Metal channel for wall panels

Abstract

A metal channel for positioning and retaining metal studding and wall panels to form partition walls, comprising a central web with retaining flange portions along its opposite sides. The web is segmented, being divided along its length into discrete segments by transverse slots. One of the flange portions is similarly divided into segments by transverse slots aligned with the slots. Adjacent segments of the flange portions are however connected together by expansible bridges and optionally by frangible bridges. The other of the flange portions is provided with lines of perforation aligned with the slots and defining flexure zones. The channel is formed straight but can be bent into smooth curves by expansion of the expansible bridges.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A metal channel for the positioning and retention of metal studding and wall panels to form straight, angled or curved partition walls, the channel comprising a straight longitudinal web adapted for anchoring to a floor or ceiling of a building, the web having oppositely disposed first and second longitudinal edges and first and second flange portions extending from the first and second longitudinal edges of the web, respectively, the first and second flange portions being adapted for abutting opposite sides of metal studding for supporting a wall panel, 
 the web defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots dividing the web into discrete segments,    the first flange portion defining a plurality of transverse slots dividing the first flange portion into discrete segments, the slots of the first flange portion being aligned with the slots of the web, adjacent segments of the first flange portion being connected together by an expansible bridge of metal, and    the second flange portion having a flexure zone aligned with the transverse slots of the web and the first flange portion,    wherein bending the channel around any of the flexure zones causes widening of the associated transverse slots in the web and in the first flange portion, with associated expansion of the bridge of metal across the widened transverse slot in the first flange portion.    
     
     
         2 . A channel according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the expansible bridges of metal are formed by a pattern of apertures in the first flange portion of the channel.  
     
     
         3 . A channel according to  claim 1 , wherein the expansible bridges have a modulus of expansion which increases with increasing expansion.  
     
     
         4 . A channel according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall panels are conformable to a curve having a predetermined minimum radius and the expansible bridges are adapted to have a limit of expansion which is substantially equal to the minimum radius of the curve.  
     
     
         5 . A channel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first flange portion has a distal edge laterally spaced from the first longitudinal edge of the web and adjacent segments of the first flange portion are attached to one another at or proximate to the distal edge of the first flange portion by frangible bridges of metal.  
     
     
         6 . A channel according to  claim 1 , wherein the second flange portion defines a plurality of perforations, a line of the perforations forming each flexure zone.  
     
     
         7 . A channel according to  claim 1 , wherein the second flange portion has a distal edge laterally spaced from the second longitudinal edge of the web and defines a plurality of transverse slots dividing the second flange portion into discrete segments, one of the slots forming each flexure zone, adjacent segments of the second flange portion being attached to one another at or proximate to the distal edge of the second flange portion by frangible bridges of metal end at a position intermediate the distal edge of the second flange portion and the second longitudinal edge of the web by expansible bridges of metal.  
     
     
         8 . A channel according to  claim 2 , wherein the channel is formed by bending sheet metal and each pattern of apertures is stamped into the sheet metal before the sheet metal is bent.