a dry and porous material, the water is quickly absorbed thereinto. As a result, the water not only stains the wallboard, but, over time, the water causes rot and mold growth, further damaging the wallboard and potentially exposing the building occupants to illness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention addresses these problems, as well as others, by separating a lower edge of building material forming a vertical wall surface, such as wallboard, from an upper surface of a floor.

The present invention is a wall-supporting device that comprises a support member disposed on a floor and having an engagement surface that supports and separates a piece of building material a predetermined distance from the floor. A fastening device secures the support member to a wall.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the support member includes a body comprising a first vertical member and a second vertical member that is in front of and substantially parallel to the first vertical member. A third vertical member, substantially parallel to the first and second vertical members, is disposed above the first vertical member. A first bridging member extends between the first and second vertical members at lower ends thereof. A second bridging member extends between the first and second vertical members at upper ends thereof, wherein an upper surface of the second bridging member is the engagement surface of the support member. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first vertical member is equal to the vertical height of the second vertical member. In another embodiment, the height of the first vertical member is less than the height of the second vertical member but more than one-half of the height of the second vertical member. According to a further embodiment, the vertical height of the first vertical member is less than one-half of the height of the second vertical member. According to an additional embodiment, the first and third vertical members form a continuous member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the fastening device secures to the wall through the third vertical member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the second vertical member includes at least one opening. The fastening device is insertable through the at least one opening to secure the support member to the wall through the first vertical member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the support member includes a cavity. Optionally, the support member includes a fire-retardant material disposed within the cavity. A wall-supporting device having the fire-retardant material within the cavity is used in interior walls of a building designated with a fire rating. Additionally, fire-retardant material is included on the engagement surface, which forms a seal between the building material and the support material.

The wall-supporting device of the present invention can be manufactured or cut into sections of any desired length and optionally includes a coupling nested within the cavities of adjacent sections of the support member. The coupling is particularly used in a fire rated wall of a building but is not limited to any such application. The coupling and the support member include mating dimples for interlocking and positioning adjacent sections of the support member. In one embodiment, the coupling forms a C-shape comprising an upper member, a lower member below and substantially parallel to the upper member, and a front member. When nested within the cavities of adjacent support members, an upper surface of the upper member contacts a lower surface of the second bridging member, a lower surface of the lower member contacts an upper surface of the first bridging member, and a front surface of the front member contacts a back surface of the second vertical member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the support member comprises a front portion and a back portion. The front portion nests within the back portion and can overlap adjacent sections of the front member. In one embodiment, the back portion comprises an upper member, a lower member below and substantially parallel with the upper member, and a back member. The front portion includes a top member, a bottom member below and substantially parallel with the top member, and a back member. When nested, an upper surface of the top member contacts a lower surface of the upper member, and a lower surface of the bottom member contacts an upper surface of the lower member. The engagement surface is an upper surface of the upper member of the back portion. Optionally, the front portion and lower portion includes mating dimples for positioning and interlocking the front portion within the back portion. In one embodiment, the front portion includes dimples in the top and bottom members, and the back portion includes dimples in the upper and lower members. The fastening device secures the support member to the wall through the back member of the back portion.

According to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the cavity is formed when the front portion and the back portion are nested. A fire-retardant material is disposed within the cavity when the present embodiment is used in a fire rated wall. Additionally, a fire-retardant is disposed on the engagement surface and forms a seal between the support member and the building material.

The wall-supporting device is manufactured from metal, such as galvanized steel, or any other suitable material (e.g., alloys and any other such waterproof materials).

Additional aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be better understood as set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings and will also become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or upon learning by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a wall-supporting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the wall-supporting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wall-supporting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a wall including a wall-supporting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two adjacent sections of the wall-supporting device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the wall-supporting device containing an opening in a front member thereof;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a wall incorporating a wall-supporting device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the wall-supporting device is secured to an interior wall structure with a fastener;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the wall-supporting device includes a fire retardant material in a central cavity;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of present invention, wherein the wall-supporting device includes a coupling extending from an end thereof;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention, wherein wall-supporting device includes dimples in an upper member and a lower member;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a wall incorporating the wall-supporting device of an eighth embodiment, wherein the wall-supporting device includes a coupling and fire retardant material in the central cavity;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wall-supporting device of the eighth embodiment in an incomplete wall;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a wall-supporting device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the wall-supporting device shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a tenth embodiment of the wall-supporting device having dimples, which mate;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the wall-supporting device shown in FIG. 15 incorporated into a wall;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an eleventh embodiment of the present invention containing fire retardant material in the central cavity; and

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the wall-supporting device shown in FIG. 17 incorporated into a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the different figures, the same reference numbers designate identical or similar features or components.

