Abstract:
A metal stud and clip assembly is designed for use in a non-load-bearing wall to allow a horizontal ceiling to vertically float thereon. This is accomplished by an elongated receiving channel on the stud spaced inwardly from its edges. A clip member has an elongated stabilizing bar slidably inserted into the channel, and the stabilizing bar itself then is secured to a horizontal ceiling or a track system mounted to the ceiling. Thus, relative movement of the ceiling with respect to the wall allows the stabilizing bar to move up and down in the receiving channel on the stud member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Vertical metal studs are widely used in building construction, particularly in conjunction with commercial buildings, for the non-load-bearing interior walls. The studs generally are covered with drywall which is attached to them to form the interior walls of the structure in which they are used. 
   In the past, vertical metal studs in non-load-bearing interior walls of a building were connected directly between a track on the floor at their bottoms and a top track secured to the horizontal joists for floors or roofs of the building. Such construction has resulted in substantial problems, in that little if any vertical displacement of the floor or roof, at the top of the studs, could be tolerated. 
   The fixed relationship of the non-load-bearing studs and the floors or roofs connected to the top ends of the studs results in longitudinal compressive stresses on the studs, which frequently causes the studs to buckle laterally at intermediate locations, creating cracks or distortions in the walls of the building in which they are used. These longitudinal forces applied to the studs result from vertical displacement of the floor or roof of the building above the studs. The fixed relationship of the non-load-bearing studs, in the case of variations in load for office floors above the rooms in which the studs are used, or in the case of a heavy load of snow or the like on a roof, causes a significant downward pressure on the vertical non-bearing studs. If the studs are rigidly secured at both the top and bottom, between the floor of the room and its ceiling, unsightly and unacceptable cracks occur in the wall covering. In addition, the integral structure of the wall is weakened as a result of the buckling or partial buckling of the studs. When the load is lessened (in the case of an office building, by all of the workers leaving at the end of a day, or in the case of a roof, by the melting of snow), the cracks in the walls increase as the walls expand in response to the lessening vertical pressure on the studs. The studs themselves undergo a stretching or lengthening after their earlier buckling, which further contributes to the weakness of the wall. 
   Efforts to overcome the problems of a rigid interconnection between vertical studs in non-bearing walls and the ceilings or floors above them, by allowing relative movement of the ceiling or floor with respect to the studs, have been made. One effort is disclosed in the United States patent to Gilmour No. 5,040,345. This patent is directed to the addition of a stud clip to the head track for allowing vertical floating movement of a floor or roof structure above the stud to take place. The clip has a pair of opposing flanges, which are secured directly to the downwardly depending flanges of the head track. Another portion of the clip is inset slightly from the inner surface of the head track flanges. This inset portion includes grooves which accommodate the inwardly turned flanges on a standard stud. This allows the stud to slide up and down over the exterior of the clip between it and the flanges of the head track. The system is designed so that the length of the stud extends into or nestles within the downwardly turned flanges of the head track. If the clip were to be extended beyond these downwardly depending flanges, it would interfere with the attachment of drywall to the stud, since portions of the clip directly underlie the inwardly edges of the stud. There also is no provision in this patent for allowing sliding movement of drywall portions relative to one another; so that drywall necessarily would need to be spaced a sufficient distance below the downwardly turned edges of the head track to accommodate the expected vertical movement in the finished installation. This in turn allows sound to travel over the top of the drywall portions of the walls, from one room to another. 
   A different approach to the problem is disclosed in the DeFrancesco U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,121. As with the Gilmour patent mentioned above, the system of DeFrancesco also does not provide any provision for drywall overlap; so that sound can travel over the top of a wall built with this system. In DeFrancesco, a clip is designed for a slip fit within the open end of a stud. The clip includes an outwardly flared portion at the top, which then is secured to the flanges of the head track. The clip is designed to extend a substantial distance downwardly into the open end of the stud; and it includes elongated slots in its sides. The slots are designed to accommodate fasteners for drywall, which then may be passed through the studs and into the slots to permit the slip fit movement. The system, however, does not allow for drywall butt joints. Such joints will result in fasteners located on opposite sides of the slots; and if such a butt joint were to be secured in the area of the clip, the fasteners would secure the clip and the stud together in a non-movable relationship. This would defeat the purpose of the whole system. In addition, the system of DeFrancesco, as well as the system of Gilmour, preclude the running of any conduit through the wide or inside portion of the studs, since the clips of both of these patents completely overlie this portion. Consequently, no conduit could be run through the stud/clip assembly without securing the parts together. If conduit is run immediately below the clip, the relative vertical movement which is desired would be prevented, or severing of the conduit (and the wires within it) could result. As a consequence, the structures of both Gilmour and DeFrancesco clearly limit the location of any conduit running through the interior of the wall to a position substantially removed from the clip assembly itself. 
