A CHANNELED METAL SHEET SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR WALLBOARD OR THE LIKE

Abstract: A channeled metal sheet support element for wallboard or the like, forming a web (11) and two side walls (12A, 12B). The web forms at least one longitudinal row of slots (17) which are curved and are located alternatingly on one side and the other of a centre line (19) of the row mutually spaced longitudinally of the row. The concave sides of the slots on opposite sides of the centre line face each other and the slots on one side of the centre line span the spaces between adjacent slots on the other side of the centre line.

Description: Title of the Invention A channeled metal sheet support element for wallboard or the like Background of the invention Field of the invention The invention relates to a channeled metal sheet support element for wallboard or the like, forming a web and two side walls at least one longitudinal row of slots being provided in the web. Description of the Prior Art US-A-4, 619, 098 discloses a metallic support element of this kind wherein a plurality of rows of longitudinally spaced slots are provided in the web of the element . Alternate rows of slots are staggered in such a manner that the solid longitudinal spaces of one row are positioned substantially midway of the length of the slots of adjacent rows. The object of providing slots in this manner is to reduce heat, cold or sound transmission of the support element without substantially reducing the structural strength of the element or materially increasing its cost. A channeled metal sheet support element for wallboard or the like, forming a web and two side walls is disclosed in O-A- 97/34059 wherein rows of deformations extending wholly or partly through the material, such as close cuts, T-shaped slits, embossed portions and the like, are provided in order to equilise internal stress in the element arising when manufacturing the element from a flat metal sheet blank. The stress-equilising zone thus formed is said to have also a favourable effect on the sound absorbing capacity of the support element . Brief Summary of the Invention It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a channeled metal sheet support element of the kind referred to above wherein slots are formed and arranged in a specific manner in order to significantly increase the heat and sound insulating capacity of the element in relation to prior art support elements of said kind without impairing the strength of the element and without increasing the manufacturing costs thereof. In order to achieve said object the channeled metal sheet support element of the kind referred to above according to claim 1 is generally characterized in that the slots are curved and are located alternatingly on one side and the other of a centre line of the row mutually spaced longitudinally of the row, the concave sides of the slots on opposite sides of the centre line facing each other, the slots on one side of the centre line spanning the spaces between adjacent slots on the other side of the centre line. Further features of the support element according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more particularly described with reference to preferred illustrative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a support element according to a first embodiment of the invention as seen from the outside of the web, FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the support element in FIG. 1 as seen from the inside of the web, FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the support element in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a view as that in FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 5 is a view as that in FIG. 2 of the second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 6 is a view as that in FIG. 3 of the second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 7 is a view as that in FIG. 1 of a third embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 8 is a view as that in FIG. 2 of the third embodiment of the invention, FIG. 9 is a view as that in FIG. 3 of the third embodiment of the invention, Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to the drawings and, in particular to FIGS. 1 - 3, 10 generally designates a channeled metallic support element or stud of undetermined length, made of a metal sheet blank and forming a web 11 and two side walls 12A and 12B projecting perpendicularly from the web. Side wall 12A at the free edge thereof is bent at right angles to form an inwardly projecting flange 13 extending along the edge. Side wall 12B also is bent at right angles at the free edge thereof to form an inwardly projecting flange which merges into a perpendicular flange projecting towards the web so that side wall 12B forms a channel 14 extending along the free edge thereof. Due to the double- folding of side wall 12B this wall has a slightly smaller hight than side wall 12A so that two elements in order to save space at transport, storing and shipping can be put together in a box-like fashion, side wall 12B of one element being received between flange 13 of side wall 12A and web 11 of the other element . Web 11 forms rectangular depressions 15 which stiffen up the web and are located between longitudinal borders 16. In each border there is a linear row of identical slots 17, which extends longitudinally along the border. