Patent Publication Number: US-RE29965-E

Title: Wall construction

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application is a divisional of my copending application Ser. No. 257,943 of May 30, 1972, now abandoned, which was a division of and copending with application Ser. No. 74,022, of Sept. 21, 1970, now abandoned. 
     In the wall of the invention, double side or double flange studs are mounted in a line, with each mounted stud having one side or flange of greater resilience than the other. The studs are alternately reversed so that on each side of the line of studs, the less resilient flanges are alternated with the more resilient flanges. In each adjacent pair of studs, on a single wall side, one flange is of greater resilience than the other. 
     When a panel is mounted to span at least three studs, the panel edges are at and fixed to the less resilient flanges of the two outer studs of such three studs; and the panel centers or inner portions are adjacent the more resilient flange of the central stud of such three studs. 
     THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments are shown in the appended drawings, to be understood on reference to this specification. 
    
    
     IN THESE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the present sound attenuation wall. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrows 2--2 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrows 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrows 4--4 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the present improved stud construction. 
     FIG. 6 is a similar view of a modification. 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view with the partitions extending longitudinally. 
     FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 5 showing a modified stud. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS SHOWN IN THE DRAWINGS 
     A sound attenuation wall is shown in FIG. 1, and as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is adapted for use between fixed structures such as a building floor 11 and ceiling 17. 
     Channels 13 and 19 are mounted upon said floor and ceiling and are secured by fasteners 15. 
     THE STUDS 
     A line or series of longitudinally spaced studs 21 is interposed between and projects into channels 13 and 19 and is suitably anchored thereto with each stud, as formed and mounted, having a first more resilient side 25 and a second less resilient side 27, and a web 23. 
     Studs 21 as best shown in FIG. 2 are alternately arranged so that the first and second flanges 25-27 of adjacent studs are alternately reversed. 
     The second, less resilient flanges 27 of the studs are anchored to the channels as by fasteners 37. The first or more resilient flanges 25 are not anchored to the channels. 
     THE PANELS 
     Wallboard panels 39 applied to opposite sides of the respective studs with the wallboards on each side being in alignment and in engagement with each other at their edges throughout the length of the wall such as is shown fragmentarily in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2. 
     Wallboards on each side are in engagement along the registry line 43, FIG. 1 which corresponds to the central portion of the particular second flange 27 to which the wallboards at the respective edges are fixed by fasteners 41. 
     Each wallboard spans at least three studs with the outer edges of each wallboard fixed to the corresponding second flange 27 of the outer of said three studs as by a series of fasteners 41. In the modification shown in FIG. 7, the wallboards extend longitudinally and span more than three studs. 
     The central or inner portion of each wallboard 39 throughout its height is adjacent the corresponding resilient first flange 25. In FIG. 7, central portions of the wallboards loosely bear against adjacent resilient first flanges. 
     It is noted particularly with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 that the wallboards 39 upon opposite sides of the partition at their respective meeting edges 43 are staggered or offset. Thus the meeting line 43 between a pair of wallboards on one side of the wall is in registry with corresponding central or intermediate portion of an opposed wallboard. The wallboards upon opposite sides of the wall are staggered whereby the wallboard on one side of the wall spans three adjacent studs and the opposing but staggered wallboard on the opposite side of the partition spans two of the said three studs. 
     By this construction the outer upright edges of each wallboard are fixedly secured to the second flange 27 of the corresponding stud whereas the upright central portion of each wallboard yieldingly bears against the corresponding resilient first flange 25 of the intermediate stud. 
     Thus, the individual wallboards affixed at their upright edges yieldably bear against the respective central stud and are adapted to flex inwardly and outwardly in the functioning of the present sound attenuation panel. The wallboards along their top and bottom edges are fixedly secured to the floor and ceiling channels by fasteners 41. Likewise in FIG. 7, the longitudinal edge of some wallboards bears against and is affixed to channels 13 or 19. 
     Suitable sound absorbing pads or blankets 45, of which a pair are shown, FIGS. 1 and 2, are interposed in compression between the assembled opposed wallboards 39 and have a very definite function in the final operation of the present sound attenuating panel. While the present panel as constructed is effective as a sound attenuation panel even without the sound absorbing pads interposed, an improved sound attenuation panel is provided when said pads are provided. 
     It has been found in operation that any inward flexing of the corresponding wallboards due to the transmission of sound vibrations therethrough causes a frictional rubbing action of the wallboard with respect to the sound absorbing pad. This rubbing action transforms sound energy to heat, thus, dissipating the sound and provides an improved sound attentuation wall partition. The compressed pads also dampen vibrations. 
     Glass fiber strips are shown in the illustrative embodiment, nine feet long for example, and thus extend between the floor and ceiling and are interposed in compression between the wallboards when assembled. 
     The resilient backing of each wallboard throughout its height is achieved by the yieldable first flanges 25 providing a yielding relationship between the wallboard and the supporting stud. 
     REPRISE 
     The broader aspect of this invention is that the studs when formed and mounted, have first and second flanges of different resiliency. One method of accomplishing this result is to secure only one flange of a stud to the channels. Thus the stud as mounted, provides the desired result. 
     Alternately, the stud as formed but prior to mounting may have flanges of different resiliency (in which case anchoring only one flange to the channels is optional). 
     One such stud 29 is fragmentarily shown in FIG. 6. The corresponding resilient first flange 31 is provided additional resiliency by a series of aligned spaced slits 33 formed in the stud web. 
     In FIG. 5 the resilient first flange 25 is given additional flexibility by the use of more slits. Longitudinally spaced slits 33 correspond to those of FIG. 6. Further longitudinally spaced slits 49 are formed at the one longitudinal edge of flange 25. Slits 49 are alternately arranged and staggered with respect to slits 33. 
     FIG. 8 is yet another modification of the stud in that the resilient first flange 25&#39; is initially before assembly non-parallel to second flange 27. Flange 25&#39; extends outwardly at an acute angle to flange 27 in the range of 5°-20° for illustration. 
     Upon assembly of the wallboards such as in FIGS. 1 and 2, the resilient first flanges 25&#39; shown in FIG. 8 are then in compression and substantially parallel to flanges 25. Resilient first flange 25&#39; has been rendered more flexible and resilient due to the double series of staggered slots 33 and 49. .Iadd. 
     My Prior Patent 3,611,653 
     This co-pending issued patent 3,611,653, hereinafter referred to to as the &#34;tabbed stud patent&#34; since it discloses a &#34;tabbed stud&#34; is referenced here so that it may be contrasted, on the record, with the instant patent hereinafter referred to as the &#34;tabless stud patent&#34; since it discloses a &#34;tabless stud&#34;. 
     In the &#34;tabbed stud&#34; construction, the two flanges of a stud are anchored and of equal resilience, with one flange, however, having integral struck-out tabs 31. These tabs are intended to provide the bearing surface, which is thus  made up of isolated, separated, small projections, bound to be a variety of heights, thus, providing an irregular bearing surface. Since some, at least, of the tabs 31 can and may and probably would become twisted and deformed between the point and time of manufacture and the point and time of use, such tabs could puncture and damage the formed wall surface and panels. 
     The tabless studs hereof will present no such problems, since they are shown in the drawings as free of tabs or protuberances. .Iaddend. 
     CONCLUSION 
     While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed supra, the inventive concepts hereof are not limited to such preferred embodiments but are those defined in the claims which follow.