Referring to FIG. 1, a wall-supporting device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a first vertical member 20 and a second vertical member 30 substantially parallel to and opposite the first vertical member 20. A lower bridge member 40 extends between and connects lower ends of the first and second vertical members 20 and 30. An upper bridge member 50 extends substantially parallel to and opposite the lower bridge member 40 from an upper end of the second vertical member 30. A third vertical member 60, substantially parallel with the first and/or second vertical members 20 and 30, extends upwardly from a back end of the upper bridge member 50 opposite the second vertical member 30. A passageway 70 is defined by a lower surface of the upper bridge member 50, an upper surface of the lower bridge member 40, and opposing inner surfaces of the first and second vertical members 20 and 30. The passageway 70 has a height and a width, identified as H and W, respectively.

While the first vertical member 20 is illustrated as having a height substantially equal to a height of the second vertical member 30, it is within the scope of the invention that the first vertical member 20′ have a height significantly less than the height of the second vertical member 30, such as, for example only, the first vertical member 20′ has a vertical height that is less than 50% of the vertical height of the second vertical member 30, as shown in FIG. 2. It should be noted that the vertical height of the first vertical member 20 and 20′ can be in the range between 1% and 99% relative to the vertical height of the second vertical member 30. Moreover, it is within the scope of the present invention that the first vertical member 20″ and third vertical member 60 form a continuous member, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, an upper surface of the upper bridge member 50 and a front surface of the third vertical member 60 support a lower end of a wallboard 80. The wallboard 80 is a dry, porous building material generally available in various sizes to form the vertical surface of interior walls. Examples of wallboard 80 include Sheetrock® Brand gypsum panels from the United States Gypsum Company Corporation of 125 South Franklin Street, Chicago, Ill. 60606-4678, and other materials generically known in the industry as drywall. However, the present invention is not limited to use with such materials. Rather it is within the scope of the present invention that other materials used to form the vertical surfaces of an interior wall (wall surface materials) are also suitable, such as, for example only, wood, paneling, stone, or marble.

In a preferred embodiment, the wall-supporting device 10 is formed from metal, such as galvanized steel, and by a sheet metal forming operation well known in the metal forming art. Alternately, the wall-supporting device 10 can be formed by an extrusion manufacturing technique also well known in the metal forming art. Additionally, it is within the scope of the present invention that the wall-supporting device 10 be formed by any suitable metal-forming operation. Further, it is also within the scope of the present invention that the wall-supporting device 10 be manufactured from any suitable material, for example, thermoplastics or fiberglass, wherein the selection of the material of the wall-supporting device 10 is partially determined by the characteristics of wall surface material being supported, such as the size and weight of the material.

Again referring to FIG. 4, a lower surface of the lower bridge member 40 of the wall-supporting device 10 abuts an upper surface of a floor 90 along a span of a wall 100. Additionally, a back surface of the third vertical member 60 abuts a front surface of a wall structure, for example, a wall stud 110. The wall-supporting device 10 is then secured to the wall stud 110 with a fastener 120, such as a screw or nail. It is within the scope of the present invention that the fastener 120 be inserted into pre-formed openings in the third vertical member 60.

A wallboard 80, or any other suitable building material for forming a vertical wall surface, engages the wall-supporting device 10 such that a lower edge of the wallboard 80 abuts an upper surface of the upper bridge member 50 and a lower portion of a back surface of the wallboard 80 abuts a front surface of the third vertical member 60. The wallboard 80 is then secured to the wall studs 110 in a traditional manner, such as with nails or screws (not shown).

A baseboard 130 optionally attaches to a lower portion of a front surface of the wall 100 such that, for example, the baseboard 130 covers at least one of a front surface of the second vertical member 30 of the wall supporting device 10, a lower portion of a front surface of the wallboard 80, and the interface between the lower edge of the wallboard 80 and the upper bridge member 50. The baseboard 130 attaches to the wall 100 with, for example, adhesive glue, although it is within the scope of the present invention that the baseboard 130 be attached in any suitable manner, such as with nails or screws, that is preferred in the industry.

