Abstract:
A construction system includes a metallic stud definable in terms of an X, Y, Z coordinate system. The system includes a Z-axis elongate substantially rectangular integral web within a YZ plane, the web having a stability elements along a Z axis line of dependency with a first edge of the web, the elements defining an L-shaped element having a foot occupying a YZ plane substantially parallel to the web. The system also includes a second and opposite Z-axis edge of the web defining a series of trapezoidal hook-like structures having openings at a minor base of each trapezoidal hook-like structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to metallic stud frames of a type used in the formation of a frame of a residential, commercial or industrial structure. 
         [0002]    Historically, frames of such structures were formed of either wood, or concrete. In the case of load bearing structures, it is common to use a steel bar, known as rebar within a poured concrete structure. The use of vertical light gauge steel studs, in lieu of wooden studs to accomplish internal framing within a wood frame structure, is also well known in the art. It is, however, not known to employ thin gauge vertical studs in combination with exterior wall concrete framing in which the vertical stud elements operates to define an offset of distance between an exterior poured concrete wall and an interior plasterboard wall which is secured to one surface of such a vertical steel stud element. 
         [0003]    A need for such a vertical steel stud frame element has arisen as a consequence of rapid on-site assembly techniques employing thin external concrete walls which have developed in the construction arts. The present invention therefore relates to such vertical metallic stud elements in which one rectilinear surface thereof may be poured as a part of a process of casting of an exterior concrete wall, its base and/or a load bearing resultant structure. 
         [0004]    The need for such an improved metal stud frame element has long existed in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A construction system includes a metallic stud definable in terms of an X, Y, Z coordinate system. The system comprises a Z-axis elongate substantially rectangular integral web within a YZ plane thereof, said web having stability means along a Z axis line of dependency with a first edge of said web, said means defining an L-shaped element having a foot occupying a YZ plane substantially parallel to said web. The system also includes a second and opposite Z-axis edge of said web defining a series of substantially trapezoidal cut-outs therein having an opening thereto at a minor base of each trapezoidal cut-out. 
         [0006]    The stud is preferably formed of a thin gauge steel. 
         [0007]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a metallic stud framing element particularly adapted for use within a concrete framing structure. 
         [0008]    It is another object to provide a metallic stud of the above type which can function as an interior to exterior wall-defining offset. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a vertical metallic stud capable of defining the shape and extent of vertical load bearing concrete columns within a poured concrete structure. 
         [0010]    The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and Claims appended herewith 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an inventive metallic stud. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through Line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through Line  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing the stud frame of  FIG. 1  in combination with upper and lower system framing elements. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a view, further to the view of  FIG. 3 , in which a concrete upper and lower base of a resultant structure is formed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an assembly view of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a vertical YZ plane sectional view of a resultant structure showing the inventive stud wholly embedded within a poured concrete exterior wall. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a view, further to the view of  FIG. 5 , including a concrete capstan and base in the XY plane of a resultant structure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 9 and 9A  are transverse cross-sectional views of the structure of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a view of the second embodiment otherwise similar to that of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a view further to  FIG. 10  and similar to that of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a view of the embodiment to  FIGS. 8-11  including a concrete capstan and base. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    With reference to the perspective view of  FIG. 1 , the present inventive metal stud element for use in framing systems, as set forth above, may be seen to be definable in an X, Y, Z coordinate system as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    More particularly, an inventive stud element  10  includes an integral web  12  having a Z-axis elongate structure within a YZ plane, which structure is substantially rectangular. The web  12  includes an elongate stabilizing means  22 / 24  which depends upwardly in the X-axis direction and then bends back in the YZ direction of the web as is reflected in element  26 . See also  FIGS. 2 and 2A . 
         [0026]    Upon opposite edge  20  of web  12  is shown a plurality of interdigitated trapezoids which, more particularly, include individual trapezoidal or tabs cut-outs  11  separated by complemental non-cut-out trapezoids  20 . The mouth of each trapezoid is indicated by reference numeral  15 , while the major base thereof is represented by reference numeral  18 . The slanted sides  13  connect mouth  15  to major base  18  of each trapezoidal cut-out. As may be noted, the trapezoidal cut-outs  11  exhibit a unique geometry at their mouths  15  which, more particularly, is defined by hook-like structures  17  which point inwardly in the direction of major base  18  and stabilizing means  22 / 24 . 
