Patent ID: 8171696

Claim:
A metal stud comprising: first and second elongated flat metal panels each having a longitudinal axis and each defining a stud surface and an opposed flat surface, each first and second metal panel having first and second longitudinal edges turned at approximately a ninety degree angle to the stud surface and the opposed flat surface to provide support for the first and second metal panels along the longitudinal axis; the first and second metal panels positioned in parallel spaced apart relationship with the opposed flat surfaces facing each other and in an overlying laterally aligned relationship with the stud surfaces facing outwardly in opposing directions, and the first and second longitudinal edges of the first metal panel extending toward the first and second longitudinal edges of the second metal panel; and an angular metal wire coupling element positioned between the facing opposed flat surfaces of the first and second spaced apart metal panels, the wire coupling element being bent to periodically and alternately contact the first and second spaced apart metal panels at contact points, the angular metal wire coupling element being fixed to the first and second spaced apart metal panels at the contact points adjacent the first longitudinal edges of the first and second metal panels, the angular metal wire coupling element having a thickness and an angle of bend such that the angular metal wire coupling element provides the sole support between the first and second metal panels, and the first and second spaced apart metal panels and the angular metal wire coupling element forming a generally C-shaped cross-section.