AU642828B1 - Improved metal framed wall structure - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 1 1 2815191 AUSTALIARegulation 3.2 Patents Actl1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: (Cx~c\~i The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-- ~tRA4, 1 IMPROVED METAL FRAMED WALL STRUCTURE

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j p B 0 4>«J 13 a r This invention relates to a metal wall frame structure for a building.

There have been many proposals for forming wall frame structures from rolled steel members of a generally U-shaped or C-shaped section. Such wall frame structures generally comprise horizontally disposed top and bottom plates interconnected by a plurality of vertically extending wall studs. These various prior act proposals have generally differed from one another in the manner in which the 10 studs and plates are connected together.

There is described in Australian Patent Specification No. 579, 216 a metal wall frame structure in which the studs are of a generally C-shaped section and nest within the channels formed by the generally U-shaped top and bottom wall plates being located therein between paired tabs on each side wall and held captive in that position by engagement of the four tabs with corresponding corner notches adjacent the terminal end of the stud. The studs are asymmetric in section such that one may be inverted relative to another and fitted thereto to form a boxed stud which may be 20 similarly located and held captive within the plates. Both plates and studs are formed from typically 0.8mm thick sheet steel. From experience in the usage of this system it is considered that the improved fixing and structural characteristics of a wall frame in which all studs are of a generally rectangular section and are formed from lighter gauge material would warrant the increase in cost of manufacture. As wall frame structures for many dwellings are erected on concrete slabs it is considered that a plate formed from heavier gauge material would better bridge surface irregularities in the slab. It is also considered desirable to

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.1 lo 2 -2transfer load between stud and plate through the corner engagement of stud with inwardly projecting tabs on the side walls of the plates.

A heavier gauge material in the plate would allow such improvement.

The above improvements are the subject of the modification described herein.

The present invention consists in a nmetal wall frame structure for a building and which comprises a horizontally disposed top plate, a horizontally disposed bottom plate, and a plurality of vertically 10 extending wall studs interconnecting the top and bottom plates; the top and bottom plates being substantially identical and each being in the form of a generally U-shaped channel having side walls, a base wall which interconnects the side walls and a plurality of paired inwardly directed tabs arrayed along each of the side walls; the studs each having a generally rectangular section has a width approximately equal to the spacing between the side walls of the plates whereby the terminal ends of the studs may be nested within the channels defined by the plates, each stud being formed with notches in each corner thereof adjacent the terminal end of the 20 stud, the notches being positioned such that when an end of each stud is located within an associated one of the plates between paired tabs, the notches and tabs are engaged thereby connecting stud to plate with the terminal end of the stud standing clear of the base wall of the plate.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying which show one example of the invention.

a -3- In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a joint between a stud and a plate forming part of a wall frame structure taken along A-A of Fig 2; FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the joint shown in Fig 1 take along B-B.

The bottom plate 10 and the stud 11ii shown in Fig. i are part of a metal wall frame structure which includes top and bottom plates interconnected by a plurality of studs identical with 11ii. The plate 10 is of U-shaped section and comprises a pair of side walls 12 and a base wall 13 interconnecting the side walls 12. The stud 11 is of substantially C-shaped cross section comprising cross walls 14 and side walls Each of the side walls 12 of the plate i0 is formed along its upper free edge with a plurality of inwardly directed paired tabs 16. The plate 10 may be manufactured for sale as a stock item with paired tabs 16 which locate the stud 11 within the frame being spaced at regular intervals along the plate 10 or plate 10 may be custom manufactured to suit a particular layout having paired tabs formed at predetermined locations.

Each of the studs 11 is formed with corner notches 17 adjacent the upper and lower terminal ends thereof.

The plates 10 are preferably formed from 1.2mm thick material and the studs 11 are preferably formed from 0.6mm thick material.

The stud 11 is preferably formed with at least one longitudinally extending joint located in either side wall 15 or cross wall 14.

#4 4 i 1i O 0( 000* 0* 0" p 0 *1L -3- In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a joint between a stud and a plate forming part of a wall frame structure taken along A-A of Fig. 2; FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the joint shown in Fig. 1 taken along B-B.

The bottom plate 10 and the stud 11 shown in Fig. 1 are part of a metal wall frame structure which includes top and bottom plates interconnected by a plurality of studs identical with 11. The plate 10 is of U-shaped section and comprises a pair of side walls 12 and a base wall 13 interconnecting the side walls 12. The stud 11 is of substantially C-shaped cross section comprising cross walls 14 and side walls Each of the side walls 12 of the plate 10 is formed along its upper free edge with a plurality of inwardly directed paired tabs 16. The plate 10 may be manufactured for sale as a stock item with paired tabs 16 which locate the stud 11 within the frame being spaced at regular intervals along the plate 10 or plate 10 may be custom manufactured to suit a particular layout having paired tabs formed at predetermined locations.

Each of the studs 11 is formed with corner notches 17 adjacent the upper and lower terminal ends thereof.

The plates 10 are preferably formed from 1.2mm thick material and the studs 11 are preferably formed from 0.6mm thick material.

The stud 11 is preferably formed with at least one longitudinally extending joint located in either side wall 15 or cross wall 14.

Illlll-IIC-- -4 In the example shown in Fig. 2 the stud 11 is formed from two identical asymmetric half sections which are joined to form a rectangular section stud.

To assemble a panel of wall frame structure the side walls 12 of plates 10 are spread at stud locations to allow entry of the terminal ends of stud 11 between the terminal ends of tabs 16. Clips are preferably fitted to hold the side walls apart until all members of the panel are in place. The said clips will preferably also guide the ends of the studs into alignment with tabs 16. The i0 spreading of the the side walls 12 of plate 10 causes an inward arching of the base wall 13. The assembled panel prior to release of the aforementioned clips will have the terminal ends of studs 11 in contact with the arched base walls 13 of the associated plates 10. Upon release of the holding clips the notches 17 engage 15 with tabs 16. This engagement brings the edges of notches 17 which are distal from the terminal ends of studs 11 into contact with surface of tabs 16 which is distal from base wall 13. The studs 11 are then firmly connected to plates 10 with the terminal ends of studs 11 standing clear of base walls 13 of plates 0 09 0t 9 09400 0 0PO 09 0r *I 0 09 S 0 09 *909 0 0 t: i l 9 oro 0 00 /fi 9 a