Adjustable wall stud

Abstract

A wall stud which includes opposed mounting surfaces for receiving wall panels, a web is disposed between the opposed mounting surfaces, and the stud has first and second ends. The first end is provided on a first stud member and the second end is provided on a second stud member. The first and second stud members are moveable with respect to one another to provide for adjustment of the effective length of the wall stud.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A wall stud comprising:
 opposed mounting surfaces for receiving wall panels;   a web is disposed between the opposed mounting surfaces;   first and second ends;   the first end being provided on a first stud member and the second end being provided on a second stud member;   the first and second stud members being movable with respect to one another to provide for adjustment of an effective length of the wall stud; and   the wall stud further including fixing mechanism for fixing the first and second stud members in position;   wherein the fixing mechanism includes a ratchet and pawl arrangement which permits lengthening of the stud, but resists shortening of the stud;   the pawl is provided in the form of a flap that is integrally formed with the web of the second stud member;   the ratchet and pawl arrangement includes a ratchet formation in the form of a series of slots provided in the web of the first stud member; and   the second stud member has a sliding fit within the first stud member.   
     
     
         14 . The wall stud according to  claim 13 , wherein the second end of the second stud member is arranged to have a same effective external dimensions as the first end of the first stud member. 
     
     
         15 . The wall stud according to  claim 14 , wherein the second end of the second stud member includes projections which provide a same effective external dimensions as the first end of the first stud member. 
     
     
         16 . The wall stud according to  claim 13 , wherein the ratchet and pawl arrangement includes a pair of pawls. 
     
     
         17 . The wall stud according to  claim 13 , wherein the ratchet formation includes two series of slots which are provided side by side. 
     
     
         18 . A method of constructing a wall including the steps of:
 installing upper and lower wall tracks, with each of the upper and lower tracks including a trough for receiving the ends of wall studs;   providing a series of wail studs; each of the wall studs comprising opposed mounting surfaces for receiving a wall panel; a web is disposed between the opposed mounting surfaces; each wall stud has first and second ends; the first end is provided on a first stud member and the second end is provided on a second stud member; and the first and second stud members are movable with respect to one another to provide for adjustment of an effective length of the wall stud;   forming at least one flap integrally with the web of the first stud member;   forming a ratchet formation as a series of slots along the web of the second stud member;   providing the second stud member so as to have a sliding fit within the first stud member;   engaging the first and the second stud members with one another;   sliding the first stud relative to the second stud to adjust the effective lengths of the wall studs to fit between the upper and the lower tracks;   engaging the least one flap of the web of the first stud member with at least one desired slot along the web of the second stud member to lock the first stud member relative to the second stud member and retain the adjusted effective length of the wall stud; and   installing each of the adjusted wall studs in the tracks.   
     
     
         19 . The method of constructing a wall including the steps of:
 removing wall studs from a wall constructed in accordance with  claim 18 ; and   readjusting the effective length of the wall studs.   
     
     
         20 . A wall stud comprising:
 opposed mounting surfaces for receiving wall panels;   a web is disposed between the opposed mounting surfaces;   first and second ends;   the first end being provided only on a first stud member and the second end being provided on only a second stud member and the first stud member being different from the second stud member;   the first and second stud members being movable with respect to one another to provide for adjustment of an effective length of the wall stud; and   the wall stud further including fixing mechanism for fixing the first and second stud members in an adjusted position relative to one another;   wherein the second stud member has a sliding fit within the first stud member so as to facilitate sliding movement of the first stud member relative to the second stud member and adjustment of the effective length of the stud;   the fixing mechanism includes a ratchet and pawl arrangement which only permits lengthening of the stud, but resists shortening of the effective length of the stud;   the ratchet and pawl arrangement includes a pawl provided as a flap that is integrally formed in the web of the first stud member; and   the ratchet and pawl arrangement includes a ratchet formation in the form of a series of slots formed in the web of the second stud member.