Drywall backing apparatus and method of installing same

Abstract

A drywall backing apparatus for metal studding consists of a two-limb backing member, with one limb extending orthogonal to the other to present a generally L-shaped form. The metal studding comprises a plurality of U-shaped studs, the flanges of which have overturned edges for engagement and registration with grooves in the backing member which bridges and is secured by fasteners to successive studs to provide suitable fixing for wall furniture.

1 . A backing member for installation in-between successive U-shaped metal studs forming part of a wall structure, the backing member comprising a first bridging limb having at least one formation for registration with at least a flange of the metal stud, and a second limb in the form of a bracing block extending orthogonally from one end of the first limb and being dimensioned to engage a web of the stud internally or externally thereof, the first and second limbs in use extending in-between successive metal studs and being securable thereto by fasteners. 
   
   
       2 . A backing member according to  claim 1  wherein the second limb is secured to one end of the first limb. 
   
   
       3 . A backing member according to  claim 1  wherein the or each formation is adapted for registration with an edge of said flange of the metal stud. 
   
   
       4 . A backing member according to  claim 2  wherein a first said formation extends across a face of the first limb substantially parallel to and adjacent an edge of the free end of the limb. 
   
   
       5 . A backing member according to  claim 4  wherein a second said formation is provided on the second limb in a face thereof in coplanar relationship to the said face of the first limb, the second formation extending in substantial parallelism with the first formation on the first limb. 
   
   
       6 . A backing member according to  claim 4  wherein the second formation extends into and across the coplanar face of the second limb. 
   
   
       7 . A backing member according to  claim 5  wherein the spacing between the first and third formations corresponds to the spacing of the flanges of the studs. 
   
   
       8 . A backing member according to  claim 5  wherein a third such formation extends across the said face of the first limb orthogonally with respect to the first formation and in parallel with another edge of the first limb. 
   
   
       9 . A backing member according to  claim 5  wherein each of the said formations extends into a marginal edge of the respective limb. 
   
   
       10 . A backing member according to  claim 4  wherein each of the said formations is in the form of a groove. 
   
   
       11 . A method of providing at least one backing member as defined in  claim 1  between two successive vertically erected U-shaped metal studs constituting studding in a wall structure, each said stud being installed with the web thereof secured to an end abutment and its front and back flanges forming the open mouth of the stud facing along the studding, with said two stud being oriented in a wall direction with the flanges of a first one of the studs being oriented toward a second one of the studs, each flange of each stud being turned-over to provide marginal lips in the form of detents, the method including the steps of:
 a—inserting the backing member in-between the two successive studs with the second limb abutting the external surface of the web of the second stud and a free end of the first limb abutting the internal surface of the front flange of the first stud, the at least one formation registering with the detent of the front flange of the first stud; and   b—securing the backing member to both the first and second studs by the use of fasteners passing through the front flange of the first stud into the backing member and through the web of the second stud into the backing member.   
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the studding includes a third vertically erected U-shaped metal stud adjacent the second stud and being oriented in the opposite sense relative to the first and second studs with the flanges of the third studs being oriented toward the second stud, the at least one backing member being a first backing member and the at least one registration being a first registration adjacent the free end of the first limb thereof, a second backing member having a second registration formation being generally parallel to the first formation and located adjacent the second limb, the method further including the steps of:
 c—inserting the second backing member in-between the second stud and the third stud with the free end of the first limb abutting the internal surface of the front flange of the second stud with the first formation registering with the detent of the front flange of the second stud and the second limb abutting the front flange of the third stud with the second formation registering with the detent of the front flange of the third stud; and   d—securing the second backing member to both the second and third studs by the use of fasteners passing through the front flange of the second and third studs into the second backing member.   
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the studding includes a plurality of studs suitably spaced apart to provide the structure of a wall, a plurality of backing members being secured thereto as aforesaid, and comprising a plurality of sheets of wallboard attached to the studding. 
   
   
       14 . A wall structure constructed in accordance with the method as claimed in  claim 13 .