         [0027]    The structure of  FIG. 1  is shown in further detail in  FIGS. 2 and 2A  which are cross-sectional views taken, respectively, through Lines  2 - 2  and  2 A- 2 A. Therein it may be appreciated that the transverse width of web  12  is less at the cross-section  2 A- 2 A than at cross-section  2 - 2 . In all other respects, the web  12  and L-shaped element  24 / 26  constitute stabilizing means of each metallic stud frame element. As may be appreciated in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,347, the cross-sectional geometries of  FIGS. 2 and 2A  may, in a given application, be expressed with considerable additional complexity. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 3  is shown a plurality of the above metal stud frame elements  10  oriented in a vertical position and in exploded view relative to top and bottom securement beams  28  and  30  respectively. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a view, substantially similar to that of  FIG. 3  in which, however, the bottom portion of each metal stud frame element  10  has been embedded within a concrete capstan. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a view, generally similar to that of  FIG. 4  in which, however, each upper portion of each metal stud frame element is embedded within each upper capstan  31  while the bottom region of each metal stud frame is embedded within a lower capstan or footing  32 . Shown at reference numeral  35  of  FIG. 5  is one geometry which rebars may take in the upper capstan  31  of the system. 
         [0031]    A further rebar is shown as reference numeral  37  in footing  32 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows the manner in which non-cut-out portions or tabs  20 , interdigitating between trapezoidal geometries  11 , may be fully embedded within a thin concrete wall  34  which forms an exterior of the structure to be framed. Therefrom the utility of the present metal stud frame may be appreciated with respect to both thin concrete and plasterboard construction.  FIG. 6  further shows an elongate U-shaped double rebar  33  which may be used to hang a wall consisting of a plaster board vertical section  36  and a concrete upper capstan  29 . 
         [0033]    The structures of  FIGS. 5 and 6  may be seen in horizontal cross-sectional view in  FIG. 7 , in which the trapezoidal cut-outs  11  of the metal stud frame element  10  may be seen embedded within concrete wall  34  and plywood layer  41  may be seen optionally placed upon plaster board  36 , or in lieu thereof. 
         [0034]    As may be seen, web  12  spans the entire cross-sectional distance between the cut-out edge  20  of the metal stud frame and the stabilizing or L-shaped surface  24 / 26  thereof. Therefrom, it may be appreciated that pre-formed walls may be effectively constructed in accordance with the present method and that the rebar assembly  33  (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) may be employed to essentially hang the stud frame system from the upper capstan  29  of the system. Therein, in  FIG. 6  may be further noted that the stud element are countersunk into the upper capstan and lower footing as is indicated by dotted lines  35  and  40  respectively. 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIGS. 8 through 11 , there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention which, generally, corresponds to the above-described structures of  FIGS. 1-4  of the first embodiment of the invention. More particularly, in  FIG. 8  it may be seen that the second embodiment thereof differs from  FIG. 1  only its elimination of L-shaped or stabilizing edge  24  and, in lieu thereof provides an elongate XZ plane surface  124  upon which respective webs  112  and  126  are folded downwardly within a frusto-conical cross-section which is essentially symmetric about a YZ longitudinal plane of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 . The structure of  FIG. 8  follows, in salient part, that of the metal web  12  of  FIG. 1  including, trapezoidal cut-outs  111 / 111 A at edge  120 / 120 A. In each web  112 / 126  is provided bases  118 / 118 A of each trapezoidal cut-out, interdigitating uncut portions  121 / 121 A, and sidewalls  113  which connects mouths  115  of each cut-out to the bases  118  thereof. The embodiment of  FIG. 8 , as in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , also displays hooks or angulated edges  117  of each mouth  115 , the purpose of which is to ensure securement of the plurality of trapezoidal cut-outs within the cement slabs  30  within which uncut portions  121  are secured. See  FIG. 11 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 9 and 9A  are cross-sectional views take through Lines  9 - 9  and  9 A- 9 A of  FIG. 8 . Therefrom, the greater length of material in the cross-sections metal frame stud element which exists between the trapezoidal cut-outs may be appreciated. As may be further noted, each edge of each metal stud web of the embodiment of  FIGS. 8 and 9  may have different lengths as may be noted from the distance of surface  124  to edges  118 / 118 A versus edges  120 / 120 A. 
         [0037]      FIG. 10  is a view, generally similar to that of  FIG. 3 , showing that the second embodiment of the stud frame element may be used in a substantially identical fashion to that of the simpler geometry of embodiment 1. 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 11  is a view substantially similar to that of  FIG. 4 , from which, however, may be appreciated the enhanced truss-like strength of the second embodiment of the invention from which, as a practical matter, given a sufficient gauge of the metal truss frame elements, structures resultant from the assembly of  FIG. 11  are virtually impossible to bend under any known wind and storm conditions. The embodiment as shown in  FIG. 11  may be equipped in the fashion of  FIGS. 6 and 7  with concrete outer surfaces to render yet more stable and wind resistant the entirety of the structure. 
         [0039]      FIG. 12  is a view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-11  including a concrete capstan  30  as the base of the structure. 
         [0040]    While there has been shown and described above the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith.