Stud spacer with interlocking projections
AssigneeThe Steel Network, Inc.
InventorsEdward R. diGirolamo, Michael Torres, Thomas Trestain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stud spacer for use in a wall structure. The stud spacer includes a pair of opposed projections. The respective projections of the stud spacer interconnect with similar projections from adjacent stud spacers to form an interconnected series of stud spacers that extend through the studs that comprise the wall structure. When connected, each projection extends through an opening in an adjacent projection and a locking surface or locking tab associated with one projection seats in or against a stop or seat formed in the other projection.
Claims41
A stud spacer for extending between two studs comprising:
- a. a main member adapted to extend between the two studs;
- b. the main member including first and second end portions;
- c. a projection extending from each end portion;
- d. a pair of spaced apart end flanges extending from each end portion in a direction generally normal to the projection;
- e. wherein the end flanges are disposed on opposite sides of the projection and the projection extends outwardly past the end flanges;
- f. wherein the main member, the projections, and the end flanges form the stud spacer;
- and
- g. wherein the projections of the main member are configured to interlock with similar projections of other stud spacers.
A stud spacer assembly for extending between a series of studs, comprising:
- a. at least first and second stud spacers wherein each stud spacer extends between a pair of studs and each having an end portion;
- b. said first stud spacer including a first projection and said second stud spacer including a second projection;
- c. said first and second projections adapted to interlock so as to connect the first and second stud spacers together;
- d. wherein each projection includes a locking surface and a stop and wherein when interlocked, the locking surface of the first projection is engaged with the stop of the second projection and the locking surface of the second projection is engaged with the stop of the first projection;
- d. a pair of spaced apart end flanges extending from each end portion in a direction generally normal to the projections;
- and
- e. wherein the end flanges are disposed on opposite sides of the projection and the projection extends outwardly past the end flanges.
A wall structure, comprising:
- a. a series of spaced apart studs with each stud having an opening formed therein;
- b. a series of stud spacers extending between respective studs;
- c. each stud spacer including first and second projections that extend from opposite ends of the stud spacer, at least one of the projections extending in a generally horizontal plane, the horizontal plane being generally normal to a web of an adjacent stud;
- d. each stud spacer further including first and second pairs of end flanges, the first pair of end flanges formed on a first end of the stud spacer and the second pair of end flanges formed on a second, opposite, end of the stud spacer;
- e. the end flanges of the first pair of end flanges being disposed on opposite sides of the first projection and the end flanges of the second pair of end flanges being disposed on opposite sides of the second projection;
- f. said first and second projections of each stud spacer adapted to connect to first and second projections of other stud spacers so as to interconnect the stud spacers of the wall structure;
- and
- g. each projection including a locking surface and a locking stop and wherein when interconnected the locking surface of the first projection is engaged with the locking stop of the second projection and the locking surface of the second projection is engaged with the locking stop of the first projection.
A method of interconnecting a first stud spacer with a second stud spacer extending between studs in a wall structure wherein the first stud spacer includes a first projection and the second stud spacer includes a second projection, comprising the steps of:
- a. projecting the first and second projections of the first and second stud spacers through an opening in a stud;
- b. projecting the first projection through an opening in the second projection and engaging a locking surface associated with the first projection with a stop associated with the second projection;
- c. projecting the second projection through an opening in the first projection and engaging a locking surface associated with the second projection with a stop associated with the first projection;
- and
- d. abutting an end flange formed on an end of the first stud spacer to a face of a web of the stud and abutting an end flange formed on an end of the second stud spacer to an opposite face of the web.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.