Concealed fasteners for wall panels

• US 4,127,975 A
• Filed: 08/26/1977
• Issued: 12/05/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas Judkins
• Original Assignee: Thomas Judkins
• Inventors: Judkins, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Faw, Jr., Price C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Application Number:
  US05/828,097
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 52/489, 52/DIG. 6, 52/281, 52/481, 52/347, 52/350-357, 52/483
• US Class Current: 52/489.2
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7409 special measures for sound or thermal insulation, including fire protection
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7475 using connectors with claws penetrating the sheet panels

Abstract

An improved method and means for attaching a panel of sheet rock or gypsum board to either wooden or metal studs for constructing walls and/or ceilings, etc. The studs are spaced apart from their centers the distance of the width of the panel. The panel is held to the studs by clips having one or more pointed piercing elements adapted to engage the edge of the panel with a holding portion of the clip extending outwardly from the main base portion of the clip and in the opposite direction from the pointed end of the piercing elements, having an aperture through the holding portion for securing the clips to the studs. The clips are further provided with spacer elements extending outwardly on the surface of the clip opposite the panel piercing elements for spacing the edge of the panels outwardly from the studs. This spacing of the panels from the studs will minimize the noises picked up by the panels from being transferred to the studs.

Claims

1. A modular wall construction comprising in combination, at least first and second parallel mounted panel boards, an associated wall supporting stud extending along the line of jointure between the panel boards and a plurality of fasteners for mounting each of said panel boards to said wall support stud, each said fastener comprising a continuous main base portion having a width equal to the width of the fastener, an extension portion extending outwardly from a central portion of the base portion in substantially the same plane therewith, said extension portion having an aperture therethrough adapted to attach the fastener to a said stud and including an end part which extends outwardly therefrom and which is bent away from the plane thereof so as to assist in guiding the fastener into place, at least one vertical wall section extending upwardly from said base portion and including at least one pointed panel engaging element located in a place parallel to and spaced from the said base portion, at least one integrally formed spacer element formed at least partially in the base portion of the fastener at a central location therein and extending outwardly from the plane of the base portion on the opposite side of the base portion from the pointed panel engaging element and being of such a depth as to provide a space between the panel board and the stud, said plurality of fasteners comprising at least two said fasteners each of which is secured to said first panel board by the said pointed panel engaging element thereof and is attached to said stud by securing means extending through the aperture in said extension portion of said main base portion and at least one further said fastener secured to the second panel board by the pointed panel engaging element thereof with the extension portion of the main base portion thereof being unconnected to said stud and being received in the space between the first panel board and the stud, provided by the spacer elements of said two fasteners secured to said first panel board, so as to constitute the tongue of a tongue and groove arrngement.

2. A modular wall construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said end part comprises a spacer portion of substantially the same depth as said at least one spacer element.