Bracing beams for sheet metal framing walls

Abstract

One or more diagonal brace beam sections ( 26 ) extend between a pair of connectors ( 32 ). One of the connectors is placed inside of a first stud ( 14 ) that opens towards a closed side of the next stud ( 14 ) the second connector member ( 32 ) abuts against the web of the second stud ( 14 ). The connectors ( 32 ) are connected to the studs ( 14 ) by screw fasteners or some other suitable form of fasteners. The several diagonal brace beam sections ( 26 ) form an internal brace beam for the wall that extends from an upper corner at one end of the wall downwardly to a lower corner at the opposite end of the wall.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A wall structure, comprising:
 first and second sheet metal studs, each in the form of a channel having a closed side formed by a web and an open side formed by and between spaced apart flanges that are connected to the web;   wherein the first and second studs each includes inwardly directed lips on the flanges extending parallel to each other and to the web and perpendicular to the flanges;   said open side of the first stud facing the closed side of the second stud;   a first connector member configured to be positioned inside of the first stud, said first connector member having a web configured to be positioned against the web of the first stud and a pair of flanges that project from said web towards the second stud;   a second connector member having a web configured to be positioned against the web of the second stud and a pair of flanges projecting from said web towards the first stud;   a brace beam having a first end configured to fit inside the first connector member and a second end configured to fit inside the second connector member;   wherein the first connector member is connected to the first end of the brace beam by a fixed first connection and the second connector member is connected to the second end of the brace beam by a second fixed connection;   wherein the first connector member is insertable sideways part way into the open side of the first stud, wherein the second stud is springable away from the first stud, and wherein the brace beam is swingable sideways to more the first connector member inside of the first stud with its web against the web of the first stud and place the web of the second connector member against the web of the second stud, and wherein the second stud is then springable back towards the first stud so as to place the web of the second stud against the web of the second connector; and   wherein the first connector member is connectable to the first stud and the second connector member is connectable to the second stud.   
   
   
       26 . The wall structure of  claim 25 , wherein the brace beam extends at a diagonal to the first and second studs. 
   
   
       27 . the wall structure of  claim 25 , wherein the brace beam is welded to the first and second connector members. 
   
   
       28 . the wall structure of  claim 26 ; wherein the brace beam is welded to the first and second connector members. 
   
   
       29 . a wall structure, comprising:
 first and second sheet metal studs, each in the form of a channel having a closed side formed by a web and an open side formed by and between spaced apart flanges that are connected to the web;   wherein the first and second studs each includes inwardly directed lips on the flanges extending parallel to each other and to the web and perpendicular to the flanges;   said open side of the first stud facing the closed side of the second stud;   a first connector member configured to be positioned inside of the first stud, said first connector member having a web configured to be positioned against the web of the of the first stud and a pair of flanges that project from said web towards the second stud;   a second connector member having a web configured to be positioned against the web of the second stud and a pair of flanges projecting from said web towards the first stud;   first and second spaced apart brace beams, each having a first end configured to fit inside the first connector member and a second end configured to fit inside the second connector member and a second end configured to fit inside the second connector member;   wherein the first connector member is connected to the first end of both brace beams by fixed connections and the second connector is connected to the second end of both brace beams by a fixed connections;   wherein the first connector member is a insertable sideways part way into the open of the first stud, wherein the second stud is springable away from the first stud, and wherein the brace beams and the connector members are swingable sideways to place the first connector member inside of the first stud with its web against the web of the first stud and place the web of the second connector member against the web of the second stud, and wherein the second stud is then springable back towards the first stud so as to place the web of the second stud against the web of the second connector; and   wherein the first connector member is connectable to the first stud and the second connector member is connectable to the second stud.   
   
   
       30 . The wall structure of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second brace beams extend in a diagonal to the first and second studs. 
   
   
       31 . The wall structure of  claim 30  wherein the brace beams are welded to the first and second connector members. 
   
   
       32 . The wall structure of  claim 31  wherein the two brace beams are welded to the first and second connector member