Light Weight Metal Framing Member

Abstract

The present invention provides for a lightweight metal framing member having a plurality of depressions and a plurality of reinforcing ribs on the surface thereof, the depressions and ribs both being inwardly oriented and cooperating to aid in stiffening of the metal stud. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a metal framing member having a plurality of depressions and a plurality of reinforcing ribs on the surface thereof, the depressions and ribs both being inwardly oriented and cooperating to aid in stiffening of the metal stud. The method utilizes a cold roll forming apparatus having a first roller with a plurality of projections on its surface and a second roller having a surface provided with holes aligned with the projections on the surface of the first roller to form the depressions in the surface of the material having clearly defined edges generally aligned with the plane of the metal sheet. A second roll forming apparatus is used having a first roller with projections on its surface to form the reinforcing ribs in the surface of the sheet material and a second roller to allow for a softer transition between the surface of the sheet material and the edges of the reinforcing ribs and so as not to unduly deform the depressions formed in the first roll forming step. A third roll forming apparatus is used having rollers to form the metal stud or track.

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 one or more patterns of projections to stiffen the material utilized in forming the metal stud or track and to enhance screw gripping.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, 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...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The present invention provides for a lightweight metal framing member having a plurality of depressions and a plurality of reinforcing ribs on the surfaces thereof, the depressions and ribs both being inwardly oriented and cooperating to significantly aid in stiffening of the metal framing member.

[0014]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 plurality of depressions and a plurality of reinforcing ribs on the surface thereof, the depressions and ribs both being inwardly oriented and cooperating to aid 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 plurality of projections on its surface to press into the sheet metal material and form the depressions in the surface of the material and a second roller having holes corresponding to the projections of the first roller to provide well defined edges to the depressions. The sheet material is then passed through a second roll forming apparatus having a first roller with projections on its surface to form the reinforcing ribs 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 reinforcing ribs as well as to not unduly deform the depressions within the rib. 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, 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.

Another problem with the use of metal framing members is that as the screws are being driven into the metal framing member, there is a tendency for the flange of the stud or track to deflect from the screw tip pressure and the tip of the screw may slip along the surface of the metal framing member and not be properly driven through the metal framing member at a generally perpendicular angle.

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