Footer track with moisture vent

Abstract

A footer track for supporting a plurality of wall studs, and a method for making a footer track, including a web and a pair of legs extending from opposing sides of the web. The pair of legs are spaced from one another a distance sufficient to accommodate a wall stud therebetween. The footer track defines a plurality of drain openings spaced along a length of the footer track. Preferably, each of the plurality of drain openings has a boundary defined by both of the web and one of the pairs of legs. In one arrangement, each drain opening extends a distance into the web such that the opening, itself, is defined by both the web and leg.

1 . A footer track for supporting a plurality of wall studs, comprising: 
 a web;    a pair of legs extending in an upward direction from opposing sides of said web, said pair of legs spaced from one another a distance sufficient to accommodate a wall stud therebetween;    wherein said footer track defines a plurality of drain openings spaced along a length of said footer track, and wherein each of said plurality of drain openings has a boundary defined by both of said web and one of said pairs of legs.    
   
   
       2 . The footer track of  claim 1 , wherein said boundary extends inward from said leg into said web such that a portion of said drain opening is defined by said web.  
   
   
       3 . The footer track of  claim 1 , wherein said drain opening is generally circular in shape when said web and said leg are oriented in a single plane.  
   
   
       4 . The footer track of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of drain openings are spaced at approximately 9 inch intervals.  
   
   
       5 . The footer track of  claim 1 , wherein each of said drain openings is defined by an opposing one of said pair of legs relative to each adjacent of said drain openings.  
   
   
       6 . The footer track of  claim 1 , wherein each of said drain openings on one side of said web is substantially aligned with one of said drain openings on an opposite side of said web.  
   
   
       7 . The footer track of  claim 1 , additionally comprising means in said web for directing fluid into one or more of said openings.  
   
   
       8 . The footer track of  claim 7 , wherein said means in said web comprises a crease.  
   
   
       9 . A footer track for supporting a plurality of wall studs, comprising: 
 a web;    a pair of legs extending in an upward direction from opposing sides of said web, said pair of legs spaced from one another a distance sufficient to accommodate a wall stud therebetween;    wherein said footer track defines a plurality of drain openings spaced along a length of said footer track, wherein each of said drain openings is at least partially defined by one of said pairs of legs and wherein each of said drain openings extends at least to a juncture between said one of said legs and said web.    
   
   
       10 . The footer track of  claim 9 , wherein said drain opening extends inward from said leg into said web such that a portion of said drain opening is defined by said web.  
   
   
       11 . The footer track of  claim 9 , wherein said drain opening is generally circular in shape when said web and said leg are oriented in a single plane.  
   
   
       12 . The footer track of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of drain openings are spaced at approximately 9 inch intervals.  
   
   
       13 . The footer track of  claim 12 , wherein each of said drain openings is defined by an opposing one of said pair of legs relative to each adjacent of said drain openings.  
   
   
       14 . The footer track of  claim 9 , wherein each of said drain openings is defined by an opposing one of said pair of legs relative to each adjacent of said drain openings.  
   
   
       15 . The footer track of  claim 9 , wherein each of said drain openings on one side of said web is substantially aligned with one of said drain openings on an opposite side of said web.  
   
   
       16 . The footer track of  claim 9 , additionally comprising means in said web for directing fluid into one or more of said openings.  
   
   
       17 . A method of making a footer track, comprising: 
 creating a plurality of openings spaced along a length of a relatively flat, elongate workpiece;    bending edge portions of said workpiece to create a pair of legs extending from opposing sides of a web of said workpiece;    wherein said bending is configured such that a boundary of each of said openings is at least partially defined by both said web and one of said pairs of legs.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said bending is configured such that said boundary of said opening extends inwardly from said leg into said web such that a portion of said drain opening is defined by said web.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said bending is configured such that approximately one-half of said opening is defined by said web and approximately one-half of said opening is defined by one of said pairs of legs.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said creating of said openings comprises creating openings having a generally circular shape prior to said bending.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said creating of said openings comprises positioning said openings such that said plurality of openings are spaced at approximately 9 inch intervals.