SELF-BAILING INTERIOR FRAME
A self-bailing, antimicrobial frame construction is disclosed. A lower track including a pair of vertical sections and a gabled center section is connected to a plurality of studs. The studs are connected to an upper track having a pair of vertical sections and a gabled center section. The lower and upper tracks and the studs can be made from recycled metal that is roll-formed into shape and coated with an antimicrobial coating. A closed-cell foam pad can be placed under the lower track to insulate sound and vibration. The lower track can include several perforations at a low point in the lower track to allow moisture to escape the frame.
The present disclosure is related to a self-bailing interior frame for building construction.
BACKGROUNDBuilding construction faces many challenges in today's market for materials and labor. Traditional frame-based buildings, such as houses, are conventionally made from wooden two-by-four beams nailed together to form a frame. Some builders have turned to using metal beams in place of wooden two-by-fours because of the price of wood and because metal is more resistant to rot and other damage. A metal U-channel or C-channel can generally substitute for a wooden two-by-four for purposes of construction framing. Metal frames may be easier to construct than wooden components, and they are lighter and easier to transport than wooden components.
However, despite the advantages of metal frame materials, conventional metal frames are still susceptible to water damage, rust, and other deterioration. Conventional metal frames sometimes include an upwardly-facing U-channel as a base section that can capture accumulate moisture that can damage the metal. Also, many metal frames are less efficient at damping sound than their predecessor wooden frames. Despite the many advantages that metal frames present, conventional metal frames still create substantial difficulties in a construction project.
The upper track 120 can be generally similar to the lower track 110, but with several differences. For example, the central section 122 of the upper track 120 can be angled away from the vertical sections 121, while the central section 114 of the lower track 110 slopes toward the vertical sections 113. When the frame 100 is upright with the upper track 120 above the lower track 110 with studs 130 in between, the vertical sections 113 of the lower track 110 extend upward, and the vertical sections 121 of the upper track 120 extend downward. The central sections 114 and 122, however, extend in the same, upward direction. For example, an angle between the vertical sections 113 and the central section 114 of the lower track is less than approximately 90 degrees, whereas an angle between the vertical sections 121 and the central section 122 of the upper track 120 is more than approximately 90 degrees. In another example, the upper track 120 and the lower track 110 can be similar except that the respective vertical sections 121 and 113 are inverted. The central sections 114 and 122 repel water and other moisture due to their sloped shape. The upper track 120 prevents moisture from entering the frame 100 or pooling on top of the frame 100, and the perforations 112 of the lower track allow moisture to exit the frame. Accordingly, in several embodiments, the upper track 120 does not include perforations.
The stud 130 has a lower end 136 and an upper end 137 that correspond, respectively, to the gabled, central sections 114 and 122 of the lower track 110 and upper track 120. The upper end 137 can be a protruding, or convex shape and the lower end 136 can be a recessed, or convex shape. In selected embodiments where the lower track 110 or the upper track 120 has a flat section either at the ends or in the middle, the studs ends 136 and 137 can be shaped to match the shape of the flat sections in the lower track 110 and the upper track 120. The lower end 136 of the stud 130 abuts the central section 114 of the lower track 110 at any point along the lower track 110 without requiring a modification or preparation to the lower track 110. Similarly, the upper end 137 can contact the upper track 120. The studs 130 can therefore be placed at any interval along the tracks.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the invention. Reference terms such as “top,” “bottom,” and “side” are used for purposes of explanation and refer primarily to certain perspectives shown in the Figures, and are not limiting. The structures and components described herein may have a different orientation in operation than that shown in a Figure. Where the context permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or singular term, respectively. Unless the word “or” is associated with an express clause indicating that the word should be limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in reference to a list of two or more items, then the use of “or” in such a list shall be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of the items in the list.
Also, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments described above are for purposes of illustration and that various modifications may be made without deviating from the invention. Aspects of the disclosure described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the disclosure may have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, but not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which were provided for ease of understanding; rather, the invention includes any and all other embodiments defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A self-bailing frame, comprising:
- a first beam having two first vertical sections and a first base section between the two first vertical sections, wherein the first base section comprises an apex portion raised toward the first vertical sections such that the first base section slopes from the apex portion toward an interior side of either first vertical section, and wherein the first beam has a plurality of perforations at a junction between the first vertical sections and either side of the first base section;
- a second beam having two second vertical sections and a second center section between the two second vertical sections, wherein the second center section comprises an apex portion raised away from the second vertical sections such that the second center section slopes from the apex portion toward an exterior side of either second vertical section;
- a plurality of studs connected to the first beam and the second beam at intervals along the first and second beam.
2. The frame of claim 1 wherein individual studs comprise a C-channel with an end profile substantially matching a shape of the first center section at a first end and matching a shape of the second center section at a second end.
