Slotted M-track support

• US 20040035065A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaroslaw Sydry, Leszek Orszulak
• Original Assignee: Jaroslaw Sydry, Leszek Orszulak
• Inventors: Sydry, Jaroslaw, Orszulak, Leszek
• Granted Patent: US 6,748,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/167.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/767 Connections between wall studs and upper or lower locating rails
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/82 characterised by the manner in which edges are connected to the building; Means therefor; Special details of easily-removable partitions as far as related to the connection with other parts of the building
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/32 of metal E04C3/36 takes precedence

Abstract

A slotted M-shaped support track structure and method in which a M-shaped support track having a planar web and U-shaped flange members and a plurality of slotted openings spaced lengthwise is mounted on the underside of a beam or other overhead building support structure. The plurality of elongated slotted openings are spaced lengthwise and defined by the planar web and adjacent inner legs of the rectangular flange members, and receive perpendicularly related vertical stud members, and thereby allow relative vertical movement between the M-support track and the vertical studs, while holding the studs in place horizontally.

Claims

1. A seismic resistant wall structure installed between a floor and overhead structure, comprising:

an elongated M-shaped track member affixed to overhead structure, having a planar web and a pair of U-shaped flanges extending from the planar web defining the M-shape in cross-section with the U-shaped flanges having an inner leg, a planar leg, and a outer leg defining the U-shaped flanges;

a plurality of horizontally elongated slotted openings spaced lengthwise on the M-shaped track member and defined by the planar web and the inner leg of the U-shaped flanges;

a plurality of stud members extending vertically between the floor and the M-shaped track member with upper ends of the studs extending into the M-shaped track members in alignment with horizontally elongated slotted openings and lower ends fixedly attached to the floor; and

fire retardant wallboard attached to the studs, allowing relative vertical movement of the wall.

2. The wall structure of claim 1 wherein the M-shaped track member is fabricated of metal.

3. An elongated M-shaped track member comprising:

a planar web and a pair of U-shaped flanges extending from the planar web defining the M-shape in cross-section with the U-shaped flanges having an inner leg, a planar leg, and a outer leg defining the U-shaped flanges;

a plurality of horizontally elongated slotted openings spaced lengthwise on the M-shaped track member and defined by the planar web and the inner leg of the U-shaped flanges.

4. The elongated M-shaped track member of claim 3 wherein the track member is fabricated in metal.

5. An elongated M-shaped track member comprising:

a U-shaped channel member with outwardly extending flanges affixed inside a downwardly facing C-shaped channel member resulting in the M-shape in cross-section;

and a plurality of horizontally elongated slotted openings spaced lengthwise on the C-shaped channel.

6. In a method of constructing a seismic resistant wall structure between a floor and overhead structure, the steps of:

providing an elongated M-shaped track member, having a planar web and a pair of U-shaped flanges extending from the planar web defining the M-shape in cross-section with the U-shaped flanges having an inner leg, a planar leg, and a outer leg defining the U-shaped flanges, with a plurality of horizontally elongated slotted openings spaced lengthwise on the M-shaped track member and defined by the planar web and the inner leg of the U-shaped flanges;

affixing the M-shaped track member to overhead structure;

positioning a plurality of stud members extending vertically between the floor and the M-shaped track member with upper ends of the studs extending into the M-shaped track members in alignment with horizontally elongated slotted openings;

attaching lower ends of the stud members fixedly to the floor; and

attaching fire retardant wallboard to the studs, allowing relative vertical movement of the wall.