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US 4,397,127 AGranted
Extendable stud for partition walls or the like
AssigneeDonn Incorporated
InventorDavid F. Mieyal
Life of this patent
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AssigneeDonn Incorporated
InventorDavid F. Mieyal
Estimating the term…
A metal stud assembly is disclosed for use in either drywall construction or as intermediate studs in demountable walls. The stud assembly includes a U-shaped stud member and a U-shaped stud extension which telescopes into one end of the stud member with a resilient-type of interference fit which produces a controlled resistance to relative axial movement and eliminates possible looseness. The stud extension is provided with angulated tabs which snap into a channel-shaped ceiling track to lock the stud extension therein. The lower end of the stud fits into a channel-shaped floor track to secure the lower end of the stud assembly in place. The stud assembly is sufficiently flexible to allow the lower end to be twisted through about 90.degree. to position the narrow dimension thereof crosswise with respect to the floor track for easy insertion. After insertion, the stud assembly is returned to the untwisted position to complete the installation.
A stud assembly for use in walls between floor and ceiling tracks, comprising a stud member providing opposed panel-engaging portions, a stud extension member shaped to telescope with said stud member, one of said members providing lock means operable to lock with one of said tracks in response to lengthwise movement of said one member relative to said one track and retain said members interlocked as the other of said members is moved to engage the other of said tracks, said members having an assembled length when fully telescoped which is less than the spacing between said tracks, said lock means permitting locking of said one member at substantially any location along the length of said one track and movement of said one member along said one track while said locking means remains locked.
A stud assembly for walls having floor and ceiling tracks comprising a U-shaped stud member providing a central web and a pair of spaced parallel legs extending from said web, a U-shaped stud extension having a web and a pair of parallel legs proportioned to telescope with one end of said stud and being axially movable relative thereto, the outer of said legs being provided with an inward flange at the end thereof, one of said members providing snap lock means operable to lock with one of said tracks and provide a connection therewith, allowing the other of said members to slide relative thereto for mounting on the other of said tracks, said stud assembly accommodating variations in spacing between said tracks, said lock means permitting movement of said one member along said one track while said lock means remains in locking engagement.
A stud assembly for walls having floor and ceiling tracks comprising a U-shaped stud member providing a central web, a pair of spaced parallel legs extending from said web, and an inward flange at the edge of each leg spaced from said web, and a U-shaped stud extension having a web and a pair of parallel legs proportioned to telescope with one end of said stud and being axially movable relative thereto, one of said webs providing an offset portion shaped to provide an interference fit with the other of said webs and prevent looseness between said stud and said stud extension, and to cause resilient deflection thereof producing friction resisting relative axial movement therebetween, said stud extension being formed with angulated tabs projecting from the legs thereof engageable with shoulders on said ceiling track to lock said stud extension to said ceiling track at substantially any location along said track, stop means provided on said stud extension operable to limit movement of said stud extension into said stud to maintain a spacing between said angulated tabs and the end of said stud member, said stud member web being wider than its legs so that said stud assembly can be twisted through substantially 90 degrees to position the lower end of said stud member in said floor track with clearance and allowing said stud member to be twisted back to an installed position in which said stud assembly is not twisted, said angulated tabs providing sufficient resistance to rotation with respect to said ceiling track to prevent rotation therebetween when the opposite end of said stud assembly is twisted through substantially 90 degrees at substantially any location along said floor track.
A method of installing stud assemblies in wall systems having channel-shaped floor and ceiling tracks, and wherein said stud assembly includes a stud member and a stud extension telescoped together, comprising locking one of said members in one of said tracks against axial movement relative thereto, and moving the other of said members relative to said one member until the end thereof is located within the other of said tracks, and wherein a frictional drag is provided between said stud member and said stud extension to resist relative axial movement therebetween and looseness therebetween, and said stud extension is locked in said ceiling track against axial movement relative thereto while said stud member is moved down relative to said stud extension until the lower end thereof is located within said floor track.
A method of installing stud assemblies in wall systems having channel-shaped floor and ceiling tracks, and wherein said stud assembly includes a stud member and a stud extension telescoped together, comprising locking said stud extension in said ceiling track against axial and rotational movement relative thereto, twisting said stud assembly to position a narrow dimension of the lower end thereof substantially perpendicular to said lower track and while so twisted moving said stud member down relative to said stud extension until the lower end of said stud member is located within said floor track, and thereafter rotating said stud assembly until the twist is removed therefrom and said lower end is tightly embraced within said floor track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.