Wall-supporting device

Abstract

A wall-supporting device for use in construction of a building to prevent water located on a floor surface from absorbing into a building material forming a vertical wall surface by separating the building material a distance from the floor. The wall-supporting device is placed along a lower portion of a wall so that a lower surface of the wall-supporting device abuts an upper floor surface. The wall-supporting device secures to a portion of a wall, for example, wall studs, and includes an engagement surface located a distance above the upper floor surface that abuts a lower edge of the material.

1 . A wall-supporting device to support building material thereon, the device comprising: 
 a support member disposed on a floor and having a body; and    a fastening device to secure the support member to a wall,    wherein the body includes an engagement surface located a predetermined vertical distance from the floor, and    wherein a piece of building material is supported by the engagement surface.    
   
   
       2 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the support member comprises: 
 a first vertical member;    a second vertical member positioned opposite and substantially parallel to the first vertical member;    a third vertical member disposed above and substantially parallel to the first vertical member;    a first bridging member extending between lower end portions of the first and second vertical members;    a second bridging member disposed above and substantially parallel to the first bridging member and extending between an upper end portion of the second vertical member and a lower end portion of the third vertical member,    wherein the engagement surface is an upper surface of the second bridging member.    
   
   
       3 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 2 , wherein the fastening device secures the support member to the wall through the third vertical member.  
   
   
       4 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 2 , wherein a vertical height of the first vertical member is equal to a vertical height of the second vertical member.  
   
   
       5 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 2 , wherein a vertical height of the first vertical member is less than a vertical height of the second vertical member but is more than one-half of the vertical height of the second vertical member.  
   
   
       6 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 2 , wherein a vertical height of the first vertical member is less than one-half of a vertical height of the second vertical member.  
   
   
       7 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 2 , wherein a vertical height of the first vertical member is equal to a vertical height of the second vertical member, and wherein the first vertical member and the third vertical member for a continuous member.  
   
   
       8 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 2 , wherein the body of the support member further comprises at least one opening in the second vertical member.  
   
   
       9 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 7 , wherein the fastening device secures the support member to the wall through the first vertical member.  
   
   
       10 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 2 , wherein the body of the support member further comprises a cavity defined by the first and second vertical members and the first and second bridging members, wherein a fire-retardant material is disposed within the cavity.  
   
   
       11 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 10 , wherein the support member further comprises a fire retardant material disposed on the engagement surface forming a seal between the support member and the piece of building material.  
   
   
       12 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 10 , wherein the wall-supporting device further comprises a coupling, which nests within a channel defined by the first bridging member, the second bridging member, and the second vertical member.  
   
   
       13 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 12 , wherein the coupling further comprises: 
 an upper member;    a lower member below and substantially parallel to the upper member; and    a front member extending between end portions of the upper and lower member;    wherein an upper surface of the upper member contacts a lower surface of the second bridging member of the body of the support member, a lower surface of the lower member contacts an upper surface of the first bridging member of the body of the support member, and a front surface of the front member contacts a back surface of the second vertical member of the body of the support member.    
   
   
       14 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 12 , wherein the support member further comprises at least one dimple formed in at least one of the first and second bridging members that mate with corresponding at least one dimple formed in at least one of the upper and lower members, respectively, of the coupling for positioning and locking the support member and the coupling to each other.  
   
   
       15 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the support member comprises: 
 a back portion comprising: 
 an upper member;  
 a lower member disposed below and substantially parallel to the upper member; and  
 a back member extending between the upper and lower members; and  
   a front portion comprising: 
 a top member;  
 a bottom member disposed below and substantially parallel to the top member; and  
 a front member extending between the top and bottom members,  
   wherein the front portion is nested within the back portion, and    wherein the engagement surface is an upper surface of the upper member.    
   
   
       16 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 15 , wherein the body further comprises a cavity defined by the top member of the front portion, the bottom member of the front portion, the front member of the front portion, and the back member of the back portion and having a fire retardant material disposed therein.  
   
   
       17 . The wall-supporting device according to  claim 16 , wherein the fire retardant material is disposed on the engagement surface and forms a seal between the body and the building material.  
   
   
       18 . The wall-supporting device of  claim 15 , wherein the back portion further comprises at least one dimple formed in at least one of the upper and lower members that mate with at least one dimple formed in at least one of the top and bottom members, respectively, of the front portion for positioning and locking the front portion within the back portion.  
   
   
       19 . The wall-supporting device of  claim 15 , wherein a section of the front portion overlaps adjacent sections of the back portion.  
   
   
       20 . The wall-supporting device of  claim 19 , wherein the fastener secures the support member to the wall through the back portion.