   The Becker U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,471,805 and 5,755,066 disclose a head track configuration with stepped surfaces to allow drywall overlap. This permits drywall attached to the header to slide over drywall attached to the studs which extend up into the header. This feature in the Becker patents provides a fire barrier connection, as well as a sound barrier. The disclosure of the Becker patents, however, does not show any guide whatsoever to hold the studs against tipping or shifting within the header. The studs are not held vertically within the header; and the only thing which holds the studs in their correct orientation is the connection of the drywall itself. The studs do not extend all the way to abut the header; so that limited vertical movement between the header and the top of the studs is permitted with this structure, allowing the overlapping drywall to slidably provide the necessary fire barrier. In the event of an earthquake, however, the studs are not held against lateral movement (particularly longitudinally of the header); so that the wall structure is subject to substantial damage in the event of an earthquake. 
   The Mieyal U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,127 discloses a stud extension with a slip fit onto the stud to then allow the stud to be interconnected with a suitable header. This extension allows a slip fit of the stud on the extension; but the extension itself has snap tabs on it to connect into the header. This requires additional manufacturing steps. 
   The Greenwood U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,723 is directed to an interior wall mounting device for providing a cosmetic interconnection between drywall sections which are vertically mounted on studs in the wall, and, in some cases, interconnections between drywall interfaces at both the ceiling and in corners of the room. The mounting devices are in the form of elongated parts which provide surfaces acting as crown molding, corner molding, or the like, in the finished construction. The structure disclosed in this patent, however, is not directed to slip fit interconnections between a head track and vertical studs to allow relative movements between the two. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved stud and clip assembly which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, which effectively provides alignment for the studs while allowing relative movement between head track and the studs, and which allows a non-interfering location for the various components to allow standard connection of drywall and conduit passage at any location on the stud. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of this invention to provide an improved stud assembly system and method for permitting relative vertical movement between the ceiling or roof of a structure and the stud. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide an improved stud and clip assembly for use with metal studs to allow relative vertical movement between the roof or floor of the building in which the stud is located and the stud through slidable interconnections between elements of the clip and the stud which do not interfere with conventional construction utilization of the stud. 
   It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improved metal stud and clip assembly for metal studs used in non-load-bearing walls to secure the stud against lateral displacement while allowing relative vertical movement between the stud and the ceiling or floor to which the stud is attached. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved stud and stud clip assembly and method of installation for installing metal studs in a non-load-bearing wall to allow relative sliding movement between the clip and the stud to eliminate potentially damaging stresses from being applied to the stud. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a metal stud and clip assembly for use in a non-load-bearing wall is designed to allow a horizontal ceiling or floor to vertically float on the wall. The assembly includes an elongated metal stud member which has a generally U-shaped cross section including a main portion, and first and second edges having first and second side members attached thereto. At least a first receiver is attached to the main portion of the stud member; and it is spaced inwardly a predetermined distance from the first and second side members. A clip member has a first portion for attachment to a surface located above the stud; and it also has at least a first elongated stabilizing bar attached to it and extending downwardly to slidably engage the first receiver on the stud member. This allows relative vertical movement between the stud member and the stabilizing bar. 
