Modular Metal Wall Framing System

Abstract

A metal stud assembly includes a stud used in constructing a metal wall frame between two channel members, and an extender longitudinally slidably mounted within the stud. The stud includes a central column portion, two side walls formed on opposite sides of the central column portion, a retainer, at least one alignment slot formed in the stud for receiving the retainer formed on one of the channel members, and an indented portion formed in at least one of the side walls for receiving a spacer bar. The alignment slot is formed in at least one end portion of the central column portion. The extender includes an upper portion having side walls parallel to the side walls of the stud, and a lower portion having side walls that join the upper portion side walls at a top end and which taper at a bottom end to fit within the stud.

1 . A metal stud assembly, comprising:
 a stud adapted to be used in a metal wall frame between a pair of channel members; and   an extender longitudinally adapted to be slidably mounted within said stud;   wherein the stud includes
 a longitudinally-extending central column portion having a pair of opposite end portions, 
 a pair of side walls formed on opposite sides of said central column portion, 
 a first retainer, and 
 at least one elongated alignment slot formed in said stud that is adapted to receive the first retainer formed on one of said channel members, 
 wherein said alignment slot is formed in at least one of said end portions of said central column portion; and 
   wherein the extender includes
 an upper portion having side walls that are substantially parallel to the side walls of the stud, and 
 a lower portion having side walls that join the upper portion side walls at a top end and which taper to smaller dimensions at a bottom end, such that the bottom end fits within the stud. 
   
   
   
       2 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stud further includes an indented portion formed in at least one of said side walls that is adapted to receive a spacer bar. 
   
   
       3 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the stud is a plurality of studs, and further comprising at least one spacer bar that is adapted to interconnect adjacent ones of said studs, and is adapted to couple to respective said indented portions formed in said studs. 
   
   
       4 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion side walls of the extender taper linearly inward. 
   
   
       5 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said extender is formed with a push hole that is adapted to push and slide said extender within said stud. 
   
   
       6 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the retainer is a first retainer, the metal stud assembly further comprising
 a second retainer formed on said channel member,   wherein said first retainer has at least one slot formed therein that is adapted to receive the second retainer.   
   
   
       7 . A metal wall frame system, comprising:
 a series of metal studs according to the metal stud assembly of  claim 1 ;   a metal channel member having a floor portion and a pair of side walls upstanding from said floor portion, wherein the series of metal studs is adapted to interconnect to said channel member;   a series of stops formed at predetermined intervals along said channel member, wherein each said stud is adapted to be butted against a respective one of said stops; and   a series of retainer members formed at predetermined intervals along said channel member, wherein each said stud is adapted to receive a respective one of said retainer members.   
   
   
       8 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 7 , further comprising a series of spacer bars, wherein each said spacer bar is adapted to interconnect adjacent ones of said studs. 
   
   
       9 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 7 , wherein said stops are formed as upstanding tabs struck from said channel member. 
   
   
       10 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 9 , further comprising a series of longitudinally spaced crimp portions crimped inwardly from said side walls and adapted to lock said studs on said channel member. 
   
   
       11 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 9 , wherein each of said studs comprises a socket and wherein each said spacer bar comprises a series of projections adapted to respectively extend into each of said sockets. 
   
   
       12 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 7 , wherein the metal channel member is a lower channel member, and further comprising an upper channel member adapted to interconnect to the extender. 
   
   
       13 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 12 , wherein
 the extender includes an elongated slot, and   the upper channel member includes a retainer member that is adapted to engage the elongated slot to interconnect the upper channel member to the extender.   
   
   
       14 . A metal stud assembly, comprising:
 a stud adapted for constructing a metal wall frame between a pair of channel members; and   an extender adapted to be longitudinally slidably mounted over said stud;   wherein the stud includes
 a longitudinally-extending central column portion having a pair of opposite end portions, 
 a pair of side walls formed on opposite sides of said central column portion, 
 a first retainer, 
 at least one elongated alignment slot formed in said stud that is adapted to receive the first retainer formed on one of said channel members, and 
 an indented portion formed in at least one of said side walls that is adapted to receive a spacer bar, 
 wherein said alignment slot is formed in at least one of said end portions of said central column portion; and 
   wherein the extender includes
 an upper portion having side walls that are substantially parallel to the side walls of the stud, and 
 a lower portion having side walls that are adapted to fit over the stud. 
   
   
   
       15 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the lower portion side walls of the extender taper linearly inward. 
   
   
       16 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said extender is formed with a push hole that is adapted to push and slide said extender within said stud. 
   
   
       17 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer is a first retainer, the metal stud assembly further comprising
 a second retainer formed on said channel member,   wherein said first retainer has at least one slot formed therein that is adapted to receive the second retainer.   
   
   
       18 . A metal wall frame system, comprising:
 a series of metal studs according to the metal stud assembly of  claim 14 ;   a metal channel member having a floor portion and a pair of side walls upstanding from said floor portion, wherein the series of metal studs is adapted to be interconnected to said channel member;   a series of stops formed at predetermined intervals along said channel member, wherein each said stud is adapted to be butted against a respective one of said stops; and   a series of retainer members formed at predetermined intervals along said channel member, wherein each said stud is adapted to receive a respective one of said retainer members.   
   
   
       19 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 18 , further comprising a series of spacer bars, wherein each said spacer bar is adapted to interconnect adjacent ones of said studs. 
   
   
       20 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 18 , wherein said stops are formed as upstanding tabs struck from said channel member. 
   
   
       21 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 20 , further comprising a series of longitudinally spaced crimp portions crimped inwardly from said side walls and adapted to lock said studs on said channel member. 
   
   
       22 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 20 , wherein each of said studs comprises a socket and wherein each said spacer bar comprises a series of projections adapted to respectively extend into each of said sockets. 
   
   
       23 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 18 , wherein the metal channel member is a lower channel member, and further comprising an upper channel member adapted to be interconnected to the extender. 
   
   
       24 . The metal wall frame system of  claim 23 , wherein
 the extender includes an elongated slot, and   the upper channel member includes a retainer member that is adapted to engage the elongated slot to interconnect the upper channel member to the extender.   
   
   
       25 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the lower portion of the extender is adapted to join the upper portion side walls at a top end and tapers to larger dimensions at a bottom end, such that the bottom end is adapted to fit over the stud. 
   
   
       26 . The metal stud assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a tapered section, wherein the lower portion of the extender is adapted to fit over the stud and join the upper portion side walls at the tapered section, wherein the tapered section provides a transition in dimensions between the upper portion and the lower portion.