Multi-purpose construction assembly and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to light-gauge steel construction, and more particularly to a new construction assembly and method which is intended for the construction of single and multi-story buildings. The present invention provides the easiest and most economic means to construct single and multi-story buildings from light gauge steel which comply with applicable building codes and resistant to environmental forces such as earthquakes and wind sway from hurricane type winds. Furthermore, the construction assembly and method can used to form wall assemblies with and without apertures for windows and doors, floor assemblies and truss assemblies. The present invention utilizes standard building studs, expansion-contraction joints, expansion-contraction joints, and bridging, bracing and fire-blocking means to form floor, wall, and truss assemblies which comply with current building code requirements, and obviate the need for structural steel support.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A multi-purpose construction assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of parallel vertical stud members of equal length possessing a first terminal end and a second terminal end;    a means for reinforcing said plurality of studs comprising a unitary elongated metal plate-like member formed of a finite length defined by two parallel upright studs terminating in a first end and a second end, said unitary plate-like member possesses a first horizontal edge and a second horizontal edge between the first end and second end; a first flange extending perpendicularly upwards from said first end and a second flange extending perpendicularly upward from said second end to permit fastening to the adjacent studs, said first end of the elongated metal plate incorporates a pair of parallel notches along the horizontal axis, said first horizontal edge and the second horizontal edge of the elongated plate are folded downward and perpendicular to the elongated plate forming a first downward flange and a second downward flange, said first downward flange of the first horizontal edge is substantially longer than the second downward flange of the second horizontal edge and the width of first downward flange extends to and overlaps the adjacent parallel upright studs which define the width of said elongated plate-like member located between each stud member whereby said assembly can support excessive loads due to weight, wind, or sheer forces;    an anchor means attached to said second terminal end of said parallel stud members; and    a first horizontal expansion-contraction means slideably attached to said first terminal end of said parallel stud members whereby said assembly will be able to expand or contract in respect to vertical environmental forces and, expanded or reduced to fit within a space without disassembling or cutting said assembly.    
     
     
         2 . A multi-purpose construction assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein the anchor means comprises a second horizontal expansion-contraction means slideably attached to said second terminal end of said parallel stud members whereby said assembly will be able to expand or contract in response to vertical environmental forces and, expanded or reduced to fit within a space without disassembling or cutting said assembly.  
     
     
         3 . A multi-purpose construction assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein a first vertical expansion-contraction means is slideably attached parallel to a first terminal vertical stud member, and slideably attached perpendicular to said first horizontal expansion-contraction means and to said anchor means whereby said assembly will be able to expand or contract in response to horizontal and vertical environmental forces and, expanded or reduced to fit within a space without disassembling or cutting said assembly.  
     
     
         4 . A multi-purpose construction assembly as defined in  claim 3  wherein a second vertical expansion-contraction means is slideably attached parallel to a second terminal vertical stud member opposite said first terminal vertical stud member, and slideably attached perpendicular to said first horizontal expansion-contraction means and said anchor means whereby said assembly will be able to expand or contract in response to horizontal and vertical environmental forces and, expanded or reduced to fit within a space without disassembling or cutting said assembly.  
     
     
         5 . A multi-purpose construction assembly as defined in  claim 2  wherein a second vertical expansion-contraction means is slideably attached to a first terminal vertical stud member and slideably attached to said first horizontal expansion-contraction means and slideably attached to said anchor means whereby said assembly will be able to expand or contract in response to vertical and horizontal environmental forces and, expanded or reduced to fit within a space without disassembling or cutting said assembly.  
     
     
         6 . A multi-purpose construction assembly as defined in  claim 5  wherein a second vertical expansion-contraction means is slideably attached d to a second terminal vertical stud member and slideably attached to said first horizontal expansion-contraction means and slideably attached to said anchor means whereby said assembly will be able to expand or contract in response to vertical and horizontal environmental forces and, expanded or reduced to fit within a space without disassembling or cutting said assembly.  
     
     
         7 . A multi-purpose construction assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of parallel stud members of decreasing length possessing a first terminal end which forms the hypotenuse of a triangle, and a second terminal end; 
 a means for reinforcing said plurality of studs comprising a unitary elongated metal plate-like member formed of a finite length defined by two parallel upright studs terminating in a first end and a second end, said unitary plate-like member possesses a first horizontal edge and a second horizontal edge between the first end and second end; a first flange extending perpendicularly upwards from said first end and a second flange extending perpendicularly upward from said second end to permit fastening to the adjacent studs, said first end of the elongated metal plate incorporates a pair of parallel notches along the horizontal axis, said first horizontal edge and the second horizontal edge of the elongated plate are folded downward and perpendicular to the elongated plate forming a first downward flange and a second downward flange, said first downward flange of the first horizontal edge is substantially longer than the second downward flange of the second horizontal edge and the width of first downward flange extends to and overlaps the adjacent parallel upright studs which define the width of said elongated plate-like member located between each stud member whereby said assembly can support excessive loads due to weight, wind, or sheer forces;  
   an anchor means fixedly attached to said first terminal end of said parallel stud members along the descending slope of the hypotenuse; and    an expansion-contraction means slideably attached to said second terminal end of said parallel stud members whereby said assembly can expand or contract in response to vertical forces and be expanded or reduced to fit within a space without disassembling or cutting said assembly.    
     