   To install the stud and clip assembly in a non-load-bearing wall, the stabilizing bar of the clip member first is extended into the receiver on the stud to allow relative sliding movement between the bar and the receiver. The stud and the clip member then are positioned in the construction of a non-load-bearing wall; and the clip member is extended upwardly for attachment to a ceiling or floor above the stud. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a portion of a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of another portion of a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of an element used in conjunction with the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a wall structure employing a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial front perspective view of a structure of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating details thereof; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional configuration of an alternative use of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating other features of the invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged detail of the circle portion designated as “7” in FIG.  6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same or similar components are designated by the same reference numbers throughout the different figures.  FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a metal stud made of galvanized steel, extruded aluminum or other suitable material, which incorporates the features of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
   The stud  10  and has a generally U-shaped cross section. The bight of the cross section is a main member  12 , typically located on the interior of a wall in which the stud  10  is used. The longitudinal edges of the member  12  have attached to them a pair of side members  14  and  18 . The side members  14  and  18  may be integrally formed with the main member  12 , or may be separately attached in accordance with known manufacturing techniques. As is typical with studs of this type, the free edges of the side members  14  and  18  are inwardly turned at  16  and  20 , respectively. This portion of the metal stud which has been described is conventional; and the dimensional characteristics of the stud are identical to those of conventional studs not incorporating the invention. 
   The stud of  FIG. 1 , however, has been modified to include first and second receivers or receiver channels  22  and  24  attached to the main portion  12  and spaced inwardly from the side members  14  and  18 , as is readily apparent from an examination of FIG.  1 . The receivers  22  and  24  are in the form of hollow elongated rectangular cross-sectional channels, which extend parallel to the edges of the main portion  12 , or parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the stud  10 . 
   The hollow receiver channels  22  and  24  are spaced inwardly from the edges  14  and  18  a distance sufficient to permit the interconnection of standard drywall surfaces, corner beads and the like without interference. In addition, sufficient space is provided between the receiver channels  22  and  24  to allow the passage of conduit through the main member  12  in this space between the channels without interfering with the channels or the operation of those channels, as subsequently described. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective views of a slip clip assembly and a ceiling track assembly for utilization in conjunction with the stud of the invention shown in FIG.  1 . In  FIG. 3 , a ceiling track of the type typically used in metal stud construction, to provide a guide or channel for the upper ends of the studs in non-load-bearing walls, is illustrated. The track or guide channel of  FIG. 3 , however, has been modified to accommodate a feature of the invention described in greater detail subsequently. 
   The ceiling track comprises an elongated flat upper surface  40  designed to be attached to a ceiling or floor located above the wall in which the stud  10  of  FIG. 1  is to be used. The channel of the track is formed by a pair of spaced apart downwardly depending flanges  42  and  44 , which serve as guides for the stud assembly to be described. In addition, a second pair of downwardly depending flanges  46  and  48 , shorter in length than the flanges  42  and  44 , are provided along the edges of the portion  40 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a slip fit clip assembly designed for use in conjunction with the ceiling track of FIG.  3  and the stud  10  of FIG.  1 . The slip fit clip includes an upper portion  30  and two downwardly extending flanges  32  and  34 . These flanges  32  and  34  are designed to fit inside the flanges  42  and  44 , and are designed to be attached to the flanges  42  and  44  by means of suitable connectors. In the alternative, the surface  30  is designed to be attached by means of suitable fasteners to the channel  40 . Prior to attachment of the clip assembly of  FIG. 2  into the ceiling track  40  of  FIG. 3 , however, a pair of parallel elongated stabilizing bars  36  and  38 , attached to the edge of the portion  30 , and extending from it, are extended into the respective channels  24  and  22  of the stud shown in  FIG. 1 , and are slid downwardly into those channels. The outer dimensions of the stabilizing bars  36  and  38  are selected to snugly but slidably fit within the interior openings of the receiver channels  22  and  24 . 
   Reference now should be made to  FIG. 4 , which illustrates a typical wall construction and which shows, on the left and right halves thereof, different relative vertical orientations of the various parts of a preferred embodiment of the invention installed into a typical wall. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a stud (one of many of which are used in a non-bearing interior wall) is shown as interconnected between an upper ceiling or floor  50  and a bottom floor  52 . It should be noted that in the ensuing description, the word “ceiling” can mean any surface or member which is located above the non-bearing wall with which the invention is used and interconnected. It can be the horizontal joists of a roof truss, or it may simply be the lower side of a floor in a multi-story building. 
