Track system for supporting wall studs

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting and retaining a plurality of parallel spaced apart wall studs comprises a longitudinally extending base having first and second side edges and first and second opposed sidewalls extending generally perpendicular to the base from the first and second side edges, wherein the base and sidewalls together define a trough for receiving and retaining an end portion of the plurality of wall studs. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of clips sized to fit within and extend transversely across the trough, each of the plurality of clips having first and second tabs extending from the base wherein the first and second tabs each define a slot with a corresponding of the first and second sidewalls sized to receive a portion of the wall studs therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for supporting and retaining a plurality of parallel spaced apart wall studs comprising:
 a longitudinally extending base having first and second side edges and first and second opposed sidewalls extending generally perpendicular to said base from said first and second side edges, wherein said base and sidewalls together define a trough for receiving and retaining an end portion of said plurality of wall studs;   a plurality of clips sized to fit within and extend transversely across said trough, each of said plurality of clips having first and second tabs extending from said base,   wherein said first and second tabs each define a slot with a corresponding of said first and second sidewalls sized to receive a portion of the wall studs therein.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said clip includes a bottom portion extending between said first and second tabs. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said bottom portion of said clip is substantially planar. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said bottom portion of said clip is secured to said base. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first and second tabs extends substantially parallel to said first and second side walls. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second tabs include a bottom portion proximate to said base portion and a top portion distal from said base portion of said clip. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said bottom and top portions have a bend angle therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said bottom portion is angled towards said first or second side wall and wherein said top portion is angled away from said first or second side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of clips is formed from a substantially planar unitary sheet of material. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of clips are spaced along said trough at regular intervals. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein said slots are adapted to restrain horizontal movement of the stud located therein in the engaged position. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein said slots are adapted to permit vertical movement of the stud located therein between engaged and disengaged positions by sliding the stud vertically. 
     
     
         13 . A kit for forming a wall comprising:
 at least one top track formed in accordance with  claim 1 ;   at least one bottom track formed in accordance with  claim 1 ; and   a plurality of metal wall studs having sidewalls sized to be received within said slots of said top and bottom tracks.   
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 14  wherein said base of said top track extends along a plane parallel to said base of said bottom track at a distance greater than a length of said plurality of metal studs to permit the relative sliding movement of said plurality of metal studs. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein said trough of said top track has a depth exceeding a depth of said trough of said bottom track. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein said tabs of said top track have a length exceeding a length of said tabs of said bottom track to define corresponding larger slots in said top track. 
     
     
         17 . A method for forming a wall comprising:
 securing a bottom track to a floor surface;   securing a top track to a ceiling surface,   wherein each of said bottom top tracks comprises:
 a longitudinally extending base having first and second side edges and first and second opposed sidewalls extending generally perpendicular to said base from said first and second side edges, wherein said base and sidewalls together define a trough for receiving and retaining an end portion of said plurality of wall studs; 
 a plurality of clips sized to fit within and extend transversely across said trough, each of said plurality of clips having first and second tabs extending from said base, 
 wherein said first and second tabs each define a slot with a corresponding of said first and second sidewalls sized to receive a portion of the wall studs therein. 
   providing a plurality of metal wall studs   engaging a top end of each of said plurality of metal wall studs within said slots of said top track;   rotating each of said plurality of metal studs into alignment with said slots of said bottom track; and   vertically moving each of said plurality of metal studs into engagement with said bottom slots of said bottom track.