Locking track and associated wall reinforcement systems and methods

Abstract

A locking track for a wall reinforcement system comprises a top panel, two opposing side panels, a channel defined between the top panel and the two opposing side panels, and locking tabs formed in the two opposing side panels and extending into the channel. The wall reinforcement system further comprises a post. The post comprises a web, two flanges extending transversely from the web, and at least one slot formed in each one of the two flanges. The post is attachable to the locking track, and when attached, the at least one slot formed in each one of the two flanges receives a corresponding one of the locking tabs to lock the post to the locking track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A locking track for a wall reinforcement system, the locking track comprising:
 a top panel;   two opposing side panels;   a channel defined between the top panel and the two opposing side panels; and   locking tabs formed in the two opposing side panels and extending into the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The locking track of  claim 1 , wherein the two opposing side panels extend perpendicularly relative to the top panel. 
     
     
         3 . The locking track of  claim 1 , wherein at least one side panel of the two opposing side panels is angled inwardly toward the other one of the two opposing side panels, such that the angle between the at least one side panel and the top panel is less than ninety degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The locking track of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one side panel of the two opposing side panels further comprises a flared end portion that flares outwardly away from the other one of the two opposing side panels. 
     
     
         5 . The locking track of  claim 1 , wherein the locking tabs extend into the channel and upwardly, toward the top panel, at an oblique angle from the corresponding one of the two opposing side panels. 
     
     
         6 . The locking track of  claim 1 , wherein each locking tab comprises a U-shaped portion cut into the corresponding one of the two opposing side panels and bent into the channel to form the locking tab. 
     
     
         7 . The locking track of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal position of each one of the locking tabs in one of the two opposing side panels corresponds with the longitudinal position of another one of the locking tabs in the other one of the two opposing side panels. 
     
     
         8 . The locking track of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal spacing between each one of the locking tabs in each of the two opposing side panels is uniform along the length of the locking track. 
     
     
         9 . The locking track of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a longitudinal spacing between each one of the locking tabs in each of the two opposing side panels is non-uniform along the length of the locking track.   
     
     
         10 . The locking track of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the locking tabs are arranged into multiple sets of locking tabs; and   the longitudinal spacing between locking tabs of a given set of the multiple sets is different than the spacing between adjacent ones of the multiple sets.   
     
     
         11 . The locking track of  claim 1 , wherein the two opposing side panels are spaced apart from each other by a width of the top panel, such that the locking track has a C-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The locking track of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper ledge formed along the top panel at an intersection between the top panel and each of the two opposing side panels, such that the locking track has a T-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         13 . The locking track of  claim 1 , further comprising a corrugation formed in each one of the two opposing side panels, the corrugation in each one of the two opposing side panels formed inwardly relative to the other one of the two opposing side panels, such that the locking track has a sigma-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         14 . A wall reinforcement system, comprising:
 a locking track, comprising a top panel, two opposing side panels, a channel defined between the top panel and the two opposing side panels, and locking tabs formed in the two opposing side panels and extending into the channel; and   a post, comprising a web, two flanges extending transversely from the web, and at least one slot formed in each one of the two flanges;   wherein the at least one slot formed in each one of the two flanges receives a corresponding one of the locking tabs to lock the post to the locking track.   
     
     
         15 . The wall reinforcement system of  claim 14 , further comprising a corrugated panel attachable to the locking track and configured to extend vertically from the locking track and parallel to the two flanges of the post, when the post is locked to the locking track. 
     
     
         16 . The wall reinforcement system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the locking track further comprises a panel support feature in a distal edge of one of the two opposing side panels; and   the corrugated panel further comprises a hook-like feature in a top edge of the corrugated panel;   wherein the panel support feature and the hook-like feature are configured to interlock in a clasping arrangement when the corrugated panel is attached to the locking track.   
     
     
         17 . The wall reinforcement system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the post is formed from a first material;   the locking track is formed from a second material; and   the first material is stronger than the second material.   
     
     
         18 . The wall reinforcement system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the locking tabs are arranged into multiple sets of locking tabs;   a longitudinal spacing between locking tabs of a given set of the multiple sets is different than a longitudinal spacing between adjacent sets of the multiple sets;   the post has a corresponding number of slots to the locking tabs of the given set; and   the longitudinal spacing between the locking tabs of the given set corresponds with a longitudinal spacing between the slots of the post.   
     
     
         19 . The wall reinforcement system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the post comprises a plurality of posts; and   the plurality of posts, when locked to the locking track, are spaced apart from each other at uniform intervals along the locking track.   
     
     
         20 . A method of attaching parts of a wall reinforcement system, the method comprising:
 orienting a post, comprising a web, two flanges extending transversely from the web, and at least one slot formed in each one of the two flanges, such that the flanges are parallel with two opposing side panels of a locking track, the locking track further comprising a top panel, a channel defined between the top panel and the two opposing side panels, and locking tabs formed in the two opposing side panels and extending into the channel;   positioning the post along the locking track at a location where the at least one slot in each one of the two flanges is aligned with a corresponding one of the locking tabs; and   inserting the post into the channel of the locking track until the locking tabs engage with and are received into the corresponding slot.