Method of manufacturing a metal framing member
OwnerJeffrey A. Andersoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A framing member incorporates a series of web slots along a portion of the member that are expanded through the process of manufacture. The expansion of the web slots creates voids and metal web elements in the webbed portion of the member, which can be a stud. The voids created during the expansion process can become the voids for running wiring, plumbing and heating ducts. The web elements can be designed to minimize thermal transmission from the exterior to the interior of a wall including the member, as well as provide adequate structure properties required from the structural member. The expanded slots allow the part to enlarge without increasing the amount of raw material and therefore substantially reducing the cost to manufacture.
Claims17
A method of manufacturing a framing member comprising:
- providing a formed metal sheet having a length and a web region;
- placing a plurality of slots along a portion of the length in the web region;
- and
- expanding the slots of the web region to form expanded slots having a web element and a web void, wherein the web region includes a plurality of reinforcements in the web elements, wherein each web slot extends along a portion of a length of the member and the plurality of web slots is arranged in offset columns substantially parallel to a length of the member and each expanded web slot has a length to width ratio of 2:1 or greater, the metal sheet being heat treated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.