Casing bead with a removable leg and method of constructing a wall structure

Abstract

A casing bead for constructing a wall structure includes a bead wall, a flange, and a removable leg. The flange extends away from the bead wall and is configured to receive a viscous construction material thereon to facilitate embedment of the casing bead within the viscous construction material to form part of the wall structure. The casing bead may be positioned adjacent to a frame member thereby forming a gap between the bead wall and the frame member. The leg is removably connected to the bead wall and configured to extend into the gap thereby inhibiting the viscous construction material from being introduced into the gap. Furthermore, the leg is configured to be selectively removed from the bead wall to reveal at least a portion of the gap to allow a user to introduce a sealant into the gap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A casing bead, comprising:
 a bead wall;   a flange connected to the bead wall and extending away from the bead wall in a first direction, wherein the flange comprises at least one opening extending through the flange; and   a leg removably connected to the bead wall and extending away from the bead wall in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The casing bead of  claim 1 , wherein the bead wall comprises a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the flange extends along the bottom edge of the bead wall. 
     
     
         3 . The casing bead of  claim 2 , further comprising an upper lip connected to the bead wall and extending from the bead wall in the first direction, wherein the upper lip extends along the top edge of the bead wall. 
     
     
         4 . The casing bead of  claim 3 , wherein the leg is positioned on the bead wall at a position between the flange and the upper lip. 
     
     
         5 . The casing bead of  claim 1 , further comprising a backing strip extending from the bead wall in the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The casing bead of  claim 5 , wherein the leg is spaced above an upper surface of the backing strip. 
     
     
         7 . The casing bead of  claim 5 , wherein the backing strip comprises a closed cell foam material. 
     
     
         8 . The casing bead of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the leg extends above a top edge of the bead wall. 
     
     
         9 . The casing bead of  claim 1 , wherein the leg comprises a gripping member configured to facilitate removal of the leg from the bead wall. 
     
     
         10 . The casing bead of  claim 9 , wherein the leg further comprises a base member extending from the bead wall, and wherein the gripping member extends from the base member. 
     
     
         11 . The casing bead of  claim 10 , wherein the gripping member and the base member collectively have a t-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The casing bead of  claim 1 , wherein the bead wall and the leg are of unitary construction. 
     
     
         13 . The casing bead of  claim 1 , wherein the bead wall, the leg, and the flange are of unitary construction. 
     
     
         14 . A casing bead, comprising:
 a bead wall;   a flange extending from the bead wall, wherein the flange comprises at least one opening extending through the flange;   a leg comprising an inner edge and a free edge, wherein the leg is removably connected to the bead along the inner edge of the leg and extends away from the bead wall such that the free edge of the leg is laterally spaced a first distance away from the bead wall; and   a backing strip comprising an outer surface, wherein the backing strip extends away from the bead wall such that the outer surface of the backing strip is laterally spaced a second distance from the bead wall, wherein the first distance is less than or substantially equal to the second distance.   
     
     
         15 . The casing bead of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the leg is substantially parallel to at least a portion of the flange. 
     
     
         16 . A wall structure, comprising:
 a frame member;   a support structure positioned proximate to the frame member; and   a casing bead attached to the support structure, wherein the casing bead comprises
 a bead wall positioned proximate to the frame member such that a gap is defined between the bead wall and the frame member, wherein the bead wall comprises a rear surface that faces the framing member, 
 a flange extending from the bead wall in a direction away from the gap, wherein the flange is positioned on the support structure and comprises at least one opening extending through the flange, and 
 a leg extending from the rear surface of the bead wall into the gap, wherein the leg is removably connected to the rear surface of the bead wall. 
   
     
     
         17 . The wall structure of  claim 16 , further comprising a backing strip attached to the bead wall, wherein the backing strip is positioned on the bead wall below the leg. 
     
     
         18 . A method of constructing a wall structure comprising the steps of:
 providing
 a frame member, 
 a support structure, and 
 a casing bead comprising
 a bead wall, 
 a flange extending from the bead wall, wherein the flange comprises at least one opening extending through the flange, and 
 a leg, wherein the leg is removably connected to the bead wall. 
 
   attaching the casing bead to the support structure such that the casing bead is positioned adjacent to the frame member such that a gap is formed between the bead wall of the casing bead and the frame member, wherein the casing bead is positioned such that the leg extends into the gap;   applying at least one layer of viscous construction material to the support structure such that the at least one layer of viscous construction material at least partially covers the flange of the casing bead;   removing the leg from the casing bead.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 introducing a sealant into the gap after the removing the leg from the casing bead.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the casing bead further comprises a backing strip extending from the bead wall into the gap and further comprising the step of applying a sealant to an upper surface of the backing strip after removing the leg from the casing bead.