Stud with lengthwise indented grooves, and with intervening planar surfaces, and method

Abstract

A steel stud member for use in supporting structures and having reduced thickness as compared with conventional studs, and having a web having side edges, flanges on the side edges, formed at angles to the web, the web and the flanges enclosing inside surfaces, and having outside surfaces for mounting structure, and plurality of narrow indented longitudinal grooves formed in the flanges, and in the web, indented inwardly from the outside to the inside of the flanges, providing greater load bearing capacity for a given gauge of steel. Also disclosed is a method of making such a steel member. In another embodiment the flanges are indented with a plurality of separate dimples

1 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud for use in construction
 and having a web defining side edges and an axis, a first flange along one side edge, and a second flange along the other side edge, said web and said flanges defining inside surfaces and outside mounting surfaces on opposite surfaces of said sheet metal, and comprising;   longitudinal indented grooves formed along at least one of said first and second flanges, parallel to said web axis wherein said indented grooves in said flanges are formed as depressions from said outside mounting surface extending into said inside surface; and,   planar surface spaces on the outside mounting surface of said at least one flange between said indented grooves.   
   
   
       2 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 1 , including two said flanges bent at right angles to said web and longitudinal indented grooves in both said flanges, and planar surfaces spaces between said grooves on each said flange. 
   
   
       3 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 1  including depressions formed in said web at spaced intervals, and openings formed in said depressions. 
   
   
       4 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 1  having an embedment edge formed along one said flange, for embedment in concrete. 
   
   
       5 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 1  including openings through said web at spaced intervals therealong, of predetermined size and profile, at least a side portion of said web displaced from said opening remaining attached integrally to said web, a first bend formed in said side portion, a second bend formed in said side portion spaced from said first bend, said first and second bends being formed along axes parallel to said web axis to define reinforcing channels. 
   
   
       6 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 5  including a cross brace member having fastenings with a snap-in engagement for insertion into said web openings. 
   
   
       7 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 5  including depressions formed in said web at spaced intervals and, openings formed in said depressions to reduce heat transfer. 
   
   
       8 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 5  and having openings shaped with opposed linear side edges, side portions of said web integral with said linear side edges being formed into said channel shapes. 
   
   
       9 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 1  and having an embedment edge on a said flange being angled at an angle to said web and a locking strip formed along said embedment edge for embedment in a concrete panel. 
   
   
       10 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 9  and having openings through said web at spaced intervals therealong, of predetermined size and profile, at least a side portion of said web displaced from said opening remaining attached integrally to said web, a first bend formed in said side portion, a second bend formed in said side portion spaced from said first bend, said first and second bends being formed along axes parallel to said web axis to define reinforcing channels. 
   
   
       11 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 1  and being formed of sheet metal having a gauge between 0.149 inch and 0.1196 inch, and a web width of between 3.625 and 14.00 inch, and flange width of between 1.25 and 3.0 inch, and wherein the indented grooves have a depth of between 0.125 and 50 inch and a groove width of between 0.0625 and 0.50 inch, and having a planar spacing between said indented grooves in said web of between 0.50 and 1.25 inch. 
   
   
       12 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 9  being further characterized by being formed of sheet metal having a gauge between 0.149 inch and 1.196 inch, and a web width of between 3.625 and 14.00 inch, and flange width of between 1.25 and 3.0 inch, and wherein the indented grooves have a depth of between 0.125 and 0.50 inch and a groove width of between 0.0625 and 0.50 inch and a spacing between said indented grooves in said web of between 0.50 and 1.25 inch. 
   
   
       13 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud for use in construction and having a web defining side edges and an axis, a first flange along one side edge, and a second flange along the other side edge, said web and said flanges defining inside surfaces and outside mounting surfaces on opposite surfaces of said sheet metal, and comprising;
 multiple separate dimples indented in each of said first and second flanges, forming depressions from said outside mounting surface extending into said inside surface; and,   longitudinal and transverses ridges on the outside mounting surface of each said flange between said dimples.   
   
   
       14 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud for use in construction as claimed in  claim 13  and including transverse indented L-shaped corner grooves, formed in said web and in each said flange, located at spaced apart intervals therealong. 
   
   
       15 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud for use in construction as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said dimples are generally of pyramid shape. 
   
   
       16 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud for use in construction as claimed in  claim 15 , and including web openings formed in said web at spaced intervals therealong. 
   
   
       17 . A reinforced indented sheet metal stud for use in construction as claimed in  claim 13 , and including grooves indented across said web, generally from one flange to the other. 
   
   
       18 . A method of making a reinforced indented sheet metal stud
 and comprising the steps of;   forming a sheet metal strip having a web with side edges;   forming longitudinal indented grooves in said flanges, said grooves being spaced apart and defining planar web portions between said grooves;   forming flanges along each said side edge, said flanges having lips on said flanges;   bending said flanges relative to said web whereby to define an outer mounting surface and an inside surface of said stud, said grooves being formed as depressions indented from said outer mounting surface into said inside surface; and,   forming longitudinal indented grooves in said web.   
   
   
       19 . A method of making a reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 18  and further comprising the steps of;
 forming main web openings in said sheet metal strip at spaced intervals,   subsequently forming edge flanges around said openings and,   prior to forming said indented grooves.   
   
   
       20 . A method of making a reinforced indented sheet metal stud as claimed in  claim 19  and further comprising the steps of;
 bending said edge flanges to form a reinforcement channel on at least one side of each said opening.