A C-shaped sheet metal profile for partitions that are planked on both sides is provided. The C-shaped profile is made up of two leg sections and a bottom section that interconnects the leg sections. At least one of the leg sections encloses an opening angle exceeding 90° along with the bottom section in the unstressed state of the C-shaped profile.

[0001]    The present invention relates to a C-shaped sheet metal profile for partitions that are planked on both sides, having two leg sections and one bottom section connecting the two leg sections. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    C-shaped profiles of this type are known from DE 100 13 991 C1, for example. They are regularly used in interior construction for producing dry construction walls. In the case of the previously known C-shaped profiles, the leg sections are perpendicular to the bottom section. 
         [0003]    Although effective sound insulation can now be achieved for dry construction walls produced using such previously known C-shaped profiles, it is desirable to further improve the sound-insulating properties. The manufacturing costs should not be increased or only minimally increased in this process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An object of the present invention is to further refine a C-shaped profile of the type recited at the outset so that the sound-insulating properties are improved with minimal additional costs. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides a C-shaped profile recited at the outset in that at least one of the leg sections together with the bottom section forms an opening angle greater than 90° in the unloaded state of the C-shaped profile. 
         [0006]    As a result of this configuration in which at least one and preferably both leg sections point slightly outward in the unloaded state of the C-shaped profile, the noise protection properties can be significantly improved. When the C-shaped profile is planked during installation using gypsum plasterboard or the like, the C-shaped profile may be under a load, the C-shaped profile being deformed and the opening angle between the leg section and bottom section being reduced again by the resulting forces. Nonetheless, better sound-insulating properties can be achieved for the finished partition compared to conventional C-shaped profiles. In the case of the configuration of the present invention, it may be advantageous that the sound insulation is improved without additional elements so that no or only minimal additional costs are incurred when manufacturing the C-shaped profile or assembling the partition. 
         [0007]    According to the present invention, it may be advantageous when the opening angle between at least one leg section and the bottom section in the unloaded state of the C-shaped profile is greater than or equal to 91°, in particular greater than or equal to 92°. 
         [0008]    A further improvement may be achieved when the opening angle between at least one leg section and the bottom section in the unloaded state of the C-shaped profile is less than or equal to 95°, in particular less than or equal to 94°. 
         [0009]    In a particularly advantageous manner, the opening angle between at least one leg section and the bottom section in the unloaded state of the C-shaped profile may be between 92.5° and 93.5° and is 93° in particular. 
         [0010]    According to the present invention, it may also be provided that the two leg sections in the unloaded state of the C-shaped profile are not situated parallel to one another and form an angle between 2° and 10°, in particular between 4° and 8°. In this context, the distance between the ends of the leg sections away from the bottom section is greater than the distance between the ends of the leg sections facing the bottom section. 
         [0011]    Manufacture may be particularly simple when the leg sections and the bottom section are made from a single piece of sheet metal. 
         [0012]    It also may be advantageous for the leg sections and the bottom section to be elastically or elastically and plastically deformable with respect to one another so that the leg sections in the installed state are perpendicular to the bottom section. This results in the leg sections in the installed state resting against the planking pre-stressed and in an elastically deformed manner. 
         [0013]    A further improvement of the sound protection may be achieved in that at least one of the leg sections has beads protruding outward in particular. The combination of the beads and the opening angle which is enlarged according to the present invention in the unloaded state results in particularly effective sound-insulating properties. 
         [0014]    It may be advantageous for the beads to run in the longitudinal direction of the C-shaped profile and to extend over the entire length of the C-shaped profile in particular. 
         [0015]    According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, at least part of the surface of the C-shaped profile may have knurling. The knurling results in local, in particular punctiform, deformations in the sheet metal. In this context a large number of deformations may be provided per unit area, e.g., more than 5 deformations per cm 2  or more than 10 deformations per cm 2 . 
         [0016]    According to the present invention, the thickness of the sheet metal may be between 0.3 mm and 3 mm, in particular 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. 
         [0017]    The present invention also relates to a partition produced with the previously described C-shaped profile. 
         [0018]    Additional objectives, features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments on the basis of the drawings, without being limited thereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The figures show: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a C-shaped profile according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a further specific embodiment of the C-shaped profile according to the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of another specific embodiment of the C-shaped profile according to the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section of the profile shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a cross section of the C-shaped profile shown in  FIG. 2  installed in a partition; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of another specific embodiment of the C-shaped profile according to the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a cross section of the C-shaped profile shown in  FIG. 6  installed in a partition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The figures show various embodiments of a C-shaped profile  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ made of sheet metal for partitions planked on both sides. Each C-shaped profile  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ has two leg sections  2  as well as a bottom section  3 . 
         [0028]    Bottom section  3  is essentially flat. In the specific embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a groove  4  extending in the longitudinal direction of C-shaped profile  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ is provided in the outer region on both sides of bottom section  3 . Bottom section  3  may have openings, cutouts, or punch-outs (not shown). C-shaped profile  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ has an oblong shape in this context. This also applies to bottom section  3 . In addition, in a variation, bottom section  3  may also be shaped. 
