Expansion Bracket

An expansion bracket for absorbing movement of a wall stud to prevent damage to a wall covering attached to the wall stud, said expansion bracket comprising:

• a main body having a main body flange, formed of a deformable material, and having a wall stud attachment end configured to attach to the wall stud via a wall stud attachment element, said main body further having a furring attachment element configured to attach a furring to said main body;
• wherein when said main body is attached to the wall stud and the furring, and the wall covering is attached to the furring via a wall covering attachment element, the flange is configured to absorb, via deformation, at least a portion of the movement of the wall stud due to heat-based expansion of the wall stud;
• and
• wherein the furring attachment element is configured to attach to said main body via a main body attachment element, with the furring attachment element being rotatable around at least one axis defined at least in part by the main body attachment element, and when said main body is attached to the wall stud and the furring attachment element, and the furring is attached to the furring attachment element and the wall covering, the furring attachment element is configured to absorb, via rotation around the at least one axis, at least a part of the movement of the wall stud due to the heat-based expansion of the wall stud.

A method of installing an expansion bracket for absorbing movement of a wall stud to prevent damage to a wall covering attached to the wall stud, said method comprising:

• attaching a main body of the expansion bracket to the wall stud;
• attaching a furring to the main body;
• and
• attaching the wall covering to the furring;
• wherein the main body has first and second main body flanges, formed of one or more deformable materials, and having respective wall stud attachment ends configured to attach to the wall stud via respective wall stud attachment elements, the main body further having a furring attachment element configured to attach the furring to the main body, and when the main body is attached to the wall stud and the furring, and the wall covering is attached to the furring, the first and second main body flanges absorb, via deformation, at least a portion of the movement of the wall stud due to heat-based expansion of the wall stud.

A method of installing an expansion bracket for absorbing movement of a wall stud to prevent damage to a wall covering attached to the wall stud, said method comprising:

• attaching a main body of the expansion bracket to the wall stud;
• attaching a furring to the main body;
• and
• attaching the wall covering to the furring;
• wherein the main body has a main body flange, formed of a deformable material, and having a wall stud attachment end configured to attach to the wall stud via a wall stud attachment element, the main body further having, a furring attachment element configured to attach the furring to the main body, and an expansion slot through the main body, with at least a portion of the expansion slot having at least two of an arc shape, a linear shape, and a spiral shape, and when the main body is attached to the wall stud and the furring, and the wall covering is attached to the furring, the main body flange absorbs, via deformation, at least a portion of the movement of the wall stud due to heat-based expansion of the wall stud.

A method of installing an expansion bracket for absorbing movement of a wall stud to prevent damage to a wall covering attached to the wall stud, said method comprising:

• attaching a main body of the expansion bracket to the wall stud;
• attaching a furring to the main body;
• and
• attaching the wall covering to the furring;
• wherein the main body has a main body flange, formed of a deformable material, and having a wall stud attachment end configured to attach to the wall stud via a wall stud attachment element, with at least a portion of the main body flange having at least two of an arc shape, a linear shape, and a spiral shape, the main body further having a furring attachment element configured to attach the furring to the main body, and when the main body is attached to the wall stud and the furring, and the wall covering is attached to the furring, the main body flange absorbs, via deformation, at least a portion of the movement of the wall stud due to heat-based expansion of the wall stud.

A method of installing an expansion bracket for absorbing movement of a wall stud to prevent damage to a wall covering attached to the wall stud, said method comprising:

• attaching a main body of the expansion bracket to the wall stud;
• attaching a furring to the main body;
• and
• attaching the wall covering to the furring;
• wherein the main body has a main body flange, formed of a deformable material, and has a wall stud attachment end configured to attach to the wall stud via wall stud attachment element, said main body further has a furring attachment element configured to attach the furring to said main body, and when the main body is attached to the wall stud and the furring, and the wall covering is attached to the furring, the main body flange is configured to absorb, via deformation, at least a portion of the movement of the wall stud due to heat-based expansion of the wall stud;
• and
• wherein attaching a furring to the main body includes attaching the furring to the main body via a main body attachment element, with the furring attachment element being rotatable around at least one axis defined at least in part by the main body attachment element, and when the main body is attached to the wall stud and the furring attachment element, and the furring is attached to the furring attachment element and the wall covering, the furring attachment element is configured to absorb, via rotation around the at least one axis, at least a part of the movement of the wall stud due to the heat-based expansion of the wall stud.