Staggered stud wall bracing system

Abstract

A staggered stud wall system includes a top track having a main top web and depending inner and outer flanges, a bottom track having a main bottom web and vertically projecting inner and outer flanges, a first plurality of studs having a main stud web and at least one stud flange secured to inner top and bottom track flanges, a second plurality of studs having a main stud web and at least one stud flange secured to the outer top and bottom track flanges, the main top web and the main bottom web having a width greater than a width of the main stud web of the first and second plurality of studs, and stud bracing being installed to prevent movement of inner edges of the first and second plurality of studs relative to the top track and the bottom track.

1 . A staggered stud wall system, comprising:
 a top track having a main top web and depending inner and outer flanges;   a bottom track having a main bottom web and vertically projecting inner and outer flanges;   a first plurality of studs having a main stud web and at least one stud flange secured to the inner flanges of said top and bottom tracks;   a second plurality of studs having a main stud web and at least one stud flange secured to said outer flanges of said top and bottom tracks;   said main top web and said main bottom web having a width greater than a width of said main stud web of said first and second plurality of studs;   a first plurality of wallboard panels secured to said first plurality of studs, forming an interior wall surface;   a second plurality of wallboard panels secured to said second plurality of studs, forming an exterior wall surface;   insulation being inserted in an interior space defined between inner edges of said first and second plurality of studs and said corresponding inner and outer flanges of said top and bottom tracks; and   stud bracing being installed to prevent movement of inner edges of said first and said second plurality of studs relative to said top track and said bottom track.   
     
     
         2 . The wall system of  claim 1 , wherein said bracing includes openings in said main stud web of said first and second plurality of studs, and at least one strut generally horizontally positioned to connect openings of adjacent studs. 
     
     
         3 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein said openings in said main stud webs are off-center on each said stud, so that upon assembly, openings of the first and second plurality of studs are in registry with each other. 
     
     
         4 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein said openings are non-circular and said at least one strut is provided with complementary clips or collars configured for matingly engaging said openings. 
     
     
         5 . The wall system of  claim 4 , wherein said clips are rotatable relative to said at least one strut, and are rotatable between an unlocked and locked position. 
     
     
         6 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one strut is a plurality of struts configured for telescopingly engaging each other. 
     
     
         7 . The wall system of  claim 6 , further including fasteners for securing adjacent struts together in a determined telescoping arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The wall system of  claim 6 , wherein each said at least one strut is “u”-“shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The wall system of  claim 1  wherein said stud bracing includes providing the top and bottom tracks with inwardly projecting tabs, and upper and lower edges of said main stud webs of said first and second pluralities of studs are provided with recesses that matingly accommodate the tabs. 
     
     
         10 . The wall system of  claim 4  wherein said stud bracing includes providing the top and bottom tracks with inwardly projecting tabs, and upper and lower edges of said main stud webs of said first and second pluralities of studs are provided with recesses that matingly accommodate the tabs. 
     
     
         11 . The wall system of  claim 1  wherein said first plurality of wallboard panels is conventional paper-faced gypsum wallboard, and said second plurality of wallboard panels is one of Glassmat™ or cement board. 
     
     
         12 . A staggered stud wall system, comprising:
 a top track having a main top web and depending inner and outer flanges;   a bottom track having a main bottom web and vertically projecting inner and outer flanges;   a first plurality of studs having a main stud web and at least one stud flange secured to the inner flanges of said top and bottom tracks;   a second plurality of studs having a main stud web and at least one stud flange secured to said outer flanges of said top and bottom tracks;   said main top web and said main bottom web having a width greater than a width of said main stud web of said first and second plurality of studs;   a first plurality of wallboard panels secured to said first plurality of studs, forming an interior wall surface;   a second plurality of wallboard panels secured to said second plurality of studs, forming an exterior wall surface;   insulation being inserted in an interior space defined between inner edges of said first and second plurality of studs and said corresponding inner and outer flanges of said top and bottom tracks; and   stud bracing being installed to prevent movement of inner edges of said first and said second plurality of studs relative to said top track and said bottom track, said stud bracing taking the form of at least one of horizontal struts engaging openings in said main stud webs of said first and second pluralities of studs, and tabs projecting inwardly from said main top web and said main bottom web for engaging complementary recesses that matingly accommodate said tabs.