Structural walls

Abstract

The upper end portion of a sheet-metal stud ( 14 ) fits upwardly into a channel space ( 22 ) formed within an upper channel member ( 10 ). The lower end of the stud ( 14 ) fits within a lower channel space ( 30 ) formed in a lower channel member ( 12 ). The upper end portion of the stud ( 14 ) includes a longitudinal slot ( 48 ) on each of its sides. Screw fasteners ( 52 ) extend through the side walls ( 16, 18 ) of the upper channel member ( 10 ) and then extend into and through the slots ( 48 ). These screws ( 52 ) include a head ( 54 ) a threaded shank portion ( 60 ) and a non-threaded shank portion ( 62 ) between the head ( 54 ) and the threaded shank portion ( 60 ). The non-threaded shank portion ( 62 ) is narrower than the slot ( 48 ) and is sized to slide relatively up and down in the slot ( 48 ). The non-threaded portion ( 62 ) of the shank ( 58 ) has an axio length d measured between the inside surface of the head ( 54 ) and a confronting surface of an end thread ( 64 ). This distance (d) is preferably slightly larger than the combined thicknesses of the side walls ( 16, 32 ) of the upper channel member ( 10 ) and the stud ( 14 ). The stud ( 14 ) is free to move up and down relative to the screw ( 52 ) and the upper channel member ( 10 ). Side forces on the wall are resisted in one direction by the screw head ( 52 ) and in the opposite direction by the end thread ( 64 ). The side walls ( 16, 18 ) are provided with a line of equally spaced apart dimples ( 70 ). The dimples ( 70 ) mark locations that may be selected to receive a screw fastener ( 52 ). The stud ( 14 ) is positioned in the channel members ( 10, 12 ) with the slots ( 48 ) in alignment with a selected dimple ( 70 ). A self-tapping end ( 56 ) of a screw fastener ( 52 ) is then placed into the selected dimple ( 70 ). The screw fastener ( 52 ) is then located for the purpose of it forming a hole through the base of the dimple ( 70 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A structural wall, comprising: 
 an elongated, downwardly opening, sheet-metal, upper channel member having spaced-apart side walls defining an upper channel space between them;    an elongated sheet-metal stud including: 
 an upper end portion sized to fit within said upper channel space and including spaced-apart side walls that are contiguous with the side walls of the upper channel member when the upper end portion of the stud is within the upper channel space; and  
   a screw fastener having a head and a shank connected to the head, said shank having a threaded end portion and a shank portion without threads between the threaded end portion and the head;    wherein at least one side wall of the upper end portion of the stud include a longitudinal slot for receiving the unthreaded portion of the shank of the screw fastener, said slot being wider than the unthreaded portion of the shank of the screw fastener;    wherein the screw fastener is adapted to be connected to the side wall of the upper channel member with its' shank extending through the slot and the unthreaded portion of the shank in the slot;    wherein the screw fastener is free of connection with the upper end portion of said stud;    wherein said slot is long enough to permit vertical movement of the stud relative to the screw fastener and the upper channel member;    wherein the stud can move up and down relative to the screw and the upper channel member; and    wherein the threaded portion of the shank includes an end thread spaced close to the upper end portion of the stud, said end thread being wider than the slot so that it will contact the stud on the sides of the slot and prevent the screw from being pulled out of the slot.    
     
     
         2 . The structural wall of  claim 1 , wherein the side walls of the upper channel member each include a plurality of spaced apart dimples extending lengthwise of the side walls, each dimple representing a location that may be selected to receive a screw fastener that is used to connect the side wall of the upper channel member to the upper end portion of a said stud.  
     
     
         3 . The structural wall of  claim 2 , wherein the dimples on each side wall of the upper channel member are in alignment crosswise of the structural wall with a corresponding dimple on the other side wall of the upper channel member.  
     
     
         4 . The structural wall of  claim 2 , wherein the screw fastener has a self-tapping pointed end at its end opposite its head, said self-tapping end being adapted to bore a hole through the base of a selected dimple in response to the screw being rotated while the pointed end is in the dimple.  
     
     
         5 . The structural wall of  claim 1 , further comprising an upwardly opening, sheet-metal, lower channel member having spaced apart side walls defining a lower channel space between them, and said sheet-metal stud including a lower end portion that is within the lower channel space and is connected to the lower channel member.  
     
     
         6 . The structural wall of  claim 5 , wherein the side walls of the upper channel member each include a plurality of space apart dimples extending lengthwise of the side walls, each dimple representing a location that may be selected to receive a screw fastener that is used to connect the side wall of the upper channel member to the upper end portion of a said stud.  
     
     
         7 . The structural wall of  claim 6 , wherein the dimples of each side wall of the upper channel member are in alignment crosswise of the structural wall with a corresponding dimple on the other side of the upper channel member.  
     
     
         8 . The structural wall of  claim 6 , wherein the screw fastener has a self-tapping pointed end at its end opposite its head, said self-tapping end being adapted to bore a hole through the base of a selected dimple in response to the screw being rotated while the pointed end is in the dimple.