US2012067000A1PendingUtilityA1

Frame assembly for supporting a wall panel

34
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 16, 2010Filed: Sep 16, 2010Published: Mar 22, 2012
Est. expirySep 16, 2030(~4.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Erik John Kiilunen
E04C 2003/0473E04B 2/7457E04B 2/767
34
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A frame assembly for supporting a wall panel includes a stud having an end portion. The stud is configured to engage and support the wall panel. The frame assembly also includes a track member having a generally U-shaped cross-section defined by a base and two sidewalls. The track member defines a longitudinal axis. The frame assembly further includes an engagement member coupled to the base of the track member and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. The engagement member defines a slot that receives the end portion of the stud to support the stud.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A frame assembly for supporting a wall panel, the frame assembly comprising:
 a stud having an end portion, the stud configured to engage and support the wall panel;   a track member having a generally U-shaped cross-section defined by a base and two sidewalls, the track member defining a longitudinal axis; and   an engagement member coupled to the base of the track member and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the engagement member defining a slot that receives the end portion of the stud to support the stud.   
     
     
         2 . The frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slot extends transversely to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the two sidewalls engage the stud to inhibit lateral movement of the stud relative to the track member, and wherein the engagement member engages the stud to inhibit longitudinal movement of the stud relative to the track member. 
     
     
         4 . The frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member is a first engagement member, and further comprising a second engagement member coupled to the base of the track member and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second engagement member is spaced apart from the first engagement member and defines a slot that receives the end portion of the stud to support the stud. 
     
     
         5 . The frame assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the slot of the first engagement member is aligned with the slot of the second engagement member. 
     
     
         6 . The frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stud has a generally C-shaped cross-section defined by a web, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, and wherein the web is disconnected from the first sidewall and the second sidewall at the end portion of the stud to allow movement of a portion of the web relative to the first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
         7 . The frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member is integrally formed as a single piece with the base. 
     
     
         8 . The frame assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the track member and the engagement member are extruded in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The frame assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the track member and the engagement member are roll formed in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member extends along an entire length of the base. 
     
     
         11 . The frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member only extends along a portion of the base. 
     
     
         12 . A frame assembly for supporting a wall panel, the frame assembly comprising:
 a plurality of studs, each stud having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the plurality of studs configured to engage and support the wall panel;   a first track member having a generally U-shaped cross-section defined by a base and two sidewalls, the first track member defining a first longitudinal axis;   a first engagement member coupled to the base of the first track member and extending parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the first engagement member defining a first plurality of slots spaced apart along the first longitudinal axis, the first plurality of slots receiving the first end portions of the plurality of studs;   a second track member having a generally U-shaped cross-section defined by a base and two sidewalls, the second track member defining a second longitudinal axis; and   a second engagement member coupled to the base of the second track member and extending parallel to the second longitudinal axis, the second engagement member defining a second plurality of slots spaced apart along the second longitudinal axis, the second plurality of slots receiving the second end portions of the plurality of studs to support the plurality of studs between the first track member and the second track member.   
     
     
         13 . The frame assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first plurality of slots extends transversely to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the second plurality of slots extends transversely to the second longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The frame assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the two sidewalls of the first track member and the two sidewalls of the second track member engage the plurality of studs to inhibit lateral movement of the plurality of studs relative to the first and second track members, and wherein the first engagement member and the second engagement member engage the plurality of studs to inhibit longitudinal movement of the plurality of studs relative to the first and second track members. 
     
     
         15 . The frame assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a third engagement member coupled to the base of the first track member and extending parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the third engagement member being spaced apart from the first engagement member and defining a third plurality of slots spaced apart along the first longitudinal axis, the third plurality of slots receiving the first end portions of the plurality of studs; and   a fourth engagement member coupled to the base of the second track member and extending parallel to the second longitudinal axis, the fourth engagement member being spaced apart from the second engagement member and defining a fourth plurality of slots spaced apart along the second longitudinal axis, the fourth plurality of slots receiving the second end portions of the plurality of studs.   
     
     
         16 . The frame assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each slot of the first engagement member is generally aligned with a corresponding slot of the second engagement member such that each stud extends generally perpendicularly between the first and second track members. 
     
     
         17 . The frame assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each stud has a generally C-shaped cross-section defined by a web, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, and wherein the web is disconnected from the first sidewall and the second sidewall at the first end portion of each stud to allow movement of a portion of the web relative to the first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
         18 . The frame assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first engagement member is integrally formed as a single piece with the base of the first track member, and wherein the second engagement member is integrally formed as a single piece with the base of the second track member. 
     
     
         19 . The frame assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first track member and the first engagement member are extruded in a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein the second track member and the second engagement member are extruded in a direction parallel to the second longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The frame assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first track member and the first engagement member are roll formed in a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein the second track member and the second engagement member are roll formed in a direction parallel to the second longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         21 . The frame assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first engagement member extends along an entire length of the base of the first track member, and wherein the second engagement member extends along an entire length of the base of the second track member. 
     
     
         22 . The frame assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first engagement member only extends along a portion of the base of the first track member, and wherein the second engagement member only extends along a portion of the base of the second track member.

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