Light weight metal framing member

Abstract

The present invention provides for a lightweight metal framing member having a central web and two parallel spaced apart side walls extending upwardly from the sides of the web. The framing member has at least one longitudinally oriented rib extending the length of the web of the framing member to aid in reducing shrinkage and twisting of the framing member when non-symmetrical reinforcing structures are found in the framing member.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to metal framing members for use in constructing partition walls. In particular, the invention relates to metal studs and tracks for use in partition walls wherein the stud or track is provided with non-symmetrical patterns of structures to stiffen the material utilized in roll forming the metal stud or track and wherein the stud or track is also provided with longitudinally extending ribs to reduce or eliminate the tendency of the metal from which such stud or track is roll formed to shrink and twist.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]It is common practice in residential and many commercial buildings to separate the various rooms by partition walls to define the space of the room. Such partition walls are generally load bearing and have in the past been constructed of wood members including top and bottom plates and bridging studs. The use of wood members has its shortcomings, the supply of lumber is getting scarce, and costs ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The present invention provides for a lightweight metal framing member having a central web and two parallel spaced apart side walls extending upwardly from the sides of the web. The framing member has at least one longitudinally oriented rib extending the length of the web of the framing member to aid in reducing shrinkage and twisting of the framing member when non-symmetrical reinforcing structures which do not extend across the width of the framing member are formed in the framing member.

[0007]In an aspect of the present invention, the metal framing member is provided with a plurality of inwardly oriented depressions on the surfaces of the framing member to aid in stiffening of the metal framing member and enhance screw tip capture. Each of the depressions are formed with clearly defined edges to enhance screw tip capture of a screw entering the depression irrespective of the angle of entry into the depression of the screw tip.

[0008]In another aspect of the invention, the framing member is provided with a plurality of non-symmetrical reinforcing ribs in the web of the framing member, the non-symmetrical reinforcing ribs being inwardly oriented and cooperating with the depressions to significantly aid in stiffening of the metal framing member.

[0015]In another aspect of the invention, the rows of depressions are offset from each other so that the depressions form a diamond pattern on the surface of the sheet material such that the rows can be moved closer together, increasing the number of depressions for reinforcement and screw attachment.

[0018]In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a metal framing member having a longitudinally extending rib along the web, and a plurality of non-symmetrical reinforcing structures on the surface thereof, the non-symmetrical reinforcing structures being inwardly oriented and aiding in stiffening of the metal framing member. The method comprises passing a suitably dimensioned sheet material through a cold roll forming apparatus having a first roller with a circumferential projection on its surface to press into the sheet metal material and form the longitudinally extending rib on the surface of the material and a second roller having a groove corresponding to the projection of the first roller. The sheet material is then passed through a second roll forming apparatus having a first roller with a pluarality of projections on its surface to form the non-symmetrical reinforcing structures in the surface of the sheet material and a second roller having a surface to allow for a softer transition between the surface of the sheet material and the edges of the non-symmetrical reinforcing structures. The sheet material is then passed through a third roll forming apparatus having rollers to form the metal framing member.

Problems solved by technology

The use of wood members has its shortcomings, the supply of lumber is getting scarce, and costs have increased during recent years.

In addition, wood can warp and go out of shape when it becomes wet as well as being susceptible to fire damage and attack by vermin of various kinds.

However, the use of sheet metal framing members has not gained widespread acceptance for various reasons.

For example, the cost of the materials utilized to form metal studs has been increasing and the price advantages of metal studs over wood studs is decreasing.

It is believed this is due to uneven shrinkage in the length of the member across its width caused by the localized shrinkage of the metal as a result of the formation of the reinforcing structures in only a portion of the width of the metal from which the metal framing member is formed.

While the twisting does not affect the structural integrity of the metal framing member, it does detract from the appearance of the stud and makes the storage and installation of the metal framing member more difficult.

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