Insulating Sealing Element for Head-of-Wall Joints

Abstract

A sealing element for sealing a gap or joint between a support structure and a track is disclosed. The track includes a web and legs that extend vertically from the web. The sealing element includes a cover layer where the cover layer has a first portion that is adhesively attached to the support structure and a second portion that is adhesively attached to a leg of the track. The cover layer has a flexing point where the flexing point is disposed near a gap or joint between the support structure and the leg of the track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealing element for sealing a gap or joint between a support structure and a track, wherein the track includes a web and legs that extend vertically from the web, comprising:
 a cover layer;   wherein the cover layer has a first portion that is adhesively attached to the support structure;   wherein the cover layer has a second portion that is adhesively attached to a leg of the track;   wherein the cover layer has a flexing point;   and wherein the flexing point is disposed near a gap or joint between the support structure and the leg of the track.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexing point is formed by a first folded side edge and a second folded side edge of the cover layer. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing element according to  claim 2 , wherein the first folded side edge and the second folded side edge are symmetrical. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing element according to  claim 2 , wherein the first folded side edge and the second folded side edge are asymmetrical. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing element according to  claim 4 , wherein the first folded side edge is smaller than the second folded side edge and wherein the first folded side edge is attached to the support structure and the second folded side edge is attached to the leg of the track. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexing point is formed by a single folded side edge of the cover layer. 
     
     
         7 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg of the track has a slot, wherein the second portion of the cover layer extends along an entire length of the leg of the track, and wherein the second portion of the cover layer includes an insulating element. 
     
     
         8 . The sealing element according to  claim 7 , wherein the second portion of the cover layer envelops the insulating element. 
     
     
         9 . The sealing element according to  claim 7 , wherein the insulating element is an intumescent material. 
     
     
         10 . The sealing element according to  claim 7 , wherein the insulating element is an acoustical insulating material. 
     
     
         11 . The sealing element according to  claim 7 , wherein the insulating element is a pressure-resistant material. 
     
     
         12 . The sealing element according to  claim 7 , wherein the insulating element is disposed only on an end of the leg of the track, wherein the end of the leg of the track is opposite from an end of the leg of the track that is disposed adjacent to the support structure. 
     
     
         13 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer includes a first insulating element and a second insulating element, wherein the first insulating element is disposed on the leg of the track, and wherein the second insulating element is disposed on a second leg of the track. 
     
     
         14 . The sealing element according to  claim 13 , wherein the leg of the track has a first slot, wherein the second leg of the track has a second slot, and wherein the cover layer extends along an entire length of the track. 
     
     
         15 . The sealing element according to  claim 14 , further comprising an insulating layer attached to the cover layer. 
     
     
         16 . The sealing element according to  claim 14 , further comprising an intumescent layer attached to the cover layer. 
     
     
         17 . The sealing element according to  claim 13 , wherein the first insulating element is disposed only on an end of the leg of the track, wherein the second insulating element is disposed only on an end of the second leg of the track, wherein the ends of the leg and second leg of the track are opposite from respective ends of the leg and second leg of the track that are disposed adjacent to the support structure. 
     
     
         18 . The sealing element according to  claim 13 , wherein the cover layer envelops the first insulating element and the second insulating element.