Modular wall stud brace

Abstract

An apparatus for reinforcing adjacent structural members to each other comprises a ridged member extending between first and second ends and having a length sufficient to extend between two adjacent structural members and a socket at each of the first and second ends of the rigid member. Each socket has a central axis therethrough and is formed of a base panel and first and second side panels. At least one of the sockets is adapted to engage with a socket of an adjacent rigid member so as to interlink successive rigid members across a plurality of structural members wherein the rigid member is connected to the first panels at an end thereof distal to the base panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for reinforcing adjacent structural members to each other, each of the structural members extending between top and bottom ends and having front and rear surfaces, the apparatus comprising:
 a ridged member extending between first and second ends and having a length sufficient to extend between two adjacent structural members;   a socket at each of the first and second ends of said rigid member, each socket having a central axis therethrough and being formed of a base panel and first and second side panels,   wherein at least one of said sockets is adapted to engage with a socket of an adjacent rigid member so as to interlink successive rigid members across a plurality of structural members,   and wherein said rigid member is connected to said first and second sockets at an end thereof distal to said base panel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said base panel of each socket is abuttable at against a corresponding base panel wherein said first and second side panels are engagable with corresponding first and second side panels of said adjacent socket. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said one of said first or second edge is angularly oriented relative to said central axis. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said side panels of said socket overlap said side panels of said adjacent socket when said socket is engaged therewith. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second panels and said base panel include fastener bores therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said central axes of said first and second sockets are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said rigid member extend diagonally between said first and second sockets, such that said rigid member is angularly oriented relative to said central axes of said first and second socket. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said second side panels includes an end tab connectable to adjacent end tabs of a corresponding socket of an adjacent rigid member located on an opposed edge of said structural member. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first side panel has a length selected to position said rigid member at a position between proximate to said first edge and proximate to said second edge of said structural member. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said first side panel has a length selected to position said rigid member at a midpoint between said first and second edges of said structural member such that rigid members positioned from opposed edges of said structural member are proximate to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said rigid members are have a space therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said structural member comprises a channel, further comprising a reinforcing body sized correspond to said channel to be located within said channel at a position corresponding to one of said first and second sockets. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said reinforcing body has a c-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said reinforcing body has a question mark shaped cross section. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first panels of said first or second sockets includes a tab extending perpendicularly therefrom adapted to overly a cap positioned perpendicularly to said structural members. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one of said base panels of said first or second sockets includes a tab extending co-planarly therefrom adapted to overly a cap positioned perpendicularly to said structural members. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of said first or second sockets comprise an end plate extending substantially perpendicular to a central axis of said other of said first or second sockets for engaging a cap positioned perpendicularly to said structural members. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said end plate includes a side plate extending perpendicularly therefrom to engage a side of said cap.