Abstract:
A universal stud for use with demountable wall partitions and demountable ceiling panels is provided. A base having a first end and a second end is provided. The base has sufficient structure for removably engaging a demountable wall partition and/or a demountable ceiling panel. A plurality of arms extend from the base. Two arms and the base define a channel for receiving either the demountable wall partition or the demountable ceiling panel. The universal stud can be oriented vertically to accept a demountable wall partition, or, can be oriented horizontally to receive either the demountable wall partition or the demountable ceiling panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,704 entitled, “Universal Stud For Demountable Wall Partitions And Demountable Ceiling Panels,” filed Feb. 11, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to wall structures, ceiling structures and a stud for both.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Many wall and ceiling structures are available. A stud device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,390 to Wendt. Another related stud system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,675 to McGee. A ceiling device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,605 to Wendt. All known stud, wall and ceiling systems require different and varied components.  
           [0004]    It is, therefore, a feature of the present invention to provide a universal stud adaptable for use with both ceiling panels and wall partitions.  
           [0005]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized by means of the combinations and steps particularly pointed out in the appended claims.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    To achieve the foregoing objects, features, and advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein. A universal stud for use with demountable wall partitions and demountable ceiling panels is provided. A base having a first end and a second end is provided. The base has sufficient structure for removably engaging a demountable wall partition and/or a demountable ceiling panel. A plurality of arms extend from the base. Two arms and the base define a channel for receiving either the demountable wall partition or the demountable ceiling panel. The universal stud can be oriented vertically to accept a demountable wall partition, or, can be oriented horizontally to receive either the demountable wall partition or the demountable ceiling panel. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of an angle connector encompassed by the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a straight connector encompassed by the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a cap connector encompassed by the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a wall structure encompassed by the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a wall and ceiling structure encompassed by the present invention.  
     
    
       [0013]    The above general description and the following detailed description are merely illustrative of the generic invention, and additional modes, advantages, and particulars of this invention will be readily suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention as described in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates an angle connector  10  associated with the present invention. The angle connector  10  has a first base  100  and a second base  200 . The first base  100  and the second base  200  are connected at an angle A. The first base  100  comprises a first arm  102 , a second arm  104 , a third arm  106  and a fourth arm  108 . The first arm  102 , the second arm  104 , the third arm  106  and the fourth arm  108  extend from the base  100  along the same dimension. The first arm  102  and the second arm  104  are located at the extreme ends of the first base  100 . The third arm  106  and the fourth arm  108  are located at intermediate locations extending from the first base  100  and between the first arm  102  and the second arm  104 . An outer channel  112  is formed by the first arm  102 , the first base  100  and the third arm  106 . Similarly, an inner channel  114  is formed by the arrangement of the second arm  104 , the first base  100  and the fourth arm  108 . A center channel  116  is formed by the third arm  106 , the first base  100  and the fourth arm  108 . The partition can be made of any material or materials, such as by way of example, wood, fiberglass, plexiglass, glass, metal, fabric-wrapped material, plastic, sheetrock, composite material and the like.  
         [0016]    The second base  200  has connected thereto a first arm  202 , a second arm  204 , a third arm  206  and a fourth arm  208 . The arrangement of the first arm  202 , the second base  200  and the third arm  206  form an inner channel  212 . Similarly, the second arm  204 , the second base  200  and the fourth arm  208  form an inner channel  214 . A center channel  216  is formed by the third arm  206 , the second base  200  and the fourth arm  208 .  
         [0017]    The angle connector  10  can be used in various configurations. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the angle A can be changed such that the orientation of the arms and associated channels can be located at varying dimensions.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a straight connector  30  associated with the present invention. The straight connector  30  comprises a base  300  with a plurality of symmetrical arms extending remotely therefrom. At the extremity of the straight connector  30  are the first arms  302 A,  302 B and the second arms  304 A,  304 B. Located intermediate of the first arms  302 A,  302 B and the second arms  304 A,  304 B are the third arms  306 A,  306 B and the fourth arms  308 A,  308 B. Symmetrically corresponding channels are formed by the orientation of the various arms with the base  300 . A first channel  312 A is formed by the first arm  302 A, the base  300  and the third arm  306 A. A center channel  316 A is formed by the third arm  306 A, the base  300  and the fourth arm  308 A. A second channel  314 A is formed by the fourth arm  308 A, the base  300  and the second arm  304 A. A fourth channel  314 B is formed by the second arm  304 B, the base  300  and the fourth arm  308 B. A center channel  316 B is formed by the third arm  306 B, the base  300  and the fourth arm  308 B. A sixth channel  312 B is formed by the first arm  302 B, the base  300  and the third arm  306 B.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is an illustration of a cap connector  40  associated with the present invention. The cap connector  40  comprises a base  400  and a plurality of arms extending from the base  400 . A first arm  402  and a second arm  404  are located at the extremities of the base  400 . Between the first arm  402  and the second arm  404  are a third arm  406  and fourth arm  408 . A first channel  412  is formed by the first arm  402 , the base  400  and the third arm  406 . A second channel  414  is formed by the second arm  404 , the base  400  and the fourth arm  408 . A center channel  416  is formed by the third arm  406 , the base  400  and the fourth arm  408 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a partial illustration showing use of the angle connector  10 , the straight connector  30  and the cap connector  40  in association with several partitions  12 ,  14  and  16 . Particularly, partition  14  is engaged in a center channel  116 ,  216  of a first angle connector  10 A and a second angle connector  10 B. A sliding partition  16  is engaged in the corresponding outer channels  112  of the angle connectors  10 A,  10 B. Also, a partition  12 A is engaged with the center channel  216  of the angle connector  10 B and the center channel  316  of the straight connector  30 . The straight connector  30  is engaged by its alternate center channel  316  with a partition  12 B. The partition  12 B is further engaged with the center channel  416  of a cap connector  40 . The partition can be made of any material or materials, such as by way of example, wood, fiberglass, plexiglass, glass, metal, fabric-wrapped material, plastic, sheetrock, composite material and the like.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is an illustration of an enclosed structure  60  using the angle connectors  10  of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a first side partition  12  and a second side partition  14  and two other side partitions (not illustrated) being held in a fixed geometric shape using the angle connectors  10 A,  10 B,  10 C,  10 D. The side partitions  12 ,  14  and connectors  10 A,  10 B,  10 C,  10 D are further engaged in an upper partition  18  using additional angle connectors  11 A,  11 B,  11 C,  11 D.  
         [0022]    It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various configurations can be formed using the connector system and method of the present invention. Differing angles can be used with the angle connector  10  to achieve different geometries. Partitions can be shortened and longated using the straight connector  30  and sliding members can be removably or slidably engaged with the angle connector  10  or the straight connector  30  or the cap connector  40 .  
         [0023]    Additional advantages and modification will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and the illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, the departures may be made from the details without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed general inventive concept.