3. The frame of claim 1 wherein the perforations direct water out of an off of the frame.
4. The frame of claim 1 wherein the first and second beams and the studs are coated with an antimicrobial coating.
5. The frame of claim 1, further comprising a gypsum coating on at least one side of the frame.
6. The frame of claim 5 wherein the frame is fire-rated to withstand a fire for between one and two hours.
7. The frame of claim 5 wherein the frame has a minimum sound rating of 45 STC.
8. The frame of claim 1 wherein the frame can flex upward or downward approximately ¾ inch.
9. The frame of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first beam, the second beam, or the studs comprises steel meeting the ASTM 645 standard.
10. The frame of claim 1 wherein the first and second beams and the studs are made from LEED recycled content.
11. The frame of claim 1 wherein the base section slopes from the apex portion at a slope of approximately 0.034.
12. The frame of claim 1 wherein the base section slopes from the apex portion at a slope of approximately ⅛ inch vertical rise per 3⅝ inch horizontal run.
13. The frame of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises part of a building, and wherein the perforations are situated near corresponding fluid paths in the building such that fluid can flow from the perforations and through the fluid paths in the building.
14. A frame, comprising:
- a lower track comprising an elongated member having a generally uniform cross-sectional shape comprising— a first vertical section; a first ramped section connected to the first vertical section, wherein an interior angle between the first vertical section and the first ramped section is less than approximately 90 degrees; a second ramped section connected to the first ramped section; and a second vertical section generally parallel with the first vertical section and connected to the second ramped section, wherein an interior angle between the second ramped section and the second vertical section is less than approximately 90 degrees;
- an upper track comprising an elongated member having a generally uniform cross-sectional shape comprising— a first vertical section; a first ramped section connected to the first vertical section, wherein an interior angle between the first vertical section and the first ramped section is more than approximately 90 degrees; a second ramped section connected to the first ramped section; and a second vertical section generally parallel with the first vertical section and connected to the second ramped section, wherein an interior angle between the second ramped section and the second vertical section is more than approximately 90 degrees; and
- a plurality of studs, individual studs having a lower end connected to the lower track and an upper end connected to the upper track, wherein the lower end is shaped to substantially match the cross-sectional shape of the lower track.
15. The frame of claim 14 wherein the studs comprise C-channel members having two end sections and a center section, and wherein the end sections fit between the first and second vertical sections of the lower and upper tracks and contacting the first and second vertical sections of the lower and upper tracks.
16. The frame of claim 14 wherein the lower track comprises a plurality of perforations between the first vertical section and the first ramped section and between the second vertical section and the second ramped section.
17. The frame of claim 14, further comprising a closed-foam pad under the lower track and shaped to accommodate the first and second ramped section of the lower track.
18. The frame of claim 14 wherein the upper track, the lower track, and the studs are made from recycled materials.
19. The frame of claim 14 wherein at least one of the upper track, the lower track, and the studs is coated with anti-microbial material.
20. The frame of claim 14, further comprising a first flat section between the first vertical section and the first ramped section and a second flat section between the second ramped section and the second vertical section, wherein an angle between the first flat section and the first vertical section is approximately 90 degrees, and an angle between the second flat section and the second vertical section is approximately 90 degrees.
21. The frame of claim 20 wherein an angle between the first flat section and the first ramped section is less than approximately 180 degrees, and wherein an angle between the second flat section and the second ramped section is less than approximately 180 degrees.
22. A frame, comprising:
- an elongated base track comprising a base gabled section connected to two generally vertical end sections that extend upward from the base gabled section, wherein the base gabled section has perforations between the base gabled section and the end sections;
- an elongated upper track comprising an upper gabled section connected to two generally vertical end sections that extend downward from the upper gabled section;
- a plurality of studs comprising U-channel members, wherein a lower end of individual studs comprises a recessed edge substantially corresponding to the base gabled section, and wherein an upper end of individual studs comprises a protruding edge substantially corresponding to the upper gabled section; and
- a foam pad under the base track.
23. The frame of claim 22 wherein the lower gabled section has sufficient slope that fluid can flow down the lower gabled section and through the perforations.
24. The frame of claim 22 wherein the upper track comprises a plurality of slots in the vertical end sections that allow the frame to flex under a load.
25. The frame of claim 22 wherein the upper gabled section comprises a flat section at a center of the upper gabled section.
26. The frame of claim 22 wherein the vertical end sections comprise L-shaped sections having a vertical arm and a horizontal arm connected to the base gabled section.
27. The frame of claim 22 wherein the base gabled section includes two flat sections between the base gabled section and the end sections.
28. The frame of claim 27 wherein the flat sections are approximately ¼″ in length and accommodate the studs in the base track.
29. The frame of claim 22 wherein the foam pad comprises a closed-cell foam.
30. The frame of claim 22 wherein the foam pad comprises antimicrobial coating.
31. The frame of claim 22 wherein the recessed end comprises a concave edge and the protruding end comprises a convex edge.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 22, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 22, 2011
Inventor: Peter L. Battisti (Puyallup, WA)
Application Number: 12/729,163
International Classification: E04B 1/64 (20060101); E04F 17/00 (20060101); E04C 3/00 (20060101);