Drywall support clip

Abstract

A drywall support clip, the drywall support clip having a first leg and an opposed second leg connected by a bite portion. The first leg comprises a first leg first portion and a shelf portion, with the first leg first portion located between the shelf portion and the bite portion. The shelf portion extends from the first leg first portion at an angle of approximately 90 degrees. The second leg may comprise a second leg first portion and a tongue portion. The second leg first portion located between the tongue portion and the bite portion. The tongue portion extending from the second leg first portion at an acute angle from a projection of the second leg first portion. The shelf portion is adapted to support drywall. Methods of supporting drywall during steel stud frame construction, as well as kits for steel stud frame construction, are also disclosed.

1 . A method of supporting drywall during steel stud frame construction, said method comprising: 
 attaching a first clip to a sill plate, the sill plate having a first wall extending from a base, the base section adapted to be affixed to a floor surface, the first clip having a first clip first leg and an opposed first clip second leg connected by a first clip bite portion, the first clip first leg forming a first clip shelf portion adapted to support drywall above a floor surface; and,    supporting drywall on the first clip shelf portion above the floor surface.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first clip bite portion rests on an edge of the first wall.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first clip bite portion forces the first clip first leg and the first clip second leg toward each other to pinch the first wall therebetween.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching a second clip to the first wall of the sill plate, the second clip having a second clip first leg and a second clip second leg connected by a second clip bite portion, the second clip first leg forming a second clip shelf portion adapted to support drywall above a floor surface.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first clip and the second clip are attached to the first wall at a distance less than 8 feet from each other.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first clip shelf portion and the second clip shelf portion support a single sheet of drywall.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first clip includes a first clip tongue portion associated with the first clip second leg, the first clip tongue portion facilitating attachment with the first wall of the sill plate.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first clip tongue portion extends from the first clip second leg at an acute angle to a projection of the first clip second leg.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the acute angle is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drywall is supported at least ⅜-inch above a floor surface.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drywall is supported approximately ½-inch above a floor surface.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching the drywall to studs extending from the sill plate.  
   
   
       13 . A drywall support clip, said drywall support clip comprising: 
 a first leg and an opposed second leg connected by a bite portion,    said first leg comprising a first leg first portion and a shelf portion, said first leg first portion located between said shelf portion and said bite portion, said shelf portion extending from said first leg first portion at an angle of approximately 90 degrees,    said shelf portion adapted to support drywall.    
   
   
       14 . The drywall support clip of  claim 13 , wherein said second leg comprises a second leg first portion and a tongue portion, said second leg first portion located between said tongue portion and said bite portion, said tongue portion extending from said second leg first portion at an acute angle from a projection of said second leg first portion.  
   
   
       15 . The drywall support clip of  claim 14 , wherein said acute angle is an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.  
   
   
       16 . The drywall support clip of  claim 13 , wherein said support clip has a natural condition in which said first leg is biased against said second leg and an open condition in which said first leg is spaced from said second leg.  
   
   
       17 . The drywall support clip of  claim 13 , wherein said shelf is less than or equal to ½-inch in depth.  
   
   
       18 . The drywall support clip of  claim 13 , wherein said bite portion is separated from said shelf portion by approximately {fraction (1/2)}-inch to ¾-inch.  
   
   
       19 . The drywall support clip of  claim 13 , wherein said first leg first portion is longer than said second leg.  
   
   
       20 . The drywall support clip of  claim 13 , wherein said second leg extends beyond the shelf portion of said first leg.  
   
   
       21 . A kit of components for use in the construction of steel stud framing, said kit comprising: 
 at least one elongate sill plate, said sill plate comprising a base section and a first wall associated with said base section, said base section adapted to rest on a surface;    at least one drywall support clip, said at least one drywall support clip having an opposed portion adapted to attach to said first wall of said sill plate and a shelf portion adapted to support drywall above the floor surface.    
   
   
       22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein said opposed portion of said at least one drywall support clip comprises a first leg and a second leg separated by a bite portion.  
   
   
       23 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein said first leg of said at least one drywall support clip comprises a first leg first portion between said bite portion and said shelf portion, said shelf portion extending from said first leg first portion at an angle of approximately 90 degrees, said second leg comprising a second leg first portion adjacent said bite portion and a tongue portion, said tongue portion extending from said second leg first portion at an acute angle from a projection of said second leg first portion.  
   
   
       24 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein said first leg of said at least one drywall support clip comprises a first leg first portion between said bite portion and said shelf portion, said shelf portion extending from said first leg first portion at an angle of approximately 90 degrees, said second leg extending beyond said shelf portion.  
   
   
       25 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein said sill plate further comprises a second wall associated with said base section, said second wall spaced from said first wall so as to form a C-shaped cross section with said base and said first wall.