   In  FIG. 4 , a U-shaped channel  60  is secured to the floor by means of suitable fasteners  61  in the location of the wall which is to be constructed. The lower end of the stud  12 / 14 / 18  is attached to upturned flanges of the channel  60  by means of suitable fasteners  63 , which extend through the upturned flanges of the channel  60  into the corresponding side members  14  and  18  of a typical stud used in the structure. Once this connection has been made, the clip  30 / 32 / 34 , which has been pre-assembled with the stud with the stabilizer bars  36  and  38  inserted into the openings in the receiver channels  24  and  22 , respectively, is moved upwardly to engage the lower surface of the guide channel  40 , which has been secured to the ceiling  50  by any suitable manner. It should be noted that the upper end of the stud  12 / 14 / 18  is located below the lower edges of the downwardly extending flanges  42  and  44  (as viewed in the left-hand portion of  FIG. 4 ) to accommodate relative vertical movement between the floor  50  and the top of the stud. 
   When the location of the elements is such that the stud is properly vertically oriented, the clip  30  is slid upwardly into place to engage the lower surface of the channel  40  and the parts are secured together by means of suitable fasteners, as described previously. This allows the stabilizer bars  36  and  38  to extend downwardly into the top open ends of the respective channels  24  and  22 , as illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
   Initially, the relative spacing shown on the left-hand side of the broken line in  FIG. 4  shows the orientation of the various parts of the assembly. A suitable surface, such as drywall  68 , is applied to the left-hand side of the stud to form the surface of the wall defined by a row of studs, such as the stud shown in FIG.  4 . As shown, the drywall  68  is attached by means of suitable fasteners  70 ; and it is readily apparent that the fasteners  70  completely clear the receiver channels  22  and  24  without any interference. Similarly, drywall  72  is attached to the right-hand side. To provide for a suitable sound and fire barrier, additional strips of drywall, such as the drywall strips  62  and  64  shown on opposite sides of the stud are attached to the flanges  46  and  48  by means of suitable fasteners, such as the fasteners  66  shown in the left-hand portion of FIG.  4 . These drywall strips slidably overlap the corresponding drywall sheets  68  and  72 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , to permit relative vertical movement between the sheets  62  and  68  and the sheets  64  and  72 . It should be noted that the spacing between the flanges  42 / 46  and the flanges  44 / 48  is selected to permit a snug overlapping relationship between the drywall segments  62 / 68  and  64 / 72 . 
   Reference now should be made to the right-hand side of  FIG. 4 , which essentially shows a split of a stud and all of the other structure vertically to illustrate the relative orientation of the parts when the ceiling  50  sags downwardly toward the top edge of the stud  12 / 14 / 18 . As shown in the right-hand portion of  FIG. 4 , the space between the top of the stud and the inside of the clip  30  is substantially less than the space shown in the left-hand portion of  FIG. 4 , which illustrates the normal or installed relative spacing of the components. It should be noted in conjunction with  FIG. 4  that the utilization of the split drawing configuration is done for the purpose of conserving drawing space, and that both sides of a stud simultaneously incur either the spacing shown in the left-hand side of  FIG. 4 , or that shown in the right-hand side of  FIG. 4  as the ceiling  50  moves downwardly and back up again, as the load on it varies. 
     FIG. 5  is a partially cut away perspective view of a completed assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the ceiling track  40  is illustrated as having only the two flanges  42  and  44  secured to it. This configuration may be used any time the overlapping drywall feature described above in conjunction with  FIG. 4  is not desired. The remainder of the assembly shown in  FIG. 5 , however, is identical to that described previously in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 through 4 , and operates in the same manner as the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . The stud, ceiling track and clip assembly are the same as described previously; and the orientation and operation of the various parts is as previously described. 
     FIG. 5 , however, further illustrates the manner in which the receiver channels  22  and  24 , along with the stabilizer bars  38  and  36 , are located to preclude interference from the interconnection of drywall sheets such as the sheets  68  and  82  to either the sides or ends (the flat surface or main portion  12  of the stud  10 ), as illustrated. Typically, when drywall sheets are attached, the fasteners  70  and  84  at the edges are located in the areas illustrated. It is readily apparent that whether a sheet  82  is applied to the main or flat portion  12  of the stud  10 , or whether a sheet  68  is attached to the edge or side member, such as the member  18 , the fasteners are completely free of any interference with the receiver channels  22  and  24 , and therefore, with the slidably inserted stabilizing bars  38  and  36 . This also is true of corner beading, such as the beading  86  which is typically applied over joints at a corner of the type illustrated in FIG.  5 . Any fasteners which are used to secure the corner bead  86  over the ends of the drywall sheets  68  and  82  completely clear the receiver channels  22  and  24 . 