It is preferable that the upper bridge member 50 and the third vertical member 60 abut the wallboard 80 along the entire span of a wall. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to have neighboring sections of the wall-supporting device 10 separated so that the lower edge of the wallboard 80 is not in continuous contact with the wall supporting devices 10 along the span of the wall 100. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an incomplete wall 100, wherein two adjacent sections of the wall-supporting device 10 abut each other in an end-to-end relationship, each section being secured to the wall stud 110 by the fasteners 120.

Once installed, the wall-supporting device 10 separates the wallboard 80 above the upper surface of the floor 90 by a distance corresponding to the height H of the second vertical member 30, to prevent any water existing on the floor 90 at a depth less than H from contacting, and being absorbed into, the wallboard 80. By preventing water absorption into the wallboard 80, a substantial cost associated with drying or replacing the wallboard 80, the risk of mold growth on the wallboard 80, and the health risks associated therewith can be avoided.

It is readily understood that the wall-supporting device 10 can be manufactured in numerous sizes to accommodate wallboards 80 having various thicknesses as well as to increase or decrease a separation distance of the wallboard 80 from an upper surface of the floor 90 by altering the height H and width W of the passageway 70.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6-7. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wall-supporting device 10 having at least one opening 140 extending through the second vertical member 30. The opening 140 is formed during manufacturing of the wall-supporting device 10 or at any time prior to installation. Referring to FIG. 7, the opening 140 provides access to the first vertical member 20 through the passageway 70, so that a fastener 150, such as a screw or nail, can be driven through the first vertical member 20 into the stud 110. Therefore, with the opening 140, the wall-supporting device 10 is securable to the wall stud 110 or other wall structure through the first vertical member 20.

The wall-supporting device 10 can be used in both fire-rated and non-fire rated walls of a building. A fire rating designates the extent to which a portion of a building must be resistant to fire. FIG. 8 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the present invention for use in a fire-rated wall, such that the passageway 70 is filled with a fire retardant material 150. The fire retardant material 150 can be poured or injected into the passageway 70 and left to harden, thereby taking the shape of passageway 70. Alternately, it is within the scope of the invention that the fire retardant material 150 be inserted into the passageway 70 in any suitable manner, such as, inserting a preformed solid fire retardant material into the passageway 70.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the incomplete wall 100. In a fire-rated application, a coupling 160 connects two adjacent sections of the wall-supporting device 10. The wall-supporting device 10 containing the fire retardant material (not shown) affixes to the wall 100 in the above-described manner, except where two adjacent sections of the wall-supporting device 10 meet each other in an end-to-end manner. The coupling 160 forms a C-shape with an inner vertical and horizontal spacing smaller than respective inner vertical and horizontal spacing of the wall-supporting device 10, wherein the coupling 160 nests within the wall-supporting device 10. Accordingly, one end of the coupling 160 inserts sideways into the passageway 70 of a first section 210 of the wall-supporting device 10. It is within the scope of the invention that the first section 210 be attached to the stud 110 prior to insertion of the coupling 160 or sometime thereafter. After nesting, a front surface of the vertical member 180 abuts an inner surface of the second vertical member 30. Similarly, a top of the first vertical member 190 contacts a lower surface of the upper bridge member 50, and a lower surface of the second vertical members 200 contacts an upper surface of the lower bridge member 40. Next, a second section of the wall-supporting device 10 (not shown) slides over an outer surface of the coupling 160. The second section is then secured to the stud 110. However, it is also within the scope of the present invention that the coupling 160 be inserted into adjacent sections of the wall-supporting device 10 prior to the sections being affixed to the stud 110.

Optionally, the wall-supporting device 10 includes dimples 220 protruding inwards towards the passageway 70 in the upper and lower bridge members 40 and 50, as shown in FIGS. 10-11. Preferably, the dimples 220 in the lower and upper bridge members 40 and 50 align vertically. Referring to FIG. 11, the coupling 160 also includes dimples 230 in the first and second horizontal members 190 and 200. Preferably, the dimples 230 in the first and second horizontal members 190 and 200 align vertically. The dimples 220 and 230 mate, such that the dimples 220 are retained within the dimples 230.