     
         8 . A multi-purpose construction assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein a second expansion-contraction means is slideably attached to the longest parallel stud member, slideably attached to the first expansion-contraction means, and fixedly attached to said anchor means said assembly can expand or contract in response to horizontal forces and be expanded or reduced to fit within a space without disassembling or cutting said assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The multi-purpose construction assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein the means for reinforcing said plurality of studs comprises box-like structured formed from a pair of complementary unitary elongated metal plate-like members formed of a finite length defined by two parallel upright studs; 
 said unitary elongated metal plate-like member terminates in a first end and a second end;  
 said unitary plate-like member possesses a first horizontal edge and a second horizontal edge between the first end and second end;  
 said first end and second end of the elongated metal plate-like member extend generally upward and perpendicular from the elongated metal plate to form a first flange on said first end and a second flange on said second end to permit the fastening of the elongated plate to the surface of the adjacent parallel upright studs;  
 said first end of the elongated metal plate incorporates a pair of parallel notches along the horizontal axis;  
 said first horizontal edge and the second horizontal edge of the elongated plate are folded downward and perpendicular to the elongated plate forming a first downward flange and a second downward flange;  
 said first downward flange of the first horizontal edge is substantially longer than the second downward flange of the second horizontal edge and the width of first downward flange is greater than the width of said elongated plate-like member.  
 
     
     
         10 . The multi-purpose construction assembly defined in  claim 7  wherein the means for reinforcing said plurality of studs comprises box-like structured formed from a pair of complementary unitary elongated metal plate-like members formed of a finite length defined by two parallel upright studs; 
 said unitary elongated metal plate-like member terminates in a first end and a second end;  
 said unitary plate-like member possesses a first horizontal edge and a second horizontal edge between the first end and second end;  
 said first end and second end of the elongated metal plate-like member extend generally upward and perpendicular from the elongated metal plate to form a first flange on said first end and a second flange on said second end to permit the fastening of the elongated plate to the surface of the adjacent parallel upright studs;  
 said first end of the elongated metal plate incorporates a pair of parallel notches along the horizontal axis;  
 said first horizontal edge and the second horizontal edge of the elongated plate are folded downward and perpendicular to the elongated plate forming a first downward flange and a second downward flange,  
 said first downward flange of the first horizontal edge is substantially longer than the second downward flange of the second horizontal edge and the width of first downward flange is greater than the width of said elongated plate-like member.  
 
     
     
         11 . A method of constructing a multi-purpose construction assembly comprising: 
 placing a plurality of equal length stud members possessing a first terminal end and second terminal end parallel to each other;    attaching a first expansion-compression means to the first terminal end of said parallel stud members;    attaching an anchoring means to the second terminal end of said parallel stud members;    inserting a means to reinforce the parallel studs between each pair of parallel studs.    
     
     
         12 . A method of constructing a multi-purpose construction assembly comprising: 
 placing a plurality of stud members possessing a first terminal end and second terminal end parallel to each other;    attaching a first horizontal expansion-compression means to the first terminal end of said parallel stud members;    attaching a second horizontal expansion-compression means to the second terminal end of said parallel stud members;    inserting a means to reinforce the parallel studs between each pair of parallel studs.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  further comprising attaching a first vertical expansion-contraction means to a first terminal stud between said first horizontal expansion-contraction means and said anchor means.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  further comprising attaching a second vertical expansion-contraction means to a second terminal stud between said first horizontal expansion-contraction means and said anchor means.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12  further comprising attaching a first vertical expansion-contraction means to a first terminal stud between said first horizontal expansion-contraction means and second horizontal expansion-contraction means.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  further comprising attaching a second vertical expansion-contraction means to a second terminal stud between said first horizontal expansion-contraction means and second horizontal expansion-contraction means.  
     
     
         17 . A method of constructing a multi-purpose construction assembly comprising: 
 placing a plurality of vertical stud members of decreasing length each possessing an upper terminal end and a lower terminal end parallel to each other;    attaching an anchoring means to the upper terminal end of said parallel stud members;    attaching a horizontal expansion-compression means perpendicular to the lower terminal end of said parallel stud members; and    inserting a means to reinforce the parallel studs between each pair of parallel vertical studs members.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising attaching a vertical expansion-contraction means to the longest terminal stud.  
     
     
         19 . A method of constructing a multi-purpose construction assembly comprising: 
 placing a plurality of vertical stud members of decreasing length each possessing an upper terminal end and a lower terminal end parallel to each other;    attaching a first anchoring means to the upper terminal end of said parallel stud members;    attaching a second anchoring means to the lower terminal end of said parallel stud members;    attaching a vertical expansion-compression means to the longest terminal vertical stud member; and    inserting a means to reinforce the parallel studs between each pair of parallel vertical studs members.