Abstract:
A horizontal bridging member is mounted between a pair of metallic studs to prevent relative motion between the two studs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is related to a structural steel frame assembly, and more particularly to a bridging structure means for reinforcing vertical studs to prevent their twisting under a load. 
     Steel studs are commonly employed in residential building structures and typically are formed of 16 or 18 gage channel-shaped cold rolled steel. In some cases they may be as tall as 9 feet high with 16 inches between centers. A typical channel-shaped configuration may have a 6 inch web and 2 inch flanges. One of the problems with such studs is that they have a tendency to twist because of their height. For this reason it is desirable to provide a reinforcing structure between adjacent studs to prevent twisting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved bridging structure for maintaining the stability of upright steel studs. The preferred bridging structure comprises a horizontal steel, channel-shaped bridging member having its ends corresponding to the distance between adjacent studs. One end of the bridging member has a flat tongue that is received through a diamond-shaped opening in the stud. A pair of opposed slots form a neck connecting the tongue to the body of the bridging member. The tongue is inserted through the diamond shaped opening, turned about its longitudinal axis and then seated on a pair of converging edges at the bottom of the opening. The opposite channel-shaped end of a similarly shaped bridging member is seated on the tongue on the opposite side of the stud. 
     A sheet metal screw fastens the second bridging member to the tongue of the first bridging member. This process is continued along the row of studs. A second series of horizontal bridging members can be mounted in a parallel array above the first set of bridging members between the studs to form a reinforced structure. 
     Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a building wall having a series of parallel upright studs reinforced in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a typical intersection between a pair of bridging members and a stud; 
     FIG. 3 is a view as seen along lines 3--3 of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tongue end of a typical bridging member; 
     FIG. 5 is a view as seen along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3; and 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show other alternative stud openings for receiving a bridging member. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates floor 10 supporting a steel framework comprising a series of five vertical studs 12 are mounted in an upright position on the floor to support an overhead structure 14. A pair of horizontal bridging members 16 and 18 are mounted between each pair of studs. 
     The studs are similar in configuration, being formed of a steel sheet metal configuration with a planar mid section 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and a pair of parallel side walls 22 and 24. 
     Each bridging member is supported in a horizontal position in horizontally aligned openings 26 between each pair of studs. The bridging members are identical in cross section, and for illustrative purposes, have an overall length of 17 inches. Each bridging member is formed of sheet metal and bent with a planar mid section 28, and a pair of depending parallel flanges 30 and 32 as illustrated in FIG. 2. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a typical bridging member has a width A of 41/8 inches. The flanges are 13/8 inches high. One end of each bridging member is cut off perpendicular to mid section 28, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The opposite end has a flat tongue 36 that extends from the planar mid section of the bridging member. The flat tongue has a width B of 35/8 inches. A pair of opposed slots 38 and 40 form a neck 42 which connects the body of the bridging member to tongue 36. Neck 32 preferably has a width C of 13/8 inches. The slots are about 1/8 inch wide which is slightly larger than the wall thickness of the stud. The tongue extends forwardly from the slots about 7/8 of an inch. A fastener opening 44 is disposed in the mid section of the bridging member at the opposite end from the tongue. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a typical bridge-receiving opening 26 in the mid section of the stud has a generally diamond-shaped configuration with a height D of about 41/2 inches. The opening has a width W of 17/16 inches and a generally V-shaped bottom. The mid section of the opening has a length E of 21/8 inches. The mid section is defined by a pair of parallel side edges 44 and 46 which terminate in a V-shaped bottom defined by a pair of opposed side edges 48 and 50. The V-shaped side edges wedge neck 42 of the bridging member in a horizontal position. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, left bridging member 16 is shown with its tongue 36 extended through opening 26 and wedged in the V-shaped bottom. The right-most bridging member is shown with its left channel-shaped end seated on top of tongue 36 of the left bridging member. 
     A sheet metal screw 52 firmly attaches the tongue of the left bridging member to the channel-shaped end of the right bridging member, as viewed in FIG. 5. This bridging procedure can be continued for a series of studs. In addition, a series of bridging members can be mounted one above the other in appropriately shaped openings in the studs. 
     It is to be understood that opening 26 can take a variety of configurations however, preferably it has a height that is greater than the width of the tongue so that the tongue can be inserted through the opening, and then the bridging member turned about its axis and slid downwardly until the neck of the bridging member is firmly seated on the edges of the upper end of the V-shaped bottom. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative bridge-receiving opening 54 showing the tongue seated on a pair of aligned, spaced edges 56 and 58 between side edges 60 and 62. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates another bridge-receiving opening 64 having a rounded bottom edge 66 for wedging the tongue between the side edges of the opening 68 and 70.