The dimples 220 are positioned along sections of the wall-supporting device 10 and mate with the dimples 230 when adjacent sections of the wall-supporting device 10 abut at respective ends. As a result, the dimples 220 and 230 provide both positioning and locking functions. Further, it is within the scope of the invention that the dimples 220 be provided at regular intervals along a length of the sections of the wall-supporting device. By providing the dimples 220 at regular intervals, a section of the wall-supporting device 10 retains the positioning and locking functions even when the section must be cut to a smaller length.

The wall-supporting device 10 used in a fire-rated application optionally includes a bead of fire retardant material 240 along the upper surface of the upper bridge member 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. The bead of fire retardant material 240 can be applied at the time the wall-supporting device 10 is manufactured or at anytime prior to placing the wallboard 80 or other suitable building material for forming the vertical wall surface onto the upper surface of the upper bridge member 50.

Referring again to FIG. 11, when the wallboard 80 is placed onto the upper surface of the upper bridge member 50, the lower edge of the wallboard 80 contacts the bead of fire retardant material 240, sandwiching the bead of fire retardant material 240 between the wall-supporting device 10 and the wallboard 80, thereby forming a seal.

The embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1-12 are primarily suited for new wall construction, since the third vertical member 60 is positioned behind the wallboard 80. Moreover, for preexisting walls 100 lacking a wall supporting device 10, a lower portion of the wallboard 80 must be removed, the wall supporting device 10 attached to the studs 110, and a new section of wallboard 80 fitted onto the upper surface of the upper bridge member 50. Thereafter, additional wall preparation work is needed to integrate the preexisting wallboard 80 and the new section of wallboard 80. Accordingly, there is a substantial cost associated with this type of wall modification. However, while the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1-12 are more suitable for new wall construction, the wall supporting devices 10 are not so limited, and it is within the scope of the present invention that the wall supporting device 10 be used in any type of wall construction, new or otherwise.

FIGS. 13-14 illustrates a ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the wall-supporting device 250 having a front portion 260 and a back portion 270. The front and back portions 260 and 270 each form a channel. The front portion 260 includes upper and lower horizontal members 280 and 290 extending from opposing ends of a vertical member 300. Similarly, the back portion 260 includes upper and lower horizontal members 310 and 320 extending from opposing ends of a vertical member 330. The front portion 260 has an inner vertical and horizontal spacing that is slightly smaller than the vertical and horizontal spacing of the back portion 270, wherein the front portion 260 nests within the back portion 270. When nested, the front portion 260 and back portion 270 form a central cavity 340. Further, the wall-supporting device 250 has a height and width, dimensioned as H2 and W2, respectively.

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the wall-supporting device 250. Two adjacent sections of the back portion 260 form an interface 350 at abutting ends thereof. Two adjacent sections of the front portion 260 are also illustrated forming an interface 360 at abutting ends thereof. Further, the sections of front portions 260 and back portions 270 are offset, such that the interfaces 350 and 360 do not align, although it is within the scope of the invention that the interfaces 350 and 360 align.

In a preferred embodiment, the wall-supporting device 250 is formed from metal, such as galvanized steel, and is formed by a sheet metal forming operation or an extrusion manufacturing technique well known in the metal forming art. Moreover, it is within the scope of the present invention that the wall-supporting device 250 be formed by any suitable metal-forming operation. It is also within the scope of the present invention that the wall-supporting device 10 be manufactured from any suitable material, for example, thermoplastics or fiberglass, wherein the selection of the material of the wall-supporting device 250 is partially determined by the characteristics of wall surface material being supported, such as the size and weight of the material. Additionally, each of the front and back portions 260 and 270 can be cut or otherwise formed into sections of any desired length.

Optionally, both the front and back portions 260 and 270 include dimples and 370 and 380, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 15. The dimples 370 are formed in the upper and lower horizontal members 280 and 290 and extend inwards. The dimples 380 are formed in the upper and lower horizontal members 310 and 320 and also extend inwards. The dimples 370 and 380 operate in the same fashion as described above with respect to the dimples 220 and 230. When the front portion 260 nests within the back portion 270, the dimples 370 and 380 mate with each other. Consequently, the dimples 370 and 380 provide both a positioning and locking function.

