Metal and wood composite framing member

Abstract

A manufactured wood and metal joist consisting of three individual pieces fabricated together to make a single joist. The overall length of the joist consists of a solid wood end of a determined length shrouded by a hollow metal shape of a determined length. Another solid wood piece of determined length is at the opposite end also shrouded by the hollow metal shape.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composite joist/stud comprising a metal middle section having opposite ends, and two end sections secured to said opposite ends, respectively, to form said joist or stud, said end sections being of a nailable material.  
     
     
         2 . The joist or stud of  claim 1  wherein said middle section is of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form a hollow section having a rectangular cross-section between said opposite ends.  
     
     
         3 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 2  wherein the cross-section is uniform between the ends.  
     
     
         4 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 1  wherein said end sections telescope into said hollow middle section and secured therein.  
     
     
         5 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 4  wherein said two end sections are secured to said middle section by at least one of the group of securance methods consisting of adhesive, nails, crimped sections, press plate, banding, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 2  wherein the longitudinal edges of said middle section are nested and crimped together.  
     
     
         7 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 2  wherein the longitudinal distal edges of said sheet of said middle section are nested and crimped together at a position to provide additional tensile strength where most of the tensile strength is to be applied.  
     
     
         8 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 1  wherein said nailable material is wood.  
     
     
         9 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 1  is of the group of joist and studs consisting of floor joist, roof joist, ceiling joist and wall studs.  
     
     
         10 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 9  wherein said joist or stud has overall dimensions generally the same as conventional 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, 2×12, 3×14, and larger dimensional lumber with lengths commensurate to required loads.  
     
     
         11 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 1  further comprising spaced apart cutouts along the length of joist or stud for running wire or other construction trade mechanicals through the joist when desired.  
     
     
         12 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 1  wherein said end sections are treated for moisture protection.  
     
     
         13 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 1  wherein said end sections are treated for fire protection.  
     
     
         14 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 1  wherein said middle section is comprised of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form a hollow generally rectangular in cross-section, said middle section having a uniform cross-section, said middle section being galvanized or painted or otherwise protected from a corrosive atmosphere.  
     
     
         15 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 2  wherein said sheet is sheet steel.  
     
     
         16 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 2  wherein said sheet material is galvanizes sheet steel or painted sheet steel.  
     
     
         17 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 4  wherein the joinder between said middle section and said two end sections have a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of said middle section.  
     
     
         18 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 1  wherein said middle section is more resistant to twisting forces about its longitudinal axis than conventional beams of cross-sections having a generally “C” shape or “Z” shape.  
     
     
         19 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 15  wherein said sheet material of said middle section is cold rolled steel.  
     
     
         20 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 20  wherein said cold rolled steel is from about 14 gage to about 24 gage in thickness.  
     
     
         21 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 8  wherein the wood is chosen from the group of woods comprising pine and hen-fir.  
     
     
         22 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 8  wherein each of said end sections are two feet long.  
     
     
         23 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 10  wherein the length of said stud or joist is from about 8 feet to about 30 feet in two foot increments.  
     
     
         24 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 19  wherein said C-shaped elements are welded together.  
     
     
         25 . The composite joist or stud of  claim 6  wherein said distal edges are welded together.  
     
     
         26 . A composite joist/stud comprising a metal middle section having opposite ends, and two end sections secured to said opposite ends, respectively, to form said joist or stud, said end sections being of a nailable material, said middle section is of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form a hollow section having a rectangular cross-section between said opposite ends, said cross-section is uniform between the ends, said end sections telescope into said hollow middle section and secured therein, said two end sections are secured to said middle section by at least one of the group of securance methods consisting of adhesive, nails, crimped sections, press plate, banding, or combinations thereof, the longitudinal edges of said middle section are nested and crimped together, said joist or stud has overall dimensions generally the same as conventional 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, 2×12, 3×14, and larger dimensional lumber with lengths commensurate to required loads, the joinder between said middle section and said two end sections have a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of said middle section, said middle section is more resistant to twisting forces about its longitudinal axis than conventional beams of cross-sections having a generally “C” shape or “Z” shape, the length of said stud or joist is from about 8 feet to about 30 feet in two foot increments, said distal edges are welded together.