         [0029]    One leg section  2  is provided on each longitudinal side of bottom section  3 . As shown in  FIG. 4  in particular, leg sections  2  and bottom section  3  in the unloaded state of C-shaped profile  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ form an opening angle R greater than 90°. Opening angle R between inside  5  of bottom section  3  facing leg sections  2  and leg sections  2  is preferably between 91° and 95°, ranges between 92° and 94° and in particular between 92.5° and 93.5° having proved to be particularly advantageous. According to a preferred specific embodiment, opening angle R is 93°. This configuration results in leg sections  2  being slightly tilted outward or open starting from their point of connection to bottom section  3 . 
         [0030]    As shown, leg sections  2  in the unloaded state of the C-shaped profile are not parallel but instead are at an angle to one another. They form an angle between 2° and 10°, in particular between 4° and 8°. The distance between ends  6  of leg sections  2  away from bottom section  3  is greater than the distance between ends  7  of leg sections  2  facing bottom section  3 . Each of the two leg sections  2  of a C-shaped profile  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ together with bottom section  3  forms an identical opening angle R greater than 90° as described above. 
         [0031]    C-shaped profile  1  is formed as one piece from sheet metal. The deformations of the sheet metal shown in the figures are made during manufacturing and in particular the leg sections are shaped as shown in the figures via bending and/or cold rolling of the sheet metal. In this context in the finished component leg sections  2  and bottom section  3  are either elastically or elastically and plastically deformable relative to one another in such a way that the leg sections in the installed state may be situated perpendicular to the bottom section. 
         [0032]    In the shown specific embodiments, each leg section  2  has beads  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″ extending in the longitudinal direction of C-shaped profile  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″. These are produced by plastic deformations of the sheet metal in the region of leg sections  2 . Three parallel beads  8  extending in the longitudinal direction and pointing inward are provided in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly groove-shaped or trough-shaped recesses result in the otherwise flat surface of leg sections  2 . In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , four parallel beads  8 ′,  8 ″ that extend in the longitudinal direction of the C-shaped profile and point outward are provided on each leg section  2 . The top regions of beads  8 ′,  8 ″ jointly form support surfaces in the form of lines or bands for the planking on a common plane. The number of beads  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″ may be varied according to the particular requirements. 
         [0033]    An inward facing folded section  9  is also provided on the outer ends of leg sections  6 . 
         [0034]    In the embodiments shown in  FIG. 3 , the surface of the sheet metal of C-shaped profile  1  has knurling. This results in a plurality of local, in particular punctiform, deformations of the sheet metal that increase its rigidity in particular. In addition, the combination of beaded leg sections  2  and/or knurling together with leg sections  2  that are slightly outwardly open when C-shaped profile  1  is in the unloaded state has a positive effect on the noise transmission properties by providing improved sound insulation. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows the C-shaped profile from  FIG. 2  in the installed state. It is clearly visible that C-shaped profile  1 ′ is planked on both sides with boards, preferably gypsum plasterboards  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″, to form a partition  12 . Gypsum plasterboards  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″ abut leg sections  2  of C-shaped profile  1 ′. Beads  8 ′ result in a reduced contact surface since only the tips of beads  8 ′ on leg sections  2  contact gypsum plasterboard  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″. In this context gypsum plasterboards  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″ are fixedly connected to leg sections  2  and braced with respect to one another via fastening means  11  designed in the present invention as self-tapping screws. Fastening means  11  may be connected to leg section  2  in the regions between beads  8 ′. The lower portion of  FIG. 5  shows that two gypsum plasterboards  10 ′,  10 ″ in the region of leg section  2  abut one another and are connected to leg section  2  via fastening means  11 . An indicated insulating material for insulating against sound and/or heat is provided in the region between gypsum plasterboards  10  and  10 ′ and 10″ of partition  12 . 
         [0036]    Leg sections  2  of the C-shaped profile are loaded in the installed state and are elastically or elastically and plastically deformed in the unloaded position shown in  FIG. 4 . In this context, opening angle R which is greater than 90° in the unloaded state of C-shaped profile  1 ′ is reduced, leg sections  2  being aligned parallel to gypsum plasterboards  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″. After installation, the forces occurring during installation typically result in a perpendicular configuration between leg sections  2  and bottom section  3 . 
         [0037]    The thickness of the sheet metal of C-shaped profile  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ is between 0.3 mm and 3 mm in particular. A thickness range between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm has proven to be particularly advantageous. The sheet metal is preferably steel with an elastic modulus between 196 kN/mm 2  and 216 kN/mm 2 . The tensile strength of the sheet metal is between 270 MPa and 500 MPa. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show a further embodiment that essentially corresponds to that in  FIG. 3 . Therefore, reference is made to the above description that applies accordingly to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Parts having the same function are provided with the same reference numerals. However, in the embodiment in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , only one groove  4  that extends in the longitudinal direction of the C-shaped profile and is wider than the grooves in  FIG. 3  is provided in bottom section  3 .  FIG. 7  also clearly shows opening angle R between leg sections  2  and bottom section  3  that is greater than 90°. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ C-shaped profile 
           2  Leg section 
           3  Bottom section 
           4  Groove 
           5  Inside 
           6  Outer ends 
           7  Interior ends 
           8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″ Beads 
           9  Folded section 
           10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″ Gypsum plasterboards 
           11  Fastening means 
           12  Partition 
         R Opening angle