Metal framing members
OwnerGordon Aubuchoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of producing a metal framing member having a plurality of screw tunnels, metal framing members prepared using such methods, and metal framing systems using such metal framing members. The metal framing sheet in one aspect has an undulating surface where projections and associated depressions are formed on opposite sides of the metal sheet in a coordinated pattern. The metal sheets may be produced through the use of rolls having a variety of patterns and/or projections and recesses that the sheet metal is pressed between. In one aspect the rolls have a honeycomb pattern that is advantageous in many ways including enhanced screw retention, surface penetration, acoustical and thermal performance, sheet rigidity and load bearing capability.
Claims31
A metal member for use in framing buildings and adapted to preferentially receive screws to attach peripheral materials to the metal member, comprising:
- a sheet of metal having one or more generally planar surfaces with at least a portion of one generally planar surface being embossed such that a plurality of screw tunnels having mating surfaces for substantial screw engagement are formed,
- wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the screw tunnel at a plane at which a screw enters the screw tunnel is between about 40% and about 80% of a minor diameter of the thread of a screw to be received by the metal member.
A method of producing a metal framing member comprising:
- providing a metal sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface,
- forming a plurality of screw tunnels having mating surfaces for substantial screw engagement,
- wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the screw tunnel at a plane at which a screw enters the screw tunnel is between about 40% and about 80% of a minor diameter of the thread of a screw to be received by the metal member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.