Preferably, the dimples 370 and 380 are formed at a fixed interval along respective first and second portions 260 and 270, so that the dimples 370 and 380 mate along an entire length of the wall-supporting device 250. Further, the outermost dimples 370 and 380 on each section of the front and back portions 260 and 270, respectively, are located at approximately one-half of the interval distance from the ends of the sections. Therefore, when two sections of the back portions 270, for example, are made to abut in an end-to-end fashion, a distance approximately equal to one interval separates the two outermost dimples 370. Accordingly, the dimples 370 will mate with the dimples 380 when a section of the front portion 260 is made to overlap two abutting sections of the rear portion 270.

Referring to FIG. 16, when installing the wall-supporting device 250 into a wall 390, a lower surface of the lower horizontal member 320 contacts an upper surface of a floor 400. Also, a back surface of the vertical member 330 contacts a lower portion of the wall 400, such as a stud 410 or other wall structure. Thereafter, a fastener 420, such as a screw or nail, is driven through the vertical member 330 and into the stud 410. The front portion 260 is then nested into the back portion 270, causing the dimples 370 and 380 to mate and, thereby, locking the front and back portions 260 and 270 together. The central cavity 340 formed within the wall-supporting device 250 can be used, for example, to provide a space for housing electrical wires, such as power lines, computer networking cables, or data transmission cables.

Next, a building material forming a vertical wall surface, such as a wallboard 430, is set onto an upper surface of the upper horizontal member 310. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that any suitable building material for forming a vertical surface of an interior wall (wall surface materials) can be used, such as, wood, paneling, stone, or marble. The wallboard 430 is then secured to the studs 410, such as with nails or screws (not shown). Optionally, a baseboard 440 is attached to a lower portion of the wall 390 such that, for example, the baseboard 440 covers an outer surface of the vertical member 300 and a lower portion of a front surface of the wallboard 430. The baseboard 440 attaches to the wall 390 with an adhesive, such as glue, although it is within the scope of the present invention that the baseboard 390 can be attached in any suitable manner, such as with nails or screws.

Once installed, the wall-supporting device 250 separates the wallboard 430 above the upper surface of the floor 400 by a distance H2, thereby preventing any water existing on the floor 400 at a depth less than H2 from contacting and being absorbed into the wallboard 430. By preventing water absorption, a substantial cost associated with drying or replacing the wallboard 430, the risk of mold growth on the wallboard 430, and the health risks associated therewith are avoided. Moreover, it is readily understood that the wall-supporting device 250 can be manufactured in numerous sizes to accommodate wallboards 430 having various thicknesses as well as to increase or decrease the separation distance of the wallboard 430 from an upper surface of the floor 400 by altering the height H2 and width W2 of the wall-supporting device 250.

FIGS. 17-18 illustrate an eleventh embodiment of the present invention for use in fire-rated walls, as described above. FIG. 17 shows a section view of the wall-supporting device 250, wherein the central cavity 340 is filled with a fire retardant material 450. Preferably, the fire retardant material 450 is a preformed solid inserted into the back portion 270 and subsequently enclosed therein when the front portion 260 is also inserted into the back portion 270. However, it is within the scope of the invention that the fire retardant material 450 be preformed and then deposited into the back portion 270. Other suitable fire retardant materials 450 are also within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the wall 390 including the wall-supporting device 250 having the fire retardant material 450 in the central cavity 340. The wall-support device 250 with the fire retardant material 450 is installed in the same manner as the wall-supporting device 250 without fire retardant material, as described above. Optionally, the wall-supporting device 250 includes a bead of fire retardant material 460 along the upper surface of upper horizontal member 310. The fire retardant material 450 can be applied at the time the wall-supporting device 10 is manufactured or at anytime prior to placing the wallboard 430 or other suitable building material for forming a vertical wall surface onto the upper surface of the upper horizontal member 310. When the wallboard 430 is placed onto the upper surface of the upper horizontal member 310, the lower edge of the wallboard 430 contacts the fire retardant material 460, sandwiching the fire retardant material 460 between the wall-supporting device 250 and the wallboard 430, thereby forming a seal.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 13-18 are primarily suited for renovation construction, e.g., when the materials forming the vertical wall surfaces are not completely removed. The reason being is that no portion of the wall-supporting device 250 requires insertion between the wall stud 410 and the wallboard 430. However, the wall-supporting device 250 is not limited to renovation construction but, rather, can be used in any type of wall construction, including new wall construction.