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 - 3 the slots are substantially circularly curved as can be seen in FIG. 3, and they are punched from the inside of web 11 such that each slot is defined by metal sheet edge portions 18 protruding from the outside of the web, a smoothly curved transition being formed at the base of each edge portion 18. The slots are located alternatingly on one side and the other of a centre line indicated by a dot-and-dash line 19 in FIG. 3 and are uniformly spaced in the longitudinal direction of the row of slots. The concave sides of the slots on opposite sides of line 19 face each other, and the slots on one side of line 19 span the space between adjacent slots on the other side of line 19. In other words, the slots on one side of line 19 are displaced in relation to the slots on the other side of line 19 a distance which equals half the center distance between the slots. The slots thus arranged do not significantly weaken the support element but provide a sound and noise insulation as well as a heat insulation which has been found to be considerably greater than that obtained by any other slot configuration of prior art metallic support elements. The shape of the slots can be varied, and another shape is disclosed in FIGS. 4 - 6. In this case the slots 17 'are substantially V-shaped but the arrangement of the row of slots is the same as that described above: the concave sides of the slots on opposite sides of the centre line indicated at 19 in FIG. 6 face each other and the slots on one side of the centre line span the space between adjacent slots on the other side of the centre line. In FIGS 4 - 6 no depressions are provided in web 11 of the support element and, therefore, it is possible to arrange a desired number of longitudinal rows of slots arbitrarily distributed over the web. The rows shown extend near the edges of the web but could as well be located near the centre line of the web, or a third row could be arranged centrally between the rows shown, or a single row of slots could extend along the centre line of the web. More than three parallel rows of slots also could be arranged in the web. In FIGS . 7 - 9 a further embodiment of the suport element of the invention is disclosed, wherein the slots 17" are U-shaped and are arranged along the row in the manner described above . The shape of the slots thus can be varied within the scope of the invention, and the shape and dimensions of the slots, the number of rows of slots and the location of the rows in the web of the support element has to be determined empirically for optimal heat and sound insulation in combination with optimal strength of the element. It is possible to combine different shapes and dimensions of the slots in one and the same support element and even in one and the same row. It is also possible to punch the slots from the outside of web 11 so that flanges 18 defining the slots protrude from the inside of the web, which may provide a slightly greater stiffness of the element. Slots which have been punched from one side of the web may be combined with slots which have been punched from the other side of the web. It is also possible to increase the stiffness of the element by arranging a grater space between the slots on one side of line 19 and the slots on the other side of said line than that disclosed in the drawings if allowed by the width of borders 16. Only as an example, in a support element made from a 0.5 mm metal sheet blank the slots may have a maximum width of 3 mm and the protruding flanges 18 defining the slots may have a maximum hight of 3 mm.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A channeled metal sheet support element for wallboard or the like, forming a web (11) and two side walls (12A, 12B) at least one longitudinal row of slots (17, 17', 17") being provided in the web, characterized in that the slots are curved and are located alternatingly on one side and the other of a centre line (19) of the row mutually spaced longitudinally of the row, the concave sides of the slots on opposite sides of the centre line facing each other the slots on one side of the centre line spanning the spaces between adjacent slots on the other side of the centre line. 2. The support element as in claim 1, wherein the slots (17, 17', 17") are defined by protruding edge portions (18) . 3. The support element as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the slots (17) are substantially circularly curved. 4. The support element as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the slots (17') are V-shaped. 5. The support element as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the slots (17') are U-shaped. 6. The support element as in any of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the web (11) forms a row of rectangular depressions (15) between longitudinal borders (16) extending along the edge of the web, a row of slots (17, 17', 17") being provided in each of said borders longitudinally thereof.

Inventors: AHOLA JANNE, RIIKONEN PASI, AHOLA, JANNE, RIIKONEN, PASI
Applicants: AHOLA JANNE, GASELL PROFIL AB, RIIKONEN PASI, AHOLA, JANNE, RIIKONEN, PASI
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E04C3
IPC codes: E04C3