   Finally, it should be noted that, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , conventional conduit  81  may be passed through circular openings  80  formed in the main portion  12  of the studs between the receiver channels  22  and  24  without interfering in any way with the relative vertical sliding movement between the stabilizing bars  36  and  38  and the receiver channels  24  and  22 . As a consequence, the structure of the preferred embodiment of the invention allows conventional construction techniques to be utilized with respect to other standard elements of wall and conduit structure without regard to the location of the clip receiver channels or stabilizing bars. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a general structural configuration of the type which may be used in conjunction with the wall and ceiling structure described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1  though  5 . In addition,  FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative to the use of the clip and receiver channel configuration of the studs for providing extensions of studs for particular structural installations. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , two interior walls including a pair of studs or stud assemblies are shown in an end view of those walls, taken in cross section at some point between the studs. The structure shown includes a room with a suspended interior ceiling  100  on the left-hand side of the structure, a suspended ceiling  114  in a hallway or room between the two walls formed by the studs, and a suspended ceiling  118  in a room on the right-hand side of the structure shown in FIG.  6 . The ceiling heights of all of these suspended ceilings, as measured from the floor  52 , are different. 
   The studs of the walls in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  are attached through channels  60  to the floor  52  in the manner described previously in conjunction with FIG.  4 . At the top, a mounting clip  30  is illustrated as secured directly to the structural ceiling  50 . It is obvious from an examination of  FIG. 6 , that the structural ceiling  50  is located a substantial distance above the suspended ceilings  100 / 114 / 118 , described previously. The structure may be the same as described in conjunction with  FIG. 4 ; or it may include stud extensions still utilizing the unique features of the clip and stabilizing bars  36  and  38  shown in FIG.  2 . 
   To utilize the system as a stud extender, short lengths of studs, such as shown by means of the upper side members  14  and  18  on both of the left-hand and right-hand wall configurations, may be secured directly to the flanges  32  and  34  of the clip  30  at their upper ends. The stabilizer bars  36  and  38  extend downwardly through the respective receiver channels  24  and  22  in the manner described previously, and extend all of the way through the length of the upper segments of studs shown in FIG.  6 . Longer studs, illustrated by the side members  14 A and  18 A in both the left-hand and right-hand interior walls of  FIG. 6 , then are located in longitudinal alignment with the upper segments; and the stabilizer bars  36  and  38  extend from the upper stud segments through a space provided between the upper and lower segments into the corresponding channels  22 A and  24 A of the lower stud segments, as illustrated in FIG.  7 . 
   The gap between each of the upper stud segment and the lower primary studs is selected to be sufficient to allow for relative vertical movement between the ceiling  50  and the floor  52 , in the manner described previously. Fire and sound barriers may be provided by elongated strips of drywall  90  and  92  attached to only the upper stud side members  18  and  14 , respectively, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and slidably engaging the upper edges or surfaces of the side members  14 A and  18 A of the lower or main studs. 
   As illustrated, the suspended ceiling  100  is suspended from the primary structural ceiling  50  by means of hangers  102 ; and the ceiling  118  is suspended by means of hangers  120 . In the narrow or hallway section of the structure shown in  FIG. 6 , there typically are located a variety of conduits, pipes, heating/cooling chases, and the like. These are illustrated as conduit and water pipes  112 , which are located on an interior frame  104 , suspended from the ceiling  50  by means of hangers  106 . This area also may include larger duct work  110  and air conditioning or other conventional duct work  110 , which may extend perpendicularly into the plane of the drawing sheet of  FIG. 6 , or laterally out into the space between the suspended ceiling  118  and the structural ceiling  50 . In any event, relative movement of the ceiling  50  and the various suspended ceilings  100 / 104 / 114  and  118 , with respect to the floor, takes place by decreasing and increasing the open space between the stud segments illustrated in detail in  FIG. 7 , to allow this movement without placing any stress on the shortened stud segments or the elongated segments shown in FIG.  6 . Consequently, the stud and clip assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is highly versatile for a variety of different installation purposes, as described above in conjunction with all of the various figures. 
   The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention is to be considered illustrative and not as limiting. Various materials may be used to form the different parts of the invention; and the manner of forming and fabricating these different parts and/or materials together may be varied by those skilled in the art, without departing from the true scope of the invention. Various other changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art for performing substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve substantially the same result without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.