While there has been described what are at present considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made thereto, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A wall-supporting device to support building material thereon, the device comprising:

a support member disposed on a floor and having a body; and

a fastening device to secure the support member to a wall,

wherein the body includes an engagement surface located a predetermined vertical distance from the floor, and

wherein a piece of building material is supported by the engagement surface.

2. The wall-supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the body of the support member comprises:

a first vertical member;

a second vertical member positioned opposite and substantially parallel to the first vertical member;

a third vertical member disposed above and substantially parallel to the first vertical member;

a first bridging member extending between lower end portions of the first and second vertical members;

a second bridging member disposed above and substantially parallel to the first bridging member and extending between an upper end portion of the second vertical member and a lower end portion of the third vertical member,

wherein the engagement surface is an upper surface of the second bridging member.

3. The wall-supporting device according to claim 2, wherein the fastening device secures the support member to the wall through the third vertical member.

4. The wall-supporting device according to claim 2, wherein a vertical height of the first vertical member is equal to a vertical height of the second vertical member.

5. The wall-supporting device according to claim 2, wherein a vertical height of the first vertical member is less than a vertical height of the second vertical member but is more than one-half of the vertical height of the second vertical member.

6. The wall-supporting device according to claim 2, wherein a vertical height of the first vertical member is less than one-half of a vertical height of the second vertical member.

7. The wall-supporting device according to claim 2, wherein a vertical height of the first vertical member is equal to a vertical height of the second vertical member, and wherein the first vertical member and the third vertical member for a continuous member.

8. The wall-supporting device according to claim 2, wherein the body of the support member further comprises at least one opening in the second vertical member.

9. The wall-supporting device according to claim 7, wherein the fastening device secures the support member to the wall through the first vertical member.

10. The wall-supporting device according to claim 2, wherein the body of the support member further comprises a cavity defined by the first and second vertical members and the first and second bridging members, wherein a fire-retardant material is disposed within the cavity.

11. The wall-supporting device according to claim 10, wherein the support member further comprises a fire retardant material disposed on the engagement surface forming a seal between the support member and the piece of building material.

12. The wall-supporting device according to claim 10, wherein the wall-supporting device further comprises a coupling, which nests within a channel defined by the first bridging member, the second bridging member, and the second vertical member.

13. The wall-supporting device according to claim 12, wherein the coupling further comprises:

an upper member;

a lower member below and substantially parallel to the upper member; and

a front member extending between end portions of the upper and lower member;

wherein an upper surface of the upper member contacts a lower surface of the second bridging member of the body of the support member, a lower surface of the lower member contacts an upper surface of the first bridging member of the body of the support member, and a front surface of the front member contacts a back surface of the second vertical member of the body of the support member.

14. The wall-supporting device according to claim 12, wherein the support member further comprises at least one dimple formed in at least one of the first and second bridging members that mate with corresponding at least one dimple formed in at least one of the upper and lower members, respectively, of the coupling for positioning and locking the support member and the coupling to each other.

15. The wall-supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the body of the support member comprises:

a back portion comprising: an upper member; a lower member disposed below and substantially parallel to the upper member; and a back member extending between the upper and lower members; and

a front portion comprising: a top member; a bottom member disposed below and substantially parallel to the top member; and a front member extending between the top and bottom members,

wherein the front portion is nested within the back portion, and

wherein the engagement surface is an upper surface of the upper member.

16. The wall-supporting device according to claim 15, wherein the body further comprises a cavity defined by the top member of the front portion, the bottom member of the front portion, the front member of the front portion, and the back member of the back portion and having a fire retardant material disposed therein.

17. The wall-supporting device according to claim 16, wherein the fire retardant material is disposed on the engagement surface and forms a seal between the body and the building material.

18. The wall-supporting device of claim 15, wherein the back portion further comprises at least one dimple formed in at least one of the upper and lower members that mate with at least one dimple formed in at least one of the top and bottom members, respectively, of the front portion for positioning and locking the front portion within the back portion.

19. The wall-supporting device of claim 15, wherein a section of the front portion overlaps adjacent sections of the back portion.

20. The wall-supporting device of claim 19, wherein the fastener secures the support member to the wall through the back portion.